Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I, RICHARD FLACHS, of Oberlössnitz-Radebeul, neur Dresden, Saxony, in the Empire
of Germany, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is to effect improvements in velocipedes, such improve-
ments being applicable to that form of convertible velocipede which consists of two
safety bicycles temporarily united to form a four-wheeled sociable velocipede, and
also to other velocipedes fitted with two front steering wheels.
In carrying out my invention I fit levers to the steering-wheel forks, to which levers
links are fitted in such a manner that, when the steering wheels are simultaneously
turned to the right or left, they are caused to assume tangential positions relatively
to the respective circles along which they are required to travel.
The links are
pivoted together, the centre of the pivot being caused to travel in a curved line,
governed by a slotted bar, so formed as to fulfil the object of the invention.
In order to provide for automatic straight steering, two springs are fitted, which
lock the pivoted centres of the links in a central position in the slot.
And in order that my said invention may be particularly described and ascer-
tained, reference is hereby made to the accompanying drawings in which similar letters
of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1.is a diagram illustrating the principle upon which the invention is
based.
Fig. 2 is a side view, and Fig. 3 a front view of a pair of safety bicycles coupled
together, and fitted with my improvements. Fig. 4 is a skeleton plan view of the
framework. Fig. 5 is a detail plan view of the slotted plate, and Fig. 6 is a front
elevation of Fig. 5.
The two bicycles are coupled together so as to form a four-wheeled velocipede, by
means of the bars k k¹ k². The bar k carries a slotted plate having a curved slot f¹
formed therein. The heads of the two front steering forks are fitted with levers a a.
bb are two links pivoted to the levers a a at a' a¹. The inner ends of the levers bb
are pivoted together at c, by means of a bolt, which also passes through the slot f¹,
and is fitted with a roller to reduce friction. The upper end of this bolt is fitted
with a roller c', against which the springs g g press, when in the position shown in
the drawings, and thereby effect what is known as automatic straight steering.
When the handle bars are turned to steer to the right or left, the roller c¹ is released
from the springs g g, and the bolt travels along the slot f¹. This slot governs the
relative positions of the links b b, and the links bb cause the levers a a to assume
angles suitable for travelling round the required curve, the inner wheel assuming the
position of a tangent to a shorter radius than that of the outer wheel.
The method of finding the proper form of curve, for the guidance of the pivot c,
is shown in Fig. 1, in which a¹ are the bases of the driving wheels, and x¹, to
are (illustrative) centres of curves round which the velocipede may be steered, (the
motion being shown to the left hand). It will be understood that the outer angles,
1 to 6 assumed by the left hand wheel, are much greater than the inner angles 1 to 6
of the right hand wheel, and, consequently, the right hand wheel is tangential to a
larger circle than the left hand wheel, each wheel being in a position at right angles
to its radius line, a &c. The relative lengths of the levers a a and links bb govern
the form of the curve f¹, which is constructed to effect the foregoing object.
My invention is applicable to velocipedes, convertible and otherwise, in which two
parallel wheels are used for steering, analogous to that hereinbefore described.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. In the construction of velocipedes in which two steering wheels are mounted
in independent bearings, the combination of lovers a a, links bb, and curved slotted
plate or slotted link, severally operating substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by the drawings.
2. In combination with velocipedes as aforesaid, the application and use of springs gg,
for the purpose of temporarily retaining the links bb in a middle position, for
automatic straight steering, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by
the drawings.
3. The general construction, combination, and arrangement of the several and
respective parts, together forming my improvements in velocipedes, substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings.
Dated th: il ...
.. 1900
GEO. DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.
GEO. DOWNING,
8, Quality Court, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.