IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STEERING AND BRAKE MECHANISM OF TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1885

page_text: and other Velocipedes.
I, STEPHEN MARTIN of Birchfield Road, Lozells near Birmingham in the County
of Warwick, Manager of Works, do hereby declare the nature of said invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STEERING AND BRAKE MECHANISM OF TRICYCLES AND
OTHER VELOCIPEDES," to be as follows:—
My invention has reference to steering and brake mechanism of tricycles and
other velocipedes, and the object of my improvements is to expeditiously and
efficiently steer and operate the brake mechanism in a simple and efficient manner,
and my said invention has reference to improvements upon Letters Patent granted
to me, and bearing date the first day of January One thousand eight hundred and
eighty four and numbered 184.
As the mechanism for steering is essentially the same as that applied for
operating the brake, I will only describe the former.
The steering handle bar, by which the machine is guided, passes and works
through a fixed hanging bracket connected to the framing of the machine-At the
upper end of this handle bar, a steering handle is situated; and at the other or
lower end (under the bracket) a spur wheel is attached, which gears with a spur
pinion carrying a bevil wheel-This bevil wheel gears with a bevil pinion on one
end of the steering rod, while the other end is wormed with a low pitch screw,
which takes into a sleeve screw box, the last named covering the screw to the
whole of its traverse so as to exclude dust or dirt-This steering rod is supported
and guided by a hanging bracket under the forenamed bracket carrying the handle
bar, and the multiplying gear under it-Connection between the sleeve of the
steering rod, and the steering arm on the forked head is effected, by an intermediate
link; this link allows the screw box to travel in a straight line; so that to steer
the machine, the handle bar is turned to the right or left, which rotates the spur
toothed wheel at its lower end, and from thence to the spur pinion, and the bevil
wheel, which last named gears with the bevil pinion on the end of the steering rod,
to which rotation is imparted, causing the worm on its end, to screw into and out
of the screw box or sleeve, and so operate or turn the steering arm attached to the
guiding wheel-By employing multifying gear as described, the worm on the end
of the steering rod is of a slow pitch,

page_text: To obtain the necessary travel of the steering bar without employing the
multiplying spur gear as described, the steering bar handle is attached directly to
the bevil wheel, and the two ends of the steering rod wormed with right and left
handed screws; one end taking into the sleeve, and the other into an internally
screwed hanging bracket; the rotation of the gear on the handle bar gives a double
traverse by employing two screw boxes instead of one.
The screw herein before described on the end of the steering rod may gear with
a worm or tangent wheel, thus dispensing with the internally screwed sleeve, of
which the last named or tangent wheel is its equivalent; thus to prevent the
skitting of the guiding wheel on turning a corner; a tangent and bevil wheel is
secured to the top of the fork; the latter gearing with the screw on the end of the
steering rod, while the former gears with a bevil wheel on the end of the back
bone. The end of the bone and bevil wheel forms a sleeve or socket, which takes
upon a horizontal peg or stem on the socket head above the forks of the steering
wheel. The socket head carrying the horizontal peg or stem, surrounds, and is
capable of turning upon a fixed spindle as a centre which terminates in the bevil
and tangent wheels affixed to the forks; so that when motion is communicated to
the steering wheel by the gear operated by the handle bar herein before described,
on turning a corner, the steering wheel is allowed to oscillate or make a slight
angle with respect to the machine; thus the bevil wheel on the fork spindle is
allowed to travel or run to a small extent on the face of the bevil wheel attached
.to the end of the back bone; so that by the running round of the bevil wheel
described, the steering wheel is compelled to take a slight angle, and lean to the
direction proper for making the curve without skitting.
The last named arrangement is not applicable to the brake mechanism mentioned
in the fore-part of the Specification.

page_text: 5
and other Velocipedes.
İ, STEPHEN MARTIN of Birchfield Road Lozells near Birmingham in the County
Warwick, Manager of Works, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE STEERING AND BRAKE MECHANISM OF TRICYCLES AND
OTHER VELOCIPEDES" and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
My invention has reference to steering and brake mechanism of tricycles and
other velocipedes; and the object of my improvements is to expeditiously and
efficiently steer and operate the brake mechanism in a simple and efficient
manner; and my said invention has reference to improvements upon Letters
Patent granted to me, and bearing date the first day of January 1884 and
numbered 184.
As the mechanism for steering is essentially the same as that applied for
operating the brake I will only describe the former.
The steering handle bar by which the machine is guided, passes and works
through a fixed hanging bracket connected to the framing of the machine. At the
upper end of this handle bar, a steering handle is situated, and at the other or
lower end (under the bracket) a spur wheel is attached, which gears with a spur
pinion carrying a bevil wheel. This bevil wheel gears with a bevil pinion on one
end of the steering rod, while the other end is wormed with a slow pitch screw, which
takes into a sleeve screw box, the last named covering the screw to the whole of
its traverse, so as to exclude dust or dirt. This steering rod is supported and
guided by a hanging bracket, under the fore named bracket carrying the handle
bar, and the multiplying gear under it-Connection between the sleeve of the
steering rod, and the steering arm on the forked head, is effected by an inter-
mediate link; this link allows the screw box and steering rod to travel in a
straight line, so that to steer the machine, the handle bar is turned to the right or
left, which rotates the spur toothed wheel at its lower end, and from thence to the
spur pinion and the bevil wheel, which last named gears with the bevil pinion on
the end of the steering rod, to which rotation is imparted, causing the worm on its
end to screw into and out of the screw box or sleevo, and so operate or turn the
steering arm attached to the guiding wheel.
By employing multiplying gear as described, the worm on the end of the
steering rod is of a slow pitch.
To obtain the necessary travel of the steering bar, without employing the
multiplying spur gear as described, the steering bar handle is attached directly to
the bevil wheel, and the two ends of the steering rod wormed with right and left
handed screws, one end taking into the sleeve and the other into an internally ⚫
screwed hanging bracket-The rotation of the gear on the handle bar, gives a
double traverse by employing two screw boxes instead of one.
The screw herein before described on the end of the steering rod, may gear with
a.worm or tangent wheel, thus dispensing with the internally screwed sleeve, of
•

page_text: which the last named or tangent wheel is its equivalent; thus to prevent the
skitting of the guiding wheel on turning a corner, a bevil wheel is secured to the
top of the forks, gearing with the screw on the end of the steering rod, while
the former gears with a bevil wheel.on the end of the back-bone. The end of the
back bone and bevil wheel forms a sleeve or socket, which takes upon a horizontal
peg or stein on the socket head above the forks of the steering wheel-The
socket head carrying the horizontal stem or peg, surrounds and is capable of
turning upon a fixed spindle as a centre which terminates in the bevil and tangent
wheels affixed to the forks; so that when motion is communicated to the steering
wlieel by the gear operated by the handle bar herein before described, on turning
a corner, the steering wheel is allowed to oscillate or make a slight angle with
respect to the machine; thus the bevil wheel on the fork spindle is allowed to
travel or run to a small extent on the face of the bevil wheel attached to the end
of the back-bone; so that by the running round of the bevil wheel described, tho
steering wheel is compelled to take a slight angle, and lean to the direction proper
for making the curve without skitting.
The last named arrangement is not applicable to the brake mechanism mentioned
in the fore part of the Specification.
I will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the
manner in which the same is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation, partly in section, tricycle steering
mechanism, constructed in part according to my invention. Figure 2 is a plan
of the upper side with the steering rod broken off-Figure 3 is a plan of the
underside, with the bearing partly in section.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in figures 1 to 3 both
inclusive of the accompanying Drawings.
a is the steering handle bar by which the machine is guided-This handle bar
passes and works through a fixed bracket battached to the framing of the machine';
and at the upper end of this handle bar a steering handle is situated (not shown)
while the other or lower end carries a spur wheel c, which gears with a pinion d,
which latter carries, or has affixed to it a bevil wheels which gears with a bevil
pinion on the front end of the steering rod g, while the other end of the said
steering rod is wormed with a slow pitch screw h, worming into a sleeve screw
box of the sleeve i-This sleeve screw box covers the screw to the whole or
nearly to the whole of its traverse, so as to exclude dust or dirt from the screw
mechanism.
The steering rod g is supported and guided by a hanging bracket b² suspended
from the bracket b. carrying the handle bar, and multiplying gear.
The axis of the combined pinion and spur wheel de, works within the upright
bracket 3, and is adjusted and supported by the nut b*.
Connection between the back end of the sleeve i of the steering rod g, and the
steering arm on the forked head k is effected by an intermediate link -This link
allows the screw box and steering rod to travel in a straight line on steering; the
sleeve being guided through tho eye or bearing of a fixed bracket.
The forked head is attached in the usual way to the steering wheel m.
To steer the machine, turn the handle bar a by its handle, to the right or left, so
as to give a semi or complete rotation to the spur wheel c which rotates the
pinion d with which it is in gear-The bevil wheel e attached to the spur pinion d,
rotates the bevil pinion f carried on the forward end of the steering rod g The
multiplying gear thus arranged, gives a rapid and increased rotation to the steering
rod g, causing the worm h on its end to screw into and out of the screw box i³, so
as to thereby increase or decrease the combined lengths of the steering rod and
sleeve and so operate or turn the steering arm j attached to the head & carrying
the driving wheel m, connection being effected through the link l.
The steering rod consists essentially of the rod g and the sleeve which is
increased or decreased in length by the rotation of the former within the latter,

page_text: To obtain the necessary travel of the steering bar without employing multiplying
spur gear, I arrange the parts of the mechanism as in figure 4 which is in side
elevation.. Figure 5 is a plan of figure 4, and figure 6 is a part vertical section.
The handle bar a is attached at its lower end to the bevil wheel e which gears
with the bevil pinion f; which said pinion has a hole through its axis, and a key
way, in order to allow the plain part of the steering rod g, to slide longitudinally.
The steering rod has also a longitudinal feather or rib g² which takes into the
feather key way in the pinion-The steering rod is also wormed at its front end
with a left hand thread g³, while the back end is wormed with a right hand
thread ; this last named screw takes into an internally screwed sleeve i which is
incapable of rotation. The screw g³ on the front part of the rod, passes through
the internally screwed bracket 8.
The rotation of the hanble bar through the gear described gives a double traverse
to the steering rod by employing two screws and two screw boxes instead of one-
The screw sleeve i and parts connected within it are clearly shown in the preceding
figures.
This form of gear when used without the sleeve, is particularly applicable for
putting on the brake.
The screw last described, upon the end of the steering rod, may be made to act
directly upon the forks carrying the guiding wheel, instead of the said guiding
wheel being influenced by a traversing sleeve. Thus in this modified form, a
tengent or worm wheel takes the place of the screwed sleeve, the worms of the one,
being the mechanical equivalent of the worms of the other.
Figure 7 represents a longitudinal section of this last named modification.
Figure 8 represents the same with some of the parts in elevation. Figure 9 is a
plan of figure 8. Figure 10 is an end vertical section on the dotted line C. g is
the steering rod, h is a screw on the said steering rod, n is a worm wheel attached
to the forks k carrying the guide wheel m not shown in this figure, but shown in
figure 3. is a spindle carried by the forks k. This spindle works within the
bracket neck o to which the back bone of a machine is attached at o².
o³ are
brackets for carrying the steering rod and worm or screw h.
The steering rod is provided with multiplying gear as described and represented
in figures 1, 2 and 3 or with gear represented in 4, 5 and 6.
By the turning of the handle of the steering bar g, rotary motion is communi-
cated to the steering rod, when the screw wheel h which is in gear with the
tangent wheel n, gives a semi-rotation to the forks k carrying the guiding wheel
of the machine; so that the turning of the steering handle, rotary movement of
the screw is effected which gives a semi rotation to the worm wheel which is
attached to the forks the head and bracket remaining quiescent.
To prevent the skitting of the guiding wheel, on turning a corner, I construct
the head of the machine as represented in figure 11. Figure 12 being the same
partly in section.
p is a bevil wheel fixed to the top of the forks k, and is the pillar head or
sleeve having within it a conical bearing k³. The sleeve carries at its front end a
horizontal peg or stem upon which the end of a socket q² of the back-bone takes;
and keyed upon the said socket or sleeve q³, is a bevil wheel r, which gears with
the other bevil wheel p; in other words the end of the back bone forms a sleeve
or socket g which takes upon a horizontal peg 1 on the socket or sleeve head
which is above the forks of the steering wheel; while the extreme end of the said
back bone socket q³, is provided with a bevil wheel which gears with a fixed
bevil wheel p, which is fixed to the forks and bearing, and is only capable of
moving with the forks and bearing; so that on a machine turning a corner, or
sharp curve, the steering wheel is allowed to oscillate or make a slight angle with
respect to the machine; that is, the bevil wheel p on the fork spindle is allowed to
travel or run to a small extent on the face of the bevil wheel r, which is attached
to the end of the back bone g.

page_text: By arranging the parts as described, the steering wheel is compelled to take a
slight angle, and lean to the direction proper for making the curve without
skitting.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First-Steering and brake mechanism for tricycles and other velocipedes,
consisting of a spur wheel on the end of the handle bar, gearing with a spur
pinion on an independent axis or bearing which latter pinion carries a bevil wheel,
which gears with a bevil pinion on the front end of the steering rod, while the
back end of the said rod is wormed with a slow pitch screw, which works within
and is enclosed by, a long sleeve or screwed tube having at its end a jointed link,
so that the traverse of the sleeve (for steering) upon the screwed end of the
steering rod, can communicate its motion to the steering arm carried by the forks
of the guiding wheel. The parts being arranged combined and operating in the
way and for the purpose substantially as described and illustrated in figures 1, 2,
and 3.
Secondly. Making or constructing steering or brake rods' in two parts; the
one part consisting of a screwed rod which works within, and is covered by an
internally wormed sleeve or tube, substantially in the manner,
and for the purpose
as described and illustrated in figures 1, 2 and 3.
Thirdly. Increasing the traverse of steering and brake mechanism by having
the two ends of the steering rod, wormed with right and left handed screws, the
one taking into an internally screwed sleeve or tube, while the other passes through
an internally screwed bracket, motion being communicated to the steering rod, by
a bevil wheel on the end of the steering rod which bevil wheel gears with a bevil
pinion having a plain bush and key way through its middle, to allow the rod with
feather, to slide longitudinally through it. The parts being arranged and acting in
the manner, and for the purpose, substantially as described and illustrated in
figures 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Fourthly. Operating the guiding wheel of tricycles and other velocipedes, by a
tangent wheel mounted upon the forks, which receives its motion from a screw or
screw wheel, situated near the back end of the steering rod; so that on rotation
being imparted to the said steering rod, a semi-rotation given to the forks
carrying the steering wheel. The parts being arranged, combined, and operating
in the manner and for the purpose as described and illustrated in figures 7, 8, 9.
and 10 of the accompanying Drawings.
Lastly Oscillating the steering or guiding wheels of tricycles and other
velocipedes on the said machines making sharp curves or turning corners, by
having a bevil wheel on the fork spindle which is allowed to travel or run upon
the face of a bevil wheel, attached to the end of the back bone; the said end of
the back bone carrying the bevil wheel is made into the form of a socket or sleeve
which fits upon a horizontal peg standing out from a sleeve like pillar surrounding
the forked spindle, substantially as described and illustrated.