Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 20th June, 1890-Accepted, 2nd Aug., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
1, WILLIAM CHATER LEA, of 29 Clerkenwell Road, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in the construction of ball bearing heads-
of the socket type-for velocipedes, and it has for its objects, increased strength at
the crown of the fork, improved means of adjustment without affecting the position
of the handle bar, and general improvement in the details of construction, whereby I
obtain a lighter, stronger and more perfect head of this type than at present exists.
My improved steering head is constructed in the following mauner-From the
crown of the fork rises a hollow vertical stem of a large diamoter at the bottom, and
of a reduced diameter at the top. On this reduced part a sleeve fits and beds against
the shoulder formed by the reduction in the diameter. This sleeve carries a trans-
verse boss or eye for the handle bar, and it is kept in its proper position by
means of a locking key, which takes the form of a plug adapted to fit within the
hollow vertical stem of the head and carrying cross arms or snugs, which engage
with the transverse slots cut in the top of the vertical stem and in the top of the
sleeve carrying the transverse boss or eye for the handle bar. The top of this
sleeve is threaded to adapt it to receive a nut which locks the sleeve down to the
stem and also confines the locking key. The junction of the vertical stem with the
crown of the fork takes the form of a hold curve to adapt it to form part of the race
for the lower row of balls. This may either be formed in the stem or in a collar
fixed thereto. In the lower end of the socket fixed to, or forming part of, the neck or
in a collar fixed thereto is formed a curved recess forming the other part of the
race for the lower row of halls. The upper end of the socket is screwed to adapt
it to receive a collar having a curved path formed around it to form one part of
the race for the upper row of balls, and on to the sleeve carrying the boss or cye
for the handle bar is fixed a collar in which is formed a curved recess forming the
other part of the race for the upper row of balls. The head is adjusted by means of
the curved collar threaded on to the top of the socket, suitable means being provided
for locking the said collar to the socket after adjustment.
Dated this 20th day of September 1889.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.L.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70, 71 & 72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
I, WILLLAM CHATER LEA, of 29 Clerkenwell Road, London, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
:-
-
My invention relates to improvements in the construction of ball bearing heads-
of the socket type-for velocipedes, and it has for its objects, increased strength
at the crown of the fork, improved means of adjustment without affecting the position
of the handle bar, and general improvement in the details of construction, whereby
I obtain a lighter, stronger, and more perfect head of this type than at present
exists:

page_text: My improved steering head is constructed in the manner illustrated in the accom-
panying drawing in which
Figure 1. is a view in sectional side elevation of my improved steering hend,
Figure 2. is a view in front elevation thereof, and
Figure 3. is a plan thereof.
Throughout these views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
From the crown A of the fork rises a hollow vertical stem A' the top half of
which is reduced in diameter to receive a sleeve B carrying a transverse boss or
eye B' to receive the handle bar. This sleeve B is kept in its proper position by
means of a locking key C which takes the form of a plug adapted to fit within the
top of the hollow vertical stem A¹ of the head, and carrying cross, arms or snugs c. c
which engage with transverse slots cut respectively in the top of the vertical stem A¹
and in the top of the sleeve B carrying the transverse loss or eye B' for the handle
bar. The top of the stem A is threaded to adapt to receive a nut A² which
locks the sleeve B down to the shoulder formed on the said stem, and also confines
the locking key C. The junction of the vertical stem A¹ with the crown A of the
fork takes the form of a bold curve to give it plenty of strength at this point, and it
is adapted either to form the cone or curve of one half of the race for the lower
ball bearing, or to receive a threaded coned or curved collar a forming the one half
of the race for the said bearing as illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
The lower end of the socket D fixed to, or forming part of, the neck D* is adapted
either to form the other half of the race for the lower ball bearing, or to receive a
threaded collar or cup d forming the said other half of the race of the said ball bearing
as illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
The upper end of the socket D is threaded to receive an adjustable coned or curved
collar D forming one part of the race of the upper ball bearing, and on the sleeve B
is either formed or fixed-as illustrated by the accompanying drawing-a recessed
collar or cup b. forming the other part of the race of the top of the ball bearing.
Balls a. c. etc. are inserted in the races formed by and between the several parts.
The head is adjusted by means of the collar D threaded onto the top of socket D,
and it is locked in position by means of a toothed pawl E adapted to engage with a
series of serrations formed in the lower edge of the collar D and to be locked to
the socket D by the screw e or its equivalent.
It will be seen that the great advantages of this steering head are, First, the ball.
bearings can be adjusted without interfering with the rigidity of the transverse
handle bar, and Secondly, the sleeve carrying the transverse handle bar has a long
bearing on the centre stem projecting even below the top row of balls.
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 I
claim is
A steering head for velocipedes, constructed substantially as and for the purpose
herein described and illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 20th day of June 1890
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers, 70-72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.