Improvements in Velocipedes and in the Manufacture of Parts of Velocipedes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in Velocipedes and in the Manufacture of Parts of
Velocipedes.
I, JOHN VERNON PUGH, of Primrose Hill House, Coventry, in the County of
Warwick, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
:-
My invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described in velocipedes
and in the manufacture of parts of velocipedes.
The improvement constituting the first part of my invention relates to the
brake levers of velocipedes and has for its object to simplify the construction
of the said levers.
In constructing a brake lever according to my invention I take a length of
strong steel wire or rod the length of the said wire or rod being somewhat greater
I make in the said rod at
than that usually employed to form the brake lever.
the part where it is usually pivoted to the handle of the velocipede, a cranked
part at right angles or approximately at right angles to the other parts of the
said wire or rod. I provide the handle with a clip or grip for the cranked part
of the wire or rod, the said clip or grip and cranked part of the rod constituting
the joint of the brake lever and replacing the joint pin ordinarily employed.
The extreme end of the short arm of the brake lever is shaped by stamping or
otherwise so as to fit it to engage the head of the brake rod and the other or long
arm of the brake lever is bent to the figure of the handle bar of the velocipede
and its end is preferably flattened into the shape of an ordinary brake lever
handle.
The second part of my invention relates to a steering lock for retaining the
steering wheel in position when the bicycle is placed against a wall or other
support.
In order that this part of my invention may be the better understood I remark
that steering locks of the ordinary construction rigidly fix the steering wheel
fork stem in the head tube of the frame. It frequently happens that a cyclist
who has applied the lock on dismounting forgets on re-mounting the velocipede
to release the said lock and on attempting to steer the velocipede finds the steering
wheel locked. Accidents have frequently resulted from the inadvertence referred
to on the part of the cyclist.
In constructing a steering wheel lock according to my invention I take a flexible
steel band, one end being narrower than the other end, the narrower end passing
through a hole or slot in the wider end, the band being thereby formed into an
The said elastic loop
elastic loop or ring. The narrower end carries a screw pin.
or ring is fitted in the top of the head tube of the velocipede the screw pin passing
through a hole in one side of the said tube and in the side of the top lug. A
thumb screw or nut takes on the end of the screw projecting through the hoie
in the side of the top lug. On the passing of the steering fork stem into the

page_text: head tube the elastic loop or ring surrounds the fork stem near its top and by
screwing up the thumb screw or nut hereinbefore referred to, the said band may
be made to bind on the fork stem with sufficient friction to prevent the free
motion of the steering wheel when the bicycle is placed against a vertical support
but the lock described does not rigidly fix the steering fork stem in the head
tube so that should the cyclist through inadvertence mount the velocipede without
releasing the lock the applied lock although offering frictional resistance to, will
not prevent the turning of, the steering wheel.
The next part of my invention relates to the adjustment of the tension of the
driving chain and has for its object to simplify the construction and arrangement
of parts for that purpose.
At the junction of the chain and back stay forms I form preferably in the
manner hereinafter described a circular eye recessed on its inner and outer sides
and in the said recesses I fit notched washers with eccentric holes for the spindle
of the wheel. A pin on one of the said washers takes in a hole in the outer
washer and connects the two washers together. Screw nuts take on the screwed
end of the spindle as usual and lock the spindle to the washers. When it is
desired to re-adjust the tension of the driving chain the screw nuts on the
terminal ends of the spindle are slackened and the pair of washers at each end
of the spindle are turned so as to move the hub spindle towards or from the
spindle of the driving chain wheel as may be desired. The parts are fixed in
their adjusted position by re-tightening the screw nuts hereinbefore referred to.
The outer washer is countersunk on its inner face and the outer side of the eye
of the fork end is machined to fit the countersunk face of the washer so that
when the washer is in place the expansion of the eye of the fork end is prevented.
In forming the eyes herein before referred to in the fork ends I take for each
fork end an angular plate the branches of which plate take in the ends of the
tubular arms of the back and chain stay forks. The ends of the tubular arms
are flattened on the plate and the parts brazed together. The junction thus
formed is pierced to form the eye and the recesses at each side of the eye are
formed by machining.
Another part of my invention relates to the fixing of the inner ends of the
arms of the rear mud guard of a safety bicycle and this I effect in the following
manner. I make a slot or opening in the rings forming the eyes hereinbefore
described at the junction of the chain and back stay forks for the reception of
the ends of the mud guard stays, the said ends of the mud guard stays being fixed
between the pairs of chain adjusting notched washers situated one on each side
of the eyes described.
A further part of my invention relates to the dress guards of ladies' bicycles.
In carrying this part of my invention into effect I provide the spindle of the
rear wheel with thin sheet metal washers having hooks at their upper sides or
edges, with which hooks, rings through which the dress guard cords are threaded,
may be engaged. The cords forming the dress guard are passed through equi-
distant holes in the edges of the mud guard as usual and are threaded through
the rings referred to engaged with the hooks of the washers.
My invention relates further to the manufacture of the steering wheel hubs of
bicycles and other like hubs.
In manufacturing a steering wheel hub according to my invention, I take a
short length of wrought iron steel or brass tubing the said length being equal
to that of the barrel of the hub to be made and I produce by turning and drilling
operations from a rod of iron or steel, the two spoke flanges of the hub, each of
the said spoke flanges having a short tubular projection on its inner side for
taking in one of the ends of the tube described and having on its outer side a
ball bearing cup with inwardly projecting flange for closing the said cup practically
dust proof, the said spoke flange, inner tubular projection and ball bearing cup
and flange being made solid or in one piece. It will thus be understood that the
hub is made of three pieces of metal connected together by driving the tubular

page_text: projections of the spoke flanges into the ends of the tube which is to constitute
the barrel of the hub.
My invention relates further to the driving wheel hubs of bicycles and consists
in making the ball bearing cups and dust proof closing rings or washers of the
said hubs each of one piece of metal by turning and drilling operations.
Dated this Fourth day of August 1899
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Velocipedes and in the Manufacture of Parts of
Velocipedes.
I, JOHN VERNON PUGH, of Primrose Hill House, Coventry, in the County of
Warwick, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my 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 consists of the improvements hereinafter described in velocipedes
and in the manufacture of parts of velocipedes.
The improvement constituting the first part of my invention relates to the
brake levers of velocipedes and has for its object to simplify the construction
of the said levers.
In constructing a brake lever according to my invention I take a length of
strong steel wire or rod the length of the said wire or rod being somewhat greater
than that usually employed to form the brake lever. I make in the said rod at
the part where it is usually pivoted to the handle of the velocipede, a cranked
part at right angles or approximately at right angles to the other parts of the
said wire or rod. I provide the handle with a clip or grip for the cranked part
of the wire or rod, the said clip or grip and cranked part of the rod constituting
the joint of the brake lever and replacing the joint pin ordinarily employed.
The extreme end of the short arm of the brake lever is shaped by stamping or
otherwise so as to fit it to engage the head of the brake rod and the other or long
arm of the brake lever is bent to the figure of the handle bar of the velocipede
and its end is preferably flattened into the shape of an ordinary brake lever
handle.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in plan a brake lever made
from wire or rod according to this part of my invention; Figure 2 represents in
plan of underside the said lever and the lever clip attached to a portion of the
handle bar of a velocipede; Figure 3 represents in end elevation and Figure 4
in plan the brake lever clip separately. The wire rod is shaped by bending as
is illustrated in Figure 1 and the ends are treated by a stamping operation so
as to give to them the figure of the flattened handle a¹ and inverted cup a²
respectively.
is the cranked part of the wire or rod which constitutes the joint of the
brake lever. A brake lever of this construction requires the special form of clip b
illustrated in Figures 2, 3 and 4; that is to say, the division 6' in the clip proper
is made in a plane crossing the axis of the tubular part of the clip b which takes
on the handle bar c (see Figure 2) at an angle of about 45 degrees. The tubular
part of the clip 6 is secured to the handle bar c by a screw pin d and the clip
proper is closed only with sufficient tightness on the cranked part a of the brake
lever, by means of the screw pin e, to obtain a bearing for the cranked part a.

page_text: of the brake lever, which cranked part constitutes the axis of the brake lever. By
the construction described and represented of the brake lever great economy is
effected in its manufacture-and the screw pin ordinarily employed for the said
lever to turn on is dispensed with.
The next part of my invention relates to the adjustment of the tension of the
driving chain and has for its object to simplify the construction and arrange-
ment of parts for that purpose.
At the junction of the chain and back stay forks I form preferably in the
manner hereinafter described a circular eye recessed on its inner and outer sides
and in the said recesses I fit notched washers with eccentric holes for the spindle
of the wheel. A pin on one of the said washers takes in a hole in the other
washer and connects the two washers together. Screw nuts take on the screwed
ends of the spindle as usual and lock the spindle to the washers. When it is
desired to re-adjust the tension of the driving chain the screw nuts on the
terminal ends of the spindle are slackened and the pair of washers at each end
of the spindle are turned so as to move the hub spindle towards or from the
spindle of the driving chain wheel as may be desired. The parts are fixed in their
adjusted position by retightening the screw nuts hereinbefore referred to.
The outer washer is countersunk on its inner face and the outer side of the eye
of the fork end is machined to fit the countersunk face of the washer so that
when the washer is in place the expansion of the eye of the fork end is prevented.
In forming the eyes herein before referred to in the fork ends I take for each
fork end an angular plate the branches of which plate take in the ends of the
tubular arms of the back and chain stay forks. The ends of the tubular arms are
flattened on the plate and the parts brazed together. The junction thus formed is
pierced to form the eye and the recesses at each side of the eye are formed by
machining.
This part of my invention is illustrated in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the
accompanying drawings.
Figure 5 represents in elevation partly in vertical section the rear wheel hub
of a safety bicycle and the parts attached thereto and Figure 6 is a side elevation
of the same; Figure 7 is a vertical section through the junction of the chain and
back stay forks at one side of the bicycle frame; Figures 8 and 9 represent side
elevations and vertical sections of the two washers constituting one of the pairs
of washers used at each end of the spindle of the rear wheel.
In carrying this part of my invention into effect I form a circular eye at the
junction of the back and chain stay forks preferably in the following manner.
I take for each fork end an angle plate f (see Figure 7) having a circular eye g
pierced therein, the said eye being of a much larger diameter than the spindle
of the wheel to be used therewith. The ends of the tubes h and i to be joined are
flattened and passed on to the arms of the angle plate f and the parts are brazed
together. The opposite sides of the eye thus formed at the fork end are
machined so as to form a recess for the reception of the pairs of washers herein-
after described which form the carriers of the spindle in the adjusting of the
tension of the driving chain. Each pair of washers consists of a plain washer k
shown separately in Figure 9 which washer takes in the recess in the inner side
of the fork end and a notched washer, shown separately in Figure 8, which
washer takes in the recess in the outer side of the fork end. The outer washer
has a circular boss on its inner side which boss fits the eye g of the fork end,
and a pin on the boss engages in a hole in the inner washer and thereby
connects the two washers together. The marginal part of the inner side of the
washer is countersunk and the recessed part of the outer side of the fork end
is machined to fit the countersunk part of the outer washer (see Figure 5) so
that when the two washers are bound to the fork end by the screw nut m on the
end of the spindle p the expansion of the eye in the fork end is rendered practically
impossible. Where thought necessary or desirable the washer k may be made
countersunk as well as the washer . Each pair of washers k, l has an eccentric

page_text: S
hole n passing through it, through which hole the screwed end of the spindle p
passes. When the screw nuts m, m on the screwed ends of the spindle pare.
slackened the pairs of washers may be partially rotated in the recesses in the.
fork ends and the spindle of the wheel thereby advanced towards or from
the crank axle or the purpose of adjusting the tension of the driving chain.
Another part of my invention illustrated in Figures 7, 10, 11 and 12 relates to
the fixing of the inner ends of the arms of mud-guards of safety bicycles and
this I effect in the following manner. In applying this part of my invention to
the rear mud-guard, I make radial slots or openings r in the rings forming the.
eyes of the fork ends herein before described for the reception of the ends of the
mud-guard stays the said ends of the mud-guard stays s being fixed between
the pairs of chain adjusting washers k, l; see the sectional Figures 11 and 12
which are taken respectively on the dotted lines, and y, y Figure 10. The.
application of this part of my invention to the fixing of the inner ends of the
arms of the front wheel mud-guard differs in no essential respect from its.
application to the rear wheel mud-guard as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
A further part of my invention, illustrated in Figures 13, 14 and 15, relates to
the dress guards of ladies' bicycles: Figure 13 represents part of the frame and
rearwheel of a lady's safety bicycle in side elevation, the dress guard being
attached thereto and Figures 14 and 15 are views at right angles to one another
(the latter partly in section) of a portion of the bicycle frame dra u to a larger
scale than Figure 13.
In carrying this part of my invention into effect I provide each end of the,
spindle p of the rear wheel with a thin sheet metal washer t having a hook at
one side or edge with which hook 2 a ring u through which the dress guard
cords are threaded, is engaged. The cords v forming the dress guard are passed.
through equidistant holes in the edges of the mud-guard w as usual and are.
threaded through the rings u engaged with the hooks 2 of the washers t.
the arrangement described the inner ends of the cords can easily be detached from
the frame of the velocipede when it is desired for any purpose to get at the
wheel.
By
In Figures 16, 17 and 18 I have represented a modification of this part of my
invention. Instead of employing a washer t with a hook to engage with the
ring u, I make the hook at one edge of the said ring as is best seen in Figure 18,
the said book being marked u². The hook u on the ring engages in a hole or
eye made in the back stay of the rear wheel fork as is represented.
My invention relates further to the manufacture of the wheel hubs of bicycles
and other like hubs.
In manufacturing a steering wheel hub according to my invention, I take a
short length of wrought iron, steel or brass tubing the said length being equal
to that of the barrel of the hub to be made and I produce by turning and drilling
operations from a rod of iron or steel the two spoke flanges of the hub each of the
said spoke flanges having a short tubular projection on its inner side for taking
in one of the ends of the tube described and having on its outer side a ball-
bearing cup with inwardly projecting flange for closing the said cup practically
dust proof, the said spoke flange, inner tubular projection and ball bearing cup
and Hange being made solid or in one piece or in two pieces as hereinafter
described. It will thus be understood that the hub is made of several pieces of
metal connected together by driving the tubular projections of the spoke flanges
or ball bearing cups into the ends of the tube which is to constitute the barrel
of the hub.
This part of my invention is illustrated in connection with the making of a
steering wheel hub, in longitudinal section in Figure 19.
A is the short length of tubing constituting the barrel of the hub. Each of
the spoke flanges B is made by turning and drilling operations from a solid rod
or blank of iron or steel, the spoke flange B, ball bearing cup B2 and dust proof
closing washer B3 being all in one piece. In order to attach the spoke flange B

page_text: to the tube or barrel A of the hub I make on the inner side of the spoke flange B
a short tubular boss or projection B which is driven into the end of the tubular
barrel A as is represented.-
In a modification of my invention represented in Figure 20, I make the dust
proof closing cover B and spoke flange B in one piece by a machining operation
from a disc of iron, steel or brass and the ball bearing cup 12 by turning and
drilling operations from a bar or blank of iron or steel the said dust proof closing
cover B and spoke flange B being driven on the outer end of the cup B for
the purpose of connecting the two parts together. The tubular part B for con-
necting the combined parts to the tube or barrel A of the hub is formed on the
ball bearing cup B2.
In applying my improvements to the manufacture of a driving wheel hub I
modify the arrangement as is hereinafter explained with reference to Figure 21.
I take a short tube A, as before described, and make the end of the hub
opposite to that at which the chain wheel is to be affixed in the manner hereinbefore
described and represented in Figure 20 with respect to a steering wheel hub.
I make the other spoke flange C from a solid rod or blank of iron steel or brass by
drilling and turning operations and with an internal diameter proper for it to
fit tightly on the exterior of the barrel A of the hub as is represented, a small
flange constituting a stop for the end of the tube or barrel A. The outer
end of the spoke flange C is shaped and screw threaded similar to that of the
corresponding end of an ordinary driving wheel hub for the reception of the
chain wheel D and parts adjacent thereto."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature
of my
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I claim
as my invention:-
First; Making the brake levers of velocipedes and like vehicles from a length
of wire or rod the longer arm of the lever passing into the shorter arm by a
cranked or bent part which cranked or bent part constitutes with the special form
of clip described and represented the joint of the brake lever, the brake lever
being attached to the clip substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Secondly; The construction and arrangement or combination of parts herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the accompanying
drawings constituting improved mechanism for adjusting the tension of the
driving chains of velocipedes, the said construction and arrangement of parts
consisting essentially of a pair of washers at each fork end the said washers being
situated one on either side of each fork end respectively, the said fork ends
having circular eyes in which a boss on one of the washers of each pair engages,
a pin on the said boss engaging in a hole in the other washer and thereby
coupling the pair of washers together, the pairs of washers having eccentric holes
passing through them through which holes the screwed ends of the spindle of the
wheel pass, the turning of the washers through a greater or less angle effecting
the advance of the spindle towards or from the crank axle of the velocipede and
the consequent adjustment of the tension of the driving chain, the parts being
locked after adjustment by the screw nuts on the ends of the spindle substantially
as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
Thirdly; Making the eyed back fork ends of velocipedes substantially as
herein before described and illustrated with respect to Figures 5, 6 and 7 of the
accompanying drawings, that is to say, taking a pierced angle plate, that is a
plate having two arms or branches, and flattening the ends of the tubes to be
passed thereon, brazing the tubes and plate together and subsequently shaping
or machining the two sides of the fork end to the desired form substantially as
described and illustrated.
Fourthly; In the case of velocipedes having eyes or holes in the fork ends
preventing the expansion of the eye or hole by making the washers for taking on

page_text: the same countersunk or slightly dished on their inner sides and making the
marginal parts of the eyes or holes against which the washers bear of a figure the
counterpart of the countersunk or dished side of the washers substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the accom-
panying drawings.
Fifthly Fixing the inner ends of the stays of velocipede mudguards by making
in the eye of the fork end a slot of a size proper to receive the inner end of the
stay and securing the said inner end of the stay in the slot by the washer or
washers used on the fork end substantially as herein before described and illus-
trated in Figures 7, 10, 11 and 12 of the accompanying drawings.
Sixthly Attaching the cord dress guards of the rear wheels of ladies' bicycles
to the frame of the bicycle by arranging on the spindle of the rear wheel a
washer with hook at one side and combining or engaging therewith a ring
through which the cords of the dress guard are threaded substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated in Figures 13, 14 and 15 of the accompanying
drawings.
Seventhly The modified arrangement of the dress guard attachment claimed
in the preceding claim in which modification the ring is provided with a hook
an eye or hole being made in the arm of the fork for the said hook to engage in
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 16, 17 and 18
of the accompanying drawings.
Eighty; Manufacturing the wheel hubs of velocipedes and like vehicles by
making the middle or barrel part from a length of tubing and making each of
the spoke flanges in one piece with the ball bearing cup and dust proof closing
washer by turning and drilling operations from a solid bar or blank of iron or
steel a short tubular projection being left on the inner side of the spoke flange for
taking in the end of the barrel of the hub substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated in Figure 19 of the accompanying drawings.
Ninthly; The modified construction or manufacture of wheel hub hereinbefore
described and illustrated with respect to Figures 20 and 21 of the accompanying
drawings, the said modified construction or manufacture consisting in making
the spoke flange, ball bearing cup and dust proof closing cover in two pieces
instead of in one piece, the ball bearing oup being made by drilling and turning
operations from a solid bar or blank of iron or steel and the spoke flange and
dust proof closing cover from a disc of iron, steel or brass substantially as herein-
before described and illustrated.
Tenthly Making the spoke flange for the chain wheel end of driving wheel
hubs by drilling, turning and screw threading operations from a solid rod or
blank of iron, steel or brass the said spoke flange at its inner side having an
internal diameter proper to fit the tube or barrel of the hub the end of which
abuts against a shoulder in the axial hole of the spoke flange substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figure 21 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated the Twenty-sixth day of April 1900.