MENTS IN VELOCIPEDES
Year: 1885

page_text: I OXLEY MACARTHY of 1 Charles Street, Goswell Road in the county of
Middlesex Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVE
MENTS IN VELOCIPEDES to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object an improved construction of velocipede and is
designed to provide a means of lessening shocks to the rider or riders of the same
caused by the wheels striking stones or like obstructions or slipping into ruts,
holes or the like.
By my construction as applied to a tricycle I also provide means whereby the
width of the same can be in a considerable measure reduced. I will describe my
invention as applied to a class of tricycle well known in which the large or driving
wheel is in the rear and is driven by chain or other suitable transmitter of power
from cranks or pedal axes placed forward of the same and with a pair of small
steering wheels having rotatory motion on or about vertical or diagonal axes
supporting each one, that is to say the said steering wheels turn on the point on
which their respective peripheries touch the ground..
"
I provide a horizontal tube or rod, or tubes carrying at one end the rear driving
wheel in suitable bearings and extending forward where it is brazed or otherwise
connected to a vertical or diagonal tube hereafter called the "steering socket'
carrying a cross or horizontal tube or rod to the respective ends of which two
small steering wheels are attached or pivotted by fork and centre, castor, or other
axial movements (or for a bicycle this vertical or diagonal tube can carry the axis
of the small front steering wheel).
From the horizontal tube or rod extends vertically upward a rod or tube hereafter
called the pivot tube" carrying centres.
On these centres work the arms of a yoke or fork on a rod or tube hereafter
called the "link" carrying at its other end similar arms or a yoke working on
centres in a downwardly extending tube or rod hereafter called the "pedal tube"
carrying at its lower end the cranks or pedals and at its upper end the saddle
or seat.
From the crank axis to the axis of the driving wheel I arrange an adjustable
rod or stay capable of rocking or oscillating on the driving wheel axis and so
maintaining the required distance between the crank and driving wheel axes.
I prefer to place a small chain wheel on the driving wheel axis and a larger one
on the crank axis to " gear up" the machine or the respective sizes of the chain
wheels can be varied to gear the machine "down or " level."
"

page_text: From the aforesaid pedal tube extends a horizontal or diagonal stay or tube
connecting the same to a (preferably) diagonal tube or socket hereafter called the
steering tube through which passes a rod carrying at its top the horizontal bar
fitted with steering handles, and at its bottom a toggle or jointed lever attached to
a rod passing through the aforesaid steering socket, which rod at its lower end
may be coned to fit the said steering socket and is connected to a short arm
carrying a horizontal rod connected to the axes of the small front steering wheels
(or wheel for a bicycle) so as to actuate the same.
To the pedal tube or crank bearing is secured one end of a strong adjustable
spiral or other spring or springs the other end of which is secured to the before
named pivot tube.
We have now a tricycle driven by the back wheel by a pedal axis which axis
forms part of a frame that carries the saddle or seat also the steering mechanism.
Thus the entire weight of the rider is carried on centres with spring pressure
intervening between the said rider and the carrying wheels.
On mounting the saddle or seat the pedal tube is depressed according to the
weight of the rider who is now elastically supported; stops or buffers on the pedal
tube limiting the play of the same.
The rider is therefore not affected by shocks to the wheels and the connection
between the steering rod passing through the " steering tube" and that passing
through the "steering socket" being elastic by means of the aforesaid toggle or
jointed lever, the machine may be always steered irrespective of the rider's
' vertical motion.
:
I prefer to construct the said "steering socket" in two parts one interlocking
with the other and secured by fly or lock nut and capable by slackening the latter
and putting one part from the other of allowing the horizontal rod or tube carrying
the axes of the small steering wheels to be twisted so as to lessen the width of the
machine for transport or storage.
For a "sociable" for two riders I use two pivotted pedal tubes with their pedals,
stay rods, springs and appurtenances placing one on each side of the rear driving
wheel each rider driving same and one or both steering.
Dated this 8th dev of Sentember 188k
POPPLEWELL, COLTON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I OXLEY MACARTHY of 1 Charles Street, Goswell Road 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 :-
This invention has for its object improvements in the construction of Velocipedes
and is designed to provide a means of lessening shocks and the effects of shocks to.
the rider or riders of the same caused by the wheels striking stones or like
obstructions or slipping into ruts boles or the like.
Referring to the accompanying two sheets of drawings and to the figures and
letters of reference marked thereon,
Fig. 1. is an elevation of a tricycle constructed according to my invention part
however being in section on line a b of Fig. 2.
Fig. 2. is a plan of the machine.
--
Fig. 3. an enlarged elevation of the crank shaft and driving pulley shewing the
adjustable stays and spring hereafter described.
Fig. 4. is a section on line cd of Fig. 3.
Fig. 5. an enlarged section through the steering apparatus.
Fig. 6. back view of the steering controller hereafter referred to.
As shewn my invention is applied to a class of tricycle well known to the trade
as the "Gnat" in which the large or driving wheel A is in the rear and is driven
by a chain B passing over pitch-wheels C. C₁ one placed on the driving wheel axis
and the other on the crank axis and which may be of dissimilar or equal diameters;
or I may use other suitable means of transmitting power from the pedals or
treadles to the driving wheel. The steering is effected by a pair of small wheels D. D¹
having rotatory motion on or about vertical or diagonal axes E. E' supporting
each wheel D. D¹ in forks F. F2 that is to say the steering wheels D. D¹ turn on
the point on which their respective peripheries touch the ground; so far this mere
arrangement of driving and steering forms no part of my invention.
I provide a horizontal, or nearly so, tube or pair of rods or tubes G. G₁ carrying
at one end the rear driving wheel A in suitable bearings and extending forward
where they are brazed or otherwise connected to a tube or socket G hereafter
called the steering socket mounted on a cross or horizontal tube or rod H to the
respective ends of which the two small steering wheels D. D¹ are pivoted in
forks F. F. or they may be fitted in other axial movements.
From the horizontal or nearly horizontal tubes or rods G. G¹ extends vertically
upward a rod or tube I hereafter called the "pivot tube" carrying centres J. J¹ on
these centres J. J¹ work the arms of a yoke or fork K. on a rod or tube L hereafter
called the link jointed at its other end M to a downwardly extending tube or rod N
hereafter called the pedal tube carrying at its lower end the cranks or pedals and
at its upper end the adjustable rod O for the saddle or seat as shewn.
From the crank axis to the axis of the driving wheel 4 I arrange a pair of
adjustable rods stays or tubes P. Pi capable of rocking or oscillating on the driving

page_text: wheel axis and so maintaining the required distances between the crank and
driving wheels axes.
tr
I connect these rods or stays or tubes by a bar Q through which passes a screwed
rod R connected by a joint R¹ to the lower end of the "pedal tube" N and so that
the nuts S. S. can by being screwed up draw the bar Q and the rods stays or
tubes P. P¹ towards the pedal tube N. and so maintain their tension and prevent
sagging." I might only use one rod or stay if desired and I am aware that rods
or stays have been used to maintain a required distance between a crank axis and
the driving axis of a velocipede and I lay no claim to the mere use of a stay or
stays for this purpose unless the same oscillate from one end and be jointed at the
other as in my invention.
"
From the aforesaid "pedal tube" N extends a stay or tube T connecting the same
to a (preferably) diagonal tube or socket U hereafter called the "steering tube
and more particularly seen in section Fig. 5. Through this tube or socket U
passes a tube V into which is adjusted the rod W carrying at its top the usual
cross bar and steering handles.
The lower end of this tube V carries a rigid plug X to which is jointed a toggle
lever Y attached to a rod or pin Z passing through the aforesaid " steering
socket" G and which rod or pin is connected to a short arm A¹ carrying a hori-
zontal rod B¹ connected to the axes or forks of the small steering wheels D. D¹ by
bent or cranked rods C³ so as to obtain greater amplitude of movement. If desired
the rod or pin Z and the steering socket G³ may be coned or ball bearings could
be fitted thereto. The rod W might pass directly through the steering tube U and
the toggle connected to its end, the tube V and the plug X being dispensed with
but I adopt the plan shewn in order to readily adjust the height of the crossbar
and handles.
Many velocipedes having "crossbar", steering not being of the automatic or
"fly-to-centre" type are fitted with what is known as a "controller" or friction
brake to check the too easy movement of the steering handles. The device shewn
though not claimed as new is useful as an adjunct to my invention.
It consists in mounting on the tube V an adjustable collar D' which while also
clamping the rod W in the tube V confines a spiral spring E' between itself and
the top of the tube U. I also bevel the bottom of the tube U on the back part as
shewn in Fig. 6 at F2 F³ and mount a stud F* on the plug X in the tube V so that
as the handles are turned the tube V rises and falls in the steering tube U and the
spring E is compressed or released and the too ready movement of the steering
handles checked. I also prefer to put a spring G between the bottom of the
steering socket G2 and the eye of the short arm A¹ and another between the head
of the pin H¹ connecting the horizontal rod B¹ with the short arm A¹ and the, other
eye of the arm A' to lessen vibration.
To the pedal tube N or crank bearing is secured one end of a strong spiral or
other spring I passing through an eye J on an adjusting screw K¹ adjusted by a
fly nut L or a pair or other number of springs may be used.
The other end of the spring I¹ is hooked or secured to a pillar M² on one of the
roda G. G' or to the pivot tube if desired.
We have now as shewn a tricycle driven by the back wheel through a pedal
axis which forms part of a frame that carries the saddle or seat also the steering
mechanism. Thus the entire weight of the rider is carried on centres with spring
pressure intervening between the said rider and the carrying wheels.
On the saddle or seat being mounted the "pedal tube" is depressed according to
the weight of the rider who is now elastically supported.
An elastic or rubber stop or buffer N¹ on the "pedal tube" limits the upward
play and a similar buffer OI on the pillar M¹ the downward play. The rider is
therefore not affected by shocks to the wheels and the connection to the "steering
rod" passing through the "steering tube" and the pin or rod passing through the
steering socket" being elastic by means of the aforesaid toggle or jointed lever
the machine may be always steered irrespective of the rider's vertical position.
"

page_text: I may if desired construct the said "steering socket" in two parts one inter-
locking with the other and secured by fly or lock nut and capable by slackening
the latter and pulling one part from the other of allowing the horizontal rod or
tube carrying the axes of the small steering wheels to be twisted so as to lessen
the width of the machine for transport or storage but this forms no part of my
invention and is not claimed as such.
For a
" sociable" for two riders I may use two pivoted pedal tubes with their
pedals, stay rods springs and appurtenances placing one on each side of the driving
wheel, each rider driving the same and one or both steering.
It will be apparent that with some modification the mechanism could be fitted
to a tricycle with the small wheels in the rear in place of the front. It could also
be used for a bicycle as will be readily perceived by reference to Fig. 1 which
would fairly indicate the construction assuming the fork of the steering wheel to
be under the toggle lever the fork being mounted on a socket connected to the
horizontal tubes or rods G. G¹ in place of the horizontal bar Hwhich in the tricycle
carries the small steering wheels D. D¹ at its ends. It will also be apparent that
by arranging this single centre steering fork and placing two driving wheels
parallel to each other and connecting them by balance gearing or fitting them on a
clutch-connection-axle a machine of the "Cripper" type may be produced my
'pedal tube," "pivot tube," joints, spring and toggle being applied as before. And
if desired I can duplicate these parts in line for a tandem velocipede.
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. The tricycle constructed arranged and operating substantially as described
and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Secondly. In tricycles of the "Gnat" pattern I claim mounting the seat, pedals
driving mechanism and steering mechanism as a whole on centres controlled by a
spring or springs and connected with the steering wheels by an elastic connection
thereby allowing them to be always steered independently of the rise and fall of
the handle-bar as described.
Thirdly. In a velocipede wherein the rider's body is free to rise and fall with
the driving and steering mechanism I claim the use of an elastic or toggle joint
connecting the steering handles with the steering wheels or wheel as and for the
purposes described.
Fourthly. In a velocipede I claim the combination of the "pivot tube" I
centres J. J link L pedal tube and its appurtenances N spring E³ buffers N¹ O¹
steering tube U toggle lever or elastic joint Y and steering socket G³ for communi-
cating with the steering wheels or wheel substantially as described.
011
T
1000
POPPLEWELL, COLTON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant.