Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Dec., 1886.
Complete Left, 9th Sept., 1887
Complete Accepted, 21st Oct., 1887.
RESERV
My invention relates to an arrangement for varying the rake of the fork carrying
the driving wheel of a bicycle as emergency may require, in order to give the
machine greater longitudinal stability by placing the centre of gravity more in rear of
the centre of the driving wheel than it normally is. By the use of my invention a
rider is enabled instantly to so alter his position with respect to the centre of the
driving wheel, that he can ride over any ordinary obstacles, or the steepest gradients,
likely to be encountered on a highway, without fear of being thrown forwards over
the front of the machine.
In carrying my invention into practical effect I proceed as follows:-I take an
ordinary direct action bicycle of the well known type, having what is known as an
open head, i.e., having the sides of the fork carrying the driving wheel carried up and
connected by cross pieces to carry the top and bottom centres of the head. The neck
of the backbone instead of being fitted therein, and brazed or otherwise fixed thereto,
is formed to fit over the end of the backbone so that the backbone passes completely
through it and is open at the front, so as to allow a cord or chain to pass into the
backbone. The lower end of the backbone where it is fixed to the fork that carries
the rear wheel, is also arranged to allow the cord or chain within the backbone, to
pass through it. The axle of the rear wheel instead of being fixed to the ends of the
prongs of the back fork, are fixed to a quadrantal fork which encircles the wheel, and
which is pivotted to the ends of the prongs of the back fork carried by the backbone,
at a distance of about four and a half inches (more or less according to the amount of
rake required on the front fork) from the centre of the wheel. The two ends of the
quadrantal fork are connected by a curved plate, which forms a mud guard for the
wheel, and a guide for the cord or chain, as will presently be made clear. When the
frame of the machine is in its normal position, the one arin of the quadrantal fork lies
parallel with, and within, the backfork, and the other arm stands out rearwards at
right angles thereto. Connected to the top of the arm of the quadrantal fork within

page_text: the back fork, is a cord or chain which passes up through the back bone, as
herein before described, and is wound on a grooved roller on the handle bar, so that
when it is desired to vary the rake of the front fork the cord or chain is released,
when the weight of the rider on the back fork causes the vertical, or approximately
vertical, arm of the quadrantal fork, to assume a more horizontal position and so
brings the end of the back fork nearer to the ground, and thus increase the rake of
the front fork. As the vertical arm of the quadrantal fork assumes a horizontal
position, the cord or chain is guided and lies in a groove formed in the outer surface
of the curved arch, or mud guard, and so keeps it clear of the wheel. On the other
end of the quadrantal fork is formed a stop which engages with the top of the back
fork when the limit of variation of the rake of the front fork is reached, and so in
case of a possible fracture of the cord or chain, prevents the quadrantal fork from
moving round until it came into contact with the ground.
The shifting cord or chain is controlled by the following mechanism;-After
passing up through the backbone, within which it is guided by suitable rollers or
pulleys, it passes out through the top end of it, and is wound on a grooved roller formed
on, or fixed to, the handle bar which is mounted in suitable brackets fixed to, or
forming part, of the head, so that it may revolve freely therein. On the handle bar
immediately on one side of one of the brackets carrying it, is mounted a spring box
to assist in winding up the cord or chain, the spring being wound up as the cord or
chain is unwound. In the other side of the bracket carrying the handle bar is fitted a
sliding clutch having teeth which engage with a series of teeth cut on the end of the
grooved roller. This clutch is controlled by a thumb piece mounted on the handle
bar in convenient proximity to the left hand handle. The function of this clutch is to
prevent the cord or chain being unwound, and consequently the rake of the front fork
being altered, until such time as the rider desires it, when he releases the clutch, and
the rake is automatically altered by the weight of the rider. To restore the frame of
the machine to its normal position, the cord or chain is wound up by rotating the
handle bar, assisted by the spring box.
Dated this 10th day of Danambar 1886
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70, 71 & 72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: I, FRIEDRICH WECK of Newport in the county of Salop, Engineer, do hereby
leclare 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 an arrangement for varying the rake of the fork carrying
the driving wheel of a bicycle as emergency may require in order to give the machine
greater longitudinal stability by placing the centre of gravity more in rear of the
Centre of the driving wheel than it normally is. By the use of my invention a rider
is enabled instantly to so alter his position with respect to the centre of the driving
wheel, that he can ride over any ordinary obstacles or down the steepest gradients
likely to be encountered on a highway, without fear of being thrown forwards over
the front of the machine. I carry my invention into practical effect in the manner
illustrated in the accompanying drawing, throughout the several views of which
similar parts are marked with like letters of reference. Figures 1 and 2 show a
bicycle fitted with my invention on the level, and on a down gradient, respectively the
position of the saddle being the same in both cases. Figures 3 and 4 are views of the
quadrantal back fork showing the same raised and depressed respectively. Figure 5
is an elevation, partly in section, of the quadrantal back fork. Figures 6 and 7 are
an elevation and plan respectively of the operating gear on the handle bar. Figure 8
is a section through the head of the machine, and Figure 9 is a side elevation
thereof.
I take an ordinary direct action bicycle of the well known type having what is
known as an open head, i.e. having the sides of the fork, A carrying the driving
wheel B, carried up and connected by cross pieces to carry the top and bottom centres
of the head. The neck c of the backbone C instead of being fitted therein and brazed
or otherwise fixed thereto is formed to fit over the end of the backbone so that the
backbone passes completely through it, and is open at the front so as to allow a cord
or chain to pass into it. The lower end of the backbone C where it is fixed to the
fork that carries the rear wheel, is also arranged to allow the cord or chain within the
backbone to pass through it. The axle d of the rear wheel D instead of being fixed
to the ends of the prongs of the back fork E are fixed to a quadrantal fork F which
encircles the wheel and which is pivotted at e to the ends of the prongs of the
backfork E carried by the backbone Cat a distance of about 4 inches (more or less
according to the amount of rake required on the front fork) from the centre of the
wheel D. The two ends of the quadrantal fork F are connected by a curved plate F¹
which forms a mud guard for the wheel, and a guide for the cord or chain, as will
presently be made clear. When the frame of the machine is in its normal position,
the arm of the quadrantal fork to which the back fork E is pivotted, lies parallel
with, and within the back fork, and the other arm f' stands out rearwards at right
angles or approximately so thereto. Connected to the top of the arm f of the
quadrantal fork is a cord or chain which passes up through the backbone Cas
hereinbefore described and is wound on a grooved roller g on the handle bar G, so
that when it is desired to vary the rake of the front fork A the cord or chain is
released, when the weight of the rider on the back fork E causes the arm f of the

page_text: quadrantal fork F to assume a more horizontal position and so brings the end of the
backfork E nearer to the ground, and thus increase the rake of the front fork A. As
the arm of the quadrantal fork assumes a horizontal position, the cord or chain a lies
on the outer surface of the curved plate or mud guard F, and is preferably guided by
a groove formed therein for the purpose and so keeps it clear of the wheel. On the
other end of th quadrantal fork F is formed a stop which engages with the top of
the back fork E when the limit of variation of the rake of the front fork is reached,
and so in case of a possible fracture of the cord or chain, prevents the quadrantal fork
from moving round until it comes into contact with the ground.
The shifting cord or chain a is controlled by the following mechanism :-After
passing up through the backbone C within which it is guided by suitable rollers or
pulleys c c etc. it passes out through the top end of it, and is wound on a grooved
roller g formed on, or fixed to, the handle bar G which is mounted in suitable brackets
fixed to, or forming part of the head, so that it may revolve freely therein. On the
handle bar G immediately on one side of one of the bracket a carrying it, is mounted
a spring box H to assist in winding up the cord or chain, the spring being wound up as
the cord or chain is unwound. In the other side of the bracket a carrying the handle
bar G is fitted a sliding clutch J having teeth which engage with a series of teeth cut on
the end of the grooved roller g. This clutch is controlled by a thumb piece K mounted
on the handle bar G in convenient proximity to the left hand handle. The function
of this clutch is to prevent the cord or chain being unwound and consequently the
rake of the front fork being altered until such time as the rider desires it, when he
releases the clutch, and the rake is automatically altered by the weight of the rider.
To restore the frame of the machine to its normal position the cord or chain is wound
up by rotating the handle bar assisted by the spring box.
I am aware that many devices have already been used for varying the rake of the
front fork of a bicycle to increase the safety thereof, and therefore I do not claim such
a device broadly, but having now particularly described and ascertained the nature
of my said Invention, and in what inanner the same is to be performed, I declare that
what I claim is :-
1. In a bicycle of the type hereinbefore described and shown, the combination with
the rear fork of the quadrantal fork carrying the trailing wheel, the curved plate
joining the extremities of the arms of the said fork clear of the periphery of the wheel,
substantially as set forth.
2. In a bicycle of the type hereinbefore described, the combination with the rear
fork, of the quadrantal fork F, the curved plate F", and the stop f' to limit the action
of the said fork, substantially as set forth.
3. In a bicycle of the type herein before described, the combination of the
quadrantal fork, the curved plate carrying a fixed stop, and the particularly con-
structed neck to allow the backbone to pass completely through to provide a clear
and direct passage for the controlling cord or chain, substantially as set forth.
4. In a bicycle of the type hereinbefore described, the combination of the
quadrantal fork F, the curved plate F, the stop f³, the neck C, the grooved roller 9,
the spring box H, the clutch J, the controlling thumb piece K, and the cord or
chain, all combined arranged and operating as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 9th day of September 1887.
87.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS,
Royal Courts Chambers,
70 & 72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.