Improvements relating to the Front Forks of Velocipedes.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements relating to the Front Forks of Velocipedes.
We, ADAM LEE, FREDERICK GRAILAM ISHERWOOD, and JAMES EDMUND WHIT-
TAKER, trading as The Queece Cycle Co., of Chamber Works, Oldham, in the
County of Lancaster, and ALFRED GARRISON, of the same address, Works Manager,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In our improved construction of the front forks of velocipedes, a pair of tubes
is provided on each side of the front wheel. These tubes extend upwards to the
ball head at the top of the front member of the frame and are united by trans-
verse plates above and below the upper and lower ends of the said member. The
chief feature of our invention relates more particularly to the method of con-
necting the top transverse plate (which carries the handle bar) to the upper
ends of the side tubes, whereby the adjustment of the ball head is, facilitated.
For this purpose the said top plate is recessed in its lower face to receive
The tubes are
the ends of the side tubes which enter and fit the recesses.
secured in the recesses by set screws passed through clearance holes in the plate
and screwed into solid end pieces let into the tubes and fixed therein by brazing
or otherwise. The top plate is secured to the ball head and is suitably constructed
with a sleeve or eye to receive the handle bar. By the above described con-
struction the adjustment of the ball head can be effected with ease and exactness,
and the fork is relieved from undue side twist and strain.
1
.... 1808
GEORGE HARRISON,
35, Therapia Road, Honor Oak, London, Agent for the Applicants.
Improvements relating to the Front Forks of Velocipedes.
We, ADAM LEE, FREDERICK GRAHAM ISHERWOOD, and JAMES EDMUND WHIT
TAKER, trading as The Queece Cycle Co., of Chamber Works, Oldham, in the
County of Lancaster, Manufacturers, and ALFRED GARRISON, of the same address,
Works Manager, 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:-
In our improved construction of front forks for velocipedes a pair of tubes
is provided at each side of the steering head. These tubes extend from the axle
of the front wheel hub upwards through the crown plates to the ball head at
the top of the steering column, and their upper ends are connected together

page_text: by a top transverse plate.
The chief feature of our invention. relates more
particularly to the said top transverse plate and to its connection with the steering
column and with the upper ends of the side tubes whereby a strong and rigid
front fork is ensured whilst permitting of the accurate adjustment of the ball
head.
For the purposes of our invention as applied to machines with stationary handle
bars the top plate is constructed to carry the handle bar, and the lower face of
the said plate is recessed to receive the ends of the side tubes which enter and
fit the recesses and which are secured therein by set screws.
In the case of cycles with adjustable handle bars, the handle bar is not carried
by the top plate, but is adjustably fixed in the steering column.
Referring to the accompanying drawings which illustrate our invention as
applied to a machine with fixed handle bar:
Fig. 1 is a side view of the upper portion of the fork and a part of the frame,
and Fig. 2 is a sectional rear view of the same showing the bearings in the
steering head.
A is the outer tube or socket through which the steering column s passes in
the ordinary way, ball bearings being provided between the tubes A and at the
upper and lower ends in the usual manner. The ball cup a of the upper bearing
slides over the inner tube or steering columns and is adjusted by an adjusting
nut which screws on the tube s. B, B, are tubes constituting the front fork,
two such tubes being situated on each side of the steering head. These tubes
are united by brazing or otherwise at their lower ends and are formed with an eye
as usual for attachment to the front wheel axle. The tubes pass through the
two-plate crown C to which they are rightly brazed, and extend to the top of the
steering head. D is the top plate which slides over the end of the tube s and
is locked by a nut v. The lower face of the said plate is recessed at d, d to receive
the upper ends of the tubes B which enter and fit in the said recesses. E, E,
are set screws passing through clearance holes F in the top plate and screwing
into blocks G which are brazed or otherwise secured in the upper ends of the
tubes B. The handle bar J is fixed in eye plates H formed integrally with or
rigidly attached to the plate D. In some instances we use a plain washer under
the top plate in lieu of the nut t, and then the adjustment is effected by the nut
on the top of the top plate.
This construction of front fork ensures a rigid structure which cannot easily
be thrown out of line either by a side.blow or by skidding, and permits of an
exact adjustment of the ball head to take up any slack. The fork is moreover
relieved of undue twist or strain.
The construction is slightly modified when applied to machines with adjust-
able handle bars. In such cases the handle bar is formed with a vertical
stem as usual and is made to slide in the steering column which is split longi-
tudinally at its upper end, and the ball cup which in this case is made longer
is also split and furnished with a tightening bolt for closing the cup socket
tightly on the steering column and so holding the handle bar in any desired
position. The top plate instead of being recessed to receive the side tubes is
drilled right through, the tubes being secured by set screws and washers.
washer or a nut may be provided underneath the top plate as in the arrangement
for fixed handle bar.
A
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The top plate at the head of the steering column in combination with side
tubes passing through the crown and having their ends secured in recesses or
holes in the said top plate, all substantially as, and for the purpose, described.
2. The combination of the adjusting nut, the top plate D and the screws E
which secure the ends of the side tubes to the top plate, substantially as described.

page_text: 3. The construction of front forks for velocipedes, substantially as described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
4. The modified form of front fork applicable to cycles with adjustable handle
bars, substantially as described.
Dated this 10th day of July IOV
GEORGE HARRISON,
10, Staple Inn, London, Agent for the Applicants.