Improvements in the Construction of Velocipedes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Oct., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 26th July, 1895-Accepted, 31st Aug., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Velocipedes.
I WILLIAM EDWARD EVANS, of 18 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.
Engineer, (a communication from abroad from Louis Marchand of 42 Boulevard
Bonne Nouvelle, Paris, in the French Republic Mechanical Engineer), do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
My invention pertains to improvements in the construction more particularly of
the so called safety bicycles and other cycles or velocipedes; and has for its object
to strengthen the fork or steering tube or spindle so that a greater resistance is
offered to the stresses produced in actual use.
In carrying my invention into effect when applied to a safety bicycle I construct
the frame of the machine in any suitable manner and design, and I likewise secure
the fork or steering tube to the frame and braze or otherwise secure the fork or
fork head connection to this tube; I prolong the steering tube however downwardly
from the fork head and secure thereto a ring or collar having a groove provided.
upon its external surface. Around this extension of the steering tube and against
the central boss of the fork head connection I fit the head piece of a strut or tie
bar or tube, the other end of which I secure to the lower oblique member of the
frame; and within the interior of the head piece I provide an upper bearing
surface or groove, corresponding to the groove upon the collar that is fixed to the.
end of the steering rod, in which work balls that are retained therein by a screwed
cap or collar. The end of the steering tube is thereby capable of revolution within
the ball bearing and is supported and strengthened for resisting any strain that the
ordinary use of the machine may tend to produce.
I do not limit the application of my invention to any particular type of
velocipede but apply the same to any particular or suitable cycle, and I modify
the construction to suit the expedience of manufacture or any other particular
requirement.
Dated this 26th day of October 1894.
MARKS & CLERK,
18 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Velocipedes.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD EVANS, of 18 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.
Engineer (a communication from abroad from Louis Marchand, of 42 Boulevard
Bonne-Nouvelle Paris, in the French Republic, Mechanical 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 improvements in the construction of velocipedes, mainly consist of an
arrangement, the object of which is to consolidate or strengthen the fork which,
in the divers constructions hitherto employed, is apt to become the cause of many
serious accidents for want of firmness.

page_text: The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings in which
Figure 1 is a comprehensive perspective view of an improved bicycle-head
constructed in accordance with this invention, and
Figure 2 is another perspective view thereof; drawn on a somewhat larger scale,
with a portion broken away the better to illustrate the novel arrangements.
By referring to these figures. it will be seen that the fork-head A of the machine,
retained in place, in the usual manner, by a tube or sleeve B, located within the
tube of the head C, is, besides retained at the lower part by a tie-rod D, one end
of which is secured to the lower tube E of the machine frame, while its other end
forms a head F, which is connected to the tube B in the following manner-The
tube B of the fork head A projects below, beyond the said head, as at G, and to
this portion G is secured a ring or collar H, having an external groove I, loosely
fitted in such a manner that it is retained, and at the same time capable of
revolving, within the head F of the said rod.
The fitting of the ring or collar H within the head F is effected by means of 'a
ball-bearing J, the balls being adapted to travel between the groove I of the
ring H, ou one side, and the cap or bearing L on the other side, the latter being
formed in the head F of the rod D and retained by a cap M which, forming as it
does an internal extension of the head F, may be screwed or unscrewed at will,
and thereby adjusted in relation to the said head F, affording a ready means of
regulating or controlling the operation of the ball bearing, and also, when required,
the facility of quickly taking the various parts of the machine to pieces. The end
of the steering tube is thereby capable of revolution within the ball bearing and is
supported and strengthened for resisting any strain that the ordinary use of the
machine may tend to produce.
I do not limit the application of my invention to any particular type of
velocipede, but apply the same to any suitable cycle, and I modify the construction
to suit the convenience of manufacture or any other special requirement.
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―
1. In safety bicycles and other similar cycles the provision of a strut or tie bar
from an extension of the front or steering tube below the fork head connection to
the lower oblique member of the machine frame, for the purpose hereinbefore
specified.
2. In safety bicycles and other similar cycles, a strut or tie bar from the lower
oblique member of the machine frame, secured to an extension of the steering
tube provided below the fork head connection by means of a head piece closely
fitting upon a ring or collar secured to the extension of such tube, movement of
the tube therein being facilitated by a ball bearing adjusted by means of a
bearing cap, substantially as and for the purpose, hereinbefore described and
illustrated.
Dated this. 26th day of July 1895
MARKS & CLERK,
18 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13 Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.