Improvements in Steering Locks for Cycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 6th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 23rd Oct., 1897
Improvements in Steering Locks for Cycles.
We, GEORGE PILKINGTON MILLS of "The Woodlands" Beeston, in the County
of Nottingham, Civil Engineer, and THEODORE JAMES BIGGS of 50 Raleigh Street,
Nottingham, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the steering lock used on bicycles
and similar machines; that is, a lock which is used to prevent the steering
wheel and its fork with other parts attached thereto, from turning round or
oscillating when the machine is not in use.
On the lower portion of the clip which secures the handle bar it is customary
to form a collar provided with a ball race which forms a part of the steering
mechanism of the ball bearing steering head: according to our invention we leave
a projection or lug on this said collar with a suitable hole therein to carry the
sliding Locking Pin or Bolt.,
On the loop which unites the top tube to the head tube of the cycle frame we
form a boss with a hole therein to receive the lower end of the locking bolt.
The said locking bolt which is made to slide up and down in the projecting lug
on the ball race collar is provided with a head, a spiral compression spring
encircles the bolt taking a seating on the upper face of the lug and by applying
pressure to the underside of the head of the locking bolt it holds the said bolt out
of action.
At right angles to the hole in which the locking bolt slides another hole is
drilled in the lug to receive another cross bolt or pin, this cross pin is made with
a small waist so that by cutting a slot for sufficient distance up the body of the
locking pin the cross pin may first be placed in its position and then the locking
bolt may be placed in its position, the slot in the locking bolt
receiving the waisted portion of the cross pin, after which the lower end of
the slot may be filled up by soldering a piece of metal in. The locking boit is
provided with a step or recess so that when it is pressed down to the locking
position a spring throws a portion of the body of the cross pin into this recess,
and prevents the spiral spring returning the locking bolt upwards out of action;
when the cross pin is pressed by the finger so as to disengage it with the step or
recess in the locking bolt, the spiral spring instantly throws the said locking
bolt upwards out of action.
Dated this 2nd day of December. 1896.

page_text: Даргомещение щoveering после 101 сустер.
We, GEORGE PILKINGTON MILLS of "The Woodlands" Beeston, in the County
of Nottingham, Civil Engineer, and THEODORE JAMES BIGGS of 50 Raleigh Street,
Nottingham, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in the steering lock used on bicycles.
and similar machines; that is, a lock which is used to prevent the steering
wheel and its fork with other parts attached thereto, from turning round or
oscillating when the machine is not in use.
On the lower portion of the clip which secures the handle bar it is customary
to form a collar provided with a ball race which forms a part of the steering
mechanism of the ball bearing steering head: according to our invention we leave
a projection or lug on this said collar with a suitable hole therein to carry the
sliding locking pin or bolt.
On the loop which unites the top tube to the head tube of the cycle frame we
form a boss with a hole therein to receive the lower end of the locking bolt.
The said locking bolt which is made to slide up and down in the projecting lug
on the ball race collar is provided with a head, a spiral compression spring
encircles the bolt taking a seating on the upper face of the lug and by applying
pressure to the underside of the head of the locking bolt it holds the said bolt out
of action.
At right angles to the hole in which the locking bolt slides another hole is
drilled in the lug to receive another cross bolt or pin, this cross pin is made with
a small waist so that by cutting a slot for sufficient distance up the body of the
locking pin the cross pin may first be placed in its position and then the locking
bolt may be placed in its position the slot in the locking bolt
receiving the waisted portion of the cross pin, after which the lower end of
the slot may be filled up by soldering a piece of metal in. The locking bolt is
provided with a step or recess so that when it is pressed down to the locking
position a spring throws a portion of the body of the cross pin into this recess,
and prevents the spiral spring returning the locking bolt upwards out of action;
when the cross pin is pressed by the finger so as to disengage it with the step or
recess in the locking bolt, the spiral spring instantly throws the said locking
bolt upwards out of action.
In the accompanying drawing which illustrates this invention :-
Figure 1 is a view in elevation of the adjustable collar carrying the locking pin
or. bolt.
Figures 2 and 3 are views-on an enlarged scale-in side and front elevation
respectively showing the details of construction, and
Figures 4 and 5 are views in plan-partly in section and on an enlarged scale
showing the action of the device for locking the locking pin or bolt.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
Referring to the drawing, X designates the adjustable collar carrying the top
ball race of the ball bearing steering head and the transverse locking pin.
Y designates the collar on the socket of the steering head forming part of the loop
that connects the top member of the frame to the said socket. A designates the
lug or projection on the collar X and A¹ the lug or projection on the collar Y.
B designates the sliding locking pin or bolt mounted in a suitable hole in the lug A
and adapted to engage with a suitable hole in the lug A¹. C designates the spiral

page_text: compression spring acting between the head 6 of the locking pin or bolt B and the
upper side of the lug A so that it acts to lift the said pin or bolt and keep it out
of engagement with the hole in the lug A¹. D designates the transverse locking
pin which has a reduced part or waist d which fits in the slot 6 in the pin or
bolt B. E designates the compression spring acting between the head d' of the
transverse pin and the side of the lug A so as to keep the shoulder & formed by
the end of the pin D in engagement with a recess be in the side of the pin or
bolt B thereby retaining the said pin or bolt in its depressed position whereby its
lower end is in engagement with the hole in the lug A¹ thus locking together the
two parts of the steering head. To prevent the pin or bolt being lifted too high
by the spring C the lower end of the slot b' in it is filled up by soldering in a
suitable piece 63 but in the arrangement shown by Figure 1 this is not obligatory
as the pin or bolt is prevented from rising too high by reason of its head coming
into contact with the transverse pin x.
In this improved lock only one motion is necessary both for locking and
unlocking. To lock, the pin or bolt is simply pressed down as far as it will go.
To unlock, the transverse pin is simply pressed in as far as it will go.
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 improved steering lock substantially as herein described and illustrated
by the accompanying drawing.
2. A steering lock consisting of a vertically arranged locking pin or bolt carried
by one part of the steering head and adapted to engage with a hole in the other
part of the said head and of a transverse pin adapted to automatically. lock the
locking pin or bolt and prevent its rising when it is in engagement with the
other part of the steering head, as set forth.
Dated this 6th day of September 1897
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C. E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants