Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 9th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 29th Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
We WILLIAM ALLDAY, of Springfield Moseley in the County of Worcester
Manufacturer and EDMUND ALLDAY, of Spring Coppice Knowle, in the County
of Warwick, Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Our invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described in bicycles,
tricycles and other velocipedes.
Our invention consists first of the following improvements in attaching the
driving chain wheels of velocipedes to the crank axles whereby the said chain
wheels, while being very securely fixed to the said crank axles, may be readily
detached from the said crank axles and be replaced by other chain wheels as
desired.
We form on one side of the chain wheel a boss, split or divided radially at three
or more equi-distant parts, the said boss being slightly conical and having a screw
thread thereon.
We make in the axial hole of the chain wheel a slot or depression and we make
on one side of that end of the crank axle to which the wheel is to be secured a rib
or feather corresponding with the slot or depression in the axial hole of the wheel.
The chain wheel is passed on to the axle by a sliding motion and is fixed when in
place by a screw nut or collar taking on the split or divided screwed boss on the
side of the chain wheel, the driving home of the screw nut or collar forcing and
binding the split or divided parts of the boss on the crank axle.
Instead of forming a slot or depression in the axial hole of the chain wheel and
a rib or feather on the crank axle the said axle may have a D shaped end the hole
in the chain wheel having a corresponding figure given to it.
Our invention consists further of the following arrangement of parts for fixing
the adjustable seat pillar or the vertical arm of the L pin of a velocipede to the
seat post or socket of the velocipede frame. We form in that part of the seat post
or socket of the frame of the velocipede which joins the horizontal or nearly
horizontal branch of the said frame, an oblong or elongated hole and we form in
the horizontal branch of the frame a slot the said slot being preferably of a width
about equal to one half the length of the hole in the seat post or socket. In the
hole in the seat post or socket we introduce a washer or pad having a stem at back
which takes into the tubular end of the horizontal branch of the frame.
pad or washer is capable of an advancing and retiring motion in the hole in which
it is situated so as to clip or release the adjustable seat pillar in the post. In the
rear part of the slot in the horizontal branch of the frame of the velocipede and
behind the stem of the pad or washer, a cross taper pin works the said pin being
drawn into the said slot by a nut on the outer end of the said horizontal branch of
the frame and on the opposite face to that through which the taper pin is
introduced.
The said
The action of the parts is as follows. The pad or washer being in its withdrawn
position the seat pillar or the vertical arm of the pin is adjusted to the position
desired. The nut on the screwed end of the cross taper pin is turned so as to draw
the large part of the pin into the slot; the pin pressing against the stem of the pad
or washer advances the said pad or washer against the seat pillar or vertical arm
of the pin thereby binding upon and firmly securing the said pillar or L pin in
its adjusted position.
Our invention consists further of the following improvement in brakes for the

page_text: wheels of velocipedes. Instead of forming on the end of the spring brake rod the
ordinary slightly curved pressing plate for bearing, when brought into action on
the tread of the wheel, we form in the end of the said spring brake rod a fork
shaped plate, the branches of the fork making an angle of about ninety degrees
with each other. The branches of the fork are of a frame or skeleton form. The
inner or acting face of the forked pressing plate is provided with a vulcanized
india rubber or other yielding pad, the upper side of which is provided with heads
or enlargements which pass through the frame of the plate and secure the pad
in the said plate. The india rubber or yielding pad may in some cases be
dispensed with.
When the brake thus constructed is in action the branches of the forked pressing
plate do not come into contact with the tread of the tyre, but bear on opposite
sides of the said tyre, thereby avoiding the excessive wear to which the tread is
subjected when ordinary brakes are used.
Our invention consists further in the following arrangement of parts for adjusting
the tension of the driving chains of velocipedes.
arms.
We arrange on that part of the frame of the velocipede to which the bottom
bracket, carrying the crank axle and driving chain wheel, is usually fixed two
horizontal arms. Instead of fixing the bottom bracket rigidly to the frame we
support the said bottom bracket on the two horizontal arms described by means of
two tubular clips on the upper side of the bottom bracket the said clips being at a
distance apart equal to the distance apart of the two horizontal supporting arms on
the frame. The said clips of the bottom bracket take and slide on the two
horizontal supporting arms on the frame the said bottom bracket and parts carried
by it being thereby capable of a horizontal sliding motion on the said supporting
The bottom bracket is moved on its supporting armis by a screw pin the
end of which bears against a fixed part of the frame of the velocipede and the
screwed part of which works in a screw box attached to the bottom bracket.
When it is wished to adjust the tension of the driving chain it is only necessary to
move the bottom bracket on its supporting arms its adjusted position being fixed
by tightening the clips on the said supporting arms. The said clips are tightened
and relaxed by means of screw pins passing through their free or unconnected ends.
Our invention consists further of the following improvements in screw nuts and
their washers to be used in the connecting together of the parts of velocipedes by
the use of which improvements the said screw nuts are firmly locked upon the
screws with which they are used and an additional or lock nut is rendered
unnecessary.
We
We form on the inner face of the screw nut a collar slightly conical externally,
the said conical collar being slit or divided preferably at four parts so as to form the
collar into a series of gripping pieces. The said collar is screwed internally
the screw thread being a continuation of the internal screw thread of the nut.
make the axial hole in the washer cylindrical for a portion of its length and conical
through the remainder of its length. We prefer to make the cylindrical portion
of the hole in the washer of the same diameter as the screw with which it is used,
the said cylindrical hole being screw threaded for taking on the said screw, and we
make the wider outer end of the conical portion of the hole of a diameter slightly
less than the base of the conical collar adjacent to the inner face of the screw nut.
The improved screw nut and washer are used as follows;-The washer having
been advanced into its proper position on the screw with the conical portion of its
axial hole outwards, the screw nut is driven home on the screw. The conical
elastic gripping parts of the nut entering the conical hole in the washer are thereby
compressed upon and made to grip the screw. The screw nut is thereby locked
very firmly on the screw and a second screw or lock nut thereby dispensed with..
Dated this 16th day of November 1893.

page_text: Improvements in Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes.
We WILLIAM Allday, of Springfield, Moseley, in the County of Worcester,
Manufacturer and EDMUND ALLDAY, of Spring Coppice, Kuowle in the County
of Warwick Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of our invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention consists of the improvements hereinafter described in bicycles
tricycles and other velocipedes.
Our invention consists first of the following improvements in attaching the
driving chain wheels of velocipedes to the crank axles whereby the said chain
wheels, while being very securely fixed to the said crank axles, may be readily
detached from the said crank axles and be replaced by other chain wheels as
desired.
We form on one side of the chain wheel a boss, split or divided radially at three
or more equi-distant parts, the said boss being slightly conical and having a screw
thread thereon.
We make in the axial hole in the chain wheel a slot or depression and we make
on one side of that end of the crank axle to which the wheel is to be secured a rib
or feather corresponding with the slot or depression in the axial hole of the wheel.
The chain wheel is passed onto the axle by a sliding motion and is fixed when in
place by a screw nut or collar taking on the split or divided screwed boss on the
side of the chain wheel, the driving home of the screw nut or collar forcing and
binding the split or divided parts of the boss on the crank axle.
Instead of forming a slot or depression in the axial hole of the chain wheel and
a rib or feather on the crank axle the said axle may have a D shaped end the hole
in the chain wheel having a corresponding figure given to it.
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings represent respectively in front
and side elevation a portion of the crank axle of a velocipede to which a driving
chain wheel is attached by the method constituting part of our invention; Figure 3
is a vertical section of the same taken on the line, Figure 2, and Figure 4
represents in side and front elevation a portion of the driving chain wheel
detached.
The same letters indicate the same parts in Figures 1 to 4 both inclusive.
a is the crank axle having on its outer end the chain wheel b and crank c. The
said chain wheel b is secured to the crank axle in the following manner. On the
outer side of the said chain wheel a split tubular boss 62 is formed. The said
boss is of a slightly conical figure and has a screw thread thereon. On the said
screw threaded boss the screw nut d is screwed. By the advancing of the screw
nut d on the boss 6 the split or divided parts of the said boss are forced tightly on
the crank axle and the wheel is thereby firmly secured thereto. The wheel b is
prevented from rotating on the crank axle a by a flat 3 on the internal surface of
its boss taking on to a corresponding flat surface a² on the crank axle but the said
wheel may be prevented from turning on the axle in other ways; for example, a
web or feather may be formed on the crank axle and a corresponding slot or
depression may be made in the boss of the chain wheel for taking on to the said
web or feather,
When it is desired to remove the chain wheel b, as when changing the gear of the
velocipede, it is only necessary to unscrew the screw nut d from off the tubular
boss, the crank c having previously been removed, when the wheel is free and
may be taken from off the crank axle a by a sliding motion; thus the removal
from and fixing of the driving chain wheel on the crank axle is much facilitated.

page_text: Our invention consists further in the following arrangement of parts for fixing
the adjustable seat pillar or the vertical arm of the pin of a velocipede to the
seat post or socket of the velocipede frame. In the seat post or socket we introduce
a washer or pad having a stem at back which takes into the tubular end of the
horizontal branch of the frame. The said pad or washer is capable of an advancing
and retiring motion in the horizontal branch of the frame in which it is situated so
as to clip or release the adjustable seat pillar in the post. In a cross hole in the
horizontal branch of the frame of the velocipede and behind the stem of the pad
or washer, a cross taper pin works the said pin being drawn into the said hole by a
nut on the outer end of the said horizontal branch of the frame and on the opposite
face to that through which the taper pin is introduced.
The action of the parts is as follows;-The pad or washer being in its withdrawn
position the sent pillar or the vertical arm of the L pin is adjusted to the position
desired. The nut on the screwed end of the cross taper pin is turned so as to
draw the large part of the pin into the hole; the pin pressing against the stem of
the pad or washer advances the said pad or washer against the seat pillar or
vertical arm of the pin thereby binding upon and firmly securing the said pillar
or pin in its adjusted position.
Figure 5 represents in side elevation our method of fixing the L pin of a
velocipede to the velocipede frame and Figure 6 represents the same partly in
vertical section; Figure 7 is a horizontal section taken on the line y, y Figure 5;
Figures 8 and 9 represent views of details of the same as hereinafter described.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 5 to 9 both
inclusive.
The portion of the velocipede frame represented is that of a tandem bicycle,
e being the front seat post or socket of the frame and the horizontal tube con-
necting the top of the front seat post or socket e to the rear seat post or socket. In
the front end of the said horizontal tube f the metal pad or washer g (shown
separately in Figure 8) is introduced the inclined and curved front face of the said
washer bearing against the arm h of the L pin in the said socket e. The said
metallic pad or washer 9 is kept in position and forced to its bearing against
the pin by the taper cross pin (shown separately in Figure 9) working in
holes at opposite sides of the horizontal tube f of the frame, the flat side of the
said taper pin bearing against and supporting the stem of the washer g as
represented in Figures 6 and 7. When it is desired to adjust the position of the
Lpin so as to raise or lower the saddle or seat of the velocipede it is only necessary
to turn the nut k on the screwed end of the taper pin i so as to slacken the bearing
of the pad g on the L pin, when the said pin can be raised or lowered to suit
the height of the rider, the said pin being refixed in its adjusted position by
screwing home the nut k so as to draw the taper pin i through the holes in the
horizontal tube thereby forcing the pad or washer g.against and gripping the
Lpin in the seat post or socket.
The application of our improvements to the fixing of the pins and vertical
seat pillars of velocipedes other than tandem bicycles differs in no essential respect
from their application to the fixing of the pins of a tandem bicycle as herein-
before described.
Our invention consists further of the following improvement in brakes for the
wheels of velocipedes. Instead of forming on the end of the spring brake rod, the
ordinary slightly curved pressing plate for bearing, when brought into action, on
the tread of the wheel, we form on the end of the said spring brake rod, a fork
shaped plate the branches of the fork making an angle of about ninety degrees
with each other. The branches of the fork are of a frame or skeleton form. The
inner or acting face of the forked pressing plate is provided with a vulcanized
india rubber or other yielding pad, the upper side of which is provided with heads
or enlargements which pass through the frame of the plate and secure the pad in
the said plate. The india rubber or yielding pad may in some cases be dispensed
with.

page_text: Figure 10 represents in front elevation and Figure 11 in plan a velocipede brake
constructed according to this part of our invention;
Figure 12 is a cross section through one of the branches of the fork or inverted
V shaped pressing plate of the brake, the said section being taken on the dotted'
line, Figure 10;
Figure 13 represents in front elevation and plan the forked metallic frame of the
brake and Figure 14 represents in plan of underside, side elevation and end
elevation the vulcanized india rubber pad of the brake before being applied to the
metallic frame of the brake.
on
The same letters indicate the same parts in Figures 10 to 14 both inclusive.
I is the bottom end of the spring brake rod having on its lower end the fork
shaped metallic frame m. To the underside or acting face of the said frame m the
india rubber or other yielding pad p is attached by passing the heads p³, p².
the upper side of the said pad p through the openings or perforations m³ (see
Figure 13) in the metallic frame m, the edges of the said metallic frame engaging
in the grooves between the said heads p², p³ and the body or roughened acting part
of the pad p as will be best understood by reference to Figure 12.
When the brake thus constructed is in action the branches of the forked pressing
plate do not come into contact with the tread of the tyre of the wheel but bear on
opposite sides of the said tyre thereby avoiding the excessive wear to which the
tread is subjected when ordinary spoon brakes are used.
Although we have described and represented and prefer to provide the acting
face of the brake with a vulcanized india rubber or other yielding pad yet we wish
it to be understood that the said yielding pad may be dispensed with, the metallic
frame of the brake when brought into action bearing directly on opposite sides of
the tyre.
In this case the branches of the forked metallic frame m would be without the
perforations m² represented in Figure 13.
Our invention consists further in the following arrangement of parts for adjusting
the tension of the driving chains of velocipedes.
We arrange on that part of the frame of the velocipede to which the bottom
bracket, carrying the crank axle and driving chain wheel, is usually fixed, two
horizontal arms. Instead of fixing the bottom bracket rigidly to the frame we
support the said bottom bracket on the two horizontal arms described by means of
two tubular clips on the upperside of the bottom bracket the said clips being at
a distance apart equal to the distance apart of the two horizontal supporting arms
on the frame. The said clips of the bottom bracket take and slide on the two
horizontal supporting arms on the frame, the said bottom bracket and parts carried
by it being thereby capable of a horizontal sliding motion on the said supporting
arms. The bottom bracket is moved on its supporting arms by a screw pin the
end of which bears against a fixed part of the frame of the velocipede and the
screwed part of which works in a screw-box attached to horizontal arms supporting
the bottom bracket. When it is wished to adjust the tension of the driving chain it
is only necessary to move the bottom bracket on its supporting arms, its adjusted
position being fixed by tightening the clips on the said supporting arms. The said
clips are tightened and relaxed by means of screw pins passing through their free
or unconnected ends.
Figure 15 represents in side elevation a tandem bicycle to which a hanging
adjustable bottom bracket constructed according to this invention is applied, for
adjusting the tension of the driving chain; Figure 16 represents in side elevation;
Figure 17 in plan; Figure 18 in front elevation and Figure 19 in longitudinal
section, taken on the line a, a Figure 18, the said bracket and portions of-the
bicycle frame drawn to a larger scale;
Figure 20 represents in horizontal section the two parallel arms on the frame
and parts adjacent thereto with the sliding bracket removed and Figure 21
represents a front elevation and side elevation of the sliding bracket detached;
Figure 22 represents one of the adjusting screw bearing caps detached.

page_text: The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 15, 16, 17, 18,
19, 20, 21 and 22.
To the bottom or elbow of the back seat post b of the tandem frame, and on
either side the said elbow, two horizontal arms c, c are formed (see Figures 17
and 20) the said arms being made in one piece with the elbow which joins the seat
post to the horizontal part of the frame. In the back portions of the horizontal
arms c, c the back stays d, d of the frame are fitted. On the front parts of the
arms c, c the sliding bracket f, carrying the rear crank shaft 9 and chain wheel h,
is supported and slides by means of the two tubular clips e, e on the upper part of
the said bracket f, the said clips being at a distance apart equal to the distance
apart of the two horizontal supporting arms c, c on the frame as represented. By
the sliding of the clips e, e on the supporting arms c, c the position of the bracket f
and the crank axle g and back driving chain wheel h supported by the said bracket,
can be adjusted.
The sliding clips e, e are tightened and relaxed on the supporting arms c, c by
means of the screw pins i, i passed through their free or unconnected ends. In the
tubular horizontal arms c, c, the screw boxes k, k are formed in which the horizontal
adjusting screws 1, 1 work, the heads of the said screws bearing against the tubular
loose caps m, m fitted on the ends of the arms c, c and abutting against the clips e, e
as best seen in Figure 19. By turning the screws 1, 1 in the direction proper to
advance them in their screw boxes k, and sliding the clips e, e (after the latter
have been relaxed) upon the arms c, c towards the rear of the machine, the
bracket axle g and chain wheel are carried with them and the driving chain
upon the said chain wheel tightened. The adjusted position of the bracket fis
fixed by tightening the clips e, e on the supporting arms c, c by the screw pins i, i.
When it is required to adjust the chain wheel in the opposite direction, the clips e, e
are relaxed and the adjusting screws 1, turned in a direction contrary to that herein-
before indicated. The said screws are thereby made to advance towards the front
of the machine, when the clips e, e can be moved forward by a sliding motion on
their arms c, c, pushing back the screw bearing caps m with them. After adjustment
the clips are tightened on the arms c, c. The sliding or adjustable bottom bracket
described for supporting the crank shaft and rear driving chain wheel of a tandem
bicycle may be applied to relocipedes generally.
Our invention consists further in the following improvements in screw nuts and
their washers to be used in the connecting together of the parts of velocipedes ;
by the use of which improvements the said screw nuts are firmly locked upon
the screws with which they are used and an additional or lock nut is rendered
-unnecessary.
We form on the inner face of the screw nut a collar slightly conical externally
the said conical collar being slit or divided preferably at four parts so as to form the
collar into a series of gripping pieces. The said collar is screwed internally,
the screw thread being a continuation of the internal screw thread of the nut.
We
make the axial hole in the washer cylindrical for a portion of its length and conical
through the remainder of its length. We prefer to make the cylindrical portion of
the hole in the washer of the same diameter as the screw with which it is used, the
said cylindrical hole being screw threaded for taking on the said screw, and we
make the wider outer end of the conical portion of the hole of a diameter slightly
less than the base of the conical collar adjacent to the inner face of the
-screw nut.
The improved screw nut and washer are used as follows;-The washer having
been advanced into its proper position on the screw with the conical portion of its
axial hole outwards, the screw nut is driven home on the screw. The conical
elastic gripping parts of the nut entering the conical hole in the washer are thereby
-comprèssed upon and made to grip the screw. The screw nut is thereby locked
very firmly on the screw and a second screw or lock nut thereby dispensed with.
Figure 23 represents in side and back elevation, a screw nut constructed
according to this part of our invention and Figure 24 represents in vertical section,

page_text: front elevation and side elevation the improved washer to be used with the
same;
Figure 25 represents the said nuts and washers as used in the connecting together
of some of the parts of a bicycle and Figure 26 represents in vertical section a
portion of Figure 25 drawn to a larger scale.
The same letters indicate the same parts in Figures 23 to 26 both inclusive.
The
n is the screw nut having on its inner face the slit or divided conical collar n² the
said collar n of the screw nut n being screw threaded internally the screw thread
in the collar being a continuation of the internal screw thread of the nut n :
qis the washer having through the greater part of its length the conical hole 92
the said conical hole terminating near the inner side of the washer in a
cylindrical hole of a diameter equal to the diameter of the hole in the nut.
said cylindrical portion of the hole in the washer is screw threaded for taking upon
the screw with which the nut and washer are to be used. The conical hole 9 of
the washer is of a slightly less diameter than the conical collar n² on the nut
so that when the said collar n' is forced into the conical hole 9, on the screwing
home of the nut, the slit or divided parts of the collar n are forced into close
contact with the screw thereby locking the nut on the said screw.
In Figures 25 and 26, is the hub of a bicycle wheel and is the axle of the
same; t, t are the blades of the fork supporting the said axle.
By the use of the said improved screw nuts and washers, a second screw or lock
nut is dispensed with the improved washer ensuring the firm locking of the screw
nut on the screw.
The improved screw nuts and washers may be applied to all parts of velocipedes.
and other machinery where screw nuts are used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that we claim
as our invention of "Improvements in bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes"
First. Attaching the driving chain wheels of velocipedes to the crank axles of
the same by forming on one side of the said driving chain wheel a slightly conical.
screw threaded tubular boss split or radially divided and driving home a screw nut.
thereon for the purpose of binding the divided parts of the said split boss ou the
crank axle substantially as herein before described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2,.
3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Secondly. The arrangement or combination of parts hereinbefore described and.
illustrated in Figures 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings for fixing the
adjustable seat pillar or the L pin of a velocipede to the seat post or socket; that
is to say, arranging in the end of the horizontal or nearly horizontal tube of the
velocipede frame adjoining the top of the seat post or socket, a metallic pad or
washer and forcing the said metallic pad or washer against the adjustable seat
pillar, or the vertical arm of the pin, by the use of a taper pin working in holes
at opposite sides of and crossing the horizontal tube of the frame substantially as
herein before described and illustrated.
Thirdly. The combination or arrangement of parts constituting a brake for the
wheels of velocipedes substantially as herein before described and illustrated in.
Figures 10, 11, 12, 13 and 14 of the accompanying drawings.
Fourthly. The construction and combination of the parts constituting an adjust-
able sliding bottom bracket for supporting the crank shaft and driving chain wheel.
of velocipedes hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 15 to 22 both.
inclusive of the accompanying drawings, by the use of which sliding bracket the
adjustment of the tension of the driving chains of velocipedes may be effected.
Fifthly. The improvements in screw nuts and washers for connecting together
the parts of velocipedes hereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 23, 24,
25 and 26 of the accompanying drawings, the said improvements consisting in
forming on the inner face of the screw nut a split or divided collar and providing
the washer with a conical hole in its outer face the said hole terminating in a.

page_text: cylindrical screwed hole at the inner face so that on the screwing home of the
screw nut the elastic gripping parts of the conical collar entering the conical hole
of the washer are forced towards each other and are thereby made to lock the
screw nut on the screw substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated.
Dated the Third day of August 1894.
WILLIAM ALLDAY.
EDMUND ALLDAY.