Improvements in Axles, Cranks and Spindles for Bicycles and other Velocipedes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 23rd May, 1898-Accepted, 8th Oct., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Axles, Cranks and Spindles for Bicycles and other
Velocipedes.
We, WILLIAM THOMAS SMITH and WALTER SLINGSBY, both of the Firm of
William T. Smith and Company Limited, of Marsden Road Works, Bolton, in
the County of Lancaster, Engineers and Tool Makers, and WILLIAM WALKER, of
26, Bath Street, Bolton aforesaid, Cycle, Agent, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows, that is to say:-
-
It relates to improvements in the formation or construction of axles,
cranks and spindles for use in connection with bicycles and other velocipedes
whereby same may be firmly and securely attached to each other and in such a
manner that they may be readily detached whenever necessary or as occasion may
require.
In carrying our invention into effect we form suitably shaped dovetail or T
grooves in the ends of the cranks to receive the ends of the axles or pedal-spindles
correspondingly shaped to fit therein.
In the case of the grooves for the pedal-spindles we make them to extend
out at the end or side of the cranks so that we can slide the properly shaped ends of
the spindles therein, while instead of thus extending the grooves out at the other
ends or sides of the cranks to enable the axles to be similarly slided therein, we
preferably continue them in the other direction and make their inner ends of a
sufficiently increased size to allow the insertion of the ends of the axles, on which,
said axles may be slided down into the dovetailed or T shaped slots as required
To secure the axles and pedal-spindles in their positions on the cranks, we form
screw threads on them and mount appropriately formed nuts thereon, while
annular grooves are formed in the cranks, concentrically with said axles and
spindles when in their respective positions on said cranks, to receive correspond-
ingly formed flanges on the nuts by which means when the latter are screwed
tightly into position for their flanges to take into the annular grooves in the cranks
all the parts are firmly and securely bound and held together.
The sides of the annular groves and those of the flanges on the nuts may be
formed parallel with the axis around which they are made or they may be at an
angle thereto so that on being tightly screwed up they may be wedged together.
Dated this 21st day of December 1897.
W. T. SMITH.
W. SLINGSBY.
W. WALKER.
Per Samuel Hey.
Agent.

page_text: COMTEELE OF FUIFICATION.
Improvements in Axles, Cranks and Spindles for Bicycles and other
Velocipedes.
We, WILLIAM THOMAS SMITH and WALTER SLINGSTY, both of the Firm of
William T. Smith and Company Limited, of Marsden Road Works, Bolton, in
the County of Lancaster, Engineers and Tool Makers, and WILLIAM WALKER, of
26, Bath Street, Bolton aforesaid, Cycle Agent, 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, that is to say:-
It relates to, improvements in the formation or construction of axles,
cranks and spindles for use in connection with bicycles and other velocipedes
whereby same may be firmly and securely attached to each other and in such a
manner that they may be readily detached whenever necessary or as occasion may
require.
In carrying our invention into effect we follow the method of construction here-
inafter described and as illustrated by the accompanying sheets of drawings in
which:-
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a crank, its pedal and a portion of the central spindle
about which said crank rotates.
Fig. 2 is an end view of said crank and a portion of the pedal.
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation of the outer end of said crank and a part of the
pedal, while part of the pedal's spindle is shown intact.
Figs. 4 and 5 are drawings in detail of the pedal-spindle as seen in the position
shown by Fig. 1 and when looking at right angles thereto, respectively.
Fig. 6 is a sectional view on line 2-3 of Fig. 4.
Figs. 7 and 8 are front view and transverse section showing the formation of
nut used for securing the spindle to its crank.
Figs. 9 and 10 are front and sectional end views showing in detail the method of
construction followed in the production of the outer end of the crank.
Fig. 11 is sectional elevation of a portion of a crank, part of its axial spindle
(which is not in section) and part of the bearings for this latter.
Fig. 12 is a sectional view on line 4-5 of parts shown by Fig. 11.
Fig. 13 is a sectional end view of the crank, its axial spindle being shown intact
but as seen in a direction at right angles to that in which it is shown by Fig. 11.
Figs. 14 and 15 are front view and longitudinal section of the pivotal end of a
crank showing same in detail.
Figs. 16 and 17 are side and end views showing in detail the end of a crank
spindle.
Figs. 18 and 19 are front and sectional views illustrative of the form of nut to
be used in connection with the crank and its axial spindle.
Fig. 20 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 13 but shows a modification herein-
after described.
Similar letters and figures of reference indicate similar parts throughout the
several views.
To attain the object of our invention we form suitably shaped T grooves a in
the ends bc of the cranks d to receive the ends f of the pedal-spindles f¹ and
axles g which are correspondingly shaped by having the flanges or projecting
rims formed thereon to fit within said grooves a.
Respecting the grooves a for the reception of the pedal spindle f¹ we preferably
make them extend out at the end b of the cranks d so that we can slide the properly
shaped or flanged ends f of the spindle f¹ therein, while instead of thus extending

page_text: the grooves a out at the other ends c of the cranks & to enable the ends g of the axles g¹
to be similarly placed therein, we preferably continue said grooves a in the other
direction and make their inwardly extending ends 10 of a sufficiently increased
size to allow the insertion of the flanged rims 8 of said ends g, on which said ends
may be slided down into the slots a as required.
Instead of the slots a being of the T shape shown by Figs. 2, 10 and 13 they may
be of the dove-tail shape shown by Fig. 20, or any modification of such shape may
be followed provided the flange parts S are correspondingly shaped to fit within
them.
To secure the spindles f' and axles g' in their positions on the cranks d, we form
screw-threads h on them and mount the appropriately shaped nuts k m thereon,
while annular grooves s are formed in the cranks d, concentrically with the screwed
parts on the spindles fl and axles when these latter are in their respective
positions on said cranks, said grooves being thus made so that they will receive
correspondingly shaped flanges which are formed on the nuts km by which
means when said nuts are screwed tightly into position for their flanges to take
into the annular grooves in the cranks all the parts are firmly and securely bound
and held together.
Instead of the grooves s being made into the cranks d the projecting flanges that
are formed by them to be taken over by the nuts km may be constructed to be on
the face of the part as shown by the flange y Fig. 20 and the same binding effect by
the nuts and m will be produced.
The sides of the annular grooves s or the outer peripheries of the flanges y as well
as the inner walls of the flanges on the nuts k m taking over them may be formed
parallel with the axis around which they are made as illustrated by all the figures
except Fig. 20 wherein it is shown that they may be made at an angle thereto so
that on being tightly screwed up they may be wedged together.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
1. In spindles and cranks of the class described the respective parts of same con-
structed and formed so that they may be secured together substantially as herein
specified.
2. Oranks and axles of the class described the same being formed or constructed
to be secured together substantially as herein set forth.
3. Cranks, axles and spindles constructed and formed substantially as herein
specified.