Improvements in and connected with Cycles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1895-4ccepted, 20th July, 1895
Improvements in and connected with Cycles.
We, JOSEPH PARKIN HOWE, of No. 118 Hollybush Street, Barking Road,
Plaistow, Essex, Stevedore, and THOMAS FREDERICK EPSLY of No. 6 Dongola
Road, Plaistow Essex, Stevedore, and JOSEPH FOSTER of No. 42 Manbey Grove,
Stratford, Essex, 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:-
Our invention consists first of a new arrangement of the front wheels of a cycle
with relation to the vertical centre line of the machine. We place the front wheels
each in an inclined position, the upper part of the wheels being closer together
than are the lower parts which rest upon the road, the exact relative distances
being merely a detail of design as regards the purpose a particular machine is
designed for.
In the drawings Figure 1 Sheet 1 accompanying this Specification we have
placed the wheels 12 inches apart at the bottom and 5 inches at the top, each
wheel thus standing upon the road at an angle to the vertical centre line as shewn.
The said wheels are carried each upon its own individual spindle A & B (Fig. 1
Sheet 1). The spindles are carried by four separate fork ends C. D. E and F..
(Fig. 1 Sheet 1). These fork ends are made detachable from the double crown
head to which they are secured when in use, by fixing them into sockets marked G.
H, I and J. (Fig. 1 Sheet 1) any fork end thus fitting into any socket as desired.
By this construction and design the two wheels can be removed from their outside
and slanting position, and a single wheel placed in the centre of the radial shaped
crown, fork ends A & D being put into sockets H and I respectively so that a
machine is thus put into the form of a bicycle as generally in use.
Moreover the
diameters of both the steering wheels and the driving wheel in our invention are
the same, so is also the size and shape of their spindles and hubs upon which they
ruo, as we likewise fit, if deemed necessary on certain of our machines intended
for military and similar purposes a driving chain wheel to both front wheels so that
if required a front wheel can perfectly replace a broken or damaged rear wheel.
In conjunction with the above described angular position of the front wheels and
the interchangeability of their supporting forks we have invented a double brake
gear in such a manner that by moving a single lever or handle K (Fig. 1 Sheet 1)
as in other machines, motion is transmitted to the centre of a compensating beam L
(Fig. 1 Sheet 1) which beam is pivotted to a guide tube or rod M. working in a
central hole at N in the crown plate. Around this tube or rod M. is placed a
single spiral spring (or its equivalent) O. To each end of the beain is affixed by
a pin or bolt a brake spindle P. with its spoon Q (or its equivalent) all shewn in
Fig. 1 Sheet 1. The result of this construction is that whatever pressure is put
upon the beam at its centre is equally distributed to each of the brake spoons &
thus to the wheels, and any inequalities of surface or diameter in the tyres of the
two wheels is provided for, still keeping a constant pressure upon both.
The upward pressure of the spring of course lifting both brakes off their wheels
simultaneously when desired. This invention is also applied to the front wheels at
whatever relative distance they are apart and whether vertical or slanting by
simply altering the length of the beam L. Aud when a single wheel is in use the
beam with its guide tube M is detached and one of the brake spindles with its shoe
or "spoon" put into the centre hole instead of the guide tube M, the brake gear
Γ

page_text: then becomes like ordinary cycle brakes as generally in use. Furthermore, when
the double wheels are in position on the machine we secure the inner pair of fork
ends D & E Fig. 1 Sheet 1 with their spindle ends together by means of steel
springs between which are placed bolts, upon which bolts are fitted clastic washers
or pads, an example of which is given in the drawing Fig. 1 Sheet 1, where S. S.
are the springs and T one of the two elastic pieces inserted between them. This
arrangement of course being removed when a single centre wheel is put in.
Further by the arrangement of the preceding parts of our invention especially
that of the double wheels as described for steering, we are enabled to place the
centre swivel around which the forks revolve in a vertical position, and we make
the frame of our machine so that the top tube A (Fig. 1 Sheet 2) is perfectly
horizontal, the angle of the said bar A making 90 degrees with the ball head tube.
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:
1st. The use of a pair of angularly placed wheels for the front or steering wheels
of a cycle, the said wheels being placed wider apart at their point of contact with
the road than they are at the top, the said wheels being held in position by the four
separate detachable and interchangeable fork ends, springs, and elastic washers as
described and drawn.
2nd. The especially designed arrangement of double, compensating, brake gear,
with its pivotted beam, central spring and detachable guide tube as described and
drawn.
3rd. The combination of two front wheels placed between the four fork ends,
each pair holding its own spindle and wheel (whether the said wheels are placed in
a vertical or inclined position) in conjunction with the above described compensating
brake gear with its detachable parts, as described and drawn, for double or single
wheels as desired.
4th. For the purpose and in conjunction with the said previous claims, we claim
the upright and square construction of the cycle frame, as described and drawn.
5th. The combination in one invention of the above four claims with the
interchangeability of the front and back wheels, all of which together with their
spindles and hubs are fitted for or with chain wheels for driving by.
Dated this the 20th day of May 1895.
JOSEPH PARKIN HOWE.
THOMAS FREDERICK EPSLY.
JOSEPH FOSTER.