An Improved Spring Steering Fork for Bicycles and other Wheeled Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Mar., 1898
Complete Specification Left. 3rd Nov.. 1898-Accepted, 10th Dec., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Spring Steering Fork for Bicycles and other Wheeled
Vehicles.
I, DAN EDWARDS, 133, Great Howard Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancashire, Shipwright, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the steering stem of cycles, or other vehicles, and
the object is to overcome or minimise the vibration of the handle bar, and the
forward end of the vehicle. To effect this I form each leg of the fork, with a
square neck, which passes through one end of the crown, in which it is firmly
secured by a screwed nut. Above the nut, the end of the fork, is formed into
a small round spindle, which slides through a bush, in the end of the upper
crosshead. In the centre of the crown is screwed, or brazed, a strong tube, which
slides up a larger tube or sleeve. The bottom end of this outer tube, is screwed
into the upper crosshead, upon which is the ballrace. This tube then passes
up the head of the frame, to receive the stem, of the handle bar. On the two
slide rods, and also on the root of the stem, and between the crossheads, I affix
spiral springs, or a number of rubber rings. I also fix an airtight stop in the
upper sleeve, and a small valve, in which is a rubber ball, in the lower tube,
thus forming an air pump in the stem. I may use four slide rods instead of
two, on the heads of the fork.
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Spring Steering Fork for Bicycles and other Wheeled
Vehicles.
I, DAN EDWARDS, of 133, Great Howard Street, Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Shipwright, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement:--
This invention relate to the steering forks of bicycles, or other wheeled
vehicles, and has for its object, to overcome or minimise the vibration, in such
vehicles when travelling along a rough road.
To effect this I form the crown of the front fork, of a special construction,
which will absorb the vibration,

page_text: The invention will be understood, from the following description, reference
being had to the accompanying drawings, in which, Figure 1 is a section of
my improved fork crown; Figure 2 is an elevation thereof:
Reffering to Figures 1 and 2, I form the crown of the steering fork, in two
parts, the one part, working in conjunction with the other, and affixing spiral
springs, and forming an air chamber, in such a manner, that they will act to
absorb the vibration of the wheel when in motion.
To do this, I reduce the heads of the forklegs A, so that they will fit oval or
square holes, in each end of the lower crosshead B, into which they are brazed
or otherwise secured, there being a shoulder left on the leg under the crosshead.
From the lower crosshead upwards, they are further slightly reduced and pass
up short strong steel tubes H, which are fitted into holes at each end of the upper
crosshead C, continuing upwards to about half the length of the space between
the crossheads; the upper ends being screwed and fitted with round caps. In
the centre of the centre of the lower crosshead B, there is brazed or otherwise
secured, a strong steel tube E, which passes up another tube or sleeve F, the
bottom end of the sleeve F, around which is the lower ballrace, is screwed or
brazed into the centre of the upper crosshead C. About halfway up the sleeve F,
is fitted an airtight stop, the stem of the handlebar fitting in the upper end.
At the lower end of the inner tube E, and beneath the lower crosshead, is a screwed
cap, having a small hole in the centre, upon which rests a small rubber ball
or valve, which in conjunction with the stop in the outer sleeve F, forms an
air chamber, which automatically fills itself by the vibration of the fork, thereby
assisting the springs when the machine is in motion. Around the lower part
of the tube E, and the guide rods G, between the upper and lower crosshead,
are fitted spiral compression springs, there are also springs fitted on the upper
ends of the guide rods, from the upper crosshead to the caps on the top. These
upper springs serve the purpose of taking up any slack that may be caused by
the compression of the lower springs. Around the upper crosshead C, is brazed
a metal casing which extends downwards to the bottom crosshead, covering the
working parts and forming a dustproof casing, this casing is not shown in the
drawings as it is not essential to the working of the invention.
Having now described the above ways of carrying my invention into effect
I wish it to be understood that having once given the general idea certain altera-
tions may be made without departing from the principle of the invention. Thus
for instance I may use four guiderods, instead of two, or more or less springs,
or I may alter the construction of the air chamber or use the invention, with,
or without, an outer or dustproof casing, according to circumstances.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:―
1st. The system of overcoming, or minimising, the vibration, caused to cycles
and other wheeled vehicles by the irregularities of the road surface, which con-
sists in forming the front or steering fork crown, in two parts, in combination
with spiral springs, and an air chamber, which will act to absorb the vibration,
substantially as described.
2nd. The improvement in or relating to cycles, or other wheeled vehicles, for
absorbing vibration in moving along a road, which consists in constructing the
crown of the steering wheel fork, in two parts, an upper part, and a lower part,
the lower part working in and in connection, and in combination, with the upper
part, and having spiral resilient springs on guiderods, and a resilient air cham-
ber, located in such a manner, that they will absorb vibration, substantially and
as for the purpose set forth.
3rd. In a cycle, or other road vehicle, having my resilient fork crown, the
jar or shock is absorbed, it forming a second spring, between the frame of the

page_text: aachine and the road surface, the first spring being in the tyre or other part
of the wheel.
4th. The general combined arrangement, and construction, of parts forming
my resilient fork crown, substantially as described in reference to Figures 1
and 2 of the drawings.
Odd of Norambor 18OS
DAN EDWARDS,
Of 133, Great Howard Street, Liverpool.