Improvements in the Fastening of the Wheel and Pedal Axles of Cycles and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 2nd May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Fastening of the Wheel and Pedal Axles of
Cycles and the like.
I, AUGUST STEPHAN BEYREISS, of Mülhausen, Thüringia, Germany, Master
Butcher, 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 fastening of wheel and pedal
axles of cycles and the like, the object being to enable such axles with their
wheels or pedals to be very easily and quickly removed and replaced when
desired.
My fastening will be found of great advantage when it is required to repair the
cycle or other vehicle and especially in the case of damage to pneumatic tyres,
because it enables those parts which are most liable to injury to be easily loosened
at any time during touring, by means of a simple pall or pressure and without the
employment of screwing-tools. The parts that are most liable to injury are the
supporting wheels and the pedals and according to my invention therefore the wheel
and pedal axles are rigidly held, in such a manner that they will not be liable to
become accidentally detached but so nevertheless as to allow of their rapid
liberation when desired. To this end the axles are held in suitable fork-like.
bearings that are closed by spring-wedges or cotter pins that may be in the form of
conical pins of circular cross section and are hereinafter called spring pins.
Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, represent a fastening according to
this invention used for the front wheel of a cycle.
The fork G is suitably strengthened at its free end, each of its limbs being formed
with a fork-like bearing g, which is somewhat rounded off as shown for the purpose of
enabling the wheel-axle A to be more easily inserted. This axle A, whose ends
may be either round, or angular as shown at a, is inserted in the forked bearings g
and is held fast in each by a pin i, preferably somewhat conical that is fastened to
a blade spring F, and passes transversely through the corresponding fork-like
bearing g.
The springs F can be each fastened at one end by means of screws S as shown,
or by tightening upon it, by hammering, the walls of the groove in which, as is
clearly shown in the drawings, each is placed.
To remove the wheel from the fork, the pins i are moved back out of the way
of the wheel axle by manipulating the springs F by means of their free ends,
which are formed into handles F for the purpose; the wheel-axle thereupon
becomes freed, and the wheel can be removed. In replacing the wheel, the pins i
are first moved back as before, the wheel-axle A placed in its original position in
the bearings g; and the springs F liberated, whereupon the pins i automatically
move back into their original position and hold the axle in place in the bearings g.
Fig. 3 represents a fastening according to this invention for the rear wheel of
a cycle.
The members R of the frame are formed at their junction with fork-like
bearings r, which are rounded off at their mouths and receive the wheel-axle A¹.
For greater firmness, each of the spring-pins in this case passes partially into
the axle A¹ at a¹ (which is recessed for the purpose) and thereby ensures the
absolute immovability of the axle about which the wheel revolves. Each spring F

page_text: is fastened in a suitable manner to one of the connected pair of members R of the
frame.
Figs. 4 and 5 show a pedal fastened to its crank according to this invention.
The end of the crank K is formed into a fork-like bearing K', which is rounded
off outwardly and in which the pedal-axle P is inserted. The latter is provided
with shoulders p1 and p2 on opposite sides of the bearing K' and is secured against
accidental loosening by the spring-pin 2, which passes at p partially through the
end portion of the pedal-axle which is recessed for the purpose.
The manipulation of the spring F is effected by means of its handle F' as in the
first two constructions.
The wheel-axles A and A' may, if desired, be furnished at their ends with
shoulders located at opposite sides of their seats g and like those (pl and p²) of
the pedal-axle P, in order to provide perfect security against lateral motion iu
either direction.
Instead of passing partially through the axle-ends as shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5,
the pins may be arranged to pass wholly therethrough; but in that case it will
be desirable to somewhat increase the thickness of the axle-ends.
A fastening according to this invention can be applied to wheels of the most
varied constructions; it is for the reasons herein before mentioned, extremely
practical, perfect, and durable, and is less liable to become loose than any screw-
fastening.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. A fastening for an axle of a wheel or pedal of a cycle and the like, comprising
fork-like bearings g, r, or adapted to receive the axle A, A' or P and normally
closed by spring wedges or pins i, , that are carried by springs F, are capable
of being easily withdrawn from their operative positions, and normally pass
partially or wholly in a transverse direction through the axle-ends substantially as
described.
2. My improved fastenings for wheel and pedal axles of cycles and the like,
constructed, arranged, and operating as herein before described, with reference
respectively to and shewn in Figs. 1 and 2; in Fig. 3, and in Figs. 4 and 5 of the
drawings annexed.
Dated this 11th day of March 1896-