Improvements in Velocipedes.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Feb., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 29th Nov., 1892-Accepted, 25th Feb., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
I, EDMUND HUGH HODGKINSON, of 8 Lancaster Gate, Hyde Park, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
It has often been proposed to provide bicycles with two supplementary wheels
which can be let down one on either side to support the machine when stationary or to
steady it whilst in motion. The axles of such wheels have however usually been
fixed to arms pivotted on the axle of either the front or back wheel of the machine.
According to this invention the axles of each of the two supplementary wheels are
fixed to a stay running downwards from near the saddle where its upper end is
connected by a hinge to a handle working in guides on the frame of the machine or
by an oscillating hinge upon a lever whose fulcrum is upon a link pivotted to it.
The handle or lever works in connection with a rack or other mechanism for
retaining them at any desired height. Near its lower end the stay is connected by
a hinge to one end of an arm whose other end is connected also by a hinge to the
axle of the wheel of the machine or to the frame the pins of all three hinges being
parallel to each other and at right angles to the direction of motion of the upper
end of the stay. The result of this arrangement is that the stay and arm can be
pulled upwards and fold or close inwards simultaneously and enables the side wheel
to be held in position by a nearly direct support thus obviating the cross strains
and at the same time placing the side wheel in the most advantageous position for
stability.
In order that the machine may be taken through narrow openings (which cannot
be done with existing machines having supplementary wheels at the sides) the stay
is made in two parts telescopically connected to each other. Normally these two
parts are rigidly connected to each other by a set screw or other device but when
it is desired to bring the supplementary wheels close to the sides of the machine
the stay is shortened by sliding the two parts upon each other. This arrangement
obviates the necessity of having an unduly long rack which would otherwise be
necessary to attain the desired result.
Dated this 29th day of February 1892.
E. H. HODGKINSON.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
1, EDMUND HUGH HODGKINSON, of 8 Lancaster Gate, Hyde Park, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, 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 a novel method of applying auxiliary wheels to bicycles.
For this purpose a lever, a handle and suitable locking gear are provided.
The lever is upon an axis immediately beneath the seat and to an arm projecting
rearwardly from this axis, two stays or struts are jointed. The struts descend, one
on either side of the rear wheel of the bicycle and each at its lower end carries an
auxiliary wheel. The struts are further supported by arms jointed to them and
to the frame of the machine at or near the axle of the hinder wheel. The whole
is so arranged that by means of the handle the struts can be thrust downwards to
bring the auxiliary wheels into operation or by means of the handle the struts can

page_text: be raised thereby lifting the auxiliary wheels and also drawing 'them inwards
somewhat towards each other and towards the centre line of the bicycle.
In the annexed drawings Figures 1 and 2 show side elevations of a bicycle to
which my invention is applied. Figures 3 and 4 show rear elevations of the same.
In Figures 1 and 3 the auxiliary wheels are represented as in use, resting on the
ground and aiding in supporting the vehicle. In Figures 2 and 4 the auxiliary
wheels are shown out of use and raised off the ground. Figure 5 to Figure 21
show separate parts of the apparatus to a larger scale and more in detail.
Figure 22 shows a modification.
a is the frame of the bicycle. is the leading or steering wheel and c is the
hinder or driving wheel, d is the seat, e is the pedal axis, f is a lever carried by
the frame by a fulcrum pin at 9. At the fore end of the lever there is a handle
which can be moved up or down. represents. locking gear by which the handle
can be bolted in any desired position. are struts which by joints at k are con-
nected with the rear end of the lever f. are the auxiliary wheels at the lower
ends of the struts i. mm are lever arms jointed to the struts and also to
the frame a near the axis of the hinder wheel.
Figure 5 shows to a larger scale and in plan the lever f and parts in immediate
connection therewith. g is the joint pin or fulcrum it is held in a socket formed
for its reception upon the frame. is the handle. is a bolt arranged to slide
in guides upon the lever ; this bolt with its spring is shewn also at Figure 6.
The bolt is connected by a link with a grip lever 7 which is moved when the
handle is grasped. The nose of the bolt engages with a tooth arc a¹ fixed to
the frame. Thus the lever f is firmly and immoveably locked to the frame except
when the handle is grasped. K' is a joint pin free to turn in a socket at the after
end of the lever f. The parts in connection with the handle are shown separately
by the Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12.
'
い
The struts ii are forked at their upper ends as is seen in Figures 5, 13 and 14
to receive the ends of the joint pin k¹. At their lower ends the struts are suitably
formed as is seen, in Figure 15 to serve as axles for the auxiliary wheels. to turn
upon. Preferably the struts are made telescopic as is seen in the Figures 1 to 4
so that when the bicycle is out of use they may be shortened to fold in close
alongside of the rear wheel. When in use the two parts of the strut are locked
together by a set screw . The lower part of each strut has studs upon it to
receive, the outer end of one of the arms m. The form of the arm m,and the con- 3
struction of the joint between it and the strut is shewn by, the Figures 16 and 17..
To connect the inner end of the arm m with the frame a a joint piece shown by
the Figures 18, 19, 20 and 21 is provided. This piece has bearings n n upon it
into which the trunnions m¹ m' on the arms m are received. The joint piece is
the frame a by a screw bolt n¹ in the manner shewn by Figures 18 4
clamped upon axle o of the rear wheel is held in forks formed to receive it in the
and 21.
rear ends of the frame a and the axle also passes through the two joint pieces and
the whole is secured by nuts p at the ends of the axle. The rear wheel of the
bicycle is mounted with ball bearings so that it may freely, revolve upon the axle o
as is usual.
Figure 22 illustrates an alternative method of arranging the lever and handle by
means of which the upper ends of the struts i are raised and lowered to control the
auxiliary wheels.
4
The bicycle represented by the Figures 1 to 4 has the driving wheel in rear but
the invention is also applicable to front driving machines. In other respects the 5
details of the arrangement shown by the drawings may, be varied without departing
from the novel features of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
The method substantially as described of adanting nuviliamu mhaala

page_text: by providing, immediately beneath the seat, a lever operated by a handle, and by
jointing to the said lever, inclined struts one on either side of the vehicle, such
struts at their lower ends carrying the auxiliary wheels and at intermediate points
in their length being connected by folding arms with the frame of the vehicle near
to the rear wheel.
Dated this 28th day of November 1892.
E. H. HODGKINSON.