Improvements in the Construction of Velocipedes, Automatic Guiding and Steering Appliances, and Brake Device.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 4th May, 1895-Accepted, 6th July, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Velocipedes, Automatic Guiding
and Steering Appliances, and Brake Device.
I JOHN SHAKESPEARE, Fruit Merchant of 120 Snow Hill Dudley in the
County of Worcester do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates principally to the way and manner in which I modify the
forms of my previous invention described in Specification No. 16,521/93, in which
Figure 4 in the illustrations is a velocipede made suitable to be ridden by either
sex of riders, an upcurved tube is fixed in front to the bottom bracket and a socket
tube is thereto fixed into which is fitted the stock of the handle bar forming a
bicycle, or into which may be fitted the stock of the cross tube, shown in Figure 5,
to form a tricycle. The cross tube has two side steering wheels fixed on its ends,
a ball bearing cup and a lock nut are screwed on the end of either of the stocks for
the socket tube to bear upon.
In my present invention I fix the front tube in a convenient upright position and
I fix the socket tube conjointly with it and rigidly to the front of it.
For bicycle use 1 fit the ends of two stays on to the end of the stock of the
handle bar and make them fast between the bearing cup and the lock nut, I fit the
other ends of the stays on to the ends of the axle of the front wheel one on each.
side which I make fast, together with the fork ends, with the lock nuts which screw
on the axle ends.
For automatic steering purposes I fix a bracket on to the upright tube to which
I screw the ends of two coiled springs one on each side and I fit the other ends of
the coiled springs on to the two side stays which fit on to the axle of the front
steering wheel, I regulate the tension of the coiled springs to act upon the steering.
wheel by means of the screws which are connected to the bracket on the front
upright tube.
In one modification in making the front part of my machine to form a tricycle
I fix a lug and short tube on to the middle of the cross tube which I fit into the top
of the up front tube and I make it fast and rigid therein with clip fittings, I fix a
socket tube for steering on each end of the cross tube into which is fitted two side
steering wheels, I fit spade handles into the stocks of the side steering wheels. To
make the machine more rigid I fix a stay on each side of it which extends from the
socket tubes to the jaws of the compression stays. This arrangement of two
separate steering wheels enables the rider to manipulate either or both wheels for
turning the machine in either direction, or to turn both wheels at the same time
either inward or outward to serve as a brake to stop it or to check its progress in
its travel.
For automatic guiding and steering purposes I fix a light thin tube rigidly to and
along the front of the cross tube, I fix a bracket on to each of the side forks to
project in front of them, I make the thin tube an exact length to serve as a
compression stay between the two brackets when both forks and wheels are set
coequally straight, I provide an elastic cord with a screw on one of its ends, I pass
the elastic cord through the compression stay tube and make one of its ends fast to
the bracket on one of the forks and I fasten the screw at the other end of the cord
to the bracket on the other fork, I tighten the elastic cord and regulate its tension

page_text: with the screw fittings, which performence causes the brackets to compress against
the ends of the tube.
This arrangement enables the rider to safly propel the machine straight in a
forward direction without employing his hands to guide it. The compression tube
prevents the steering wheels from turning inward and the elastic cord keeps them
from turning outward unless they are manipulated by the hands of the rider to do
so when in which case the right wheel may be turned outward to steer to the right
and the left wheel may be turned outward to steer to the left and both wheels may
be turned outward together to serve as a brake for stoping or checking the machine
in its travel.
The strain of the elastic cord upon both of the steering forks together will not
allow either of the wheels to rest at any angle in the turnings when the handles are
let free by the rider.
I sometimes joint and connect the brackets on the twin steering forks with a
connecting rod, instead of with the cord and compression tabe, in which case the
rider has command over both wheels together with either hand.
The cross tube with its twin steering forks and wheels-may also be fitted to a
tandem velocipedo and arranged to be manipulated by the front rider.
"
To increase the rigidity of my machines. for use by male riders I. provide a
moveable stay and adjust its end to the top of the down tube and the other.end
I adjust to the cross tube which forms a tricycle or to the up tube when forming.a
bicycle.
'
When I arrange the cross tube in position underneath. the seat of the rider, as
shown in Figure 2 of the above numbered Specification, I modify the form of the
machine by fixing the cross rigidly to the down tube and by fixing the socket-tubes
on its ends to form twin steering-heads the same as is herein before described,
I suitably curve or angle the cross tube for the steering heads to rest in a
convenient position over the side wheels in order that the rider may have full
power over the machine with his hands being more in line with the pédals,
1. provide two tubes, each of which have a pivot socket on one of its for steadying
and bearing purposes, Idx each rigidly to the cross one on each side-underneath it
in such position that each of the pivot sockets rests in line parallel with the ccank
axle, I.fix: pivoted supplementary cranks to the pedal bars such as are described: in
my patented inventioni No.-1897/91, the pivots pins-of which are also parallel with
the crank axle and I fit them into the pivot sockets which are suspended from the
cross-tube.
I do not dimit myself to any particular form of construction of the balancing and
steering wheels.
.
In one convenient form for runing on a prepared track I construct-two-small
spokeless wheels each of the hubs of which has two-deep flanges with beveled
edges, I fix solid or hollow india-rubber or other pliable material round and
between the flanges for the wheels to run upon, I further lighten my twin steering
machine for racing by cutting lawy the cross tube altogether from the down-tube
and steering sockets, 11 then fix the pivot bearing sockets to the steering: socket
tubes over the dow sider steering wheels, I conveniently shape bend and widen the
outside-cranks and fit them into the bearing sockets. Thus the body of the frame
consists only of the bottom bracket and down tube compression-stays and back fork
tubes.
I connect the twin steering forks with an elastic cord as hereinbefore described
and allow the compression tube to rest loose on the cord in order that the rider may
be able at all times to keep the steering wheels co-equal in their course.
'Dated this '25th day of August 1894.

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Vélocipedes, Automatic Guïding
and Steering. Appliances, and Brake Device.
I JOHN SHAKESPEARE of 120' Snow Hill Dudley in the County of Worcester
Fruiterer 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:-
My invention has for its object improvements in the construction of velocipedes
automatic guiding and steering appliances and brake device.and.consists of. further
improvements upon my Patent. No.:16521. A.D. 1893 and refers more particularly
to Figure 4 in that Specification with regard to which a velocipede suitable for
being ridden by either sex is described and by which I improve the steering
arrangement. My.improvements also consist of means for the conversion of a
tricycle into a bicycle either tandem.or-single.
In order that. my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into effect I have appended hereunto a sheet of drawings upon which I have fully
illustrated the nature of the said improvements together with the mode of and
means for carrying the same into effect.
Figure 1 is a general view of one of my tricycles.
Figure 2 is a plan of the steering arrangement when in its normal position.
Figure 3 is a similar plan to Figure 2 but shewing the steering arrangement in
operation.
Figure 4 is a similar plan to Figure 2 but shewing a modification.
Figure 5 is a part side elevation of the machine when converted into a bicycle.
Figure 6 is a diagram side elevation shewing the steering arrangement illustrated
by Figures 1 2 & 3 applied to a tandem tricycle.
Figure 7 is a sectional elevation of one of the pillars B shewing a convenient
form of brake.
Figure 8 is a view of the bracket H¹ when disconnected from the bicycle or
tricycle.
In carrying my invention into effect I attach the tube H to the bottom bracket
and centre tube É the said tube being carried up to support the bracket H¹ which is
attached by the sockets h¹ and h² and in this bracket the fork is mounted as shewn.
For converting same into a tricycle it is only necessary to remove the bracket H¹
and substitute the cross-bar or tube A which is provided with the short tube A¹
which enters the front tube H. The cross tube A carries the socket tubes B into
which the steering heads of the forks b' fit so as to turn independantly of each
other. These forks are carried by the steering wheels and their united movement
is ensured by the connecting rod c' which is attached to the projecting arms c the
movement of the wheels being controlled by the springs D which tend to retain
the wheels normally in a central position as shewn by Figure 2, or I may connect
the two arms c by elastic cords or coiled springs with a covering tube D such a
shewn by Figure 4.
In applying my invention to tandem cycles as shewn by Figure 6 the steering
arrangement including the cross tube A socket tubes B frout tube H and fork Bi
is exactly the same as before described with regard to the single tricycle with the
addition of the strut E' and its attendant parts to the rear of the machine. I may
use any suitable form of brake or such as shewn by Figure 7 where the rod F is
mounted in the steering socket B and normally kept up by the spring F², pressure
on the cap f being all that is necessary for operating the brake.
The tie rods and are provided for extra strength but may be dispensed with
in case where ladies are using the velocipedes. In place of handles such as shewn

page_text: 1 may have movable ones of the spade handle shape. In the case of a loose tube
and coil such as illustrated by Figure 4 it will be seen that the handles and with
them the wheels may be brought to the position shewn by dotted lines N thus
obtaining a perfect and certain brake action when the handles are in such a position
by causing the wheels to turn out of line with each other and thus to skid upon the
ground. To obtain the same effect the rod c¹ may be divided and the ends butted
together by means of a tube which forms a socket within which both ends of the
rod fit and in which they are kept in position by the tension of the springs D so
that the handles may be brought to the position shewn by Figure 4.
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. In velocipedes the mode of and means for converting the same into either a
bicycle or tricycle substantially as herin set forth and shewn.
2nd. In velocipedes the automatic steering arrangement substantially as herin
set forth and shewn.
3rd. In combination with velocipedes set forth in Claims 1 and 2 the mode of &
means for braking the machine substantially as berin set forth and shewn.
4th. Velocipedes having double steering mechanisms and connections therewith
substantially as herin set forth and described.
Dated this 3rd day of May 1895.
JOHN SHAKESPEARE.