An Improved Detachable Fork-end for Cycles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug,, 1899-Accepted, 30th Sept., 1899
VUMILIE DUIFICATION.
An Improved Detachable Fork-end for Cycles.
We, WILLIAM HENDRY MILLIGAN, of 47, Walkenshaw Street, Glasgow,
Engineer, and JAMES CONNELL, of 27, Sunnybank Street, Glasgow, 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:-
At present it is usual to make the forks of a cycle frame with a hole at the
end of each branch for the reception of the axle or spindle of the wheel. When
it is desired to take the wheel out of place it is necessary to spring open the
fork so as to disengage the ends of the spindle. This is found to be a disad-
vantage as the springing open of the fork tends to weaken it.
Our invention has for its object to provide a simple and efficient fork end which
is so made that the spindle of the wheel can be readily inserted in the fork or
disengaged therefrom without springing open the branches. When the spindle
is inserted in place it can be securely held in position.
In order that our said invention may be properly understood we have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings. which shows, by way of example, the
branches of the steering fork of a bicycle provided with our improved fork end.
Fig. 1 is a side view and Fig. 2 a front view of one branch a with the spindle b
of the front wheel fitted in position.
Fig. 3 is a side view of the other branch a¹ of the steering fork, the spindle
being removed.
Fig. 4 is a side view and Fig. 5 a plan view of the fork-end cap.
Fig. 6 shows a washer.
In carrying out the invention we slot the flattened ends a² of the branches of
the fork, as clearly shown at c Fig. 3, so that the spindle can be easily inserted
or withdrawn, the slots c being made of a width slightly greater than the diameter
of the spindle. The upper end of each slot terminates in a hole c¹, as indicated
at Fig. 3, and this hole is made of a diameter somewhat greater than the
diameter of the spindle. For the purpose of holding the spindle in place in the
slots c of the fork we provide two caps d one for each branch. Each cap is made
with a central hole for the reception of the spindle and this hole has a raised
edge or rim whose outer periphery fits snugly into the hole c of the fork-end.
The thickness of the rim is equal to the thickness of the flattened fork-end a².
Each cap is also provided with a semicircular flange which, when the cap is
fitted in place, extends round and covers up the lower end of the fork branch
(see Figs. 2 and 3).
To secure the spindle in place its ends are first inserted in the slots c and
pushed up into the holes c¹ then the caps d are fitted on the end of each branch,
the eyes or holes being passed over the ends of the spindle, the nuts e (one
for each end of spindle) are then screwed up and the caps locked tightly in place
with their rims within the holes c¹ (see Fig. 3) so that the spindle cannot pos-
sibly move out of the slots without the nuts being first slackened.

page_text: Before inserting the spindle into the slots a washer f is threaded on it at each
end. These washers bear against the inside faces of the flattened fork ends when
the nuts are screwed up.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we consider novel and desire to claim is:-
1. The combination of a fork whose ends are slotted and made with holes (as
at c, c) with caps (d) adapted to lock on the ends of the fork and to hold the
spindle or axle in place, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
2. The locking cap (d) made with a central hole d¹, rim d³, and flange d³, sub- 1
stantially as herein before described and shown on the drawings annexed.
Dated this 22nd dox of Avant 1800
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
100, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.