Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Oct., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 13th July, 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 5th Oct., 1888
1, JAMES YATE JOHNSON, of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been
communicated to me from abroad by Charles Barisien of 48 rue de Bondy Paris, in
the Republic of France, Lieutenant of Engineers, to be as follows :-
This Invention relates to cycles with two or more wheels and has chiefly for its
object diminishing the vibration in travelling. In a bicycle for example constructed
according to this invention the front steering and driving wheel is connected to the
backbone by an elastic or spring frame in the form of a triangle the axle of the wheel
being situated at the forward end of the base, and being driven by a chain passing
over a wheel on a cranked axle carrying the pedals at the rear end of the base the
connection of the frame with the backbone being at the apex. In steering, this
triangular frame turns bodily with the wheel on a vertical or slightly inclined axis.
The fork formning the front side of the triangle is made telescopic and provided with
a spring which absorbs or deadens the shocks or vibrations, suitable joints being
formed at the angles of the triangle to allow of the necessary movements or the same
result may be obtained without the telescopic or spring fork by causing the bars
forming the base of the triangular frame to act as springs, in which case the yielding
or hinge joints at the angles may be dispensed with and the axle of the wheel is
situated at the extremities of extensions of the bars forming the base of the triangle.
The steering is effected by an ordinary handle attached to an extension of a tube or
hollow bar pivoted to the backbone and extending downwards in a curve at the back
of the steering wheel so as to form the rear side of the triangular frame and the
spring fork when such is employed, is pivoted to the upper part of the bar. This
curved bar may be flexible and be combined with a straight rod serving to tie the
frame together when the spring fork is dispensed with. The axis on which the frame
turns in steering is preferably in such a position that an extension thereof will
intersect the base of the triangle.

page_text: This triangular elastic frame may be connected with the backbone or framework of
a tandem or other tricycle or similar vehicle and the same frame with its steering and
driving wheel may be used either in a bicycle or in a tricycle, for example, the
connection being so arranged as to admit of its being readily connected with and
disconnected from the backbone or framework carrying the seat or seats and the
hinder wheel or wheels.
The cranked axle may be carried in bearings on the end of a short bar or link
pivoted to the frame for the purpose of enabling the tension of the driving chain to
be suitably adjusted. One driving chain arranged at the side is employed to
transmit motion to the driving and steering wheel and the axle of this wheel may
project on both sides so as to form foot rests.
The elastic triangular frames acting as hereinbefore described may also be combined
with steering wheels which are not utilized as driving wheels.
Dated this 13th day of October 1887
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, W.C.,
Agents.

page_text: Improvements in Cycles.
I JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincolns Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex
Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this Invention which has been
communicated to me from abroad by Charles Barisien of 48 rue de Bondy Paris
in the Republic of France Lieutenant of Engineers and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
In
This Invention relates to Cycles with two or more wheels and has chiefly for its
object to diminish the shocks and vibration in travelling. In a Bicycle for example
constructed according to this Invention the front steering and driving wheel is
connected to the backbone by an clastic or spring frame in the form of a triangle the
axle of the said wheel being situated at the forward end of the base and being driven
by a chain passing over a wheel on a cranked axle carrying the pedals at the rear end
of the base the connection of the frame with the backbone being at the apex.
steering this triangular frame turns bodily with the wheel on a vertical or slightly
inclined axis. The fork forming the front side of the triangle is made telescopic or
otherwise made capable of accomodating itself to movement of the wheel in a
vertical plane and provided with a spring or yielding device which absorbs or deadens
the shocks or vibrations suitable joints being formed at the angles of the triangle to
allow of the necessary movements. The same result may be attained without the
telescopic arrangement or spring fork by causing for example the bars forming the
base of the triangular frame to act as springs in which case the yielding or hinge
joints at the angles may be dispensed with and the axle of the wheel may be situated
at the extremities of extensions of the bars forming the base of the triangle. The
steering is effected by an ordinary handle attached to an extension of a tube or hollow
bar pivotted to the backbone and extending downwards in a curve at the back of the
steering wheel so as to form the rear side of the trianglar frame and the spring fork
when such is employed is pivotted to the upper part of the bar. This curved bar
may be flexible and be combined with a straight rod serving to tie the frame together
when the spring fork is dispensed with. The axis on which the frame turns in
steering is preferably in such a position that an extension thereof will intersect the
base of the triangle.
This triangular elastic frame may be connected with the backbone or framework of
a tandem or other tricycle or similar vehicle and the same frame with its steering
and driving wheel may be used either in a bicycle or in a tricycle for example the
connection being so arranged as to admit of its being readily connected with and
disconnected from the backbone or framework carrying the seat or seats and the
hinder wheel or wheels.
The crank axle may be carried in bearings on the end of a short bar or link pivotted
to the frame for the purpose of enabling the tension of the driving chain to be suitably
adjusted. One driving chain arranged at the side is employed to transmit motion to

page_text: the driving and steering wheel and the axle of this wheel may project on both sides so
as to form foot rests.
The elastic triangular frames acting as hereinbefore described may also be combined
with steering wheels which are not utilized as driving wheels.
And in order that my said invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the several
figures on the annexed four sheets of drawings the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a cycle constructed according to this
invention.
The front part of the machine includes a steering and driving wheel R and the
aforesaid spring triangular frame arranged as follows. The prolongation of the
axis a 6 on which the front wheel is turned for guiding passes between the hub
of the wheel R and the axis i of the crank pedals and of the toothed wheel over which
the driving chain passes. The bar or tube c d e carrying at top the handles for
steering is angled or bent at d to allow of it passing clear of the wheel as shown and
the said bar or tube carries at its lower extremity a pivot o at right angles to the bar
or tube. On this pivot o a piece P which forms a connection with the axle or shaft i
can turn and from the piece P extend two rods f g passing on either side of the
wheel R and connected to its axle. A fork ml kjh is connected by the pin m to
the upper part of the tube or bar c d e and also to the ends of the rods fg by a
pin as shown. The part mk of the fork is provided with a spring arrangement
whereby the communication of injurious shocks or vibrations to the frame is pre-
vented. The spring is in a cylinder so that it yields and elastically supports the
part of the telescopic arrangement which bears on it. The toothed wheel keyed on
to the cranked axle i transmits motion by means of a chain passing over the
toothed wheel on the nave of the wheel R.
It will be seen that the points moh form a triangle having a side mo and a
base o of constant lengths and with a side m h varying in length as the machine
meets obstructions in travelling.
The back part of the machine consists of a backbone fixed to the guiding pivot a b
at n the said pivot a b being connected to the upper part c d of the tube or bar by
taking into projections and being secured by a nut as shown so that by removing
this nut the machine is separated into two parts.
The backbone supports the saddle and the forked part qs is fitted to the axis of
the wheel R¹ which is in the vertical plane of the said backbone. With the back
part as above described the frame of the front part can be arranged in several ways,
but in the following arrangements the prolongation of the line ab of the guiding
pivots always passes between the hub of the wheel R and the cranked axle i, and the
motion from the pedals is transmitted to the wheel R by means of a single chain
placed on one side.
Figures 2, 3 and 4 are modifications of Figure 1.
I
In Figure 2 the bar or tube cde has no pivot at its lower end but the piece P is
welded to the extremity of the bar or tube shocks and vibrations in travelling being
deadened by the elasticity of the frame def g. The piece P has connected to it the
arms and the bearings of the axle on which are keyed the cranks and the toothed
wheel as before described. In Figure 3 the hollow bar or tube has a fork d v con-
stituting a prolongation of the said hollow bar or tube and passing on each side of
the wheel R and supported at their lower extremities v on the rods f g connecting the
block P to the axle of the wheel R.
The block P carries the cranked axles and chain wheel as before and is secured to
the hollow bar or tube c d by a strap or tie rod or straps or tie rods as shown. The
shocks or vibrations in travelling are deadened by the elasticity of the said straps or
tie rods.
Figure 4 shows an arrangement analogous to that in Figure 3.
In this arrangement the rod fg is situated above the upper side of the higher portion
of the chain. The block P is pivotted to the pin w and the distance between the

page_text: point i and the point g is regulated by the screwed rod and nut p passing through the
bracket piece p² and centered to the block P at p³ and by this device the tension of
the chain can be adjusted.
In the foregoing arrangements the axle of the wheel R may be prolonged a sufficient
amount on either side to form a rest for the feet when descending hills. When con-
verting the bicycle into a tricycle the front portion may correspond to that described
with reference to figures 1 to 4 except that in Figures 1 and 2 the line
pass behind the point i and the lower end s fig. 1 of the back bone is connected to
two wheels instead of one. The axle of these wheels can be easily dismounted when
for example the tricycle has to pass through narrow doorways.
a
may
The tricycle made as above described can be converted from the bicycle or not, that
is to say it can be constructed in the first instance as a tricycle or the bicycle can be
made so as to be convertible into a tricycle and vice versa.
The front part with the steering and driving wheel as above described with reference
to Figures 1 to 4 can also be used for double tricycles called "tandems
"and for
cycles with any number of wheels and seats being constructed either as machines
with a fixed number of wheels or convertible from the aforesaid bicycles or tricyles
as desired.
When the front wheel is not the driver the cranked axle, toothed wheels and chain
are of course not required. In the above case and also in the arrangement figure 1
the prolongation of the line ab from the guiding pivots can pass between the point g
and the block P, or through the point g or through the block P or outside both.
Figure 5 shows the arrangement of a suspended frame applied to a safety bicycle
with the front wheel for steering and the back wheel for driving. The driving wheel
has a frame like that shewn in Figure 1 except that the hollow bar or tube c. d. e.
carries at its upper end the saddle instead of the steering handles. The steering
wheel has a frame as hereinbefore last described.
The frames of the two wheels R. R¹ are secured to each other by means of a hollow
bar X fixed to the bar c. d. e. at one end and connected at the other end to the guiding
pivot a b as shewn. The whole machine may be strengthened by a tie rod e v.
Figure 5 also serves to illustrate the arrangement of suspended frame applied to
a tricycle a wheel steering in front and behind two driving wheels placed at the ends
of a horizontal axle and propelled by differential gear which may be such as is
commonly used, or only one of these wheels may be the driving wheel, the other
being a running wheel as is usual in certain machines chiefly in those used by
children when there is no differential movement.
Figure 5s shews an elevation of such a tricycle, the horizontal pivot is seen at w
the distances between wg and wd being constant while the distance between m g is
variable.
The chain is in the central plane of the machine and the two arms or tubes i gare
on both sides of the chain. The hollow bar or tube de is extended so as to carry at
its extremity the guiding pivot a band a tie rod ad may be used to strengthen the
frame work.
Figure 1 may also represent a tricycle with the front driving and steering wheels R
at the two ends of a horizontal axle and a back wheel R¹ serving only to carry the
saddle, figure 1 shows such an arrangement in elevation.
The spring triangular frame m wg, is analogous to the arrangement Figure 1 but
the back wheel is also represented with the spring arrangement.
In all the modifications where the elastic or spring frame is used the variable side
of the triangle may carry a spring of any convenient form for example such as are
illustrated in figures 6. 6 and 7. In figures figures 6 and 6s the point y instead
of moving in a straight line describes an arc of a circle around the point on the
hollow bar or tube cde the said points being connected by the link or links as
shewn The modification may also be used with a cylinder and spring as shewn in
figure 7 in which case there is no need to provide a special guide for the rod which
enters the cylinder and is acted upon by the spring.
Where this Cylinder is used compressed air may with advantage be used as the

page_text: spring Another modification of spring is shewn in fig. 10 being a blade spring
marked a. b. B connected at one end to the yielding side of the triangle and at the
other end to a fixed part of the backbone or framing.
Figure 11 shews an arrangement wherein a spiral spring encircles the rod at the
top of the fork pressed upon by a projection M embracing the said rod which has in
it a groove E in which groove runs a pin forming a guide and connecting the two
sides of the projection M-The brake should be capable of being operated without
being affected by the movement of the framework which result is obtained by means
of the arrangement shewn in Figure 8 wherein a brake lever p. s is operated by a
hand lever i engaging in the slot p q. The said lever p. s is centered at o on the
yielding side of the triangle and carries at its lower extremity s a shoe which when
the break is applied presses on the tyre of the wheel, the pressure remaining uniform
in spite of shocks and vibrations owing to the lever i sliding in the slot p. q.
A modification consists in placing the brake shoe for pressing on the tyre at about
the same level as the axis of the wheel near the connection or pivot o for example
and the centre of the brake lever may be arranged on an adjacent part of the frame-
work in such a manner that an approximately constant distance from the tyre of the
wheel is maintained. In this case movement is transmitted to the brake by any
suitable combination of rods and levers or other mechanical devices for transmitting
motion.
Or the brake may consist of a metal band lined with leather capable of being
brought to bear against a drum secured on to the nave of the wheel or the axle of
the pedals. The mud guards are easily fitted on by fixing curved plates of sheet irou
against the tube or bar c, d, e, and to the backbone or in any position where a mud
guard is desirable. These guards may be dispensed with the tubular parts of the
framing being flattened or made crescent shaped in section so as to act as mud
guards. This arrangement obviates the noise resulting from vibrations of the sheet
iron plates. An arrangement of stopper for closing the lubricating holes is shewn in
Figure 9. It consists of a stopper V provided with a screw thread for screwing into
the oil orifice and it is confined in a blade spring fixed at the point B so that it
yields when the stopper is withdrawn and replaced. By this arrangement the stopper
cannot be lost, and the hole is perfectly stoppered so that dust cannot penetrate whilst
the stopper can be easily screwed in as it is held in place by the blade spring.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. In cycles driven by manual power or otherwise the employment of a spring
framework for deadening or obviating shocks and vibrations consisting of a triangle
two sides of which are of constant length and the third side of which is provided
with a spring or yielding device substantially as hereinbefore described whether
applied to one or both or all the wheels of the cycle.
2. The arrangement and combination of parts constituting a cycle as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings when provided with either
of the modifications hereinbefore described and illustrated.
3. In cycles the means for transmitting movement from the pedals by means of
one chain and of wheels arranged substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
4. In cycles the arrangement for adjusting the tension of the chain substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 13th day of July 1888
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.