for Reducing their Vibration and for Increasing their Rigidity.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1887
Complete Specification Left, 29th Aug., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 19th Oct., 1888
for Reducing their Vibration and for Increasing their Rigidity.
We, WILLIAM BOWN, of Summer Lane, Manufacturer, and ALFRED THOMAS
ANDREWS, of 145, Tennant Street, both in Birmingham in the county of Warwick,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention has reference to improved means for reducing the vibration in
bicycles, tricycles and other velocipedes and for increasing their rigidity.
Our improvements consist essentially in fastening or securing to the spindle of one
of the wheels a suitably shaped bracket placed vertically and provided with a hole at
each end thereof for receiving the fork of the frame. At one end of the bracket and
passing around that portion of the fork which is between the top and bottom hole in
the bracket is fastened a spiral or other spring for reducing the vibration of the
machine.
We also provide at each end of the bracket an adjustable stuffing box filled with any
suitable soft packing which lessens the wear of the fork as it slides up and down in the
said bracket. Or instead of using an adjustable stuffing box we may provide any
form of adjustable bearing at each end of the said bracket.
In order to fasten the bracket to the spindle of the wheel we bore or drill a hole
in the centre or at about the centre of the said bracket, through which hole the
spindle is inserted and secured. A separate bracket is provided for each end of the
spindle.
Dated the 2nd day of December 1887.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London,
Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: for Reducing their Vibration and for Increasing their Rigidity.
We, WILLIAM BOWN, of Summer Lane, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
Manufacturer, and ALFRED THOMAS ANDREWS, of 145, Tennant Street, Birmingham,
aforesaid, Machinist, 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 :-
Our invention has reference to improved means for reducing the vibration in
bicycles, tricycles, and other velocipedes and for increasing their rigidity, and our
improvements consist in fastening or securing to the spindle of the wheel a suitably
shaped bracket placed vertically or nearly vertically and provided with a hole at each
end thereof for inserting the fork of the frame which carries or supports the wheel.
Fastened at one end of the bracket and passing around that portion of the fork which
is between the top and bottom hole in the bracket is a spiral or other form of spring
which counteracts the vibration of the machine.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood we will describe how it can
be carried into practice by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a velocipede.
Figure 2 is a front elevation of the front wheel and part of the frame.
Figure 3 is a similar view. to figure 2 shewing the brackets in a different position.
In each figure similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
A is the fork which carries or supports the wheel B. C, C, are the brackets placed
in a vertical or nearly vertical position on the spindle of the wheel. In order to
fasten these brackets to the spindle we form a lip or projection D on the centre of the
said brackets and bore or drill a hole therein through which the spindle of the wheel
is inserted and secured thereto by nuts or other means, or the said brackets may be
secured to the spindle of the wheel in any other convenient manner. Suitable holes
are provided at the top and bottom of each bracket for the lower ends of the fork A
to pass through, which fork is allowed to move freely up and down in the said
brackets.
Fastened to the bottom ends of the brackets and passing around that portion of the
fork which is between the top and bottom holes in the brackets are two spiral or other
form of springs E, E, for reducing the vibration of the machine. The top ends of
these springs are fastened to collars F, which are keyed or otherwise secured to the
fork.
When the machine is passing over rough or uneven roads the fork will be depressed
or move up and down in the brackets, and the springs which are keyed to the fork
will be depressed also thereby greatly reducing the vibration, but when riding over
level surfaces the springs E, E will lift or force the fork into its ordinary position.

page_text: In order to lessen the wear of the fork as it slides up and down in the brackets we
provide an adjustable stuffing box G at the top and bottom ends of the brackets, filled
with any soft suitable packing, or instead of using an adjustable stuffing box we may
employ any form of adjustable bearing.
In figure 3 we have shewn another method of fastening the brackets C, C, to the
spindle of the wheel. In this method we dispense with the lip or projection D and
bore or drill a hole in the centre of the said bracket which is then placed on the
spindle of the wheel in the position shewn on the drawing, and secured thereto by
nuts or other means.
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 claim
is :-
Firstly A bracket such as C in combination with a spring for reducing the
vibration and increasing the rigidity of bicycles, tricyles, and other velocipedes,
substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn.
Secondly-The use of an adjustable stuffing box or adjustable bearing for reducing
the wear of the fork substantially as hereinbefore described and shown.
Thirdly The means substantially as hereinbefore described and shewn for reducing
the vibration in bicycles, tricycles, and other velocipedes or carriages.
Dated th: 50th day of Act 1988
WILLIAM BOWN.
ALFRED THOMAS ANDREWS.