Improvements in the Steering Arrangements of Cycles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May. 1892
Complete Specification Left, 17th Feb., 1893-Accepted, 6th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Steering Arrangements of Cycles.
I, JOHN WARRICK of St. Mary's Butts Reading Cycle Manufacturer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the steering wheels, mainly of carrier cycles, and has
for its object to provide steering wheels which will give greater stability to the
cycle and which will allow of it passing over obstacles in the road without jarring
or shaking.
In carrying out my invention, I provide two steering wheels, the forks of
which are rigidly attached to each other. A rod on the top of each fork passes
through a cross piece, being attached thereto by a nut at top and a strong spiral
spring resting on the fork, thus allowing the forks to give vertically. A rod at
the centre of this cross piece extends downwards through the bar connecting the
forks and through a lower bar, a little below the axles, connecting them. Two strong
spiral springs are situated, one at the upper part of this rod between the two upper
cross bars, and the other between a collar on the rod and the lower bar connecting
the axles. The rod is connected to a second rod at the top by a knuckle joint,
this rod turning in suitable bearings in the end of the frame. The steering rod is
connected to one of the forks, turning the wheels on the central bearing above
mentioned.
With this arrangement greater stability is given to the cycle by reason of the
two wheels at a little distance from each other, and each being capable of revolving
independently of the other, allowance is made for turning corners. When one of
the wheels runs over a stone or other obstacle, the whole arrangement will turn
about the knuckle joint above mentioned, allowing the one wheel to be raised, while
the other remains on the ground, thus preventing any sudden strain being put
upon the wheels or frame. Both wheels will give resiliently should the obstacle
be in the way of both.
Dated this 16th day of May 1892.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Steering Arrangements of Cycles.
I, JOHN WARRICK of St. Mary's Butts Reading Cycle Manufacturer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to the steering wheels, mainly of carrier cycles, and has
for its object to provide steering wheels which will give greater stability to the
cycle and which will allow of it passing over obstacles in the road without jarring
or shaking.
In carrying out my invention I provide two steering wheels, the forks of which are
rigidly attached to each other. A rod on the top of each fork passes through a cross
piece, being attached thereto by a nut at top and a strong spiral spring resting on the
fork, thus allowing the forks to give vertically. A rod at the centre of this cross piece
extends downwards through the bar connecting the forks and through a lower bar,
1 ..

page_text: a little below the axles, connecting them. Two strong spiral springs are situated,
one at the upper part of this rod between the two upper cross bars, and the other
between a collar on the rod and the lower bar connecting the axles. The rod is
connected to a second rod at the top by a knuckle joint, this rod turning in suitable
bearings in the end of the frame. The steering rod is connected to one of the
forks, turuing the wheels on the central bearing above mentioned. The central
rod is also furnished with a jointed stay, connecting it at the lower end by means
of a sleeve with a cross tube on the frame. Any tendency on the part of the wheels
to drag will thus be obviated, as a much longer bearing is thus provided.
With this arrangement greater stability is given to the cycle by reason of the
two wheels at a little distance from each other, and each being capable of revolving
independently of the other, allowance is made for turning corners.
When one
of the wheels runs over a stone or other obstacle, the whole arrangement will turn
about the knuckle joint above mentioned, allowing the one wheel to be raised,
while the other remains on the ground, thus preventing any sudden strain being
put upon the wheels or frame. Both wheels will give resiliently should the obstacle
be in the way of both.
I propose to use this arrangement more especially in combination with a cycle
described in my Specification No. 13081" in which two riders are provided for, and
the accompanying drawings illustrate such a machine with my steering wheels
and connections attached. Fig. 1 shows the cycle in side elevation, Fig. 2 is a
rear view of the same and Fig. 3 a detail view. The frame of the machine is
formed of the longitudinal tubes A with stays A', extended for some distance in front.
of the axle of the driving wheel, and supported by the transverse tubes B, C,
and D. E is the ordinary seat, arranged behind the driving axle, and supported by
the transverse tube B, and F the second seat, carried by the front tube C, the front
driving shaft G being connected to the ordinary driving shaft H by the chain
wheels I and chain J. The front rider will thus partially balance the weight of
the ordinary rider and the articles carried and take some of the strain off the back
steering wheels. K, K are the two steering wheels carried by forks L, having
rods M at top passing through the cross piece N, and attached thereto by the
nuts M and springs M. The forks L are connected together by a bar O and the
axles of the wheels by a second bar P through which the rod Q fixed to the cross
piece N passes. Springs R and S are situated on this rod, respectively between
the bars N and O and between a collar Q and the lower bar P. The rod Q is
attached to the rod T by means of a knuckle joint allowing the forks and wheels
to be tilted to either side, the rod T turning in a bearing T at the end of the
frame as shown more clearly in Fig. 3, allowing the wheels to be turned around a
vertical axis for steering purposes. The rod Q projects below the bar P for a short
distance and passes through a sleeve or bearing on the end of the stay Y¹, which
is attached to a cross bar at the back of the cycle by means of a knuckle joint or
pivotted connection, as shown in Fig. 1. The stay can thus turn to either side to
allow of the tilting of the wheels and the sleeve allows for the slight relative
movement of the parts, sliding on the rod Q, at the same time preventing any
dragging of the wheels which might otherwise occur, owing to the short bearing,
thus rendering the whole arrangement firmer. When one of the wheels K runs
over a stone or other obstacle it will be raised from the ground and cause the whole
arrangement to turn on the knuckle joint, allowing the other wheel to remain on
the ground. Should both wheels encounter an obstacle they will give in a resilient
manner. With this arrangement greater stability is obtained and jolting is
minimised, and each of the steering wheels being capable of revolving separately,
allowance is made for turning. U is the steering rod attached to one of the forks
and provided with racks on one side, with which gear pinions U¹ fixed to the
steering handles V, thus allowing both riders to steer. The box or other article W
used for carrying the goods is mounted on springs W₁ in order to still further
diminish vibration.

page_text: 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 :-
(1.) In a cycle, the combination of two steering wheels, connected together, but
capable of revolving separately, a cross piece to which the forks carrying the
wheels are attached, and a central rod pivotted to the bearing rod and furnished
with a spring or springs, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
(2.) In a cycle, the combination of two steering wheels K, carried by forks L,.
connecting bars O, P, rods M, connected to the cross piece N by the nuts M' and
spring M, rod Q provided with collar and attached to bearing rod T by a.
pivotted connection, and springs R and S, the whole constructed substantially
as and for the purposes set forth.
(3.) The improved steering arrangement for cycles, consisting of two separate
wheels carried by a frame capable of turning in two directions, one horizontally and
the other vertically, constructed and operating substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 17th day of February 1893.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant..