Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Sept., 1888
Complete Specification Left; 3rd Nov., 1888
Complete Specification Accepted, 31st Dec., 1888
1, ARCHIBALD SHARP, Engineer, of 26 Melrose Gardens West Kensington Park, in
the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My said invention has for its object the arranging of the different parts of velocipede
frames in an improved manner, as follows:-
The frame consists of two parts called 'half-frames' hereinafter. Each half-frame,
in the case of a bicycle, supports one wheel; and in the case of a tricyle one half-
frame supports one wheel and the other half-frame supports an axle with a wheel at
each end. This axle may be fixed to and revolve with the wheel or wheels, or the
axle may be fixed to the half-frame and the wheel or wheels revolve upon it. Each
half-frame is made up of five members which, together with the axle of the wheel or
wheels, are arranged. similarly to the six edges of an irregular tetrahedron_or
triangular pyramid. The members of the half-frame are either tubes or bars. The
member of the half-frame opposite the wheel axle, i.e. the member which does not
meet the wheel axle, is hinged to the corresponding member of the other half-frame.
When the balf-frame supports an axle with two wheels, the said axle is prolonged so
that the wheels are outside the half-frame. In the case of a single wheel half-frame,
e.g. both half-frames of a bicycle, the wheel is inside the half-frame.
The seat pillar of the velocipede is formed by the tube, continuing it if necessary,
which forms the hinge member of the rear half-frame. The handle-bar is attached to
the front half-frame, preferably by continuing the hinge side of the said front half-
frame.
The steering of the velocipede is effected by the relative movement of the two half-
frames.
'
The crank axle with its cranks and chain wheel may be placed on either the front
or the rear half-frame, the velocipede will be either front-driving' or rear-
driving accordingly. If the seat pillar and handle pillar of the velocipede are of
the same or nearly the same height the saddle and handle-bar may interchange

page_text: places thus making the velocipede convertible from rear-driving' to 'front-driving'
or vice versa. When the velocipede is used as a rear-driver a spring or springs may
be introduced between the half-frames if necessary. The said spring or springs
shall be arranged so that if the handles are free the velocipede shall steer straight."
I append hereunto a sheet of drawings for the purpose of shewing more clearly the
nature of my invention. The same reference letters are used throughout these drawings
to represent the same or similar parts.
Fig. 1 is the elevation, and Fig. 2 the plan with saddle and handle-bar removed,
of a bicycle constructed according to my invention. Figs. 3 and 4 are elevation and
plan respectively of a tricycle constructed according to my invention. In fig. 5 is shewn
a rear-driving velocipede converted from the front-driving velocipede shewn in fig. 1 by
the handle-bar and saddle interchanging places. a b c d is one half-frame, a b is the
wheel axle, cd the hinge-pillar, ac and be are two tubes, a d and b d are two stay-
rods or stay-tubes, the five members c'd, a c, bc, a d, b d, together with the wheel
axle a being arranged similarly to the six edges of a tetrahedron, as hereinbefore
described.
Dated this Tenth day of September 1888.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Velocipedes.
1, ARCHIBALD SHARP, Engineer, of 26 Melrose Gardens West Kensington Park,
in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
My said invention has for its object the arranging of the
velocipede frames in an improved manner, as follows:-
different parts of
The frame consists of two parts, called half-frames hereinafter. Each half frame,.
in the case of a bicycle, supports one wheel; and in the case of a tricycle one half
frame supports one wheel, and the other half-frame supports an axle with a wheel at
each end. This axle may be fixed to and revolve with the wheel or wheels, or the
axle may be fixed to the half-frame and the wheel or wheels revolve upon it. Each
half-frame is made up of five members which, together with the axle of the wheel or
wheels, are arranged similarly to the six edges of an irregular tetrahedron or triangular
pyramid. The members of the half-frame are either tubes or bars. The member of.
the half-frame opposite the wheel axle, that is the member which does not meet the
wheel axle, is hinged to the corresponding member of the other half-frame. When
the half-frame supports an axle with two wheels, the said axle is prolonged so that
the wheels are outside the half-frame. In the case of a single wheel half-frame-for
example both half frames of a bicycle-the wheel is inside the half-frame.
The seat-pillar of the velocipede is formed by the tube, continuing it if necessary,
which forms the hinge member of the rear half-frame. The handle bar is attached
to the front half-frame preferably by continuing the hinge side of the said front half-
fraine, but in ladies' cycles by a separate fork to the axle of the front wheel.
The steering of the velocipede is effected by the relative movement of the two half-
frames.
The crank axle with its cranks and chain wheel may be placed on either the front
or the rear half-frame; the velocipede will be either front-driving' or rear-driving
accordingly. If the seat pillar and handle-bar of the velocipede are of the same or
nearly the same height, the saddle and handle bar may interchange places thus making
the velocipede convertible from rear-driving' to front-driving or vice versa. When the
velocipede is used as a rear-driver a spring or springs may be introduced between
the half-frames if necessary. The said spring or springs shall be arranged so that
if the handles are free the velocipede shall steer straight.
I append hereunto five sheets of drawings, which together with the sheet left with
the provisional specification, make six sheets for the purpose of shewing more clearly
the nature of my invention. The same reference letters are used throughout these
drawings to represent the same or similar parts. Figure 1 is the elevation, and
figure 2 the plan with saddle and handle bar removed, of a bicycle constructed
according to my invention. Figures 3 and 4 are elevation and plan respectively of a
tricycle constructed according to my invention. In figure 5 is shewn a rear-driving
velocipede converted from the front-driving velocipede shewn. in figure 1, by the

page_text: handle bar and saddle interchanging places. abcd is one half-frame, a b is the axle,
cd the hinge pillar, a c and be are two tubes, extending from near the top of the
hinge pillar to near the ends of the wheel axle, a d and b d are two stay rods or, stay
tubes extending from the foot of the hinge pillar to near the ends of the wheel axle,
the five members cd, ac, be, a d, b d, together with the wheel axle a being arranged
similarly to the six edges of a tetrahedron as herein before described.
Figure 6 on sheet. 2 is the general view of a tricycle with a pair of driving wheels
behind and a single steering wheel in front. In the rear half-frame is shown a
modification obtained by uniting the upper ends of the two tubes a c, bc, into one
tube e c, in order to give more room for the legs of the rider. Similarly the lower
parts of the two stay rods or stay tubes a d, b d are united for the length d f.
In a tricycle made with a pair of driving wheels whether rear-driving or front-
driving, in order that the bending moment on the wheel axle due to the tension of
the driving.chain may be reduced to a minimum there is a tube or bar from the crank
axle bearing case to the middle of the axle on the ends of which the wheels are
mounted as shewn at g figure 6. Thus in this case the driving axle has three
bearings. If the chain wheel be placed exactly in the middle of the crank axle,
that is, between the axle bearings, the aforesaid tube will be in duplicate, that is to
say, there will be a tube on each side of the chain wheel. Thus in this case the
driving axle has four bearings.
Figure 7 on sheet 2 is the elevation and figure 8 the plan of a tricycle made. with
a single rear-driving wheel.
Figure 9 on sheet 3 is the elevation of a tandem tricycle with both saddles between
the wheels. The rear part of the frame consists of a half frame abed as hereinbefore
described with the addition of the bars or tubes e e, ef, fd, the three latter together
with the tube cd of the half-frame forming a parallelogram, which is braced by
the diagonal bars ef and d e. Two brackets ss.project from the member ef and carry
the steering centres, as hereinafter described. The front part of the frame is a half
frame as hereinbefore described.
Figure 10 is the elevation of a tandem tricycle with a saddle on each side of the
axle of the driving wheels. In a tandem tricycle of this type the frame is similar
to that. described in figure 6, sheet 2, with the addition of the tubes or
bars ce, ef, fd, e a, e b. The pair of tubes e a, e b, transmit the weight of the rear rider
to the bearing cases of the wheel axle, near its extremities. The rear crank axle
is fixed to the lower end of the bar or tube e f. A tube or bar, which may be in
duplicate, is placed between the crank axle bearing case and the middle of the
wheel axle.
All the types of velocipedes herein before described can be adapted for ladies use
by the following modification of the half-frames. The tube cd is prolonged below
the crank axle so that its lower extremity is about three inches from the ground.
From this extremity the stay rods or stay tubes da db slope upwards to the wheel
axle. The point of junction e of the tubes ac bcde of the half-frame is not more
than six inches higher than the crank axle. The distance between the saddle pillar
and the steering pillar is increased, or the handle bar may be attached directly to
the front wheel axle by means of a fork, so that the lady when mounting or
dismounting may pass easily between the saddle and the handle bar.
Figures 11 and 12 on sheet 4 are sectional elevation and sectional plan respectively
shewing the lower part of the steering head. Figures 13 and 14 on sheet 5 are
sectional elevation and sectional plan respectively shewing the upper part of the
steering head. (The description immediately following refers to figures 11, 12, 13
and 14.) Two brackets m and n are fixed to the tube kl which carries the crank
axle at its lower extremity. The ends of these brackets are bored and screwed to
receive the long bar p q., (called the steering head hereinafter), the ends of which are
conical. Two slits are made in the side of the tube g h to allow the ends of the
aforesaid brackets to pass into the inside of the tube. The steering head Pq is passed
into the inside of the tube g h from the bottom, the screwed end q being screwed
through the end of the bracket m, until clear of the bracket. The upper screw on

page_text: the steering head pq enters the bracket n just as the lower screw enters the bracket m.
A few turns of the steering head fixes it firmly to the brackets m and as shown in
figures 11 and 13. A small pin is passed through the enlarged end of the bracket and
the steering head, thus securing the latter in its place. The upper conical end of the
steering head pq fits into a corresponding conical socket fixed internally to the
tube gh. The lower conical end of the steering head pg rests on an adjustible socket s
which is screwed into a cap t, fitted on the lower end of the tube gh. A lock nut
fastens the sockets after the adjustment is made. The immediately preceding
description applies to a steering head with conical bearings but a ball bearing head
may also be used.
Two projections or spigots are formed on the bracket n and fit into the ends of the
tubes ca, cb. Two similar spigots are formed on a ring which encircles the tube gh
at the place where the bracket n passes through. These spigots fit into the tubes ca, c b
of the other half-frame. The stay rods or stay-tubes ad, bd of one half-frame are
fixed to the bracket m, and the corresponding stay rods or stay tubes of the other
half-frame are fixed to the cap t. by means of the bolts j. In the case of a tricycle
with a pair of driving wheels, a tube would be fastened to the bracket m by means
of a spigot formed on the latter, the other end of the tube carrying a bearing for the
wheel axle as is described with reference to figure 6.
Figures 15 and 16 on sheet 6 are elevation and sectional plan respectively shewing
the arrangement of the driving wheel of a bicycle. f is a piece having a spigot
formed on it for the reception of the tube t and having also the end of the stay
rod or stay tube screwed into it. The end of the wheel spindle ab passes through a
hole in the piece f, and is secured by a nut. This hole may be elongated in the
direction of a line joining the two chain wheels in order to provide an adjustment
for tightening the chain.
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 any velocipede the arrangement or combination of tubes or bars to form a
half-frame as hereinbefore described and illustrated in figures 1-10.
2. The hinging together of two half-frames to form the framework of a velocipede,
each half-frame carrying a wheel or a pair of wheels.
3. The arrangement of the parts forming a long steering head, that is to say; the
fastening of the steering head enclosed in a tube of one half-frame to the other
balf-frame by means of two brackets near the extremities of the said steering head,
the said two brackets passing through slits made in the tube; substantially as
described and illustrated in figures 11-15.
4. The arrangement or combination of parts for converting a rear-driving
velocipede to a front-driving velocipede, or vice-versa, that is to say; the placing of two
pillars close together on different half-frames, so that one may support the saddle
and the other the handle-bar.
5. The construction of a velocipede for more than one rider by the addition of
tubes or bars to a velocipede, the framework of which consists of two half-frames,
substantially as described in figures 9 and 10.
Dated this Third day of November 1888.