US403354A - Two-wheeled vehicle - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

A. L. LAY. TWO WHEELED VEHICLE.

No; 403,354. Patented May 14,, 1889.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ABNER LEE LAY, OF BATTLE CREEK, MICHIGAN.

TWO-WHEELED VEHICLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 403,354, dated May 14, 1889.

Application filed September 6, 1888. Serial No. 284,669. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ABNER LEE LAY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Battle Creek, in the county of Calhoun and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Two-WVheeled Vehicles, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein like letters and figures of reference designate corresponding parts in all the views. I

The object sought to be accomplished by the use of my present invention is the provision of a light, strong, convenient, compact, and easy-riding roadcart or two-wheeled vehicle in the cheapest and most durable form possible; and I reach these results by means of the novel devices and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth, as follows:

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of my new two-wheeled vehicle with one wheel removed. Fig. 2 is a rear end view of the same. Fig. represents an enlarged view, detached, of a portion of the axle, showing my improved means for firmly attaching vertical circular spiral springs to the axle by means of a yoke and clip, with the inner portion of the said springs in proper position bound by the yoke to the back of the axle. Fig. 4 shows a modification of my improved means for employing vertical springs where but a single spring for each body-bar of the vehicle is used, and also showing the manner of using my novel equalizer for the attachment of the forwardlyprojecting uppermost end of the spring to the body-bar of the vehicle. Fig. 5 represents an inside face view of my new yoke for firmly fixing the springs to the axle; and Figs. 6 and 7 are vertical and end views of the same, respectively, detached.

A represents the vehiclewwheel.

B is the thills, and O the cross-bar thereof.

D D are the body-bars of the vehicle, which I prefer to suspend from the cross-bar G by means of a swinging joint, although they might be fulcrumed thereto by any elastic attachment instead.

0 is the yoke or clamp, provided with perforated ears 3 s, rising centrally from the opposite edges thereof, the perforations corresponding in diameter with the threaded ends of the well-known clip used and of a distance apart or between the holes equal to the size of the axle, so as to allow the said yoke and clip to closely clasp the said axle a.

On either side of the yoke center and flush with its inside face are seen the semicircular vertical channels a-a, with which the vertical-shanks of the springs a a engage. These channels are of a depth somewhat less than the diameter of the spring-shanks, in order that the yoke and embracing clip-bolts may the more firmly bind the springs to the back of the axle.

Forwardly-projecting lugs f f, with which the under outermost end of the yoke C is provided, pass forwardly. immediately underneath the axle and serve to hold the yoke prone therewith. The springs are preferably, because most cheaply and durably, made of round. rods of spring-steel bent in circular spiral form and of dimensions suitable for the purpose according to the number employed. I prefer to use the springs in pairstwo for each body-bar of the vehicle-ah though a single spring to a body-bar may be made to answera good purpose, asillustrated in Fig. 4. To make one of these springs, I take a steel rod and bend it in circular form, the circle increasing in diameter as it is bent, forming a spiral, turning its inner end so as to nearly cross the center of the circle thus formed. Its remaining end is now abruptly bent downward at a right angle and fitted to the top, back, and bottom of the axle, the extreme end underneath the axle projecting forward longitudinally of the vehicle equal to the projections of the adjacent lugs f f of the yoke 0', thus firmly fixing the spring to the axle, so that it cannot lift up, while the yoke and clip bind it tightly to the axle-back. As will be seen, the spring fulcrumed rests broadly on the entire top surface of the axle, then passing down in front thereof, and underneath the spring rises rearward in an increasing circle up over the axle to a point immediately below the body-bar of the vehicle, where its forward end is bent in the form of an eye for the purpose of receiving a transverse bolt, by which means this end of the spring is adjustably and pivotally attached to the body in the manner now to be described.

Directly above the spring-eye, when in position just seen, are situated the descending sides of the basket part or body-bars D .l) of the vehicle. These body-bars are here provided with a series of transverse holes, from which depend, by means of a removable pivotal bolt, the links or equalizers r 7', now to be described, and their important uses pointed out.

The equalizer is a strap of iron bent in the form of an open link, its. ends provided with transverse holes for the purpose of pivotally attaching the equalizer-top to the body-barD and its bottom to the springs a a in manner following: lhe open end of the link or equalizer 7' engages on either side of the bar I) by any one of the series of holes thereof and a removable bolt, so as to form a longitudinal swinging joint at this point for the equalizer or vertical support, whereby the riders seat may be elevated or depressed. The opposite and depending end of the equalizer engages with the upper forwardly-projecting ends of the vertical springs, as shown, whereby the equalizers have a longitudinal vibration, at the same time that the elasticity of the springs secures a similar lateral motion in obedience to the inequalities of the road traveled over and weight carried, and whereby, also, the

horse motion, so called, and other obstructions to a steady right line of the riders seat is reduced to a minimum, while the riders seat is thus regulated, elevated, or depressed without in any manner altering the tension of the spring, and the spring-fulcrum, resting, as it does, on the entire upper surface of the axle, relieves the great strain, heretofore wholly 011 one point, and distributes it throughout the entire coil of the springs, whereby the maximum of strength and consequent durability of the vehicle is assured, as is evident.

Having thus fully illustrated and described mynovel invention and pointed out its peculiar features and advantages, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a two-wheeled vehicle, the thills, bodybars having their forward ends fulcrumed thereon, and the axle, in combination with coil-springs, the lower extremities of which are secured to said axle, and vertically-adjustable 11orizontally-vibrating links or rods connecting said springs with the body-bars.

2. In a two-wheeled vehiele, the axle, thills, and seat, in combination with body-bars having series of perforations and fulcrumed at their forward extremities on said thills, coilsprings, one extremity of each of which is se cured to the axle, and depending verticallyadjustable horizontally-vibrating rods, one

extremity of each of which is secured to the bod y-bar at any of the points of perforations thereof and its opposite end secured to the upper forward extremity of one of the coilsprings, all substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

3. In a two-wheeled vehicle, the axle, thills, and seat, in combination with coiled supporting-springs, one extremity of each of which is secured to said axle and its opposite formed as an eye, body-bars having series of perforations and fulcrumed at their forward extremities on said thills, and depending equalizerlinks having perforated extremities, pins or bolts for securing said extremities, respectively, to the body-bars at the points of perforations thereof and to the forward extremities of the coil-springs, for the purposes set forth.

4:. In a two-wheeled vehicle, the axle, thills, and seat, in combination with bent body-bars having series of perforations and fulcrumed at their forward extremities on said thills, coiled supporting-springs, one extremity of each of which is secured to the axle and its opposite formed as an eye, vertically-adjustable longitudin ally-vibrating links, the upper extremities of which are formed to embrace opposite sides of the body-bars and are secured thereto at the points of perforations thereof by bolts or pins, and the lower extremities of which are formed to receive the eyes on the ends of the coil-springs and are secured thereto by pins or bolts, yokes provided with vertical channels for the passage of the coil-springs, and a clasp for firmly securing said springs to the axle, all substantiall y as and for the purposes herein set forth.

5. In a two-wheeled vehicle, the axle a, the thills B, and cross-barC, the body-bar D, provided with the adjustable link or equalizer 1', the circular springs a a, and the yoke 0, provided with semicircular channels a a, lugs ff, and perforated ears 3 s, for attaehin g said springs to the axle by means of a clip or embracing-clamp, substantially as and for the purposes illustrated and described.

6. As a new article of manufacture, a clasp for fastening vertical circular springs to the axles of vehicles, consisting of the clip and its engaging-yoke O, the latter provided with vertical channels a a, lugs f and perforated ears .9 s, constructed,combined, and used substantially in the manner and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I hereunto affix my name in the presence of two attesting witnesses.

ABNER LEE LAY.

VVi tn ess es:

NELSON E. HUBBARD, II. H. HUBBARD.

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