US716604A - Spring-frame for motor-cycles. - Google Patents

Description

-No. 7|6,604. Patented Dec. 23, I902. E. Y. WHITE. SPRING FRAME-FDR MOTOR CYCLES.

(Application filed May 12, 1902.) (N0 lllodelL) PIG. 2.

UNTTnn STATES ATENT @FFICE.

EDVVARD YOUNG W'HITE, OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS.

SPRING-FRAME FOR MOTOR-CYCLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 716,604, dated December 23, 1902.

Application filed May 12, 1902. Serial No. 107,014. (No model.)

110 all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that LEDWARI) YOUNG WHITE, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Antonio, in the county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Frames for Motor- Bicycles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to spring-frames for motor-bicycles.

The object of the invention is to produce a spring-frame of comparative lightness and great strength capable of supporting a motor of considerable weight and a heavy rider without undue strain on the frame or jolting of the weighty parts; and to this end the invention consists in certain constructions and combinations of parts, substantially as hereinafter described and claimed.

Figure 1 is a broken side elevation, with parts in section, showing enough of the construction of my improved bicycle-frame to give a general idea of the construction and operation thereof. Fig. 2 is a plan of the bottom member of strut and of the motor-cradle. Fig. 3 is a top plan of the top member of seatsupporting strut, showingalso driving-pulley. Fig. 4 is a plan of the rear fork. Fig. 5 is a plan of the lower frame-bar. Fig. 6 shows broken elevations of the frame-bar knuckle viewed in two directions.

The bicycle-wheels 1 and 2 are of any usual construction for front and rear wheels, respectively. The front fork 3 is connected to steering-head 4 in any usual way. The steering-head t is connected by a top bar to the rear fork 5, as will be explained. The same head is connected by brace 6 to the enginecradle 7 which cradle is branched at its rear end, and the bars 8 8 extend alongside the rear wheel and are pivoted to the strut 16. The top of the frame, which in general outline resembles the well-known diamond frame, is divided into sections for convenience of construction, as illustrated, although such construction is not essential. The front piece or tube 9 extends back from the steering-head to the coupling or socket 10, which couplingsocket 10 affords a seat for the compensating spring 11, hereinafter referred to. The rear piece or tube 13 connects coupling-socket 10 to the head 1 1 of the rear fork 5 by a coupling-piece 20. The strut 16 is forked, and at the rear of the pivot 17, to which bars 8 and 5 are connected, the strut affords a bearing for the rear wheel, the axle of said wheel thus forming a direct support for the strut. The rear fork 5 has its side bars connected by a brace 18. The upper ends of the bars enter the socketed end of head or yoke 14 and are connected to springs 19 within said socket-s, so that the rear fork is telescopically extensible and compressible against the resistance of spring 19. As illustrated, the springs 19 are compressed under excess of strain, so as to let the bars of fork 5 enter farther within the yoke or head 14; but the arrangement of spring and fork is not essential, so that an elastic or extensible action of the fork permitted. The strut 16, formed of two bars where it forms the wheel-bearing, is prolonged to the front to form a bearing 22 for the usual pedal-crank, and still in front of the crank-hanger is the cradle 23, on which the weight of the engine rests. A vertical tube 26, which connects the top and bottom members of the frame, contains a piston 27, which by its rod" 28 is connected to the front end of the cradle 23. The spring 29 within tube 26 sustains the weight of the front end of the engine-cradle and yields to permit the downward movement of the piston under a jolt or excess of strain. The compensating spring 11 prevents rattle or unevenness of movement. Thus the strut 16 is the actual carrier of the engine and may yield quite independently of the front fork of the frame, while the rear forks will to a slight extent only partake of the engine movement, due to the fact that the front pivot 17 is between the engine and the rear-wheel shaft.

The strut 16 has an upper member consisting of two bars 30 30, which are preferably rigid with strut-bars 16. The bars 30 are connected by pivot 31 to the seat-post 32 and also to the leaf 33, which embraces the engine 40. The motor-shaft 41 has any suitable connection to the driving-wheel. The construction of the engine and driving-gear may be of any usual form. Seat-post 32 passes through a mortise or opening 42, which is in top bar 13 or a coupling connected thereto, as shown. The seat-post will yield with the yielding of the strut on which it is supported. Of course the openings through which the seat-post 32 and the piston-rod 28 pass will be so formed as to permit the necessary lateral as well as vertical movement. The coupling-piece 44 receives the bottom of tubes 26 and 6 and has a hole for pin 45, to which the front end of the frame-bar 7 is pivoted. A screw-cap 46 in the coupling-socket 10 permits access to the tube 26, and by the opening covered by this cap the spring 26 maybe removed. Piston 27 is adjustable on rod 28 by means of a threaded connection with said rod or otherwise, as is common in similar mechanical structures.

From the foregoing it should be understood that the engine and seat-post are supported on a strut which lies substantially within the outer bars of the frame and which strut may yield without considerably affecting the position of the frame proper,that the frame itself yields at the connection of top bar and rear forks, and that the supporting-springs are adjustable as to their tension.

What I claim is 1. In a frame for motor-bicycles, an enginesupporting strut substantially Within the outer frame-bars, the rear end of the strut resting directly on the rear axle, and an elastic support forsaid strut connected to the frame, said strut arranged to support the engine.

2. In a frame for motor-bicycles, a vertical tube connecting the'upper and lower frame members, a strut supported at its rear by the rear axle, and a piston within the vertical tube having its piston-rod connected to said strut, and a spring supporting said piston.

3. In a frame for motor-bicycles, the outer frame-bars, a strut pivotally connected at its rear to said frame-bars, and an adjustable spring-support connected to the frame and the front of said strut.

4. In a spring-frame for motor-bicycles, a vertical tube having a piston therein, a spring supporting said piston and a compensating spring bearing in the other direction on said piston, and a strut pivoted to the frame proper and connectedto said piston, all combined.

5. In a spring-frame for motor-bicycles, the top bar in sections, the front section rigid with the front fork, the rear fork-head pivoted to the rear section of said top bar, the rear fork extensibly connected to said forkhead, and a bottom frame member pivotally connected to the rear fork, and to an extension of the front fork, substantially as described.

6. In a spring-frame for motor-bicycles, the combination of the outer frame-bars having a yielding rear fork, with a generally-inclosed strut on which the engine rests, said strut pivotally connected to the rear frame-bars, and having a spring connection atits front to said frame-bars.

'7. In a frame for motor-bicycles, the combination with the generally-inclosing bars, of a strut having its rear end directly supported by the axle and pivotally connected to the frame-bars in front of said axle, a spring-support from the frame-bars supporting the front of the strut, a cradle for the engine forming part of the strut, and the seat-post connected to the strut and free to yield therewith.

8. In a frame for motor-bicycles, the twomembered strut one member havinga cradle for the engine and the other member of the strut being pivotally connected to the seatpost, said strut being pivoted near one end to the frame proper, and being elastically supported from the frame at its other end.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD YOUNG WHITE. Witnesses:

Q. ALVAN LUTER, W. A. WAGNER.

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