Evening star., 1898-01-29
PNEUMATIC INVENTIONS


Inc popularity of the bicycle at the pres
ent day can be attributed to several things,
but perhaps the most important is the
pneumatic tire This one thing is equal to
all or the other improvements combined
From the date of its Introduction the popu-
iarlty OF the wheel increased. That the
increase in the ranks Of the riders at the
time of the advent of the pneumatic tire is
not mere coincidence has been fully de-
monstrated. The still rapidly increasing
ranks is more further proof. 1t is safe to
say that the appearance of the tire practi-
cally revolutionized the bicycle industry.
In the early days of the bicycle the solid,
or rat TAIL" tire was the only thing used.
The problem of making this style of tires
was one of the hardest that the early man.
ufacturers of bicycles had to contend
against. AS completed article it had a
number of defects. 1t failed to deaden the
vibrations of the machine when the rider
went over rough spots. To do away with
this difficulty much as possible the
spring saddles were invented, and sold quite
largely. while other manufacturers placed
spring forks to deaden the excessive vibra-
tion. Another difficulty of the solid tire was
in riding through sand and mud Its mar
row width enabled it to cut through suci,
material almost as easily as though 1t were
knife 1t had been in use but a short time
when 1t was decisively determined that
something better should be manufactured,
and the cushion tire made its appearance.
Most CT the readers of this are familiar
with the cushion tire, which has now prac-
tica1ly passed out Of existence. 1t is to be
doubted if there are over three or four
such machines ridden in this city at the
present time. though five or six years ago
they were plentiful. The cushion tire was
much lager ard thicker than the solid tire
and required rim equal to the width of
the tic tire rim had
convex outside surface, which was the
tread, and a concave inner surface. This
left space between the tire and the rim,
which contained more or less air, and
which furnished the supposed cushion quail
tiles of the tire.
The first pneumatic tire was a huge-look-
ing thing, and the cyclists who appeared
with wheels SO equipped were watched by
the general public with amaZement. The
tires made the bicycle look as though it had
pair of small-sized cart wheels fastened
in the frame. They made the bicycle look
cumbersome and unwieldy, despite the fact
that the machine seemed to be propelled as
easily by the rider as any of the other
styles that had up to that time appeared on
the market. After its first appearance nu-
merous defects were seen, developed only
by practical experience. All of these
have been remedied improved upon until
we have the tire of today. In the first
pneumatic tire 1t was almost a matter of
impossibility for the rider to repair pune
dealers could do. and it was not every one
in repair shop who could make neat job.
Gradually the size of the tire was reduced
to It's present size, though 1t Is possible,
even at this date, for a rider to get any
sized tire he may desire, from the small
racing tire, which Is hardly much larger
than the old solid tire, up to one which
would even excel the width of the pioneer
pneumatics.
The great objection to the pneumatic
tire, at its first appearance. was the La
bity to puncture. Riders thought it some
thing to be dreaded to be caught out on
the road with a punctured tire. The dan
ger was greatly magnified, but the preju-
dice in this direction quickly wore away,
and the new style was adopted. The old
spring saddles We're slowly abolished, as
the tire was supposed to deaden the vi
brations of the wheel To what extent the
tire does this hardly be imagined, un-
less he has previous experience with the
early bone-shaker or the solid tire safety.
The success of the pneumatic tire has
turned the attention of inventors to other
possibilities in the air line. The next thing
that appeared was the pneumatic saddle.
The pneumatic cycle has not yet made its
practical appearance, but that is not say
ing such will not be seen. H. G. Thomp-
son of Union City. NY, who has met with
success in inventing several useful agricul-
tUral implements and devices. has con-
ceived scheme of a pneumatic wheel,
which may possibly revolutioniZe the cy-
cling world. even though the model may be
crude. His bicycle which is fifteen or more
pounds heavier than the wheel of today,
has no pedals, though these may be attach
ed. An arrangement is fastened where the
saddle post is generally located, on top of
which the saddle is placed. The weight of
the rider seated upon the saddle compress
es the air into small cylinders, where it is
heated by means of a small lamp mounted
in front of the machine, causing the air to
expand and giving 1t more power. From
two small cylinders running from the head
of the wheel the air is connected with small
cranks. which give power to the chain and
moves the wheels There Is a reservoir for
holding the air, and the arrangements are
such that the speed of the bicycle can be
controlled by the rider. This permits a
waste of power. and permits the use of only
a suffcency when climbing an incline, or
only minimum quantity for other occa-
sions. In a bicycle geared to sixty and
worked by pedals the inventor claims 7O4
strokes or "exertions" are required to the
mile, while with the pneumatic cycle only
ffty-two "exertions" are needed.
Another pneumatic bicycle in which COM
pressed air is the motive power, is the pro-
duct of the brain of jackson DeNeal of
Toledo. Ohio, who has also invented a num-
her of Other useful things outside of the
line Of bicycles. Instead Of having the reg
ular sprocketS and chain. he has specially
conducted Frame on the lower portion OF
which two pumps are located. One large
one, which is about six inches in height, is
termed the IOTce pump, Wn1le the other,
considerably smaller, and about the same
height, is termed the condensing pump,
which congresses air into cylinders attach
ed at the ends of the rear axle of the driv-
ing wheel. By means Of a rod attached to
the frame the air is forced into the pumps
by lever arrangement. which practically
takes the place Of pedals The cylinders at
the rear wheel have two piston heads
which expand from each other, SO that
when the pumps are making one stroke
downward the wheels make five and half
revolutions. The cylinders are two inches
in diameter, with four-inch stroke, with
levers sixteen inches long, with fifteen
pounds pressure. giving gauge pressure Of
100 pounds to each square inch Of the CYL
irder, making one-horse power on the
drive wheels. The inventor claims that the
Wheel which will weigh about thirty-fvo
pounds, can be manufactured for less cost
than a present high-grade wheel, and will
be able to make mile in minute and a
half without any difficulty. In addition to
all these points, the workings of the ma
chine are noiseless.
Even with the making Of pneumatic BIZ
cycles tho field Of experiment does not end,
Pneumatic improvements on various parts
Of the present bicycle are suggested, and
We may yet see srch in practical opera
tfon. Pneumatic hubs are looked for by
some, which would result 10 the use Of the
solid tire for wheels in place of the present