Improvements relating to Velocipedes and other Carriages Provided with Pneumatic Tyres.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements relating to Velocipedes and other Carriages Provided
with Pneumatic Tyres.
I GEORGE GUTTRIDGE NICHOLLS of Thames Villa, Thames Street, Weybridge, in
the County of Surrey, Boat Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide for the automatic inflation, in case of
puncture, and while running, of pneumatic tyres of velocipedes and other
carriages.
In carrying out this invention, as applied to a velocipede, I take advantage of
the tubular portions of the frame, to form compressed air chambers, into which
air is forced by a small pump or fan operated by spring or other suitable power,
under the control of the rider, and placed, say, just below the saddle.
The air chambers are provided with suitable valves, which operate only when
required to inflate, and the chambers are connected in any convenient manner
with the axle bearings of the wheels, through which, and the hubs, the air passes
by one or more hollow spokes, suitably connected thereto, and to the rims, into the
pneumatic tyres, which are thereby inflated.
It is calculated that a pumping apparatus of sufficient size can be conveniently
carried by the machine, without appreciably increasing the weight, and that this
pumping apparatus will be powerful enough to keep both tyres inflated against
any ordinary puncture, and that thereby the comfort of the rider will be secured.
To operate the pumping apparatus, I may take advantage of the vibration or
vertical movement of the saddle, due to the unevenness of the road, or I may
operate the pumping apparatus by gearing from the running wheels.
With a view to prevent the bursting of the tyre when inflated, or while inflating,
from undue pressure, I provide a safety valve, which I apply to one of two filling
nozzles. This safety valve consists of a collar, which is screwed onto the nozzle,
and is provided with two springs carrying a cap or disc. As the collar is screwed
down, the springs are more or less distended, and they press the cap with a greater
or less pressure onto the open end of the nozzle. In this way the amount of
pressure in the tyre can be regulated with facility.
In applying the invention to ordinary carriages, the arrangement will be
practically the same, though certain obvious modifications will be required, with
a view to adaptation under the altered circumstances.
Dated this 30th day of September 1896.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements relating to Velocipedes and other Carriages Provided
with Pneumatic Tyres.
I GEORGE GUTTRIDGE NICHOLLS of Thames Villa, Thames Street, Weybridge, in
the County of Surrey, Boat Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The object of this invention is to provide for the automatic inflation, in case of
puncture, and while running, of pneumatic tyres of welocipedes and other
carriages.
In carrying out this invention, as applied to a velocipede, I take advantage of
the tubular portions of the frame to form compressed air chambers, into which
air is forced by a small pump, or fan, operated by spring or other suitable power,
under the control of the rider, and placed, say, just below the saddle.
The air chambers are provided with suitable valves which operate only when
required to inflate, and the chambers are connected in any convenient manner
with the axle bearings of the wheels, through which, and the hubs, air passes
by one or more hollow spokes, suitably connected thereto, and to the rims, into the
pneumatic tyres, which are thereby inflated.
It is calculated that a pumping apparatus of sufficient size can be conveniently
carried by the machine, without appreciably increasing the weight, and that this
pumping apparatus will be powerful enough to keep both tyres inflated against
any ordinary puncture, and that thereby the comfort of the rider will be secured.
To operate the pumping apparatus, I may take advantage of the vibration or
vertical movement of the saddle, due to the unevenness of the road, or I may
operate the pumping apparatus by gearing from the running wheels.
In applying the invention to ordinary carriages, the arrangement will be practi-
cally the same, though certain obvious modifications will be required, with a view
to adaptation under the altered circumstances.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle constructed with the improvements
adapted thereto.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the hub.
Fig. 3 shows the mode of connecting the hollow hind fork with the axle of the
driving wheel;-and
Fig. 4 shows one mode of connecting the air reservoir with the front fork.
In carrying out this invention, the bottom stay, A, of the frame of the velocipede,
is made into a compressed air reservoir in any convenient manuer, and connected
therewith is a pump B, the piston rod B' of which is connected to the saddle. Or
the saddle may be connected with, or form part of, a bellows, which will be
connected with the air reservoir A. The movement of the saddle, due to the
unevenness of the road, will be sufficient to actuate either the pump or the bellows.
The air is distributed by short tubes to the several parts of the velocipede; thus
a tube a connects the reservoir A with one branch of the back or driving wheel
fork C. At the end of this branch is a stuffing box b (see Fig. 3), to receive a short
tube b', which is fixed in a passage, c, made in the axle D of the driving wheel, and
which communicates with a central boring or passage d of the said axle, as will be
seen by the dotted lines, Fig. 2. By means of another passage e in the axle, the
central passage d connects with the space between the axle D and the hub E of the
wheel. At either end of this 'space is a leather washer F, which is secured in
position by nuts or collars, f, on the axle, in such a manner that the pressure of the

page_text: air between the washers will force them out against the inner periphery of the
hub, and make an air tight joint. G is a tube which connects the hub with the
valve H on the rim, so that air can pass from the hub to the pneumatic tyre.
Jis the sprocket or chain wheel, which is attached in any convenient manner
to the hub E.
The tyre of the front wheel is automatically distended in a similar manner, one
branch of the front fork, K, being used to convey the air to the axle of the steering
wheel.
The connection between the fork K and the air reservoir may be by means of
a flexible tube, as seen at i, Fig. 1.
I prefer, however, to employ the arrangement shown at Fig. 4, as the flexible
tube may be liable to rupture or other disadvantage.
In the arrangement shown, the tube i will be of metal, and will project through
a stuffing box k into the head, and also into a chamber, L, formed in the end of
the handle bar stem, M. From this chamber the air will pass, by holes in the side,
to the hollow fork, a leather washer, N, being employed to prevent the air passing
upwards.
The head will be mounted in a socket of the frame in the usual manner.
It may be here remarked that I do not intend to limit myself to the exact details
shown, as these may be varied to a considerable extent, without departing from
the nature of my invention. I would also state that I may, if desired, provide
safety valves to prevent the bursting of the tyres by undue pressure, but I have
found in practice that the pump will not continue to work when the pressure
arrives at 30 lbs., and at that pressure there is little or no risk of bursting the tyre.
In adapting the invention to carriages, the pump piston will be attached to the
body of the carriage, and the pump to the axle, the axle being bored out, to provide
the necessary passages for the air to pass into the hub.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1st. Providing for the automatic inflation of pneumatic tyres, while running,
by the movement, under the weight of the rider, of the saddle of the velocipede, or
the body of the carriage, caused by the unevenness of the road, as shown and
described.
2. The combination with the frame of a velocipede, or the body of a carriage, of
an air compressor, an air reservoir, and means for conveying air from the reservoir
to the pneumatic tyres of the wheels, as set forth.
3. The means, as herein shown and described, for conveying air under pressure
from an air reservoir to the pneumatic tyres of velocipede or carriage wheels.
4. A velocipede constructed, arranged, and operating as herein shown and
described.
5. A velocipede or other road vehicle provided with pneumatic tyres, in which
the inflation of the pneumatic tyre is effected while running, as herein set forth.
Dated this 30th day of July 1897.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.