Improvements in or relating to Wheels having Pneumatic Hubs.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1896
L
1007
Date of Application, 11th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 11th Feb., 1897 Accepted, 14th Aug., 1907
Improvements in or relating to Wheels having Pneumatic Hubs.
I, WILLIAM ADOLPH KONEMAN, of 432 Strand, in the County of Middlesex,
Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to wheels, particularly vehicle wheels provided with what
is known as the pneumatic hub.
In carrying out the invention I connect with the hub, or other suitable central
portion of the wheel, say in the ordinary cycle wheel, the barrel, suitable flanges
to receive the annular air chamber which is preferably made of rubber, the flanges
being shaped to accommodate this chamber. The chamber itself I prefer to make
in the form of a flattened annulus with rounded side faces which may be partly
enclosed or protected by the before mentioned flanges, and to hollow the periphery
somewhat, forming one or more annular peripheral depressions or channels therein
for the reception of an encircling ring preferably made of sheet or thin metal with
side flanges to receive the spokes of the wheel. This ring need not be positively
secured to the air chamber but is suitably shaped to fit the dished periphery, and
is provided with one or more inwardly projecting flanges or ribs to fit the
peripheral channel or channels previously described. This formation prevents the
ring from falling off sideways, while the inflation of the air chamber gives sufficient
adhesion to prevent slipping. If required positive means may be employed to
prevent slipping but usually I prefer not to use them.
To prevent the air chamber slipping upon the hub I prefer to provide the latter
with one or more ribs or projections lying parallel with the axis of the hub, corres-
ponding inwardly projecting portions of the chamber fitting in between projections
of the hub; the chamber projections may be hollow or solid as preferred, and the
bolts or other devices which secure the side flanges may pass through them.
The spokes and rim may be of any ordinary and suitable construction and may
be arranged in any convenient manner; the tyre or road surface may be of any
suitable description, preferably pneumatic or cushion.
Dated this 11th day of May 1896
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :---
This invention relates to wheels, particularly vehicle wheels provided with what
is known as the pneumatic hub.
In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate by way of example one con-
struction of pneumatic hub according to this invention:-
Figure 1 is a view, half in elevation: the other half being partly in elevation
with the side flange D1 removed, and partly in section on the line 1-1 of
Figure 2;
Figure 2 is a view at right angles to Figure 1, half in elevation, and half in
vertical central section.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
A is the central portion of the hub, which in the present example consists of a
cylindrical barrel, in which the axle A2 runs in oil, and which contains the ball
bearings of the axle.
On the external surface of the part A, are formed a number of radially pro-
jecting feathers or webs A¹. Bis the annular air chamber; on the inner peri-
phery of the chamber is formed a solid rubber core B', which is slid on the
harrel A, the core being grooved, so that it will be engaged by the feathers in
the manner, indicated in Figure 1. C is the air valve, fixed on the core B', and
communicating with the interior of the air chamber B by the hole 132 (Figure 2),
piercing the core.
Side flanges D 12, which encircle the hub, and bear against the opposite ends
of the feathers A', bear also against the sides 133 of the chamber B, as shown;
bolts E, which pass through the side flanges D1 D2 and through the rubber.core B¹,
hold them in place on the hub.
The air chamber B is encircled by a ring F, having a concave exterior, and a
central annular projection F on its interior, embracing the rubber air chamber,
which is centrally grooved at B', to receive the projection F, as will be seen
clearly from Figure 2. By the engagement of this central projection F1 of the
ring with the corresponding groove B in the air chamber, they are prevented
from having any lateral displacement relatively to each other. The diameter of
the side flanges 11 D2 is such, that they confine the air chamber sufficiently, to
prevent it from having lateral movement on the hub, and keep the plane of the
wheel always perpendicular to the axis of rotation or approximately so; but they
do not injuriously affect the free movement of the outer circumferential portion
of the air chamber radially, in compression or expansion. This outer circum-
ferential portion may be considered as beginning (in section) at the circumferential
edge of one flange ), and extending as an elastic arch across to the corresponding
edge of the other flange D. Moreover, the chamber B, when inflated, will not
rotate within the ring F, on account of the friction between them, resulting from
the pressure with which the air in the chamber keeps the outside of the chamber
against the inside of the ring. The spokes G are passed through the flanged edges
of the ring F, and retained therein by their rivet heads G¹.
Preferably the inflatable chamber B is provided with thickened side walls B³,
having annular projections B, one at each side, to overlap or rest upon the outer
edges of the side flanges D1 D3; by this construction, it follows that, when, in
the use of the hub, a part of the ring F moves towards the barrel A, the side
walls B3 of the air chamber, upon which the projections 13 are formed, are upheld,
and cannot be forced inwards between the flanges D1 D2 in such wise, as to tend to
exert a wedging action thereon. Unless this wedging tendency were prevented,
the chamber would be liable to become jammed between the flanges, and the re-
silence of the device would be impaired; such resilience is mainly obtained from
the curved free parts B6 of the air-chamber.
17 is a canvas coating for the air-chamber B; the canvas might be otherwise
combined therewith, as, for instance, by lining the chamber with canvas.

page_text: If required, positive means may be employed to prevent any slip between the
ring F and inflated chamber B, but usually it is preferred not to use them.
The spokes in the rim may be of any ordinary and suitable construction, and
may be arranged in any convenient manner; the tyre or road surface may be of
any suitable description, preferably pneumatic or cushioned.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. In a pneumatic hub the combination with a central part such as A and an
inflatable chamber such as B, of feathers or projections such as A' on the former
and a grooved core such as B on the latter for the purpose described.
2. In a pneumatic hub the combination with a central portion such as A, of an
inflatable chamber such as B flanges such as D1 D2 to uphold the sides B3 of the
chamber, and an outer ring such as F, the chamber and ring mutually engaging,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. In a pneumatic hub the combination with side flanges such as D1 D2 and an
inflatable chamber such as B, extending radially outward slightly beyond the
flanges, of projections such as B on the chamber to engage the side flanges for the
purpose specified.
4. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete pneu-
matic hub such as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 11th 1.1.
1007
W. A. KONEMAN.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.
W. A. KONEMAN.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.