Improvements in or connected with Velocipedes, and in Saddle Pins therefor.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Apr., 1897-Accepted, 29th May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Velocipedes, and in Saddle Pins
therefor.
We, FRANK HENRY BLUEMEL and FREDERICK RICHARD BLUEMEL, both of
Crown Works, Rose Place, Globe Road, Mile End, London, Manufacturers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in and connected with velocipedes and in
saddle pins therefor, the object being to arrange the saddle in such a manner in
connection with a pneumatic ball or cushion that all vibration shall be reduced to a
minimum thus enabling saddle springs and the like to be dispensed with, while our
improved arrangement or construction is of such a nature as not to be liable of
readily getting out of order.
In carrying our invention into practical effect, and in accordance with one form or
arrangement of same, we provide a suitable ball or air chamber of any desired size
and shape, designed, preferably to be contained in an enlarged portion of one of the
tubes of the velocipede, said ball or air chamber being fitted or provided with any
restraining medium such as canvas or the like, if required, and having a valve for
inflating purposes.
The saddle pin which is practically of the usual construction has its lower end well
rounded off and is designed to bear or rest upon the said ball or air chamber, which
thus receives and supports the whole weight of the rider, the said saddle pin rising
and falling within the tube containing the ball or air chamber, as the various obstacles
are encountered, thereby preventing the jolting and vibration of the machine from
affecting the rider, while the said saddle pin may be fitted between rows of steel
balls so as to prevent friction and allow it to rise and fall more easily.
According to a slightly modified form or arrangement of our invention our improved
device is constructed in combination with the saddle pin in such a manner as to allow
of its being readily applied to existing machines of ordinary construction. According
to this arrangement the end of the L-pin is fitted or furnished with a downwardly
projecting tube, the lower end of which is enlarged or terminates in a bulb or ball,
said enlarged portion being designed to contain the pneumatic ball or air chamber, the
saddle pin proper then passes down the said tube and rests or bears the pneumatic
ball or air cushion as hereinbefore described, while any suitable device or contrivance
may be employed to prevent turning or side motion of the saddle pin or saddle.
In either case the receptacle designed to contain the pneumatic ball or air chamber
may be so constructed or formed as to allow of access being readily had to the interior
for the purpose of repairing or replacing the pneumatic ball or the like, when
required.
As our improvements are capable of some modifications without departing from
the principle thereof, we do not restrict ourselves to the precise form or placement of
the various parts thereof.

page_text: MI LUI DIMITTUATION.
Improvements in or connected with Velocipedes, and in Saddle Pins
therefor.
We, FRANK HENRY BLUEMEL and FREDERICK RICHARD BLUEMEL both of
Crown Works, Rose Place, Globe Road, Mile End, London, Manufacturers, 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:-
Our invention relates to improvements in or connected with velocipedes, and saddle-
pins therefor, the object being to arrange the saddle-pin in such a manner in connection
with a pneumatic ball or cushion that all vibration shall be reduced to a minimum,
thereby rendering the use of saddle springs or the like unnecessary and affording
greater ease and comfort to the rider, while this improved arrangement or construction
possesses considerable advantages over the arrangements or constructions wherein a
pneumatic ball or cushion is employed, that have hitherto been known.
In order that our invention may be fully understood we will now proceed to
describe same with reference to the accompanying sheets of drawings, wherein
Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation illustrating the application of this invention to a
velocipede, Fig. 2 being a cross section on line x, x, of Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 a detail.
Fig. 4 (Sheet 2) is a side elevation of a saddle-pin embodying this invention.
Our invention comprises essentially the arrangement of a hollow chamber preferably
of circular horizontal section and having a hemispherical or approximately
hemispherical upper portion terminating in a cylindrical neck; a pneumatic ball or
cushion fits closely inside this chamber and is supported thereby against internal
pressure at all points except the relatively small space occupied at the top by the
horizontal neck."
On this free surface floats the rounded end of a plunging tube working in bearings
between rows of steel balls (with means for preventing the plunger from turning) to
which is clipped the pin supporting the saddle.
In carrying our invention into effect we use preferably three rows of steel balls
kept in position in corresponding grooves formed in the plunging tube and cylindrical
neck respectively; in this manner not only are the balls kept in line but the plunging
tube is prevented from twisting in the neck.
In cases where the prevention of twisting is otherwise provided for the grooves on
one (preferably the inner) member may be dispensed with, thus reducing the friction
of the bearing; or one groove on the plunging tube may be retained, the balls lying
between this and the corresponding groove on the neck acting as a feather along
which the plunger slides with a minimum of friction.
The pneumatic chamber, cylindrical neck, and plunger may, when applied to a
bicycle or other velocipede form an enlargement of the down tube, or it may be
attached by a lateral extension to the ordinary saddle-pin.
It is evident that, if required, two or more pneumatic springs similar to the one
here described might be used on the same vehicle, for the purpose of supporting a
larger seat or heavier structure.
In Sheet 1 of the drawings a indicates the down tube, the enlarged portion of which
consists of two hemispherical or cup shaped stampings a', a2, brazed together at the
centre joint b, at the lower end b, into the tube a, and at the upper end 62 to an
enlarged tube a containing the ball bearing mechanism, while the bottom of cup or
stamping a¹ is closed by a disc 2, sprung into position. Within the said enlarged
portion of the tube we arrange a pneumatic ball e furnished with any suitable
inflating valve v, said ball being inserted through the oval opening o indicated by

page_text: dotted lines (Fig. 1) and shown in Fig. 4, said opening being subsequently closed by
a correspondingly shaped plate p which is slipped through the opening and retained
in position by the inflated ball c.
The enlarged tube a³ is closed at the bottom by a disc d, as shown, and within
said tube is slipped the outer shell d¹ of the ball bearing, said shell containing
grooves y, a'. g, designed to retain the balls 63 in position and between the said balls
the plunging tube t works. The lower end of this tube is closed by means of a
suitable plug into which is screwed a convex bearing piece resting or bearing on
the ball c, while the upper part of said tube is furnished with a clip or clamp /² so as
to retain the saddle pin h in the required position. A disc d', shewn in plan at
Fig. 3, is screwed into the top of the enlarged tube a³ so as to retain or lock the ball
bearing mechanism in position. The area of the bearing piece will be determined by
the amount of the weight and the pneumatic pressure required.
A regulating screws passes through the enlarged tube a³ and rests or bears against
the outer surface of the shell d', as shewn (Fig. 2), so that by screwing up the
latter the ball bearing may be adjusted, the balls 3 are arranged in such a manner
that two of them bear upon the plain outer surface of the plunging tube t while the
third row work in a groove or indent k formed in the said plunging tube t, thus
forming an anti-friction feather; the saddle-pin or tube h' being correspondingly
shaped, all the parts are prevented from turning.
It will readily be seen that by our improved arrangement or construction, the
whole of the vertical vibrations due to the passage of the machine over obstacles or
inequalities of the road, are absorbed by the pneumatic ball c, and prevented from
reaching the rider, moreover owing to the convergence of the sides of the upper part
of the chamber and the rounded form of the bearing piece the strain and wear of the
material of the air cushion are reduced to a minimum. For when the plunger
descends. the material comes easily away from the sides of the chamber and rolls
itself as it were-on the surface of the bearing piece without friction and without
undue bending or danger of nipping, owing to the relative position of the bearing
piece and the walls. The converging sides also sustain, a large portion of the upward
strain when the pressure of the plunger is removed or reduced and the bearing piece
rises. Thus the arrangement or construction described, afford a maximum of
proficiency combined with simplicity of construction and few working parts.
In order to increase the cubical capacity of the air ball or chamber it may be
furnished at the bottom with a tubular extension of sufficient length and designed to
be contained within the tube a.
In applying this invention to existing machines in the form of an improved saddle-
pin, we preferably adopt the plan illustrated in Fig. 4 (Sheet 2). This arrangement
comprises a Tor L-tube m, the stem m¹ of which is designed to be secured in the
down tube of the velocipede frame in the ordinary manner, while the end of the arm m
is furnished with an enlarged downwardly projecting tube n having an enlarged
tubular portion q within which the pneumatic ball is contained.
Within the enlarged tube n is arranged a ball bearing and plunging tube t, the
upper end of which carries an arm or tube a designed to receive the saddle while the
internal parts etc. are of precisely similar construction to that illustrated in Figs. 1 to 3
(Sheet 1) of the accompanying drawings.
We wish it to be distinctly understood that we do not claim broadly the use of a
pneumatic ball or cushion in connection with a saddle or saddle pin of a velocipede,
but having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
our said
1. The combination for the purposes described of (1) a rigid chamber having a
hemispherical upper portion terminating in a cylindrical neck, (2) a plunger sliding
telescopically between rows of balls substantially as herein described within the
cylindrical neck and supporting the required weight, (3) a convex bearing piece
forming the lower end of the plunger and lying free of the sides of the upper portion of

page_text: J
the chamber, and (4) an air cushion of flexible, inextensible material, (with non-return
valve) wholly filling the said chamber and supporting the bearing piece by flotation
on its free surface.
2. In combination with telescopic spring saddle-pins for velocipedes of the ball
bearing device, substantially as, and for the purposes described.
3. The construction and combination of parts constituting the alternative forms of
our pneumatic spring, as, and for the purposes described, and as shown in the
drawings.
D: 92-1
11007
F. G. CASSELL
(Of Cassell & Co.),
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, London, W.,
Agent for the Applicants.