Improvements in Wheels for Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 28th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 4th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wheels for Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
I, JOHN MABRY MCMAHAN, of 15, Park Row, New York, United States of
America, Electrical Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:
My invention relates to wheels for velocipedes, perambulators, cabs and other
vehicles, and is designed to provide improved means for diminishing the vibration
of such vehicles when travelling over rough or uneven roads.
The main object of my said invention is to provide velocipede and other wheels
with a cushion or spring which will not be liable to injury or wear by contact with
the road, like the pneumatic tires now largely used. For this purpose I employ a
pneumatic hub, that is to say, an air-cushion suitably arranged between the axle
and the spokes of the wheel.
In carrying my said invention into practice, I find it advantageons to proceed as
follows riz. I form or fix upon the axle or upon a tube or sleeve fitted thereon, a
disc having an annular projection surrounding the said axle or sleeve and I secure
between this disc and a corresponding disc which is fitted upon the axle or sleeve
and bears against the said projection, an annular hollow or tubular india-rubber
cushion filled with compressed air. I combine, with this cushion and with the said
dises an annular box or casing which I term an idle hub and to which the spokes
are attached, preferably by passing the bent ends of the spokes through holes in
suitable flanges or rims formed on the said idle hub.
I provide suitable means for ensuring the rotation of this idle hub with the said
cushion and discs whilst permitting the said idle hub to move towards and away
from the axle, so as to compress the cushion and permit the reaction thereof 'as
may be necessary. For instance, I sometimes make the said cushion with a solid
pait through which are passed bolts, pins or rivets for securing the said cushion to
the discs, and I provide projections on the periphery of the said cushion, which
projections extend into or through apertures or recesses in the said idle hub. The
said bolts, pins or rivets may also serve, if desired, for securing together the
aforesaid discs. I find it convenient to form a hole through one of the projections
of the cushion to permit the introduction of compressed air into the said cushion.
It is obvious that the construction of the improved wheel can be somewhat
modified without departing from the nature of my said invention. For instance,
other convenient means may be provided for connecting the parts so as to ensure
their rotating together. Moreover I can, if desired, use a hollow india-rubber
cushion having air at the ordinary atmospheric pressure enclosed thercio.
My invention affords the great advantage that the cushion is entirely surrounded
and supported by the metal of the discs or of the said idle hub, and is, therefore,
not exposed to injury from the exterior and not liable to be burst by any pressure
to which it is likely to be subjected. The idle hub can, however, slide freely upon
the said cushion and discs as above mentioned, so as to bring the cushion into action
as may be required.
If desired, I use in addition to my improved cushion or spring, an ordinary
solid or other india-rubber tire secured upon the wheel in any well-known
manner.
נ..
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**1.3000
:
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the, Applicant...

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wheels for Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
I, JOHN MABRY MCMAHAN, of 15 Park Row, New York, United States of
America, Electrical Engineer, 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 :-
My invention relates to wheels for velocipedes, perambulators, cabs and other
vehicles, and is designed to provide improved means for diminishing the vibration
of such vehicles when travelling over rough or uneven roads.
The main object of my said invention is to provide velocipede and other wheels with
a cushion or spring which will not be liable to injury or wear by contact with the
road, like the pneumatic tires now largely used. For this purpose, I employ a
pneumatic hub, that is to say, one or more air-cushions suitably arranged between
the axle and the spokes of the wheel.
.
My said invention, moreover, comprises improvements whereby I provide for
effectually protecting the said air-cushions against injury.
In the accompanying drawings I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal central section, showing a velocipede wheel with one
form of my pneumatic hub applied thereto.
Figure 2 is a section on the line x, x, Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a section showing another form or modification of my pneumatic hub
or cushion.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the hub proper, that is to say, the part of the wheel that fits upon the
axle. B is an annular casing or ring which I term an idle or subsidiary hub, and to
which the spokes are attached in any convenient manner. C is a guiding disc
formed integrally with the said hub A, and C' is another guiding disc screwed upon
the said hub and bearing against a shoulder A' thereon. D, D are bushes forming
parts of the ball-bearings. E is the pneumatic cushion which is made of india-
rubber or other suitable material and is filled with compressed air.
The idle or subsidiary hub B is constructed with internal flanges B' which are
. accurately fitted so as to slide between the discs C, C¹ which serve as guides for the
same.
In order to ensure the rotation of this idle or subsidiary hub B and of the
cushion E with the hub A, and, at the same time, permit the compression and
reaction of the cushion when necessary, the hub A is provided with driving arms or
projections F, preferably formed of sheet-metal and rivetted or otherwise firmly
secured to the said hub A. The cushion E is, moreover, moulded with a hole
through its centre of suitable shape to receive the said driving arms, as more clearly
shown at E' in Figure 2. The periphery of the cushion E is preferably moulded
with indentations or corrugations as shown, so that it will engage with a corrugated
plate or strip G rivetted or otherwise firmly secured to the idle or subsidiary hub B.
The indentations in the said cushion may, however, be formed by compression of the
cushion by means of the said corrugated plate or strip G.
The said corrugated plate G may, if desired, be replaced by separate projections
or driving arms suitably formed from sheet metal or otherwise, and firmly secured
to the said idle or subsidiary hub.
The cushion E is provided with a tube E' and with a suitable valve to permit
the introduction of the compressed air into the said cushion and its retention
therein, or other suitable means may be employed for this purpose.
When the said cushion E has been inflated and the wheel is in use, the weight
applied to the wheel will cause the hub A to move downward relatively to the idle
or subsidiary hub B and become eccentric therewith, and the lower part of the

page_text: cushion E will, therefore, be more or less compressed. Should the wheel meet with
a slight obstruction on the road, the idle or subsidiary hub B will be moved upward
relatively to the hub A and the lower part of the cushion E will be still further com-
pressed and the eccentricity of the parts increased. During the travelling of the
vehicle over rough or uneven roads, the aforesaid eccentricity will continually vary,
and the cushion will alternately be compressed and react, and consequently no
injurious shocks or jars will be transmitted to the rider.
D
Should the air-cushion E become defective from any cause, the flange or disc C'
can be readily unscrewed and the air-cushion can then be removed, repaired and
replaced; and the flange C¹ being again screwed on, the wheel is again ready
for use.
In another form or modification of my invention, shown in Figure 3, I make the
cushion E with a thick annular portion E³ having formed therein holes E' through
which are passed bolts, pins or rivets for securing the said cushion to the discs C, C¹.
The said bolts, pins or rivets may also serve, if desired, for securing together the
said discs C, C¹. The cushion E shown in Figure 3 is made externally of polygonal
form, and the idle or subsidiary hub is made internally of corresponding shape to ensure
the rotation of the parts together. Or I form projections on the periphery of the
said cushion, which projections extend into or through apertures or recesses in the
said idle or subsidiary hub. The said cushion is, moreover, made with partitions E'
having holes Es through them for the passage of the compressed air.
My invention affords the great advantage that the cushion is entirely surrounded
and supported by the metal of the discs C, C and of the idle or subsidiary hub B,
and is, therefore, not exposed to injury from the exterior and not liable to be burst
by any pressure to which it is likely to be subjected. The idle or subsidiary hub
is, moreover, free to slide between the guiding discs and to compress the air-
cushion as above mentioned, so as to bring the said cushion into action as may be
required.
It is obvious that the construction of the improved wheel can be somewhat
modified without departing from the nature of my said invention. For instance
two or more air-cushions may be employed instead of a single cushion as above
described; other convenient means may be provided for connecting the parts so as
to ensure their rotating together. In place cf the discs C, C¹, I can, if desired, use
radial arms or a circular piece of open work. Moreover I can, if desired, use a
hollow india-rubber cushion having enclosed therein air at the ordinary atmospheric
pressure instead of compressed air. It is evident also that, in wheels provided with
axles fixed therein, the air-cushion can be arranged between the said axle and an
idle or subsidiary hub surrounding the same.
If desired, I secure upon the wheel provided with my pneumatic hub an ordinary
solid or other india-rubber tire or a pneumatic tire.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. A wheel provided with a pneumatic hub, for the purpose above specified.
Second. A wheel constructed with one or more air-cushions arranged between
the axle or the hub proper and an idle or subsidiary hub to which the spokes are
attached and which is movable relatively to the said axle or hub, substantially as
hereinbefore described, and for the purpose specified.
Third. The combination, with the hub proper, of the discs, flanges or other
guides attached thereto, the idle or subsidiary hub movable between the said guides,
and one or more cushions arranged between the said hub and the idle or subsidiary
hub, substantially as, and for the purposes, above specified.
Fourth. An air-cushion adapted to be inserted between the axle or hub of a
wheel and an idle or subsidiary hub surrounding the same, and so constructed that
it will suitably connect the said axle or hub and the idle or subsidiary hub,
substantially as, and for the purposes, above specified.

page_text: Fifth. The modification of my improved air-cushion wherein the same is divided
into compartments communicating with each other, substantially as described with
reference to Figure 3 of the drawings.
Sixth. A wheel provided with a pneumatic hub constructed and combined with
the other parts of the wheel substantially as described with reference to Figures 1
and 2 of the drawings for the purpose specified.
Dated the 28th day of January 1893.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.