Improvements in or connected with Velocipedes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Mar., 1897
سمم
1005
+
4000
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in or connected with Velocipedes.
We, GEORGE WIlliam Bell, of 97, Newsham Drive, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer, and ANTHONY SHELMERDINE, of 36, Dale Street, Liverpool,
Faforesaid, Architect, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has principally for its object to obviate vibration in the frames
of velocipedes, and also to prevent the rider being jarred or shaken when travelling
over rough and uneven roads, and to effect these ends by a simple and light con-
struction and parts; and in a manner which, while it is efficient in practice, is not
objectionable in appearance.
In a bicycle according to this invention, the frame is supported at the wheel
axles pneumatically; that is to say, between the wheels and the frame, there is an
air vessel, and upon the air in the vessel or vessels the frame, and the weight of
the rider, are supported. In previous designs or methods adapted to effect this
end, the main difficulty met with has been the side cant, or tendency of side cant,
of the wheel; that is, the tendency of the wheels to move out of the true plane of
the frame of the machine, in which they normally lie. In these methods or means,
as designed and constructed, this tendency of side cant of the wheel, has been such
that the strain and friction put upon the parts connected with the pneumatic sup-
porting cylinders or chambers, has been such as to render it extremely difficult, if
not impossible, to attain the desired ends in a practical way; i.e. without making
the parts extremely strong and heavy, or introducing some inadmissible or im-
practicable features.
According to this invention, these defects and difficulties are overcome; and this
is obtained by the construction and arrangement hereafter described.
Under this invention, the pneumatic devices, namely, the cylinders and pistons
which contain and act upon the air, are disposed within the vertical plane of the
wheel; so that the weight and pressure applied to the pneumatic devices, and the
frame, is transmitted and acts at a point in the plane of the wheels. By this means
the cylinders and pistons employed are not subjected, or subjected only to com-
paratively small strains, due to the canting tendency or action of the wheel.
In one form, the axle (which is rigidly carried by and from the frame or forks)
carries at its centre the pistons or plungers, one above and one below; whilst,
outside the spindle, there is a hollow fixed nave or sleeve, which carries, say at
the top and bottom, the cylinders in which the pistons or plungers fit. In one con-
struction, at the outer edges of this sleeve are ball races or collars, forming the
fixed portions of the ball bearings of the wheel, which are screwed on over the
ends of the nave or sleeves. This nave or sleeve is provided with guides and
slots arranged normal to the chain line, through and in which the axle which is
square or has flattened sides at this point, works, and by means of which the frame
and pistons are free to move up and down in the cylinders, and rigidity longi-
tudinally is afforded. The wheel hub proper of the wheel revolves about the fixed

page_text: sleeve or roller bearing, and it is driven by a sprocket wheel, say, at one side, in
the usual way.
As a modification of the above construction, the converse arrangement of cylinders
and pistons may be employed.
In one construction having the characteristics above described, the guides or
slides at the ends of the fixed sleeve, are fastened to the inside or to projections on
the inside of the sleeve; while the flanges or parts project outside the sleeve, and
hold the roller collars or races in position.
The cylinders in which the pistons or rams work are fixed, as stated, in the
upper and under side of the nave or sleeve; and the axle is firmly screwed and
secured in the pistons (which are preferably in in one) at the centre; and air is
forced under pressure into the operative or compression cylinder through a hole in
the axle, which is provided with a suitable valve on its end.
In some cases, the upper cylinder and piston are constructed as an active one,
and adapted to contain air under pressure and take part in the weight. In which
case its piston would act upon air enclosed in the lower part thereof, it being con-
nected to the axle by a piston rod. Or, any suitable arrangement and combination
of air cylinders and pistons may be adopted. Also the back movement or part
may be adapted as an air dash pot, to take back lash, and obviate noise.
The compression pistons will be provided with a suitable leather or other cup
packing; and, in some cases, the compression cylinders may be charged with oil
or liquid for a given depth, with a pipe resting in the oil at one end, and fixed at
the other to the pistons, so that when the pistons descend, the compression of air
takes place, and also a discharge of oil through the pipe into the hollow of the
pistons, by which the double effect due to the compression of air and escape of oil
is obtained. The compressed air forced into the parts is partly contained within
the cylinders and partly in the pistons. If desired, more air space or storage for
compressed air will be provided by containers at the sides of the pistons, and sleeve,
or other parts.
The hub proper, or portion of the hub of the wheel, to which the spokes are
attached, may be made up of metal in the form of an annular case, fitting over or
extending beyond the cylinders having the ball races at the edges. And in some
cases, this hub part will be made in two parts connected together at the side or in
the centre by suitable means. Also suitable doors or apertures may be provided
in it to gain access to the parts within it.
It is to be stated the invention is not restricted to the specific form or construc-
tion of parts more particularly specified above, as these may be modified or equiva-
lents used without departing from the main and essential characteristics of the
invention.
Dated this 26th dor of Vene 1807
Cipeues.
We, GEORGE WILLIAM BELL, of 97, Newsham Drive, Liverpool; in the County
of Lancaster, Engineer, and ANTHONY SHELMERDINE, of 36, Dale Street, Liverpool,
aforesaid, Architect, 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:—
This invention has particularly for its object to obviate vibration in the frames

page_text: of velocipedes, and also to prevent the rider being jarred or shaken, when travelling
over rough and uneven roads, and to effect these ends by a simple and light con-
struction of parts, and in a manner which, while it is efficient in practice, is not
objectionable in appearance.
In a bicycle, according to this invention, the frame is supported at the wheel
axles pneumatically; that is to say, between the wheels and the frame, there is an
air vessel, and, upon the air in the vessel or vessels, the frame, and the weight of
the rider, are supported. In previous designs or methods adapted to effect this end,
the main difficulty met with has been the side cant, or tendency of side cant, of the
wheel;
that is, the tendency of the wheels to move out of the true plane of the
frame of the machine, in which they normally lie. In these methods or means, as
designed and constructed, this tendency of side cant of the wheel has been such
that the strain and friction put upon the parts connected with the pneumatic sup-
porting cylinders or chambers, has been such as to render it extremely difficult,
if not impossible, to attain the desired ends in a practical way; i.e. without making
the parts extremely strong and heavy, or introducing some inadmissible or
impracticable features.
According to this invention, these defects and difficulties are overcome; and
this is obtained by the construction and arrangement hereafter described.
Under this invention, the pneumatic devices, namely, the cylinders and pistons,
which contain or act upon the air or elastic medium, are disposed within the vertical
plane of the wheel; so that the weight and pressure applied to the pneumatic
devices and the frame, is transmitted and acts at a point in the plane of the wheels.
By this means, the cylinders and pistons employed are not subjected, or subjected
only to comparatively small strains, due to the canting tendency or action of the
wheel.
In one form, the axle (which is rigidly carried by and from the frame or forks)
carries at its centre the pistons or plungers, one above and one below; whilst, out-
side the spindle, there is a hollow fixed nave or sleeve, which carries, say at the top
and bottom, the cylinders in which the pistons or plungers fit. In one construc-
tion, at the outer edges of this sleeve are ball races or collars, forming the fixed
portions of the ball bearings of the wheel, which are screwed on over the ends of
the nave or sleeves. This nave or sleeve is provided with guides and slots arranged
normal to the chain line, through and in which the axle, which is square, or has
Hattened sides at this point, works, and by means of which the frame and pistons
are free to move up and down in the cylinders, and rigidity longitudinally is
afforded. The wheel hub proper of the wheel revolves about the fixed sleeve or
roller bearing, and it is driven by a sprocket wheel, say, at one side, in the usual
way.
As a modification of the above construction, the converse arrangement of
cylinders and pistons may be employed.
The invention will be further described with the aid of the accompanying draw-
ings. In these drawings, Figure 1 is a transverse section through the axis or
wheel. Figure 2 is a cross section and plan of same, at A A Figure 1; Figure 3
is a side elevation of a hub of the wheel; and Figure 4 is a vertical sectional eleva-
tion of plunger and nave cylinder through B B, Figure 2. Figure 5 shews a
slightly modified form of hub; Figure 6 is a separate view of the spindle and its
plunger; and Figures 7 and 8 are section and plan, respectively, of another
modification.
Referring, in the first instance, to Figures 1 to 4, a are two parts of a spindle
fixed in the ends of the two frame forks b, and carrying between them at the
centre, the plunger c, (substantially vertical and normal to the chain line), the
greater part of which is disposed above the level of the axle a. Outside and around
this plunger, there is a hollow nave, which comprises a cylindrical part d, vertically
disposed, and kept in a vertical position by the plunger c, and the closed bottom of
which supports the weight of the rider and the frame, and the hollow nave por-
tions proper d. Outside these parts, the hub e of the wheel comes, the sides of

page_text: which are supported by and revolve on the nave d. At the outer edges of the
nave d are ball races or collars f, which screw onto the ends of d, and form
the fixed portions of the ball bearings of the wheel, and are locked in position by
the locking ring f¹.
On the inside of the vertical nave cylinder d, there are four ball races d³; and
on the outside edge of the plunger cylinder c, there are corresponding races c³.. Two of
these races in the nave cylinder are adjustable, and have races fitting into d³,
which races are adjusted. in the channels by the screws d. Between these outer
races and 2, the balls o are introduced. The races give the balls a little play
in them, longitudinally, but these balls are held in at each end by the metal closing
the races, or other form of stop. These races and balls offer very little resistance
to the movement of the two parts c and d, in relation to each other; and, conse.
quently, there is little friction; and at the same time, they prevent the nave
cylinder d, and hence the wheel, moving about its vertical axes, or having any
play or side shake whatever. In lieu of balls being used as vertical guides, rollers
attached to either parts, with similar provision for adjustment, may be used, or
V shaped guides, or the like. In the case, however, of the cylinder & working on
the plunger e telescopically, as a slide and a guide (of course with a suitable lubri-
cant between them), the movement of the cylinder d about its vertical axis will
be prevented by providing vertical guides in the nave necks d, which would rest
against the axle portions a, and oscillate up and down upon them.
C
As regards the construction of the parts, the axles a are brazed and formed on
the outside of the plunger c, so that the inside of the plunger is cylindrical, and a
clear bore. The cap el of the plunger c is screwed into same, thus affording ready
access to the bag; and the cylindrical part is divided into halves, centrally, to
allow of the insertion of the plunger c, so that the naves are threaded over the
spindles a. The cylindrical part is joined by rivets or bolts through central vertical
flanges d. The ends of the spindle a are square at a', and a square washer a² fits
on this square portion a¹, and over them the forks of the cycle fit and rest upon
them, while a nut a³ keeps and locks these parts all in position. Thus, by this
means, the guide or plunger c cannot turn or revolve about the axles a, and there-
fore both it, and the nave cylinder d, are kept in a truly vertical, or substantially
vertical, position, as may be required, and move up and down relatively to each
other, always in this position.
Between the cylinder c and the cylinder d, air under pressure, or other elastic
media, is contained, and in the case shewn, this air is contained within the chamber
or vessel k, which consists of a spirally corrugated rubber and canvas bag, of less
diameter than c, and bound spirally with tempered wire ' to form a spiral armour
to retain it in shane and position. When the bag is inflated to required pressure,
the wire exercises tension on same, so that when the bag is compressed the corruga-
tions retain their form, and also limits the length of bag, so that no upward bump
against the top of the nave d¹ takes place. The lower end of the chamber k rests
upon the closed bottom of the cylinder ; while the upper end bears upon the
end of the cylinder è which is part of the frame which rests upon it; and the
action and reaction between c and d, and therefore between the wheel and frame,
takes place through the cover of c and the bottom of d.
The hub e is provided with the necks e, which form ball races of the bearing
portions and therefore the necks e¹ of e, and of d, together with the balls 2,
constitute the bearing of the wheel; and on one of these necks e, in the case of a
rear wheel of a bicycle, the sprocket driven wheel is fitted.
The hub e consists of end plates, as shewn, and an outer cylinder, one end
plate e being screwed into the cylinder, so that it can be removed, and the parts c, d,
and, can be placed in position. Thus the parts ed and can be relatively and
accurately adjusted and made air tight before inserting in the wheel, as in the case
when a new bag is required. The spokes of the wheel will be fastened in the
flanges e in any known suitable way.

page_text: The valve vis shewn introduced into the air chamber k at the upper part, for
charging it with air at the required pressure, to support the weight of the rider,
and machine frame; a hole fitted with a cap, through the outer hub, allows the
nipple of the inflator to be screwed on the valve.
In the modification shewn in Figure 5, the outer edges of the hub of the wheel
are shewn bent inwards; this construction or formation may be advantageously
employed where the distance between the centre of the wheel, and the sprocket
driven chain, is small, also this form admits of the valve being inflated from the
side of the hub through the hole e6 which is fitted with a cap, so that inconvenience
of inflating between the spokes is avoided.
In action, normally, the weight of the rider is borne by the air in k, or other
elastic media, which is supported at its lower end by the bottom of d, and supports
at its upper end the spindle a, and frame through the cylinder c, and roof c', which
rests on ; and the cylinder c being fixed, as regards its substantially vertical
position, acts as a guide to the cylinder d, and the nave, and so prevents it moving
in any other direction than a vertical one; consequently no.cant can take place of
the wheel, the cylinder c serves as a fixed vertical support to the nave, and so of
the wheel.
In the modification shewn in Figures 7 and 8, the spindle a passes through the
cylinder plunger c, it being secured and made air tight therewith by the cones a, a,
the first a of which is formed in the spindle, and the other, a³, is a coned nut,
which screws onto the threaded part as of the spindle. In this case, also, the
interior of the upper portion of the plunger constitutes the upper part of the air
container, while the lower part k, consists of a bag, analogous to k in Figure 1; it
being secured to c and made air tight therewith by the ring nut 1, which screws
into the inside of c, as shewn.
With regard to this supporting of the wheel by the vertically fixed plunger c, in
the drawing, and the description of them, this support is set out as being effected
through ball races; whilst in our Provisional Specification the construction is
described, in which the plunger or piston bears directly upon the surface of the
outer cylinder of the nave. Of these constructions, we prefer that shewn in the
drawings; but such particular construction of these parts forms per se, no part of
the present invention.
It may also here be stated, that the invention is not restricted to the specific
forms of the parts shewn in these drawings, but may be modified in these respects
in various ways, according to requirements or to meet special cases, without depart-
ing from its essential characteristics.
Also other elastic media than air may be employed or used between the faces c¹
and d, such as a spiral spring, or mubber cushion, etcetera.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. The herein described improvement in velocipedes, namely, a velocipede wheel
having a hollow hub and nave, and a fixed spindle passing through said nave, and
fixed to the velocipede frame, said spindle having at its centre a guide lying in
the same plane as that of the wheel, and the nave having a slide, in connection
with which the guide works, said guide and slide being vertically or substantially
vertically disposed, and the wheel adapted to move up and down, an elastic medium
being interposed between the spindle and the nave, by which the weight of the
velocipede and rider are carried; for the purposes set forth.
2. In a velocipede wheel having a hollow hub, a hollow nave within said hub
on which the wheel revolves, a cylinder or cylinders on said nave disposed within
and in the vertical plane of the wheel, a spindle, a, passing through the hollow
nave and rigidly connected with the velocipede frame, and carrying a plunger or
plungers fitting and working in said cylinder or cylinders, said cylinder or cylinders

page_text: containing within it or them air, under pressure, on which the plunger or plungers
connected with the spindle, work and rest; substantially as set forth.
3. In a velocipede, a hollow hub e, a hollow nave cylinder d within said hub,
a spindle a rigidly connected with the frame 6 of the cycle, and plunger con
said spindle working in the cylinder d; combined and operating substantially as
set forth.
4. In a cycle wheel having an elastic medium, and mechanisms, within the hub,
and between the frame of the cycle and the wheel hub; the inner plunger e fixed
to the frame; the outer nave cylinder d with hollow nave portions d; and the
hollow wheel hub mounted and adapted to revolve upon the parts d¹, and con-
taining within it the above parts; compressed air being contained between the
roof of the plunger c and the bottom of the nave cylinder d; as set forth with
reference to and shewn in the drawings.
5. The wheel hub and parts connected with it combined, constructed, and adapted
to operate as set forth with reference to and shewn in the drawings.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicants Patent Agents, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.