Improvements in and appertaining to the Frames and Brakes of Cycles-and-other. Vehicle
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Sept., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 30th June, 1895-Accepted, 29th Aug., 1396
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and appertaining to the Frames and Brakes of
Cycles-and-other. Vehicles.
-
I, METHUSELAH BROOKS of Bridge End, Whalley, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby, declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The first part of this invention relates to the frames of cycles and other vehicles,
and consists in the interposition between the frame and the axle, of a pneumatic
cushion, the employment of which is intended not only to decrease or entirely
overcome vibration, but also to increase the resiliency or easy riding of the
machine.
I will proceed to describe the application of my improved pneumatic cushion to
the back wheel. The junction of the vertical and horizontal stays, which has
previously been slotted to admit of carrying the axle is re-arranged. The said
stays are welded direct to a half tubular or trough shaped jaw or piece of metal.
Hinged to this is another similar jaw or piece of metal, bent at both ends or
Ushaped, one of the bent ends being secured by the hinge. This latter jaw
is formed with a kind of bearing about midway of its length, which rests on
the axle.
The pneumatic cushion may be merely an inflated rubber bag, or may have an
outside rubber cover, or may be simply a couple of pneumatic balls or otherwise.
It is disposed between the two hinged or jointed pieces or jaws, when the free ends
are made to interlock each other in a novel manner, but are capable of vertical
movement. The bent end of the lower jaw is formed with two slots, into which
project two dovetails on the upper jaw. This absolutely, prevents any end move-
ment, and whilst ensuring perfect stability to the structure permits of free
movement in a vertical direction. A bolt may be passed through a wide hole in
the lower jaw and screwed into the upper jaw for further safety.
"
A similar arrangement may be applied to the front wheel, and the arrangement
may be used on machines with pneumatic tyres or with solid or cushion tyres.
The arrangement when used with or applied, to an ordinary vehicle may be used in
addition to or in dispensation of the usual springs.
The next part of my invention relates to pneumatic brakes for cycles. Hitherto
these have been made rather gingerly or toyish in appearance, and partake more
of a plaything than of a really serviceable appliance for controlling a machine. The
present invention is designed to render the same neater in appearance, and more
efficient. To accomplish this, I carry a rubber or metal tube from one end to the
other inside the tubular handle bar, and make it communicate at one or both ends
with a compressible rubber bulb. Communicating with this air tube at right
angles is a similar tube, which runs down inside the vertical tubular steering rod
near to where the latter ends at the fork crown. Here, the said tube is made to
communicate with a pneumatic brake consisting of a metal shoe and a distendable
rubber pad. By pressing the bulb attached to the handlebar, the air is displaced
from the bulb, and makes its way through the tube inside the handlebar, and down
the vertical tube inside the steering bar when it enters the rubber pad and inflates
the latter, distending it on to the tyre.

page_text: A back check valve prevents the return of the air until it is released by pressing
a release valve, which may be at the neck of the bulb or in the centre of the
handle bar.
Dated this 28th day of September 1895.
F. RICHMOND,
12, Standish Street, Burnley, Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in and appertaining to the Frames and Brakes of
Cycles and other Vehicles.
I METHUSELAH BROOKS of Bridge End, Whalley, in the County of
Lancaster, 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 :-
The first part of this invention relates to the frames of cycles and other vehicles,
and consists in the interposition between the frame and the axle, of a pneumatic
cushion, the employment of which is intended not only to decrease or entirely
overcome vibration, but also to increase the resiliency or easy riding of the
machine.
I will proceed to describe the application of my improved pneumatic cushion to
the back wheel. The junction of the vertical and horizontal stays, which bas
previously been slotted to admit of carrying the axle is re-arranged. The said
stays are welded direct to a half tubular or trough shaped jaw or piece of metal.
Hinged to this is another similar jaw or piece of metal bent at both ends or
Ushaped, one of the bent ends being secured by the hinge. This latter jaw
is formed with a kind of bearing about midway of its length, which rests on
the axle.
•
The pneumatic cushion may be merely an inflated rubber bag, or may have an
outside rubber cover, or may be simply a couple of pneumatic balls or otherwise.
It is disposed between the two hinged or jointed pieces or jaws, when the free ends
are made to interlock each other in a novel manner, but are capable of vertical
movement. The bent end of the lower jaw is formed with two slots, into which
projects two dovetails on the upper jaw. This absolutely prevents any end
movement, and whilst ensuring perfect stability to the structure permits of free
movement in a vertical direction. A bolt may be passed through a wide hole in
the lower jaw and screwed into the upper jaw for further safety.
A similar arrangement may be applied to the front wheel, and the arrangement
may be used on inachines with pneumatic tyres or with solid or cushion tyres.
The arrangement when used with or applied to an ordinary vehicle may be used in
addition to or in dispensation of the usual springs.
The next part of my invention relates to pneumatic brakes for cycles. Hitherto
these have been made rather gingerly or toyish in appearance and partake more of
a plaything than of a really serviceable appliance for controlling a machine. The
present invention is designed to render the same neater in appearance and more
efficient. To accomplish this, I carry a rubber or metal tube from one end to the
other inside the tubular handle bar, and make it communicate at one or both ends
with a compressible rubber bulb. Communicating with this air tube at right
angles is a similar tube, which runs down inside the vertical tubular stearing rod,
near to where the latter ends at the fork crown. Here, the said tube is made to
communicate with a pneumatic brake consisting of a metal shoe, and a distendable
rubber pad.
By pressing the bulb attached to the handle-bar, the air is displaced
from the bulb, and makes its way through the tube inside the handle-bar, and down

page_text: the vertical tube inside the stearing post, when it enters the rubber pad, and
inflates the latter, distending it on to the tyre.
A back check valve prevents the return of the air until it is released by
pressing a release valve, which may be at the neck of the bulb or in the centre of
the handle bar.
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 (Sheet 1) is a side view of a rear fork end,.
or junction of vertical and horizontal stays fitted with my improved pneumatic
frame arrangement.
A is the horizontal stay, B the vertical stay of a cycle, to which is welded by
means of the socket C³ a partially tubular or trough shaped jaw C. To this
socket is jointed at D a lower jaw E formed with slotted portion F, into which
is slided the axle in the usual manner, and by which the axle and chain gear may
be regulated with the aid of the usual screw T piece and bridge.
Interposed between the two jaws is pneumatic cushion or pad G inflated by
valve H, or in substitution thereof pneumatic balls, or the like may be employed..
To prevent any end movement of the jaws, the lower one is fitted with projections.
or studs J, which work in slots K in the upper jaw C (see Fig. 3) so as to permit.
movement only in a vertical direction. They may be provided with nuts L..
Fig. 2 is a cross section of the two jaws fully illustrating the joint D.
In the slight modification represented in Fig. 4, the upper jaw C is formed with
two end caps M and N. The lower jaw E is hinged or jointed to the end cap M,.
and is arranged to work up and down in the end cap N, but is thereby entirely
prevented from moving in any other direction. The valve for inflating pneumatic.
cushion G is shewn at the end instead of at the top.
My invention is equally applicable to the front fork as to the rear fork arrange-
ment. This will be at once evident by reference to Fig. 5 which is a front.
elevation of a bicycle fitted with my improved pneumatic frame to both the front
Welded to the
and rear wheels. The modification just described is illustrated.
fork O by means of a socket is upper jaw C. The lower jaw is provided with an
extension P to receive the axle and bearings. The action is exactly similar to the
arrangement previously described.
In Fig. 6 is represented a modification of my invention, by means of which the
said pneumatic frame arrangement may be applied to either new or existing
machines.
Qis a light casting formed with a slotted extension R, which is bolted to the
Cslot of the rear fork as shewn. In a groove in this casting slides bearing S,
which carries the axle T of the rear wheel, and is formed with a curved seat, upon
which rests pneumatic cushion V. A correspondingly shaped plate V' is at the
top of the cushion, provided with valve W, which slides through a hole in the
upper portion of the casting, and by means of which the pneumatic cushion may be
inflated.
For attachment to the front fork the light casting Q is provided with a curved
slotted extension X shewn in dotted lines, so as to permit of ready application to
any machine.
In Fig. 7 (Sheet 2) is clearly illustrated the next part of my invention, which is
designed to improve the present existing pneumatic brakes for cycles. To render
the same neater in appearance I dispense with the usual rubber, cork or bone
handles and in substitution thereof 1 employ inflating bulbs 1 and 2, provided with
back check and release valves 7 and 8. From one or both of these bulbs, I carry
inflating tube 3, which is conveyed through the inside of the handle-bar 4, and
then down through the stearing post 5 to the fork crown, where it is connected to
a metal shoe provided with a distendable pad 6.
When the bulb is pressed, the pneumatic pad is distended in the usual way on to
the tyre.
The tubes being conveyed inside the bandle-bar and steering post, the
machine has a neater appearance, and the conversion of the rubber bulbs into the
bandles of the machine, greatly diminishes the weight of materials used.
The pneumatic tubes may be continued inside the tubular frame of the machine

page_text: case
to inflate a pad on to the rear driving wheel, instead of the front wheel, in which
I make a small junction between the top stay or backbone of the machine, and
the diagonal stay, which is bored to allow of fitting the shoe brake and inflatable
pad as described above.
The inflating tube is thus carried through the handle bar and steering post, then
through the top stay or back bone, and across the small junction to the diagonal
stay, where it is finally secured to the metal shoe, and inflatable pad..
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 :-
1. The improved arrangement and construction of pneumatic frames of cycles
and other vehicles, substantially as described, and illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 for
the purpose set forth.
2. The modification represented in Figs. 4 and 5, substantially as described and
set forth.
3. The modification illustrated in Fig. 6, as and for the purpose: described.
4. Jaws C and E and cushion G, and means for preventing end or side movement,
substantially as described.
5. The interposition of a pneumatic or elastic cushion or medium G and parts
connected therewith between the frame and the axle of cycles and other vehicles,
as described.
6. The improved adaptation of pneumatic brakes of cycles by converting the
inflating bulbs into the handles and conveying the inflating tube or tubes inside
the tubular part or parts of such machines, substantially as described, and illustrated
in Fig. 7.
Dated this 20th day of June 1806
F. RICHMOND,
12 Standish Street, Burnley, Agent for the Applicant.
F. RICHMOND,
12 Standish Street, Burnley, Agent for the Applicant.