Year: 1897

page_text: I, HARRY CAMPKIN, of 98, Robin Hoods Chase, Nottingham, England, Carrier's
Forwarding Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention relates to improvements in or applicable to spring, pneumatic or
combined spring and pneumatic wheels for cycles, motor cars carriages and other
vehicle wheels in which it is a primary object to minimise vibration and it has for
its main object to provide means for maintaining that part of the wheel which is
capable of moving relatively to the axis, parallel to the plane of rotation, and
also communicating the driving power from the hub to the outer part of the
wheel.
According to this invention in a pneumatic wheel, the hub is formed with an
annular seat or recess on which is mounted a flexible annular air chamber of a
preferably circular section. This air chamber may be formed of indiarubber
strengthened with canvas, and may be provided with an inflation valve of any well
known form.
Mounted on the periphery of the annular air chamber and thus enclosing it is
a rim or ring of suitable section which is connected to the outer rim of the wheel
by spokes in the usual manner.
The outer rim of the wheel may be adapted to receive a solid indiarubber. or
other tyre.
On each side of the hub are three or any other convenient number of radial
arms, these arms are preferably so distributed that those on one side alternate
with those on the other side, Pivotted at the ends of each of the radial arms which
are turned inwards at this point towards the centre of the wheel, are slide or bear-
ing brackets. These slide or bearing brackets are pivotted near their centres on
the radial arms so as to oscillate in the plane of rotation of the wheel, and at each
end they are provided with a bearing or a hole to receive radial pins which slide
therein, which pins are secured to the intermediate rim or ring.
The inner ends of the pins on the radial ring or rim are pivotted to the latter
so that they will also oscillate in the plane of rotation of the wheel, and will thus
move out of their radial position when the outer part of the wheel is moved
eccentric with the hub, as well as permitting the slide brackets on the radial arms
of the hub to slide longitudinal thereon.
The arrangement described will readily permit of the outer part of the wheel
moving into an eccentric position aganst the action of the compressed air in the
air chamber, but will maintain the said outer part of the wheel parallel to its
plane of rotation at all times.

page_text: One bearing or hole in each slide or bearing bracket is preferably placed further
from the point of oscillation of the said bracket than the other, and the former
are preferably placed in the outer position or furthest from the centre of the wheel.
This arrangement prevents excessive oscillation of the slide or bearing brackets.
The arrangement described may be assisted by a duplicate arrangement in
which the several parts are in the reverse position to that described.
In this case there are secured to or formed on the intermediate rim or ring say
six radial arms which are placed alternately with the radial pins described.
Each of these arms is provided as in the previously described arrangement with
a slide or bracket bearing engaging with radial pins which are in this case secured
to the hub.
These radial pins are distributed equally on each side of the hub and are pivotted
therein or to brackets secured thereto, so as to oscillate in the plane of rotation of
the wheel.
The two duplicate arrangements are disposed in the manner described more
particularly so that the action of one will counteract that of the other when driving
power is transmitted by them from the hub to the outer part of the wheel.
In order to assist the pneumatic air chamber I may employ springs in connection
therewith. In this case I place on the radial pins described between the slide or
bracket bearings and the hub or between the slide and the outer end of the said
pins helical or other suitable springs.
By employing springs of sufficient strength the pneumatic chamber may be
dispensed with and the whole of the elasticity be obtained from the said springs.
In order to automatically inflate, or maintain the air in the elastic air chamber
at a constant pressure, I may employ one or more pumps disposed as follows:
The barrel of each pump is preferably connected to the intermediate ring or rim
enclosing the air chamber and the piston rod to one of the radial arms on the hub
so that any movement of the ring or rim relatively to the hub will move the piston
in the barrel.
The barrel is connected by a tube provided with a non-return valve, to the air
chamber which latter or the connection with the pump is provided with a safety
valve of suitable construction, so adjusted as to prevent an excess of pressure in the
air chamber.
If desirable the whole of the pivots of the moving or oscillating parts of the
wheel may be mounted in ball bearings of suitable construction, in order to give
them free action and reduce friction.
Dated this 24th dow of Vanal 100%
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
I, HARRY CAMPKIN, of Thurgarton Street, Sneinton Dale, late of 98, Robin
Hoods Chase, both in the City of Nottingham, Carriers Forwarding Agent, 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 relates to improvements in or applicable to spring or pneumatic,
or combined spring and pneumatic wheels for cycles, motor cars, carriages, and

page_text: other road vehicles in which the outer part of the wheel is capable of moving into
an excentric position relatively to the inner part, against the action of a pneumatic
chamber or springs, or both, and it relates more particularly to means for main-
taining the outer part of the wheel parallel to its plane of rotation, and com-
municating the driving power from the hub to this outer movable part of the
wheel.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying draw-
ings in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, and
Fig. 2 a vertical cross section of the middle part of a wheel constructed according
to my invention,
Fig. 3 is a side elevation illustrating the action of the radial arms and pivotted
guideways.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
According to this invention in a pneumatic wheel the hub A which is mounted
on an axle A2 in the usual manner, is formed with an annular seat A' on which
is mounted a flexible annular air chamber B. This air chamber may be formed of
india-rubber strengthened with canvas or other material, and may be provided
with an inflation valve of any well known form, or be inflated in the manner
hereinafter described.
In the drawings the hub A is shown divided in the middle in order that the air
chamber B may be placed in position, but if the seating A¹ were formed in an
enlarged portion of the middle of the hub, instead of as shown the air chamber
could be sprung into position and the hub in this case be formed in one piece.
Mounted on the periphery of the annular air chamber B and thus enclosing it,
is a rim C of suitable section. This rim C is connected to the outer rim of the
wheel by spokes C¹ disposed in any well known manner. The outer rim of the
wheel (which is not shown in the drawings) is concentric with the rim C and may
be provided with a solid or pneumatic tyre as preferred.
Up to this point the wheel described may be said to be similar to wheels of well
known construction, and I will now proceed to describe those parts which comprise
the main feature of my invention.
On each side of the hub A are three or any other convenient number of radial
arms D, these arms D may be secured to or formed integrally with the hub, and
are so distributed that those on one side alternate with those on the other side as
shown.
Pivotted in the outer end 11 of each radial arm, on an axis at right angles to the
plane of rotation of the wheel, is a bracket E. provided with guideways E¹ E² in
which latter is mounted a pin F, these pins F can slide longitudinally in their
respective guideways E¹ E2. The inner ends of these pins are pivotted to the
rim C at F also on an axis at right angles to the plane of rotation of the wheel.
When the rim C and the outer part of the wheel is moved into an excentric
position relatively to the hub A, the pins F will either slide in the guideways E¹ E²
of the brackets E, or said brackets E and pins F will oscillate about their respec-
tive pivots D' F¹, or both movements may occur in one set as shown in Fig. 3,
according to the position they for the time occupy relatively to the excentricity
of the rim C and outer part of the wheel, with the hub A.
The arrangement will thus offer no resistance to the outer part of the wheel
moving into an excentric position relatively to the hub, but will however hold or
maintain the outer part of the wheel rigidly parallel to its plane of rotation.
The arrangement described may be assisted by a duplicate arrangement in
which the several parts are placed in the reverse position as shown.
Pivotted to the rim C opposite to each of the radial arms D of the arrangement
previously described, and preferably on the same pivots F¹ as the pins F, are a
corresponding number of brackets G provided with guide-ways G1 G2 Mounted
in the guideways G1 G2 of each bracket G is a pin H the whole of which are
pivotted at their inner ends to the hub A or brackets H¹ secured thereto.

page_text: This arrangement works in precisely the same manner as the arrangement pre-
viously described.
The arrangement described has in some cases to perform another office, that is
communicate the driving power from the hub to the outer part of the wheel.
In order to prevent undue oscillation of the pivotted brackets E and G, owing
to the driving power being communicated from the hub A to the rim C and outer
part of the wheel, through the pins F H and said brackets, or from other causes,
the inner guideways E2 G2 on each bracket are placed nearer to their respective
pivots DF than the outer guideways E¹ G¹ and it will thus be seen that when the
brackets oscillate the inner guideways E2 G2 will move through a shorter radius
than the outer guideways El G₁ and the resistance to further movements will thus
be gradually increased up to a certain point, beyond which they will not move.
If preferred excessive oscillation of the brackets E and G may be prevented
by stops on the fixed radial arms 1 engaging with one end of the end of the
brackets E or one end of each bracket G may be connected by a link M (see Fig. 3)
to a bracket or sleeve M¹ sliding on the radial pins F.
In order to assist the pneumatic air chamber A, springs I may be placed on the
pins between the brackets E and the outer ends of the said pins.
By employing springs I of sufficient strength, the pneumatic chamber B may
be dispensed with, and the whole of the resiliency obtained from the said springs,
thus constituting it a spring wheel. The springs I may if preferred be placed on
the inner ends of the pins F.
In order to automatically inflate or maintain the air in the air chamber Bat
a constant pressure, one or more pumps may be employed and be disposed as
follows.
The barrel J of each pump (see Fig. 1) is secured to the rim C and said barrel
is connected to the interior of the air chamber by a pipe provided with a non-
return valve.
The piston K is connected by a link K¹ to a rigid stay or bar L extending from
one radial arm D to the next arm 1 on the opposite side of the hub.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. In a spring or pneumatic wheel for vehicles the combination with the hub A
and rim C of the outer part of the wheel, of a radial arm 1 on the hub a bracket
such as E pivotted in the arm D provided with guideways EE2 and a pin F
pivotted to the rim C and working in the guideways E¹ E of the bracket E sub-
stantially as described.
2. In a spring or pneumatic wheel for vehicles the combination with the hub A
and rim C of the outer part of the wheel, of a radial arm D on the hub a bracket
such as E pivotted in the arm D provided with guideways E' E2 a pin F pivotted
to the rim C and working in the guideways E¹ E2 of the bracket E and a spring
such as I on the pin F substantially as described.
3. In a spring or pneumatic wheel for vehicles the combination with the hub A
and rim C of the outer part of the wheel, of a bracket such as G pivotted to the
rim C provided with guideways G1 G2 and a pin H pivotted to the hub A and
working in the guideways G¹ G2 of the bracket G substantially as described.
4. In a spring or pneumatic wheel the combination with the hub A and rim C
of the outer part of the wheel, of a radial arm D on the hub a bracket such as E
pivotted in the radial arm provided with guideways E E a pin F pivotted to the
rim C and working in the guideways E E in the bracket E a bracket such as G
pivotted to the rim C provided with guideways G1 G2 and a pin H pivotted to the
hub and working in the guideways E¹ E in the bracket G substantially as
described.
5. In a pneumatic wheel for vehicles the combination with the air chamber B
and rim C of a pump such as J secured to the rim C a fixed bar or stay such as L

page_text: to which the piston K of the pump is connected and a radial arm or arms D on the
hub to which the bar or stay L is connected substantially as described.
6. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete spring
or pneumatic wheel for vehicles substantially as described and illustrated in the
5 accompanying drawings.