Improvements in or relating to Wheels for Bicycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1896-Accepted, 2nd May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Wheels for Bicycles.
1, WALTER ALONZO OSBORN, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of
253 Canal Street, in the City of New York, County of New York, and State of
New York, U.S.A., Machinist, 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 bicycles, and the object thereof is to provide an
improved automatic air pump for filling the pneumatic tires of bicycles with
compressed air, and this invention consists in the combination with the wheel of
the bicycle, of an air pump, which is automatically operated thereby, and the
invention further consists in the construction, combination, and arrangement of
parts hereinafter described and claimed.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following Specification of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, and in which :-
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of a bicycle wheel provided with my improved air
pump; and,
Fig. 2, a vertical section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.
In the practice of my invention, I secure to the rim A, of a bicycle wheel, a
tubular air nozzle or nipple B, which is in communication with the pneumatic
tire C, in the usual manner.
Secured to two of the wires or spokes D, and to the rim A, in any desired
manner, is the cylinder E, of an air pump, and it will be observed that said cylinder
as thus secured in position is stationary.
The cylinder E, is provided with a spring operated piston F, having a shaft G,
which extends downwardly and out at the power end of the cylinder, and is
provided at its lower end, with a yoke K, which is adapted to surround and enclose
the rim A, and the tire C, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.
The lower end of the cylinder E, is provided with perforations or openings K,
through which air enters into the cylinder and piston F, is provided with small
openings or perforations L, through which the air may also pass.
The upper end of the cylinder E, is provided with a tubular extension M, is
adapted to receive, or have connected therewith, a flexible tube N, the other end
of which is adapted to be connected with the air nozzle or nipple B, of the tire C.
The operation will be apparent from the foregoing description, when taken in.
connection with the accompanying drawing.
Normally, the tire C, projects slightly beyond the ends of the yoke H, and the
said ends of the yoke H are rounded as shown at O, and as the wheel is revolved
in the operation of the machine, the yoke H, will be forced upward and with it
the piston F, and the air in the cylinder E, will be forced into the tire, as will be
readily understood. As the wheel passes beyond the yoke, the tire again expands
and the spring P, in the cylinder E, will force the yoke outward, and at each
revolution of the wheel, the yoke H, and the piston F, will be forced inward and
the air in the cylinder will be forced into the tire, the reciprocating movement of
the piston being caused by the spring P, and the yoke H, which strikes the ground
at each revolution of the wheel.
If desired, the air openings in the piston may be provided with automatic valves,
and in any event, valves must be provided in the usual manner, to prevent the
escape of air from the tire.

page_text: It is evident the changes in the form, construction, combination and arrangement
of the various parts of my invention may be made without departing from the spirit
of my invention; and I therefore reserve the right to make such alterations therein
as fairly come within the scope thereof.
It will be seen also that my improved air pump for bicycles is automatic, and
that the same is always in operation when the machine is in motion, and thus the
tire will be constantly filled, or kept filled with air and will always be, in the best
possible condition for use.
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 combination with the wheel of a bicycle, provided with a pneumatic tire,
of an air pump consisting of a cylinder which is secured to the wheel, one end of
said cylinder being provided with a tube which is in communication with the tire
and said cylinder being also provided with a spring operated piston having
perforations therethrough, and said piston being provided with a shaft which
extends through the end of the cylinder and which is also provided with a yoke
adapted to surround or enclose the tire and the rim of the wheel and which is
adapted to come in contact with the ground, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 17th day of March 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.