Improvements in the Construction of Pneumatic Cushions for Cycle Frames and other purposes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 16th May, 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Pneumatic Cushions for Cycle
Frames and other purposes.
I SAMUEL FARNSWORTH of 280 Osmaston Road Derby Foundry Manager 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 consists in an improved construction of pneumatic cushion to be
used for neutralizing vibration and suitable for interposition in the frames of cycles
or of those of vehicles of various kinds and in general wherever their properties are
required.
These improved pneumatic cushions are of the following nature-The interior air-
bag is enclosed in an outer cover in the form of a short tube preferably of greater
width in the middle than at the ends and having an external bead or flange at
each end. This cover is fitted by means of the two said beads or flanges within
suitable recesses such as the inturned rims of two appropriately shaped plates.
This construction will be more clearly understood by reference to the annexed
sheet of drawings which shew methods by which this invention may be carried into
practice.
Fig. 1. is a section through one of these improved pneumatic cushions.
I make this pueumatic spring bag preferably with an outer case A of barrel
shape with a circular opening at each end and of approved size and provided with
a small external flange or bead a. at each end which may be of any desired section
but preferably round as shewn. I provide end plates of metal B.-
-one side of each
of which has a recess b. of suitable shape for perfectly fitting the external flange
or bead a. of the cover, the other side or back of the end plates being suitably
formed for easy attachment to the part of the frame or other construction where
it may be required to be placed. I prefer to connect together the end plates B.
of the pneumatic spring bag as shewn by Fig. 1. by one or more jointed stays C.
or toggles, for instance as shewn in Figs. 1. and 2. for the rear wheel and as shewn
in Figs. 4. and 5. for the front wheel of a rear-driving safety bicycle. I prefer to
make the outer case A which encloses the pneumatic air-bag D of strong vulcanized
rubber strengthened with canvas bands around each end and round the middle
leaving a portion between the bands of vulcanized rubber only which portions being
elastic will give way a little to the pressure and by their elasticity assist the elasticity
of the air-spring, but the outer case A may be made entirely of vulcanized rubber,
or of the same strengthened all over with canvas or it may be of skin or leather or
canvas only as may be desired.
Inside of outer case I place a bag D of thin rubber only or a bladder perfectly
airtight and provided with a valve E. passing through the outer case A and suitably
attached thereto whereby any desired pressure of air-spring can be maintained.
As before stated I prefer to attach the end plates B to each other by joint stays C..
as shewn in Figs. 2. or 3 for the frame more immediately carrying the rear wheel
but for the front wheel forks or steering head I prefer to use the joint stays shewn
in Figs. 5 and 6 in addition to sliding tubes F. F. In this case the inner bag may
be either used or dispensed with as may be desired but if used it would have to
be provided with an orifice through its centre for passage of the internal tube F.
without touching or gripping the same, the air pressure being maintained by the
cover flanges being pressed in the recesses in the end plates and by one end of each
of the sliding tubes being hermetically sealed as at ƒ.ƒ³.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A pneumatic cushion having a tubular outer case provided with a small external
flange at each end which flange may be circular in section as shewn or of other
desired section constructed as before described and illustrated and adapted to engage
in recesses in two end plates for the purpose set forth.
2. A pneumatic cushion having end plates connected by jointed stays or toggles
either single or double on the sides of which plates are recesses fitting the external
flanges of a pneumatic spring bag and having their further sides prepared for
connection to the frame and parts of a cycle or other device as may be desired.
3. A pneumatic cushion comprising two tubes each closed at one end and sliding
one within the other flanges on said tubes having recesses in their nearer sides and
an elastic cover of tubular form having at its ends beads for flanges adapted to
engage in the recesses aforesaid with or without an interior perforated bag for the
purposes set forth.
Dated this 25th day of October 1895.