Improvements in Air-pumps or Tyre-inflators attached to Cycles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 15th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 12th Mar., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Air-pumps or Tyre-inflators attached to Cycles.
We, CHARLES HARVEY, of The Swifts, Yardley, near the City of Birmingham,
Manufacturer, and FREDERICK WESTWOOD (of the Westwood Manufacturing Com-
pany), of Church Road, Yardley, aforesaid, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to instruments used for inflating the pneumatic tyres of
cycles, and which are attached to and left upon a machine at all times, so that
the said machine constitutes the carrier or support for the inflating instrument.
Ordinary hand pumps with reciprocating pistons are most tiring to work,
particularly to ladies, but by our improvements the operation of pumping is
greatly facilitated by the transmission of power to the piston or pump by a
rotatory movement instead of a reciprocating or thrust and pull movement.
In carrying out one form of our improvements, we take a barrel or cylinder having
end caps which may be fitted with air-inlet check valves and with the body sup-
ported by clips or hangers for the attachment of the instrument to a member of
a machine. Working to and fro within the interior of the barrel is a hollow
plunger, with its ends fitted with cup leathers to make sound joints, and its middle
parts or centres with air-inlet check valves, each consisting either of a hollow stalk
extending into the interior of the said plunger or ram with the inner end of
the stalk closed and provided with a side outlet covered by an india-rubber
sleeve, alike unto an ordinary tyre valve, or of a stalk with a head and seat,
traversed for opening by the outside pressure of the air and kept closed by the
back pressure when the same is greater than the outside pressure.
By thus employing a valve at each end of the plunger, a double-acting pump is
produced. A flexible connection is attached to an outlet or nozzle which is fitted
to and carried by the said piston or ram and the neck part works through a longi-
tudinal slot made within the barrel or casing of the instrument.
Working upon trunnions or centres directed through longitudinal slots on the
two opposite sides of the barrel of the casing are crank arms or their equivalents,
with their outer ends jointedly connected to the outer ends of oscillating links
or rods whose inner ends are or may be jointedly connected to the back end or
other suitable parts of the instrument. The outer crank ends may have a key
or socket upon which the inner end of a winch or other handle fits and on being
rotated, turns the cranks which are coupled through the means of the links being
both connected to the cross end rod about which they turn as a centre of motion.
Assuming that the piston is traversed from right to left, then the right hand
valve is opened, air enters the right hand end of the barrel and the air at the

page_text: left hand end, which is prevented from escaping by the valve, enters the interior of
the piston or ram, by passing through the valve at that end and thence being
conveyed through the nozzle and flexible connection, whose outer end is attached
to the tyre valve.
On the plunger completing its stroke, it then returns, the check valve of the
plunger or ram is then closed, the air inlet valve of the barrel at that end is
opened, and then the inlet valve at the right hand end of the barrel is closed
and the valve at the right hand end of the plunger is opened in the same way
as already described.
Instead of the axle ends of the cranks being connected to the reciprocating
plunger or ram, a single crank may be mounted upon an end or a part of the
casing, with connection between it and the reciprocating plunger by a forked
connecting rod, the single end of which is jointed to the outer end of the crank,
whilst the branched ends of the said rods are connected to studs projecting from
the plunger through slots in the casing. In this form, the crank is turned by a
suitable handle, and its rotary motion is converted into a reciprocating movement
of the connecting rod.
As a further modification the plunger may have a stud working through a
longitudinal slot in the casing and engage in a quick threaded helical groove
formed on the periphery of a barrel and having return ends, so as to give a
reciprocating movement on the rotation of the said barrel either directly or by
gear.
As another arrangement, I take an outside barrel or casing having within it
a hollow plunger or ram with its ends, and also the ends of the casing, fitted with
check valves as before. One side of the casing has a slot through which takes a
stud secured to the face of a pinion turning about a stud on the outer end of a
crank arm as a centre and with its teeth intergearing with the teeth of an inside
annulus or fixed inside toothed wheel, through the boss of which a crank axle,
which has a key or socket for receiving a handle or turn, outwardly passes.
By giving a rotatory movement to the crank axle, the same turns and carries
with it, the pinion which intergears with the teeth of the fixed annulus and rolls
around the inside of the same, whilst the stud carried by the face of the same
makes the rectilinear movement in the slot and so gives a reciprocating traverse
to the double-acting plunger within the casing. It is understood that the air
within the interior of the plunger, being under pressure is forced into the flexible
connection and tyre valve by a nozzle carried by the said plunger.
According to a still further form of our improvements, we make a single or
double-acting instrument by taking an outside casing with an inside plunger as
before, both casing and plunger being provided with the necessary valve, whilst
fitted to the said plunger by pins or equivalents passing through the slots of the
casing are two pairs of links constituting two sets of toggle or knee levers
with the outer joint ends of them carrying grips by which, when laid hold of,
the levers can be opened and closed and the plunger reciprocated thereby.
Instead of working the said pump or instrument by hand, we may employ a
crank whose axle is mounted in a carrier or framing and connect the same to the
toggle levers by a link or links, so that when the crank (or an excentric stud
plate) is turned, the toggle joints or levers are opened and closed and reciprocation
is produced.
In a further form of pump, the barrel has working within it, a cup leather
piston, one end of the casing being open and the other closed and provided with
a nozzle by which the flexible connection is attached, whilst pivoted to the back
of the plunger and passing through the open end of the cylinder is a connecting
rod, jointedly connected at its outer end to a rotating face plate or crank.
We wish it to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the particular
means herein described for converting the rotatory movement of the handle into

page_text: the traversing motion of the plunger or ram, as any well-known mechanical move-
ment got by rotating a handle or the like by hand may be employed in a like or
the same effect.
CHARLES HARVEY,
FREDERICK WESTWOOD,
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicants.
Improvements in Air-pumps or Tyre-inflators attached to Cycles.
We, CHARLES HARVEY, of The Swifts, Yardley, near the City of Birmingham,
Manager of Works, and FREDERICK WESTWOOD (of the Westwood Manufacturing
Company), of Church Road, Yardley, aforesaid, Manufacturer, 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 principally to instruments used for inflating the pneumatic
tyres of cycles, and which are attached to and left upon a machine at all times, or
both when in and out of use so that the said machine constitutes the carrier or
support for the inflating instrument.
Ordinary hand pumps with reciprocating pistons are most tiring to work,
particularly to ladies, but by our improvements the operation of pumping is
greatly facilitated, as a steady support is provided for the inflation and the trans-
mission of power to the piston or pump is effected by a rotatory movement instead
of a reciprocating or thrust and pull movement.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents a side elevation of one form
of our tyre-inflating attachment for cycles secured to the framing member of a
machine.
Figure 2 is an underside plan of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a longitudinal
vertical section of the said attachment or appliance taken upon the dotted line a,
Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a cross section of the attachment upon the dotted line ¹, Figure 3,
looking towards the valve, and
Figure 5 is a cross section upon the dotted line, Figure 3.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the said Figures 1
to 5 of the drawings.
a is a barrel or cylinder having end caps a¹, and being supported by the clip
parts 62, of hanger brackets b, which effect the attachment of the instrument to
a framing member (such as c) of a machine. Working to and fro within the
interior of the barrel is a hollow plunger or casing d, with its ends fitted with
cup leathers or pistons d', surrounding air-inlet check valves, leading into the
interior of the said plunger, and each consisting of a hollow and inwardly
extending stalk d³, closed at the end and provided with a side outlet d', covered
by an india-rubber sleeve d³, alike unto an ordinary tyre valve, or the said valve
may consist of stalk with a head and seat, traversed for opening by the outside
pressure of the air and kept closed by the back pressure when the same is greater
than the outside pressure.
By thus employing a valve at each end of the plunger, a double-acting pump
is produced. A flexible connection is attached to a nozzle d6, leading from an
outlet passage, in communication with both the two chambers d³, d, off the

page_text: said piston or ram whilst the neck part 10 of the said nozzle works through a
longitudinal slot a³, made within the barrel or casing of the instrument.
The body of the plunger is provided with longitudinal shallow grooves or
channels a, constituting air passages, along which air passes from the outside of
the instrument to the back of the plungers or pistons, as hereinafter described.
Working upon trunnions or centres d", carried on the sides of the said plunger
and directed through longitudinal slots at, on the two opposite sides of the barrel
of the casing are a pair of connecting links e, or their equivalents, with their
outer ends e, jointedly connected to the outer ends f¹, of a pair of oscillating
crank arms f, whose inner ends f, are jointedly connected to a fulcrum pin f³,
crossing and working in bearings in the back end or other suitable part of the
instrument. The outer end of one of the crank arms has a squared socket, upon
which the inner end of an actuating lever or handle f³, fits and on being rotated,
turns the cranks which are coupled to the reciprocating plunger or double piston
through the means of the links e, which turn about the trunnions d", as centres
of motion.
Assuming that the double-acting plunger or piston is in the position represented
in Figure 3, in which it is moving from left to right, the continued traverse of
the plunger in the direction of the arrow Figure 3 by means of the rotation
of the handle in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 1 com-
presses the air (which entered by the passage 2, as hereinafter described) at the
back of the right hand plunger, which is thereby forced through the right hand end
valve into the interior of the said plunger, and thence into the nozzle. On the
plunger completing its stroke in this direction, the air in the chamber behind the
left hand piston is compressed, by the return stroke of the piston and forced through
the left hand valve into the plunger and outwards through the nozzle to the tyre.
It is understood that whilst the air in one of the chambers behind one piston
is being compressed and forced through the valve and out of the instrument, the
chamber at the other end is simultaneously being filled by air, which passes along
the channels a² and between the walls of the casing and the cup leather of the
piston which said cup leather is partly lifted off its seating, there being, at this
point, no appreciable internal air-pressure sufficient to cause the piston to exclude
air. Thus, again assuming the parts are as represented in Figure 3, with the
plunger moving in the direction of the arrow, the compressed air in the right hand
end of the casing is being forced through the valve and outwards, whilst the
chamber at the other end of the casing is being refilled by air passing along the
air passages and between the cup leather (which is slightly ufted) and the walls
of the instrument. Then on the return stroke of the plunger commencing, this air
is trapped within the said chamber by the sides of the cup leather being now
expanded against the inside of the casing, thus making a tight joint against the
entrance or exit of any further air by the said passages a2, and as the said return
stroke proceeds, so the said trapped air is compressed & forced through the left
hand valve and passes out of the instrument, the right hand chamber being, during
this time, again refilled with air, the said operation being repeated with every
double stroke of the plunger.
Instead of arranging for the admission of air behind the pistons through air
passages along the plunger as described, we may provide suitably disposed air-inlet
holes in the walls of the casing, or air inlet holes provided with non-return or check
valves in the end caps or other suitable part of the instrument.
As a modification of our invention, as represented in Figure 6, the connecting
links e, are pivoted to the fulcrum pin el, at the back end of the casing a, whilst
the trunnion arms d', of the reciprocating plunger d, carries the crank arms f
the outer ends f¹, are jointedly connected to the connecting links. The reciproca-
tion of the plunger is effected by rotating a handle or lever, a squared end of
which takes into the socket f2, at the connection of one of the crank arms with
its connecting link or radius arm.

page_text: Figure 7 represents a side elevation of another form of our invention and
Figure 8 is a cross section of the same upon the dotted line x, Figure 7.
In this modification the plunger d, reciprocating to and fro within the casing
of the instrument, is connected, by means of a jointed link e, to a rocking hand
lever g, pivoted at its lower end g, to a hanging bracket g³, carried by the inflator
casing. The said lever is provided with a folding handle g', which, when the
instrument is in use, is turned upon the joint g, into the position represented in
Figure 8 and serves as a hand-hold for oscillating the lever upon its joint and
imparting a reciprocating movement to the plunger, but when out of use, then
the said handle part folds over the lever as represented in Figure 7 and is out
of the way.
As a further modification of our invention, a single connecting link or radius
arm may be pivoted at one end to a suitable part of the casing of the instrument,
and with connection between it and the reciprocating plunger made by a forked
lever or arm, the single end of which is connected to the outer end of the radius
arm or link, whilst the other and branched ends are connected to studs or trunnions
projecting from the plunger through slots in the casing. The crank arm is turned
by a suitable handle, as in the arrangement represented in Figure 6, and its
rotary motion is converted into a reciprocating movement by the radius arm rocking
about its centre or fulcrum.
form of our invention, in which
thed gearing.
Figure 9 represents a side elevation of anoti.
the reciprocation of the plunger is effected by
Figure 10 is a longitudinal section, partly ir levation of the said Figure 9
upon the dotted line 2, and Figure 11 is a longitudinal section of Figure 10 upon
the dotted line 3.
a is the outside barrel or casing, having within it, a hollow plunger or ram b,
provided at each end with a piston, and valve, as before, whilst one side of the
said casing has a gap or slot 20, through which takes a stud h, seoured to the
face of a pinion h¹, turning about a stud 2, on the outer end of a crank plate h³,
carried by an axis h', mounted in bearings in a fixed box casing 5, secured to the
body of the instrument by clips h6. The teeth of the said pinion h', intergear
with the teeth of a toothed annulus or fixed toothed wheel h³, made around the
inside periphery of the said casing 5, whilst the crank axle h', has a key or
socket for receiving a suitable handle or turn.
-
By giving a rotatory movement to the crank axle, the same turns and carries
with it, the pinion which intergears with the teeth of the fixed annulus and rolls
around the inside of the same, whilst the stud carried by the face of the same
makes the rectilinear movement in the slot 20, and so gives a reciprocating
traverse to the double-acting plunger which is connected with the said gearing
by the pinion stud taking into a sleeve or socket 63, extending from the connec-
tion 6, between the two halves of the plunger which connection has an air
passage b, leading to the nozzle 66, which works to and fro in another slot a³, and
from which it passes, or is forced, into the flexible connection and tyre valve.
Figure 12 represents a section and Figure 13 a plan of another form of attachment
constructed according to our improvements.
These views show a single instrument (although it may be adapted to double-
acting pumps) by taking an outside casing a with an inside plunger b, as before,
the casing and plunger being provided with the necessary air inlet valves, whilst
fitted to the said plunger by pins i, or equivalents passing through the slots a³,
of the casing are two pairs of links,, constituting two sets of toggle or knee
levers with the outer jointed together ends of them carrying grips 3, by which,
when laid hold of, the levers can be opened and closed and the plunger recipro-
cated thereby.
Instead of working this form of pump or instrument by hand, we may employ
a crank whose axle is mounted in a carrier or framing and connect the same to the
toggle levers by a link or links, so that when the crank (or an excentric stud

page_text: plate) is turned, the toggle joints or levers are opened and closed and reciprocation
is produced.
In a further form of pump, the barrel has working within it, a cup leather
piston, one end of the casing being open and the other closed and provided with
a nozzle by which the flexible connection is attached, whilst pivoted to the back
of the plunger and passing through the open end of the cylinder is a connecting
rod, jointedly connected at its outer end to a rotating face plate or crank, whilst
as a still further modification, the plunger may have a stud working through a
longitudinal slit in the casing and engage in a quick threaded helical groove formed
on the periphery of a barrel and having return ends so as to give a reciprocating
movement on the rotation of the said barrel either directly or by gear.
We wish it to be understood that we do not limit ourselves to the particular
means herein described for converting the rotatory movement of the handle into the
traversing motion of the plunger or ram, as any well-known mechanical movement
got by rotating a handle or the like by hand may be employed in a like or the same
effect.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:
First: In air pumps or tyre inflators, imparting a reciprocating traverse to
a single or double-acting plunger or piston through the medium of a crank arm
or arms fulcrumed to the casing and connected with the said plunger by a connect-
ing link or links, with the said crank arm or arms being rotated by a handle or
turn, substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly: An air pump or pneumatic tyre inflator, consisting of a casing or
body part and a reciprocating hollow and double-acting plunger, provided at each
end with a piston and air outlet check valve, and also having air inlet valves
or means for admitting air behind the pistons of the plunger, from whence it is
forced into the tyre or article to be inflated on the reciprocation of the said plunger
when operated by suitable gear, substantially as described and set forth.
Thirdly-An air pump or pneumatic tyre inflator, consisting of a casing or body
connected to the framing of a cycle by clips and having a reciprocating double-
acting plunger working within it provided at each end with a piston and air
outlet valve and also having means for admitting air to the back of the pistons,
said plunger being traversed to and fro within the casing by an arrangement
of crank arms and connecting links actuated by a handle or turn, substantially as
described and set forth in Figures 1 to 5.
Fourthly: In air pumps or inflators, imparting a reciprocating traverse to a
single or double acting plunger by means of a connecting link or links pivoted to
suitable parts of the instrument, and a crank arm or arms, connected respectively
to the said links and to trunnions or studs on the plunger and with a motion
being communicated thereto by a handle or turn, substantially as described and
set forth in Figure 6.
:-
Fifthly In pneumatic tyre inflators or air pumps, imparting a reciprocating
traverse to the plunger or piston by means of a jointed lever (either with or
without a folding handle) whose motion is communicated to the said plunger
by a connecting rod or link, substantially as described and set forth in Figures 7
and 8.
Sixthly In pneumatic tyre inflators or air pumps, converting the rotatory
motion of a handle or crank into reciprocating motion for traversing a single or
double acting plunger or piston, by an arrangement of toothed gearing, substan-
tially as described and set forth in Figures 9, 10 and 11.
Seventhly In pneumatic tyre inflators or air pumps, imparting a reciprocating
traverse to the plunger or piston by means of a single or double pair of toggle or
knee-joint levers, open and closed either by hand or by gear, substantially as
described and set forth in Figures 12 and 13.

page_text: Eighthly: The improvements in pneumatic tyre inflators or air pumps,
principally to be attached to cycles, and in means for reciprocating the plungers
or pistons thereof, substantially as herein described and set forth.
Dated this 11th dor of Tanum 1908
CHARLES HARVEY,
FREDERICK WESTWOOD,
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicants.