Improvements in Pneumatic Suspension Wheels.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic Suspension Wheels.
I, PRESTON WEIR, Schoolmaster, of 21 Fernbank Road, Bristol. do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
In this invention, which refers to wheels of the kind described in my Specification
No. 24,839 of 1894, I surround the rim of a rigid wheel, at a short distance, with
another rim of greater radius, in the same plane. In the space between the
two rims I arrange a closed, annular, pneumatic tube on which are threaded a
sufficient number of rings, separated by intervals & slightly smaller than the cross
section of the tube. These rings are connected, each by a stalk, alternately, to the
outer & inner rims, so that, when the tube is inflated, through a valve, the inner
rigid wheel is pneumatically suspended, without metal contact, to the outer rim.
Dated this 7th Day of December 1896.
PRESTON WEIR.
Improvements in Pneumatic Suspension Wheels.
I PRESTON WEIR of 21 Fernbank Road, Redland, Bristol, Schoolmaster 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 pneumatic suspension wheels of the kind described in my
Specification No. 24,839 of 1894.
I surround the rim of a rigid wheel, at a short distance, with another rim of
greater diameter, in the same plane.
In the space between the two rims, I arrange a closed, annular, pneumatic tube, on
which are threaded a number of rings, separated by intervals. These rings are
connected alternately to the outer & inner rims, so that, when the tube is inflated
(through a valve), the inner rigid wheel is suspended, without metal contact, to the
outer rim.
The diameter of a cross section of the tube & also the diameter of the rings must
each be less than the radial distance between the rims, so as to allow radial movement
of the inner rigid wheel with respect to the outer rim. That is to say, there is a

page_text: In virtue of the above arrangement when the wheel is travelling along the ground,
as in a cycle for instance, shocks or jolts imparted to the outer rim by inequalities in
the road are more or less absorbed by the pneumatic tube & do not reach the
inner rigid wheel in their full force.
Inasmuch as the inner rigid wheel, together with any weight borne by its hub,
hangs on to the pneumatic tube by one set of alternate rings, while the tube itself
hangs on to the outer rim by the other set, it follows that the bearing surface in
contact with the tube is determined by the number & thickness of the rings, & also
that the weight that can be supported at the hub is directly, while the resiliency of
the wheels is indirectly proportional to the extent of this bearing surface.
I find by experiment that when the tube is inflated it stiffens in proportion to
the degree of inflation, & it is this stiffening that enables me to connect the rings
alternately to the outer & inner rims, as herein before described, & yet to secure
sufficient rigidity in the whole to constitute a practicable wheel.
It is obvious that the rings must not be placed so far apart as to cause the tube to
sag immoderately, when weight is placed on the hub, & so distort or destroy the
wheel. But a certain amount of sag tends to prevent the creeping to & from each
other of adjacent rings.
Mainly & in general the pressure on the pneumatic tube occurs in the portion
above the axle. But if perfect rings are used of the same or less diameter than a
cross section of the tube, & if no sag is given to the tube (that is, if the centres of
all the rings lie in a perfect circle), there may be some pressure below the axle.
I have found by actual trial that a wheel thus constructed is practically free from
side-play, while it retains sufficient resiliency for all ordinary purposes. That is to
say, as the number or thickness of the rings is reduced, the resiliency of the wheel
increases in a much greater ratio than the side-play, and vice versâ ; so that a point
may be found at which there is ample resiliency for riding & yet practically no side
play.
Hence a wheel of this kind is particularly suited for the front of a cycle where side-
play would disturb the steering.

page_text: By resiliency "I mean "inability to convey vibration," as between the hub &
periphery.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said Inven-
tion & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
The construction of wheels by placing in the circular space between the rim of an
inner rigid wheel & an outer rim of greater diameter in the same plane, a closed,
annular pneumatic tube, on which are threaded a number of rings or hooks, separated
by intervals, & connected alternately to the inner & outer rims, so that, when the
tube is inflated, the inner rigid wheel is suspended, without metallic connection, to
the outer rim, all substantially as herein set forth.
Dated this Cth day of Santambon 1007.