A New or Improved Coin-freed Apparatus intended more especially for Inflating Pneumatic Tyres.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Nov., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 14th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1899
A New or Improved Coin-freed Apparatus intended more especially
for Inflating Pneumatic Tyres.
A communication from JULES LAVANCHY-MAISON, of Paris, in the Republic of
France.
I, ARTHUR FREEMORE SPOONER, of 323, High Holborn, in the County of London,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
-
This invention has for its object to provide a new or improved coin-freed
apparatus or pump intended more especially for inflating pneumatic tyres of
wheels of velocipedes and other vehicles.
The mechanism according to the invention is contained within a suitable box or
casing, the only parts outside the casing being a hand lever and fly-wheel (when
the apparatus is intended to be operated by hand-power) and one or more flexible
or other convenient connections for the tyre valve. At the side of the casing
or otherwise conveniently disposed is the usual slot into which the coin is
inserted.
The pump is preferably composed of two cylinders and pistons the rods of
which latter are each suitably connected to a toothed wheel. These two toothed
wheels are rotated simultaneously by a third toothed wheel or pinion of smaller
diameter keyed on an axle which may be operated from the exterior of the casing
by means of the said fly wheel. The piston rods are so connected to the two first-
mentioned toothed wheels that they actuate the pistons alternately. The pump
eylinders communicate by suitable pipes with a reservoir through inwardly-
opening valves which permit of the introduction of air driven by the pistons into
the reservoir but prevent its return. The said reservoir is provided with two
other valves so arranged that their stems, which project through the lower or
one side of the reservoir, rest on the edge of a lever pivoted under or adjacent to
the reservoir. This lever carries at its free extremity a cup for the reception of
the coin which falls into it from the conduit or chute placed above. The side
of this cup farthest from the fulcrum point of the lever is sloped or slotted to
allow of the falling of the said coin when the lever is entirely lowered as herein-
after described. The lever is provided with a small helical or other convenient
spring strong enough to maintain it in equilibrium and raise one of the two
valves provided in the reservoir from its seat when the pump is not operating.
The second of the said two valve comprises a stem provided with a small piston
which works in a cylinder the upper or one end of which is open to the reservoir.
The arrangement of this second valve is very important, and its function is
therefore described in detail. A spring is placed under the said lever and the
extremity of this spring is held by a small abutment a short distance below the
lever when in its normal or uppermost position in order to permit the lowering
of the said lever through a certain distance before coming in contact with such

page_text: spring, and to maintain the lever in this position until the moment when the
stem of the second of the said two valves operates to complete the lowering of
the lever.
The reservoir is provided with an opening for the outlet of the compressed air,
and which outlet communicates with the filling tube to be attached to the valvo
of the tyre which it is desired to inflate.
Upon the hand-wheel or its equivalent being operated, the air driven by the
pistons arrives in the reservoir whence it can escape by the first-mentioned of the
two valves, which is normally kept raised or open by the coin-operated lever and
its spring no pressure being obtainable in the reservoir. If, however, a coin is
introduced into the apparatus, it will fall into the cup on the extremity of the
before-mentioned lever, and will, by its weight, depress the said lever until it
comes in contact with its abutment spring. The first-mentioned of the two valves
will thereupon close and, if the operation of the pistons is continued, the air
will thenceforward be compressed in the reservoir. In this position of the lever,
the coin remains in the cup between the lower edge of the conduit or chute and
the sloping part of the said cup and in order that it may be disengaged therefrom
it is necessary for the said lever to traverse a greater course. If the actuation of
the pump is continued, the pressure of the air in the reservoir will act on the
piston of the other valve and this pressure on increasing will gradually lower the
piston, and, by this means the lever will be further operated. that is to say until
a copper ring or washer with which the said piston is provided comes in contact
with a rib located in the interior of the cylinder of the said valve, thereby
preventing all passage of air from the stem of such valve. At this moment the
coin becomes disengaged and falls into a conduit which directs it into a suitable
chest. As the force of the abutment spring is calculated in such a manner that
a certain pressure is necessary to permit of the lever lowering com-
pletely it will be understood that the weight of the coin which
falls has no effect on the mechanism other than causing the first-
mentioned of the two valves to close, and that the lever will remain
lowered so long as the pressure contained in the reservoir does not disappear.
When it is thought that the inflation of the tyre has become sufficient, the joint
of the valve of the pneumatic tyre is unscrewed and the air in the reservoir finding
an issue escapes rapidly. The reservoir being then no longer under pressure the
second of the two hereinbefore mentioned valves returns immediately to its normal
position under the influence of a spring with which its stem is provided and the
lever is returned by its two springs to its normal position thereby again raising
the first mentioned of the two valves. The pump under these conditions cannot
aga n operate until after the closing of the last mentioned valve has been repeated
and which closing cannot be effected until after the introduction of another coin
into the apparatus.
With the object of permitting the adaptation of the tube of the pump to all
the valves of existing pneumatic tyres there may be arranged on the casing a series
of joints of the most popular sizes provided, with a common male screw for all
and able to be adapted to the said pump, and one female screw of a corresponding
size to the valve of the pneumatic tyre for which this joint is meant.
The movement of the pump pistons instead of being effected by the
aid of a fly wheel, can be operated by means of a balance in the form of a guidon
or otherwise.
Again, the said operation instead of being accomplished by hand, can be
produced by the aid of a motor or of a dynamo of which the connection could be
established by the closing of the circuit on the introduction of the coin

page_text: ▲ communication from Jules Lavanchy-Maison, of Paris, in the Republic of
France,
I, ARTHUR FREEMORE SPOONER, of 323, High Holborn, in the County of London,
Chartered Patent 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 has for its object to provide a new or improved coin-freed
apparatus or pump intended more especially for inflating pneumatic tyres of
wheels of velocipedes and other vehicles.
In the accompanying drawings which are illustrative of this invention,
Figure 1 is an elevation of the improved pamping apparatus with part of the
outer casing removed, to permit of the interior mechanism being more clearly
shown.
Figure 2 is a section through the axis of the pump cylinders, and
Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line y of Figure 1.
The mechanism according to the invention is contained within a suitable box
or casing X, the only parts outside the casing being a hand lever and fly-
wheel V (when the apparatus is intended to be operated by hand-power) and one
or more flexible or other convenient connections T for the tyre valve. At the side
of the casing X or otherwise conveniently disposed is the usual slot Y into which
the coin is inserted.
The pump is preferably composed of two cylinders A and B and two pistons C
and D the rods of which latter are suitably connected to two toothed wheels E
and F. These two toothed wheels E and I are rotated simultaneously by a third
toothed wheel or pinion G of smaller diameter keyed on an axle H which may be
operated from the exterior of the casing by means of the said fly wheel V. The
piston rods are so connected to the two toothed wheels E and F that they actuate
the pistons C and D alternately. The pump cylinders A and B communicate
by suitable pipes a and b respectively with a reservoir R through inwardly-
opening valves S, S¹ which permit of the introduction of air driven by the
pistons C and D into the reservoir R but prevent its return. The said reservoir R
is provided with two other valves I and J so arranged that their stems, which
project through the lower or one side of the reservoir R, rest on the edge of
a lever L pivoted under, or adjacent to, the reservoir R. This lever L carries at
its free extremity a cup K for the reception of the coin which falls into it from
the conduit or chute M placed above. The side of this cup K farthest from the
fulcrum point of the lever L is sloped or slotted to allow of the falling of the said coin
when the lever L is entirely lowered as hereinafter described. The lever L is
provided with a small helical or other convenient spring strong enough to
maintain it in equilibrium and raise the valve I provided in the
reservoir R from its seat when the pump is not operating. The
valve J comprises a stem j provided with a small piston which
works in a cylinder, the upper or one end of which is open to the
reservoir R. The arrangement of this valve J is very important, and its
function is therefore described in detail. A spring N is placed under the said
lever Land the extremity of this spring N is held by a small abutment o a short
distance below the lever L when in its normal or uppermost position in order to

page_text: permit the lowering of the said lever L through a certain distance before coming
in contact with such spring N, and to maintain the lever L in this position until
the moment when the stem of the valve J operates to complete the lowering of
the lever L.
The reservoir R is provided with an opening t for the outlet of the compressed
air, and which outlet communicates with the filling tube T to be attached to the
valve of the tyre which it is desired to inflate.
Upon the hand-wheel V or its equivalent being operated, the air is driven by
the pistons C and D into the reservoir R whence it can escape by the valve I
which is normally kept raised or open by the coin-operated lever L and its
spring r, no pressure meanwhile being obtainable in the reservoir R. If, however,
a coin is introduced into the apparatus, it will fall into the cup K on the extremity
of the lever L, and will, by its weight, depress the said lever L until it comes in
contact with its abutment spring N. The valve I will thereupon close and, if
the operation of the pistons C and D is continued, the air will thenceforward be
compressed in the reservoir R. In this position of the lever L, the coin remains
in the cup K between the lower edge of the conduit or chute M and the sloping
part of the said cup K and in order that it may be disengaged therefrom it is
necessary for the said lever L to traverse a greater course. If the actuation of
the pump is continued, the pressure of the air in the reservoir R will act on the
piston of the valve J and this pressure on increasing will gradually lower the
piston, and, by this means the lever L will be further operated, that is to say
until a copper ring or washer with which the said piston is provided comes in
contact with a rib i located in the interior of the cylinder of the said valve J,
thereby preventing all passage of air from around the stem of such valve. At
this moment the coin becomes disengaged and falls into a conduit which directs
it into a suitable chest. As the force of the abutment spring N is calculated in
such a manner that a certain pressure is necessary to permit of the lever L
lowering completely, it will be understood that the weight of the coin which falls
has no effect on the mechanism other than causing the valve I to close, and that
the lever L will remain lowered so long as the pressure contained in the
reservoir R does not disappear. When it is thought that the inflation of the
tyre has become sufficient, the joint of the valve of the pneumatic tyre is unscrewed
and the air in the reservoir R finding an issue escapes rapidly. The reservoir R
being then no longer under pressure the valve J returns immediately to its
normal position under the influence of a spring P with which its stem j is provided
and the lever L is returned by its two springs r and N to its normal position
thereby again raising the valve I. The pump under these conditions cannot
again operate until after the closing of the valve I has been repeated and which
closing cannot be effected until after the introduction of another coin into the
apparatus.
With the object of permitting the adaptation of the tube of the pump to all the
valves of existing pneumatic tyres there may be arranged on the casing X in
any convenient position a series of joints Q of various calibres, these joints being
provided with a terminating appendage which exactly fits the interior of the
socket at the end of the flexible tube T. Each joint Q is connected by a chain
to an independent barrel spring Z.
When it is desired to inflate the tyre one of the joints Q after having been
pulled out, and unrolled from its own barrel Z is screwed on the valve of the
pneumatic tyre. The appeudage 7 is then fitted to the socket U of the tube T,
and from this moment the pump may be actuated. When the inflation is complete
it suffices to detach the socket from the tube T and then to unscrew the joint Q.
the chain of which returns immediately into the apparatus under the action of
the barrel spring which is connected thereto.
The movement of the pump pistons instead of being effected by the aid of a
fly wheel as shown in the drawings, can be operated by means of a balance in
the form of a guidon or otherwise.

page_text: Again, the said operation instead of being accomplished by hand, can be
produced by the aid of a motor or of a dynamo of which the connection could
be established by the closing of the circuit on the introduction of the coin.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:-
1. A coin-freed apparatus for inflating pneumatic tyres consisting of a reservoir
of compressed air in communication with one or more pump cylinders, the said
reservoir having a valve I constantly open while the apparatus is not in action
so that the pump cannot in that condition compress the air, which valve is closed
only when a coin is introduced in consequence of the partial lowering of the
lever L which lever then continues to descend under the action of a small piston
which is in contact with the compressed air that accumulates in the reservoir
during the whole time that the pump is actuated; the said reservoir being put in
communication with the tyre for inflation by means of a tube, and being completely
emptied as soon as the said tube is unscrewed, after the inflation of the tyre, thus
permitting the lever L to return under the action of springs and open the valve I
anew to render the apparatus inoperative.
2. In a pump for the inflation of pneumatic tyres a set of joints of various
calibres, joined to independent barrel springs through the intermediary of a
chain which automatically restores to the barrel each joint as soon as it has
ceased to be used.
•
3. The coin freed apparatus constructed substantially as described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.