The Application of Pneumatic Springs to the Frames of Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 27th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 27th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 6th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
The Application of Pneumatic Springs to the Frames of Velocipedes
and other Vehicles.
I JOSEPH MOUNTFORT 3 Grosvenor Villas, Grosvenor Road, Coventry, Bank
Cashier, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is the idea and arrangement of supporting the frames of
velocipedes and other vehicles upon thin axles by hollow india-rubber balls, tubes,
or rings, artificially inflated or not; and fixed to the said frames either in the
manner described in the accompanying sheet, or other similar manner, so that they
shall receive & absorb the vibrations of the machine when travelling.
To effect this I propose to attach these hollow india-rubber balls, tubes or rings
as follows-
Each end of the fork or frame receiving the axle is made to terminate in a short
horizontal fork, similar in appearance to a short pair of hand-tongs held hori-
zontally, & having the top bar fixed firmly in the main fork & the bottom bar
working up & down on a hinge. Between these bars is inserted a hollow india-
rubber ball, or tube, or ring; artificially inflated or not, & supported in its place
by thin metal cups or rims attached to the fork. The axle of the machine passes
through the bottom open-end bar of this small fork. The weight of the frame &
the rider, being thus thrown upon the hinge of the bottom bar of the fork, causes
the fork to close up, thus compressing the india-rubber ball, tube, or ring inside, &
causing it to act as a spring.
.
JOSEPH MOUNTFORT.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
The Application of Pneumatic Springs to the Frames of Velocipedes
and other Vehicles.
I, JOSEPH MOUNTFORT of No. 3 Grosvenor Villas, Grosvenor Road Coventry
in the County of Warwick Bank Cashier, 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 supporting the frames of velocipedes and other vehicles
upon the axles of the wheels by hollow balls, tubes or rings made of india rubber
or other similar flexible and air tight material, inflated with air at or above the
normal pressure, such balls, tubes or rings being fixed to the said frames so that
they receive and absorb the vibrations imparted to the wheels of the machine when
travelling over an uneven surface.
In carrying out my invention instead of attaching the framework of the
velocipede or other vehicle directly to the axles of the wheels, I attach the said
framework by rocking arms or levers to the said axles the joints of which allow
the framework to move in its own vertical plane independently of the said wheels,
and I control such movement of the said framework by interposing the said balls,
tubes or rings, between parts of the said rocking arms or levers and any convenient
part or parts of the said framework or attachments thereto.
In order that my invention may be well understood I append drawings which
show one general form and arrangement of the parts when fitted to the front fork
of a front steering tricycle or rear driven safety bicycle but modifications and other
applications can be made to this and other parts and types of velocipedes and
other vehicles without departing from the principle of my invention.
In the drawings similar letters of reference refer to similar parts.

page_text: Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of the front framework or fork and wheel of
a front steering tricycle or rear driven safety bicycle fitted with my invention.
Figure 2 is a similar view and Figure 3 a front view of part of the same on a
larger scale.
Each end ff of the fork or frame F receiving the axle A of the wheel W is made
to determine in a short horizontal fork M, N having the top bar M fixed firmly to
the fork F and the bottom bar N working up and down on a hinge H. Between
the bars M and N is inserted a hollow inflated ball B supported in its place by thin
metal cups or rims C, C attached to the arms of the fork M, N by clips, bolts and
nuts S, S. The axle A passes through suitable holes a in the bottom or forward
end of the bar N of the fork M, N. The weight of the frame and rider being thus
thrown upon the hinge H causes the fork to close up, and compress the ball B
between the members of the fork M, N. Owing to the elasticity of the ball it acts
like a spring and absorbs the vibration imparted to the wheel W when travelling
over an uneven surface. Guides such as G consisting of a loop attached to the
arm M and of sufficient internal width to be a sliding fit on the arm N may be
fitted to prevent sideway movement of the wheel in the fork; and with the same
object any or all of the parts f, f, M, M, N, N. or G. G may be extended
respectively to meet beyond the tyre of the wheel and forin a single fork. A stop,
such as the bottom I
of the loop G is provided to prevent the arm N falling below
a certain level; and the stop may be provided with a leather or other cushion to
prevent any jar arising from the arm N coming in contact with the stop g..
In applying my invention to the rear wheel of a rear driven safety bicycle I
prefer to arrange the centres of the hinges H, H, as nearly as possible in the same
horizontal or approximately horizontal plane as that passing through the centre of
the crank axle and the centre of the wheel axle in its normal position when the
rider is mounted, so that the movements of the parts may interfere with the
tightness and slackness of the chain as little as possible.
In applying my invention to other vehicles I proceed as in applying the same to
velocipedes as hereinbefore described but making any modifications that may be
required by the construction and arrangements of such vehicles.
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. Supporting the frames of velocipedes and other vehicles upon the axles of the
wheels by hollow inflated balls, tubes, or rings or the like.
2. In velocipedes and other vehicles in which the frames are attached to the
axles of the wheels by rocking arms or levers controlling the movement of the said
frames in their own vertical planes, by interposing hollow inflated balls, tubes or
rings or the like between the said arms or levers and any convenient part or parts
of the said framework or attachments thereto substantially as herein described and
illustrated.
3. In an anti-vibration appliance for a velocipede and the like the combination
with the fork or framework F and the wheel W and axle A. of the fixed arms M, M,
the moving arms N, N, the hinges H, H and the balls B, B with the cups C, C or
their equivalents and with or without the guides G, G and with or without the
extensions of the parts f, f, M, M, N, N and or G, G all combined, arranged and
operating as and for the purpose set forth.
4. The application of pneumatic springs to the frames of velocipedes and other
vehicles as and for the purpose described and illustrated.
Dated this 25th day of March 1893.
WILLIAM BESTWICK MAXFIELD,
The Central Office for Patents, &c.,
19, Bowling Green Street, Leicester, Applicant's Agent.