An Improved Spring Hub for the Wheels of Bicycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1897-Accepted 3rd July, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Spring Hub for the Wheels of Bicycles and other
Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM GEORGE GIBBS, of Gulgong, in the Colony of New South Wales, Miner,
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:-
The object of this invention is to provide improvements in spring wheels suitable
for cycles, autocars and other vehicles whereby shocks communicated to the rims of
such wheels, as by inequalities of the roadway, will have their force greatly reduced
before they reach the frame of the cycle or other vehicle.
This invention is particularly adapted for those vehicles in which the use of
pneumatic rubber tires to prevent vibration and bumping is found to be accompanied
by undue expense liability to puncture or other disadvantage.
As an aid to the understanding of my invention reference is to be had to the
accompanying drawings in which figure 1 shows a vertical cross section of a hub
of a spring wheel containing the invention (the spindle not being shown nor the
frame connected thereto); figure 2 is a side elevation showing certain of the parts
shown in figure 1, with parts broken away to exhibit the interior; figure 3 shows a
perspective view of one of the spring pins; and figure 4 perspective view of a spring
pin casing. Figures 3 and 4 are on a smaller scale than Figs. 1 and 2.
A shows an inner hub through which the spindle passes, said hub having around
it, near its centre, a fixed flange B, and an ajdustable flange plate C. The
flanges B and C are perforated with holes being adapted to receive between and have
attached to them (as by bolts D) the perforated inner ends E of any desired number
of spring pins F in such position that the axis of each spring pin extends radially
outward at right angles to the axis of the inner hub, at the middle of the latter.
V shows a feather for adjusting the plate C. The body of each spring pin F is
enclosed in a casing or cylindrical part G having at the inner end two transversely
extending trunnions H the respective ends I of which are journaled in bearings J in
rings K which form the outer hub. The rings K are permanently fastened at a
fixed distance apart by the bolts L, and the casings G are, under certain strains,
adapted to oscillate slightly on the fulcrums I. M shows boles in the edge of each
outer hub ring for connection of the spokes of the wheel. N shows an internal
shoulder at the inner end of the interior of the cylinder G. O is a disc or washer
(which must be of rigid material) placed at the inner end of and within each
cylinder Qis another washer of rigid material at the outer end of and within each
cylinder. P is a spiral spring between the washers O and Q, and R is a cap screwed
on to and forming the outer end of the cylinder G. Each spring P is long enough
normally to keep the washers pressed against their respective ends N and R of the
cylinder G, the opening in each of which ends, being of a smaller diameter than
the washers, cannot be passed by the latter. A nut S or other enlargement is
arranged upon the outer end of each spring pin F, said nut snugly filling a hole T
in the cap R whilst the pin F itself, by reason of a shoulder F¹ snugly fills the hole
at the other end of cylinder G. By the above arrangement each pin is free to slide
longitudinally inwardly as well as outwardly, and when either one (or two) slides (or
slide) inwardly the other two (or one) necessarily slide (or slides) outwardly, all

page_text: three springs being thus compressed together and all assisting to return the pins to
their normal positions as shown in figure 1 as soon as possible. If any jolt is given
to the rim of the wheel the shock will be transmitted to the outer hub rings K, then
by the aforesaid trunnions to cylinders G. If the jolt is sufficiently severe at least
one cylinder will be moved inward towards the spindle or axle and where but one
moves inward the other two will move outward. As the former cylinder moves
inward that is in the direction of arrow U figure 1, it will carry its washer Q with
it, compressing its spring whilst the other two cylinders will carry their washers O
with them, also compressing their springs. The springs will transmit the shock in
a reduced degree to the opposite washers in each cylinder and these washers will
transmit it to the spring pins F by reason (as the case may be) of the shoulder F¹,
or the nuts S each of which is in this action similar in function. Obviously no dust
will be able to enter the cylinders, but a cover W over each cylinder, and a
cylindrical casing X between the outer hub rings K, and elastic or flexible annular
covers Y are preferably attached to my device to protect the parts from injury or
from harbouring dirt. It is necessary to have the covers Y flexible in view of the
necessity for avoiding the transmission of shocks from A to K which Y connects.
Zare the holes preferably used to attach covers Y (not shown in figure 2) to hub
rings K. This foregoing arrangement of parts has the merit of being very easily
and quickly taken to pieces and set up whilst delicate or complex parts are not
introduced.
Without deviating from the essence of this invention there may be various
obvious modifications made; for example, both the flanges B and C may be integral
with the inner hub, and there may be more than one series of spring pins and
corresponding parts arranged around the same inner hub.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. In combination, the inner hub having the flanges, the spring pins connected to
the said flanges, the outer hub rings fastened a fixed distance apart, and the
cylinders enclosing the bodies of said spring pins and having trunnions journaled in
the outer hub rings, substantially as set forth.
2. In combination, the inner hub having the flanges, the spring pins connected
to the said flanges, each spring pin having a shoulder F with a body portion
enclosed by a spiral spring P within a cylinder G, and an end portion having a nutor
enlargement S thereon with washers O, Q between the ends of said spring and the
parts F and S respectively, substantially as set forth.
3. The cylinders G each having trunnions journaled in outer hub rings, and
having a shoulder N and a cap R having a hole T, in combination with spiral spring P
and washers OQ between said spiral spring and the cylinder ends substantially as
set forth.
4. The combination of the inner hub, the flanges, the spring pins connected to
the flanges and each having a shoulder F" and a nut or enlargement S, the cylinders
each having a shoulder N and a cap R, and internal washers OQ and spring P, and
having trunnions H with ends I journaled in outer hub rings, and the bolts L
connecting the said hub rings at a fixed distance apart substantially as set forth.
5. The general arrangement and combination of parts as a whole of the
improvements in spring wheels for bicycles and other vehicles substantially as set
forth.