Improvements in or relating to Pneumatic Tyres for Bicycles and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Apr., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 28th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 18th Mar., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Pneumatic Tyres for Bicycles and
the like.
I, THOMAS WARSOP, of Coniston, Lancashire, Mining Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my invention is to obviate the leakage of air from pneumatic
tyres of bicycles and the like, by pumping air into them as they run; so that
they are always full of air of the required quantity and pressure.
For this purpose I place a small air pump on the hub or boss of the wheel; the
piston rod actuating the piston of which, I cause to be moved up and down
either by attaching it to an excentric strap turning on an excentric attached to the
frame carrying the bicycle or other wheel, by a suitable attachment or crosshead
passing out between the spokes of the wheel; or by causing the upper end of the
piston rod, which in this case is provided with a truck or friction wheel-to strike
a can shaped bracket or inclined slide, attached to the frame; down which the
wheel or truck slides at every rotation of the bicycle wheel; and by this means
forces the piston down the cylinder. When the friction wheel has passed the
inclined slide; the piston is forced upwards again by a suitable spring for this
purpose; until it passes a hole in the pump, which allows air to enter therein
ready for another stroke of the piston. In other cases, I actuate the piston by a
suitable lever or levers, from the driving chain at every revolution.
The air pump is connected by a tube or pipe with the pneumatic tyre, and in
this tube or pipe, I fix a suitable valve box containing a retaining or back pressure
valve for keeping the air from passing to the pump from the tyre; and also a
safety valve, so adjusted, that sufficient air of the required pressure can only be
pumped into the tyre by the pump. The reciprocating action of the piston in the
air pump-as described-pumps air at each revolution of the bicycle or other wheel
into the pneumatic tyre, and so maintains it constantly charged with air.
Dated this 28th day of April 1892.
HENRY WALKER HILL,
47, Hampden Street, Nottingham, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Pneumatic Tyres for Bicycles and
the like.
I, THOMAS WARSOP, of Coniston, Lancashire, Mining Engineer, 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 my invention is to obviate the leakage of air from pneumatic tyres
of bicycles and the like, by pumping air into them as they run, so that they are
always full of air of the required quantity and pressure.
For this purpose I place a small air pump on the hub or boss of the wheel; the
piston rod actuating the piston of which, I caused to be moved up and down, either
by attaching it to an eccentric strap turning on an eccentric attached to the frame
carrying the bicycle or other wheel, by a suitable attachment or crosshead passing
out between the spokes of the wheel; or by causing the upper end of the piston
rod-which in this case is provided with a truck or friction wheel to strike a cam-
shaped bracket or inclined slide, attached to the frame; down which the wheel or

page_text: truck slides at every rotation of the bicycle wheel; and by this means forces the
piston down the cylinder. When the, friction wheel has passed the inclined slide,
the piston is forced upwards again by a suitable spring for this purpose; until it
passes a hole in the pump, which allows air to enter therein, ready for another
stroke of the piston. In other cases, I actuate the piston by a suitable lever or
levers, from the driving chain at every revolution.
The air pump is connected by a tube or pipe with the pneumatic tyre, and in
this tube or pipe, I fix a suitable valve box containing a retaining or back pressure
valve for keeping the air from passing to the pump from the tyre; and also a safety
valve, so adjusted that sufficient air of the required pressure can only be pumped
into the tyre by the pump. The reciprocating action of the piston in the air
pump as described-pumps air at each revolution of the bicycle or other wheel
into the pneumatic tyre, and so maintains it constantly charged with air.
In order that my said invention may be fully understood, and more readily
carried out and into effect, I have appended hereunto one sheet of drawings,
showing one mode of carrying out my invention, whereon :-
Figure 1 is a front elevation of my improved apparatus for pumping air.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the same apparatus in section.
The same letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several
views.
In these views A is the hub of the bicycle or other wheel, and B the frame
which the hub turns. To the hub A I fix. a standard C
carrying the spindle one half of which is cast in one piece with the standard C.
by means of the clip
The upper part of this standard C is formed with a long bearing E, in which the
small crank shaft F rotates. This crank shaft F has formed with it the crank F¹
and crank pin F³, to which latter is. attached the pump plunger G fitted at its
lower end with a cup leather H or other suitable packing. The plunger G works
up and down in the cylinder K; which in turn oscillates about its centre, on the
trunnion Lin bearing M formed in the standard C-this oscillation being due to
the action of the plunger G when actuated by the rotation of the crank pin F².
The lower end of the cylinder K is closed by a cover N attached to the cylinder.
This cover N has a small port 1 formed in it, and its lower face is made spherical
to a curve having the centre of trunnion L as a centre.
Bearing against the spherical face of the cover N, I have a block O of a
concave form on its upper face to suit the spherical face of cover N, and having
formed in it two ports P, Pl; the port P forming the admission port for the inlet
of air to cylinder K, when by the oscillation of the cylinder K on the up stroke
P. The
of the plunger G, the port 1 in the cylinder cover coincides with port
port P is the discharge port for the compressed air from cylinder K on the down
stroke of the plunger G, when the port 1 in cover N coincides with port P¹ during
the oscillation of cylinder K. The block O is carried freely in the slide Q.
attached to the standard C; and is held up to the spherical face of the cover K-
so as to form an air tight joint therewith-by the spring, R; which is adjusted by
the nut & stud S & S¹. The port PI has a valve seating formed therein, on
which works a small back-pressure valve V, held up to its seating by a light
spring.
"
"
The lower end of port P' is fitted with one end of a flexible or other tube T,
the opposite end of this tube being attached to the non-return valve on the
pneumatic tyre. At the end of the crank shaft F I fix a toothed wheel W, which
gears with another toothed wheel W' firmly attached to the frame B of the bicycle,
and exactly concentric with the spindle X and hub A; and in such a manner, that
when the bicycle wheel and hub A are rotating, it carries round with it the
standard C, and the pumping arrangement attached thereto, and described above;
as well as the wheel W attached to crank shaft F.
This wheel W, gearing in the stationary wheel W₁-attached to frame B, con-
sequently causes the crank shaft F to make one revolution in its bearing E for
every turn of the bicycle wheel. In making this revolution, it drives the plunger G

page_text: up and down in the cylinder K; and owing to the oscillation of this cylinder due
to the rotation of the crank F, the port I is alternately put into communication
with port P for the admission of air thereto; and then in communication with the
port P for the discharge of the compressed air along the tube T to the pneumatic
tyre, which thus receives a small charge of compressed air at every revolution of
the bicycle wheel.
Should the requisite pressure in the tyre be exceeded, valve V will not open, and
the block O is forced slightly away from the cover N, thus acting as a safety valve
for the escape of compressed air not required in the tyre.
In place of the arrangement shown on the drawings, the pump plunger may be
actuated by an eccentric, a cam or by other suitable means.
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 :-
1st. In bicycle and other wheels having pneumatic tyres, an air compressing
pump and plunger carried by the hub in combination with gearing attached to the
stationary frame carrying the wheel, substantially as and for the purpose herein set
forth and shown upon the drawings.
2nd. In wheels having pneumatic tyres, the combination of a plunger actuated
from the framing by gearing or an eccentric working in a pump carried by the hub
in combination with a tube attached to the said pump at one end, and the pneumatic
tyre at the other end, substantially as herein set forth and shown upon the
drawings.
3rd. In bicycle and other wheels the arrangement and combination of parts for
the purpose stated and substantially as herein described and shown upon the
drawings.
Dated this 27th day of January 1893.
H. WALKER HILL,
47, Hampden Street, Nottingham, Agent for the Applicant.