Improvements in Means for Preventing or Reducing Vibration in connection with the Seats or Saddles and other Parts of Cycles, and applicable to other Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in Means for Preventing or Reducing Vibration in
connection with the Seats or Saddles and other Parts of Cycles,
and applicable to other Vehicles.
I, THOMAS JONES, of 14, Pyrland Road, Highbury, London, N., Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates to improved means chiefly for supporting the saddles
of cycles and the object that I have in view is to resist oscillation vibration and
friction between two bodies such as is liable to occur in a cycle when travelling
over uneven surfaces.
In carrying out this invention as applied to a cycle I employ a piston and
cylinder and a combination of compressed air and aërated water, the cylinder
may be of any desired shape but preferably I utilize the seat pillar tube (or the
stays) of the framing of the machine and the seat pillar acts as the piston.
I force air and water or other liquid but preferably aërated soda water into
a space allotted for same provided in a suitable chamber in the cylinder or
pillar tube either through a hollow piston containing a back pressure valve or
through one end of the cylinder or through the ☐ pin in such quantities as
may be necessary to resist the required weight to be carried.
The air as it is forced in under compression becomes heated and to some
extent evaporates the water which maintains the supply of air together with
the air given off the water by reason of it containing the carbonate of soda or
other suitable aërifying substance contained in both the piston which is hollow
and the cylinder in its raw state or in capsules or in other desirable quantities
as may be required to form a continuous supply of air. The piston is made
with a slot for a guide to work therein to prevent side lash and is constructed
with a sleeve in which a gudgeon works fastened in any suitable manner to the
outer cylinder or seat pillar tube and in length of the same external diameter
as the cylinder so that by screwing a nut on the one end it is secured from
jolting out.
In order to make an air tight joint I use vulcanite or other suitable substance
in the shape of a socket on the piston end expanded by a steel spiral spring
as used in common piston rings covered with a water proof washer and fixed
by means of a nut to adjust same to the diameter of the cylinder in which it
works. The sleeve in the hollow piston together with the stopping on one end
of the pin and the valve on the other end serves to make the piston perfectly
air tight.
A similar arrangement may also be used to prevent vibration on the fork and
handle bar of the cycle. By the above arrangement the pillar can be charged
with ain without wamoring the niston

page_text: I have described my improvements without regard to cycles, I may however
adapt my invention for other vehicles to answer a similar purpose.
Dated this 4th day of October 1898.
EDWD. J. PAYNE & SON,
Warwick Chambers, 104, Colmore Row, Birmingham,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Means for Preventing or Reducing Vibration in
connection with the Seats or Saddles and other Parts of Cycles,
and applicable to other Vehicles.
I, THOMAS JONES, of 14, Pyrland Road, Highbury, London, N., 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 follow-
ing statement, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the
figures and letters shewn thereon.
This invention relates to improved means chiefly for supporting the saddles
of cycles and the object that I have in view is to resist oscillation vibration and
friction between two bodies such as is liable to occur with regard to a cycle
when travelling over uneven surfaces. For this purpose I utilise compressed
air and aërated waters (or either) by an improved method which forms an air-
spring cushion to counteract any vibration that may be occasioned in meeting
with an obstacle and thus avoid sudden shock to the rider.
In the drawings Figure 1, represents a sectional elevation with my improve-
ments applied. Figure 2, a sectional elevation shewing the valve arrangement
employed. Figures 3 & 4, represent elevations of the cylinder the latter figure
shewing the piston and parts in connection therewith in dotted lines. Figure 5,
is a sectional view of the piston and valve. Figure 6, shews the valve in
elevation. Figure 7, is a gudgeon or flat sided cotter in connection with my
arrangements. Figure 8, represents in elevation and plan above, the vulcanite
collar. Figure 9, elevation of washer, and Figure 10, plan of same and flange
of valve.
i
In carrying out my invention as applied to a cycle I employ a close fitting
piston and cylinder and a combination of compressed air and aërated water or
either. The cylinder may be of any desired shape such as that provided by the
seat pillar tube (or the stays) of the framing of the machine and the seat pillar
acts as the piston. By preference however such an arrangement as illustrated
will best answer my purpose.
In the ordinary way I utilise a close fitting piston A and cylinder B the piston
forming the seat supporting post and the cylinder a chamber which tightly fits
within the seat pillar tube or member C of the cycle frame the space B₁ between
the piston A and bottom end of the cylinder B is filled with a supply of air
forced into the cylinder B by means of an inflator pump through the valve D
situated on the "L" pin or horizontal saddle support D as shewn or in any
other convenient position, or liquid air or aërated water such as soda water, or
other suitable matter is pumped into the cylinder or chamber in such quantities
as may be necessary in order to provide a column or cushion to resist the
required weight to be carried. The end J of the saddle support D¹ is closed.
The air as it is forced in under compression becomes heated and to some extent
evaporates the water which maintains the supply of air, by reason of it contain-
ing the carbonate of soda or other suitable aërifying substance in both the

page_text: piston A which is hollow and the cylinder B either in its raw state or in other
desirable quantities as may be required to form a continuous supply of air, and
to successfully maintain a sufficient cushion of air in the space above referred
to I make a perfect joint on the end of the piston A by using a collar or socket E
of vulcanite or other suitable material which is fitted on the end of the piston A
which is somewhat reduced for the purpose of receiving same and to enable the
collar E to perfectly fit within the walls of the cylinder B. A cup leather or
other washer F is also carried by the piston A, below the vulcanite collar E.
The cup leather washer is caused to be expanded either with a metallic spring
or by a steel spiral as used in common piston rings or by a flanged nipple or
metallic ring Ġ on the valve K which is of sufficient size externally when
screwed tightly into the piston end A to force the leather washer F and vulcanite
collar or socket E against the inside walls of the cylinder B in order to prevent
the slightest leakage of air when suddenly compressed by the weight of the
rider, or upon coming in contact with any obstacle or uneveness of road. The
washer is kept soft by oil or vaseline which floats on the top of the water in the
cylinder. If necessary the vulcanite collar E is covered with a waterproof jacket
or washer. In any case the external diameter of the collar shall be such that
it fits tightly the inside of the cylinder when expanded. The saddle pillar
tube C and the piston and saddle support A are slotted through transversely
as also the cylinder B and the transverse slot in the piston forms a sleeve in a
solid piece H brazed into the piston A, but with vertical apertures in the part H
to allow the air or aërated water to pass down. A guide, flat cotter, or gudgeon I,
of the same length as the external diameter of the cylinder is passed laterally
through the slots in the parts ABC to prevent side lash of the piston and
cylinder the gudgeon I is provided with a flanged head I and is secured at its
other end by a nut 12 screwing onto threads or otherwise fastened so that the
said gudgeon cannot work loose.
The vertical length of the slot in the solid piece forming the sleeve H in the
piston A is such as to allow a clearance or traverse for the gudgeon I when the
piston A in its up and down movement is depressed and the reverse by the
weight of the rider, and the pressure or expansive force with which the seat
is supported, can be regulated according to the weight, carried.
The sleeve formed by the part H in the hollow piston A together with the
stopping J on one end of the "L" pin and the valve on the base of the piston A
serves to make the piston perfectly air tight. In the event of any escape of
air I provide a supply stored in the inside of the piston A which is supplied at
a higher pressure than required to balance the weight of the rider which is
released into the lower part of the chamber or cylinder B by means of the leg
or spindle K in connection with the valve K according to my method coming
into contact with the bottom end of the cylinder B when the top of the sleeve H
is brought down to bear upon the gudgeon I by the pressure of the piston A
which at once opens the valve K and releases the air automatically at a higher
pressure thus maintaining the required quantity of air in the lower chamber.
As a modification in the above arrangements I sometimes dispense with an
inner cylinder B and utilize the seat pillar tube or member C as a chamber for
the air and aërated water. The saddle pillar or piston A working directly into
same. I can adapt a similar arrangement for use in cycles in order to prevent
vibration and oscillation on the fork head and handle bar by suitably arranging
for same.
In the method described and illustrated the air or air and aërated
water can be forced in and the piston and cylinder charged without any
necessity for removing the piston for that purpose. I make use of all the avail-
able space contained in the cycle saddle pillar for the purpose of storage of air.
I may add that although I have described my improvements with regard to
cycles I wish it to be understood that I can adapt my invention for the seats of
other vehicles, having regard to different requirements, to answer a similar
purpose viz. to avoid oscillation or concussion.
:

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
Firstly: In cycles the combination of a main pillar, or member of the frame,
an inner cylinder forming an air and aërated water chamber, a seat supporting
post acting as a piston for compressing air and aërated water forced in through
a valve and confined in the chamber when the seat supporting post or piston
is moved by pressure on the seat, the air and aërated water in the cylinder
forming a cushion or column substantially as described.
Secondly: In combination a resilient saddle support for cycles consisting
of a main tube enclosing an inner cylinder a saddle supporting post, and hori
zontal arm or "L" pin and valve, working within said cylinder and forming
a piston for compressing air and aërated water such as soda water, a valve carry-
ing a metallic ring and provided with an extended spindle situated in the end
of said piston a vulcanite or other collar, and an expansible washer or packing,
on said piston, expanded by said metallic ring, all for the purpose and operat-
ing by the means substantially as described.
Thirdly In cycles the combination of a main tube or member, an inner
cylinder closed at its base, (or arranging the main tube to form the cylinder alone)
a saddle post or piston, a sleeve in said piston, a flat sided cotter, or gudgeon,
passing laterally through slots in said main tube, and cylinder, and through
said sleeve, or through the main tube and piston alone when said cylinder is
dispensed with, for preventing side lash or turning of the piston and inner
cylinder, or piston, by the means substantially as described.
Fourthly: In combination a resilient support for the saddles of cycles and for
other vehicles by forming a cushion or column of air, aërated water, liquid air,
forced in under pressure, or a combination of aërated matter contained within a
chamber provided by the space existing between a piston end and a cylinder
by the means and in manner substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 4th day of August 1899
EDWD. J. PAYNE & SON,
Warwick Chambers, 104, Colmore Row, Birmingham,
Patent Agents for the Applicant.