An Improvement in Wheels.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 15th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 24th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 18th Feb., 1895
PROVISIONAL SP PUTTIVATION.
An Improvement in Wheels.
ISIDORE MACWILLIAM BOURKE Physician 40 Redcliffe Square London S.W.
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In my Patent No. 15883 1892 1 omitted to state that the springs might be
attached to the slides so as to get a direct pull and avoid the pivotting of the
springs. I now propose such as an alternative method of attaching springs-also
not having clearly expressed that only one space may be left in the grooves for
balls I now wish to do as an alternative method.
Mh 1001
An Improvement in Wheels.
ISIDORE MACWILLIAM BOURKE Physician 40 Redcliffe Square London 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:-
4
This invention has for its object an improved driving connection between the
axle or the part of the wheel in contact with the axle (said part being hereinafter
termed the axle box) and the hub from which the spokes spring. The said
connection is composed of springs and one two or more compound slides. Each
compound slide consists of two slides arranged to slide in directions at right angles
to each other, so that the axle box is free to move in any direction in a plane at
right angles to the axle, while the axle box and hub must turn together.
The chief feature of my present invention relates to the springs. Those which
govern one of the slides of each compound slide are attached at one end to the hub
and at the other end to the slide, and those which govern the other slide are
attached at one end to the said slide and at the other end to the other slide by
which construction the springs have a movement only in the direction of their
length, and hence do not become injuriously bent and strained.
Illustrations of my improved apparatus are shown in the accompanying drawings,
wherein
Figure 1 is a side view of a spring hub suitable for the rear driving wheel of a
bicycle for example, and showing two pairs of spiral springs in position acting on
their respective slides in direction at right angles to each other. The slides will
have when complete other springs directly opposed to those shown.
Figure 2 is a section of the said hub.
Figures 3 and 4 are side elevation and section respectively of a modified form
of bub.
Figure 5 is a side elevation of another modified form of hub, and
Figures 6 and 7 are side elevation and section respectively of a still further
modified hub.
3
In Figures 3 to 7 all the springs are removed.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, 1 is the axle box forming at its ends the ball
races; 2. is a slide fixed to the said axle box and sliding on a frame
which

page_text: constitutes another slide sliding on the cross bars 4 which are secured to the hub.
The direction of motion of the slide 3 is perpendicular to that of the slide 2. 5 is
a flange to which spokes are attached; 6, 6 are adjusting nuts; 7 are springs
attached at one end to the hub and at the other end to the slide 3. 8 are other
springs attached at one end to the slide 3 and at the other end to projections
extending from the slide 2. When the slide 3 moves along the bars 4 it carries
with it not only the slide 2 but also the springs 8 and therefore does not affect the
tension of the springs 8.
When the slide 2 moves in or on the slide 3 it compresses
or extends the springs 8 but does not affect the springs 7. As before stated these
springs are duplicated by others on the opposite side of the slides..
I provide ball bearings between the slides 2 and 3 and also between the slide 3
and the bars 4. The balls work in grooves and act as driving connections between
the slides and the bars 4. The grooves in which the balls work are closed at the
ends to maintain the balls in place. In some instances the grooves are divided by
stops into two or more spaces each of which contains one two or more balls.
Adjusting screws or their equivalent may be used for adjusting the parts relatively
to each other. The slides may have any suitable or convenient form other than
that shown.
I may provide one, two, or more of such compound slides arrangel in any suitable
manner with respect to the hub.
Figures 3 and 4 show a similar arrangement of slides but without ball bearings.
Figure 5 shows an arrangement where the slides are furnished with rollers 9 in
lieu of ball bearings.
This arrangement may be described as a double ended lever 2 fixed upon the
axle box and provided with two rollers 9, 9 free to roll on the outside of the
secondary frame or slide 3, which in turn is furnished with rollers that roll on
the outside of the frame 4 attached to the hub. These rollers act as drivers when
the axle box is rotated.
Figures 6 and 7 show a telescopic cruciform arrangement of slides. 10, 10 are
bars fixed to the hub. 11, 11 are telescopic rods attached at their inner ends to
the axle box and furnished at the outer ends with eyes that slide on the bars 10.
Instead of the four telescopic slides as shown only two may be used in certain
Ball bearings may lie used in the portions which slide on the bars 10.
Chains and bars which can bend in one direction only may be substituted for the
telescopic arrangement.
cases.
My improvements are also applicable to those cases where the axle box is
dispensed with and the spoke hub is attached directly to the axle.
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
CLAIMS.
1. A wheel having a movable axle supported in a compound slide or its equivalent,
and free to move in any direction in a plane at right angles to the axle, in combina-
tion with springs one set attached at one end to one of the slides and at the other
end to a fixed part of the hub and the other set attached at opposite ends to
different slides in the same compound slide substantially as described.
2. Such a wheel provided with ball bearings to reduce the friction of the sliding
parts while acting to form a driving connection between the axle and the outer
part of the hub without divisions between the balls, substantially as described.
3. A wheel constructed substantially as described with reference to any or either
of the accompanying drawings for the nurses enenified
ISIDORE McW. BOURKE, M.D.