Improvements in or connected with the Wheels of Bicycles and other Vehicles or the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 24th June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Wheels of Bicycles and
other Vehicles or the like.
I, ALEXANDER MARCET, of 23, St. Swithin's Lane, in the City of London,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by René de Saussure of the Catholic University,
Washington, in the United States of America, Professor of Mathematics) and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates principally to the wheels of bicycles and the like, but it
can be applied to other wheels to which it is, or may be, applicable. For simplicity
of description I will describe the invention as applied to a bicycle wheel, from
which its general application will also be understood. The said invention has
for its object to provide means whereby; in a ready, efficient, and thoroughly
practical manner, and recognizing, and utilizing, known laws of mechanics, all
jar and shock, resulting from contact with obstructions, incident to, and
attendant upon, travel over a road, are taken up, thereby preventing
the destructive racking to which vehicles such as bicycles are subjected,
and affording increased comfort to the rider, furthermore the effect of
all impact is directed to a part of the bicycle where it will be least felt, and
where the smallest damage can be done; and, finally, while all the advantages,
case, and comfort, incident to the use of a pneumatic tire are obtained it is
possible to dispense with its employment and so avoid the disadvantages attending
its use.
With these objects in view means are, according to this invention, provided
whereby the weight of the rider will operate directly upon a pneumatic or other
cushion interposed between the hub of the wheel and its axle, in such a manner
as not to interfere with the rotation of the wheel. Means are also provided whereby
the rim of the wheel is made to occupy ä plane perpendicular to
the axle, under all conditions and means are also provided whereby
the diameter of the bearing part of the hub is made independent of the diameter
of the cushion, without prejudice to the taking apart of the different pieces of the
structure.
In the accompanying drawings (in which like letters of reference indicate corre-
sponding parts) are illustrated several arrangements according to this invention
but I do not limit myself to the details illustrated as they can be varied without
departing from the nature of the invention.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a form of cushioned hub, the cushion, being
shewn as of solid rubber, but if preferred, a pneumatic cushion may be employed
in lieu thereof.
Figure 2 is transverse section, taken on the line 2-2 Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation, and Figure 4 is a side elevation, partly in
section of another form of the cushioned hub. Figure 5 is a sectional elevation and
Figure 6 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a further form of the cushioned
hub.

page_text: Figure 7 shews separately, in perspective, the supplemental axle of the arrange-
ment Figure 5 and Figure 8 shews separately in perspective the axle support,
or stirrup, of the said arrangement.
Figure 9 illustrates a nut used in connection with the axle shewn in Figures 3
and 5.
Figure 10 is a detail shewing a modified manner of connecting the parts of the
hub shewn in Figure 3.
Figure 11 is a sectional plan shewing a stop-device by which undue strain upon
the sprocket-chain is prevented should the wheel be subjected to a violent rear-
ward pressure.
Figures 12, 13 and 14 show other modifications as hereinafter described.
The term
*
axle," is used to designate a two-part, non-rotary, structure, con-
sisting of an inner, rigid member (which I term the axle proper) fixed to the fork-
members and an outer rigid member (which I term the supplemental axle ")
carrying the hub of the wheel and extending, at each side, beyond any of the
bearing parts of the hub the term "hub" being used to denote that part of the
wheel which rotates around the axle.
Referring now to Figure 1 of the drawings A is the axle proper, As the supple-
mental axle, A³ the hub, and A' the cushion, which may be, as shewn, a solid
cushion, or, if preferred, a pneumatic cushion. The axle proper A, is provided, at
each end, with a flange a, the flange at one end being, by preference in one
with the axle proper, and the flange at the other end being formed with a securing
nut, screwed onto the axle proper and the ends of the axle proper are secured
rigidly to the fork-members a2 by the nuts as shewn,
The supplemental axle A2 and the hub A are provided with grooves a³, in
which are the balls a, constituting anti-friction bearings, the hub and bearings
being held in position upon the supplemental axle and the bearings being adjusted
by a nut turned on the end of the supplemental axle. In this arrangement of
the invention, & also in those hereinafter-described, the supplemental axle is
hollowed sufficiently to permit of the requisite yielding of the axle proper.
"
+
The supplemental axle A2 is kept parallel with the axle proper A by the
flanges of the axle proper and therefore, the rim of the wheel will occupy, under
all circumstances, a plane perpendicular to the axle proper. The wheel is thus
kept in position without any additional rotary friction.
In the arrangement shewn in Figures 3 and 4 means are provided whereby
the internal diameter of the ball-bearing hub may be less than the diameter of the
cushion, so that, without increasing the diameter of the hub, an extended range
for the compression of the cushion is provided. In this arrangement of the inven-
tion, the axle proper A occupies normally a position eccentric to the diameter of
the cushion and the cushion A bears directly against an eccentric shaped abut-
ment in one with, or secured to, the axle proper, this abutment forming a means
whereby the yielding of the cushion is effected. The supplemental axle A² is
provided with cylindrical projections a², to which the adjusting-nut as for the ball-
bearings are connected by a threaded union, as usual, and with a central
enlarged portion 8 constituting a chamber, in which the cushion is housed. The
sides of the enlarged portion are provided with openings a", to permit inspection
and proper adjustment of the cushion.
The pneumatic cushion is provided with a filling-nipple a¹ which passes
through the supplemental axle, the said nipple being normally held by a spring
clip a¹, in such position as to avoid contact with the revolving hub.
When pressure is applied to the tire, and the lower half of the cushion is
flattened, or compressed, the axle proper moves down and the flanges a slide
on the nuts a³ the said flanges being extended far enough to keep the supplemental
axle in position, and, also, to prevent any dust, or dirt, entering the interior of the
hub.
The hub A is provided with grooves a³ for the balls of the ball-bearings, and the
rear wheel of the bicycle is provided with the usual sprocket-wheel. The hub is of
5

page_text: such size as to constitute a chamber of sufficient internal capacity to enclose the
supplemental axle. In order that the supplemental axle may be inserted within
the hub, one side thereof is made removeable. Both sides (with the exception
of the removable feature) are counterparts. The said removeable side is fixed to
the main portion of the hub, which may be done by a screw connection, as shewn
in Figure 3, or otherwise, for instance by screws, or bolts a, as shewn in Figure 10,
a small recess being left in the side of the hub to permit the free passage of the
clip a. The sides of the hub are, or may be, provided with strengthening ribs a".
To prevent the wheel from tilting in use, or, in other words, to cause the rim of
the wheel always to occupy a plane perpendicular to the axle, the adjusting-nuts a
are provided with flanges a, projecting a little beyond the sides of the hub,
and abutting against the flanges a, of the axle proper, as previously explained.
In the arrangement of the invention shown in Figure 5, the same general
arrangement, of the axle proper and supplemental axle, of the hub, and of the
ball-bearings, is retained, but the abutment a of the axle proper, and the remove-
able side of the hub, are omitted. The cushion, in the arrangement Figure 5,
does not bear upon the axle proper, but upon the supplemental axle, and the cushion
bears against a multi-armed stirrup A mounted within the hub. As in the form
of device shewn in Figure 3, the axle proper is eccentric to the axis of the cushion,
for the reasons stated. In order that the stirrup may occupy the position shewn in
Figures 5 and 6, the supplemental axle (shewn separately in Figure 7) is provided
with longitudinal slots in number corresponding to the number of arms on the
stirrup (three in this instance). The number of the said arms and slots may be
increased or diminished, if desired. Each slot is provided with two recesses a¹³, to
accommodate the arms of the stirrup without interfering with the action of the
cushion. As shewn in Figure 8, the stirrup has each of its arms constructed of a
piece of metal, the part of each arm nearest the supplemental axle having its width
parallel therewith, and the outer portion bent at right angles thereto, to constitute
a flat surface, against which the cushion will bear. The stirrup may be made of a
single piece of metal, or it may be composed of a number of pieces united, and one
of the arms is provided with a spring-clip a¼, in which the filling-nipple a of
the cushion rests, when the wheel is in use. In both the forms of devices shewn
in Figures 3 and 5, the hub is provided with a door a which covers an opening
provided in the hub for the purpose of permitting access to the filling-tube, and,
also, in the arrangement Figure 5, for permitting the introduction of the cushion
and stirrup, this door being normally closed, to prevent access of dust or dirt to
the hub.
In Figure 9 is shewn a modification of the adjusting-nuts and the abutting-
flange, of the axle proper shewn in Figures 3 and 5. The object of this
modification is to minimize the friction which takes place between these parts
when the cushion yields, and consists in providing the opposing faces of the
diametrically-opposite sides of the nuts and Hanges ao with sockets, or
depressions, in which are housed balls forming ball-bearings 20.
In Figure 11 is shewn a special device intended for use in connection with the
driven, or rear, wheel of a bicycle, the object of which is to limit undue rearward
movement of the sprocket-wheel, and thereby prevent injurious strain, or stretch-
ing, of the sprocket chain, which would result from violent contact between the
driven wheel and an obstruction. This consists in providing the rear side of the
flange a with a projection 2, extending partially over the adjusting-nut
the supplemental axle, without, however, touching the side of the hub.
of
As before stated I do not limit myself to the precise arrangements illustrated,
for example, Figures 12 and 13 shew other arrangements according to this inven-
tion. In these forms two cushions are used, the said cushions being situated on
cach side of the hub instead of inside. In the one arrangement they bear against
abutments on the axle proper and in the other arrangement they bear on the
supplemental axle.
Figure 14 illustrates an arrangement generally resembling that shewn in

page_text: Figure 1 but in which the flanges a of the axle proper are made in one with the
fork-members instead of being in one with the axle proper. This arrangement
may be used also in all the different forms according to this invention as the
axle proper and the fork members form always together a single rigid structure
and when I state in the following claims that the axle proper is provided with
flanges I do not mean that the said flanges necessarily form an integral part of the
axle proper, all that is necessary being that the said flanges shall be rigidly
mounted on the axle proper, nothing preventing them, if preferred, from forming
an integral part of the fork members.
The invention is not limited to the employment of a single cushion for each
hub, as one, or more, cushions may be employed in the same hub, as may be
convenient.
The manner of connecting together the parts of the various arrangements
illustrated will be apparent, and special explanation thereof is unnecessary. The
cushion, when pneumatic, is conveniently put in place before being inflated.
-
By the peculiar arrangement of the cushions herein before described, all the
advantages and comfort inherent to the use of a pneumatic tire, are obtained
without any of its disadvantages; as, by placing the cushion at the axle, and when
the said cushion is pneumatic it is practically impossible for it to be punctured.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. In, or for, wheels, an axle consisting of an axle proper fixed rigidly to the
frame and of a supplemental axle carrying the hub; a pneumatic, or other, cushion
or cushions acting between the axle proper and the supplemental axle, and means
whereby the supplemental axle is kept parallel to the axle proper, with interference
with the rotation of the wheel, or the action of the cushion, substantially as herein-
before described.
2. In, or for, wheels, an axle, consisting of an axle proper fixed rigidly to the
frame, and provided with flanges, and of a supplemental axle carrying the hub,
and kept parallel to the axle proper by the flanges of the said axle proper, and a
pneumatic, or other, cushion or cushions acting between the axle proper and the
supplemental axle, substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. In, or for, wheels, an axle consisting of an axle proper fixed rigidly to the
frame, and of a supplemental axle carrying the hub; a pneumatic, or other, cushion
or cushions acting between the axle proper and the supplemental axle, means
whereby the supplemental axle is kept parallel to the axle proper, without inter-
ference with the rotation of the wheel or the action of the cushion, and means
whereby the internal diameter of the bearing-part of the hub may be made less
than the diameter of the cushion, substantially as, and for the purposes, herein-
before described.
4. In, or for, wheels, an axle consisting of an axle proper fixed rigidly to the
frame and provided with flanges, and of a supplemental axle, and a pneumatic
or other cushion or cushions acting between the two axles, the axle proper being
eccentric to the supplemental axle, substantially as, and for the purposes, herein-
before described.
5. In, or for, wheels, an axle consisting of an axle proper, fixed rigidly to the
frame, and provided with flanges, and of a supplemental axle carrying the hub,
and kept parallel to the axle proper by the flanges of the said axle proper, and
anti-friction devices between the ends of the supplemental axle and the flanges
of the axle proper, and a pneumatic cushion or cushions between the said axles,
substantially as, and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
6. In, or for, wheels, an axle consisting of an axle proper resting on the inner
part of a pneumatic cushion and of a supplemental axle resting on the outer part
of the said cushion, and a hub inclosing the axle and constructed with a removable
side, substantially as, and for the purposes, hereinbefore described.
7. In, or for, wheels, an axle consisting of an axle proper resting on the outer

page_text: part of a pneumatic cushion by proper means of connection and of a supplemental
axle resting on the inner part of the said cushion, substantially as hereinbefore
described.
8. The several arrangements herein before described and illustrated by Figure 1;
Figures 3 and 4; Figures 5 and 6; Figure 12; Figure 13 and Figure 14 of the
accompanying drawings.