Improvements in Inflating Devices for the Tyres of Velocipedes and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 5th Mar., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Inflating Devices for the Tyres of Velocipedes and
the like.
I, AUGUSTUS GROSS, of 156, Vickery's Chambers, 82, Pitt Street, Sydney, in the
Colony of New South Wales, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
ion 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 to a novel device for automatically inflating pneumatic
tyres of all classes of vehicles, and consists essentially of a stationary eccentric disc,
having a hub cavity, secured to the axle, an eccentric ring placed around the said
disc, and connected to the piston of an air pump attached to the valve, and adapted
to be operated by the rotation of the vehicle wheel. But in order that this inven-
tion may be fully understood, reference will now be made to the accompanying
drawings which form a part of this specification and in which-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of this invention detached from the vehicle.
Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail showing method of attaching the connecting
rod to the eccentric ring.
Figure 3 is a front elevation of the eccentric disc and ring.
Figure 4 is a sectional elevation of dust cap for pump barrel.
Figure 5 is a front elevation of this invention attached to the pilot wheel of a
bicycle.
Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of dust cap for inflating valve.
Figure 7 is a sectional elevation of inflating valve.
Figure 8 is a view of the valve plug looking upwards.
Figure 9 is a sectional elevation of the piston head.
Figure 10 is a view of the piston head looking upwards shewing valve.
Figure 11 is an elevation of the inflating valve attached to cycle wheel and
having the dust cap on.
Figure 12 is an enlarged sectional elevation of the inflating valve plug.
Figure 13 is an elevation of a key for removing or securing the inflating valve
plug.
Figure 14 is a central vertical sectional elevation of Figure 3.
In all figures similar letters are used to denote similar parts.
A is an eccentric disc having a boss or projection B in which the hub cavity C
is formed, a smaller central boss D) is formed on the outer face of B. Two half
rings E E are placed around the disc A and held in position by the screws F F
passed through the flanges G G. In the periphery of the disc A is formed central
groove H, to receive the tongue I of the half rings E E.
One of the half rings E E is provided with a short pendant rod J, having a key
way K adapted to receive the end L of the connecting rod M, the cap N, threaded
internally, screws on to the pendant rod J when the end L of the connecting
rod M is inserted into the rod J as shown in Figure 1, the connecting rod M is
shewn disconnected from the rod J in Figure 2.
The connecting rod M has a double bend, and the lower end O is flattened so
as to be received in the forked end P of the piston Q, and held secure by the

page_text: thumb screw R. S is the pump barrel, provided with a small opening T, covered
with the rubber band U, to form a safety valve against over inflation.
The end of the pump S is screwed into the inflating valve casing V, the lower
end of the inflating valve is attached to the tube W, provided in the tyre. The
inflating valve consists of the casing V, Figure 7, into which is inserted the plug X,
this plug is provided with a central air passage Y, the lower end of which is
covered with a strip of oiled silk, or other suitable material that will withstand
the required pressure. The strip of oiled silk g, is secured over the lower face of
the plug X, and fastened by a thread passed around the recess Z in the lower end
of the plug. To remove the plug X key holes a a are provided in the upper face
to receive the keys bb, so that by the handle c the plug may be unscrewed and
removed; when the plug is inserted the leather or other washer d is necessary to
make the connection airtight. A dust cap e is provided for the inflating valve,
when the pump is disconnected.
The valve in the piston head f is constructed in a similar manner to that
described above, in the valve plug X; the piston head is provided with the air
passage, which passes up through part of the piston Q, and has an inlet orifice
at i. is the packing on the piston head.
Figure 5 shews this invention attached to the pilot wheel of a bicycle, the
pump being ready for operation, when it is desirable to disconnect the pump it is
unscrewed from the inflating valve and brought over against the front fork 7, and
held by a rubber band m. The pump in this position is shewn by dotted lines in
Figure 5.
The method of attaching this invention to the pilot wheel of a bicycle would be
as follows: The front fork would be disconnected on one side from the axle,
the disc A would be passed in between the fork and the spokes, the hub passing
into the hub cavity C, the latter being sufficiently large to permit of the hub
revolving therein. The axle is passed through the opening n, and through the
fork 7, and then secured by the nut o in the usual manner. To keep the disk A
stationary, a small stud 2 passes through the fork 1, and into the opening r pro-
vided in the boss 1). One end of the connecting rod M is then attached to the
pendant as before described, the other end is secured to the piston Q, and the
pump and valve secured in position. The device being now attached as the wheel s
revolves, it will cause through the intervention of the stationary disc A and the
ring E, the piston Q to operate and pump the air through the inflating valve,
which in passing down the air passage Y will force the oiled silk g downwards and
escape into the tyre, the back pressure will cause the oiled silk 9 to close
the air passage Y until more air is forced in by the pump. The pump is supplied
with air through the passage h on the outward movement of the piston, the inward
movement of the same compresses the air in the pump barrel S, closes the valve
in the piston head, opens the valve in the plug X, and forces the air into the tyre.
To prevent the tyre being over inflated, the valve T is provided in the pump
barrel S, so that when the air pressure in the tyre is sufficient, the back pressure
on the valve in the plug X will keep the same closed, the compressed air would
pass out of the pump through the valve T, instead of into the tyre, the pressure
in the tyre being regulated by the strength of the rubber band Ŭ.
も
When the tyre is sufficiently inflated the pump barrel is disconnected from the
inflating valve, and the dust cap e placed on the valve; the dust cap t placed on
the pump barrel and the pump brought into the position shewn by dotted lines in
Figure 5, and held there by the rubber band m, as before described.
A modification may be made by permanently attaching the connecting rod M to
the piston Q, thus doing away with the thumb screw R.
In the construction of my invention any suitable metal may be used and the
pump may be attached to any suitable inflating valve.
This invention may be applied to all classes of vehicles using pneumatic tyres,
and in the case of cycles the hub cavity would be required of a suitable size so as
to freely admit the hub. It may also be applied to large vehicles, when all the

page_text: parts would be constructed proportionately large. When so applied the eccentric
portion of my device would be placed between the wheel and the body of the vehicle,
and the opening n would be of sufficient size to permit of the stationary axle
passing through, and the disc secured to the shoulder of the said axle by passing
one or more small bolts through the shoulder and the disc. This would be the
method of attaching my invention to axles of the present day, but if axles were
constructed specially, such axles should be provided with a second shoulder having
a left handed thread or screw, and the opening n in the disc should be provided
with a like thread, so that when the disc is screwed home it will not be liable to be
slackened by the rotation of the wheel. The operation of the pump in the case of
large vehicles would be precisely similar to that when used for cycles, but in all
cases the disc must lie close to the spokes of the wheel.
I am aware that other devices have been invented for automatically inflating
pneumatic tyres, and in some instances an eccentric motion has been used to
actuate the pump piston. I therefore do not claim the use of an eccentric broadly,
but my invention lies in the simplicity of construction and ease of application, as
ny invention may be applied to any vehicle of the present day without alteration,
excepting the securing of the disc so as to maintain the same in a stationary
position. It is not intended in the use of my invention that the pump shall he
kept constantly at work, but is only for use when it is required to inflate the tyre.
This may be done by either attaching the device and riding the cycle or propelling
the vehicle along, so as to operate the pump and inflate the tyre, or the cycle or
vehicle may be supported and the wheel rotated to effect the same purpose.
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 apparatus for automatically inflating pneumatic tyres, the employment
of a disc with a hub cavity, and having in its outer periphery a central groove to
receive a corresponding tongue on the internal periphery of a ring, the latter
being connected with an air pump secured to the tyre valve, the said disc being
secured in a stationary position by being fastened to the axle or other stationary
part of the cycle or vehicle, and the pump being operated by the rotation of the
cycle or vehicle wheel, substantially as herein described, explained and illustrated
in the drawings.
2nd. In apparatus for automatically inflating pneumatic tyres, an air-pump in
combination with an inflating valve, having a valve plug as X, substantially as
herein described, explained and illustrated in the drawings.
3rd. In apparatus for automatically inflating pneumatic tyres, the combination
with a pump barrel, of the piston head as f, provided with an air passage as h,
the lower end being covered with a strip of oiled silk, or its equivalent to form a
valve, substantially as herein described, explained and illustrated in the drawings.
4th. The combination and arrangement of the various parts herein described,
explained and illustrated, altogether forming the improvements in or relating to
automatic action pumps for inflating pneumatic tyres of cycles and other vehicles,
substantially and for the purposes set forth.
T
1007
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.