Improvements in or relating to Springs for Road Vehicles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 31st July, 1895
Complete Specification Left, 30th Apr., 1896-Accepted, 25th July, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Springs for Road Vehicles.
We, WILLIAM DOIG, of 175 New Bond Street, W., Art Publisher, and DAVID
Dore, of 39 Queen's Road, St. John's Wood, Secretary of a Company, both in
the County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in or connected with the springs of road
vehicles, whereby shock and vibrations, caused by inequalities of the roadway, are
more or less absorbed or diminished by one or more air tight chambers, placed
either directly between the axle or axles of the vehicles and the body thereof, or
combined with ordinary springs in the like or equivalent position. The present
invention is an improvement on the invention of William Doig, (one of the parties
hereto), described in his Specification to Letters Patent No. 7322 of 1893, in
which an air tight chamber of the same or similar character is employed as a hub
for the wheels of vehicles.
The air tight chamber is constructed of metal and leather or other suitable
material or materials, and of convenient form and proportions to suit the particular
road vehicle for which it is intended. In most cases, the chamber is constructed
with a valve and adapted for inflation by compressed air, in the same or similar
manner to that provided for in the pneumatic hub described in the above named
specification; and means are sometimes provided for deflation. The air tight
chamber is sometimes provided with a suitable guide or guides adapted to prevent
undue motion in a transverse direction to the main or vertical motion required in
acting as a spring; and it is combined with means whereby it is attached to the
required part or parts of a vehicle.
It is to be noted that in addition to its function as a spring, more or less
dependent upon a cushion of air for elasticity, the air tight chamber is so con-
structed or combined with the metal springs or other part of the vehicle that
leather or other suitable material is used as an insulator of vibrations; thus
avoiding continuous metal contacts throughout, and tending to render the vehicle
casy of traction.
Dated this 31st day of July 1895.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433 Strand, London, Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in or relating to Springs for Road Vehicles.
We, WILLIAM DOIG, of 175 New Bond Street, W., Art Publisher, and DAVID
DoIG, of 39 Queen's Road, St. John's Wood, Secretary of a Company, both in
the County of 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in or connected with the springs of road
vehicles, whereby shock and vibrations, caused by inequalities of the roadway, are
Price 81

page_text: more or less absorbed or diminished by one or more air tight chambers placed either
directly between the axle or axles of the vehicle and the body thereof, or combined
with ordinary springs in the like or in an equivalent position to reduce vibration.
The present invention is an improvement on the invention of William Doig, (one
of the parties hereto), which is described in his Specification to Letters Patent,
No. 7322, of 1893, in which an air-tight chamber of the same or similar character
is employed as a hub for the wheels of vehicles.
In the further description of this invention reference is made to the accom-
panying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is an elevation of the handle bar of a velocipede to which the improved
spring is applied, Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the sanie, and
Fig. 3 is a section through the improved air-tight chamber.
Fig. 4 is an elevation of an air-tight chamber partially enclosed in a spring
clip,
Figs. 5 and 6 are elevations showing the air chamber partially enclosed in a
hinged metal frame, and
Fig. 7 is a diagramatic section of an air chamber and its surrounding parts.
The air-tight chamber or spring consists of a circumferential metal frame or
clip a, in two or more parts, with suitable means of connecting the said parts.
Leather side discs are secured to or within the frame a, and a metal washer c
is attached to the centre of each disc. A bolt or stud d, sometimes made square
in section where it passes through the washers, is provided with suitable means of
attachment to the required parts of the vehicle. The stud d may pass entirely
through the air chamber-as in Figs. 1. 2, 3 and 5, or be in the form shown in
Fig. 7-separate on each side. An air tight india rubber bag e, having a valve,
through which it may be inflated and deflated, is also provided, and is enclosed
between the leather discs . The bag e is so formed and proportioned as to throw
a considerable strain upon the leather discs when it is fully inflated, so that any
strain communicated to the leather dises is sustained by the air under compression
within the bag. The bag e is sometimes made as an annular bag, with a hole or
central space through it for the passage of a stud d, as in Fig. 3; or without the
central space as in Fig. 7. It is convenient, sometimes, to attach metal rings y to
the outer edges of the leather discs, as a means of securing them within the
metal frame a. This method is indicated in Fig. 7, but sometimes the discs are
clamped to the frame a by screws as indicated by Figs. 1 and 2.
In Figs. 1 and 2 the air chamber is shown as placed between the handle bar h
of a velocipede and a tubular extension of the frame a, which is attached to the
steering head in any suitable manner. In this case, the handle bar à is secured
to the stud d by means of two side arms, so that the leather discs b, supported
by the interior inflated bag e, cut off or diminish the vibration that would other-
wise be communicated from the steering head through the tubular extension i
Thus, there is no metallic connection between the metal point of support a (which
is directly connected with i) and the metal point of suspension d; and it will be
evident that the handle har might be connected directly to the frame a, and the
tubular extension to the stud d by a fork with the same effect, and without
departing from the nature of the invention. Similarly, a velocipede saddle can be
substituted for the handle bar h, thus avoiding inach of the vibration now
communicated to the body of the rider.
In Figs. 5 and 6 the metal point of support is modified to suit its position on
vehicles, as for example on the axles of vehicles, while the body of the vehicle (or
its equivalent) would be mounted on the point of suspension d. It will be evident
from this description that our improved air chamber can be placed between two
ordinary sets of metallic springs, as for example, at the junction of the side and
back springs of a hansom cab; one spring being attached to the point of support in
any convenient manner, and the other, similarly, to the point of suspension.
In Fig. 4, the frame a consists of a spring clip (semicircular in transverse
section) with semicircular extensions i, which-when closed-form a tube. This

page_text: tubular extension may be arranged to embrace or to be inserted within another
tube, and be fixed in position, or adapted for axial movement; so that in the latter
case its movement is guided in the required direction. The diagramatic section
Fig. 7 indicates a spring clip frame a which in cross section is formed as a compoundl
curve to enclose not only the metal rings g at the edges of the leather discs, but.
also shaped to give some additional support to the exterior of the discs, and to
prevent undue transverse motion. By using a through stud d of tubular form to.
act as a guide, this object is further provided for in a similar manner to that
already mentioned for the tubular extension i, while avoiding continuous metal
contacts throughout. The rectangular shaped frame a in Figs. 5 and 6 is provided
with a hinge joint a', and suitable means for fastening the halves of the frame.
together as indicated in the figures.
It is to be understood that while we believe the materials named are the best for
our purpose, we do not restrict ourselves to the use of the materials herein
specified, as others may be found sufficient for the required purposes in many forms.
of road vehicles; and that the positions of suspension and support are reversible.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The herein described improvements in springs for road vehicles, consisting of
the combination of a framework surrounding and partially enclosing a pair of
discs, with an inner air-tight bag having means for its inflation, and suitable means
for attaching the same at the point of support and point of suspension, substantially
as and for the purpose specified and shown by the drawings.
2. The herein described improvements in springs for road vehicles, consisting of
the combination of a frame a, arranged and adapted to enclose two non-metallic
discs b, and an air-tight hag e having a valve ƒ for inflation, and suitable
connections at the points of suspension and support such as c, d, and
respectively, substantially as and for the purpose specified and shown in the
drawings.
Dated this 30th day of April 1896.
i
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433 Strand, London, Agents for the Applicants..