Improvements in or relating to Spring Bearings for Cycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Spring Bearings for Cycles and other
Vehicles.
We, ALOIS ECKER, of Vienna (Austria), V Kompertgasse No. 12, Engineer,
and RUDOLF MEID, of Vienna (Austria), I Opernring No. 3, Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a device for cycles and similar vehicles having for
its object to avoid the use of pneumatic tyres whilst making the riding as noiseless
and elastic as with such tyres.
This object is attained by connecting in one construction the cycle frame on
both sides with the bearings for both axies by means of springs, one end of each
spring being secured to the axle bearing or in a modined construction to the
frame, the other end being, in the first case connected to the frame by means
of an intermediate link and in the second case, to an arm of a lever pivotted
about the wheel axle the other arm of said lever being pivotted to the frame.
Although both constructions are suitable for all the wheels of a cycle, it is
preferable to use the first construction for the back wheel say of a bicycle the
frame being then guided in its springy vertical motion with both ends on the axle
bearing in the manner of a slide, while the second construction is especially
suitable for the front wheel it being necessary in order to ensure good steering
and simultaneous action that the two front ends of the lever be rigidly connected
together by a bracket or fork embracing the wheel, or that the lever and bracket
be in one piece.
In carrying out the invention the connection between the frame and the
axle bearing is effected by means of one or more curved or bow-shaped springs
one on either side of the wheel. The lower end of each spring is secured by a
screw or screws to the back wheel bearing the upper end being pivotally connected
by a bolt to a link or fork, and serving to connect it pivotally to the vehicle
frame which is provided with a projection or part the ends of the frame members
being secured to said part by screws or otherwise. This part surrounds or guides
the slide for the bearing of the wheel axle and is pivotally connected with the
lower end of the link by means of a bolt passing through the bifurcated lower end
of the link and the part as well as through a longitudinal slot in the slide.
The part is constituted by three plates connected together by bolts. The
central plate rests against the slide the two outer plates being hinged to the link
by means of the bolt. To the lower ends of the plates is secured a cap with
a rubber lining for reducing the shocks produced by the bolt on the slide."
It will be seen that the device for guiding the frame on the axle-bearing is
an enclosed device whereby it is protected against dirt and dust.
The number of springs will vary from two upwards according to the weight
to be supported and the elasticity can be thus easily adjusted.
In the second construction the connection of the frame with the axle of the
front wheel is effected by means of an S-shaped spring the upper end of which

page_text: is secured to a bar secured to the front fork the lower end being secured to one
arm of a lever pivotted about the wheel axle the other arm of said lever being
hinged or pivotted to the bar by means of a bolt or pin. The front ends of the
levers on either side of the wheel are rigidly connected together by a bracket
embracing the wheel, said bracket and the levers being preferably formed in
one piece.
Bicycles provided with the devices described are provided with solid or cushion
tyres, whereby all the drawbacks of pneumatic tyres are avoided and the frames
are efficiently resilient.
In each of the constructions described the frame owing to its spring slide
connection on both sides with the wheel, is securely supported and guided in its
vertical movements so that a lateral oscillation is completely prevented and
further the steering wheel is enabled to easily surmount obstacles owing to the
point of connection of the front fork with the front wheel being behind the
vertical line passing through the point of contact of the front wheel with the
ground. Cycles of the construction hereinbefore described and provided with,
say, solid rubber tyres have, as shown by experiments the same advantages as
cycles with pneumatic tyres, without having the disadvantages of the latter.
Dated this 26th day of April 1898.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in or relating to Spring Bearings for Cycles and other
Vehicles.
We, ALOIS ECKER, Engineer, of Vienna (Austria), V Kompertgasse No. 12, and
RUDOLF MEID, Gentleman, of Vienna (Austria), I Opernring No. 3, 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 a device for cycles and similar vehicles having for
its object to avoid the use of pneumatic tyres whilst making the riding as noiseless
and elastic as with such tyres.
This object is attained by connecting in one construction the cycle frame on
both sides with the bearings for both axles by means of springs, one end of each
spring being secured to the axle bearing or, in a modified construction to the
frame, the other end being, in the first case, connected to the frame by means
of an intermediate link and in the second case, to an arm of a lever pivoted about
the wheel axle, .the other arm of said lever being pivoted to the frame.
Although both constructions are suitable for all the wheels of a cycle, it is
preferable to use the first construction for the back wheel say of a bicycle the
frame being then guided in its springy vertical motion with both ends on the axle
bearing, in the manner of a slide, while the second construction is especially
suitable for the front wheel, it being necessary in order to ensure good steering
and simultaneous action that the two front ends of the lever be rigidly connected
together by a bracket or fork embracing the wheel, or that the lever and bracket
be in one piece.
The accompanying drawing illustrates both constructions, Figure 1 being a
side elevation of a bicycle according to this invention, Figure 2 a side elevation
of the first construction, more particularly of the spring connection of the frame
with the back wheel, Figure 3 a plan, partly in section, of this latter connection,

page_text: Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 2 with the cover removed. Figure 5 is a
section on the line - Figure 4, and Fig. 6 a front and side elevation of the
intermediate link Fig. 7 shows the second construction, in side elevation used
for connecting the frame with the front wheel, Fig. 8 being a plan of Fig. 7.
In the construction shown in Figs. 1 to 6 the connection between the frame
and the axle bearing is effected by means of one or more curved or bow shaped
springs A one on either side of the wheel. The lower end of each spring is
secured by a screw or screws a to the back wheel bearing B, the upper end being
pivotally connected by a pin or bolt b to a link or fork C serving to connect_it
pivotally to the vehicle frame which is provided with a projection or part D,
the ends of the tubular frame members de being secured to said part by screws
or otherwise. The part D surrounds or guides the slide E for the bearing of
the wheel axle and is pivotally connected with the lower end of the link C by
means of a bolt f passing through the bifurcated lower end of the link C and
the part D as well as through a longitudinal slot 9 in the slide E.
The part d is constituted by three plates dd2 d³ connected together by bolts.
The centre plate d rests or abuts against the slide E the two outer plates d¹ d³
being hinged to the link C by means of the bolt f. To the lower ends of the
plates d d d is secured a cap h with a rubber or spring lining i for reducing
the shock produced by the bolt f on the slide E.
It will be seen that the device for guiding the frame on the axle bearing is
an enclosed device whereby it is protected against dirt and dust.
The number of spring A will vary from two upwards according to the weight
to be supported and the elasticity can be thus easily adjusted.
In the construction shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the connection of the frame with
the axle of the front wheel is effected by means of an S-shaped spring F, the
upper end of which is secured to a bar ĺ secured to the front fork the lower
end being secured to one arm of a lever G pivoted about the wheel axle the other
arm of said lever being hinged or pivoted to the bar by means of a bolt or
pin m. The front ends of the levers G on either side of the wheel are rigidly
connected together by a bracket n embracing the front half of wheel, said bracket
and the levers being preferably formed in one piece as shown in the drawing.
Bicycles provided with the devices described are provided with solid or cushion
tyres, whereby all the drawbacks of penumatic tyres are avoided and the frames
are still efficiently resilient.
In each of the constructions described the frame owing to its spring
connection, on both sides with the wheel, is securely supported and guided in its
vertical movements so that a lateral oscillation is completely prevented and
further the steering wheel (in the construction according to Figures 7 and 8)
is enabled to easily surmount obstacles, owing to the point of connection of the
front fork with the front wheel being behind the vertical line passing through
the point of contact of the front wheel with the ground. Cycles of the construc-
tion herein before described and provided with, say, solid rubber tyres have as
has been proved by experiments, the same advantages as cycles with pneumatic
tyres without having the disadvantages of the latter.
Having now particular described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. A spring connection between a cycle or vehicle frame and its axle bearings
comprising springs arranged on either side of the wheel on end of each spring
being connected to the axle bearing the other end being connected to a link
as C connected to the framing and having a pivotal connection in a slot in the
axle bearing for the purpose of affording an efficient guidance to the frame in
its vertical oscillations and of preventing it from oscillating in a lateral direction
substantially as described.
2. A spring connection between a cycle and vehicle frame and its axle bearings

page_text: comprising springs arranged on either side of the wheel one end of each spring
being connected to the end of the front fork or equivalent of the frame the other
end being connected to a horizontal rod pivotally connected at one end to the
front fork or equivalent and provided forward of said pivotal point with a bearing
for the vehicle wheel axle substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. A spring connection of the kind described, in which the spring connecting
the frame with the wheel bearing is secured by its lower end to the axle bearing
and at its upper end pivotted to a link, as C, movably connected to a projection
secured to the frame and forming a guide for a vertical slide, as E, carrying the
wheel axle, substantially as described.
4. A spring connection of the kind described in which the projection surrounds
and guides the vertical slide and is hinged to the pivotted link of the spring by
a pin passing through a slot in the slide substantially as described.
5. In a spring device of the kind described a cap provided with a rubber lining
or spring in the casing D and below the vertical slide for reducing the effect of
shocks and vibration, substantially as described.
6. A spring device of the kind described in Claim 2, in which the springs
connecting the frame with the front wheel, are secured at their upper ends to
the ends of the front fork and at their lower ends to a lever as G, which surrounds
the front wheel and is pivoted on the wheel spindle, the rear arms of said lever
being hinged to the front fork at a point situated behind the vertical line drawn
through the point of contact of the wheel with the ground, substantially as
described.
7. A construction of spring device of the kind described in Claim 1 in which
several bow-springs A may be placed one within the other for the purpose of
adjusting the elasticity in accordance with the weight of the rider substantially
as described.
8. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete spring
connection for cycles and other vehicles substantially as described and illustrated
in Figures 2, 3 and 4 or in Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of January 1899.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.