Improved Axle Springs for Velocipedes and Light Vehicles, Effectually Stopping Vibration and Jolting.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 23rd June, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Axle Springs for Velocipedes and Light Vehicles,
Effectually Stopping Vibration and Jolting.
AUGUSTUS HAMILTON JOHNSTON, of 22 Draycott Place Cadogan Gardens
London S.W. Merchant 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:-
a
"
I beg to submit my above-named invention adaptable as above as an improvement
on any existing spring, namely:-I screw or weld unto the forks of a bicycle or the
box of an hansom cab or other conveyance, a bracket (a) on which is put or set in,
C" spring connected on the lower part with bracket (b); and through both
brackets (a & b) I pass from a to b, a round staff which, underneath bracket (6) is
kept by a screwbolt (i) on the top of bracket (a), the said staff is kept by a ring (k)
to prevent it from slipping through bracket (a) this ring (k) is attached unto the
axle of the velocipedes or other conveyances, so as to carry any shock or vibration
unto the springs and thus not give any sensation to the rider whilst passing over
rough surfaces.
1. I take bracket (a) which is either screwed on to the cycle fork by screw (h)
or to the box on the lower centre part of vehicles (cabs or carriage body) or which
can also form the end part of cycle forks welded on. This bracket is of metal and
in a rectangular form and of about inch in thickness and square, on or through
this bracket is welded or otherwise, a telescopic tube (c) through or on the
horizontal part of said bracket to permit the sliding shaft (d) to slide through it
easily up and down.
2. The shaft (d) consists of, on its upper end a ring (k) or square (L) which is
attached to the axle staff and on the outside of each cycle wheel (but on the inside
of wheels of other vehicles). The shaft (d) further has on its lower end a square
screw (p) and is passed through a metal plate (b) and is below this plate (b) screwed
tight by screw-nut (i).
3. Then I pass through bracket (a) and metal plate (b) a double screw-nutted
bolt (g) on which is welded a "C" spring (n) this is for the fronts and backs of
brackets (a) and metal plate (b).
4. The brackets (f) which are attached to the bolt (9) serve to hold firm
additional or reserve springs of a similar character to spring (n), which in case of a
heavy rider, can be placed inside spring (n), loosely; the ends being clasped by
brackets (f). As has already been described, the spring (n) is bolted above and
below at (9) and is in no way supported by brackets (f). The brackets (f) are
only placed to clasp tightly the reserve spring which is a band of steel purposely
made not so curved as spring (n) but which on being inserted inside spring (n),
adheres to it, the band being fitted exactly to the size of bracket (f) as in Fig. 5.
This band has no bolt holes, but remains clasped when bolt (9) is screwed tight
above and below.
5. The telescope tube (c) goes a little over half length of the staff so that springs
cannot come to breaking strain. In my Fig. 3 of drawing I make the top of
sliding shaft of oblong shape, open on one side, so as to adjust safety chain by
means of a sliding screw arrangement, as visible in Fig. 7 of drawing. This is for
cycle back wheels, where safety chains are in use.
Fig. 1 is sliding shaft for right side front wheel.
Fig. 2 is the same for left front wheel.

page_text: Fig. 4 is spring and brackets complete for front wheel right side; only that the
left front wheel spring is screwed on vice versa.
Fig. 5 is showing brackets (f) through which screw bolts (g) are passed on
which latter the "C" spring (n) is welded.
Fig. 6 shows how spring is attached to brackets (a) and metal plate (b).
Fig. 7 is a complete back wheel spring appliance for the left side; only that
screw (h) is on the right side if used on the right side.
Thus the springs do not come in total contact and I thus prevent vibration of
the wheel being transmitted, unto the cycle seat, but break it at the axle.
The spring carrying all this vibration, there cannot therefore be any jolting
which latter two facts are even deplorably found in the pneumatic tyre which by
my system I can do without, using solid tyres instead.
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 :-
1. The system of adapting the said springs to velocipedes and light vehicles.
2. The easier riding without vibration or jolting.
3. One third cheaper than any other spring appliances or pneumatic tyres.
4. The spring has the same resilience as the pneumatic tyre.
9th March 1894
A. HAMILTON JOHNSTON