Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Spring Arrangements for Cycles and Motor Cars.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Spring Arrangements
for Cycles and Motor Cars.
--:
I, HENRY ROBINSON GILLING of Oaklands, Arkley, in the County of Hertford,
Leather Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to improvements in and relating to pneumatic
springs for cycles or other vehicles and my invention consists in a frame which
is provided with pneumatic cushions as hereinafter described whereby the vibra
tion of the machine and consequently of the rider or riders will be materially
reduced....
The
In carrying out my invention for a bicycle I employ a front or steering fork
of about the usual construction the upper or shank end of said fork being sup-
ported in a lateral direction within the head by means preferably of suitable ball
The shank of the fork or the steering bar is capable of any desired necessary
bearings which are situated at about the top and bottom respectively of said
head. The shank of the fork or the steering bar is capable of any desired
necessary amount of vertical movement within the head, such vertical
movement being limited in its downward and if desired also in its
upward direction by means of a collar or collars or equivalent stops.
upper end of the head. is provided or formed with a strap or straps or the like on
the underside of which I place, and, if desired, secure a pneumatic cushion of
suitable shape and on the upper end of the steering rod I provide two plates or
the like which are separated by ball bearings so that the lower plate which is
fixedly attached to the steering rod may revolve without undue friction relatively
to the upper plate or disc which upper disc is in contact with the under side of
the pneumatic cushion the arrangement being such that the weight of the rider
will cause the cushion referred to to be more or less compressed between the strap
of the head and the plate or disc referred to, thereby taking up any vibration
of the wheel without communicating such vibration to the part of the frame
immediately supporting the rider.
A similar cushion is arranged for the hind wheel in about the same manner as
described for the front wheel but it may be preferable to employ a plate or disc
fixed between say two upright tubes and the fork which I employ for the hind
wheel-which does not turn as the front fork inasmuch as said hind fork is not
used for steering is provided at the upper end of its shank with a fixed disc
which may come in direct contact with the underside of the cushion.
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to any particular shape
of frame and that the steering rod is provided with handles in any usual manner

page_text: and that my invention is applicable to motor cars, or other vehicles equally as
well as ta cycles.
Dated this 9th day of December 1896.
HENRY ROBINSON GILLING,
By his Agents, Horn Son & Co.,
.151 Strand (next to Somerset House) London.
Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Spring Arrangements
for Cycles and Motor Cars.
I, HENRY ROBINSON GILLING of Oaklands, Arkley Hertfort Leather 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:-
This invention has reference to improvements in and relating to pneumatic
springs for cycles and motor cars and the object of my invention is to prevent
vibration being communicated to the frame.
I will describe my invention as applied to a cycle although my invention is
equally applicable to motor cars.
In carrying my invention into practice and referring to the accompanying
drawing I employ a front or steering fork of about the usual construction the
upper or shank end A being supported laterally within the head B by means,
say, of ball bearings C or by suitable packing so that said shank end may move
vertically to a sufficient extent within said head
The downward, and if desired also the upward movement of the shank is limited
by means of a collar or collars or other suitable stops and in order to take up
the vibration I provide a pneumatic cushion D which is fixed to aliout the top
end of the head B by means of metal or other straps or equivalents E. The
shank rests against the lower side of said cushion and in order to prevent said
shank injuring the cushion I provide the top end of said shank with a preferably
"dished" plate or equivalent F the arrangement being such that the weight of
tho rider compresses the cushion between the strap or straps referred to and the
"dished" plate of the shank and any sudden upward movement of the shank
would be taken up" by the air cushion which would simply be slightly more
compressed but the movement of the fork would not be communicated to the
frame.
By this arrangement the vibration usually felt by a person riding a cycle of the
hitherto ordinary construction is completely taken up by the cushion.
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to any particular shape
or make of frame also that the steering rod is provided with handles in any usual
manner connected if desired through the cushion D by means of a shank G.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
In a cycle or motor car a pneumatic spring consisting of an air cushion fixed
to the top end of the head by means of a strap or straps said cushion being com-
pressed between the said straps and a "dished" plate with which the top end

page_text: of the shank of the fork is provided all for the purposes and substantially as set
forth.
Dated the 9th day of September 1897
H. R. GILLING,
By his Agents Horn Son & Co.
151 Strand (Next to Somerset House) London.