Year: 1897

page_text: We, THOMAS TILL, of Swadlincote, in the County of Derby, Potter, and SAMUEL
HUNT ROWLEY, of the same place, Earthenware Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:
-
This invention relates to wheels of the kind in which the connection between
the wheel and its axle is effected by means of elastic devices having for object
to prevent the transmission of vibration and jolting from the wheel to the axle.
In a wheel constructed according to this invention, the axle is what may be
called buoyant, that is to say it is freely suspended within the hub of the wheel
by means of springs which are fastened to the hub, in such manner that the axle
does not come into direct or rigid contact with the hub of the wheel, but is free
to float or move to a certain extent in all directions within the hub.
In carrying out this invention in its application to an ordinary road wheel in
which the wheel revolves on a fixed axle, we place a sleeve capable of revolving
on the fixed axle, and upon this sleeve we fix a spider or part comprising a number
(say three) of arms or projections, to the outer end of each of which we attach two
springs of spiral or other type. The other or inner ends of those springs are attached
(preferably in the manner hereinafter described) to a ring or hub of annular or
other hollow shape to which the spokes of the wheel are fastened. This hub is
divided vertically into two parts which are joined together at several points at or
near their peripheries by means of a pin or screw bolt at each of said points.
The said inner ends of the springs are fastened to the hub by being coiled
around the pins or screw bolts which connect the two parts of the hub.
The outer ends of the springs are preferably fastened to the outer ends of the
arms of the spider by means of hooks with screw-threaded shanks which pass
through holes in the ends of the arms and are held by means of nuts.
By suitably screwing these nuts the tension of the springs can be regulated,
and the axle can be centred, that is to say be caused in its normal position to
coincide with the horizontal centre line or axis of the hub.
In order to diminish friction in the case of a wheel for use in cycles or other
light vehicles, we may arrange ball bearings between the sleeve and the axle.
Dated this 17th day of December 1897.
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.

page_text: We, THOMAS TILL, of Swadlincote, in the County of Derby, Potter, and SAMUEL
HUNT ROWLEY, of the same place, Earthenware Manufacturer, 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 wheels of the kind in which the connection between
the wheel and its axle is effected by means of elastic devices having for object
to prevent the transmission of vibration and jolting from the wheel to the axle.
In a wheel constructed according to this invention, the axle is what may be
called buoyant, that is to say, it is freely suspended within the hub of the wheel
by means of springs or other elastic devices which are fastened to the hub in
such manner that the axle does not come into direct or rigid contact with the
hub of the wheel, but is free to float or move to a certain extent in all directions
within the hub.
In carrying out this invention in its application to an ordinary road wheel in
which the wheel revolves on a fixed axle, we place a sleeve capable of revolving
on the fixed axle, and upon this sleeve we fix a spider or part comprising a number
(say three) of arms or projections, to the outer end of each of which we attach two
springs of spiral or other type. The other or inner ends of these springs are attached
(preferably in the manner hereinafter described) to a ring or hub of annular or
other hollow shape to which the spokes of the wheel are fastened.
This hub is divided vertically into two parts which are joined together at several
points at or near their peripheries by means of a pin or screw bolt at each of
said points.
The said inner ends of the springs are fastened to the hub by being coiled
around the pins or screw bolts which connect the two parts of the hub.
The outer ends of the springs are preferably fastened to the outer ends of the
arms of the spider by means of hooks with screw-threaded shanks which pass
through holes in the ends of the arms and are held by means of nuts.
By suitably screwing these nuts the tension of the springs can be regulated,
and the axle can be centred, that is to say, be caused in its normal position to
coincide with the horizontal centre line or axis of the hub.
In order to diminish friction in the case of a wheel for use in cycles or other
light vehicles, we may arrange ball bearings between the sleeve and the axle.
In order to enable the nature of this invention to be more clearly understood,
reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which illustrate a suitable form
of construction of a resilient cycle wheel in accordance with this invention.
In these drawings,
Figure 1 is a part side elevation (partly in section on the line 1-1 of Figure 2).
of the road wheel of a bicycle and Figure 2 is a cross section of the same on the
line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a part front elevation of the divided hub showing one of the joints,
the springs E E being removed.
A is the spindle or axle around which the wheel is to revolve; it is fixed in the
usual manner in the ends of the fork B B of a cycle frame.
Upon the axle A is a sleeve C having an internal diameter greater than the
outside diameter of the axle A so that the sleeve encloses the axle, with a space
between the two to receive ball or other bearings (not shown). Fixed to this
sleeve C, or as shown, forming one piece therewith in the plane of the wheel are
three arms D, to the outer end of each of which are attached as hereinafter

page_text: The
described two springs E of spiral or coil type, one on each side of each arm.
other or inner ends of the springs E are attached as hereinafter described to a
ring or hub F F¹ to the flanges of which the spokes G of the wheel are fastened.
This hub F F is divided vertically in the plane of the wheel into two parts F F¹
which are joined together at three points at their peripheries by means of
lugs f f which are connected together by means of screw-bolts g, passing through
the lugs at these points.
The inner ends of the springs E are shown fastened to the hub F F1 by being
coiled around the screw bolts g which connect the two parts of the hub."
The outer ends of the springs E are shown fastened to the outer ends of the
arms D by means of hooks h having screw-threaded shanks which pass through
holes in caps d fixed on the ends of the arms D and are held in place by means
of nuts h¹.
By suitably screwing these nuts h¹, the tension of the springs E can be regulated.
and the axle A can be caused in its normal position to coincide with the horizontal
centre line or rotary axis of the hub F.
When the wheel is to be used as the driving wheel of the bicycle, a chain
wheel H may be fixed on the sleeve C. I is a tubular step for the purpose of
mounting, screwed on to the end of the axle A.
In order to exclude dust or dirt the ends of the hub may be closed by discs and
an annular cap or case may be fitted around the springs, this cap being attached
to the hub within the spokes.
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. A resilient wheel in which the axle is freely and elastically suspended within
the hub, substantially as and for the purpose herein before described.
2. In a resilient wheel of the kind referred to in the preceding claim, the com-
bination with a fixed axle and a revolving hub, of a sleeve adapted to revolve
on said axle but out of contact with the aforesaid hub arms situated in the plane
of the wheel and fixed to said sleeve, and springs fastened in pairs to the said arms
and the hub of the wheel, the whole constructed, arranged and operating sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described and for the purposes specified.
3. The resilient wheel constructed substantially as hereinbefore described with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 19th day of September 1898
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.