Pneumatic Suspension Wheel for Cycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 28th Feb., 1894-Accepted, 7th Apr., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Pneumatic Suspension Wheel for Cycles and other Vehicles.
FRANCIS LYST 64 Somerville Road Hatcham London S.E., Gentleman, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
--
This invention substitutes two annular sheets of rubber or other material, for
the spokes, the space between the sheets, triangular in section, is filled with com-
pressed air. The rim may be made in halves and joined together, with the outer
edges of the rubber sheets between them, an ordinary rubber tyre may be placed
outside on the rim. The inner edges of the rubber sheets are fastened to the ends
of the hub so as to be air tight.
The rim may be made of metal or a solid or cushioned ring of rubber may be
used, which serves the purpose of both rim and tyre. To aid the transit of power
from the hub to the rim cords of catgut, or other suitable material may be fastened
in, or to, the rubber sheets. These cords or strips to be arranged tangentially
around the hub and radiating thence to the rim of the wheel. In this wheel, the
weight of the rider is suspended upon the air and rubber above the hub, the rim
and radiating cords preserve the shape of the wheel, and the ring of rubber or
tyre keeps the pneumatic part uninjured by the road.
A tube with valves adınits air into the pneumatic space.
Pneumatic Suspension Wheel for Cycles and other Vehicles.
I, FRANCIS LYST, of 64 Somerville Road, Hatcham, in the County of Surrey,
Gentleman, 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 :-
According to my invention I use instead of the ordmary spokes of a wheel a
hollow web or webs of air-proof material, extending from the hub to the rim of
the wheel, forming when inflated a pneumatic suspension wheel. The webs are
formed of any suitable air-proof material, preferably inelastic, or which cannot be
stretched.
The metal hub has plates at the places where the spokes are usually fastened,
between which plates the aforesaid webs are secured, and the metal rim of the
wheel may be formel in two parts, to be rivetted or screwed together, holding the
external edges of the webs between them. A suitable valve placed in any
convenient position admits compressed air into the chamber enclosed by the webs.
The webs may, if required, be strengthened by flexible metal strips, wire, catgut,
whalebone, or other suitable material embedded in the air-proof cloth or fastened
from hub to rim inside or outside same.
I will now give reference to the accompanying drawings illustrative of my
invention.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my improved wheel, as above described.
Fig. 2 is a side view of a modified form, in which the pneumatic webs are pierced
with a number of openings, which may be of the form shewn, or may be circular,

page_text: elliptical, or of other shape; the cut edges of one web being joined to the cut
edges of the other web by gussets of the same material, or in any other
suitable way.
Fig. 3 is a section of the wheel, shewing the webs, hub, rim, tyre, etc.
In the drawings, a represents a solid tire.
b, b, are the two halves of the tim.
¹² are the webs.
dare pairs of metal dises for holding the webs at the hub.
e is the axle of the wheel.
(Fig. 3) is the pneumatic chamber or air space inside the web.
g is the inflating valve.
In a stronger form of this wheel, the pneumatic chamber may be formed with
walls of light metal, joined together near the outer edges of the circumference by
a strong pneumatic web, on the outer surface of which a tire of leather, woodite,
vulcanized fibre, or other suitable material may be fixed.
Wheels made according to my invention are cheap, simple, light, easily repaired,
avoid vibration, and even should the air chamber be punctured the wheel will still
be serviceable.
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. Wheels for velocipedes and other vehicles having walls on webs of air-proof
material or light metal, extending from hub to rim so as to form a pneumatic
chamber, and fastened in the manner set forth.
2. Wheels for velocipedes and other vehicles having walls or webs of air-proof
material or light metal, extending from hub to rim so as to form a pneumatic
chamber, with or without openings through the pneumatic chamber, and fastened
in the manner set forth.
Dated this 28th day of February 1894.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
97, Newgate Street, London, E.C., Agent for Applicant.