An Improvement in or connected with Combination Cycle Frames and Tyre Inflators.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Aug., 1896-Accepted, 10th Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in or connected with Combination Cycle Frames
and Tyre Inflators.
1, ARTHUR OTHNEIL STOPES, of East Hill, Colchester, in the County of
Essex, Brewer, 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 an improvement in or connected with combination
cycle frames and tyre inflators of the class wherein one of the straight tubes of a
cycle frame is utilised as the inflator barrel, the said tube being hermetically
closed at or near one end, provided with a lateral air outlet, and fitted with a
suitable pistou. The said lateral air outlet is provided with a screwed nipple with
which latter is connected oue end of a length of flexible tubing the other end of
the same being connected with the valve of the tyre to be inflated.
Up to the present time, however, combination cycle frames and tyre inflators
have not come into general use, by reason of the difficulty experienced in
hermetically closing the above mentioned tube below the lateral air outlet thereof
so as to form an airtight end to the inflator barrel.
The purpose of the present invention is to overcome the difficulty above referred
to, and this purpose I effect by the employment of an expansible plug which is
slipped into the tube to the required position and is then expanded, so as to
hermetically close the same and form the end of the inflator barrel, by means of a
box wrench passed down the tube and applied to the head of a screw bolt which
when tightened up causes the expansion of the plug.
By means of my invention any ordinary repairer or mechanic is enabled to
readily adapt a cycle frame of ordinary construction for use as a tyre inflator, the
fitting of the piston and air outlet nipple presenting no difficulty.
My invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanying
drawing in which similar letters refer to corresponding parts in all the figures, and
wherein :-
Figures 1 and 2 represent the expansible plug in plan and sectional side elevation
respectively.
Figure 3 shews the application thereof for the purpose of the invention.
A is the expausible plug, the same consisting of a rubber washer a confined
between the two metal discs b and c which are drawn together by the screw bolt d.
The said expansible plug A is pushed the required distance into the tube to be
hermetically closed and the screw bolt d is then tightened up by means of a box
wrench passed down the said tube and applied to its head, whereby the rubber
washer a is compressed and expanded laterally so as to hermetically close the said
tube. el is a boss on the underside of the disc c for receiving the end of the
screw bolt d.
In Figure 3 the plug A is represented as applied for the purpose of the invention
to the lower end of the tube e which receives the saddle pin g, this tube being
found in practise to be the most convenient for utilisation as the inflator barrel.
In addition to fixing the plug A as above described, the fitter has only to tap a
hole in the side of the tube e for the reception of the screwed nipple which is
connected by a union joint with a flexible tube attached to the tyre valve, and
also to drill a hole in the top of the saddle piu g for the passage of the piston
rod h the handle i of which is drawn up through the usual slit in the saddle

page_text: when the inflator is to be used. It is thus apparent that my invention enables
any ordinary repairer to adapt a cycle frame for use as a tyre inflator without
difficulty.
I am aware that an expansible plug of the construction above described is not
novel in itself, and I therefore wish it to be clearly understood that I do not claim
broadly the use of the same as a means for hermetically closing pipes and tubes
generally.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what i
claim is :-
For the purpose set forth, the use in combination with a cycle frame tube
having a lateral air outlet, and a piston fitted within the said tube, of the expansible
plug A, substantially as described and illustrated.
E. P. ALEXANDER & SON,
Chartered Patent Agents,
19 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.