Year: 1896

page_text: I, JAMES EDGAR HATCH of 340 Heath Terrace West Bromwich, in the
County of Stafford, Clerk in Holy Orders, do hereby declare the nature of my
said invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object improvements in cycles which are specially
applicable to bicycles by which such machines are made easier to ride and control
and is specially applicable to machines of the kind shown in my previous
Specification No. 9197 A.D. 1896.
The small or steering wheel of my cycles I make with the centre or hub formed
of an air tight drum with the axle tube passing through the same which forms an
annular chamber sealed hermetically air-tight. Then the tyre is fastened inside
the collars by wires or a cord or their equivalents and the inside air tube has a
short tube or nipple sealed to the air tube and also in the drum so that the com-
pressed air in the one communicates with the air in the other which increases the
resiliency of the tyre. I hang this leading or steering wheel in the fork in such a
manner that the centre of the wheel, is somewhat behind the steering pivot or
steering head of the machine which is very important as the wheel has the normal
tendency to run straight with the machine and there is less strain upon the steering
handles. I am therefore able to shorten the handles and they will be strong
enough for the purpose when hinged so as to turn upwards for packing, that is to
say on shouldered hinges so that they will only turn down about horizontally, but
upwards together. I may ridge the tyres or put projections of metal or other
material to prevent side slipping.
Dated this 11th day of Sentember 1806
GEORGE BARKER,
77 Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.
I, JAMES EDGAR HATCH M.A. of 340 Heath Terrace West Bromwich in the
County of Stafford, Clerk in Holy Orders do hereby declare the nature of my
said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention bas for its object improvements in cycles which are specially
applicable to bicycles by which such machines are made easier to ride and control
and is specially applicable to machines of the kind shewn in my previous
Specification No. 9197 A.D. 1896.
The small or steering wheel of my cycles I make with the centre or hub formed
of an airtight drum with the axle tube passing through the same which forms an
annular chamber sealed hermetically air tight. Then the tyre is fastened insile

page_text: the collars by wires or a cord or their equivalents and the inside air tube has a
short tube or nipple sealed to the air tube and also in the drum so that the com-
pressed air in the one communicates with the air in the other which increases the
resiliency of the tyre. I hang this leading or steering wheel in the fork in such a
manner that the centre of the wheel is somewhat behind the steering pivot or
steering head of the machine which is very important as the wheel has the normal
tendency to run straight with the machine and there is less strain upon the steering
handles.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practical effect I have appended hereunto two sheets of drawings upon which
I have illustrated examples of my improvements.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a velocipede of the kind shewn in my prior
specification hereinbefore referred to with my further improvements applied
thereto.
Figure 2 is a cross sectional elevation of the front wheel on an enlarged scale as
shewn at Fig. 1.
Figure 3 is a cross sectional elevation of a wheel with a double row of spokes
built according to my
invention.
Figure 4 is a similar view to Figure 3 shewing my improved wheel with a single
row of spokes.
Figure 5 is a front elevation of my improved velocipede wheel shewing examples
of connecting the spokes when built up with a single row.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of my improved front fork attached to the ball head
or steering socket of a velocipede.
In carrying the first part of my invention into practice I form the nave or centre
of the wheel of an air-tight drum or hermetically sealed chamber B with the ball
bearing and axle C passing through the centre and on the edges of this drum or
air chamber I form the flanges b. Around the periphery of the drum I secure the
tyre D by wires or cords or their equivalents which fit against the flanges b¹ and
when the tyre is inflated assist to hold it in position. The inside air tube d' of the
tyre has a short tube d' which communicates with the air chamber B.
In order to inflate the tyre the pump or inflater is connected to the valve which
is fitted in any convenient part of the chamber B and air forced therein which
passes out of the chamber through the short tube or outlet d into the inside air
tube of the tyre.
At Figure 3 I have shewn an example of my improvements applied to a
velocipede wheel built up with the usual double row of spokes s', s which are
connected to either side of the air chamber B and to the rim R in the ordinary
manner. The tube d³ which forms the communication between the chamber B and
the tyre passes between the spokes. The valve r¹ for forcing air into the tyre may
either be connected to the tyre or to the air chamber B.
At Figure 4 I have shewn the application of my central air chamber to a
velocipede wheel made up with a single row of spokes. I this case I prefer to
form the chamber B of an oval shape and connect a single row of spokes 3 from
the centre of this chamber to the centre of the rim. The tube which forms the
communication between the tyre and the central chamber is fixed in the centre the
same as the spokes and the valve for inflating purposes may either be connected to
the tyre or to the central chamber as in the case of the example shewn at Figure 3.
The chamber B may if desired be fitted with an inner rubber tube or air chamber
in which case the tube which communicates with the tyre would be fixed to this
inner rubber air chainber.
Figure 5 shews three different examples of the manner in which velocipede
wheels can be built up when using a single row of spokes only constructed on the
principle as shewn at Figure 4.
Referring to the second part of my improvements which consists in forming the
front steering forks. F of a velocipede with their ends turning inwards instead of
cutwards as clearly shown at Figures 1 and 6 so that the centre f¹ in which the

page_text: axle of the front wheel is mounted shall always be behind the steering centre or
head of the fork by which means the vibration on the handle bar is greatly reduced
and the steering of the front wheel made much easier as its normal tendency is to
run straight with the back wheel and thus the strain upon the hands when steering
is very much less and the fatigue of riding greatly reduced.
What I claim then is :-
First. In a velocipede forming the front or steering wheel having an air
chamber, hub or nave with a pneumatic tyre secured to its periphery and having a
communication between the two in the manner and for the purpose substantially as
hereinbefore described and shewn at Figs. 1 & 2.
Second. Forming the centre portion of hubs or wheels of an hermetically sealed
air chamber with the axle and bearing passing through the centre of such chamber
and having a tube communicating between the ordinary pneumatic tyre and the
hub or central air chamber in the manner and for the purpose substantially as
hereinbefore described and shewn on the accompanying drawings by Figures 4
and 5.
Third. Forming and mounting the front forks of velocipedes in the manner
hereinbefore described so that the centre of the steering or front wheel is behind
the centre of the steering head and as shewn on the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 14th day of November 1896.
GEORGE BARKER,
77 Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.