Improvements in or relating to Road Vehicles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 7th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left. 21st N.v., 1394-Accepted, 12th Jan., 1895
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Road Vehicles.
A communication from HENRI FARJAS, of 12 Boulevard Bonne Nouvelle, Paris,
in the Republic of France, Engineer.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of London,
Chartered Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to an improved axle designed
1st To deaden in all vehicles the vibration and shocks due to obstacles encountered
on roadways; and
2. To diminish the effort necessary to overcome the inertia of the vehicle at
starting as well as traction during motion.
In principle this improved axle permits changes of position in the body of the
vehicle in relation to the wheels, so that the mass to be set in motion is, so to say,
divided, and when the body of the vehicle has once been set in motion it, in its
turn, draws the wheels along with it.
The axle when it is intended for use with a suspended vehicle, is provided on its
upper horizontal surface with lugs of the ordinary kind to carry the body. The
axle is bent at right angles, at each end, vertically downwards, and then again
inwards, to form boxes in which may rotate journals hereinafter called "box
journals."
Each journal forms part of a kind of crank terminating at its upper end in a
second journal hereinafter termed a "wheel journal," on which the wheel is
mounted.
Each box may be arranged at the outside i.e., on the side of the wheel, by making
it in one piece with the crank.
With this arrangement, the following shows what will happen, for instance, at
starting. The carriage-body and the axle will be drawn forward, while the part of
the axle forming the crank will be inclined and cause the journals to rotate, one in
the axle-box of the wheel itselt and the other in the box of the crank of the axle.
In other words, the axis of the "wheel journal" remains always at the same
distance from the ground, i.e., at a distance equal to the radius of the wheel, while
the axis of the "box journal" describes an are of a circle of which the centre is in
line with the axis of the road wheel.
The result of this displacement is, in every case, and under all circumstances,
to raise the "box journal" and consequently the axle and the carriage-body by a
distance equal to the versed-sine of the are described (i.e., the height of the segment
described).
During this time, the wheels have remained motionless; but when the body of
the vehicle has advanced a little, it at once draws the wheels in its turn, and
subsequently the whole vehicle continues to progress in the ordinary manner of
vehicles of the usual construction.
The weight of the carriage-body naturally tends to restore the crank arms to the
vertical position. If it be now supposed that the vehicle in motion runs over a
small obstacle, such, for instance, as a stone, the wheels only will be affected
thereby, i.e., that the vehicle will continue to progress while the wheels, losing a
little of their vis viva, will compel the crank arms to assume an inclined position.
Thus, as the wheels are independent of each other the effect will be limited to
the wheel which has encountered the obstacle.
.

page_text: The improved axle is equally applicable to velocipedes and cycles of all kinds as
to ordinary vehicles, producing the same effects and fulfilling the same purposes,
for which purpose as applied say to a safety bicycle the before described crank arms
are secured on the ends of the wheel-axles; in such manner as to form, each such device
a perfectly rigid whole, unalterable in form. Each crank-arm carries at its lower end
a ball-bearing box forming one piece with it, and designed to receive the "box
journal" permanently secured, either to the frame of the bicycle, for the driving
wheel, or to the fork of the steering post, for the front-wheel.
The frame and the fork of the velocipede will thus be suspended from the axles
of the wheels by movable cranks exactly as in the type of axle before described
in relation to ordinary vehicles, and the effect obtained during motion whether at
starting or on encountering any obstacle in the roadway, will be identically the
same; that is to say, the body of the machine will begin to advance while the crank-
arms assume an inclined position, at the same time causing the rotation on the one
hand of the wheel axles whereof they form part, in the hubs of the wheels, and on
the other hand themselves turning by means of their ball-bearings round the fixed
journals carried in the forks.
The wheel axles will thus remain always at a distance from the ground equal to
the wheel-radius, while each box journal" will describe an arc of a circle, so that
the body of the velocipede will thus be raised by a distance equivalent to the versed
sine of the arc (i.e., the height of the segment) described.
The axle of the driving wheel cannot, under this improved arrangement, be
secured directly to the frame as now practised, wherefore it is necessary to intro-
duce certain modifications in the chain driving-gear between the pedals and the
driving wheel.
To this end the ball-bearing of one of the crank-arms carries two chain wheels
which are rigidly fixed and connected together whereof the former drives by a
pitch-chain the chain wheel secured to the hub of the driving wheel, while the
other is driven by a pitch-chain from the chain wheel on the pedal-shaft.
In this manner the motion is transmitted from the pedals to the driving wheel,
without in any manner interfering with the angular movement of the oscillating
suspensory crank-arms.
There may however be substituted a simple train gear or other means of
transmission for the pitch-chain and chain wheels.
It is evident that the before described arrangements for securing the suspensory
crank-arms to the frame and fork of the machine are only given here by way of
example, and that consequently the invention is not limited to any particular
method or combination of inounting which may be varied indefinitely.
Dated this 7th day of May 1894
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
London, Nottingham, Liverpool, Manchester,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Road Vehicles.
A communication from HENRI FARJAS, of 42 Boulevard Bonne Nouvelle, Paris,
in the Republic of France, Engineer.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Chartered Patent Agent, 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 improved axle designed
1. To deaden in all vehicles the vibration and shocks due to obstacles encountered
on roadways: and

page_text: 2. To diminish the effort necessary to overcome the inertia of the vehicle at
starting as well as traction during motion.
In principle this improved axle permits changes of position in the body of the
vehicle in relation to the wheels, so that the mass to be set in motion is so to say,
divided, and when the body of the vehicle has once been set in motion it, in its
turn, draws the wheels along with it.
In the accompanying drawings;-
-
Figure 1 is an elevation of an axle according to this invention, for any vehicle,
whether with 2, 3 or more wheels showing on the left-hand side a journal for oil-
lubrication, and at the other a journal for grease-lubrication, in order to illustrate
that either system of lubrication without distinction may be used with the improved
axle.
Figure 2 is an end view of the improved axle.
Figure 3 is a modification of the same with a box located on the wheel side.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of a safety bicycle fitted with the improved axles.
Figure 5 is a view partly in vertical section and partly in elevation showing the
axle of the driving wheel on an enlarged scale.
Figure 6 is a similar view showing the axle of the front or steering wheel.
As will be seen in Figure 1, the axle a, when it is intended for use with a
suspended vehicle, is provided on its upper horizontal surface with lugs b of the
ordinary kind to carry the body. The axle is bent at right angles, at each end,
vertically downwards, and then again inwards, to form boxes c in which may pivot
journals d.
Each journal d forms part of a kind of crank e terminating at its upper end in a
second journal d' on which the wheel is mounted.
In Figure 3 the inventor has shown how the box c may be arranged at the
outside i.e. on the side of the wheel, by making it in one piece with the crank e.
With this arrangement the following shows what will happen, for instance, at
starting. The carriage-body and the axle, a will be drawn forward while the
part of the axle forming the crank will be inclined and cause the journals d d¹ to
rotate, the latter d' in the axle-box or hub of the wheel itself, and the former (d).
in the box c of the crank of the axle.
In other words, the axis of the journal d' remains always at the same distance
from the ground, i.e. at a distance equal to the radius of the wheel, while the axis
of the journal d describes an arc of a circle of which the centre is in line with
the axis of d' (Figure 2).
The result of this displacement is in every case, and under all circumstances, to
raise the journal d and consequently the axle a and the carriage body by a distance
equal to the versed-sine of the arc described (i.e. the height of the segment
described).
During this time, the wheels have remained motionless; but when the body of
the vehicle has advanced a little, it at once draws the wheels in its turn, and subse-
quently the whole vehicle continues to progress in the ordinary manner of vehicles
of the usual construction.
The weight of the carriage-body naturally tends to restore the crank arms e to
the vertical position.
If it now be supposed that the vehicle in motion runs over a small obstacle such
for instance as a stone, the wheels only will be affected thereby i.e. that the vehicle
will continue to progress while the wheels, losing a little of their vis viva, will
compel the crank arms e to assume an inclined position.
Thus, as the wheels are independent of each other the effect will be limited to
the wheel which has encountered the obstacle.
As shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings the improved
axle is equally applicable to velocipedes and cycles of all kinds as to ordinary
vehicles, producing the same effects and fulfilling the same purposes.
In order to attain this result the before-described crank arms are secured on the

page_text: ends of the wheel axles a in such manner as to form each such device into a
perfectly rigid whole, unalterable in form.
Each crank arm e carries at its lower end a ball-bearing box c forming one piece
with it, and designed to receive the journal or axle d permanently secured either to
the frame M of the bicycle for the driving wheel or to the fork F of the steering
post for the front wheel.
The frame and the fork of the velocipede will thus be suspended from the axles
of the wheels by movable cranks exactly as in the type of axle shown in
Figures 12 and 3 in relation to ordinary vehicles, and the effect obtained during
motion whether at starting, or on encountering any obstacle in the roadway, will be
identically the same; that is to say the body of the machine will begin to advance
while the crank arms e assume an inclined position, at the same time causing the rota-
tion on the one hand of the wheel axles a whereof they form part in the hubs of the
wheels and on the other hand themselves turning by means of their ball-bearings c
round the fixed journals or axles d.
The wheel axles a will thus remain always at a distance from the ground equal
to the wheel-radius while each journal d will describe an arc of a circle so that the
body of the velocipede will thus be raised by a distance equivalent to the versed
sine of the arc (ie. the height of the segment) described.
The axle of the driving wheel cannot under this improved arrangement be
secured directly to the frame as now practised wherefore it is necessary to intro-
dúce certain modifications in the chain driving gear between the pedals and the
driving wheel.
To this end the ball bearing box c' of one of the crank-arms e (the right hand one in
Figure 5) carries two chain wheels and r¹ which are rigidly fixed and connected
together whereof the wheel drives by a pitch chain the chain wheel g secured to
the hub of the driving wheel while the other is driven by a pitch chain from the
chain wheel on the pedal-shaft.
In this manner the motion is transmitted from the pedals to the driving wheel
without in any manner interfering with the angular movement of the oscillating
suspensory crank-arms.
There may however be substituted a simple train-gear or other means of
transmission, for the pitch chain and the chain wheels
and r.
It is evident that the before described arrangements for securing the suspensory
crank arms to the frame and fork of the machine are only given here by way of
example, and that consequently the invention is not limited to any particular
method or combination of mounting, which may be varied indefinitely.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is;-
1. Suspending the road wheels of a vehicle on movable crank arms substantially
as and for the purpose described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the
accompanying drawings.
2. In a road vehicle a main axle bent downwards at its ends to form arms a¹
terminating at their lower ends in boxes c which receive the journals d each
forming part of a suspensory crank e carrying at its upper end a journal d' on which
the road wheel rotates the said arrangement ensuring for each wheel an independent
suspensory joint apart from its fellow wheel in such manner that the particular
wheel which receives a shock or experiences a brief period of stoppage only causes
its own crank-arm to assume an inclined position and does not transmit the vibra-
tion to either the axle the other wheel or the carriage-body substantially as
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
3. In a road vehicle the modification shown in Figure 3 in which the box c is
laced on the lower extremity of the crank arm e substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 4. The combination with a velocipede of an axle substantially as described for
deadening vibration and shocks the suspensory crank arms e being jointed at their
lower ends to the steering fork in the case of the front or steering wheel and to the
frame of the machine in the case of the driving or hind wheel and being secured
at the upper ends to the axles of the road wheels in such manner as to form
integral parts thereof which undergo an angular displacement whereby the vis
inertia is overcome at starting and the shocks received by the wheels are deadened
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of November 1894.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.