Improvements in and connected with the Wheels of Buses, Cabs, Carts, Bicycles, or other Vehicles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 30th May, 1894-Accepted, 30th June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with the Wheels of Buses, Cabs,
Carts, Bicycles, or other Vehicles.
I HUGH WYLIE HORNE, of 6 Hanover Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, General
Engraver, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
This invention relates to Improvements in and connected with the Wheels of
Buses, Cabs, Carts, Bicycles, or other Vehicles, and has for its object to construct
the wheels on the pneumatic principle.
In order to carry out my invention I provide a series of cylinders and pistons,
each being fitted with an inlet valve of suitable construction. The cylinders are
carried on suitable bearings on the outside rim or tyre of the wheel, and the pistons
are attached to the spokes of the inside rim.
The modus operandi is as follows. On the wheel being turned the pistons
compress the air in the cylinders on that part of the tyre or rim bearing on the
ground, and on the wheel turning further round, that is to say on that part of the
tyre or rim leaving the ground, the pistons are withdrawn from the cylinders,
the valves at the same time opening inwards, thus allowing the pistons to be
withdrawn easily.
Dated this 30th day of August 1893.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with the Wheels of Buses, Cabs,
Carts, Bicycles, or other Vehicles.
I, HUGH WYLIE HORNE, of 6 Hanover Street, Edinburgh, Scotland, General
Engraver, 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 :-
My invention relates to Improvements in and connected with the Wheels of
Buses, Cabs, Carts, Bicycles or other Vehicles, and has for its object to construct
the wheels on the pneumatic principle.
In order to carry out my invention I provide a series of cylinders and pistons,
each being fitted with an inlet valve of suitable construction. The cylinders are
carried on suitable bearings on the outside rim or tyre of the wheel, and the pistons
are attached to the spokes or the inside rim.
The modus operandi is as follows:-On the wheel being turned the pistons
compress the air in the cylinders on that part of the tyre or rim bearing on the
ground, and on the wheel turning further round, that is to say on that part of the
tyre or rim leaving the ground, the pistons are withdrawn from the cylinders,
the valves at the same time opening inwards, thus allowing the pistons to be
withdrawn easily.
In order that my invention may be properly understood and readily carried
into effect I have hereunto appended three explanatory sheets of drawings in the
several figures of which corresponding parts are marked with the same letters of
reference

page_text: Figure 1 18 a transverse section party in elevation of a Wheel SHOWING
improvements as applied to a bicycle or other cycle.
Figure 2 is a similar view to Figure 1 showing a modified form of spoke or
extended piston rod, brazed, soldered or otherwise secured to a collar formed on or
in one part with the hub of the cycle.
Figure 3 is a side view showing the method of providing flexibility in the said
rod or spoke.
Figure 4 illustrates a method of attaching both cylinders and piston-rods or
spokes to the hub and tyre of the cycle by means of ball-and-socket joints.
Figures 5 and 6 are respectively side elevation and transverse section illustrating
my improvements applied to the wheels of a vehicle such as an omnibus, coach, or
analogous road machine.
In carrying my invention into practice any number of cylinders and pistons of
any suitable metal, say from 12 to 18 may be disposed around the circumference of
the wheel. The cylinders are marked A in the drawings and are pivotally
connected to the rim or tyre A' of the wheel, as shown in Figure 1, or they may
be connected by the ball-and-socket joint as shown in Figure 4, or in any other
convenient manner. Each cylinder A is provided with a piston B, having a valve
which may either be in the form of a butterfly valve or a cup-shaped washer C, or
any other suitable valve. The cylinders A may be provided simply with single
caps or covers a having air-holes formed around the top, as shown in Figures 1, 2,
and 4, but to ensure against dust or other matter getting into the cylinders to
disturb their proper working I have illustrated an arrangement in Figures 4ª
and 4 which serves very well to fulfil this end. Between the ordinary cap or
cover a (the tubular top part of which is screw-threaded to receive the additional
gland or cover a¹) is placed a washer of cloth or analogous fabric c, through the
texture of which air is admitted into the cylinder by a number of holes a² formed
in both covers a and a respectively. A leather washer d' forms a very good
packing and prevents dust getting through the hole in the gland or cover a¹
through which the piston-rod D works. Figure 4B shows more particularly the
air-holes a² in the cap or cover a'.
In lieu of the caps or covers a being formed with air-holes as before mentioned,
air may be led to the cylinders A through the piston-rods by making them tubular,
an example of which is shown at the aforementioned Figure 4^.
As illustrated in
this figure the piston B is provided with an annular groove in which are placed
hard metal balls b which after the manner of a cycle ball bearing serve to minimise
any undue friction of the movement of the piston within the cylinder. The said
pistons B are secured by screw thread and nuts d, or they may be shrunk, soldered
or brazed to the piston-rods D which constitute the spokes of the cycle; and the
cup-shaped pliable leather washer C may be secured by the screw thread and
nuts d to the ends of the piston-rods D. The upper or inner ends of the piston
rods D are pivotally connected to the hub E of the wheel as shown in Figure 1, or
rigidly fixed thereto as shown in Figures 2 and 3. In Figures 1 and 2 the usual
wire spokes F are shown as being also used, and their outer ends are there
represented as being secured to a ring F' provided with slots f through which the
piston-rods D are free to move with the pistons B in a lateral direction on the
wheel.
In the modification shown in Figures 2 and 3 the piston-rod D is made of some
hard metal such as steel, and having flat sides so as to yield with the lateral or
rocking movement of the cylinder and axial depression, and so accommodate itself
and the piston B, to which it is attached to the proper motion when the cycle is in
motion. The said piston-rod D may be shrunk soldered or brazed on the collar or
ringe of the hub E.
The alternative arrangement shown at Figure 4 illustrating the balls and sockets
marked D' and D' connect the piston rods Ď to the hub E (the use of wire spokes
being dispensed with) and the balls and sockets C¹ and C' which connect the

page_text: cylinder A to the tyre of the wheel illustrate a method of accomplishing the object
as last described and which will be readily understood.
As a further alternative arrangement wherein the ordinary wire spokes are
dispensed with and the method of placing the cylinders A at an angle similar to
that in the last named figure is adopted, instead of the ball and socket joints to
connect the said cylinders A to the tyre A¹ I pivotally connect them as shown at
Figure 7; while the upper ends of the piston-rods D are rigidly fixed to the hub
by soldering, brazing, shrinking, or by any other known means.
With reference to Figures 5 and 6 illustrating my improvements as applied to a
vehicle, the details of construction are as follows. The spokes G, which are formed
of wood or any suitable material, and may be made of the usual construction,
connect the inner tyre H to the hub. At suitable intervals around the inner
tyre H are pivoted the outer ends of the piston rods D. The inner tyre H if
made of wood may be strengthened by an iron hoop or ring. A suitable portion
of the tyre H is cut away to allow free lateral action of the piston-rod in the
cylinder A. The cylinders A as in Figure 1 are pivotally connected to the rim or
outer tyre A¹. The said tyres H and A¹ may be provided with plates or covers to
protect the cylinders from mud or dust.
In lieu of connecting the outer ends of the piston-rods D to the inner tyre H as
illustrated in Figure 8 the said piston-rods D may be so extended as to admit of
being fixed to the hub E' of the vehicle. This may be by the pivot g, cross-pin, or
the mechanical equivalent of the same.
In the normal condition of the wheel as hereinbefore described the pistons B
occupy a position midway within the cylinders A, and the air below each piston
acts as a pneumatic cushion which is more or less perfect according to the resistance
it offers to compression when the cycle is in motion. The amount of pneumatic
cushion is governed by the diameter of the pistons, also the length of cylinders;
each cylinder and piston performing its function in its proper order during the
revolution of the wheel.
The piston-rods with reference to Figures 1 and 4 may be made of steel tubes or
solid rods of that metal.
To provide against undue friction of the motion of the pistons B in the cylinders
they may be provided with an annular groove or recess in which may be placed
steel balls in the manner of a ball bearing.
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 :-
Constructing the wheels of buses, cabs, carts, bicycles and other vehicles
substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shown
on the accompanying sheets of drawings.
Dated this 29th day of May 1894.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Agents.