Improvements in Elastic Hubs for Cycle and other Wheels.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 24th Feb.,
1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Elastic Hubs for Cycle and other Wheels.
I, JOHANN THEODOR LÜBBEN, of Itherhoe, in the Empire of Germany,
Shipmaster, 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 elastic hub and it consists of a compressed air
chamber surrounding the hub and enclosed by a box to which the spokes of the wheel
or their equivalents are attached, the objects being first, to obviate the disadvantages
inherent to the use of pneumatic tyres, viz., the great liability of the tyre to become
punctured or injured, and secondly, to retain the elasticity, and in general all the
advantages of the pneumatic tyre over solid and cushion tyres, whilst at the same
time reducing the large tread or running surface which causes a considerable
amount of friction and suction on the ground, to the minimum tread of the ordinary
rubber tyres.
I attain this end by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawing in
which
Figure 1 is a view in transverse section taken diametrically through a cycle
wheel fitted with my invention.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
The hub a of the wheel has fitted on it an air chamber made of any suitable
material. This air chamber is surrounded by a protective box e stamped out of
light sheet metal. This protective box c has a hole or opening formed in it for the
passage of the inlet tube or valve of the air chamber. The box c has at both sides
central openings for the passage of the hub of the wheel, which openings are
suitably stiffened at their edges by means of rings such as d. To these rings are
attached or connected either a series of spokes, or preferably, circular plates or
discs such as e of light sheet metal. These discs are fastened laterally at their
peripheries to the wheel rim f in which an ordinary solid or cushion tyre is fitted.
The air chamber 6 fits everywhere close up against the hub a, and is closed externally
at both sides by means of discs g of rubber or other suitable material.
The jolts caused by riding over an uneven road are thus transmitted to the air
cushion at the centre of the wheel which absorbs them. The great friction and
suction of the wide tread of the pneumatic tyre on the ground is reduced to the
minimum amount of the friction of an ordinary tyre, whilst the advantages of the
pneumatic tyre as regards elasticity are not only completely retained by means of
the central compressed air chamber but are even exceeded. The employment
of discs in place of spokes produces furthermore less resistance to the air and if
such discs are made of aluminium no objection arises from an increase of weight.
I wish it to be particularly understood that I do not limit myself to the precise
details of construction hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawing but that I hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations as
fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.
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 =
An elastic hub for cycle and other wheels, consisting essentially of a compressed
air chamber such as b surrounding the hub a of the wheel, and of a protective box

page_text: such as c surrounding the air chamber and adapted to carry the spokes of the wheel
or their equivalents, all combined, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as
herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 24th day of January 1894
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent.