Improvements in Wheels for Velocipedes, and in like Wheels.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Mar., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Nov., 1895-Accepted, 28th Dec., 1855
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wheels for Velocipedes, and in like Wheels.
I COUNT CHARLES DE ROSSETTI, of 22 Prince's Square, Bayswater, in the
County of London, Civil Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
These improvements are designed to produce a wheel strong, simple in con-
struction, efficient in use and elastic in its operation so that it serves to absorb and
neutralize the effect of concussions on the road.
The improved wheel consists in its main features of a larger diameter annulus
and a lesser diameter double annulus or frame supporting the axle the two annuli
or annulus and frame being connected together by india rubber connections or
connections rendered elastic by the intervention of india rubber, pneumatic pads,
or other elastic cushionings with various intermediary parts to facilitate and
control the operation of the members of the combination.
I will explain my invention by first describing more in detail one form of
construction thus, the axle, say of a safety bicycle driving wheel has secured upon
it by suitable screw connections the hub and two side plates forming the lesser
diameter portion of the wheel, or inner spokes to be elastically attached to the
outer or bearing annulus.
These inner spokes from the axle have secured across from each one to the other
of a pair, constituted by the opposite parts of the inner wheel, a stud or rod, which
stud forms a support for the india rubber loop or connection between it and a
corresponding stud, one of a series, on and connecting the sides of the outer part
wheel.
This outer part wheel is formed of two side plates, preferably openworked for
lightness and connected by suitably shaped cross plating forming boxes in which
are located the spring connections; these side plates are laced to the rim carrying
the tire by usual wire spokes or other suitable connections.
Around the studs supporting the spring connections from the lesser diameter
frame, the side plates of the larger part wheel are pierced, so as to give free play
to those studs in the elastic relative movements of the parts.
I sometimes lengthen the arms of the lesser wheel to near the periphery of the
larger wheel and connect them on each side said larger part to a circular part and
if desired pass across ties, through, and between the wire spokes of, the bearing
part thus forming a double circular frame or only one such circular frame may be
made use of. The blocks or loops of india rubber thus form elastic links or
connections between the two portions of the wheel and admit of movement of the
one portion relatively to the other.
Instead of the links between the studs being of india rubber as described they
may be of a ribbon form and of steel band, leather, cord or other suitable material
running over small pullies respectively mounted on the said studs and made
continuous. These bands are arranged so as to be pressed against between the
pullies by cushious of india rubber, pneumatic pads, or equivalent cushioning,
whereby an elastic resistance is secured.
The trailing wheels of the machines, or the wheels not driven, may be formed
with the projecting parts from the axle carrying the cross studs and on the studs
are mounted pullies of india rubber, wood or other suitable material and the
connection between this portion of the wheel and the road bearing part is afforded

page_text: by a circular bearing or journal for each of the pullies afforded by sectional blocks
of india rubber boxed in between the pierced plates forming the middle part of the
outer or larger annulus.
Ball bearings may be inserted in the journals or bearing surfaces of the parts.
Dated the 15th day of March 1895.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.
improvements in Wheels for Velocipedes, and in like Wheels.
I COUNT CHARLES DE ROSSETTI, of 100 Cambridge Street, Warwick Square,
formerly of 22 Prince's Square, Bayswater, in the County of London, Civil
Engineer 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:-
These improvements are designed to produce a wheel, strong, simple in con-
struction, efficient in use capable of utilizing the weight on the axle in aid of
progression and elastic in its operation so that it serves to absorb and neutralize
the effect of concussions on the road.
The improved wheel consists in its main features of a larger diameter annulus
and a lesser diameter double frame supporting the axle the annulus and frame being
connected together by india rubber connections or connections rendered elastic by
the intervention of india rubber, pneumatic pads, or other elastic cushionings with
various intermediary parts to facilitate and control the operation of the members of
the combination.
I will explain my invention by first describing more in detail one form of
construction.
The axle, say of a safety bicycle driving wheel, has secured upon it by suitable
screw connections the hub and two side plates. These form the inner portion of
the wheel which is to be elastically attached to the outer or bearing annulus. It is
evident that these plates need not be complete dises as a system of spokes rigidly
connected together and to the hub would serve the purpose.
These plates or system of spokes have secured across from one to the corre-
sponding points of the other, studs or rods, which form a support for the india
rubber loop or connection between it and a corresponding stud, one of a series on
and connecting the sides of the outer part wheel. The most advantageous number
of such connections is three which are of course distributed uniformly round the
circumference i.e. the spokes corresponding to them are at angles of 120° to each
other.
This outer part wheel is formed of two side plates, preferably openworked for
lightness and connected by suitably shaped cross plating forming boxes in which
are located the spring connections; these side plates are laced to the rim carrying
the tyre by usual wire spokes or other suitable connections.
Around the studs supporting the spring connections from the lesser diameter
frame, the side plates of the larger part wheel are pierced, so as to give free play
to studs in the elastic relative movements of the parts.
The blocks or loops of india rubber thus form elastic links or connections
between the two portions of the wheel and admit of vertical movement of the one
portion relatively to the other.
Instead of the links between the studs being of india rubber as described they
may be of a ribbon form and of steel band, leather, cord or other suitable material
running over small pullies (preferably with ball bearings) respectively mounted on
the said studs and made continuous. These bands are arranged so as to be pressed

page_text: Fagainst between the pullies by Cushions of nuta rubber, pueumatic pausy
equivalent cushioning, whereby an elastic resistance is secured.
The trailing wheels of the machine, or the wheels not driven, may be formed
with the projecting parts from the axle carrying the cross studs and on the studs
are mounted-pullies of india rubber, wood or other suitable material and the
connection between this portion of the wheel and the road bearing part is afforded
by a circular bearing or journal for each of the pullies afforded by sectional blocks
of india rubber boxed in between the pierced plates forming the middle part of the
outer or larger annulus.
11
Ball bearings may be inserted in the journals or bearing surfaces of the parts and
in other parts where désirable.
wa
24. +
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1.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS,
Fig. 1 shewe by side view a velocipede wheel constructed according to one form
of my improvements
Fig. 2 shows an edge view of the same, partly in section.
Fig. 3 shews a modified form of the improved wheel and
Figs. 4 and 5 shew'a detail by side view and edge view respectively.
Fig. 6 shews by side view, a velocipede wheel according to another modification.
Fig. shews'a verticals section of the same...
Fig. 8 is a sectional view showing the rubber cushions for use in the form shewn
in Figs 6 and 7
"F
Figs. 9 and 10 shew, by sectional view and side view respectively, ball bearings
between the inner and outer portions of the wheel.
Figs 11 and 12 shew further modifications of elastic cushions.
i.
In the modification shewn in Figs. 1 and 2, the outer wheel, which carries the axle.
ata, is composed of two parts 66, one part or half on each side of inner wheel or frame c
The frame c is formed with boxes or spaces to receive cushions d of india rubber:
or other suitable elastic material. The studs e connect the sides bb of the outer.
wheel and support the elastic cushions d; the latter being connected to the frame c
by means of bands or cords a passing around the cushions and over pins c? from the
frame C.
.....
The part of the cord or band a nearest 'the centre or axle of the wheel is guided
by the cross framing' which connects the sides of the frame c together and this
cross framing serves also to support the cashións d and consequently the load on the
axle whilst in an outward direction tlie cushions are not supported.
The spokes connect the frame c with the tim carrying the tire f which may
be of ordinary or usual description. The frame c is shewn with considérable
portions cut away for the sake of lightness, and the impulse in this modification is
effected by means of the arms of the outer wheel acting on the inner wheel by a
pulling action.
2-1.
1
In the improved wheel shewn in Fig. 3, 4 and 5 the adaptation of the elastic
.cushion is varied and the impulse is by a pushing action. The studs e are provided
with collars or tubes eof india 'rubber or like elastic material which rest upon
india rubber pads or cushions d somewhat in the form of the letter L, thus forming
an elastic connection. between the outer wheel 6 6, which carries the rider, and the
frame & which is carried by the rim and tire f
Figs. 6, 7 and 8 shew an adaptation of my improvements in which the bands or
tords d' are dispensed with..
.
The cushions d' are connected to the inner wheel, or frame c by means of the
studs e. The spokes 6 which in this instance form the outer part wheel on each
side of the frame c, are connected together from side to side, by the studs e which
also pass through the resilient cushions d. A portion of the frame c around each
stud eis cut away so as to allow the studs free play when the cushions are in action.
The spokes, which may be of ordinary or usual construction, connect the frame c
with the rim f which carries the tire. The sliding contact between the inner
14

page_text: .
and outer wheels may be reduced by the use of ball bearings, one form being shewn
by Figs. 9 and 10 by way of example.
Instead of the cushions being made of rubber as described the resilience may be
obtained by means of connections of ribbon form and of steel band, leather, cord or
other suitable material, made continuous or otherwise, running over small pullies.
upon the studs which connect the halves of the outer wheel
In the form shewn in Fig. 11 the band passes over sleeves or pullies upon the
studs é: Tlio band is pressed against by the cushions of india rubber thus
securing an elastic resistance
Another modification is shewn in Fig. 12 in which the ends of the band or cord.g
are connected to the inner annulus or frame c. The band is pressed into contact
with the pulley e¹ by means of a spring carried by the frame c. By these means;
an effective resilient connection is obtained between the inner wheel or frame and
the outer wheel which carries the rider, frame, and other parts.
The special object of my invention is the utilizing the load or weight carried by 1
the axle of the wheel by making it to serve during a part of the revolution in aid
of the movement of rotation while the effect of its resistance.during, the other part
is diminished.
This I claim to have effected by placing the weight in the manner herein
described.
To obtain this effect I arrange my wheel as follows: The load or weight borne
by the axle in place of being supported by rigid spokes connected to the outer
wheel is transferred to three or other suitable number of points in the inver
circumference of the larger, wheel. To each of these points give, in the
revolution of the wheel a' different value: in relation to the weight that it carries,
relatively to the larger wheel in such manner. that each describes on the inner
circumference of the larger wheel a complete cycle. going from zero to maximum
and from, maximum to zero. To prevent this cycle representing a half negative
value and a half positive value of, which the result would be zero, Lavail myself of,
the arrangement.herein. described...
.
The three arms (or their equivalents) which extend from the axle and determine
or form the points of support bear only upon the interior part of the annulus of the
larger wheel and not at all upon the outside thereof. From this simple disposition
I claim that it follows in the case. of three arms that during more than a quarter of
the whole revolution in the ascending portion one arm does not bear upon the
larger wheel with the equivalent of the weight it represents..
"
Consequently if we take the whole revolution of an arm that is to say the
360 degrees, which it, describes taking from its point at one time nearest to
the ground to its return there, the larger wheel during a quarter, or
90 degrees,
of the ascendant portion is not affected by the weight which theoretically it
represents whilst during the other quarter.it acts negatively or contrariwise to the..
motion, and that at length during the last half or descending portion it acts entirely
in the direction of the motion. If we take the sum of effects produced by the three
arms, we obtain the following result that during half, or nearly so, of the course the
weight acts entirely in the direction of the motion, and during the other half as
quarter, in equilibrium and in the last quarter of the revolution it is inactive and
does not affect the larger wheel..
F
In a word, by this arrangement I attain the effect of raising during one quarter
only of the rotation the weight of the rider it falling during the other half.
The elastic links serving to graduate the fall.
By this arrangement the weight, whilst it is fixed. relatively to the inner frame or
wheel is movable relatively to the larger circumference or wheel.
To deaden the shocks, increase the fall and graduate it, I employ in certain
cases elastic attachments.
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 Iam
.
7.J
1.-

page_text: aware that various constructions of wheels have been proposed wherein springs of
various kinds have been applied between the hubs and outer portions of wheels,.
between an inner part wheel and an outer part wheel in great variety, with the
object of obtaining elasticity between the parts of the wheels and thereby
preventing jar or vibration and I make no general claim to the application of
elastic connections between the points of suspension of the load in my wheel, but.
what I claim is :-
:
1. The construction or arrangement and combination of parts of a wheel of a
vehicle or other wheel having to support a load in like manner whereby the load.
borne by the axle of the vehicle is transferred at three or other suitable number of
points of support (preferably in the circumference of an inner wheel rigidly fixed
to the axle) to a corresponding number of points of support in the outer wheel,.
substantially as and for the purpose explained by the foregoing Specification and
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
2. The construction and use of parts of wheels so as to attain distribution of the
load and its utilization in promoting the rotation of the wheel, substantially as and.
for the purpose set forth.
WM. BROOKES & SON,
55 & 56 Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.