Improvements in or appertaining to Cycles or other Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd July, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 31st Mar., 189.-Accepted, 29th May. 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Cycles or other Vehicles.
I, JOHN RICHARD HEATH of the Gas Works, Etruria, Stoke on Trent in the
County of Stafford, Gas Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to form a cycle or other road vehicle in such a
manner that the frame or other support for the vehicle shall in great measure absorb
the vibration resulting from the movement of the vehicle on a road.
In carrying my invention into effect as applied to a bicycle, I form the ends of the
forks of the frame of annular shape, and inside these annular ends I provide an inflated
cushion or annular tube which surrounds a collar or sleeve on the axle. The result is
that in riding the vibration of the wheel is in large measure absorbed by the
pneumatic cushion before being communicated to the fork. If desired the axle may
be coupled to the annular ends of the fork by means of radius links, these links being
fixed at one end to the collar aforesaid or to the axle (in cases where the axle is
stationary) and at the other pivoted or otherwise jointed to the annular ends of the
fork. By this arrangement the axles are held stationary and absolutely prevented
from rotating should there be any tendency for them to do so. Furthermore the
radial links ensure lateral rigidity, while in no way interfering with the resilience of
the cushion. Means are provided for inflating the annular tube or cushion so that any
required pressure may be maintained. In the application of the invention to the
driving wheels of bicycles, motor vehicles or the like the radial links may extend from
the wheel axle to the crank axle of the vehicle, the link being jointed to the crank
axle, thus taking the place of the ordinary thrust or distance rod.
I have described my invention as applied to bicycles, but it will be understood that
it may be applied to tricycles, cabs, carriages, carts and other vehicles generally in
which it is desired to absorb vibration. In the case of cabs and carts the axle s
mounted within the pneumatic cushion or tube aforesaid, which is supported in any
suitable manner. It is quite optional whether the axles are fixed or rotatable with
the wheels, in the latter case the axles have their bearings in the collars aforesaid to
which the links are coupled.
Dated this 2nd day of July 1896
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Patent Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE
ECIFICATION.
Improvements in or appertaining to Cycles or other Vehicles.
I, JOHN RICHARD HEATH of the Gas Works Etruria, Stoke on Trent in the
County of Stafford, Gas 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 :-
This invention has for its object to form a cycle or other road vehicle in such a
Price 83

page_text: nanner that the frame or other support for the vehicle shall in great measure absorb
shocks and vibration resulting from the movement of the vehicle on a road.
In carrying my invention into effect as applied to a bicycle, I form the ends of the
forks of the frame of annular shape, and inside these annular ends I provide an
inflated cushion or annular tube which surrounds a collar or sleeve on the axle. The
result is that in riding, the vibration of the wheel is in large measure absorbed by
the pneumatic cushion before being communicated to the fork.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle fitted with my invention ;
Figure 2 a vertical section of the centre of the wheel and fork, in which on the
left hand side plates K are omitted;
Figure 3 a front view of part of the front fork and the bearing showing the
pneumatic device.
In these A is the fork, B the annular cushion formed of a ring C of rubber and
canvas, or other suitable material, having annular thickened edges D which fit in
between a groove in the sleeve or bearing E, and the annular incurved edge of the
two side plates or washers F. G is a nut screwing the mechanism tight up against.
the head H, by means of a thread on the axle I. J is an annular plate or rim at
the end of the fork A which surrounds the annular cushion B. The axle I is coupled
to the lug, L on the annular ends J of the fork by means of radius links or plates K.
on, each side of the bearing and pneumatic tube B, these links being fixed to the
axle I (in cases where the axle is stationary) and pivoted on the bolt. M, this bolt
forming a pivot for the links to work on. The lug forms a bearing for the bolt M.
By this arrangement the axle is held stationary and prevented from rotating should
there be any tendency for it to do so. NN are. two small bolts also holding the side'
plates together, and O the ordinary inflating device.
The mode of action is as follows,-
The fork with its annular rim J and the wheel P with its axle I being placed in
position as shown on the left hand side of Figure 2, but with the inner plate K
previously placed in position, the annular cushion is placed in position as shown, and
the outer plate K placed also in position and the nuts M, N and G screwed up.
When an upward shock is given to the wheel, the elastic cushion B gives a little and
the upper nut N of the side plates K rises a trifle above the fork. The resiliency of
the cushion however at once brings them back to their normal position, the side
plates K oscillating on the pivot M. Furthermore, the radial links ensure lateral
rigidity while in no way interfering with the resilience of the cushion. In the
application of the invention to the driving wheels of bicycles, motor vehicles or the
like, the radial links may extend from the wheel. axle to the crank axle of
the vehicle, the link. being jointed to. the crank axle, thus taking the place of the
ordinary thrust or distance rod, as will be seen by reference to Figure 1 in. which
the back stay A is attached to the annular rim J, the same as the front wheel, but
the side links or plates K are elongated by being provided with the arm T which is
pivoted to the bottom of the bracket of. the frame concentric with the driving axle S,
whereby vibration is absorbed by the cushion B instead of being transferred to the
framework. There may be no difference in length between the centre of the wheel
and the treadle axis, such difference being fatal to the proper working of the chain.
In some cases I may have an inner tube inside the pneumatic ring B so that in case
the latter is punctured, or there be a slight leakage round the edges, the cushioning
can still take place.
I have described my invention. as applied to bicycles, but it must be understood
that it may be applied to tricycles, cabs, carriages, carts and other vehicles generally
in. which it is desired to absorb vibration. In the case of cabs and carts, the axle is
mounted within the pneumatic cushion or tube aforesaid, which is supported in any
suitable manner. It is quite optional whether the axles be fixed or rotatable with the
wheels, in the latter case the axles have their bearing in the collars aforesaid to which
the links are coupled. Furthermore, although the pneumatic cushion is shown in the

page_text: drawings encircling the axle, it may in some cases be sufficient to provide the upper-
half only.
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 ;-
1. In cycles or other vehicles, the apparatus for taking off or deadening from the
frame strains or shocks caused by irregularities in the road, which consists in placing
between the frame and a bearing or sleeve on the axle, a pneumatic ring or cushion,
in combination with side plates or links mounted on the axle or sleeve at each side of
the cushion and pivoted at a point considerably beyond the axle centre, whereby when
an upward shock is given to the wheel, the cushion gives a little and the links
oscillate vertically while resisting lateral play of the cushion, substantially as
described.
2. In cycles, the apparatus for taking off or deadening from the frame strains or
shocks caused by irregularities in the road, which consists in forming an annular rim
at the end of the frame A and in placing between this frame and a bearing or sleeve
on the axle a pneumatic ring or cushion formed with swelled ends tightly fitting
between two annular grooved parts, in combination with side plates or links mounted
on the axle and pivoted at a certain distance from the axle by means of the pivots S
or M, substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. The arrangement of side piates or links K and annular termination of the
frame A pivoted to each other at a point considerably beyond the centre, substantially
as and for the purpose described.
4. A pneumatic buffer or cushion placed between the axle and the fork or frame of
the vehicle, in combination with an arrangement for holding the pneumatic buffer or
cushion in its place airtight so that it can be at once released by unscrewing the
nuts G, M and N and taking off their plate or link K, substantially as described.
5. The forming of a pneumatic buffer, consisting of an annular pneumatic ring.
having swelled edges firmly fixed between two grooved pieces screwed up.
Dated this 30th day of Marah 1807
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham, and London, Patent Agents..