Improvements in or relating to Velocipedes and other Vehicles."
Year: 1896

page_text: "Improvements in or relating to Velocipedes and other Vehicles."
We, WILLIAM GEORGE NEWTON, 164 Balliam High Road Electrical Engineer, and
GEORGE LEWIS ROBLIN, 8 City Road, Merchant, both in the County of London, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to velocipedes and other vehicles and has for its object to
provide improved means for intercepting vibrations, and preventing shocks and jars
being conveyed to the rider from inequalities and roughnesses on the road surfaces.
According to our invention we interpose between the frame and the saddle or the
handle bar or both an air cushion which absorbs vibration in a very satisfactory
manner. Such air cushion does not form part of the saddle or handle bar but is
contained within the tubes forming the frame of the machine.
In order that the nature of our invention may be clearly understood we will proceed
to describe by way of example how we may carry the same into practical effect :=
In one pattern of frame used in the machines called safety bicycles the saddle
is supported upon a tubular L-pin or pillar the lower portion of which is received in
the diagonal tube forming part of the frame of the machine. In order to prevent
the vibrations transmitted to the machine from reaching the saddle we construct the
pillar of a smaller cross sectional area than usual so that instead of fitting the inside
of the diagonal tube a considerable aunular space shall exist between said tube and
pillar. The pillar slides through a gland which is suitably packed so that air can be
Frevented from entering the annular space surrounding said pillar within the tube
when desired, said tube and pillar being both stopped at their lower ends.
Surrounding the pillar within the tube at suitable distances apart we provide two or
more annular air cushions the interior spaces of which freely communicate with the
interior of the pillar. Suitable valves and pump connections are provided on the
pillar outside the tube and on the tube itself. The pillar is of course stopped at its
upper end to prevent air within the saine from escaping. When it is required to use
the machine we fill the annular space surrounding the pillar and the whole of the
interior of the diagonal tube with air under pressure by means of a pump through
the pump connections and valve, after this has been done air is pumped into the
pillar through its pump connection until the annular air cushions are distended and
completely fill the interior of the tube thus preventing leakage of air to the outside,
even if the gland through which the pillar passes be unscrewed or faulty. It will be
readily understood that under these conditions the movement of the seat pillar up
and down the diagonal tube is restrained by the annular air cushions and the air
under pressure within the diagonal tube outside the pillar at the same time the
transmission of vibrations to the saddle is obviated.
In applying our invention to the handle bar of a velocipede we place air cushions
between the downwardly extending tube which is secured at its upper part to the
transverse handle bar and the tube outside which is attached to the front fork. Said
outer tube is provided internally with longitudinal ridges or'fins, and the air cushions

page_text: occupy the entire space between said fins and the inner tube attached to the handle
bar. Air is pumped into these cushions through the handle bar tube in a similar
inanner as hereinabove described for the saddle pillar, the outer tube being previously
filled with air under pressure. By this construction the handle bar is supported on air,
at the same time a rotary movement of the handle bar will be properly transmitted
to the fork tube.
Although we have hereinabove described one method of carrying out our invention
we do not restrict ourselves to the precise details of construction indicated, as these
may be varied to suit the pattern of machine to which the invention is to be applied.
The application of our invention is not restricted to velocipedes since it may be
applied to other vehicles of similar character but which are not propelled by the feet
of the rider, auto-cars for example, and other vehicles of that class.
Dated this 24th day of December 1896
We, WILLIAM GEORGE NEWTON, 164 Balham High Road Electrical Engineer, and
GEORGE LEWIS ROBLIN, 8. City Road, Merchant, both in the County of London, 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.
Our invention relates to velocipedes and other vehicles and has for its object to
provide improved means for intercepting vibrations, and preventing shocks and jars
being conveyed to the rider from inequalities and roughness on the road surfaces.
According to our invention we interpose between the frame and the saddle or the
haudle bar or both an air cushion which absorbs vibration in a very satisfactory
manner. Such air cushion does not form part of the saddle or handle bar but is
contained within the tubesiforming the frame of the machine.
In order that the nature of our invention may be clearly understood we will
proceed to describe the same by way of example with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which,
Figure 1 is a vertical section shewing our invention applied to a saddle support
and
Figure 2 is a similar view shewing the same applied to a handle bar.
Figure 3 is a section on line 3-3 Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 1 illustrating a modification.
Referring to Figure 1 A is a tubular L-pin or pillar the lower portion of which
is received in a tube B forming part of the frame of the machine.
According to our invention the pillar has such a cross-sectional area that instead of
fitting the inside of the tube B a suitable annular space exists between the said tube
and pillar. The pillar slides through a gland C which is suitably packed so that air
can be prevented from entering the annular space surrounding the said pillar within
the tube B when desired, said tube and pillar being both stopped at their lower ends.
Surrounding the pillar A at suitable distances apart are a suitable number of annular 4
air cushions D which are secured by means of bands D¹ the interior of said cushions
connecting with the interior of the pillar A through suitable orifices A'.
E is an air valve to which a pump can be attached for pumping air into the

page_text: interior of the pillar and air cushions and F is another valve baving tubular
connections F leading to various parts of the tube B by means of which the spaces
between the air cushions D and below the pillar A may also be filled with air under
pressure. In the drawing the air cushions are constituted by a single tube which is
tightly compressed round the pillar by the bands or binding strips afore mentioned,
it will be understood however that separate sunular cushions may be provided
secured to the said pillar by any suitable means. The pillar is stopped at both ends
to prevent air from escaping.
When it is required to use the machine air is pumped into the pillar A through
the valve E until the cushions D are inflated and grip the pillar B, after which air is
pumped in through the valve F into the down 'tube of the machine (which is. made
airtight at the bottom bracket end) causing the spaces between the above mentioned
cushions to be filled with air and thereby helping to resist vibration; leakage of the
air from the tube B to the outside is also prevented even if the gland C be unscrewed
or faulty. It will be readily understood that under these conditions the movement
of the said pillar up and down the tube B is restrained by the air cushion D and the
air under pressure within the tube B and outside the pillar A, at the same time the
transmission of vibration to the saddle is obviated.
Referring now to Figures 2 and 3 which illustrate the application of our invention
to the handle bar of a velocipede G is a downwardly extending tube which is secured
at its upper end to the transverse handle bar (not shewn in drawing) and H is an
outside tube which is connected to the fork of the steering wheel. The tube H is
supported in the tube I which is a member of the frame in any suitable manner this
forming no part of our invention. The disposition of the annular air cushions is
similar to that herein above described, with reference to Figure 1, the air valve F
through which air is supplied to the interior of the tube H being however connected
to the tube F passing down the tube D as shewn,
In order that a movement of rotation imparted to the tube G by means of the
handle bar shall be properly transmitted to the tube H the latter tube is provided
internally with longitudinal ridges or fins H¹ three of which are shown in Figure 3
though a greater number than three may be employed if desired. The spaces between
these ridges will be filled by the air cushions when the latter are inflated. The
operation of this device is similar to that herein above described for the saddle
support.
In Figure 4 we shew a modification of the device illustrated in Figure 1 in which
the seat pillar A is composed of a series of tubes connected by the annular cushions D
instead of being a single tube. A similar construction is obviously applicable to the
support of the handle bar.
We find that in many cases we can dispense with the inflation of the outer tube and
spaces between the annular cushions with air under pressure in which case the
valve F and its appurtenances are not required. We have also in the drawing shewn
the use of three annular air cushions but it will be understood that a greater or less
number than this may be used if desired.
The application of our invention is not restricted to velocipedes since it may be
applied to other vehicles of similar character but which are not propelled by the
feet of the rider, such as our auto-cars for example and vehicles of that class.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
1. For preventing shocks and jare being transmitted from the frame of a vehicle
to the rider a device comprising one or more annular air cushions interposed between
the support. of the seat or of the steering handle and a tubular member of the frame
in which said support slides, substantially as described.
2. The improved devices for supporting the saddle or steering handle or other part
from the frame of a vehicle, constructed and operating substantially as described with
reference to Figure 1 or to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings,

page_text: 3. The means for elastically supporting the steering handle constructed as
described with reference to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 23rd day of September 1897.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.
Patent Agents for the Applicants
Of London, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham.
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.
Patent Agents for the Applicants
Of London, Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham.