Improvements in and connected with the Wheels of Cycles, Carriages, and other Vehicles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 1st Aug., 1894-Accepted, 27th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with the Wheels of Cycles,
Carriages, and other Vehicles.
I, JOHN BEALES of 103 Sloane Street, Moss Side, Manchester, Button
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as
follows:-
These improvements refer more particularly to the wheels of bicycles, tricycles,
safeties and other similar kinds of velocipedes and consist. essentially of a pneumatic,
cushion or elastic hub applied to such wheels with new or novel means of effecting
the driving of the wheels in a positive manner whilst allowing for the oscillations
or movements of the wheel axle.
In accordance with one modification of my invention I surround the wheel axle
with a rubber or other tube capable of being inflated and I enclose said tuberiand
axle within an annular casing sufficiently large to allow for the extension of the
tube when inflated and with each end formed with an opening to allow for the
introduction of the axle and tube. To this annular casing I affix the spokes of
the wheel.
Upon the ends of the axle affix a set of discs or flanges which lie against the
ends of the annular casing and cover up the openings therein, such flanges or discs
however being sufficiently free to be capable of sliding up or down. At one end
of the axle I form a square boss or enlargement or its equivalent and upon the end
of the annular casing aforesaid I affix or form two strips of metal one on either
side of the opening and with their nearest edges parallel with each other. Between
these two strips which form guides is a motali plate of elongated formation with its
central part cut away to permit the axle to pass through and to allow such plate
to move to and fro in the guiding strips. Within this cut away portion which is of
an elongated formation the square boss of the wheel axle fits and is capable of
sliding therein.
In this way I provide the wheel with a pneumatic hub with means for positively
driving the wheel and accommodating the varying positions of the wheel axle whilst
in motion, the wheel axle moving in the sliding plate and the sliding plate moving
between the two guiding strips on the end of the annular casing.
The openings in the ends of the annular chamber are sufficiently large to permit
of the movement of the axle, and the discs, or flanges which serve to cover such
openings also serve to give lateral or side stiffness to the wheel.
A similar positive driving action may be obtained by forming grooves or recesses
in the ends of the annular casing and in the discs or flanges on the axle, said
recesses being fitted with metal balls or bowls..
Instead of a pneumatic tube a cushion tube or springs may be employed inter-
posed between the annular casing and the axle. If desired the driving mechanism
may be applied to both ends of the axle and annular casing.
Dated this 31st do of: Ontober 1902

page_text: Improvements in and connected with the Wheels of Cycles,
Carriages, and other Vehioles.
I JOHN BEALES of 103 Sloane Street Moss Side Mauchester Button
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invection and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described' and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
These improvements refer more particularly to the wheels of bicycles, tricycles,
safeties and other similar kinds of velocipedes and consist essentially of a pneumatic,
cushion or elastic hub applied to such wheels with novel means for effecting the
driving of the wheels in a positive manner whilst allowing for the movements of
the axles.
And in order that my said invention shall be the more readily understood and
carried into practical effect I have hereunto annexed a sheet of drawings and will
How proceed to describe the same with the assistance of the various figures and
letters of reference marked thereon,
:
Fig. 1 is an exterior view and Fig. 2 a transverse section of my improved hub
as applied to the driven wheel of a safety bicycle.
Figs. 3 to 9 are detail views.
In accordance with my invention I employ a hollow thin metal casing or
hub (A) (seen separately in Fig. 3) to which the spokes (B) of the wheel are
attached, thus holding it centrally to the wheel rim.
Through this casing, which is open at both ends, the hollow axle or sleeve (C)
passes which carries a fixed flange (D) and plain boss (E) at one end and a screwed
boss (F) and loose or removable flange (G) at the opposite end.
Around this hollow axle (C) an india rubber air tube (H) in its exhausted
condition is placed, and the mouth piece or terminal for pumping up the tube is
passed through a hole at (1). On pumping up the tube (H) the same expands to
the position illustrated more clearly in Figs. 2 and 7 pressing agaiust the interior
of the casing (A) and holding the axle (C) centrally in such casing.
On the end of the casing (A) is a groove (J.) between a pair of projections (K), (K)
(see Figs. 3 and 4) into which fits a slide (M) (see Fig. 5) capable of sliding to and
fro in the directions of the arrows (L). In said slide (M) is an aperture or
opening (N) and into said opening a square flange or boss (0) on the axle (C) fits.
The opening (N) is elongated in a direction at right angles to the movement of the
slide (M).
The forks of the machine are connected to the solid axle (P) which passes
through the hollow axle (C). The chain wheel around which passes the chain
from the crank shaft is keyed or screwed to the, boss (E).
It will be obvious that the turning of the axle (C) will impart motion to the
wheel through the flange or boss (O), slide (M) and ribs (K). Any up and down
movements of the axle (C) taking place when the ribs (K) are horizontal will be
-accommodated by the flange (0) working in the slot (N): Any up and down move-
ments of the axle (C) taking place when the slot (N) is in a horizontal position
will be accommodated by the slide (M) working in the groove (J).
Diagonal movements will be accommodated by combined movements of the
Hange (O) and slide (M).
The openings (R) are sufficiently large to allow of the oscillations of depressions
of the axle (C), and sufficient space is left between the flanges (D) & (G) & the
casing (A) to allow of their sliding freely.
In this way I obtain a positive driving action whilst allowing for the oscillations
of the wheel axle under its pueumatic connection with the wheel.
To keep the slide (M) in the groove (J) and the flange (0) in opening (N) and

page_text: the axle (C) in proper relation to the casing (A) and to give the requisite side
stiffness.to the wheel, the flanges (D) and (G) are provided, the flange (D) being
rigidly connected to the axle and the flange (G) being screwed onto the boss (F).
This screwed flange (G) facilitates the introduction of the axle into the casing (A)
and regulates the amount of side stiffness. To fix the flange (G) after adjustment,
the flange boss (G!) is split at three or more points (see Fig. 8) and a collar (T) is
fitted onto it carrying a set screw (U) which when screwed in causes the split
portions to grip onto the boss (F).
As applied to the front wheel of a bicycle or other wheel not carrying a chain
wheel the boss (E) is omitted.
A similar positive driving action may be obtained by forming one or more sets of.
grooves or recesses in the sides of the casing (A) and in the flanges (D) and (G),
said recesses being fitted with a metal ball and arranged at right angles to each
other (see Fig. 9) to allow of the movements of the axle or wheel.
In lieu of the air tube (H) a "cushion" tube, or spiral or volute metallic springs
or other elastic medium may be employed. Said air tube if made of sufficient
thickness may form a cushion tyre itself in case of bursting.
If desired the driving mechanism may be applied to both ends of the axle (C).
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I wish it to be understood
that I am aware that a pneumatic or other elastic hub for cycles and the like
is not new and that I do not claim such hub broadly, but what I do claim and
desire to secure by Letters. Patent is :—
1st. In wheels for cycles, carriages and other vehicles the use of a pueumatic
tube or other elastic medium surrounding the axle and enclosed within a hollow
hub or casing and the mechanism bereinbefore described for driving said casing
and wheels from said axle substantially as and for the purposes set forth and
illustrated on the accompanying drawing.
2nd. In wheels for oycles, carriages and other vehicles the combination of the
casing (A), air tube (H) or its equivalent, axle (C) with flange (D), screwed
boss (F), and rectangular boss (O), (and with or without boss (E)), slide (M),
projections (K), (K), groove (J), and flange (G) with split boss (G) & carrying
collar (T) when mounted and operating substantially as and for the purposes
hereinbefore described and illustrated on the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 31st day of July 1894.
JOHN G. WILSON & Co.,
Agents.