US799786A - Cushion and pump for vehicles. - Google Patents

Description

No. 799,786. PATBNTED SEPT. 19, 1905.

W. S. PREEL.

CUSHION AND PUMP FOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 10, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED SEPT. 19, 1905.

W. S. FREEL. CUSHION AND PUMP FOR VEHICLES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.10,1905.

2 SHEETS-BHEET 2.

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UNITED STATES I PATENT orrron.

WILLIAM s, FREEL, or BAY CITY, MICHIGAN,

CUSHION AND PUIVIP FOR VEHICLES- Specification of" Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 19, 1905.

Application filed March 10, 1905. Serial No. 249,491.

This invention is designed in the preferred use thereof as a combined spring and pneumatic cushion readily adapted for supporting the seat of a bicycle or any vehicle, the invention being illustrated in connection with a wheel, however.

The invention not only resides in the construction of a device having the cushion function above mentioned, but in the provision of a structure which is extremely advantageous, in that it may be readily converted into a pump to supply air to a reservoir or the like.

In its application to a wheel or vehicle the device may be used to pump up pneumatic tires, and the same contemplates a peculiar assemblance of parts admitting of adjustment and manipulation for various purposes, as will appear more fully as the description proceeds.

For a full description of the invention and the merits thereof and also to acquire aknowledge of the details of construction of the means for effecting the result reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawings.

While the invention may be adapted to different forms and conditions by changes inthe structure and minor details without departing from the spirit or essential features thereof, still the preferred embodiment is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wheel or bicycle, showing the invention applied thereto. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view showing the cushion or pump device alone. Fig.

3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, the seat-post be-- ing depressed and the various parts shown in proper relative positions.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to in the'following description and indicated in all the views of the drawings by the same reference characters.

Generally speaking, the invention consists of a main barrel or cylinder 1, the lower end of which is closed by means of a plug 2. The plug 2 is provided with a threaded opening therein into which is threaded the lower portion of a fixed hollow piston-rod 3. Near the upper portion of the piston-rod 3 is disposed the piston 4, carried by said rod, and this piston 4 is located within an inner cylinder 5,

mounted for movement within the barrel 1. The inner cylinder 5 is closed at its upper end by a plug or similar part 6, threaded thereto, and the lower end of the cylinder 5 carries the piston 7, which operates within the bar.

rel l in the use of the invention. The piston 7 is secured to the lower end of the cylinder 5 in any suitable manner, and preferably a plug 8 is threaded into the said lower end of the cylinder 5, and the piston 7 is carried by an extension 9 of the plug 8, being threaded thereto.

The seat-post is indicated at 10,which post is of tubular form having a longitudinal opening 11 therethrough. The lower portion of the post 10 is provided with a shoulder 12 of,

approximately rectangular form, and a guide member 13, having a rectangular opening therein, is received upon the shoulder 12 of the post 10. Ends of the guide member 13 operate in guides formed by vertical slots or 10, as the said post moves up and down in the actual conditions of service to which it is subjected. The opening 11 in the seat-post 10 is threaded a short distance from the lower end of said post to receive the upper end of a piston-rod 15, which is also of tubular form and which telescopes in the fixed rod 3, which is 1 carried at the lower end portion of the barrel 1, as before described. The lower end of the piston-rod 15 is provided with a piston 16, which moves in the piston-rod 3. The lower end of the piston-rod 3 projects out of the barrel 1, and a valve 17 is disposed at the lower extremity of the rod 3, so as to govern ingress of air through a vertical port 18 at this point. The vertical port 18 is formed in the lower extremity of the piston-rod 3 and terminates at its upper end at lateral inletports 19. Just above the ports 19 a plug 20 is disposed, and said plug may connect sections of tubing which compose the rod 3. Between the plug 20 and the piston 16 is interposed a coil-spring 21, the normal expansive action of which is such as to tend to force the piston 16 upwardly. The piston 7 and the plug 8 are provided with smooth bores therethrough to admit of longitudinal movement of these parts within the barrel 1, the same being guided to a certain extent by means of the rigid piston-rod 3, which passes there- ,80 The guide member 13 is utilized to IIO through. The piston 4 is immovable, being rigid with the piston-rod 3. Other coil-springs are used in connection with the device, a spring 22 being interposed between the piston 7 and the lower plug 2 of the. barrel 1. other spring 23 is interposed between the plug 6 at the upper end of the cylinder 5 and the fixed piston 4, which is located therein. Still another spring 24 is located between the fixed piston 4 and the plug 8 at the lower end of the cylinder 5. The normal tension of the springs 22 and 23 tends to force the cylinder 5 toward the upper portion of the barrel 1.

The arrangement of the pistons, as above described, provides an air-chamber 25 at the lower portion of the barrel 1, a similar chamber 26 at the upper portion of the barrel and in the cylinder 5, and a third air-chamber 27, formed by the space between the piston 4 and the plug 8. The barrel 1 is closed at its upper end by a plug 28, having a central opening therethrough receiving the seat-post 10, which is adapted to slide in the plug 28 to afiord a cushion means for the seat which may be carried by said seat-post. The plug 28 may be square atits upper portion to admit of application of a wrench in screwing said plug into and out of the barrel, and between the plug 28 and the guide member 13 may be interposed a suitable packing ring or rings 29. A clamp-nut 30 is adapted to screw upon exterior threads at the upper extremity of the barrel 1 in order to firmly reinforce the barrel at this point in the customary manner. The nut 30 is prevented from accidental displacement by set-screws 31 or similar devices. By screwing the plug 28 into and out of the barrel 1 the tension of the springs 21, 22, and 23 may be increased or decreased, so that the device may be adjusted for persons of difi'erent weights, this being very advantageous for obvious reasons. The seat-post 10 is provided at its upper end with the usual cross-bar 32, which is hollow, having a longitudinal bore entirely therethrough, and this cross-bar 32 is attached to the seatpost 10 by a threaded securing member 33. The member 33 screws through the bar 32 and into the tubular portion of the seat-post 10, and this member 33 is tubular in order to admit of passage of air therethrough upon opening of a valve 34, carried by the outer and upper extremity of the same. The valve 34 is preferably guarded by means of a cap 35, having suitable perforations therein to admit of free ingress of air in the operation of the device. By the provision of the valves 17 and 34 it will be seen that air may be admitted to the barrel 1 at opposite ends thereof, and this air is utilized as a pneumatic cushion in accordance with the spring-device means to compensate for any jar or vibration and admit of ease and enjoyment in riding the vehicle to which the device may be applied. The piston-rod 15 is provided in its length with a plug 36, which is located at a point intermediate its below the piston 4, carried by said rod 3.

The rod 15 is provided with a second port 38 just above the piston 16, and this port 38 may register with another port 39 in the rod 3, said port 39 being situated a short distance above the plug 20.

In operation as the seat-post moves downwardly under the weight carried thereby the shock is received by the springs, which are disposed in the various positions before described. The downward movement of the seat-post carries the cylinder 5 downwardly as well as the pistons 7 and 16, and air in the chambers 25 and 26 is compressed. At a predetermined point in the downward movement of the parts in the operation above described the port 37 registers with the port 38 and the port 37 registers with the port 39. The air which is compressed in the chamber 25 passes into the tubular rod 15 upon registration of the parts 37 and 39 and thence out into the intermediate air-chamber 27, as the ports 37 and 38 are also in register. It will be noted that the air in the chamber 25 forms,

a cushion to receive the shoclr or downward movement of the seat-post 10, the several springs arranged in the positions mentioned above assisting in reduction of the vibration and shock aforesaid. The upward movement of the seat-post 10 is retarded by the compression of the air caused by the movement of the plug 8 toward the piston 4. As the seat-post moves upwardly the piston 7 creates a suction in chamber 25, which draws in air in the parts 18 and'19, and at the same time the relative movement of the plug 6 of the cylinder 5 away from the piston 4 will draw air into the chamber 26 through suitable ports 40, which are provided in the length of the rod 15 proximate and below the plug 6 aforementioned.

Under certain conditions it may be desirable to use air which is received in the device, which air is in quantity quite a little more than is necessary to give the requisite cushion to the seat and for supplying a reservoir or the like. In this instance one end of the cross-bar 32 has a tube 41 connected therewith, and a similar tube 41 extends from the bar 32 near its other end. Regulating-valves 42 of any approved type are disposed in the length of the tubes 41 near the bar 32, so as to be convenient for operation by the rider of the bicycle, if the device be applied to such means of conveyance. As shown most clearly in Fig. 1, one of the tubes 41 extends to a tubular axle-pin, upon which the rear wheel of the bicycle is mounted. From the hub of the wheel to the tire extends an airtube 43, and air may be pumped through the tubes 41 and 43, so as to keep the tire hard. In the same way the other of the tubes 41 exbicycle has ready access to the valves 42, so as to regulate the quantity of air which he desires to supply to the tires, and this can be pumped thereto as the bicycle is being ridden. A whistle 47 extends from the reservoir 44, being operated by the air contained in the reservoir at the will of the rider. The tires of the bicycle would have suitable valves to prevent back pressure, as will be obvious. The various advantages of the arrangement of the parts and operation are very apparent and are not, therefore, described in detail.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- 1. In combination, a main barrel or cylinder, a cylinder arranged in the said main barrel and having its ends closed, a fixed pistonrod in the main barrel, a piston carried by said piston-rod and operating in the inner cylinder above mentioned, a piston carried by the inner cylinder, a tubular post connected with the inner cylinder for operation thereof, and means for supplying air to the cylinders aforesaid.

2. In combination, a main barrel or cylinder, a cylinder arranged in the said main barrel and having its ends closed, a fixed pistonrod in the main barrel, a piston carried by said piston-rod and operating in the inner cylinder above mentioned, a piston carried by the inner cylinder, a tubular post connected with the inner cylinder for operation thereof, and valve inlet-ports let through the fixed piston-rod and the post aforesaid.

3. In combination, a main barrel, a cylinder in said barrel and movable longitudinally thereof, a fixed piston-rod 'in the main barrel, a piston carried by said piston-rod and operating in the inner cylinder, a piston carried by the inner cylinder and operating in the main barrel, a movable piston-rod passing through the inner cylinder, and a piston carried by said piston-rod.

4c. In combination, a main barrel, a cylinder in said barrel, a fixed piston-rod of tubular formation disposed in the main barrel and extending into the inner cylinder, a piston carried by the fixed piston-rod and operating in said inner cylinder, a piston carried by the inner cylinder, and a piston operating in the tubular portion of the fixed piston-rod.

5. In combination, a main barrel, a cylinder in said barrel, a fixed piston-rod of tubular formation disposed in the main barrel and extending into the inner cylinder, a piston carried by the fixed piston-rod and operating in said inner cylinder, a piston carried by the inner cylinder, a piston operating in the tu bular portion of the fixed piston-rod, and a piston-rod for actuating the last-mentioned piston and connected with the inner cylinder.

6. In combination, a main barrel, a cylinder in said. barrel, a fixed piston-rod of tubular formation disposed in the main barrel and extending into the inner cylinder, a piston carried by the fixed piston-rod and operating in said inner cylinder, a piston carried by the inner cylinder, a piston operating in the tubular portion of the fixed piston-rod, a movable piston-rod connected with the last-mentioned piston and extending through the inner cylinder, a seat-post connected with the movable piston-rod aforesaid, and means for supplying air at opposite ends of the main barrel.

7. In combination, a main barrel, a cylinder movable in said main barrel and closed at one end, a piston carried by said inner cylinder at its opposite end, a fixed piston-rod mounted in the main barrel and of tubular formation, a movable piston-rod, a piston carried by said movable piston-rod and operating in the tubular portion of the fixed piston-rod, a piston carried by the fixed piston-rod and operating in the inner cylinder, and. springs coacting with the pistons aforesaid.

8. In combination, a main barrel, a cylinder movable in said main barrel and closed at one end, a piston carried by said inner cylinder at its opposite end, a fixed piston-rod mounted in the main barrel and of tubular formation, a movable piston-rod, a piston carried by said movable piston-rod and operating in the tubular portion of the fixed piston-rod, a piston carried by the fixed piston-rod and operating in the cylinder, and springs coacting with the pistons aforesaid, the fixed and movable piston-rods having valve inlet-ports communieating therewith to admit air to the main barrel and the inner cylinder respectively.

9. In combination, a main barrel, a cylinder movable in said main barrel and closed at one end, a piston carried by said inner cylinder at its opposite end, a fixed piston-rod mounted in the main barrel and of tubular formation, a movable piston-rod, a piston carried by'said movable piston-rod and operating in the tubular portion of the fixed piston-rod, a piston carried by the fixed piston-rod and operating in the cylinder, and springs coacting with the pistons aforesaid, the fixed and movable piston-rods having valve inlet-ports communieating therewith to admit air to the main barrel and the inner cylinder respectively, the said movable and fixed piston-rods being provided with other ports adapted to be brought into register to admit air to the space between the piston carried by the fixed piston-rod and the adjacent end of the inner cylinder.

10. In combination, a main barrel, a cylinder movably mounted in said main barrel, a fixed piston-rod, a piston carried by said fixed ICC piston-rod and operating in the inner cylinder, a movable piston-rod connected with the inner cylinder, a piston carried by the movable piston-rod and cooperating with the fixed piston-rod, valve inlet-ports leading to the movable and fixed piston-rods to supply air.

to the inner cylinder and the main barrel, and means for actuating the movable piston-rod.

11. In combination, a main barrel, a cylinder movably mounted in said main barrel, a fixed piston-rod, a piston carried by said fixed piston-rod and operating in the inner cylinder, a movable piston-rod connected with the inner cylinder, a piston carried by the movable piston-rod and cooperating with the fixed WILLIAM S. FREEL.

Witnesses:

WM. J. MEAGHER, JOHN A. MCDONALD.

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