US689969A - Cycle. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Dec. 3|, I901; C. L. HORACK.

CYCLE.

(Applicatlun filed 1390.4, 1900.

3 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Modal.)-

IIVVEA/TOB. m 987% MTNESJE Nu. 689,969. Patented Dec. 3|, l90l.

C. L. HORAGK.

GYYOLE.

(Application filed Dan. 4. 1800.)

(No Model.) I 3 Sheets$haet 2.

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m w m P e D d e t n e t a BI K Pu A R 0 H L .u 9 6 w g 8 6 n N CYCLE.

(Ayphcation filed Dec. 4, 1900.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

INVENTOR.

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UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES L. IIORACK, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CYCLE.

SPEGZFIGTFTION forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 689,969, dated December 31, 1901.

Application filed December 4, 1900. Serial No. 38,632. (No model- To all whom, 25 may concern:

Be it known that 1, CHARLES L. HORACK, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of New York, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Cycles, of which the following is a specification.

My invention refers to vehicles of various kinds, and more particularly to such as bicycles and tricycles which may be propelled by the person seated or mounted thereon or by any suitable motor, thus including automobiles.

As all the improvements invented by me are especially applicable to cycles and as theirconstruction and operation can be illustrated and explained in connection with cycles, I will in the following specification and in the drawings accompanying the same make reference particularly to cycles,without, however, limiting my invention and its application to this particular class of vehicles.

The objects of my invention are to provide means for neutralizing or reducing the shocks imparted to a cycle owing to the roughness of roads and its meeting with obstructions in general and to protect the rider against such shocks and reactions therefrom; also, to provide suitable means for regulating and adjusting the action of cushioning means employed for such purpose. I accomplish these and other useful objects by the means hereinafter described, and set forth more particularly in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings,forming part of this specification, and wherein like characters of reference refer to corresponding parts, Figure l is a side elevation of a bicycle constructed according to my invention, some portions being broken away, while Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section, and Fig. 3 a rear view, of a device for regulating the cushioning of the rear wheel with reference to the seatframe. Fig. 4isasection along one-half of the rear-Wheel axle. Fig. 5 is a section along line 8 8 in Fig. 2 looking toward the right; Fig. 6, a vertical section of the device for supporting springs upon which the rear-wheel frame is cushioned, and Fig. 7 a section along line 10 in Fig.6. Fig. 8 is a vertical section of a detail of said cushioning device. Fig. 9 is a side elevation, partly in section, of the rear portion of a cycle and comprising modified cushioning means constructed according to my invention and attached to a different form of a sectional frame.

Figs. 2, 3, 5, 6, and 7 are drawn to a scale about eight times as large as that of Figs. 1 and 9, While Fig. 4 is drawn to about four times the scale of said Figs. 1 and 9, the scale of Fig. 8 being about sixteen times as large as that of Figs. 1 and 9.

Referring first to Figs. 1 to 8, inclusive, 21 is the upper main tube of the cycle-frame; 22, the lower main tube; 23, the diagonalor down tube; 24, the saddle-pillar; 25, the saddle; 26, the steering-head; 27, the handle-bars; 28, the handle-bar stem; 29, the cran'k'shaft; 30, the pedal-bars, with their pedals; 31, tl1e upper rear fork; 32, the lower rear fork; 33, the front fork; 34, the pilotnvheel, and the drivingwheel.

36 is the axle of the driving-wheel, mounted within a shell 37, which contains the ballbearings and serves as hub of the wheel in usual manner.

38 is an auxiliary upper rear fork, preferably hinged to the seat-section of the frame by pin 39, which pin also secures fork 31 to said seat-section. To the lower ends of fork 38 axle 36 is secured in usual manner, while said axle is adapted to travel within curving slots 40 in the lower ends of fork 31. To permit of such up-and-down travel of the wheel with reference to the main cycle-frame, the following cushioning means are provided within the stem of fork 38, so as to form part thereof.

The upper end of the stem of fork 38 comprises a hollow rod 42, to the lower end of which a piston 43 is attached, which travels within a cylinder 44. 45 is a stem rigidly attached to the bottom of said cylinder and terminating in a hexagon 46. 47 is a clutch in engagement with said hexagon, and to said clutch the lower portion of fork 33 is rigidly attached.

48 represents two lugs extending rearward from diagonal tube 23. The same carry the fulcrum 49 of a lever 50. The portion of said lever rearward from point 50' is forked, so as to have its rear slotted ends engage with two trunnions 51, placed on each side of stem 45. The forward part of said lever extends into the interior of tube 23 through a slot 52, which runs upward to the end of said tube.

53 and 54 are two spiral springs within tube 23, 53 surrounding 54 and extending farther upward than said spring 54. The support for the lower ends of both springs comprises a coarse screw 55, fixedly secured to tube 23 or to the fitting at the lower end of said tube, and a cap-56, adapted to be screwed upward IO and downward along 55. On the top of said cap a groove is provided in which travel balls 57, upon which rests a disk 58, forming the immediate support of said springs.

59 59 are studs placed at slight intervals I5 along and around cap 56 for the purpose of taking hold of the same by means of a key a, and thereby revolving said cap, and thus changing the elevation of disk58, and consequently varying the tensions of springs 53 and 54 as may be desired. 1) is a port in the side of tube 23, through which said key may be inserted, and c a cap kept screwed over said port after such tensions have been adjusted. Said cap has a recess for receiving the end of the stem of key a while the same is in engagement with the stud 59 directly opposite said recess. Thus said key is utilized in locking parts 55 and 56 in their proper relative positions, and thereby maintaining the adjustments of the springs. The employment of balls 57, as described, greatly facilitates the adjustment of the springs by neutralizing the otherwise greatfrietion between cap 56 and disk 58, which as said diskis being 5 revolved would in the absence of the ball-bearings tend to likewise revolve said cap and to thereby torsion the springs resting upon said cap. When the rear wheel strikes an obstruction, its axle will thereby be forced upward 0 within slot40, and in consequence trunnions 51 and the rear end of lever will be forced upward and the forward end ofsaid lever will be forced downward, this movement being yieldingly resisted by springs 53 and 54. It 5 is important to be able to successively bring saidisprings into action, so that when a slight shock occurs onl one spring receives the same and reacts under it, thus securing under those conditions a lively play of said 50 spring, while under a heavy shock both springs are brought into action, and thereby excessive up-aud-down movements are guarded against.

For the purpose of regulating the extent to which spring 53 may be compressed before spring 54 is actuated I employ the following means: I so adjust the lengths of the two springs that spring 53 will normally extend above spring 54 when neither of them is under compression. 60 is an enlargement of the forward end of lever 50, through which passes a screw 61, (shown in Fig. 2 to be partly broken away for the purpose of exposing other parts,) which screw at its lower end has a hook or an eye 62, engaging with eye 63, whichis elongated toward the front of the cycle at the top of a stud 64, said eye having alower shoulder, which is adapted to engage with the top of spring 54. 65 is a disk resting on spring 53 and having a central perforation through which screw 61 passes freely. The forward end of lever 50 is also provided with two short prongs 66, extending downward therefrom one toward the right and the other toward the 'left, so as to come to rest upon and be normallyin contact with disk 65. As the forward end of the lever moves downward spring 53 alone will be compressed until eye 63 comes to rest upon spring 54 and begins to compress the same. By raising or lowering screw 61 the extent of the compression of spring 53 before compres sion of spring 54 takes place can therefore be regulated. In Fig. 2 the position of the lever corresponds with that of extreme compression of both of the springs. When the arm of the lever nearest to said springs moves up ward, it will ultimately carry eye 63 away from spring 54, so as to clear the latter and relieve the same of compression, while spring 53 continues under compression. It is desirable to give to spring 53 a normal initial com pression while the lever is in its normal posi tion, which compression would force the for ward end of said lever still higher if not resisted by wheel 35. This extra tension will as the rider mounts the bicycle, but before also lowering the forward end of the lever.

Such lowering of the fulcrum may be accomplished by the following means: Axle or fulcrum 49 is mounted upon a bearing 67, inserted, movable, and guided between the two rear arms of lever 50. Its upper and lower surfaces are provided with depressions into which fit set-screws 68, passing through and in engagement with cross connections 69 on lugs 48. Thus by proper adjustments of the screws theelevation offulcrum 49, and thereby the tension of spring 53, may be adjusted, particularly also with reference to the different Weights of different riders, and after that the extent'of its compression prior to actuating spring 54 may be adjusted as above'described.

S is an auxiliary spring placed underneath the piston.

In order to avoid the disagreeable churning motion caused by free alternate compression and rexpansion or reaction of springs serving as cushioning means between the saddle and the driving-wheel, I employ the following means for retarding the action of springs 53 and 54 during their rexpansion:

Piston 43 I construct, preferably, as a cup 70, made of leather or the like and having an upward-extending flange 71, and metal disks and nuts screwed into the piston-rod above and below it to properly hold it in position. The metal disk 72 is of sufficient outer diameter to maintain flange 71 in contact with the wall of cylinder 44. As ordinarily I prefer to have the piston move down without meeting with resistance except that due to springs 53 and 54 and the increased difierential fluidpressure on the piston produced by the reduction of the fluid-space within the cylinder due to the inward movement of the pistonrod and to unavoidable'friction in the appa ratus, while its upward movement is to be retarded, the arrangement of cup with flange 71 turned upward, as described, favors my purpose, because owing to its construction the piston in moving downward will meet with less friction than when moving upward.

73 is a by-pass around the piston, leading from the bottom to the top of the cylinder. In its lower portion I insert a check-valve 74, opening upward and normally forced downward and against its seat by a spiral spring 75, resting against a plug 76, having perforations 77 and screwed to the walls of said bypass.

78 is a smaller check-valve, adapted to open downward and seated upon the under side of valve 74, which is perforated at that point.

79 is a spiral spring for forcing valve 78 t0- ward its seat. Nhen particularly free upward movement of said valve is desired, spring 79 may be omitted. 80 is a shank extending upward from said valve through valve 74 and into plug 76 and carryinga screwnut 81, which by being raised or lowered along said shank will permit of more or less extreme opening of valve 78. The upper end of said shank is permitted to play within a channel 82 in plug 76, a screw 83 therein serving as an adjustable stop for said shank, whereby the extreme extent of the upward movement of valve 74 may be adjusted.

84 is a screw-plug for closing the interior of the by-pass against the atmosphere.

85 is a plug screwed into the lower end of piston-rod 42, so as to create within the same an air-chamber. S6 .is a check-valve seated thereon opening upward and provided with an adjustable stop in the form of a screw-nut 87 to limit its upward movement. 88 is an independent passage in said plug, a screwpin 89 with pointed head serving to partly or wholly close said opening, as may be desired.

Assuming the cylinder and-by-pass to be free of liquid and that no other connectingpassage exists between the interior of the cylinder and the by-pass except the ends of the latter near the ends of the cylinder, it will be seen that when a shock is imparted to the rear wheel, and cylinder 44 is thereby forced upward and springs 53 54 are compressed in consequence, valves 74 and 86 will move upward after .the air has been sufficiently compressed underneath the piston,thereby allowing substantially free flow of air from there upward into the spaces above said valves. IVhen reaction takes place, said check-valves will move downward and return flow of air can then only occur through the passages restricted by valve 78 and screw-pin S9, and it will be seen that owing to the adjustments provided with reference thereto this flow may be retarded as may be desired, whereby not only a partial vacuum will be caused to be formed and may be maintained for a greater or shorter period underneath the piston, but also a cushion of compressed air above the same for the purpose of retarding its upward movement,due to the action of springs 53 and 54,until gradual equalization of said air pressures has taken place.

While, generally speaking, I prefer to permit perfectly free upward flow of air through by-pass 73 and plug 85, it will be seen that in case springs 53 54 act too freely a check may be provided in that respect by so limiting the extreme upward movements of valves 74 and 86 as to restrict in a measure the up ward flow through the same. Springs 79, resisting the opening of valve 78, will as cylinder 44 begins to move downward confine between the upper surface of the piston and valve 74 all the air forming the air-cushion there which resists such downward movement longer than would otherwise be the case, and thereby and by longer maintaining a more efficient vacuum underneath the piston will assist in retarding reaction of springs 53 and 54. It will readilybe seen that a spring and adjustments to control the movement of valve 86 might be provided for the same in similar manner as described with reference to valve 74. By entirely closing perforation 88 and the air-chamber above the same by means of screw'pin 89 and by screwing upward nut 87 it is possible to confine the flow of air which serves to check and regulate the action of springs 53 and 54 entirely to by-pass 73. This will be resorted to when it is desired to particularly retard the reactions of said springs, while when said air-chamber within the piston-rod is maintained in operative connection with the space underneath the piston a more easy and gradual movement of said piston in either direction will result. A simple means for further regulating and adj usting the action of the air-chamber above valve 86 is provided by making said air-chamber adj ustable in size. This I accomplish by screw-threading the interior of tube 42 at intervals, so that by the insertion of one of a series of different plugs, such as f, a greater or smaller portion of the upper part of the interior of said tube may be out OK entirely.

By insertingv valves 74 and 78 and their regulating means and springs in a by-pass readily accessible from the outside, as described, I gain the advantage of making their examination and adjustment easy without interfering with other parts of the apparatus.

The necessarily-limited capacity of cylinder 44 makes it very important that no air be permitted to pass downward around the edges of its piston,and also that it be possible to closely regulate the amounts of air passing through the valves above referred to, as when air on one side of the piston is undercompression, while on the other side a. partial vacuum is being maintained, such passage'of air around the piston or excessive flow of air through the valves will tend to defeat the purposes of my regulating means. I therefore prefer. to maintain at all times a body ofv liquid-preferably oil, glycerin, or the. like-above the piston and to also cause a body of such liquid to at all times remain underneath the piston and to keep the valves employed immersed in such liquid part or all of the time, as shown more particularly in Fig. 2, wherein the surfaces of such bodies arevindicated by letters 0 0, it being well known that under the same pressures liquid will pass through a given aperture more slowly than air and it being in consequence much easier to properly adjust the play of the valves when liquid is so used and to keep such valves as tightas practicable when they are intended to restrict flow of fluid. Anotherimportantadvantageis gained by the employment of liquid, as described above, and particularly by enforcing flow of liquid through a restricted return-passage instead of permitting flow of compressed air through the same while compression ofair is being effected on one side of said passage and either a partial or aperfect vacuum is being produced simultaneously on the other side thereof. This advantage is based upon the fact that liquid being substantially noncompressible will while passing. through the restricted passage and also after reaching that side of said passage Where the vacuum is being produced occupy no ,more space than it did on the compression side of said passage, while a body of compressed air of the same bulk. would at onceand rapidly expand after reaching the vacuum side, thus tending to greatly and sometimes dangerously reduce the vacuum there, while at the same timethe pressure onthe compression side would be reduced. This change of bulk of the air when reaching the vacuum side would therefore materiallyafiect and would interfere with the proper operation. of the regulating device of the cushioning means. The employment of liquid as described guards against this difficulty by checking the expansion of the air through said passage from the compressionside to the vacuum side. Bypass 73 is shown to containabove valve 74 an oil-pocket of considerable capacity, so that during the lowering of the cylinder valve 78 may remain immersed for a considerable time. The duration of such period at a given rate of speed of movement of said cylinder will depend upon the extent to which valve 78 is permitted to open and upon the quantities of oil underneath the piston and above said valve, and it will therefore be seen that the regulation of such quantities is of much importance. By making the body of oil above the piston so large that as the latter approaches stuffing-box oil will thereby be forced into the upper part of the by-pass it will be the air-space left therein.

such movement, disregarding friction, would v be substantially unobstructed, even assuming that no air could pass around thepiston,

owing to the fact that it would only require the downward movement of valve 78 to establish such communication between the two sides of the piston as would instantaneously produce corresponding air-pressu res throughout the cylinder and by-pass. On the other hand, in case sufficient liquid be contained in the casing to completely fill the cylinder and by-pass while the piston is in its lowest position, then upon ascending of the latter a perfect vacuum would have to be formed underneath it, and in addition an amount of liquid corresponding in bulk with the space traversed by the piston would have to be forced through the opening controlled by valve 78. This would of course greatlyretard the reaction of the springs, and as said vacuum could not be destroyed during such reaction it would defeat complete reaction. Considering now intermediate conditions it will be seen that the greater the quantity of liquid in the cylinder and by-pass-the smaller All other conditions being equal a small air-space underneath the piston will result in a stronger vacuum there due to a given upward movement of the piston and a small air-space above the piston will result in more rapid compression and therefore greater resistance there also to such movement. It will also be seen that during downward movement of the piston if the air-space within the casing is reduced, owing to the presence of liquid, the compression of the air therein will be more rapid and the ultimate compression will be greater, and thus springs 53, 54, and S will be reinforced, due to the greater differential pressure on the piston. This permitsof adjusting the cushioning device in accordance with the Weight of the rider.

For the purpose of regulating the contents of the bodies of oil above referred to I attach to the rear of cylinder 44 an oil-reservoir R by means of metallic yokes M, provided on said cylinder. is aconduit havingastopcock 91 for admitting oil from the bottom of said reservoir to the lower portion of cylinder 44 or for withdrawing it in the opposite direction. 92 is a plug for closing the admission-port to such reservoir.

It will readily be seen that by properly inanipulating the piston oil may be drawn or forced into the different parts of the regulatingdevice in quantities as desired.

Y Y are port-holes having covers comprismg glass plates or lenses, said covers being screwed to the upper and the lower portions of the walls of cylinder 44 for observing the quantities of oil contained therein.

h and t are passages connecting the by-pass and the interior of cylinder 44 at dilferent heights, but at points which the piston must pass soon after compression of spring 53 begins, the highest position reached by said piston beingindicated in Fig. 2 in broken lines. Said passages are adapted to be closed by screws, as j. In case it be decided to give to said spring lively return play after it has been compressed slightly and therefore to that extent neutralize the action of valves 73 and 73 this can be done by keeping one of such passages open, as the piston in moving downward will force oil freely through the same into the bypass and equally free return How of the oil will take place as the piston again moves upward. By keeping the lower passage i open the comparatively free and unobstructed play of said spring will be more extensive than if instead upper passage h were left open.

93 and 94 are rings so adjustably secured to piston-rod 42 by screw-thread that thereby the extent of the play of the piston within the cylinder and in consequence the play of springs 53 and 54 can belimited in either direction, the upper and the lower faces of the stuffing-box 851 in the vicinity of the pistonrod serving as stops for said rings. I prefer to construct said rings with flanges extending from their screw-threaded portions toward the stuffing-box so as to permit of the rings coming in contact with the stuffingbox without the screw-thread on the pistonrod entering into or reaching said stuffing-box.

As piston 43, together with portion of piston-rod 42, forms a movable wall which travels up and down within cylinder 44, it will be seen that when the rear wheel strikes an obstruction and the piston thereby is suddenly forced downward with reference to the cylinder, so as to introduce an additional portion of the piston-rod into the cylinder, the aggregate of the space therein containing fluid will be reduced, the increase of fluid-space above the piston being more than neutralized by the reduction of such space underneath the same, and as liquid is substantially non-compressible under pressures as will then occur within the cylinder the air throughout the same and throughout by-pass 73 will receive all such compression and will immediately as valve 74 opens have imparted to it uniform additional pressures, thus forming a differential air-spring tending toassist in neutralizing the shock so imparted, thereby assisting spring 53, because the operative area of the piston receiving upward pressure from the air so compressed is exceeding that receiving downward pressure therefrom. This willcontinue until valve 74 drops and again assumes its restrictive position and after valve 78 opens the pressure on both sides of the piston will at first become gradually equalized, and then as spring 53 continues to force the piston upward within the cylinder the air pressure above the piston will gradually become stronger than that underneath the same and will serve as a check-retarding reaction of said spring. Therefore in so arranging spring 53 that it will resist the inward movement of the piston-rod and enforce its outward movement from the cylinder the air in the latter will be made to serve two useful purposes-viz., to act as a spring yieldingly resisting downward movement of the saddle with reference to the rear wheel and as a check also yieldingly, but more forcibly, resisting the return movement of the saddle. If instead the arrangement were such that spring 53 became actuated as the piston-rod moved outward, the air in the cylinder would become rarefied at that time 7 and could not as efficiently perform the functions with reference to spring 53 described above. These observations also demonstrate that an increase of oil within the cylinder and the by-pass will tend to strengthen the airspring created therein. Therefore by providing conveniences and appliances as described for varying the amount of liquid within the cylinder 1 am enabled to readily adjust the resistance of the cushioning device to varying loads.

The saddle-post closes the upper part of slot 52 against the admission of water and dust, but special provision is desirable in that respect with reference to the portion of the slot within which lever 50 plays. I provide protect ion there by means of a shield 95, comprising two halves joined together vertically, so as to embrace lever 50 where it enters tube 23 and confined in their travel along said slot between two guides 96. Said shield is of sufficient length as to at all times cover the part of slot 52 not protected by the saddle-post. By placing said shield outside of tube 23 I am enabled to readily adjust it in its proper operative position after inserting lever 50 in said tube and to also detach it from said tube when desired without being obliged to change the position of the lever.

The forward end of fork 32 is articulated to the shell surrounding axle 29 in any suitable manner. A hinge 32 may also be provided at the rear end of fork 32 for further adding to the flexibility in a vertical plane of the frame-section carrying the rear wheel.

139 is a divided casing secured to the cycle-frame and adapted to protect the cushioning means for the drivingwvheel section.

Fig. 9 refers to a different form of a sectional frame wherein a rear upper fork 31' is hinged to the seat-frame at 3.) and to the lower rear fork at 150, the lower rear fork at its forward end terminating in a U-shaped casing 156, which is hinged at 157 to casing 07, surrounding the crank axle. A cylinder 44, inclosing regulating means, as described above, forms portion of fork 31 and actuates a spiral spring 151, inserted within the seatsection of the cycle-frame, and also a flexible diaphragm 152, forming part of a pneumatic cushion with said section, l53 being a valve for inflating said cushion. 154 is a lever imparting movement of cylinder 44 to said springs. 155 is a screw in the lever for ad- I justing the initial position of said diaphragm.

instead of employing a piston in a casing, a

movable wall in the form of a flexible diaphragm might be employed for the purpose of regulating the action of cushioning means with the aid of automatic valves in manner substantially as described.

Where in the following claims reference is made to automatic valves for regulating the flow of fluid it is intended to refer to any suitable valves whereby during relative displacements of portions of the cycle the flow of air between different chambers in the pneumatic' cushioning means may be or is regulated owing to and in consequence of such displacements and without the intelligent action of the rider in directly bringing about this result. In the instances herein described such automatic valves referred to in the claims consist in the check-valves specified through which fluid may pass from one side of a piston to the other.

Where restricted passages or restricted return-passages are referred to in the following claims, it' is the intention to express thereby that the operative cross-section or the aggregate operative cross-sections of the respective passages are smailer than the operative cross section or cross-sections of passages through which'flow of fluid takes place when the automatic valves referred to ins-aid claims are open, and where a valve is specified to be in its restricting position this is intended to in-.

dicatethat, taking account of its mounting, adjustment, and configuration, it then occupiesa position of greatest practicable obstruction to the flow of fluid between the two compartments on each side of said valve.

Having shown and described and claimed in other applications for Letters Patent now pending in the Patent Office the broader features of the cushioning means herein set forth, I do not claim the same in this application; v

1. In regulating means for cushioning devices for cycles, the combination with a casing, of a wallmovable with reference thereto and adapted to displace fluid within said casing,an automatic valvebetween two compartments in the casing, a restricted return-passage being provided for permitting flow of fluid between the compartments when the valve is in its restricting position, a body of liquid filling part only of said casing whereby an air-space is left within one of said compartments, and means for compelling flow of liquid through said passage, and thereby checking flow of air through the same after the valve reaches its restricting position and while the air in said air-space is being subjected to changing pressures due to the movement of said wall.-

, 2. In a cushioning device for cycles, the combination with a casing, of a movable wall adapted to displace fluid therein, a spring 00- acting with said casing and said wallin their relative movements and adjusted to be actuat-ed when said wall moves in one direction and to react when the wall moves in the op-- posite direction, an automatic valve between two compartments inthe casing and adjusted to occupy its restricting position while the spring is reacting, a restricted return-passage being provided for permitting flow of fluid between the compartments when the valve is in such restricting position, a bodyof liquid filling part only of said casing whereby an airspace is left in one of said compartments,and means for compelling flow of liquid through said passage and thereby checking flow of air through the same after the valve reaches its restricting position and while the air in said air-space is being subjected to changing pressures due to the movement of said wall.

3. In a cycle, the combination with the frame, the seat and the wheels, of a spring, means for actuating said spring while the seat is being lowered with reference to one of the wheels and for converting reaction of the spring into upward movement of the seat with reference to such wheel, such means comprising a casing, a movable wall adapted to displace fiuid therein, an automatic valve between two compartments in the casing and.

adjusted to occupy its restricting position while the seat is being so raised, a restricted return-passage being provided for permitting flow of fluid between the compartments when the valve is in such restricting position, a body of liquid filling part only of said casingwhereby an air-space is left within one of said compartments, and means for compelling flow of liquid through said passage and thereby checking flow of air through the same after the valve reaches its restricting position and while the air in said air-space is being subjected to changing pressures due to the movement of said wal 4. In regulating means for cushioning devices for cycles, the combination with a cylinder, of a piston reciprocating therein, an automatic valve between the compartments at both sides of the piston, a restricted return-passage being provided for permitting flow of fluid between the compartments when the valve is in its restricting position, a body of liquid filling part only of said cylinder whereby an air-space is left within one of said compartn1ents,and means for compelling flow of liquid through said passage and thereby checking flow of air through the same after thevalve reaches its restricting position and while the air in said air-space is being subjected to changing pressures due to the movement of said piston.

5. In regulating means for cushioning devices for cycles, the combination with a casing, of a movable wall adapted to displace fluid therein,an au tomatic valve between two compartments in the casing, a restricted return-passage being provided for permitting flow of fluid between the compartments when the valve is in its restricting position, a body of liquid filling part only of said casing whereby an air-space is left within one of said compartments, means for compelling flow of liquid through said passage and thereby checking flow of air through the same after the valve reaches its restricting position and while the air in said air-space is being subjected to changing pressures due to the movement of said wall, a second valve for controlling flow of liquid through such passage and a spring for actuating said second valve.

6. In regulating means for cushioning devices for cycles, the combination with a cylinder, of a piston reciprocating therein, an automatic valve between the compartments at both sides of the piston, a restricted return-passage being provided for permitting flow of fluid between the compartments when the valve is in its restricting position, a body of liquid filling part only of said cylinder whereby an air-space is left within one of said compartments, means for compelling flow ofliquid through said passage and thereby checking flow of air through the same after the valve reaches its restricting position and while the air in said airspace is being subjected to changing pressures due to the movement of said piston, and means constituting part of said body of liquid for simultaneously producing a liquid seal for the piston.

7. In regulating means for cushioning devices for cycles, the combination with a casing, of a movable wall adapted to displace fluid therein, an automatic valve between two compartments in the casing, a restricted return-passage being provided for permitting flow of fluid between the compartments when the valve is in its restricting position, a body of liquid filling part only of the casing whereby an airspace is left within one of said compartments, and means for compelling flow of liquid thro ugh said restricted passage and for providing a liquid seal for said valve and for simultaneously enforcing flow of liquid through said restricted passage when said valve is in its restricting position and while the airin said air-space is being subjected to changing pressures due to the movement of said wall.

8. In regulating means for cushioning devices for cycles, the combination with a cylinder having a suitable stuffing-box, of a piston-rod sliding within said stuffing-box, a piston attached to said piston-rod and reciprocating within the cylinder whereby two compartments are formed therein, an automatic valve between said compartments adjusted to occupy its restricting position while the piston'rod is moving outward, a restricted return-passage being provided for permitting flow of fluid between the compartments when the valve is in its restricting position, a body of liquid filling part only of said cylinder whereby an air-space is left in one of said compartments, and means for compelling flow of liquid through said passage and therebychecking flow of air through the same while the valve is in its restricting position and while the air in said air-space is being subjected to changing pressures due to the movement of said piston.

9. In regulating means for cushioning devices for cycles, the combination with a cylinder having a suitable stuffing-box, of a piston, its piston-rod sliding within said stuffingbox, a conduit around the piston for connecting the compartments at both sides of the same, an automatic valve in said conduit, a restricted return-passage being provided in said conduit for permitting flow of fluid between the compartments when the valve is in its restricting position, a body of liquid filling part only of said cylinder and conduit whereby an air-space is lefttherein, and means for compelling flow of liquid through said passage and thereby checking flow of air through the same when said valve is in its restricting position and while the air in said air-space is being subjected to changing pressures due to the movement of said piston.

10. In regulating means for cushioning devices for cycles, the combination with a casing, of a wall movable with reference thereto whereby the inclosed fluid cubic contents of the casing are alternately decreased and increased, an automatic valve between two compartments in said casing and adjusted to occupy its restricting position while such cubic contents are being increased, a restrict ed return-passage being provided for permitting flow of fluid between the compartments while the valve is in its restricting position, a body of liquid filling part only of said casing whereby an air-space is left within one of said compartments, and means forcompelling flow of liquid through said passage and thereby checking flow of air through the same after the valve reaches its restricting position and while the air in said air-space is being subjected to changing pressures due to the movement of said wall.

ICC

11. In regulating means for cushioning departments while said valve is in its restricting position, a body of liquid filling part only of said cylinder, means for compelling flow of liquid through said passage and thereby checking flow of air through the same while the valve is in its restricting position and while the air in said cylinder is being subjected to changing pressures due to the movement of said piston and means for maintaining a body of air on each side of the piston While such flow of liquid is taking place through said passage.

12. In cushioning devices for cycles, the combination with a cylinder having a suitable stuffing-box, of a piston, its piston-rod sliding within said st-nfling-box, a spring adapted to be actuated when said piston moves in one direction and to react when the piston moves in the opposite direction, an automatic valve between the two compartments at opposite sides of the piston adjusted to occupy its restrictin g position while the spring is reacting, a restricted return-passage being provided for permitting flow of fluid between the compartments when said valve is in its restricting position, a body of liquid filling part only of the cylinder whereby an air-space is left in one of said compartments, and means for compel ling flow of liquid through such passage and thereby checkingflow of air through the same after the valve reaches its restricting position and while the air in said air-space is being subjected to changing pressures due to the movement of said piston.

13. Ina cycle, the combination with the frame, the seat and the wheels, of a spring, means for actuating said spring While the seat is being lowered with reference to one of the wheels and for converting reaction of the spring into upward movement of the seat with reference to such wheel, such means comprising a cylinder having a suitable stuffing-box, a piston, its piston-rod sliding within said stuffing-box, an automatic valve between the two compartments at opposite sides of the piston adjusted to occupy its restricting position while the spring is reacting, a restricted return-passage being provided for permitting flow of fluid between the compartments when said valve is in its restricting position, a body of liquid filling part only of the cylinder, whereby an air-space is left in one of said compartments, and means for compelling flow of liquid through such passage and thereby checking flow of air through the same after the valve reaches its restricting position and while the air in said air-space is being subjected to changing pressures due to the movement of said piston.

14.. In regulating means for cushioning devices in cycles, the combination with a cylinder and a piston with piston-rod ascending and descending therein, of a by-pass around said piston, an automatic valve in said bypass. adjusted to move downward while. moving into its restricting position, a restricted passage being provided for permitting flow of fluid between the portions of the cylinder on both sides of the piston while said valve is in its restricting position, liquid in said cylinderadapted to pass during upward movement of the piston from the lower portion of the cyl inder into a receptacle above said valve and outside of said cylinder and communicating with the portion of the icy-pass between said valve and the upper portion of the cylinder and with said restricted passage.

15. In a cushioning device for cycles, the combination with a cylinder, and a cupshaped piston comprising a disk with a yielding flange extending therefrom in contact with the cylinder toward one end of the same, no yielding contact-flange being provided extending toward the other end of the cylinder, of a spring adapted to be actuated when the piston travels in the direction opposite to that in which the flange extends from the disk and to actuate the piston when the same travels in the direction in which the flange extends from the disk, and means for providing a liquid seal between the flange and the cylinder while the piston travels in the direction in which the flange extends from said disk.

16. In a cushioning device for cycles, the combination with a cylinder, and a cup shaped piston comprising a disk with a yielding flange extending therefrom in contact with the cylinder toward one end of the same, no yielding contact-flange being provided extending toward the other end of the cylinder, of a spring adapted to be actuated when the piston travels in the direction opposite to that in which the flange extends from the disk, and to actuate the piston when the same travels in the direction in which the flange extends from the disk, an automatic valve adapted to be opened when the spring is being so actuated, a restricted return-passage being provided forpermitting flow of fluid while said valve is in its closing position, and means for providing a liquid seal between the flange and the cylinder while the piston travels in the direction in which the flange extends from said disk.

17. Acushioning device for cycles,comprising an air-chamber and an interior movable wall, whereby said chamber is divided into two compartments, a spring adapted to be actuated by the movement of saidwall and to actuate it during reaction, an automatic valve between said compartments for yieldingly resisting flow of fluid in one direction, and a second automatic valve between said compartments for yieldingly resisting such flow in the opposite direction, one of said valves having its seat upon the body of the other valve.

18. In regulating means for cushioning devices in cycles, the combination with a cylinder, of a piston adapted to move therein, a chamber in connection with the interior of the cylinder wherein the piston moves, an automatic valve between said chamber and said cylinder, a restricted passage being provided between said interior and said chamber for permitting flow of fluid between such interior of the cylinder and said chamber while the valve is in its restricting position and means for varying and fixedly adjusting the capacity of said chamber.

19. In regulating means for cushioning devices in cycles, the combination with a cylinder, of a piston. adjusted to move therein, a by-pass around said piston, an automatic valve in said by pass, a restricted passage being provided for permitting flow of fluid between the two sides of the piston when said valve is in its restricting position, a perforation leading into said by-pass being provided in the wall of the cylinder, said perforation being positioned in that part of the wall of the cylinder past which the piston is adapted to travel.

20. In regulating means for cushioning devices in cycles, the combination with a cylinder, of a piston adjusted to move therein, a bypass around said piston, an automatic valve in said by-pass, a restricted passage being provided for permitting flow of fluid between the two sides of the piston when said valve is in its restricting position, a perforation leading into said by-pass being provided in the wall of the cylinder, said perforation being positioned in that part of the by-pass toward which said valve opens and in that part of the wall of the cylinder past which the piston is adapted to travel, and a device for controlling the flow through said perforation.

21. In regulating means for cushioning devices in cycles, the combination with a cylinder, of a piston adjusted to move therein, a bypass around said piston,an automatic valve in said by-pass, a restricted passage being provided for permitting flow of fluid between the two sides of the piston when said valve is in its restricting position, and adjustable means for permitting flow of fluid between the by-pass and that part of theinterior of the cylinder through which the piston is adapted to travel.

22. In regulating means for cushioning devices in cycles, the combination with a cylinder, of a piston adjusted to move therein, a by-pass around said piston, an automatic valve in said by-pass, arestricted passage being provided for permitting flow of fluid between the two sides of the piston while said valve is in its restricting position, a multiplicity of perforations leading into said bypass being provided in dilferent parts of the wall of the cylinder past which the piston is adapted to travel successively, and means for closing one of said perforations.

23. In regulating means for cushioning devices in cycles, the combination with a cylinder, of a piston adapted to move therein, a passage being provided leading from one side of the piston to the other side, means for regulating the flow of fluid through said passage, a reservoir in direct connection only with a chamber in the cylinder on one side of the piston, and an automatic valve for regulating the flow of fluid between said reservoir and said chamber, a passage being provided for permitting such flow while said valve is in its restricting position.

24. In regulating means for cushioning devices in cycles, the combination with a cylinder, of a piston adapted to move therein, a conduit being provided leading from one side of the piston to the other side, an automatic valve in said conduit, a passage being provided for permitting flow of fluid between the chambers on either side of the piston when said valve is in its restricting position, a reservoir, a passage being provided connecting the same with one of said chambers and an automatic valve in said connecting-passage, and means for permitting return flow of fluid out of said reservoir into the chamber with which it is so connected when said valve is in its restricting position.

25. In combination with a cycle-frame having relatively movable sections, cushioning means between said sections comprising two springs adapted to be actuated successively and both seated upon one of said sections and adapted to be actuated upon relative displacement of the other section, mechanism for actuating said springs upon relative movements of the frame-sections, and means for adjusting the distance between the contact-point on the spring which is to be actuated last and the contact-point on the opposed frame-section without varying the position of the spring which is to be actuated first with reference to said frame-sections, one of said springs being held out of engagement with the con tactpoint which is to actuate it during part of the time during which the other spring is being actuated.

26. In combinationwitha cycle-framehaving relatively movable sections, cushioning means between said sections comprising two springs adapted to resist relative displacements of said sections in the same direction and to be actuated successively, a contact device in engagementwith one of said springs,a second contact device adapted to engage with the other spring, and screw-thread arrangement for adjusting the relative positions of said contact devices,one of said springs being held out of engagement with the contactpoint which is to actuate it during part of the time during which the other spring is being actuated.

27. In combination with a cycle-frame having relatively movable sections, cushioning means between said sections comprising two springs adapted to be actuated successively, means for regulating the actions of said springs consisting of a casing having two compartments and a wall movable with reference to said compartments, and means for successively imparting relative movement of said wall and said casing to said springs, one of said springs being held out of engagement with the contact-point which is to actuate it during part of the time during which the other spring is being actuated.

28. In combination with a cycle-frame having relatively movable sections, a spring mounted upon one of said sections, a lever interposed between the other section and said spring, and means for adjusting the fulcrum of said lever in a direction substantially parallel with the direction in which said spring is actuated.

29. In combination with a cycle-frame having relatively movable sections, two springs mounted upon one of said sections, a lever interposed between the other section and one CHARLES L. HORACK.

Witnesses:

W. J. PARSONS, WM. SHAW.

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