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1 J. H. CLARK, PNEU MATIC SUSPENSION MEANS, APPLICATION FILED JUNE PATENTED JULY 21, sssss?sssssss,! S?zzzzzzzzzzzzzZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ -! SN zzzzzzzzz,zzzzzzzzz INVENTOR ZVetezrzes... ZZ. CZeeZZZ. BY ATTOREKO v6

2 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE. JAMES H. CLARK, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO FRANKM. THOMPSON, OF RICHMOND, VIRGINIA. PNEUMATIC SUSPENSION MEANS. No.. Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 21, Application filed June 24, Serial No. 380,548. To all upho?????????cern: cylinder 1 is closed by a threaded cap 1d Be it known that I, JAMEs H. CLARK, re which has a hub 10 provided with a central siding at Richmond, in the county of Hen bore 1 for a purpose presently explained, rico and State of Virginia, have invented cer and the cap 1 also has an internal threaded tain new and useful Improvements in Pneu pocket 1 g to receive the threaded flange matic Suspension Means, of which the fol 3 of the piston cylinder 3, which projects lowing is a specification. into the telescopic member 2 as clearly shown My invention relates to certain new and in Fig. 1, of the drawings. useful improvements in pneumatic suspen In order to form a stop to limit the tele sion means, and it particularly relates to such Scoping movement of the cylinders 1 and 2, means as are particularly adapted for use in and to prevent contact between the end of connection with automobiles, motor vehicles, the cylinder 2 and the cap 1, I provide a bicycles and the like, and serve the function stop ring 4, threaded within the upper end of of a shock absorber. the cylinder 1 and spaced below the cap id, In its generic nature the invention em as shown in Fig. 1, of the drawings, and this bodies a pair of telescopic cylinders, one of ring 4 coöperates with a lock or other suit which carries a piston operable in the other able flexible bumperor washer 5, held within cylinder, and a flexible air-tight tube held the circumferential groove 2 of the piston within the piston and telescopic cylinders to head 2 of the inner telescopic member 2, form a compression chamber. while a second bumper or washer 6 is placed The invention primarily has for its object on the telescopic member 2 to coöperate with to provide a device of the foregoing character the flange 1b of the ring 1 to limit the ex of a very simple and effective construction tending movement of the telescopic sections which can be easily and cheaply manufac and relieve the impact between the tele tured and which will readily serve its intend scopic members 1 and 2 when in the position ed purposes, and with other objects in view shown in dotted lines in Fig than have been heretofore specified, the in vention also comprises certain novel details of construction, combination and arrange ment of parts, all of which will be first fully described, then specifically pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the ac companying drawings, in which, Figure 1, is a central vertical longitudinal section of my invention showing the position of the parts when in their normal position. Fig. 2, is a similar view showing the position of the parts when telescoped to their maxi mum distance in full lines, and showing the position of the parts when extended to their maximum distance in dotted lines. Fig. 3 is a cross section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4, is a detail view of a portion of the air tight tube forming a part of my invention. Referring now to the accompanying draw ings in which like letters and numerals of ref erence indicate like parts in all of the figures 1 designates the main telescopic cylinder whose lower end is provided with a collar having a flange 1 whose central aperture 1 is of slightly greater diameter than the ex ternal diameter of the tubular part 2 of the second telescopic member 2, and of less di ameter than that of the outer cylinder or telescopic member 1. The upper end of the The piston portion 2 of the telescopic member 2 is provided with a circumferential pocket 2d to receive the lubricating wick 2 which is normally pressed against the inner walls of the cylinder 1 by the leaf spring 7, the cylinder 1 having oiling apertures I* through which oil may be admitted to the wick 2 when the telescopic members are in their extended position, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. The cylinder I may be secured to the ve hicle in any approved manner, as may be also the cylinder 2, and a detailed illustration thereof is thought to be unnecessary. I may state, however, that the cylinder 1 may be relatively fixedly secured to some stationary part of the vehicle body while the cylinder 2 may be mounted, as shown in the drawings, to a bracket member 10 in a manner which will be presently again referred to. The cylinder 2, it will be noticed, has its telescoping end open and its opposite end closed by a head 28, and counterbore to form a chamber 2h for a purpose presently ex piained.?? Within the cylinder 2 and the piston 3, whose lower end is open, I place a flexible rubber fabric tube 8, shown in detail in Fig. 4, which tube 8 is composed of fabric rubber

3 2 coated to render the same air-tight and has sections as shown in Fig. 1, so as to allow of its ends open. One end of the tube 8 is the proper movement, either to telescope the closed by a disk on a stem 9 and a second sections washer or disk 9 that is held against the may require. or extend the same, as conditions disk 9 by a nut 9d threaded on the stem 9b, From the foregoing description taken in as shown, the ends of the tube being clamped connection with the accompanying drawings between the disks 9 and 9. it is thought the complete construction, op.. In practice, the stem 9º and nut 9 di rests in eration and numerous advantages of my in the supplemental chamber or pocket 2 of vention will be readily understood by those O the section 2. The flexible tube 8 has its skilled in the art to which the invention ap other end clamped to the head 1, being in pertains... terposed near the inner surfaces of the head What I claim is:- and the disk 11 whose stem 11 projects 1. In an apparatus of the character stated, through the hub 1º of the head 1 and is se a pair of telescopic cylinders, a piston cylin 15 cured in place by a nut 11. The stem 11 der carried within one of said telescopic cyl is longitudinally apertured and countersunk inders and projecting into the other cylinder, as at 11d to receive the stem 12 of the valve and an air tight flexible tube held within 12 by means of which air, under pressure, said piston cylinder and the inner telescopic may be admitted to the chamber A, formed cylinder, substantially as shown and de within the expansible fabric tube 8 to hold scribed. - the telescopic sections in their normal posi 2. In an apparatus of the character stated, tions. a pair of telescopic cylinders, a piston cylin It will be noticed from the drawings, that der carried within one of said telescopic cyl the flexible fabric tube 8 is of greater length inders and projecting into the other cylinder, 25 than the length of the chamber A when the an air tight flexible tube held within said pis telescopic members are extended to the ton cylinder and the inner telescopic cylin greatest distance, as shown in dotted lines in der, a closure cap secured to one of said tele Fig. 2, and the tube 8 is doubled back be scopic cylinders, and said piston cylinder, tween the piston 3 and the Pisºn portion 2 of said piston cylinder having its other end the telescopic member 2, the outer diameter open, substantially as shown and described. of the piston 3 and the diameter of the bore 3. The combination with an inner and an of the telescopic member 2 being such as to outer telescopic cylinder, of a cylindrical pis leave a space 8* between the folds of the tube ton secured within the outer telescopic cylin 8 and thus prevent frictional contact there der and projecting into the inner telescopic between.. cylinder and spaced therefrom, of a flexible While any desired method of mounting the air tight tube secured at one end to the end telescopic sections to the vehicle may be em of the piston cylinder opposite the inner tele ployed, I have shown a means for mountin scopic end and projected into the inner tele the section 2 to a bracket support 10 an scopic cylinder substantially as shown and 40 this means consists in providing the cranks described which are fulcrumed by the bolts 10 to 4. The combination with an inner and an the bracket 10 and which carry the short outer telescopic cylinder, of a cylindrical pis shaft or axle section 10 which passes ton secured within the outer telescopic cylin through an aperture 2m in the head 28 of the der and projecting into the inner telescopic 45 telescopic section 2, as shown, and in prac cylinder and spaced therefrom, of a flexible tice, the bracket 10 may be secured to the air tube secured at one end within said piston running gear of the vehicle, while the tele cylinder and projecting through said piston scopic section may be secured to the body of cylinder into said inner telescopic cylinder the vehicle. This allows of a slight swing on and loosely held therein, substantially as 50 the fulcrums 10 and the shaft section 10 and shown and described. thus adds to the resiliency of the telescopic 5. The combination with an inner and an sections and assists in absorbing the shock outer telescopic cylinder and a piston carried when going over rough roads. within the outer cylinder and telescoping In order to replace the tube 8 should the within the inner cylinder, said inner cylinder 55 same become punctured or worn, it is only having a piston head provided with an annu necessary to unscrew the cap 1 and with lar groove and lubricating devices held in draw the parts attached thereto, making it said groove, said outer cylinder having limit unnecessary to disconnect the telescopic sec tions from one another or from the vehicle inder ing. stops piston for head, 8??????? and a with flexible the pneumatic inner cyl 60 body and running gear. tube held within the cylinder and within the In practice, compressed air is admitted to piston. a - the chamber A to the extent of about The combination with an inner and an pounds, per square inch, such amount, de outer telescopic cylinder and a piston carried???? upon the weight of the vehicle body, Within the outer cylinder and telescoping 65 eing only sufficient to position the telescopic within the inner cylinder, said inner cylinder 7) OO

4 O having a piston head provided with an annu closure cap and surrounding said flexible lar groove and lubricating devices held in tube, and projecting into said inner tele said groove, said outer cylinder having limit scopic cylinder, Substantially as shown and? stops for coöperating with the inner cyl described. II er piston head, a flexible pneumatic tube, 11. The combination with an inner and an 70 held within the inner cylinder and within the outer telescopic cylinder, said inner tele???", and means for admitting air into said scopic cylinder having one end closed and tube. ve one end open, the open end projecting into 7. The combination with an inner and an outer telescopic cylinder, the inner telescopic Scopic the outer cylinder {{l???{ having cylinder, its telescoping the outer tele end 75 cylinder having a piston head provided with open, a closure cap for the other end of said an annular groove and lubricating devices outer telescopic cylinder, limiting stops car held in said groove, said outer telescopic cyl ried by said outer telescopic cylinder for co inder having limiting stops for coöperating operatively engaging a portion of the inner with said inner telescopic cylinder piston telescopic cylinder, a flexible air tube se 80 head, a flexible pneumatic tube held within cured at one end to said closure cap and said cylinders, means for admitting air into loosely projected into the inner telescopic said tube, a closure cap for said outer tele cylinder, a tubular piston secured at one end scopic cylinder, and means for securing said to said closure cap and surrounding said flexible tube at one end to said closure cap, flexible tube and projecting into said inner 85 substantially as shown and described. telescopic cylinder, and means for yieldingly 8. The combination with an inner and an mounting one of said cylinders to the run outer telescopic cylinder, the inner tele ning gear of the vehicle, substantially as scopic cylinder having a piston head pro shown and described. vided with an annular groove, and lubricat 12. The combination with an inner tele 90 ing devices held in said groove, said outer scopic cylinder closed at one end and open at telescopic cylinder having limiting stops for the other end, of an outer telescopic cylinder coöperating with said inner telescopic cyl having one end open, a closure cap for the inder piston head, a flexible pneumatic tube other end of said outer telescopic cylinder, held within said cylinders, means for ad said inner telescopic cylinder having a piston 95 mitting air into said tube, a closure cap for head, bumpers carried by said piston head, said outer telescopic cylinder, means for se stops carried by said outer telescopic cyl curing said flexible tube at one end to said inder for coöperating with said bumpers, a closure cap, and means for pivotally con piston cylinder secured to said closure cap necting one of said telescopic tubes to the and projecting into said inner telescopic cyl 100 running gear of a vehicle, substantially as inder and spaced therefrom, an open ended shown and described. flexible air tube held within said piston cyl 9. The combination with an inner and an inder, and said inner telescopic cylinder, outer telescopic cylinder, said inner tele means forming a closure for one end of said scopic cylinder having one end closed and one air tube for clamping it to the closure cap of 05 end open, the open end projecting into the the outer telescopic cylinder, and closure outer telescopic cylinder, the outer tele means for the other end of said air tube, sub scopic cylinder having its telescoping end stantially as shown and described. open, a closure cap for the other end of said 13. The combination with an inner tele outer telescopic cylinder, limiting stops car scopic cylinder closed at one end and open at O ried by said outer telescopic cylinder for co the other end, of an outer telescopic cyl operatively engaging a portion of the inner inder having one end open, a closure cap for telescopic cylinder, a flexible air tube secured the other end of said outer??? cylin at one end to said closure cap and loosely pro der, said inner telescopic cylinder having a jected into the inner telescopic cylinder, sub piston head, bumpers carried by said piston 5 stantially as shown and described. head, stops carried by said outer telescopic 10. The combination with an inner and an cylinder for coöperating with said bumpers, outer telescopic cylinder, said inner tele a piston cylinder secured to said closure ca. scopic cylinder having one end closed and one and projecting into said inner telescopic cyl end open, the open end projecting into the inder and spaced therefrom, an open ended 1 outer telescopic cylinder, the outer tele scopic cylinder having its telescoping end inder flexible and air tube said held inner within telescopic said piston, cylinder, cyl open, a closure cap for the other end of said means forming a closure for "one end of said outer telescopic cylinder, limiting stops car air tube for clamping it to the closure cap of ried by said outer telescopic cylinder for co the outer telescopic cylinder, closure. means 25 operatively engaging a portion of the inner for the other end of said air tube, said last telescopic cylinder, a flexible air tube secured named closure means comprising a pair of at one end to said closure cap and loosely pro clamping plates, one of said plates having a jected into the inner telescopic cylinder, a projecting threaded lug, a nut coöperating tubular piston secured at one end to said therewith, and said inner telescopic cylinder

5 0 15 a having a pocket to receiv." said nut, substan forming a closure for one end of said air tube tially as shown and described. for clamping it to the closure cap of the outer 14. The combination with an inner tele telescopic cylinder, closure means for the scopic cylinder closed at one end and open at the other end, of an outer telescopic cylinder having one end open, a closure cap for the other end of said outer telescopic cylinder, said inner telescopic cylinder having a piston head, bumpers carried by said piston head, stops carried by said outer telescopic cylin der for coöperating with said bumpers, a pis ton cylinder secured to said closure cap and projecting into said inner telescopic cylinder and spaced therefrom, an open ended flexi ble air tube held within said piston cylinder, and said inner telescopic cylinder, means other end of said air tube, said last named closure means comprising a pair of clamping plates, one of said clamping plates having a projecting threaded lug, a nutº coöperating therewith, said inner telescopic cylinder hav ing a pocket to receive saidnut, and means for admitting air into said flexible air tube, substantially as shown and described. JAMES H. CLARK. Witnesses: D. O. LAW, J. H. HANCOCK. 25.