IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF RUBBER TYRES TO WHEELS FOR VEHICLES
Year: 1884

page_text: We JAMES BURBRIDGE of the Firm of Messrs W. Warne & Co of the India
Rubber Works, Tottenham in the County of Middlesex India Rubber Manufacturer
and THOMAS OAKLEY of Tottenham aforesaid Engineer do hereby declare the
nature of our invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE APPLICATION OF RUBBER
TYRES TO WHEELS FOR VEHICLES," and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The object of our invention is to adapt rubber tyres to wheels of vehicles in a
more convenient efficient and sightly manner than heretofore.
In carrying out our invention we use a rubber tyre composed of a hard rubber
base and a soft rubber running portion of any convenient section. The hard
rubber base we mould with a dovetail or similar portion and the two parts are
vulcanized together in the usual manner.
On either side of the felloe of the wheel we cut a rebate of any convenient depth
and we shrink or otherwise fit onto the felloe in the ordinary way an iron tyre of
a width equal to that part of the felloe between the two rebates.. The width of
the hard rubber dovetail must also correspond to this part of the felloe and the tyre.
Into each of the rebates we fit a metal ring having a triangular projection on its
inuer lower edge and we secure these rings together and to the felloe by means of
screw bolts or in any other convenient manner.
The triangular projections on the rings are intended to fit under and interlock
with the dovetail base of the rubber tyre which base will have a good and solid
seat on the ordinary iron tyre.
In the accompanying drawing we have shown at
Fig: 1 in side elevation a portion of a wheel constructed according to our
invention.
Fig 2 is a sectional view showing the various parts in detail and
Fig 3 is a section taken on the line X X of Fig: 1 showing the parts bolted
together.
A is the felloe on either side of which is formed a rebate a. B is the ordinary tyre
which may be shrunk on to the felloe or secured thereto in any other convenient
manner. The rubber tyre is composed of a hard rubber base C and a soft rubber
running portion C. The part C is moulded with a dovetail as shown.

page_text: Dare metal rings formed with triangular projections b which when in position
interlock with the dovetail. portion C of the rubber tyre as seen in Fig: 3. Tho
two rings D'are secured together by means of scrow bolts or rivets E which pass
through the felloo as seen also in Fig: 3.
The rubber tyre will be made in strips of any desired length which may be cut
up as required. We prefer to cut these strips in short lengths to form segments of
a circle as in the event of damage while in use a damaged segment may be readily
removed and a new.one inserted in its place.
In order to give to the segments the curvature required they are immersed for
a short time in boiling, water, which will soften the hard rubber portion so that it
may be bent as required. When cool this portion will regain its hardness and
retain the "set"" which has been given to it.
The hard rubber base being non elastic there will be no tendency or inclination
to displacement as would be the case were the tyre made entirely of soft rubber.
By placing the interlocking gripping rings of segments in a rebate formed on
either side of the felloe the rings will be flush with the sides of the felloe and the
edge of the rubber tyre and we thereby obtain a more sightly wheel than
heretofore, in fact when the wheel is painted and varnished it will have in every
respect the appearance of an ordinary wheel and may be made as light as the
lightest of ordinary wheels.
We would here remark that it will evident we may, form our rings in segments
if preferred and also that the exact shape of the hard 'rubber base may be slightly
modified.
To remove a damaged segment of the tyre it will only be necessary to loosen the
gripping rings or segments by unscrewing the bolts E remove the damaged segment
and after inserting a fresh segment screw up the bolts.
We would further remark that we are aware soft rubber tyres have been
secured to the felloes of wheels by means of interlocking gripping lugs and screw
bolts which have projected from the sides of the felloes, we do not therefore intend
to claim the use of gripping lugs or even rings per se for securing rubber tyres to
the felloes of wheels.
Having now particularly described and ascertained. the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
A rubber tyre composed of a hard rubber base moulded with a dovetail or similar
portion and a soft rubber running portion in combination with interlocking
gripping rings or segments secured to the felloe by screw bolts or rivets such rings
or segments being placed in rebates formed in the. sides of the felloe substantially
as and for the purpose described.
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