Improvements in Elastic Tyres and Rims for the Wheels of Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 22nd May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Elastic Tyres and Rims for the Wheels of
Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
We, CHARLES ARTHUR CHAPMAN, of Glenthorne, Horley, in the County of
Surrey, Gentleman, and WILLIAM HENRY CHAPMAN, of 18 East Dulwich Road,
East Dulwich, in the County of Surrey, Licensed Victualler, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in elastic tyres and rims for the wheels of
velocipedes and other vehicles, and has for its object to produce a tyre and rim for.
the same, the said tyre whilst being composed of any non-resilient substance or
combination of non-resilient and resilient substances shall possess all the elements
of elasticity to be obtained by the use of a pneumatic or like tyre.
According to this invention we employ a wheel having a rim of such section as
will allow of a cord of rubber which may be continuous, or in lengths, being
stretched across the channel or trough formed therein, upon which is mounted or
suspended the tyre proper, or, the wheel may have an approximately Ṭ shaped
section, the cord above mentioned passing through the centre or vertical part of
the said rim, and also through the tyre, holes being formed at suitable intervals to
allow of this, or where the tyre rests upon the rubber a number of projections may
be formed upon the inner periphery of the said tyre to engage with the rubber
above mentioned.
In order that this invention may be the better understood reference is made to
the appended two sheets of drawings, in which :-
Fig. 1. is a side elevational view of a wheel with a tyre constructed according to
this invention.
Fig. 2. is a transverse section of the rim and tyre shewing the arrangement of the
rubber cord spring.
Fig. 3. is a sectional plan, also shewing the arrangement of cord or spring and
the tyre.
Fig. 4. is a transverse section of another form of rim and tyre.
Fig. 5. is a sectional plan of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6. is a longitudinal section shewing more clearly the construction of the tyre
and arrangement of springs.
'
Fig. 7. Sheet 2. shews a method of securing the segments composing the tyre one
to another.
Fig. 8. is a transverse section of another form of rim and tyre.
Fig. 9. is a longitudinal section of Fig. 8.
Figs. 10 and 11 are respectively a cross section and side elevation illustrating an
alternative method of construction.
Referring to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, A. is the rim of the wheel which may be of wood
and has a channel or trough B. formed in the outer circumference thereof. The
walls of the channel are perforated at suitable intervals, as indicated at C. and have
threaded therethrough a rubber cord D. A recess or groove D¹ is formed upon the
outside of the rim on both sides to receive the cord D. to protect which from
injury metal rings E. E' are provided and may be secured to the rim by means of
screws or the like.
Within the channel B. is placed the annular ring forming the tyre which may be
of wood or metal or a combination of wood or metal, wood and rubber, or metal and
rubber, or any other suitable material, as may be found most suitable, and the tread
:
1

page_text: of the tyre may be of any desired outline, and the ring aforesaid may be built up of
two or any number of segments.
At distances corresponding to those in the rim are drilled or otherwise formed in
the ring, a number of holes F. through which is threaded the cord D, the ring thus
being as it were suspended within the channel B. To allow of the free vertical
movement of the tyre, the holes F. aforesaid are enlarged at the sides of the tyre
as shewn, the object being to prevent the cord jamming between the tyre and the
walls of the channel.
It will be seen from the drawings that the channel is of a somewhat greater
depth than the enclosed portion of the tyre to allow the same to move vertically
when the weight is placed upon the wheel. A groove G. is formed at the bottom
of the trough to receive the heads or nipples for the spokes. The ends of the
cord are secured as shewn at H. Fig. 3. from which it will be seen that the rubber
when cut or broken will resume its normal thickness, thereby forming a natural
head or stop, and leaving adjoining portions of the cord unaffected and intact, and
preventing the cord from being withdrawn, as shewn enlarged at T' Fig. 3. It is
obvious that the same action will take place in the event of the cord breaking, and
thus prevent any loosening or collapse of the tyre.
The
In Fig. 4. is shewn a section of a rim I. having instead of holes a series of
internal hooks J. at suitable intervals. These hooks may be formed in any suitable
manner such as stamping, or they may be afterwards inserted in the rim.
cord D. in this case is passed over the hooks as shewn in Fig. 5. and the tyre is
provided upon its inner periphery with a series of projections K. Fig. 6. which
engage with the cord and prevent the tyre
66 creeping or otherwise becoming
displaced, or the projections may have circular grooves at the ends to engage with
the cord D.
In Fig. 7. Sheet 2. is shewn a method of securing the ends of the segments
forming the tyre one to another, the two portions L. L engaging with corresponding
recesses M. M¹ a bolt and nut N. N₁ securing the whole together and recesses
formed for the nut and bolt head; or instead of one bolt two may be used and
would be placed as shewn by the dotted lines at N' and N³ Fig. 7.
Referring to Figs. 8 and 9 the tyre in this case is supported upon the cord D. as
shewn. The rim O. has slots P. cut therein, indicated by dotted lines, and a pro-
jection Q. formed upon the outside of the rim on both sides, the cord coming in
contact with the projections, which thereby retains the same in position. To limit
the movement of the tyre, the cord D. is retained by means of the two rubber
bands R. R running round the tyre upon the inner periphery and secured at
intervals, as shewn. Metal rings S¹ S¹ are provided and serve to keep the rubber
cord in the slots P.
In the case of the rim shewn in Figs. 2 and 4 one side of the rim may be
moveable, the tyre in this case would be solid and slipped on to the rubber. The
tyre shewn in Figs. 4, 5, and 6 and having projections, would be used.
In Figs. 10 and 11 is shewn a rim V. and tyre for the same in which in place of
the channel hitherto described a projection V₁ is formed having holes drilled or
otherwise formed therein through which is passed the cord D; the holes are
enlarged at their outer ends as shewn in dotted lines at D³ to allow of the free
vertical movement of the tyre W. which in this case is in the form of an inverted U.
having holes corresponding to those within the rim.
With a tyre and rim as described, it is possible to construct the tyre in one piece,
and the projection V₁ having been inserted within the tyre, sufficient play would be
allowed to slip the whole tyre over the rim, the lacing of the rubber being
afterwards effected.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In an elastic tyre for velocipedes and other vehicles, the use of a rubber cord

page_text: in a state of tension, in combination with a tyre composed of any suitable material,
substantially as described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
2. In an elastic tyre for velocipedes and other vehicles, as above described, the
combination of a rim having a central trough and perforated to receive a stretched
rubber cord with a tyre of any suitable material also perforated and supported by
the cord above referred to, all substantially as described and shewn in the
accompanying drawings.
3. In an elastic tyre for velocipedes and other vehicles, the use of a rim of any
suitable material, having a central channel and internal books, or eyelets, to
receive a rubber cord, in combination with a tyre of any suitable material having
projections formed upon the inner periphery, as described and shewn in the
accompanying drawings.
4. In an elastic tyre for velocipedes and other vehicles, the use of a rim of any
suitable material, having a central channel and slots formed in the sides of the said
channel to receive a rubber cord, and lugs upon the outside to retain the same, in
combination with a tyre of any suitable material, supported upon the cord and
retained in position by means of other cords of rubber, substantially as described
and shewn in the accompanying drawings.