Year: 1897

page_text: I, LEON VALLET, of 49, Everton Road, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Bottle Stopper Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
:-
This invention has reference to elastic tyres, more particularly for use on or in
connection with the wheels of velocipedes; but also to wheels of motor cars or
vehicles, and other analogous vehicles.
The objects, chiefly, of the present invention are to provide an elastic tyre
having a great degree of elasticity and high resiliency-say equivalent to an
ordinary pneumatic tyre in which that elasticity and resiliency are not dependent
upon the tyre remaining an air tight air container; that is to say, it shall retain
its full usefulness irrespective of the fact as to whether it has been punctured or
cut by stones or other obstacles in the road, or thorns or other pointed things, in
travelling.
According to the present invention, I employ a rubber tyre or outer part of
considerable diameter, say about an inch to an inch and a quarter diameter; and
within this tyre there are a plurality of chambers, disposed closely together, within
each of which a spiral or similar spring is provided, the resistance and tension of
which is in a direction radial to the axle of the wheel; and tending to keep the
tyre in its normal form. When the tyre is in action on the wheel, as it revolves,
the springs become somewhat compressed, but retain the tyre substantially in
form;
and in passing over uneven roads or surfaces, or over obstacles, the springs
and tyres as a whole yield at the parts in contact with the road, and so obviate the
shock or jar to the riders, as in the case of ordinary pneumatic tyres.
The springs employed are of spiral form with their axes radial to the axes of
the wheel, and in some cases they are larger in diameter at the centre than at the
ends, or parallel, or coned; and the springs may be circular in cross section, or
rectangular. Passing through the centre of the springs and through the rim
of the wheel, there is a rod or pin, on the upper end of which a disc or washer
is provided, on the under side of which the outer end of the springs press; while
at the end within the rim, there is a nut, collar, or the like, by which the springs
are controlled, and by which they may be held under compression or strain within
the tyre. At the bottom, also, of the chambers of the tyre, in which the springs
are disposed, there is, in some cases, a washer or plate through which the pins or
rods pass.
The metal washers or cups in which the springs bear and act prevent the springs
from scratching the rubber internally in working, and render the pressure acting
upon the spring in wheeling, even or regular, and applied in an advantageous
manner.
In some cases, the rims are split circumferentially, the two parts being
fastened together by screws. By this means tyres, if very stiff or inelastic

page_text: circumferentially can be placed in the rim when the removable part is taken off;
and then, when in place, fixed there, by the connections of the detached part.
The chambers may be formed in the tyre, and the springs and the parts enclosed,
in and by moulding the tyre, as will be well understood.
Dated this 8th day of April 1897.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.
Improvements in Velocipede and other Wheel Tyres.
I, LEON VALLET, of 49, Everton Road, Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Bottle Stopper Manufacturer, 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 has reference to elastic tyres, more particularly for use on or in
connection with the wheels of velocipedes; but also to wheels of motor cars or
vehicles, and other analogous vehicles.
The objects, chiefly, of the present invention are to provide an elastic tyre
having a great degree of elasticity and high resiliency-say equivalent to an
ordinary pneumatic tyre-in which the elasticity and resiliency are not dependent
upon the tyre remaining an air tight air container; that is to say, it shall retain
its full usefulness, irrespective of the fact as to whether it has been punctured
or cut by stones, or other obstacles in the road, or thorns, or other pointed things,
in travelling.
According to the present invention, I employ a rubber tyre, or outer part, of
considerable diameter, say about an inch to an inch and a quarter diameter; and,
within this tyre, there are a plurality of chambers, disposed closely together,
within each of which a spiral or similar spring is provided, the resistance and
tension of which is in a direction radial to the axle of the wheel; and tending to
keep the tyre in its normal form. When the tyre is in action on the wheel, as it
revolves, the springs become somewhat compressed, but retain the tyre substan-
tially in form and in passing over uneven roads or surfaces, or over obstacles,
the springs and tyres, as a whole, yield at the parts in contact with the road, and
so obviate the shock or jar to the riders, as in the case of ordinary pneumatic
tyres.
The springs employed are of spiral form, with their axes radial to the axes of
the wheel, and, in some cases, they are larger in diameter at the centre than at
the ends, or parallel, or coned; and the springs may be circular in cross section,
or rectangular. Passing through the centre of the springs, and through the rim
of the wheel, there is a rod or pin, on the upper end of which a disc or washer is
provided, on the under side of which the outer end of the springs press; while at
the end within the rim, there is a nut, collar, or the like, by which the springs are
controlled, and by which they may be held under compression or strain within
the tyre.
At the bottom, also, of the chambers of the tyre, in which the springs
are disposed, there is, in some cases, a washer or plate through which the pins or
rods pass.
The metal washers or cups in which the springs bear and act, prevent the
springs from scratching the rubber internally in working, and render the pressure
acting upon the spring in wheeling, even or regular, and applied in an
advantageous manner.
In some cases, the rims are split circumferentially, the two parts being fastened

page_text: together by screws. By this means tyres, if very stiff or inelastic, circum-
ferentially, can be placed in the rim when the removable part is taken off; and
then, when in place, fixed there, by the connections of the detached part.
The chambers may be formed in the tyre, and the springs and the parts enclosed,
in and by moulding the tyre, as will be well understood.
In the drawings illustrating this invention, some modifications are given.
Figures 1, 2 and 3 are cross sections of a tyre, shewing a tyre having three
different shapes of spring; and Figure 4 is a section of this tyre, taken through its
centre, and in the direction of the plane of the wheel. Figure 5 shews a modified
form of tyre under this invention.
In the different Figures of the drawings, the same letters and figures of refer-
ence denote the same or equivalent parts, wherever they occur.
Referring to the drawings, a represents the rim of the wheel in which the tyre
is disposed. b is the tyre. c are the helical springs within the tyre; and d are
the pins by which the springs are controlled, and held under compression or strain
in the tyre. e e¹ are discs or washers at the outer and inner ends of the springs.
The tyre proper, b, in the case shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, is of india-
rubber, or india-rubber and canvas, or the like, completely enclosing the springs c,
which are enclosed and moulded in the tyre in the course of manufacture. The
springs lie in chambers b' inside the tyre, india-rubber or suitable material
dividing these chambers one from the other. This dividing portion, in Figure 4,
is shewn by the part marked b².
The upper dises e are secured to the upper ends of the pins d; this being done,
say, by forming a slight head, d, on said pins, outside e, and, within the rim,
collars or nuts are provided on the pins for keeping the springs under the
required strain, and the tyre in form.
In the modification shewn in. Figure 1, the springs care barrel shaped; in
Figure 2, they are cylindrical; and in Figure 3 conical. Any of these forms, or
any other suitably shaped springs, may be employed.
In the modification shewn in Figure 3, the rim is shewn split circumferentially,
and provided with flanges a¹, by which the two parts are connected together, and
also adapted to be disconnected; the fastening being effected by screw pins or
bolts. This split form of rim enables the tyre to be taken off and put on the rim
easily, especially if it be of an unstretchable kind, this being done by first
removing the separable part, and then fastening it on the body of the rim; to
which part, of course, the spokes would be connected.
In the modification shewn in Figure 5, the outer part b is not a complete tube,
but is open on the inside next the rim, and held in the rim a by wires in its edges,
or by any other known way of holding it on or in the rim. This part b may be
made of rubber and canvas, or other equivalent materials, such as are used in
ordinary pneumatic tyres. The inner edges of the springs c, in this case, will bear
directly on the rim a, and on the inside of the outer part of the tyre b at the other
end. In this case, of course, the springs c need not be moulded in the tyre, as
specified in connection with the other.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1. A velocipede or other wheel tyre, comprising a case or tyre proper fitting in
or on a rim, and having within it spiral springs with their axes radial to the centre
of the wheel, and arranged and adapted to act, substantially as herein set forth.
2. A velocipede or other wheel tyre, consisting of the outer tyre part b, springs c
within same, spring controlling and regulating pins d passing through said springs
and the rim of the wheel, and held in said rim by external means, and washers
or caps e, against which the outer ends of the springs act; substantially as set
forth.
3. The velocipede or wheel tyre, having its parts combined, constructed, and

page_text: adapted to act as set forth with reference to and shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4;
and Figure 5, respectively, of the drawings.
Dated this 7th day of January 1898.
CHEESBROUGH & ROYSTON,
Applicant's Patent Agents, 15, Water Street, Liverpool.