Improvements in Parts of the Wheels of Wheeled Vehicles and Cycles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Mar., 1895-Accepted, 24th May, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Parts of the Wheels of Wheeled Vehicles and
Cycles.
I, ALFRED SMALLWOOD, of Hawkes Street, Small Heath, in the City of
Birmingham, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in pneumatic wheel circumferences of
wheeled vehicles, such as road carriages and velocipedes, and hus for one of its
objects, immunity from puncture, and for another object, an efficient tyre, suitable
for heavy work.
Heretofore, the air chambers or the inner air tubes have been confined within a
canvas or canvas and rubber ply restraining medium, whose outer periphery forms
the tyre to the wheel.
By my invention, a solid rubber tyre is employed, cushioning upon an inflated
and resilient air sack or chamber enclosed within a sheet steel or sheet metal
sheath, and with the solid rubber tyre working through a continuous opening in
the outer periphery of the said sheath, which constitutes a hollow rim.
In carrying out my invention proceed as follows:-
I take a thin sheet metal and hollow rim, of any desired section, and having
a circumferential opening in its outer periphery, preferably of a breadth a little
less than that of the rim itself, and with the entrance to the said continuous
opening preferably necked or flanged, and terminated by thickened edges or
beadings, and wherein the solid rubber rim is disposed and works, with its inner
side coming and cushioning upon the adjacent side of the inner air tube or clastic
sack confined within the said hollow rim, which is, in other words, a thin steel
sheath or annular chamber.
The solid rubber tyre is preferably sprung into position, as the diameter of the
rim is greater than the normal inner diameter of the tyre.
When in use, the solid rubber forms the tread, and a maximum resiliency is
acquired by the same resting or being suspended upon the elastic walls of the
resilient air chamber, and in case the tread is required to be of the full breadth of
the rim, then propose to make the said rim of T cross section, so that the head
of the same shall overhang the rim, which is preferably at a distance from it, so
that there shall be sufficient clearance for the tyre to cushion or buffer the air
sack, by the said tyre working within the opening in the rim plunger-like.
If necessary, the tyres may he of the cushion order, that is to say, that may
themselves be hollow. The inflating chamber may be fitted with a valve and
connection, and it will be seen that the air can be compressed to a very enhanced
degree, as the same is confined by the walls of the rim or air sack sheath and the
thick tyre.
Where considerable wear has to be provided for, then I may use fellies or
sectional fellies of other material than rubber, such as wood, which cushion upon
the hollow inner tube.
The spokes of the wheel are of steel, and the hubs are preferably of cast or
other metal, and made in the usual way.
Di. 04th day of Lune 1801
ALFRED SMALLWOOD,
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.

page_text: .
Improvements in Parts of the Wheels of Wheeled Vehicles and
Cycles.
I, ALFRED SMALLWOOD, of Hawkes Street. Small Heath, in the City of
Birmingham, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to he particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to improvements in pneumatic wheel circumferences of
wheeled vehicles, such as road carriages and velocipedes, and has for one of its
objects, iminunity from puncture, and for another object, an efficient tyre, suitable
for heavy work.
Heretofore, the air chambers or the inner air tubes have been confined within
a canvas or canvas and rubber ply restraining medium whose outer periphery
forms the tyre to the wheel.
By my invention, a solid rubber or other tyre is employed, cushioning upon an
infinted and resilient nir sack or chamber enclosed withinn sheet steel or sheet metal
sheath, and with the solid rubber tyre working through a continuous opening in
the outer periphery of the said sheath, which constitutes a hollow rim.
In carrying out my invention I proceed as follows:--
I take a thin sheet metal and hollow rim, of any desired section, and having a
circumferential opening in its outer periphery, preferably of a breadth a little less
than that of the rim itself, and with the entrance to the said continuous opening
preferably necked or flanged, and wherein the tyre is disposed and works, with its
inner side coming and cushioning upon the adjacent part of the inner air tube or
elastic sack confined within the said hollow rim, which is, in other words, a thin
steel sheath or annular chamber.
The solid rubber tyre is preferably sprung into position, as the diameter of the
rim is greater than the normal inner diameter of the tyre.
When in use, the solid tyre or solid rubber tyre forms the trend, and a maximum
resiliency is acquired by the same resting or being suspended upon the elastic walls
of the resilient air-chamber, and in case the tread is required to be of the full
breadth of the rim, then I propose to make the said rim of a T cross section, so
that the head of the same shall overhang the rim, which is preferably at a distance
from it, so that there shall be sufficient clearance for the tyre to cushion or buffer the
air sack, by the said tyre working within the opening in the rim, plunger-like.
If necessary, the tyre may be of the cushion order, that is to say, it may itself
be hollow. The inflating chamber may be fitted with a valve and connection, and
it will be seen that the air can be compressed to a very enhanced degree, as the
same is confined by the walls of the metallic rim or air-sack sheath and the
thick tyre.
Where considerable wear has to be provided for, then I may use fellies or
sectional fellies of other material than rubber, such as wood, which cushion upon
the hollow inner tube.
The spokes of the wheel are of steel, and the hubs are preferably of cast or
other metal, and made in the usual way.
Figure 1 of the necompanying drawings represents in transverse vertical section,
a wheel circumference or a wheel rim provided or fitted with improvements made
in accordance with one form of my invention.
Figure 2 represents a longitudinal vertical section of the wheel circumference
Figure 1.
Figure 3 represents a section of the tyre separately, and
Figure 4 represents a cross section of the rim or metallic sheath, wherein the

page_text: cushioning air sack tube or annular envelope containing air under considerable
pressure is located.
Figure 5 is a topside plan of a part of the said hollow and chambered rim.
Figure 6 is a view, partly in section, of the tyre.
In Figures 1 to 6, a is the tyre, made of rubber, wood or other suitable material,
and adapted to cushion or buffer itself upon an annular sack, tube or chamber,
inflated with air under considerable pressure and located within the inside
chambered part c', of a steel or rigid rim or sheath which
G
may
if necessary
made solid or in-fellic sections from wood or other suitable material.
be
Figure 7 represents another form of my invention, in which the tyre is made of
a T section and the rim has a parallel neck or entrance.
a is the T sectioned tyre, and 6 is the air sack, lying within the inner chamber c',
of the rim, within the parallel-sided neck c³, of which, the said tyre works
plunger-like.
Figure 8 represents a modification of the first form of tyre, in which the rim is
of an upright elliptical cross section and Figure 9 is a further modification having
a rim of the section of a horizontal ellipse.
a is the tyre, & the air-sack and c, c' the rim.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1
First. Senting or cushioning the tyre or the outer trend of a wheel circum-
ference upon an inflated air sack or tube, located within the chambered interior of
a rigid protective and confining sheath or rim, through the open top of which the
said tyre or rim works plunger-wise, substantially as described and set forth.
Secondly. Employing in connection with pneumatic wheels, a rigid protective
sheath or hollow enclosing rim, substantially as herein described and set forth.
Thirdly. The improvements in wheel circumferences for common road vehicles,
substantially as herein described and set forth.
Dated this 1st day of Manah 1805
ALFRED SMALLWOOD,
By Henry Skerrett,
24, Temple Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.