Improvements in Eall-tyres for Vehicle Wheels.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in Eall-tyres for Vehicle Wheels.
I, JOHN BOYD DUNLOP, Junior, of Hazeldene, Ailesbury Road, Dublin, in the
County of Dublin, Ireland, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to so called ball tyres for the wheels of vehicles and
comprises an improved method of constructing the said ball tyres and of fastening
or securing them upon the rims of the wheels.
According to my invention I cause each of the india rubber balls which are
to be arranged circumferentially around the rim of the wheel to be made with a
nat base, and I firmly attach to each ball a flat headed bolt of iron or steel or other
suitable material the base of the ball fitting close to the head of the bolt and
being of about the same superficial dimensions. I effect the attachment by
passing the stem of the bolt through suitably shaped pieces of strong cloth or
canvas and vulcanizing them to the ball. I prefer to use two pieces of cauvas
for this purpose the first or inner one being sufficiently large to extend a short
distance beyond the base of the ball and the other a little larger. The pieces
of cloth or canvas may be cut radially so as to enable them to ht closely to the
bolt head and ball.
Having thus converted the ball into what I may term a round headed stud
with an iron or steel stem, I pass the stem radially through the rim of the wheel
so that the base of the ball lies closely against the circumference thereof.
secure the stud to the rim by screwing a nut on to the projecting end of the
stem or by any other effective means.
By my invention the balls are simply and firmly secured to the rim in such
a manner that they are not likely to become disconnected from their fastenings
by any side thrust they may receive while in use, moreover they are at liborty
to expand laterally which is not the case where they are contained in rigid cups
or sockets as heretofore.
The aforesaid balls may be made either solid or hollow and may be of any
shape that will best suit their purpose.
The head of the said bolt may be provided with a layer of hard rubber.
Dated this 90th J AT
1000
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.

page_text: 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 so called ball-tyres for vehicle wheels and has chiefly
for its object to so construct such tyres that they can be secured to the wheel-
rim in a simple and effectual manner without liability of the said balls becoming
disconnected from the fastening devices by which they are connected to the rim.
According to my invention I construct each of the india rubber balls or sections
that are to be arranged circumferentially around the rim of the wheel with a
flat base and I firmly attach to each of auch balls or sections a bolt having
a comparatively large flat head or washer, such attachment being effected by
passing the stem of the bolt through suitably shaped pieces of strong cloth or
canvas and vulcanizing them to the india rubber ball or section. Having thus
converted the ball or section into what I may term a hemispherical headed stud
of india-rubber with a metal stem, I pass the stem radially through the wheel-rim
so that the flat base of the stud lies closely against the circumference thereof and
then, by means of a nut screwed on to the end of the stem or by any other
appropriate device, I firmly connect the said stem to the rim.
In order that my said invention may be fully understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the
accompanying drawing which illustrates a vertical section of one of my india
rubber studs attached to a wheel rim.
A is the wheel rim. B is the india rubber portion of the stud and C is its
stem. D is the washer and E is the canvas.
The
The said head B is preferably made solid but if desired it may be formed
hollow. The canvas E is cup-shaped and is of such a diameter that its upturned
edges lie only a short distance from the circumference of the head B.
washer D is adapted to fit within the cup shaped piece of canvas and the periphery
of said washer is turned up slightly as shown in the drawing. The canvas and
the washer are provided with central holes for the reception of the stem or bolt C
and after the said stem has been passed through them the said parts are embedded
in the india rubber head near its base. The india rubber head is then vulcanized
and the whole of these parts are thus firmly secured together in a manner that
The wheel rim
will affectually prevent their becoming disconnected while in use.
is formed with radial holes through which the stems of the studs are passed
and firmly held in place by nuts c. The said radial holes are preferably enlarged
at their inner ends for the reception of the said nuts so that the latter do not
project beyond the inner circumference of the wheel rim and give an unsightly
appearance to the wheel.
When the washer 1) is forined separately from the stem or bolt C as shewn
in the drawing the said stem is formed with a square portion at cl where it passes
through the washer and the canvas, these parts being formed with a correspond-
ingly shaped hole. The said washer is also preferably perforated in order that
the india rubber may extend through such perforations and obtain a very firm
hold thereof. It will be obvious thut the said washer may be in one piece with
the bolt or stem and it will then form a flat head thereto.
It will be readily understood that the tyre is composed of a series of these
studs or sections B which are arranged side by side around the entire periphery of
the wheel where they are firmly held in place by their fastenings. By reason of
these fastenings being connected to the said studs or sections as above explained
there is little likelihood of their becoming disconnected from the studs or sections
by any side thrust they may receive while in use. Moreover the said studs or
sections are at liberty to expand laterally which is not the case with tyres
composed of balls or sections contained in rigid cups or sockets.
The said studs or sections may be of any appropriate shape in cross section and
in some cases it may be advantageous to make them in the form of segmental
pieces with a stem near each end thereof. The number of radial holes in the

page_text: wheel rim for the reception of the stems could then be considerably reduced.
The said head or washer D may if desired bo provided with a layer of hard rubber.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A tyre of the kind specified in which fastening stems or bolts are connected
to india rubber studs or sections substantially as described.
2. In a tyre the combination with an india rubber stud or section of a metal
bolt or stem having an enlarged head or washer embedded in the substance of
the stud or section which is strengthoned by canvas and subsequently vulcanized,
substantially as described.
3. A tyre composed of a number of studs or sections of india rubber to which
metal stems are connected substantially as described with reference to the accom-
panying drawings.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.