Improvements in and relating to Rubber Tires for Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd May, 1899-Accepted, 22nd July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Improvements in and relating to Rubber Tires for Vehicles.
I, WOODBURN LANGMUIR, of 110, West 43rd Street, in the City of New York,
County and State of New York, United States of America, Merchant, 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:—
My invention relates to improvements in rubber tires for vehicles, particularly
to the shape and construction of the same.
The object of my invention is to furnish a rubber tire more durable, more
resilient, and requiring less rubber than those at present in use.
In the drawings, Fig. 1 shows my improvement, having a multiple ply base,
and as attached to a wheel having flaring flanges; Fig. 2, a modification of
the same, having only a single ply base and held in place by a metal band, instead
of wires, as Fig. 1; Fig. 3, the tire applied to a wheel with a straight flange;
Fig. 4, a modiñcation in the shape of the tire; Fig. 5, illustrates the application
to a small wheel.
Like parts are represented by similar reference letters in the several figures.
In all the figures, A represents the felloe of the wheel, B, the flanges, C, the
rubber tire, D, the reinforcing base strip, w w the means for holding the tire in
the flange and s, s, the space between the flange and the tire.
In present tires it is customary to give such a shape to the tire
and vehicle flange, that the exposed sides of the tire are formed at an
angle to each other, and also to the flanges of the wheel rim. Moreover, the
unexposed portion of the tire, or that portion which is enclosed within the rim,
is formed to substantially the same shape as the inner channel of the rim, that is to
say, it is tapered from the outside inwardly, so that the sides of the inner or
unexposed portion of the tire form with the sides of the exposed portion an obtuse
angle.
In absolute contradistinction to such a shape and arrangement of parts, my tire
does not conform to the shape of the flange or of the channel. Moreover, the sides
of my tire are practically a straight line, forming an angle with the base, without
reference to the angle between the flanges and the base. One of the essential
features of my tire is, that whether the flanges be flaring or straight, its shape
leaves, between the tire and the flanges, a V or wedge-shaped space, and this for
the purpose that others attempt to avoid, viz., the lateral displacement of that
portion of the tire between the flanges of the wheel. Furthermore, as distinguished
from previous shapes, my tire is widest, not near the top of the flanges, but at
the base.
I can use either a single or multiple ply canvas but I prefer the multiple ply
sons to be hereafter set forth

page_text: The following are the disadvantages of existing constructions, which I propose
to remedy in my improved tire:
1. The flanges cut into the tire at the angle where they meet, thereby allowing
the rubber immediately above the flange to project beyond the same when under
load. 2. That portion of rubber within the channel is useless as a cushion, the
channel being entirely filled with practically dead rubber. 3. The portion of the
rubber embraced in the angle between the unexposed and the exposed part of the
tire is useless. 4. A tendency to creep, by reason of its longitudinal compression.
5. A tendency to open at the joint. 6. A tendency to split at the wire holes.
My improved construction has the following advantages accruing from its
shape: 1. The entire depth of the tire is available for a cushion. 2. The entire
width of the tire remains within the flanges. 3. There is an economy of rubber
in its construction, and the tire, owing to its greater depth of cushion, is more
durable. 4. Under load, there being sufficient space between the sides of the tire
and the flanges, the tire simply fills up this space from the base upward, thereby
keeping out the dirt and other foreign matter.
Referring to the advantages of multiple ply fabric, I claim that 1st. It provides
the tire with a longitudinal resistance sufficient to permit the elimination of
compression heretofore employed to prevent the tire from opening at the joint, and
to leave the periphery in a normal condition. 2nd. It increases the lateral resis-
tance of the tire, at the same time being sufficiently pliable to yield with the tire
under severe side strains. 3rd. I am enabled to cut my tire to the exact circum-
ference of the wheel, thereby eliminating the compression, and leaving the peri-
phery, or wearing surface, of the tire in a slightly stretched condition, thus
providing for the elongation that takes place in usage. Being enabled to cut
my tire substantially to the circumference of the wheel, I economize in rubber,
saving several inches on each tire. By my construction, in which I eliminate
compression, I lessen the tendency of the tire to creep, and thereby reduce the
circumferential strain on the retaining wires.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I desire to state that
I am aware it has been proposed to use wires passing through holes in indiarubber
tires, for the purpose of securing such tires in grooved or channelled wheel rims
and that in a rubber-tired vehicle wheel having a metallic rim with angularly
projecting sides so as to form a tapered channel or groove, and a rubber tire
of a peculiar shape in cross-section formed to fit in said channel or groove, that
is to say, having the inner or unexposed portions of the tire tapered to fit the
channel or groove and the outer or exposed portions formed at an angle to each
other and to said inner or unexposed portions it has been proposed to use two
independent non-stretchable wires extending through openings in said rubber
tire, the ends of each of said wires being joined together to form continuous
retaining devices of a smaller diameter than the outer periphery of the channel
rim, and I desire to have it understood that I do not claim broadly the use of
wires for securing indiarubber tires in flanged rims, nor do I claim the particular
construction just hereinabove referred to, but I declare that what I claim is:
1st. In a wheel for vehicles, the combination of a wheel having a flanged rim,
a solid rubber tire tapering from the base so as to leave a V shaped space between
the flanges of the rim and the sides of the tire, and wires for retaining the tire
within said channel, substantially as described.
4
2. A vehicle wheel having a metallic rim, with flanges projecting to form a
channel or groove with straight or inclined sides, a rubber tire, the base of which
is adapted to rest in said groove or channel, the sides of the tire forming an angle
with the base, and leaving a V-shaped space between the tire and the flanges of
the metallic rim, and independent retaining-wires, passing entirely through the
inner portions of said tire, and also within the outer peripheries of the flanges, 5
substantially as described.

page_text: 3. A vehicle wheel having a metallic rim with flanges projecting to form a
channel or groove with straight or inclined sides, a rubber tire the base of
which is adapted to rest in said groove or channel, the sides of the tire forming
an angle with the base, and leaving a V-shaped space between the tire and the
flanges of the metallic rim, and independent retaining wires, passing entirely
through the inner portions of said tire, substantially as described.
ated this 23rd day of May 1899.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.