Improvements in Rubber Tires for Vehicle Wheels, and in and appertaining to the Methods and Means for Constructing the same.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 1st Feb.,
1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rubber Tires for Vehicle Wheels, and in and
appertaining to the Methods and Means for Constructing the
same.
I, GEORGE CROYDON MARKS, of 18 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane,
London W.C. Consulting Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for "Improvements in Rubber Tires for Vehicle Wheels and in and appertaining
to the Methods and Means for Constructing the same," (a communication from
abroad by The Rubber Tire Wheel Co., of Springfield, in the County of Clark,
and State of Ohio, United States of America, a body corporate) and in what
manner the same is to be performed. to be particularly described and ascertained.
in and by the following statement :-
In carrying out this invention, an ordinary vehicle wheel, preferably with a plain
wooden felly, is employed, to which wooden felly is secured a metallic rim, having
at its edges outwardly-projecting flanges which extend at an angle so as to form a
groove or channel with tapered or beveled sides. The rubber tire, which is of a
peculiar shape in cross-section, is formed to fit in this channel. It is preferably of
a single piece, but not endless. It is provided throughout its length with openings
to receive retaining wires and is preferably re-enforced at the bottom with a strip
of canvas or other textile material. The retaining wires which pass through the
openings are separate and independent and extend entirely through said openings.
The ends of each of the retaining wires are afterwards united together so as to form
two independent and continuous or endless retaining wires within the rubber tire.
Before the ends of the wires are united together the rubber is compressed
lengthwise on the wires, the rubber strip from which the tire is formed being from
fifteen to twenty-five per cent. longer than the circumference of the completed tire.
After the tire is thus formed it is forced into the channel iron by compressing that
portion of the rubber tire which is bottom of the channel until the rubber tire will
slip over one edge of the channel and seat itself in said channel by the elasticity of
the rubber so as to cause the retaining wires, which are non-elastic, to be seated
in the rubber below the projecting edges of the flanges of the channel iron
or rim.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is an end view of the rubber strip from which the tire is formed.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view, partly in perspective, showing the vehicle felly,
the channel rim, the tire in the rim, and the retaining wires projecting from the
sectioned portion of the tire.
Figs. 3 and 4 are views illustrating the method of forming the tire and uniting
the ends of the same.
Fig. 5 is a plan view showing a device for and illustrating the method of forcing
the tire in place. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the same, and
Fig. 7 is a sectional elevation through the hub of the wheel showing the method
of constructing the compressing devices.
Like parts are represented by similar letters of reference in the several views.
In these drawings, a a represent the wheel felly, which may be of wood in the
usual manner. b is a metallic rim having outwardly-projecting flanges 1, which
are arranged at such an angle to the bottom of the rim as to form a tapered groove
or channel with beveled sides; the bottom of the groove or channel being smaller

page_text: In forming the rubber tire to fit in this channel, I take a strip of rubber c, having
openings cl extending entirely through the same. This rubber is formed of
substantially the same depth as width. The outer periphery, however, is formed
on the arc of a circle of much smaller diameter than the width of the rim; the
exposed sides of the tire being formed preferably on the lines c 2 at an angle to each
other, and also at an angle to the unexposed sides c 3, which are formed on lines to
fit in the rim by which they are protected. The sides c 3, however, are less in
width than the inside of the flanges b1 so that the angle or corner 4 between the
sides c2 and c3 will, when the tire is in place in the channel, fall below the outer
periphery of the flange 61 and within the channel between said flanges. The rubber
strip thus formed and of the conformation described is further preferably provided
with a re-enforcing strip 5 of canvas or other textile material, which covers the
entire bottom and preferably projects slightly along the sides c3, but does not in
any case extend up as far as the angle or corner c4.
The rubber strip to form the tire, which is preferably in a single piece, is before
compression of a length of from fifteen to twenty-five per cent. greater than the
circumference of the wheel on which it is to be placed. The retaining wires d,
which are to hold the tire, are passed through the openings c 1, and one end of each
of the wires clamped in a pivoted clamp d 1, supported on any suitable support d2;
the opposite end of each of the wires being supported in a similar pivoted clamp d3,
supported on an adjustable support d4, which may be in the nature of a screw
passing through a suitable stationary support d 5. The wires on which the strip is
supported are then drawn perfectly tight by moving the adjustable clamp d 3 away
from the clamp d 1 so as to remove from the wires all kinks or bends and as far as
possible from the tendency to stretch. The pivoted clamps allow the wires to
adjust themselves so that each wire will receive the same amount of tension and the
wires be tightened or stretched uniformly. The rubber is then compressed on the
wires by moving the same lengthwise thereon until it is of a length shorter thau
the circumference of the tire when completed; the respective ends of the strip being
held in position on the wires by clamps d6 which are adapted to be secured to the
respective retaining wires. Said wires are then cut to the exact length required,
the wires being of exactly the same length. The ends are then united together by
suitable sleeves d7 brazed thereon, or by any other suitable method. The clamps d 6
are then loosened and removed, the elasticity of the rubber caused by the compression
being sufficient to cause the respective ends of the strip to come together and close
the space between the same and completely cover and enclose the retaining wires.
The rubber tire thus formed, is placed on the wheel in the following manner:
The wheel is preferably placed on a suitable supporting table e in a horizontal
position and secured thereto by a clamp el, which passes through the hub of the
wheel and through the table e. The tire is then placed in the rim at one side of
the wheel so far as it may be by hand, with the inner portion, of the rubber resting
in the grooved felly or rim. The tire is then engaged by suitable tools which will
compress the rubber between the wires and rim sufficiently to allow the remaining
portion of the tire to slip over the edge of the rim and be tightly seated therein.
This may be accomplished by employing pivoted levers f, which are connected to
and supported at one end by a cross bar fi, clamped to the wheel and table by the
clamp el referred to. These levers are provided with laterally-projecting
trunnions f2, on which are journaled rollers f3 adapted to engage the inner
side of the tire. These rollers are adjustable in the length of the levers f by
reason of slotted openings f4, in which the trunnions f2 are supported, so that the
device will be applicable to wheels of different diameters. In practice, the
rollers f3 are adjusted until their outer peripheries stand substantially in line with
the outer periphery of the metallic rim. There is also preferably provided in the
same slotted openings f4, trunnions f5, the lower portion of each of which is bent
at right angles and carries a roller 6, adapted to engage under the edges of the
metallic wheel rim when the wheel is in a horizontal position, as set forth. The
parts being in the position shown and described, the levers ff are moved together

page_text: so as to compress the rubber between the wires and the rollers and between the
wires and wheel rim in that portion of the tire which is already inserted in the grooved
felly. As the levers are forced together the tire is at the same time moved laterally
over the edge of the felly. A screwthreaded clamping device f7, journaled at each
end in swiveled supports f8, on the respective handles, and having a crank
handle 9, may be employed for drawing the levers ff together to produce the
final compression of the rubber necessary to cause it to move laterally over the
edge of the felly at the final point of compression, which occurs when the levers are
brought together or substantially so, at which point the tire, having
a certain
amount of lateral tension thereon, will snap into position and be held by the
retaining wires and the elasticity of the rubber between said wires and the rim in
position in said grooved felly so that it will be practically impossible to remove the
same without first severing the retaining wires or adapting some method substantially
the same as described operating in the reverse order.
The retaining wires being of the same length, and being independent and non-
stretchable, it is impossible for the tire to roll in the rim. The openings through
which the wires are passed are also made of a size so that the wires fit snugly
therein, and they are also arranged within the outer periphery of the edges or
flanges of the channel rim so that they are at all times thoroughly protected and
the danger of the rubber breaking through between the wires and the sides of the
tire is materially lessened. The corner or angle between the exposed and unexposed
sides being arranged within the outer periphery of the flanges, the tire is thoroughly
protected by the metallic portions, and the wear occasioned by the compression of
the tire over the edge of the felly is entirely obviated, as the shape and construction
of the parts absolutely prevent such a result.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
1. A rubber tired vehicle wheel having a metallic rim with angularly-projecting
sides so as to form a tapered channel or groove, a rubber tire within said channel
or groove having the inner or unexposed portions tapered to fit said channel or
groove and the outer or exposed portions formed at an angle to each other and to
said inner or unexposed portions, the angle or corner between the exposed and
unexposed portions being placed within the outer periphery of said projecting sides,
substantially as specified.
2. A vehicle wheel having a grooved metallic rim with a rubber tire fitted
therein, substantially as herein before described, in connection with 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 ofthe channel rim, substantially as specified.
3. The method of forming and assembling a rubber tire for vehicle wheels which
consists in employing two plain independent retaining wires, compressing a rubber
strip, substantially as described, on said retaining wires, severing said wires to a
uniform length, uniting the ends of the wires, and forcing the tire thus formed over
the edges of a grooved metallic rim, substantially as specified.
4. A device for forcing rubber tires into position in vehicle wheels which consists
of two pivoted levers supported on a cross-bar having a clamping device to secure
it to the hub of the wheel on which the tire is to be placed, and compressing rollers
to engage said tire and cause it to move laterally over the edge of the vehicle wheel
rim, substantially as specified.
Dated this 10th dox of Decembar 1805
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., an
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.