Improvements in or relating to Spring Tyres for the Wheels of Velocipedes or other Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd May, 1896-Accepted, 27th June. 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Spring Tyres for the Wheels of
Velocipedes or other Vehicles.
We, SIDNEY HERBERT HURST, of 34 East Street, Bloomsbury, in the County
of London, Gentleman, and HORACE GRAHAM HAYES, of 19, Derwent Road,
Anerley, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, 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 relates to spring tyres used on the wheels of velocipedes or other
road vehicles, the object being to make the said tyres elastic in order to avoid or
reduce vibration.
The invention consists of (for example) two bands of flat spring steel (or other
highly elastic metal or alloy) between which rings of the aforesaid material are
secured by riveting or otherwise. The rings are placed transversely, and near to
each other but preferably not touching, so that when they are subjected to pressure,
and thereby become elongated in the circumferential direction, the rings may touch
and support each other and yet be free to spring back to their original form. The
rings are each riveted to one band, as for instance the inner band, while the outer
band surrounds all the rings and has its bearing upon them, which sometimes are
free to flatten and rebound against the under side of the said outer band; but it
is convenient to attach the said outer band to some (if not all) of the rings, for
convenience in keeping the several parts together. In some cases, the outer band
is not made continuous, but is divided into sections; or it is dispensed with.
We sometimes modify the arrangement of the rings by placing them in a
circumferential instead of in the transverse direction above named. The
assemblage of rings thus resembles a circumferential tube cut into numerous
sections, so that when deflected under pressure their form is distorted in a
transverse direction, instead of in the circumferential direction of those first
mentioned. Consequently they can be placed closely together upon the rim
without leaving room between them for their elongation, but the rim should be
suitably shaped to permit their transverse change in form within the required
limits.
In the further description of this invention reference is made to the accompanying
drawings in which
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a portion of the circumference of a velocipede wheel,
in which the spring rings are placed transversely, so that under pressure they
elongate in a circumferential direction, as shown by dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a
transverse section of the same;
Fig. 3 is a similar clevation to Fig. 1, but with the rings arranged as a
circumferential tube cut into numerous sections, so that when deflected under
pressure they elongate transversely, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 4, which is a
transverse section of Fig. 3.
in
plan.
Fig. 5 indicates a method of fastening together the ends of the inner band,
In the drawings, a represents an inner band of flat spring steel (or other suitable
material) to which a series of rings is secured, either transversely as in Fig. 1, or
circumferentially as in Fig. 3. Sometimes a second or outer band c is secured to
the said rings, as shown in Fig. 1, but this may be dispensed with when the rings
are arranged as in Fig. 3. The inner band a is preferably made of one piece of

page_text: the flat spring steel, sufficiently long to go round the circumference of the wheel,
one or two keys, screws, or other suitable means for fastening the ends being passed
through the same, and sometimes through the rim d of the wheel, so that the spring
tyre may be readily attached to or removed from the wheel. The outer band c-
when used is made in one piece, or in sections (as shown in Fig. 1) as desired,
and being secured to some of the rings (as previously described) which are also
secured to the inner band a, the whole may be applied to or removed from the
wheel with great facility.
Before applying the improved spring tyre to a wheel, we prefer to place a layer e,
of canvas, rubber, cork, asbestos, or other suitable non-metallic substance of an
insulating nature between the wheel and the under side of the inner band, or to
cement the same to the latter, so as to lessen the vibration. An india rubber
covering of any desired form or kind, is stretched over the spring tyre, and
secured to the wheel in any suitable well known manner.
The drawings, Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, show the rings to be made of straight
spring steel, bent approximately to the form of a circle, and closed by a single
rivet, but the form and method of making the ring may be modified to suit the
weight carried, the kind of vehicle to which it is applied, the section of the rim
used, and other conditions. For example, the rings b, shown in Figs. 3 and 4 are
sometimes flattened slightly at the bottom, and the rim d made to conform thereto
and to their form when deflected, as well as to avoid side slipping; and also at the
top when it is desired to attach an outer band c to the rings, as before mentioned.
When both bands a and c are used in combination with the circumferential
arrangement of the rings, as shown in Fig. 3, the rings need not be so close
together, thus saving some weight.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A detachable spring tyre for the wheels of velocipedes or other road vehicles,
consisting of the combination of an inner band a, rings b, and an outer band c,
adapted to be fitted in position on the rim d of a wheel, and enclosed within an
india rubber covering f, substantially as and for the purpose herein described and
shown by the drawings.
2. A detachable spring tyre for the wheels of velocipedes or other road vehicles,
consisting of the combination of an inner band a, rings b, adapted to be fitted in
position on the rim d of a wheel, and enclosed within an india rubber covering f
substantially as and for the purpose herein described and shown by the drawings.
3. A detachable spring tyre for the wheels of velocipedes or other road vehicles,
consisting of the combination of a band a and spring steel rings b, substantially as
and for the purpose herein described and shown by the drawings.
4. The herein described improvements in metallic spring tyres consisting of the
combination of a detachable band a, spring rings b secured thereto, a rim d with a
layer e of non-conducting material interposed between the said band and rim,
means to secure the said band upon the rim d, and an enclosing covering such as f
substantially as and for the purpose specified and shown by the drawings.
Dated this 21st day of May 1896.
FAIRFAX & WETTER,
433 Strand, London, Agents for the Applicants.