Improvements in or connected with Tyres for Bicycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 14th June, 1897-Accepted, 17th July, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Tyres for Bicycles and other
Vehicles.
I, FRANCIS GOSSLER of Korrumburra, in the Colony of Victoria, Australia, En-
gineer, 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:-
The object of this invention is to provide improvements in connection with
tyres for the wheels of bicycles, motor-cars or other vehicles, and has been specially
devised to obviate certain objections consequent on the employment of a pneumatic
tube tyre. By my improvements I provide a tyre that will be resilient and will
prevent or minimise shocks or vibrations during its travel on a road being
communicated to the body of the vehicle.
In order that my invention may be the better understood, reference may be made
to the accompanying drawings in which:-
Figure 1 shows part of my improvements in elevation, with the tyre cover
removed.
Figure 2 is a section of same on line ab, but provided with additional fittings.
Figure 3 a similar section shewing an alternate arrangement.
Figure 4 a longitudinal section of the tyre.
Figure 5 sections of wire which I prefer to employ; whilst
Figure 6 shews the manner of securing the meeting ends of the spiral spring.
In these drawings "A" represents the rim of a wheel, such rim being con-
structed of wood, metal or other suitable material, and having a recess to receive a
continuous spiral spring "B." This spring is arranged to completely encircle
the tyre of the wheel and to have its meeting ends secured preferably as shewn at
Figure 6: that is to say, meeting within, and sweated to, a metal sheath, tube or
aleeve" C."
The spiral spring "B" is set with its convolutions at an inclined angle to the
ground line approximately, as illustrated on Figure 1 of the drawings. The
setting of the spring in this manner is an important feature of my invention,
since a spiral spring set with its convolution approximately at right angles to the
plane of travel or ground line will not, practically speaking, form a resilient spring,
but would directly communicate shocks to the body of the vehicle. It is therefore
necessary, in order to carry out my invention, that the spring be set tangentially
to the rim of the wheel and at an oblique angle (preferably about 60 degrees) to
the plane of travel, or ground line; but I desire it to be understood that when I
describe such spring as a spiral" spring, I mean such description to include a
square, oval, or other similar shape; as for instance, in the manufacture of the
spring, it may be coiled or bent around a square or oval mandrel, but in all cases
the convolutions must lie in the tangential and oblique direction indicated.
The spring "B" is preferably held in place by small staples or clip pins secured
to or driven into the rim, but in practice I prefer to employ a strap or annular
band as "," which is threaded through the spring and has its ends secured

page_text: ogether, and in some cases being also secured in places to the rim "A" of the
vheel.
A stout cover of waterproof material is arranged to enclose the spring, and is
ecured to the rim to keep the said spring free from dirt or obstruction after the
nanner shewn in Figs. 2, 3, and 4.
"
5
In some cases I employ an annular strip "E" (Fig. 2) of material set along the
read of the spring, and outside of same a cover F" of elastic or other waterproof
* F **
naterial, the strip "E" being for the purpose of protecting the interior of
rom the wearing action of the spring; "E" may be cheaply replaced from time
1
o time when worn.
As an alternative I may encase the spring "B" within a rubber tube so as to
orm part thereof (see Fig. 3) and attach the tyre thus formed to the rim of the
cheel. In this, as in all cases, the convolutions of the spring are set tangentially
o the rim and obliquely to the plane of travel or ground line as described.
Referring to the material for the construction of the spring, I would say that I
ind fine spring steel or brass wire to be suitable, and prefer one or other of the
ections shewn on Fig. 5, it being strictly advisable to have a rounded surface
against which the cover impinges. Where any considerable weight is to be
arried by the tyre, the metal of the spring could be correspondingly increased in
proportion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
ion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
laim is:-
1. In Tyres for Vehicles: -
A spiral spring, the convolutions of which are set tangentially to the wheel
rim and at an oblique angle to the plane of its travel or ground line,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
2. In Tyres for Vehicles:-
In combination, a spiral spring, the convolutions of which are set tangentially
to a wheel rim, and at an oblique angle to the plane of its travel, and an
annular band as "D," substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5. In Tyres for Vehicles:-
In combination a spiral spring, the convolutions of which are set tangentially
to a wheel rim, and at an oblique angle to the plane of its travel, and a
cover as F, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4. In Tyres for Vehicles:-
In combination, a spiral spring set tangentially to the wheel rim and at an
oblique angle to the plane of its travel, an annular protecting strip as "E,"
and an outer cover as "F," substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
5. In Tyres for Vehicles: -
spiral spring, the convolutions of which are set tangentially to the wheel
rim and at an oblique angle to the plane of its travel and embedded in a
tube of rubber or analogous material so as to form a part of such tube,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 14th day of June 1897
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.