Improvements in the Tyres of Velocipedes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 11th June, 1892-Accepted, 16th July, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Tyres of Velocipedes.
We, JOHN CLAYTON of 14, Adland Street, Burnley, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, and CHARLES TINDALL of 68, Rectory Road, Burnley,
Pattern Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention is designed to provide a tyre, which may be readily applied to
velocipede wheels, and which will possess all the advantages of a pneumatic tyre,
without the serious defects and inconveniences attendant on the use of the latter
tyre.
One method of carrying out our invention consists in the application to the rim
of a bicycle or other similar wheel of a series of sectional parts of cork or like
material of any suitable shape, but preferably constructed in cylinders or discs.
These cylinders or discs of cork or the like may be grooved or slit transversely or
otherwise across their circumference to any required depth according to the amount
of elasticity required, care being taken to maintain the durability of this cork tyre
by leaving the centres of the cork cylinders or discs solid, so that they will bear
the stress of the weight of the rider.
Instead of substituting the cork cylinders or discs as above described for ordinary
rubber tyres, if desired, a tubular or hollow tyre formed of indiarubber or
canvas or both may be charged with these sectional cylinders or discs of cork or
the like.
Another method of carrying out our invention consists in forming sectional discs
or cylinders of cork or the like with transverse grooves along their circumferences,
and filling the said grooves with lengths of indiarubber, either in the shape of
tubing or solid, so as to bind the sectional parts of cork or the like together; or,
the said sectional parts may be bound together by a wire running around the rim
of the bicycle wheel.
Dated this 10th day of Sentember 1801
THOS. RICHMOND,
Amont
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Tyres of Velocipedes.
We, JOHN CLAYTON of 14, Adland Street, Burnley, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, and CHARLES TINDALL of 68, Rectory Road, Burnley,
Pattern Maker, 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 is designed to provide a tyre, which may be readily applied to
velocipede wheels, and which will possess all the advantages of a pneumatic tyre.
without the serious defects and inconveniences attendant on the use of the latter
tyre, and will when in contact with the road have the requisite amount of elasticity
essential for easy riding.
The invention consists in the application to the rim of a bicycle or other similar
wheel of a series of sectional parts of cork, or light material of any suitable
shape, but preferably constructed in cylinders, the said cork having been grooved
or slit, or having incisions made transversely or otherwise across their circum-
ference to any required depth according to the amount of elasticity required and
such cork being clothed wholly or partially with a covering of indiarubber or other
suitable material.

page_text: "
This improved tyre by reason of the lightness of the material used, and the
elasticity imparted thereto by the incisions will possess all the advantages of a
pneumatic tyre, without the serious defects and inconveniences attendant on the
use of the latter tyre.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a side view of a velocipede wheel, shewing one of a series of cylinders
or sections, of which our cork tyre is composed, a portion of the outer or protective
covering being removed for this purpose.
Fig. 2 represents a section or cylinder of cork in which incisions are cut,
preparatory to being bent and cemented to the rim of the wheel.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the tyre and rim of the wheel, or the tyre and
rim may be in transverse section similar to Fig. 4.
Fig. 5 is an end view of one of the series of cork sections composing the tyre of
a bicycle, having. incisions cut lengthwise of the tyre.
Referring to Fig. 1, A is a velocipede wheel, B its rim, to which is cemented a
cork section or cylinder C, having across its circumference a number of transverse
slits D preferably inclined as shewn, and clothed either wholly or partially with a
covering of indiarubber F to protect the cork. Referring to Fig. 5, B is the
rim, C the cork section or cylinder having incisions D cut lengthwise of the tyre,
the latter being wholly or partially covered with indiarabiber or other suitable
cover Fto protect the cork.
These transverse slits serve a two-fold purpose. In the first place they effect
a considerable saving of waste in the construction of the cork tyro; for the
cork cylinders can be cut in long pieces as seen in Fig. 2, and bent to the
curvature or radius of the wheel, whereas, if the cork cylinders were made solid
as heretofore only very small sections could be used, and each section would
have to be accurately cut to the radius of the velocipede wheel.
But the most remarkable feature in our improved tyre is its elasticity owing
to the peculiar action of the parts E, when in contact with the road, and the
wheel is in motion. The parts E give way and bear against each other under
the stress of the weight of the rider, but the moment they are relieved, they
at once regain their natural position. Our improved tyre in this respect
resembles the pneumatic without possessing any of its disadvantages.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is :—
In the construction of tyres of velocipedes, the application of cork suitably slit
to impart elasticity to the tyre, substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated this 9th day of June 1892.