Improvements in Wheels.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Sept., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 4th Apr., 1898-Accepted, 3rd Sept., 1898
Improvements in Wheels.
JOHN MCIVER, Marine Engineer, of 59, Terrace Road, Upton Manor, Plaistow,
Essex, E., & WILSON HARLAND, Civil Engineer, of 53, St. James Square, North
Kensington, Middlesex, W., do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention has reference to "improvements in wheels" of the kind used
for bicycles, tricycles, motor-cars, cabs, carriages, &c., but is not strictly confined
to these it may be used for other similar purposes.
The improvements more particularly relate to the componant parts of a wheel
such as the rims, tyres, and the connections between tyres, rims, and spokes, the
object being to reduce vibration by mechanical means and so overcome the many
attendant disadvantages of pneumatic-tyred wheels.
The disadvantages above referred to are numerous the main one being that of
liability to puncture. In our improvement we do not employ air at all, but, use
mechanical means to attain the same end. Another disadvantage with a pneumatic
tyre is that owing to the pressure necessary to inflate it rubber will not stand
and other substances are used in combination, usually a fabric, the threads of
which, if perfectly resilient must always be in frictional contact one with the
other, this in time, say after a thousand miles run, reduces the strength fully
fifty per cent. In our improvement by using mechanical means, a wheel may
be made resilient for ever; the rubber we employ on the tread and sides is not
used for the purpose of maintaining air pressure and may be of the best and
purest description. To obviate these, and other disadvantages, and in order to
carry out our ideas, in effect, we construct a wheel having two tyres or rims-an
inner, of, say two feet diamr. and an outer one, of, say two feet six inches, in the
intervening space we place springs having suitable fastenings or keeps: the
springs, by preference, are circular, and the spokes are attached to the inner
rim, by the usual form of nipple, which are long enough to pass through the
inner rim and form a keep or pin to take a nut or nuts for securely fastening the
ends of the springs: corresponding keeps or pins are provided in the inner
diameter of the outer rim: over the two rims enveloping and entirely concealing
the springs, protecting them from dirt or damp, is a light covering of thin rubber,
which may be thickened at the tread, convex or parallel as desired, which is
attached to the internal diameter of the inner rim by two lips formed at the edges
of the rubber, which rest in corresponding recesses formed in the inner rim, and
secured thereto, by two spring rings, sprung into position, and lying, flush or
otherwise in the before mentioned recesses of the inner rim.
The outer rim may be parallel or convex and have rivetted, screwed or
otherwise secured in its inner diameter the keeps, or pins for the springs, or the
arrangement may be reversed. The inner rim may be hollow, and have separate
keeps or pins for the springs.
The springs between the two rims, may be cut from tubing, or stamped or
otherwise formed out of strips of metal, with ends recessed, or so formed to
key into each other, to take the shearing strain off the pins or keeps.

page_text: We do not confine ourselves to a series of circular springs, we may take a band
of steel, and form semi-circular looped forms pinned or otherwise kept in position
by nuts bolts or pins secured in the inner and outer rings or rims, we may place
two such series of circular rings or semi-circular right & left handed looped bands
of spring steel so arranged to overlap each other.
1 1.
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Improvements in Wheels.
JOHN MCIVER of 59, Terrace Road, Upton Manor, Plaistow, Essex, Marine
Engineer, and WILSON HARLAND, of 53, St. James Square, North Kensington,
Middlesex, Civil Engineer, 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 "improvements in wheels" have reference more particularly to the kind used
for bicycles tricycles motor-cars, cabs, omnibusses, carts carriages vans waggons,
but, may be used for any purpose for which a wheel is required, say for road
locomotives railway rolling stock &c. &c.
The improvements in wheels lies more in the component parts, such as rims,
tyres, and the connections between such rims tyres spokes, &c., and the object is
to reduce vibration by using or employing mechanical means, and so overcome the
many disadvantages attending the use of wheels, with tyres of the inflated kind, so
familiarly used in bicycles tricycles motor cars, cabs, carriages, &c., one of the
chief disadvantages with an inflated kind is liability to puncture. In our
improvement we do not employ a pneumatic, but, use mechanical means to better
attain the same end..
In the ordinary pneumatic, owing to the enormous strain brought to bear on the
inner tube, an outer covering of rubber, and woven fabric is employed, the threads
of which, to be resilient, must of necessity be in frictional contact one with the
other, which threads after being used for some months, are very considerably
reduced in strength.
The mechanical means before mentioned consists of two rims, the inner, having
spokes, and a nave, and, between the outer, and the inner rim, are placed a series
of springs, securely fastened to the two rims; on the outer rim is placed the tyre
or tread by using the above mentioned mechanical means a wheel may be made
resilient, practically, for all time.
We employ a rubber covering or envelope for protecting the springs from dust,
and dirt, but, not to act in the manner of a pneumatic tyre. The envelope may be
dispensed with in the heavier type of wheel, such as would be used for a road
locomotive but for lighter kinds, such as bicycles it is absolutely necessary.
In order to carry out our improvement effectively, we construct a wheel having
two tyres, or rims, and between these rims we place a series of circular springs
having suitable fastenings or keeps, these, by preference, are circular, but, they
may be constructed from flat strips, bent into ring and secured near the ends by
a bolt and nut, either to the inner, or the outer rim;
of course, the spokes would
be always attached to the inner rim, by the ordinary nipple. For lighter build of
wheel, such as bicycles, (and where they can be used) these nipples may be utilized
in place of a bolt and nut.
On the face of the outer rim, is the tread, which, for rolling stock, would be
flanged; for road locomotives, the usual form of strips, but for bicycle type, we

page_text: Thirdly; we claim the envelope protecting the springs in combination with the
spring keep rings, and the corresponding recesses, substantially in the manner,
and, for the purposes herein described, and shewn in the accompanying drawing by
Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7.
Lastly; we claim the general combination of springs placed between two rims;
with their fastenings protected by an envelope substantially in the manner and
for the purposes herein described; and shewn by the accompanying sheet of
drawings.
JOHN MCIVER.
WILSON HARLAND.