Improvements in Wheels for Vehicles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Aug... 1890
Complete Specification Left, 30th Apr., 1891-Accepted, 30th May, 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in Wheels for Vehicles.
1, THOMAS WEIR, of 3 Wicklow Street, Dublin, in the County of Dublin,
Ireland, Jeweller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows,
that is to say:-
My said invention has for its object to improve the construction of wheels for
vehicles of various kinds, in a manner to diminish the transmission or effect of
concussive action or vibration due to inequalities of the road or surface on which
the wheels run.
In carrying out my invention I combine an outer tire of steel or other suitable
metal with a hollow ring of rubber and with a metal or wooden felly or wheel rim,
which last together with spokes or equivalent parts connecting it to the hub or
nave may be of any suitable known construction, provided it be formed with its
outer surface of a concave or other shape adapted for receiving and retaining the
rubber ring. The rubber ring may be of a simple circular cross section or of an
oval or square or other suitable cross section, and the inner surface of the outer
metal tire is shaped concavely or otherwise to fit the outer part of the rubber
ring.
Inside of the hollow rubber ring I place an outer ring of steel or other suitable
metal shaped to fit the internal surface of the outer half or part of the rubber ring.
The metal ring which may be made with a strengthening rib on its inner side, is cut
through at one part to allow of its insertion into the rubber ring which consists of a
length of tubing the ends of which are ultimately brought together, and may be
cemented. The ends of the metal ring are butt shaped and are at first overlapped,
but after being inserted the ring is distended so as to put the butt ends into line,
and then a tongue on one of the ends covers the joint on the inside. When the
metal ring is thus distended the outer part of the hollow. rubber ring is gripped
between it and the external metal tire; and if necessary displacement of the last
may be prevented by pins fixed in it so as to project through the rubber into holes
in the internal metal ring but not fitting tightly into such holes.
The hollow rubber ring is bound upon the felly or wheel rim by an annular rod
or ring of steel or other suitable metal such binding ring being cut through at one
part to allow of its being got into the rubber ring, and its ends having lugs or
enlargements formed or fixed on them and tapped for the ends of a right-and-left
screw by means of which they can be drawn together. The screw is made with a
capstan head at its middle and can be turned by means of a spike inserted through
the rubber. Between the binding ring and the internal surface of the inner side of
the rubber ring segmental strips of suitably shaped sheet steel or other metal are
inserted to distribute the pressure of the binding ring and avoid cutting the rubber.
With the improved construction the wheel becomes to some extent suspended
from what is at any moment the upper half of the outer internal metal ring; and
any concussive action on the part in contact with the road, instead of being trans-
mitted directly to the wheel rim is distributed more or less round the internal metal
ing and is then softened by the sides of the hollow rubber ring which intervene
between the ring and the wheel rim.
Dated this First day of August 1890.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wheels for Vehicles.
I, THOMAS WEIR, of 3, Wicklow Street, Dublin, in the County of Dublin,
Ireland, Jeweller, 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, that is to say:
:-
My said invention has for its object to improve the construction of wheels for
vehicles of various kinds in a manner to diminish the transmission or effect of
concussive action or vibration due to inequalities of the road or surface on which
the wheels run.
In carrying out my invention I combine an outer tire of steel or other suitable
metal with a hollow ring of rubber, and with a metal or wooden felly or wheel rim
which last together with spokes or equivalent parts connecting it to the hub or nave
may be of any suitable known construction, provided it be formed with its outer
surface of a concave or other shape adapted for receiving and retaining the rubber
ring. The hollow rubber ring may be of a simple circular cross section, or of an
oval or square or other suitable cross section; and the inner surface of the outer
metal tire is shaped concavely or otherwise to fit the outer part of the rubber
ring.
Inside of the hollow rubber ring I place an outer ring of steel or other suitable
metal; and I bind the hollow rubber ring upon the felly or wheel rim by an annular
rod or ring of steel or other suitable metal which can be tightened.
With the improved construction the wheel becomes to some extent suspended
from what is at any moment the upper half of the outer internal metal ring and
any concussive action on the part in contact with the road, instead of being trans-
mitted directly to the wheel rim is distributed more or less round the internal metal
ring and is then softened by the sides of the hollow rubber ring which intervene
between the ring and the wheel rim.
And in order that my said invention and the manner of performing the same
may be properly understood I hereunto append a sheet of explanatory drawings to
be hereinafter referred to and representing a portion of a tire and modifications
thereof as made with my improvements.
Figure, 1, is a vertical section and Figure, 2, is a horizontal section, the latter
showing the tire as straightened. Figures, 3, 4, 5, and 6, are transverse sections
showing slightly different modifications; and Figures, 7, and, 8, are a side view and
transverse section, of a mode of jointing the outer internal metal ring. In these
drawings the same reference letters are used to mark the same or like parts where-
ever they are repeated.
An external metal ring, A, which may be of the section shown in Figure, 3, or
of that shown in Figures, 4, and, 5, or of any other suitable section is placed on the
outside of a hollow rubber ring, or tube, B, the outer part of which fits the concave
or indented inner side of the external ring, A. The rubber ring, B, may consist
of a length of tubing the ends of which are brought together; and these ends may
be cemented together if found desirable after the parts hereinafter described as
being inside the tube have been placed in position and adjusted. Inside of the
tube, B, there is placed an outer internal metal ring, C, which is originally divided
at one part to allow of its being got into the tube, 13, but which after being entered
has its ends securely joined together by means of a piece, D, fixed to the inner sides
of its ends, by screws or otherwise. In the modified joint shown in Figures, 7,
and, 8, the ends of the metal ring, C, are made with enlargements through which
connecting pins, E, are passed, these pins being secured in the enlargements by
small cross pins, and by soldering also if found desirable.
The outer internal metal ring, C, is made of a shape corresponding to that of the
inner side of the external metal ring, A, and so that the rubber tube, B, may be solidly

page_text: combined with the metal rings, A, and, C. The internal metal ring, C, may be
made with a rib, F, as shown in Figures, 5, 7, and, 8. Another form of the internal
metal ring, C, is shown in Figure, 6, and as in this modification the ring is in cross
section concave on its outer side, a thin outer ring is interposed between it and the
rubber tube which latter it shaped to fit.
The felly or wheel rim, G, is made with a concave outer surface to fit the inner
side of the rubber tube, B; and to bind this tube to the felly, there is placed within
the tube an annular or bent rod, H, which does not, however, bear directly on the
rubber, there being interposed a comparatively thin metal ring, J, which is in cross
section of a shape to fit the internal surface of the rubber tube, B. The binding
rod, H, is made with looped ends the extreme ends being screw-tapped to receive
the ends of a tangential screw, K, made with right-hand and left-hand threads, and
with an enlarged middle having holes like a capstan head for the insertion of a pin
or small rod by means of which the screw, K, can be turned for tightening the
binding rod, H, the pin or small rod being entered between the joint ends of the
rubber tube.
If found desirable with the view of completely preventing displacement of
the external metal ring, A, countersunk screws may be inserted through it and
through the rubber tube, B, into the outer internal metal ring, C.
The dimensions and thicknesses of the rubber tube and other parts may be varied
to suit requirements in different cases.
Having now particularly described my said invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is,
In the construction of a wheel for a vehicle combining an external metal ring or
outer tire with a hollow rubber ring or tube secured on the wheel rim or felly by
an internal binder, the said rubber ring or tube having also inside of it a metal
ring bearing directly or indirectly on its outer internal surface substantially as
and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
Dated this Twenty-ninth day of April 1891.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.