Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Dec., 1894-Accepted, 2nd Feb., 1895.
Chicago, in the State of Illinois, United States of America,
I, JAMES GRIEVE LORRAIN, of Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, Strand,
London, in the County of Middlesex, Chartered Patent Agent do hereby declare
he 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 :-
My invention has for its object the production of means for strengthening the
rims or felloes of wheels of that class where a wood or similar felloe is provided
with a pneumatic or flexible tire. It consists in a combination of devices herein-
after described and claimed.
In the drawings,
Figure 1 is a vertical section of a felloe and tire embodying my invention,
Figure 2 is a perspective view of a section of the felloe,
Figure 3 is a detail of the metallic washer.
or
In the drawings A represents the wooden felloe, and B the outer case
tube of a pneumatic tire. a represents the usual flanges on the edge of the felloe
under which the flanges on the tire engage, the tire being held to the felloe by
the said engagement.
I will now describe my improvements. On each of the adjoining edges b'-b² of
the tire I provide a groove b³. On the inner face of the felloe I form two ridges
or shoulders a'. This leaves a depression a² between the ridges a¹ in which the
lapping edges of the tire lie.
It will thus be seen that by the provision of these additional flanges a¹ and the
corresponding grooves - on the tire, the strain on the felloe is distributed
throughout the width of the latter, thereby enabling it the better to bear the
heavy lateral or bursting pressure brought on it when the tire is inflated, and
preventing the splitting at the base of the flanges.
In addition to or in the absence of the continuous strengthening flanges or ridges
just described I may if desired employ the metallic washers C, which form seats
for the spoke heads. These washers are shaped as in Figure 3 with the corners
turned down as at c, with the side edges turned up as at c' and with a countersunk
portion in which the spoke head rests. By the provision of this washer, the
strain of the spoke on the felloe (which, because of the small area of the spoke
heads, and the large number of perforations in the felloe, tends to split the felloe
longitudinally) is distributed over a greater area and the liability of splitting
reduced to a minimum. At the same time the shoulders or projections c¹ form
bearings for the grooves on the tire, so that the lateral strain on the felloe,
above referred to, is still further relieved.
It will thus be seen that by the provision, first, of the ridges a¹ and the
corresponding grooves ³ on the tire, and, second, of the washers C the felloe
is materially strengthened at its weakest points, namely, at the base of the
flanges a and the longitudinal line through the spoke perforations.
Again, the construction and arrangement of the several parts is such that the
full lateral pressure of the contained air, (which is essential in a tire of this
character to prevent longitudinal movement between the tire and felloe) is
resisted by such felloe and firm mutual interlocking action results.
While I have herein described the invention as applied to a wood felloe, and it

page_text: is perhaps particularly applicable to that style of felloe, yet it is obvious that the
invention might be applied to a felloe of any naterial.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
claim is :-
1. In a wheel the combination with the felloe and flexible tire engaged thereto,
of a ridge or shoulder on the inner face of the felloe, and within the outer
edge thereof, and a groove in the tire, into which said ridge on the felloe locks,
substantially as described.
2. In a wheel the combination with the felloe and flexible tire engaged thereto,
of a metallic ridge or shoulder on the inner face of the felloe and within the outer
edge thereof, and a groove on the tire into which the ridge on the felloe locks,
substantially as described.
3. In a wheel the combination with the felloe and flexible tire having two
adjacent edges engaged to the felloe of two ridges or shoulders on the inner face
of the felloc, and within the outer edge thereof, and a groove on each edge of the
tire on to which one of the felloe ridges locks, substantially as described.
4. In a wheel the combination with the felloe and Hexible tire having two
adjacent edges engaged to the felloe of two metallic ridges or shoulders on
the inner face of the felloe, and within the outer edge thereof, and a groove on
each edge of the tire into which one of the felloe ridges locks, substantially as
described.
5. In a wheel the combination with a wood felloc and a pneumatic tire engaged
thereto by flanges on the tire, engaging flanges on the outer edges of the felloe of
a ridge or shoulder on the inner face of the felloe and within the outer edge
thereof, and a groove on the tire into which the last named felloe ridge locks
substantially as described.
6. In a wheel the combination with a wood felloe and a pneumatic tire, the
adjacent edges of which are engaged to the felloe by flanges on said tire, engaging
flanges on the outer edges of the felloe of two ridges or shoulders on the inner
face of the felloe and within the outer edge thereof, and a groove on each
edge of the tire into which a ridge on the felloe locks, substantially as described.
7. In a wheel the combination with the felloe having a series of spoke
perforations of a washer surrounding a spoke perforation against which the spoke
head directly bears, said washer having upturned spurs which engage the base of
the tire cover, substantially as described.
8. In a wheel the combination with a wood felloe having a series of spoke
perforatious, of a substantially rectangular washer having a countersunk portion
to receive the spoke head, said washer provided with prongs at its angles for
engaging it to the face of the felloe, substantially as described.
9. In a wheel the combination with a flexible tire and wood felloe having a
series of spoke perforations, of a washer having a countersunk portion to receive
the spoke head, prongs for engaging it to the face of the rim and upward
projections against which a shoulder on the tire can bear, substa
described.
ally as
10. In a wheel the combination with a wood felloe provided with spoke
perforations and with dovetail flanges on its outer edges, and with two ridges or
flanges on its face within the outer flanges, a pneumatic tire having each felloe
engaging edges provided with a ridge or flange and a groove, and a washer
surrounding each spoke perforation, each washer provided with a countersunk
portion to receive the spoke head, and with prongs for engaging it to the face of
the felloe, substantially as described.
Dated this 21. 1
T