Improvements in and relating to Wheels.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 7th June, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 7th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 11th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Wheels.
1, ROBERT EDWARD PHILLIPS, Member of the Institution of Mechanical
Engineers, Member of the Society of Arts, etc., of 70, Chancery Lane, in tlie Parish
of St. Andrew's, Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the invention (communicated to me
from abroad by Albert H. Overman, of Chicopee, in the County of Hampden and
State of Massachusetts, in the United States of America, President of the Overman
Wheel Company) to be as follows :-
My invention relates to an improvement in rubber tyres for vehicle wheels, the
object being to produce a tyre of superior elasticity without increasing the weight
or cost of production.
I attain this end by constructing the rubber tyre of an arch section the crown of
the arch being the exterior periphery adapted to come in contact with the ground.
The bases of the arch are preferably square and flat, and the upper section of the
rim is shaped to adapt it to receive the base of the tyre. The rim is preferably
made of a hollow section and of greater width but lesser depth than the ordinary
rim, and it is provided with small exterior flanges to confine the tyre sideways.
it
The tyre may be either vulcanized or cemented into the rim, or as an alternative
may be vulcanized or cemented on to a flexible strip of metal adapted to be placed
round the periphery of the rim and fixed thereto by closing in the overlapping
edges by means of rolls, by screws, or by any other convenient method.
By this construction of rubber tyre I obtain superior clasticity by providing an
internal space for the displacement of the rubber under pressure or impact on the
outer periphery of the tyre, and I get the greatest strength of lateral resistance by
means of the square base of increased width.
Dated this 7th day of June 1890.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Wheels.
1, ROBERT EDWARD PHILLIPS, Member of the Institution of Mechanical
Engineers, Member of the Society of Arts, etc., of 70, Chancery Lane, in the Parish
of St. Andrew's, Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Consulting Engineer and
Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention (cominunicated to me
from abroad by Albert H. Overman, of Chicopee, in the County of Hampden and
State of Massachusetts, in the United States of America, President of the Overman
Wheel Company), and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to an improved rubber tyre for vehicle-wheels, the object
being to lighten and cheapen the tyre by reducing the amount of rubber required
for it, to increase the stability of the wheel by adapting the tyre to present-when
under pressure-a virtually flat tread to the road, and to produce a tyre of superior
cushioning action by providing an ample expansion space for it to enter when
subjected to pressure.
With these ends in view, my invention consists in a rubber tyre, arch-shaped in
cross section, substantially uniform in thickness, of sufficient body to be normally
self-sustaining, and having an unoccupied interior space of large dimensions relative
to the entire size of the tyre.

page_text: My invention further consists in certain details of construction and combinations
of parts as will be hereinafter more particularly described.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I append a drawing hereto,
which shall make reference to, and which forms part of this Specification. In
this drawing
Figure 1 is a view in cross section of my improved tyre.
Figure 2 is a view in cross section of a modification thereof.
Figure 3 is a view in cross section of a further modification showing a method of
conveniently increasing the resistance of the tyre by the use of lining pieces, and
Figure 4 is a view in cross section of one of the lining pieces.
Figures 5 and 6 are views in cross section of other forms my invention may
assume; and
Figures 7 and 8 are views in cross section and broken longitudinal elevation
respectively showing a method of attaching my improved tyre to the rim.
Throughout the several views similar parts are marked with like letters of
reference.
The rim of the wheel is preferably made of a broad hollow-section, the edges of
the sheet metal of which it is constructed are lapped in the centre of its flat tread A,
which is depressed between two retaining flanges A' A¹ forming narrow radial
extension of the body portion A² of the rim, rounded corners a a
being formed
between the edges of the tread and the inner walls of the flanges. If desired, the
rounded corners referred to above may be made square as shown by Figure 2 of
the accompanying drawing, although the rounded form is preferred, as it is easier
to make, stronger, and enables a firmer attachment of the tyre to be obtained than
can be had with the square form. Such a rim as described is well adapted to the
purposes of my invention, although I do not limit myself to its proportions, or con-
struction, nor to a hollow rin, or a rim having a flat tread.
The rubber tyre B is arch-shaped in transverse section, substantially uniform
in thickness, of sufficient body to be normally self-sustaining, and has a wide
unoccupied arch-shaped interior space B¹ rising above its centre, of large size
relative to the entire dimensions of the tyre. The two bases of the tyre, which, as
shown, are substantially. flat, are seated squarely upon the edges of the tread A of
the rim, and abut against, the inner walls of the retaining flanges A', A', thereof,
their outer faces being rounded at their lower extremities, to adapt them to con-
form to the rounded corners a, a, in the rim. By forming and supporting the tyre
as described, provision is made for the inward displacement of the tyre into the
space enclosed by it, whereby a cushioning effect is secured. Under the weight of
the wheel and rider, the central portion or crown of the tyre is depressed into the
said space, causing the normally crowning portion of the tyre to assume the form of
a wide and virtually flat bearing face, which secures stability, and hence safety to
the wheel, and security and comfort to the rider. By making the expansion space
of large size relative to the dimensions of the entire tyre as specified, the tyre may
be considerably indented, and sufficiently to so far conform to the inequalities of
the road bed that the rider will not be sensible to the shocks of passing over stones
and pavements and like objects; this effect could not be secured unless the said
space were large relative to the entire tyre. The retaining flanges A' A¹ of the
rim reinforce the tyre laterally, and prevent its lateral displacement; and thereby
avoid the danger of slipping sidewise which wheels having hollow tyres are liable
to do. Compared with the rims and tyres heretofore generally used, the rim hercin
shown is broad, and its tread wide, while. the tyre is correspondingly broad and
low.
As shown, the arch-shaped interior space is broader than it is high. It will
be particularly noted that the interior space in the tyre extends sufficiently beyond
a plane joining the outer edges of the retaining flanges of the rim, to permit a free
inward displacement of so much of the tyre as lies outside of that plane. The side
walls of the tyre, including its bases, which are seated upon the tread of the rim so
as to form a right angle therewith, support the weight of the wheel and rider, the
said support being therefore exerted in parallel radial lines which include the

page_text: yielding crown of the tyre between them. It should be observed also that my
improved arch-shaped tyre partakes of the characteristics of all arch-shaped
structures, so that although lighter and thinner than solid tyres, it yet possesses the
required resistance. By properly proportioning it in thickness, any desired amount
of resistance may be secured.
Instead of varying the thickness of the arch tyre itself to obtain the desired
resistance for any given weight of rider, I sometimes use one thickness of arch tyre,
that being such as will give the necessary resistance for a minimum weight of rider,
and I strengthen the tyre for increased weights by lining the interior of the said
tyre with one or more lining pieces C as shown by Figures 3 and 4 of the accom-
panying drawing. To keep these lining pieces in position and to prevent their
canting inwardly when the tyre is being applied to the rim, a thin flat strip D of
wood, paper, or equivalent light material is placed upon the tread of the rim
between the bases of the tyre. This re-inforcing strip bears upon and encircles the
tread of the tyre, and has its ends secured together in any convenient manner.
Being located at the bottom of the arch, this strip does not interfere with the
cushioning action of the tyre. As a modification I sometimes raise the flat tread A
of the rim in the centre as shown by Figure 5 of the accompanying drawing to
serve the same purpose as the strip D, the recesses thereby formed to receive the
bases of the tyre having either rounded or square corners. I find it convenient to
use this re-inforcing strip with the arch tyre alone, as it facilitates the attaching of
the tyre to the rim, and re-inforces it laterally. This re-inforcing strip may extend
right across the bases of the tyre as shown by Figure 7 of the accompanying
drawing instead of extending only between the said bases, in which case it is
cemented or vulcanized to the said bases and may form a medium for attaching the
tyre to the rim, in which case instead of cementing or vulcanizing the bases of the
tyre direct to the rim, they are fixed to the re-inforcing strip which in this case
takes the form of a flexible metallic band D' as shown by Figures 7 and 8 of the
accompanying drawing. This band is adapted to be placed round the periphery of
the rim and to be fixed thereto by closing the flanges A' A' of the rim over the
overlapping edges of the said band, or by a right and left handed screw adapted to
draw the two ends of the band together, or preferably by the method shown by
Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawing. By this method each end of the
band is perforated with a hole, adapting the one end to be attached to the rim by
means of a hook or its equivalent a fixed thereto, and adapting the other end to be
drawn up taut by means of a hook bolt a² passing at a convenient angle through
the rim and operated by a nut as on the outside thereof. When the tyre is made
in a length close the ends of its open spaces by transverse walls or webs b. of
rubber to exclude moisture and dirt.
The construction of tyre shown by Figure 6 of the accompanying drawing,
represents an arch-shaped. tyre which crowns more than the tyre illustrated by
the other figures and has the arch part of a thicker substance than the
side walls.
I am aware that it is old to make hollow tyres which are not self-sustaining, but
must be supported by being filled with compressed air or fluid, these being the
so-called pneumatic or inflatible tyres. I am also aware that tyres approximately
arch-shaped in transverse section are broadly old, I therefore do not claim hollow
tyres, or arch-shaped tyres broadly but
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 I
claim is :-
--
1st. As a new article of manufacture, a rubber tyre, arch-shaped in cross section,
substantially uniform in thickness, and of sufficient body to be normally self-sus-
taining and having a wide unoccupied arch-shaped interior space of large
dimensions relative to the entire size of the tyre, substantially as set forth.
2nd. The combination with a broad wheel rim having two radial retaining flanges

page_text: and a wide tread depressed between the same, of a rubber tyre arch-shaped in cross
section, and containing a large unoccupied interior space extending sufficiently
beyond a plane joining the outer edges of the said flanges to permit a free inward
displacement of those portions of the tyre lying outside of that plane, substantially
as set forth.
3rd. The combination with a wheel rim, of a wide rubber tyre, arch-shaped in
cross section, and of sufficient body to be normally self-sustaining and inclosing a
large unoccupied space and having its bases seated upon the tread of the rim at
substantially right angle therewith, whereby the weight imposed upon the tyre
by the wheel and rider is borne by the sides of the tyre, including the bases thereof,
while its middle or crowning portion yields inwardly and forms a virtually flat
bearing face, substantially as described.
4th. The combination with a broad wheel rim having two radial retaining flanges
and a wide tread depressed between the same, of a broad rubber tyre, arch-shaped
in cross section, substantially uniform in thickness and of sufficient body to be self-
sustaining, and having an unoccupied interior arch-shaped space of greater width
than height, substantially as set forth.
5th. The combination with a wheel rim having two radial retaining flanges and a
tread depressed between the same, of a rubber tyre, arch-shaped in cross section,
of sufficient body to be self-sustaining and having a large unoccupied interior arch-
shaped space extending beyond a plane joining the outer edges of the said flanges,
the bases of the tyre seated squarely upon the opposite edges of the tread and
abutted against the inner walls of the flanges, substantially as described.
6th. The combination with a wheel rim, of an arch-shaped tyre applied thereto,
and a thin strip interposed between the bases of the tyre to prevent their inward
displacement, and located at the bottom of the arch-shaped space inclosed by the
tyre so as not to interfere with the cushioning action of the same, substantially as
described.
7th. The combination with a wheel rim having two radial retaining flanges and a
double tread depressed between them adapted to receive the bases of an arch-shaped
tyre and prevent their displacement, of a rubber tyre arch-shaped in cross section,
of sufficient body to be self-sustaining and having a large unoccupied interior arch-
shaped space extending beyond a plane joining the outer edges of the said flanges,
the bases of the tyre seated squarely upon the opposite edges of the tread and
abutted against the inner walls of the flanges, substantially as described.
8th. The combination with a wheel rim, of an arch-shaped tyre applied thereto.
and of one or more lining pieces which are independently removable to regulate the
elasticity of the tyre, substantially as described.
9th. The combination with a wheel rim, of an arch-shaped tyre applied thereto,
of one or more lining pieces which are independently removable to regulate the
elasticity of the tyre, and of a thin strip interposed between the bases of the tyre to
prevent their inward displacement, and located at the bottom of the arch-shaped
space inclosed by the tyre, so as not to interfere with the cushioning action of the
same, substantially as described.
10th. The combination with a wheel rim, of an arch-shaped tyre, and a re-
inforcing strip attached directly to the bases of the said tyre and extending trans-
versely across the tyre under its arch-shaped interior space, which it does not
obstruct, substantially as described.
11th. The combination with a wheel rim of an arch-shaped tyre, a re-inforcing
strip attached directly to the bases of the said tyre, and of the coupling device
applied to the ends of the re-inforcing strip for securing the ends of the tyre and
drawing it upon the wheel rim, substantially as described.
12th. The combination with a wheel rim of a broad rubber tyre, arch-shaped in
cross section, and having walls or webs extending transversely across the tyre at
its ends, to exclude moisture and dirt from its open space, substantially as
described.
13th. The combination with a wheel rim, of an arch-shaped rubber tyre having

page_text: transverse webs at its ends to exclude dirt and moisture from its open space, and
of a re-inforcing strip attached directly to the bases of the said tyre, substantially
as described.
14th. The combination with a wheel rim of an arch-shaped rubber tyre having
transverse webs at its ends to exclude moisture and dirt from its open space, of a
re-inforcing strip attached directly to the bases of the said tyre, and of the device
for attaching one end of the said re-inforcing strip to the rim and drawing its other
end taut, to fix the tyre to the wheel rim, substantially as described.
Dated this 7th day of March 1890.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.