Improvements in or relating to Tyres and Wheels of Bicycles; Tricycles, Road Vehicles, such as Cabs, Gigs, Broughams, Vans, Bath Chairs, and other like Machines or Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 19th Apr., 1899—Accepted, 17th June, 1899
Improvements in or relating to Tyres and Wheels of Bicycles;
Tricycles, Road Vehicles, such as Cabs, Gigs, Broughams, Vans,
Bath Chairs, and other like Machines or Vehicles.
I, ROBERT HEAP SOUTHALL, of 22, Chestnut Avenue, Hyde Park, Leeds, in the
County of York, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the tyres and wheels of bicycles, tricycles,
road vehicles, such as cabs, gigs, broughams, vans, bath chairs, and other like
machines or vehicles. Its object is, first, to suspend the flexible rim of the wheel
upon which the tyre is seated from an intermediate rim,-interposed between the first
named rim and the hub of the wheel,-by means of a series of rubber or other flexible
springs, at tension,-formed out of a single rubber flat or rectangular band, or made
up in sections. Second, to provide means for tightening the said springs so as to
prevent or take up any drag that there may be between the rims.
According to this invention the outer rim of the wheel,-hereafter termed the tyre
rim, is made flexible, and its outer periphery is provided with or without a groove
in or upon which the tyre,-which may be in the form of, say, a solid or other india
rubber band, or say a pneumatic tyre or tube of ordinary construction,―is
seated.
Interposed between the tyre rim, and the hub of the wheel, but connected to the
latter by adjustable or other spokes, is arranged a second rim,-hereinafter termed
the central rim,-which is of smaller diameter than the tyre rim so as to provide a
space between the two rims. In the said space is arranged a series of springs,-
formed of india rubber or other elastic and flexible material, either in one continuous
flat or rectangular band or in sections, for suspending, when the springs are at
tension, the tyre rim from the central rim. When the springs are formed in
sections, or each spring of a separate piece of, say, rubber, then the ends of each
piece are securely fixed respectively to the outer periphery of the central rim, and
the inner periphery of the tyre rim, and the main and major portions of the springs
will be at an angle or tangent to the rims. But when the springs are formed out of
one continuous flat or rectangular band, then the said band may be perforated with
the desired number of holes required for securely fixing it to the two rims. These
holes may not all be of the same pitch, but are so arranged that, say, every second
hole may be a greater distance apart than the preceding one. By this means the
band when securely fixed to the rims may have certain portions radiating (or nearly
so) to the centre of the rims, then small portions made to follow the contour of the
rim to which it is secured, and other portions may be arranged at an angle or tangent
to the rim.
The means employed for tightening up the springs and thereby keeping them
constantly at the required tension and thus preventing any drag between the rims
may consist of either a number of brackets arranged in pairs and fixed respectively
o each of the rims at suitable distances apart and retained in that position by

page_text: means of adjusting screws (with or without lock nuts) arranged to pass through one
Or a
set of brackets, so that their ends may abut against the other set of brackets.
number of pins may be fixed to one rim at convenient distances apart, against
which the front end or ends of a corresponding number of bifurcated or other
levers, pivoted or fulcrummed to the other rim, may be made to impinge; whilst
the heels or opposite ends of the levers may be adjusted by a set screw with or
without lock nuts. If necessary the springs may be perforated to let the adjusting
sciews pass through them. Or a number of pawls may be pivotably fixed to one rim,
and made to engage with a series of ratchet teeth formed on or cut in the
periphery of the other rim. A lever or key may be employed to actuate the
pawls.
The herein described rims may be made in any convenient form, but preferably
with a flat periphery, and sides at or about a right angle thereto, and of any suitable
material, such as, say, metal or wood, and thickness.
Improvements in or relating to Tyres and Wheels of Bicycles,
Tricycles, Road Vehicles, such as Cabs, Gigs, Broughams, Vans,
Bath Chairs, and other like Machines or Vehicles.
I, ROBERT HEAP SOUTHALL, of 22, Chestnut Avenue, Hyde Park, Leeds, in the
County of York, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in the tyres and wheels of bicycles,
tricycles, road vehicles, such as cabs, gigs, broughams, vans, bath chairs, and other
like machines or vehicles. Its object is, first, to suspend the flexible rim of the
wheel upon which the tyre is seated from an intermediate rim,-interposed between
the first named rim and the hub of the wheel,-by means of a series of rubber or
other flexible (but not metal) springs,-at tension,-formed out of a single rubber
flat or rectangular band, or made up in sections. Second, to provide means for
tightening the said springs so as to prevent or take up any drag that there may be
between the rims.
In the drawings hereunto annexed:-
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a complete wheel constructed according to this invention.
Fig. 2 an enlarged part elevation of wheel shown at Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 an enlarged transverse section on line x x Fig. 2.
Fig. 4 an enlarged transverse section on line w w Fig. 2.
Fig. 5 an enlarged part elevation of a wheel with pawl arrangement for adjusting
purposes.
Fig. 6 an enlarged transverse section on line y y Fig. 5.
Like parts in all the views are marked with similar letters of reference.
A is the outer rim of the wheel, hereafter termed the tyre rim,-made, say, of
wood, or of metal, say, very thin steel, but in either case it is essential that this rim
must be flexible. The outer periphery of the rim A is provided with or without a
groove in or upon which the tyre B, which may be in the form of, say, a solid or
other india rubber band, or, say, a pneumatic tyre or tube of ordinary construction,―
´is seated.

page_text: Interposed between the tyre rim A, and the hub C of the wheel, but connected to
the latter by adjustable or other spokes D, is arranged a second rim E which is rigid,
-hereinafter termed the central rim,-which is of smaller diameter than the tyre
rim A so as to provide a space between the two rims. In the said space is arranged
a series of springs F,-formed of india rubber or other elastic and flexible material,
either in one continuous flat or rectangular band or in sections, preferably in sections
but not necessarily so,-for suspending,-when the springs F are at tension,—the
tyre rim A from the central rim E. When the springs F are formed in sections, or
each spring of a separate piece of, say, rubber, then the ends of each piece are
securely fixed as hereafter described respectively to the outer periphery of the central.
rim E, and the inner periphery of the tyre rim A, and the main and major portions
of the springs will be at an angle or a tangent to the rims. That is to say, the
angle of one branch of the spring F is at such an angle to the rims as to be slightly
out of a parallel line with the spokes D and nearly radially with the hub C. Whilst
the other branch of the spring F is arranged to be at a more acute angle than the
other branch. Thus provision is made whereby each branch of the spring is not only
kept taut but also at tension. But when the springs are formed out of one
continuous flat or rectangular band, then the said band may be perforated with the
desired number of holes required for securely fixing it to the two rims. These holes
may not all be of the same pitch, but are so arranged that, say, every second hole
may be a greater distance apart than the preceding one.
By this means the band when securely fixed to the rims may have certain por-
tions radiating (or nearly so) to the centre of the rims, then small portions made to
follow the contour of the rim to which it is secured, and other portions may be
arranged at an angle or tangent to the rim.
The springs F are fixed to rims by means of screws G arranged to pass through
the clamping plates H. But for those employed for the central and rigid rim E the
spokes Dare made of such a length as to enable them to pass through the rim E,
base of spring F and clamping plate H¹ and to be securely fixed in position by
nuts I, J, as shown. When preferred the ends of the screws G may be made to
pass through the outer and flexible rim A and to enter the solid rubber tyre B for
retaining it in position without additional aid such as solution. The clamping
plates are in each case covered with or wrapped or encased in a piece of textile or
fibrous material to prevent them cutting or damaging the rubber springs F.
The means employed for tightening up the springs Fand thereby keeping them con-
stantly taut and at the required tension and thus preventing any drag between the rins
A and E, nay consist of either a number of brackets or levers, hereafter termed
levers K and L, which are arranged in pairs and jointed to bosses a and e fixed
respectively to each of the rims at suitable distances apart. That is to say, the
levers K are jointed to the boss a on rim A and the levers L to the boss e on rim E
and the two said levers are connected together at M as shown, and retained in that
position by means of adjusting screws N, with or without lock nuts O.
The adjusting screws N are arranged to pass through plates e¹ (each plate forming
a part of a boss e) and the rim E, and to act against a heel or projection P forming
part of or attached to and between the levers L. The two levers L with the heel P
projecting at a right or other angle thereto are arranged somewhat in the form of
the letter H. When the end of the heel P that rests upon an adjusting screw N is
raised by the latter the upper ends of a pair of levers I will then be moved or forced
in the direction of arrow (Fig. 2), and by their connection (at M) with the levers K
the rin A is also drawn in the direction of arrow.. At the sametime, by this move-
ment of the said levers and rim A, owing to the springs F being securely fixed at
intervals, as previously described, to both rims A and E, the portions of the springs F
between each point of fixture to the two rims are thereby drawn taut. Each set of
levers K and L and heel P require to be separately acted upon by its adjusting
screw N for tightening the springs F. By this means when, say, four sets of such
levers, heels, and adjusting screws are employed, a fourth portion of the springs F
will be tightened at a time.

page_text: Or a number of pins Q, Fig. 5, may be fixed to one rim, say E, at convenient
distances apart, against which the front end or ends of a corresponding number of
bifurcated or other levers R, Fig. 5, (having notches in its front end to engage with
the pins Q) pivotted or fulcrummed to the other rim A, or vice versa, may be made
to impinge whilst the heels S or opposite ends of the levers may be adjusted by a set
screw N with or without locknuts. If necessary the springs may be perforated to let
the adjusting screws pass through them. Or in place of said levers a number of
pawls may be pivotably fixed to one rim and made to engage with a series of ratchet
teeth formed on or cut in the periphery of the other rim. A lever or key may be
employed to actuate the pawls, or the levers as shown in dotted lines at Fig. 5.
By jointing the levers K and I, respectively to rims A and E and by the heels P
being kept upon the ends of the adjusting screws N by the springs F the said levers
form a connection between the two rims and also provide the requisite means for
their revolving together as well as preventing any drag taking place between the
two rims.
The herein described rims may be made in any convenient form, but preferably
with a flat periphery, and sides at or about a right angle thereto or with a flat
periphery with a recessed centre, and of any suitable material such as, say, metal or
wood, and thickness.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and how the same may be carried into practice, I declare I am aware
that it has been proposed to form tyres with two rims, an inner and an outer rim,-
laced together with an india-rubber cord or held apart by metal springs prior to the
date of this invention, and therefore do not claim such broadly, but what I do
claim is :-
The combination of the rim. A; the springs F; the rim E; the levers K and I.,
and adjusting screws N; all arranged and operating substantially as and for the
purposes herein before described and illustrated.
Dated this Eighteenth day of April 1899.