Improvements in Wheels for Velocipedes and other Carriages.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Nov., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 25th Sept., 1890-Accepted, 25th Oct., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wheels for Velocipedes and other Carriages.
I, 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
velocipedes, such as bicycles, tricycles, and, the like, and for other carriages, 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 wheel runs; and my invention also
comprises an improved mode of securing the tyres on such wheels.
In carrying out my invention I employ a rubber tire but instead of making it of
solid rubber or of rubber having a comparatively small hollow core I make it of rubber
tubing of moderate thickness. Inside of the tube I place a ring of steel or other
suitable metal so as to bear directly on the outer part of the interior of the rubber tube;
or any suitable packing material may be interposed between the metal ring and the
surface of the tube. I prefer to make the ring of thin metal and of a cross section
like that of a half tube or lesser segment, its convexity fitting the outer part of the
interior of the rubber 'tube. The metal ring may however be made less convex, or of
straight section or even concave on its outer surface if a suitable packing is interposed:
The metal ring is inserted in the rubber tube before the ends of the piece forming it
are joined, and the ends are joined by sollering a piece inside, to, the ends; or by
rivetting or in, any other convenient way, the ends of the rubber tubing being turned
or drawn back whilst joining the metal ring.
7
..
i
I employ a similar inner ring of thin metal for securing the rubber tire mpon the
wheel. This inner ring is made with a convexity to fit the inner part of the interior
of the rubber tubing; and when its ends are joined it binds the rubber tubing firmly,
into the concavity of the rim of the wheel. The ends of the piece forming the inner
metal ring may be connected by a spring catch; or a tangential screw may be applied
so as to connect the ends and tighten the ring; or one or more cross screws may be
screwed through overlapping ribs, fixed on the ends of the ring; or any other con-
venient fastening device may be used. After the, ends, of the metal rings bave been
fastened the ends of the rubber tube are turned or moved to meet each other and may
be cemented.
With the improved construction of the bicycle or other wheel becomes to some
extent suspendei 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 transmitted directly to the wheel rim is distributed more or less round the
internal, metal ring and is then softened by the sides of the rubber tubing which
intervene between the ring and the wheel rim.
: Dated this Twenty-ninth day of November 1889.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wheels for Velocipedes and other Carriages.
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
velocipedes, such as bicycles, tricycles, and the like, and for other carriages, in a
manner to diminish the transmission of concussive action or vibration due to inequalities
PD77

page_text: of the road or surface on which the wheel runs:; anil my invention also comprises an
improved mode of securing the tires on such wheels.
In carrying out my invention I employ a rubber tire, but instead of making it of
solid rubber or of rubber having a comparatively small hollow.core I make it of rubber
tubing of moderate thickness; and I place inside of it a ring of steel or other suitable
metal, and other parts all arranged so that the inner parts of the wheel are in a sense
suspended from the internal ring, the sides of the rubber tubing forming the
suspensory connection.
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 parts of wheels
as made with my
improvements.
Figure, 1, represents part of a wheel rim and tire as sectioned in the plane of the
wheel;
Figure, 2, is a cross section; and
Figure, 3, is a longitudinal section of the inner half of the tire as supposed to be
straightened.
Figure, 4, is a section as in the plane of the wheel and showing some parts as
modified, and
Figure, 5, is a cross section.
Figure, 6, is a perspective view of details hereinafter referred to ; and
Figure, 7, is a longitudinal section.
Figures, 8, 9, and 10, are cross sections showing modifications of certain parts.
In these drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like
parts wherever they are repeated.
In the modification shown in Figures, 1, 2, and 3, the hollow rubber tire, 11, the
joint of which is indicated at the middle of Figures, 1, and 2, has placed inside of it a
ring, 12, of steel which bears directly on the outer part of the interior. I prefer to
make this ring, 12, of thin metal and of a cross section like that of a half tube or lesser
segment, its convexity fitting the outer concave part of the interior of the rubber
tube, 11. The ring, 12, may however be made less convex as shown in Figure, 8, or
of straight section as shown in Figure, 9, or even concave on its outer surface as
shown in Figure, 10, if a packing, 13, of leather, rubber, or other suitable material is
interposed. The metal ring, 12, is inserted in the rubber tire, 11, before the ends of
the piece forming it are joined, and the ends are joined by soldering or brazing a
piece, 14, inside to the ends; or by riveting or in any other convenient way the ends
of the rubber tire, 11, being turned or drawn back whilst joining the metal ring, 12, I
prefer to form the joint of the ring, 12, by riveting and soldering combined; and
after the joint has been formed I work the ring round in the hollow tire so that it may
be at a distance from the joint of the tire.
I employ a similar inner ring, 15, of thin metal for securing the rubber tire, 11,
upon the wheel.
This inner ring, 15, is made with a convexity on its inner side to fit
the inner concave part of the interior of the rubber tire, 11; and when its ends have
been joined it binds the rubber tire, 11, firmly into the concavity of the rim, 15, of
the wheel. The ends of the piece forming the inner metal ring, 15, may be connected
by a spring catch, or one or more cross screws may be screwed through overlapping
ribs formed or fixed on the ends of the ring, 15; or any other convenient fastening
device may be used. I however prefer to use the fastening device shown in the
drawing, and which consists of a tangential screw, 17, made with a right-hand thread
on one side of the middle and a left-hand thread at the other side. The ends of the
tangent screw, 17, are screwed into nuts or internally screwed pieces, 18, fixed to the
ring, 15, at or near its ends. The middle of the tangent screw, 17, is enlarged and
has holes made through it like a capstan head, for the insertion of a pin or wire by
means of which the screw can be turned the pin or wire being entered in between the
joint ends or through the joint of the rubber tire,. 11. After the ends.of.theunetal
rings, 12, 15, have been fastened, the ends of the rubber tire are made to meet each
other and may be cemented.

page_text: Instead of the inner metal ring, 15, being in a single piece it may consist of separate
segments, 19, Figures, 4, to 7, and the binding may be effected by a strong wire, 20,
made to lie in the concavity of the segments, 19, the ends of the wire being forked by
means of short pieces brazed or soldered on, and having fixed to them the nuts or
internally screwed pieces, 18, into which the tangential screw, 17, is screwed. To
prevent the segments, 19, from overriding one on another small bridge pieces, 21, are
soldered at their ends as shown in Figure, 6.
With my improved construction the bicycle or other wheel becomes to some extent
suspended from what is at any moment the upper half of the outer internal metal
ring, 12; and any concussive action on the part in contact with the road instead of
being transmitted directly to the wheel rim, 16, is distributed more or less round the
internal metal ring, 12; and is then softened by the sides of the rubber tire, 11,
which sides intervene between the ring, 12, and the wheel rim, 16. The thickness of
the rubber tire, 11, and the proportions of the several parts may be varied in
different cases to suit the greater or less elasticity desired or to meet other
requirements.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
In the construction of a wheel for a velocipede or other carriage employing a
hollow rubber tire secured on the wheel rim by an internal binder, combined
with a metal ring bearing directly or through packing on the outer internal
surface of the hollow rubber tire substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.
Dated this Twenty-fourth day of September 1890.
EDMUND HUNT,
Applicant's Agent.