Improvements in or relating to Wheels for vehicles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Feb., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 12th Nov., 1839-Aoospted, 12th Feb., 1890
Improvements in or relating to Wheels for vehicles.
FRANK WYNNE of 5 Westminster Chambers in the City of Westminster a Civil
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates principally to improvements in the application of elastic
springs or buffers principally of indiarubber to velocipedes so as to secure the rider
from the shocks and jars incident to riding on an uneven road and preferably in such
a way that the ordinary framework which connects the wheels and supports the rider
shall not be weakened or inade less rigid.
The ordinary elastic tire is such a spring attachment and part of my invention
relates to improved means for attaching the same to the wheel of the velocipede but
I prefer to supplement the spring given by it, by elastic springs applied to the axle
of the wheel of the velocipede.
In carrying out this part of my invention I prefer to employ a light cylindrical
frame concentric to the axle but at a little distance from it, & which I refer to
hereinafter as the hub frame to this frame I attach the spokes of the wheel in the
ordinary way and between this frame and the axle I pack the indiarubber or other
elastic springs or buffers which I hereinafter refer to as buffers-To the axle I attach
an arm or arins and these or the suitable prolongation of these I pass through an
opening in the hub frame inside & between the two lines of spokes, these arms being
for the purpose of transmitting the driving effort to the wheel, and the ends where
they pass beyond the hub frame I attach to it by means of elastic attachments and
preferably by attaching similar arins to the hub frane and by connecting up the ends
of all these arins, viz. those from the axle and those from the hub frame, by means
of an elastic hand or ring, and it is evident that by making this elastic ring sufficiently
strong and the number of arms from the axle & hub frame sufficiently numerous, and
elastic connection between the velocipede frame & the wheel can be provided without
the buffers inside the hub frame, and this forms a modified arrangement which I
sometimes employ.-I provide against end motion of the axle in the bub fraine and
more particularly against skew motion of the wheel relatively to its axle by discs of
metal threaded on the axle and which ber at their periferies against the ends of the
hub frame and these two discs I prefer to connect across to each other preferably by
an elastic attachment which may be a spiral steel spring but which may be one or u
part of a buffer extending conveniently across from disc to disc.
For attaching the rubber tyres to the rims of the wheels I prefer to make the tyres
of lengths of indiarubber with a hole or holes cored in them, thro' these I thread a
wire making either a single turn or a spiral, and I use preferably a cotton covered
wire, the ends I either pass thro' holes in the rim, or together after pulling the wire
as tight as possible, pulling the ends of the rubber tyre together at the same
time, and in order to facilitate this pulling together and to make the wire when fixe i
hold the rubber tyre with great rigidity I pass an electric current thro' the wire before
fastening it, so as to momentarily heat the wire (but not so as to really injure the
tyre for which purpose the cotton or other suitable covering is provide 1) and thus
expand the wire, and I sometimes arrange that at the moment when the wire is
stretched and expanded by the heat to a sufficient degree the ends should be brought
into contact. On this happening the current of electricity which has gone round the
wire in the tyre takes the path of lesser resistance thro' the jointed end, & in such
quantity as to fuze these together; as a source of electricity for this purpose I prefer
to use an accumulator battery or a current from the secondary wire of a transformer

page_text: an suitably regulate the resistance of the wire in its convolutions round the inside
of the tyre by making these greater or less and by proportioning the size of the wire
& sometimes by varying the resistunee of the metal of the wire by making this of
nu alloy of convenient electrical resistance for my purpose.
Improvements in or relating to Wheels for Vehicles.
I, FRANK WYNNE, of No. 5 Westminster Chambers, in the City of Westminster, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the nine 1
is to be performel to le particularly described an I ascertained 'n and by the following
statement:
->
My invention relates principally to improvements in the application of elastic springs
or buffers preferably of india rahbar to vehicles, for example velocipedes, so as to
secure the rider from the shocks nu þjars incident to riding over an uneven road, and 1
preferably in such a way that the ordinary framework which connects the wheels and
supports the rider, shall not be wikene 1 or ins 1 less rigid than u-n. The ordinary
elastie tire is such a spring attachment, and part of my invention relates to an
improved method of seenring an elastic tyre to a wheel rim but recording to this
invention supplement the eishioning action due to such a tyre, by elastic springs or g
huffers applied between the driving shift of the wheel and the wheel hub.
In carrying out this part of my invention I prefer to employ a light frame herein-
after referred to as the hub) arrangel emcentrically to the driving shaft but at a short
distance from it. To this hub is attached the spikes of the wheel in the ordinary way,
and between this hub and the shaft is placed an elastic spring or buffer (hereinafter
referrel to n n buffer) of any suitable material such as india rubber. To the driving
shaft is attached an arm or arms that pass ench through an opening in the hub. Eich
opening is made elongated or in the form of a slot so as to be larger than the arın in
a direction at right angles to the driving shaft, but of a width to fit the arm at opposite
sides thereof. These arms serve for transmitting the driving effort from the shaft:
to the wheel, for which purpose their outer ends are conceted by one or more
flexible, or yielding connections such as bands, rings or strips of indiarubber, leather,
or metal springs, to one or more arms or studs secured to the hub. These flexible
or yielding connections enable the arms to move either endwise or circumferentially
in their openings or slots to permit of the hub moving relatively to its driving shaft:
when shacks and jars are being taken up by the elastic buffer.
The construction and arrangement of the several parts are such as to prevent
both lateral and skew motion of the hub and wheel in relation to the driving shaft.
In the necompanying drawings
Figs. 1 and 2 are sections on the lines A B and (1) respectively of Fig. 3: and
Fig. 3 is a plan, illustrating the application of springs or buffers between the hub of
a wheel and a driving shaft according to this invention.
Fig. 4 is a detail view.
1 is a hub of a wheel suitable for a velocipede; to it the wheel spokes are connected
in the ordinary manner. 2 is a hollow driving shaft provided with a driving pinion 3
and mounted to rotate upon all earings 1 carried by a fixed red or bearing b
connected to the framing of the vehicle. This hollow driving shaft is arranged con-
centrically with the hub in such a manner as to leave an annular space 6 between
the two in which are placed a number of tubular rings 7 of elastic or yielding material
such as india tubber to serve as a buffer between the shaft and huh. 7 7 are distance
rings or washers. The hollow driving shaft is formed with sockets 8 in each of which
is fixed an arm or pin 9 (herein called an arin) that extends radially outward through an
elongated opening or slot 10 in the hub. To the outer end of each arm is secured a

page_text: flexible or yielding connection 11 of suitable material such as a strip of indiarubber or
leather, which is also connected to an arm or stud 12 fixed in the hub as shewn in
Fig. 2. By this construction each arm will be enabled to move radially and also
circumferentially in its opening or slot 10 to permit of the cushioning action of the
buffer being brought into play. Each arm 9 fits its corresponding opening or slot 10
in the direction of the axis of the driving shaft as shewn in Fig. 4 so as to prevent both
lateral and skew motions of the hub in relation to the driving shaft.
With the construction described and shown, driving motion will be transmitted from
the driving shaft to the hub and wheel in such a way as to adinit of the free elastic
motion of the driving shaft within the hub, the elastic tubular rings 7 serving to
prevent or lessen the transmission of shocks from the wheel to the driving shaft.
In some cases as when starting, where considerable force is used, the arms may cach
be driven dead up against the metal at one end of the slot in the hub; in this case the
free elastic motion of the shaft within the hub will be limited. This same limited
elastic motion will also be obtained if instead of using a spring between 9 and 12 there
be used a flexible connection such as a single steel band forming a drag link in
the direction of the forward driving motion of the crank.
Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 3 and Fig. 6 is a detailed view illustrating an
arrangement in which the arms 9 are arranged to extend through slots 10 made in the
hub near its ends. The outer end of each arm is enlarged as shown at 9* (Fig. 6) and
is formed with a notch or recess to receive a part of a spiral spring 11a so as to act
against and compress one portion of the spring and extend the other when the driving
shaft is revolved. The ends of each spring 11" are connected to two studs 12ª fixed to
the hub.
In lieu of a metal spiral spring 11 each arm 9 may be connected to or caused to act
against its corresponding studs 12 through elastic material such as india rubber, one
portion of which, viz., that between the arm and one of the studs will be compressed
during driving, the other portion being either in tension are not as desired.
Each arm 9 Figs. 5 and 6 may carry a cap or plate adapted to slide over and close
the slot 10 through which the arm 9 passes and thus prevent entry of dirt to the
interior of the bub.
In other respects this construction is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive.
For securely attaching the india rubber tires to the rims of the wheels I make the
tyres of lengths of india-rubber having extending therethrough a hole or holes
through which I thread a wire that makes either one or more turns and which may
advantageously be cotton covered. To secure such a tyre to a wheel rim I pull the
ends of the wire so as to bring the ends of the indiarubber tyre close together and
thereby bind the tyre firmly upon the wheel rim. The ends of the wire are then
united together.
In order to facilitate this pulling together of the ends of the wire and to make the
wire when fixed hold the rubber tyre with great rigidity I pass an electric current
through the wire before fastening its ends, so as to momentarily heat the wire but not
to such a degree as to really injure the tyre, for which purpose the cotton or
other suitable covering is provided. The wire can be thereby expanded to such an
extent that after its ends are secured and it is allowed to cool it will contract sufficiently
to firmly hold the tyre to the wheel rin. I preferably arrange that at the moment
when the wire is thus expanded its ends shall be brought into contact, so that when
this happens the current of electricity which previously passed in relatively sinall
quantity through the wire within the tyre will take the path of lesser resistance through
the ends that are in contact and in such greater quantity as to fuse these ends
together. As a source of electricity for this purpose I prefer to use an accumulator
battery, or a suitable current from the secondary wire of a transformer. The resistance
of the wire inside the tyre may be regulated by varying the number of turns thereof
used; or by suitably proportioning the size of the wire; or the wire inay he made of
an alloy of suitable electrical resistance to ensure its being sufficiently heated by the
electric current employed.

page_text: Fig. 7 shews partly in elevation and partly in section this method of applying an
elastic tyre to a wheel rim. 13 is part of a wheel rim such as that of a velocipere;
14 14 the end portions of a tyre of elastic material such as india ruhher having a hole
therethrough and which ends are, during the operation of securing the tyre, squeezed
back from each other as shewn, 15 15 are the end portions of a covered wire that
extends through the hole in the tyre.
A convenient device for pulling the ends of the wire together and for placing the
wire in circuit with an electric generator 15, comprises two metal clamps 17,18 that are
connected to the poles of the electric generator and are carried by but insulated from
two lever arm 19 that are pivotted together at 20, the other arms 21 of the levers
serving as linn lles for moving towards each other, the clamps and the end portions of
the wire secured therein. 22 is a switch for opening and closing the electric circuit.
To firmly bind the tyre i to the wheel rim it is placed around the rim its ends being
then apart as shewn. The clamps 17, 18 are then placed between the ends of the tyre,
the end portions 14 of the wire secured thereto, the circuit of the electric generator
completed through this wire so as to heat and expand the same, and the lever arms 21
moved together so as to pull the wire tight and cause its ends to be brought together.
When this takes place the circuit of the generator will be completed through the ends
of the wire between the clamps which being of small resistance relatively to the whole
length of the wire, will admit of the passage of a sufficiently large current to heat these
ends to such a temperature that they will become welded together; or the ends may
he otherwise secured ns for instance by twisting or binding them together. The
elamping and tightening device is then removed, the ends of the tyre which were
previously squeezed back are worked over the connected ends of the wire and brought
together, and the wire on cooling will contract and firmly bind the tyre upon the rin.
Fig. 8 is a transverse section of an elastic wheel tyre formed with two holes
therethrough, and
Fig. 9 is a diagrammatic view shewing the wire passed through these holes so as to
make two turns.
In order that the two ends of the wire may not cross the portion 11° of the wire
extending from one hole to the other between the ends of the tyre, the tyre may he
twisted through 180 degrees so that the ends of the wire before they are heated and
united, are parallel to the portion 14*. This tyre can be secured to a wheel rim in
the manner and by the means hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 7 the ends
of the wire being either electrically welded or otherwise jointed together; or the ends
of the wire may be drawn tightly together by a suitable tightening device such as
that shown in Fig. 7 and then connected together without the aid of electricity to heat
and expand the wire.
As will be obvious the method of securing elastic tyres to wheel rims herein described
may be used in connection with wheels other than those for velocipedes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The combination of a wheel hub a driving shaft an interposed buffer of elastic or
yielding material such as indiarubber and one or more arms projecting fromthedriving
shaft through an opening or openings in the wheel hub and having a flexible or yielding
connection or connections to the hub.
2. The arrangements of combined wheel hub hollow driving shaft interposed elastic
buffers and driving connections herein respectively describe with reference to and
shown in Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive and in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings annexed.
3. The method of securing an elastic iyre to a wheel rim, by forming the tyre with
a hole throughout its length, placing therein a wire passing an electric current through
the wire so as to raise its temperature and expand it, drawing the ends of the wire
together whilst heated, connecting these ends, and allowing the wire to cool and
contract whilst the tyre is in place on the wheel rim.

page_text: 4. The method of securing an elastic tyre to a wheel rim by forming the tyre with
a hole throughout its length, placing therein a wire, passing an electric current through
the wire so as to raise its temperature and expand it, drawing the ends of the wire
together whilst heated, connecting the ends by electrically welding them and allowing
the wire to cool and contract whilst the tyre is in place on the wheel rim substantially
as herein described.
5. The method of securing an elastic tyre to a wheel rim by forming the tyre with
two holes therein passing a wire through the two holes so that it makes a double turn
when the tyre is in place upon the wheel rim then drawing or springing the ends of
the wire together assisted or not by electrical heating, and connecting these ends
substantially as herein described.
Dated this 12th day of November 1889,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.