Improvements in Elastic Wheel Tyres and Rims.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 17th Dec., 1895-Accepted, 17th May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Elastic Wheel Tyres and Rims.
We, JOHN THOMAS SOUTHWORTH formerly of 70 Heywood Street, Moss Side,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, but now residing at 24 Christian
Road, Preston, in the County of Lancaster, and LEWIS CHARLES WALLACH of
57 Gracechurch Street, in the City of London, Engineer's Furnisher and Contractor,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our said invention relates to improvements in elastic wheel tyres and rims for
use in connection with cycles and wheeled vehicles generally. Our invention refers
to the solid cushion type of tyre modified however in such a manner as to confer
additional elasticity and softness of running, while at the same time it is free from
the objections to which the pneumatic tyre is subject.
In carrying the invention into effect we make the solid rubber tyre with
internal corrugations or teeth or with recesses and projections of any suitable
shape and proportion formed on or in its internal circumference.
We then apply to this corrugated, toothed or spaced internal circumference a
liner ring of thin sheet steel or other suitable metal or material correspondingly
shaped so as to fit the said corrugated or toothed internal tyre circumference. We
however so form this liner ring that although it is shaped to fit over and between
the different corrugations, teeth or projections on the tyre, a space is left between
the ring and the tyre at the foot of each space and also between the ring and the
top of each tooth or projection the corrugated ring and the teeth being in
contact about the middle of their depth. To keep the ring and tyre in their
proper relative position, and also to prevent dirt and dust from settling in the spaces
between the projections, teeth or corrugations, we fit over the inner circumference
a covering ring made preferably in two parts of an L shape and applied from each
side of the wheel. The two halves of the cover ring are held together by cross
bolts, rivets or other suitable means the bolts where they occur extending across
between the projections, teeth or corrugations. In some cases however this cover
ring might be made in one and be cut so as to be capable of being sprung on.
The cross bolts in such a case would be unnecessary. The confining side flanges
of the cover ring prevent side movements of the corrugated ring and tyre while as
aforesaid the middle part of the ring prevents the entry of dirt and dust to the
spaces between the teeth and corrugations in the liner ring. When in use the
elasticity of the tyre is derived from three sources, viz.: the rubber tyre, corrugated
sheet steel liner ring, and the air confined between the tyre and the ring at the top
and bottom of the corrugations. There is no direct bumping contact between the
rubber of the tyre and the liner ring, but only contact which ensures resilient
expansion or compression of the corrugations of the ring, which acting in conjunction
with the native elasticity of the rubber and the small pockets of confined air, result
in an exceedingly elastic and soft running tyre.

page_text: BAR Tyres and kids.
We, JOHN THOMAS SOUTHWORTH, of 24 Christian Road, Preston, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, and LEWIS CHARLES WALLACH of 57 Grace-
church Street, in the City of London, Engineer's Furnisher and Contractor, 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 elastic wheel tyres and rims for use
in connection with cycles and wheeled vehicles generally, and refers to the solid or
cushion type of tyre, modified however in such a manner as to confer additional
elasticity and softness of running, while at the same time it is free from the
objections to which the pneumatic tyre is subject.
In carrying the invention into effect we make the solid rubber tyre with
internal corrugations or teeth or with recesses and projections of any suitable
shape and proportions formed on or in its internal circumference. We then
apply to this corrugated, toothed or spaced internal circumference a liner ring
of thin sheet steel or other suitable metal or material correspondingly shaped
so as to fit the said corrugated or toothed internal tyre circumference. We
however so form this liner ring that although it is shaped to fit over and
between the different corrugations teeth or projections of the tyre, a space is
left between the ring and the tyre at the foot of each space and also between
the ring and the top of each tooth or projection the corrugated ring and the
teeth being in contact about the middle of their depth. To keep the ring and
tyre in their proper relative position and also to prevent dirt and dust from
settling in the spaces between the projections, teeth or corrugations we fit over
the inner circumference a covering ring made preferably in parts of an L-shape
and applied from each side of the wheel. The two halves of the cover ring
are held together by cross bolts, rivets or other suitable means the bolts where
they occur extending across between the projections, teeth or corrugations.
In some cases however the covering might be made in one and be cut so as to
be capable of being sprung on. The cross bolts in such a case would be
unnecessary. The confining side flanges of the cover ring prevent side move-
ment of the corrugated ring and tyre while as aforesaid the middle part of
the ring prevents the entry of dirt and dust to the spaces between the teeth
and corrugations in the liner ring. When in use the elasticity of the tyre is
derived from three sources, viz. the rubber tyre, corrugated sheet steel liner ring,
and the air confined between the tyre and the ring at the top and bottom of the
corrugations. There is no direct bumping contact between the rubber of the tyre
and the liner ring, but only contact which ensures resilient expansion or compression
of the corrugations of the ring which acting in conjunction with the native elasticity
of the rubber and the small pockets of confined air, result in an exceedingly elastic
and soft running tyre.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a central longitudinal section of the improved tyre applied to a bicycle
wheel.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a central longitudinal section of the improved tyre applied to an
ordinary vehicle wheel;
Figure 4 is a transverse section of the same on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

page_text: Figure 5 is a central longitudinal section of a modification..
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
A toothed or corrugated metal band A is placed in a channel rim B and has its
ends secured together by rivetting or otherwise. The band A may be directly
secured by bolts, rivets or the like C to the bottom of the rim. A preferably solid
strip D of rubber or like elastic material has its inner side formed with teeth or
corrugations D which correspond with the corrugatious in the band A but are
constructed so as not to fit tightly in the latter but leave air pockets E. If desired
to give increased resiliency the elastic strip D may be perforated as at D' so
as to form further air pockets. The spokes F may be attached to the rim B in
the ordinary way.
If it is desired to attach the tyre to a wooden or other carriage wheel the
ordinary metal tyre is removed and holes are bored through the wooden rim G.
A channelled rim B carrying the corrugated band A and elastic strip D is then
secured by screws H rivets or the like passing through the corrugated band and into
the holes in the rim G. If desired the channel may be dispensed with and the
corrugated band may be secured directly on to the wooden rim, distance pieces
being employed if preferred to hold the baud A away from actual contact with the
wooden rim G. It is found convenient in order to ensure larger bearing surfaces
to form shallow transverse grooves or depressions on the periphery of the wooden
rim or in the bottom of the channel rim in which the corrugations of the band A
may lie. The channel rim carrying the tyre may if desired be attached over the
ordinary metal tyre on the carriage wheel, the holes for the securing
being bored through the metal tyre to enable the rim B to be secured to the
wheel as previously described.
screws
Where the channel rim B is not employed it is advisable to arrange side plates
which may be secured to the wooden rim by bolts in order to prevent any lateral
movement of the tyre on the rim.
Bolts rivets or the like J may be passed through the sides of the rim B and
through the perforations D2 in the rubber strip D in order to hold the latter
securely in position.
The corrugations of the hand A and those formed on the inner side of the
elastic strip D are preferably made rounded or curved as shown in Figures 1
and 3, but if desired they may be formed more in the shape of teeth with rounded
or sharp angles as shown in Figure 5, the teeth D¹ being made so as not to fit
right into the opening between the teeth formed by the band A in order that the
air pockets E may be left.
If desired the corrugations D' may be shaped so as to fit closely into those of
the band A, thus doing away with the air pockets E. Also the rim instead of
having its sides turned up at right angles as shown in Figures 2 and 4 may have
them opened out or turned inwards so as to form undercut edges, the corrugated
band A and strip D being shaped accordingly to fit therein.
In a modification the rim B in the form of tyre shown in Figures 1 and 2 may
be dispensed with, the spokes being fastened directly into the corrugated band A.
The sides of this band may or may not be closed by side plates or rings either
formed integral with the band A or distinct from it, in the latter case being securely
held in contact with the sides of the tyre by means of bolts or the like.
In a further modification the wooden rim of a carriage wheel may be formed
with corrugated periphery the rubber strip D being laid round this and secured in
position by side plates or not as desired.
The shape of the holes D2 in the rubber tread may be considerably varied or may
be entirely dispensed with.
The corrugated or other band A is preferably constructed of steel but other
metals or material may be employed if preferred and if desired the band may be
formed smooth on one side with corrugations upon the other.
The elastic strip D may be provided with a suitable tread surface either smooth
or roughened to prevent slipping as desired.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
-claim is :-
1. The elastic wheel tyre substantially as described.
2. In an elastic wheel tyre the combination with a toothed or corrugated band
such as A of a rubber strip with teeth or corrugations formed upon its inner side
and adapted to engage with the band A substantially as described.
3. In an elastic wheel tyre the combination with a toothed or corrugatel banl
such as A of a rubber strip with teeth or corrugations formed upon its inner side
and adapted to engage with the band A so as to leave air pockets substa stially as
and for the purpose described.
4. In an elastic wheel tyre the combination with a toothed or corrugated band
such as A of a rubber strip with teeth or corrugations formed upon its inner side
with or without air pockets in the substance of the rubber strip constructed and
operating substantially as described.
5. In an elastic wheel tyre the combination with a rim of a toothed or corrugated
band such as A and a rubber strip correspondingly toothed or corrugated upon its
inner side substantially as described.
6. In an elastic wheel tyre the combination with a toothed or corrugated band
such as A of a rubber tread, and side plates integral with or distinct from the
band A together with or without a rim substantially as described.
7. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete clastic
wheel tyre substantially as described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 or
Figures 3 and 4 or Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 17th day of December 1896.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicants.