Improvements in and relating to the Rims of Wheels for Vehicles, Pulleys, Driving Wheels, Gearing, and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1897-Accepted, 10th July, 1897
Improvements in and relating to the Rims of Wheels for Vehicles,
Pulleys, Driving Wheels, Gearing, and the like.
I ALFRED HOWARD of 10 Cliffords Inn, London, Solicitor 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 :-
My invention relates to the felloes or circumferential parts of wheels and such like
apparatus namely pulleys driving wheels gearing and the like wherein the more
ordinary outer metallic tyre is now commonly replaced by a softer or more yielding
and resilient substance (held in a stiff frame or rim) for the sake of better frictional
results, and for the sake of minimising tremor and concussion. I propose no
alterations in spokes, hubs, or axles.
In the well known inflated pneumatic tyres, or in the common solid rubber tyres, or
in the rather less used sectional stud tyres, the actual tyre is mounted in the trough
of a firm frame or rim generally of metal but sometimes of wood or partly of wood.
Now iny leading features of novelty relate (1) to an alteration of the form or construction
of the margins, cheeks, sides, or flanges of such metallic rims (for the sake of obtaining
increased grasping power and (2) to the means which I employ to brace, strengthen,
and lighten the same whilst aiding such rims in receiving and holding the actual tyre
with its outer frictional yielding or resilient face whether such tyre consists of one
single length or of several pieces or of very numerous sections.
Fig. 1 Sheet 1, represents in section the metallic rim of an ordinary velocipede
wheel; In Figs. 1, 2 and 3 Sheet 1 A A represent the margins of the rim and
B represents the trough or annular space provided to receive an annular tyre, whilst
D represents the underside view of the said rim, but this view of the part D being not
wanted is omitted from the other figures. Figs. 2 and 3 represent only simpler forms
of the same kind of rim for the wheels of road carriages, go-carts, or other light or
heavy vehicles.
Now such rims have been designed with no really side grasping power
in the case of inflated rubber tube tyres, and with very little if any grasping
power in the case of other annular or elastic ring tyres, because it is the constricting
power of the annular tyre which retains it in the trough of the rim. However with
the use of covers or jackets a slight grasping effect has been introduced by beaded
incurved or channelled margins; but here the additional retaining power is gained
only by way of resisting expansion from within. It is rather different in the case of
rims holding blocks or studs where the retension of the same has been effected by
more or less encompassing part of the front as well as the sides of such blocks or
studs. Still in all these cases it will be perceived that hitherto the flanges have
not been further squeezed up and closed by bracing pieces after the tyres have been
placed in position. The following figs. illustrate the mechanical means which I claim
for my improved system.
In Figs. 4 and 5 Sheet 2 the leading features of novelty of my invention are to be
seen in a modification more or less of the margins and sides or flanges of my metallic
rims (when compared with such as those of Figs. 1, 2 and 3) and in the simultaneous
provision for cross pieces of the nature of ties, braces, stays, or tie-and-stay pieces or
wire lacings in lieu of separate ties.

page_text: This idea is carried out in Figs. 6, 7, 10 and 11 of Sheet 2. The letters
CC represent pins which may be more or less ties or braces across the trough at intervals
all round the felloe of the wheel. Fig. 8 Sheet 1 represents different forms which
can be given to such pins or pieces CC; but it will be evident that such pins can be
more or less modified, thus assuming the forms of rivets, screws, bolts, and nuts, or
split lynch or cotter pins. These pieces CC will have to pierce any considerable
length of solid or other tyre at intervals, but they may pass between the junctions of
small blocks, studs, or sections. Inflated pneumatic belts would not be available in a
simple form unless used as mere innermost pads cushions or beds to additional belts
serving as outer tyres (thus remaining unpierced); otherwise they should be furnished
with tubular holes, or rear pads at spaced distances to accommodate the pieces C C.
Instead of separate tie pieces C C, the cheeks of my improved rims may be braced
up by wire lacings or lashings C₁C¹ as illustrated in connection with the sectional
form of Fig. 7. Such lacings or lashings may be also contrived to cross and recross
or return many different ways; besides merely bracing they may perform the functions
of the cover clip piece (hereafter referred to as E E in Fig. 12) by being passed at
intervals over the face of the tyre and they may also be returned across the back of
my rims which may be if desired be notched where crossed. Such wire lacings or
lashings may be finally soldered in position on the outside.
With my rims aided by the pieces C, C, a wheel no longer requires the most exact
fit of annular or endless band tyre, but on the contrary a practical tyre can be cut off
from any straight length of suitable section, the two extremities merely meeting
with butt ends or some readily and easily contrived joint. When any part gets unduly
worn, a section can be cut out and replaced by the insertion of a sinall new piece.
The reason of this is that with my system it is the side clip and bracing pieces
which hold the tyre and prevent expansion and creeping, whilst with an annular tyre,
merely sprung into position in the annular trough of the wheel's rim, it is the
constriction of the tight fitting tyre (perhaps cemented) on the trough of the rim
which holds the two together, such holding power rapidly deteriorating as wear causes
the tyre to elongate and creep.
With my rims suitable wood sections with the fibre or grain leading outwards can
be used to build up the tyre with good frictional effects and economy. Instead of
wood or india rubber, very small sections of raw or untanned hide can be used, or
cork, cane or vulcanised or other specially treated and compressed fibre or any other
cheap or good wearing material can be employed; but my point of novelty rather lies
in the combination of the tie or lacing and rims to grasp such materials: my system
moreover obviates the necessity of making the sides of the rim as thick heavy and
strong as would be otherwise necessary in order to resist expansion and the
weakening effects of outward pressure over the holding capabilities of such like
rims.
In fixing the tyre on my improved rim it is possible with suitable forms to spring
elastic sections bit by bit into the rim, but in the general way (the bracing or tie
pieces being more or less widely opened, and sections or the whole tyre being placed
in position) the rim may afterwards be very tightly clipped and compressed laterally
by a firm mechanical closing in of the flanges margins or side parts of the metallic
rim before the bracings or tie pieces are passed through the sides and secured.
Fig. 15 shews a section of rim with two grooves on each side and more than two
might be made. With two grooves it may be well to have ties crossing the tyre
section in one or in both lines of grooves. Instead of the mere heads and ends of
the ties or pieces C. C. holding against the rim's grooved sides, their heads and ends
may pass into and engage with metallic pieces more or less lying in and filling the
annular grooves, or with metallic pieces soldered or welded on to the rims (as in
Fig. 11) in place of grooves. Instead of annular grooves, the flanges of the rim may
be indented or cupped where the bracings or ties pass through.
When tyre sections have road treads or wearing faces like bossed studs, the ties
may secure cover-clip pieces crossing the rim between the bosses as illustrated
by F, E in Fig. 12, Sheet 2, and again in Fig. 9*.

page_text: Instead of my through tie-pieces which brace the counterpart flanges or sides of
the rim together or the like, shorter screws night of course be used merely to unite
tyre sections to each other (if overlapping) as well as to half rims and similarly to
unite rim sections to tyre block sections. This kind of thing however I utterly
disclaim as a fundamental part of my system of bracing together the two cheeks (or
the side flanges) of metallic rims otherwise too light to be employed for wheels whose
compressible and expansible tyres inevitably exert a disruptive force as above described.
I also disclaim any pretence to novelty in tyres built up of sections as hitherto made
or in the materials used therefor. Fig. 13 shews another pattern of rim with its
cheeks braced by split pins but the same will suffice to illustrate the use of double
wires.
As an excellent and novel substitute for a light metallic rim in one single piece
my system of rims may be built up of two metallic halves (right and left counterparts)
or of two metallic disc-like counterpart flanges with a wooden or other central back
or bed holding the soft or resilient or other yielding or wear-resisting tyre on its face
and receiving the wheel spokes behind.
In my way of carrying out this idea the sections of metallic rodding known
as T and shapes (more or less modified) will be serviceable or a corrugated form
of mere irregular, zig-zag or serpentine section. By reference to the sectional form
of Fig. 12 it will be readily perceived that the rim of trough-shape there illustrated
could be built up of two distinct halves of ✓ section (braced together); these two
halves would then not merely clip the tyre but would also clamp the back or bed
which would receive the spokes.
In Fig. 14 Sheet 2 the metallic parts of the felloe are two cheeks or margins of
the T shape (with the tops lying outwards), whilst the view of Fig. 15 may be
considered as illustrating the application of an ☐ section with one limb much
modified; of course the T shape might be modified and the L shape employed in a
plainer form as is Figs. 9 and 9*, but the feature of novelty lies entirely in the
bracing of two such counterpart halves by my system of ties or lacings. In the
sectional forms shown in Fig. 16 and 17 the counterpart halves would be similarly
braced together.
Economy occurs in connection with these forms by reason of the increased
cheapness and facility of construction, whilst efficiency is secured by reason of the
increased elasticity of the combination.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is.
1. The tie pieces C C (for aiding the cheeks or sides of annular metallic rims to
grasp compressible, resilient or yielding tyres) substantially as above described.
2. The modified section of metallic rims for wheels grasping the sides of the tyre
(with the assistance of bracing pieces or bracing wires) substantially as
described.
above
3. The combination of the modified section of light metallic rims with the
strengthening pieces C, C. (or lacing wires as substitutes for separate pieces C)
substantially as above described.
4. The combined novel wheel comprising a non-metallic tyre which is grasped
between the flanges of my modified light metallic rim, which flanges are braced and
strengthened at suitable intervals by my ties or lacings substantially as above
described.
5. The improved built up rims for the felloes of wheels made with two inetallic
counterpart halves (forming two flanges or cheeks grasping soft, resilient, or elastic
road treads or other like wear-resisting and good holding peripheries) braced together
by ties stays, or lacings substantially as above described.
ليمي
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