Improvements in and relating to Elastic Tyres, and Rims therefor.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 18th Feb., 1897-Accepted, 17th Apr., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Elastic Tyres, and Rims therefor.
EBENEZER WILLIAM HUGHES, 72ª Clayton Road Peckham S.E. Civil
Engineer. I do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention consists of making spring steel elastic tyres,
suitable for bicycles tricycles, and the like, and vehicles of every description. The
cross section of the tyre is of channel iron or trough form, the base travelling on
the roadway, and the projecting sides clipping the periphery or rim of the wheel
(also made of a similar section to the tyre) but placed in a reversed position to the
tyre, thus forming a hollow space or cavity between them, all round inside and
either filled with a solid, or tubular india rubber ring, or preferably with a strip of
corrugated spring steel running all round the cavity or hollow space before
referred to.
If preferred the sides of the tyre can be put inside the periphery or rim of the
wheel, before referred to instead of outside.
When making the tyre V shaped or taper pieces preferably one inch apart have
to be cut away all round, both sides of the tyre, so as to bring the parts together
when fixed in position, and also to admit of them opening slightly when the
tyre base flattens on the roadway, when loaded or travelling, so desirable to
accomplish.
I propose forging the spring steel tyre in a complete ring, also the india rubber
ring, or preferably the spring steel corrugated strip before described.
The periphery or rim of wheel can be made in two halves or one joint only, and
inserted inside the tyre channel, by bending the ends inwardly then forcing into
position.
The joints in periphery or rim of wheel to have projecting pieces inward bolted
firmly together.
The spokes previously put through the rim before closing up.
Improvements in and relating to Elastic Tyres, and Rims therefor.
I, EBENEZER WILLIAM HUGHES, of 72ª Clayton Road, Peckham, London,
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 refers to elastic metallic tyres for the wheels of velocipedes and
other vehicles, wherein the felloe or rim of the wheel is of trough section, the
tyre being of a similar section, and arranged as hereafter described, so that the
flanges of the tyre either externally embrace the flanges of the felloe or pass

page_text: between same, and are capable of motion relatively thereto, the enclosed space or
cavity between the base of the felloe and tyre, containing a metal or other spring
or springs to regulate the degree of motion between the felloe and the tyre, and to
impart resiliency to the latter.
In order that my invention may be readily understood I will describe same with
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a transverse section of a felloe and tyre, shewing an example where the
flanges of the tyre externally embrace those of the felloe.
Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are similar views shewing the construction where the flanges of
the tyre pass internally between the flanges of the felloe;
Fig. 5 is a transverse section of the tyre and felloe shewing the application
thereto of a clamp employed in the manufacture or fitting of the wheel.
Fig. 6 is a sectional side elevation of a wheel felloe and tyre constructed as
previously particularly illustrated by the transverse sections at Figs. 2, 3, 4 and 5,
but shewn to a smaller scale than these figures, and
Fig. 7 is an inverted horizontal section taken on the line X Y of Fig. 6.
Fig. 8 is a sectional side elevation, and Fig. 9 a transverse section shewing a
slightly modified construction or arrangement, and
Fig. 10 is a sectional side elevation shewing a modified arrangement of springs.
According to my invention the tyre proper A is of channel or trough form in
section, as is also the felloe or rim B of the wheel, the projecting sides of the
tyre A extending inwardly towards the rim B, while the sides or flanges of the
latter extend outwardly towards the tyre, and so that the sides of the said tyre A,
either embrace the flanges of the rim B externally as shewn at Fig. 1, or pass
internally between same as shewn in the following figures, and which latter I find
preferable.
The flanges of the tyre A and of the rim B, are of such relative diameters that
when fitted together the tyre is capable of a certain amount of motion in or on
the rim B in a plane at right angles to the axis of the wheel. In order to control
this motion and give it a resilient character, I fit within the contained space, or
cavity C, a spring core of india rubber or other material, but preferably an
annular metallic spring D of undulatiug form, as shewn at Fig. 6.
I divide the inwardly extending flanges of the tyre A, at intervals, forming
same into inwardly tapering tongues A¹, see Fig. 6 & 8, thus facilitating the
manufacture of the tyre A, which is to be made of annular formation, and also the
divisions add to the elasticity of the tyre itself, permitting the base thereof to
become somewhat flattened at the point of its contact with the road, see Fig. 6;
the tongues when the part is thus flattened, slightly separating one from the other.
At the interior and generally centrally of the tyre A, I may form short projecting
webs A, similar webs B2, differently situated, being formed interiorally of the
rim B, these webs serving to maintain the circumferential position of the undulating
spring D; the said webs A' B', each terminate before reaching the spring D,
Fig. 6, in order to permit of the latter having the proper amount of play.
The base or tread of the tyre A may be plain or roughened, or it may be fitted
with an india rubber or other tread as at A³ Fig. 3, fixed say by solution, or as at
Fig. 4 the tread of the tyre A may be grooved, to receive the india rubber or
other tread A³.
The tyre A, I preferably form of spring steel and in a complete ring, and the
spring D is also made annular; the rim B is either divided at one part, or is formed
in segments as shewn at Fig. 6, and the segments are placed in position relatively
to the tyre, I then bring the segments together, by applying a suitable number of
clamps, (such as those marked E, Figs. 5 and 6,) the segments composing the rim B
being thus brought into proper position and are then secured together by say
bolts F passing through flanges G Figs. 2 and 6, and the clamps E removed.
The spokes H are previously passed through the rim B, before the latter is
closed up. In some cases, as shewn at Figs. 8 and 9, I may form slots J in

page_text: the sides of the tyre, at the base of the divisions between the tapering tongues A',
and thereby obtain greater flexibility of the tread of the tyre A, while the
said tread may be punched with a series of holes K, exteriorally burred or
roughened, to afford a greater grip upon the road, and in such cases the interior
of the tyre channel may be lined at the base with cork, india rubber, or the
like A, to exclude wet, mud etc. Where it is desired to augment the strength
of the spring D, I place between the undulations thereof, spring rings D¹, which
also serve to distribute more evenly the pressure upon the tyre A, or instead
of the spring rings, I may employ spring coiled metal or cork blocks. Or I may
in this connection, fit a complete series of spring rings or coils D', as at Fig. 10,
in lieu of the undulating spring D aforesaid.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In tyres for the wheels of velocipedes and other vehicles, a wheel rim of
channel section, having the two parallel flanges thereof extending outwards from
the centre of the wheel, in combination with a metallic tyre of like section,
the flanges thereof extending towards the centre of the wheel, and embracing
or passing between the flanges of the rim, the tyre being capable of motion
within the rim in a plane at right angles with the axis of the wheel, the flanges
of the tyre being divided into segments, together with an india rubber or other
elastic packing or metallic spring or springs, located in the enclosed space
between the rim and tyre, to give to the latter a proper resilient action
relatively to the rim, substantially as and for the purposes described and shewn
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination with a tyre and rim, as claimed by Claim 1, of a contained
annular spring D, of undulating character, together with distancing webs on the
interior of the tyre and rim, to retain the spring in position, substantially as
described and shewn.
3. In a tyre and rim as claimed by Claim 1, the dividing of the rim B, and
means for fitting together the component parts of the elastic wheel tyre and rim,
substantially as described with reference to Figs. 5 and 6, of the accompanying
drawings.
4. The construction and arrangement of elastic wheel rim and tyre, substantially
as described with reference to Figs. 8, 9, and 10 of the accompanying drawings.
5. The general arrangement and combination of parts composing my improved
clastic wheel rim and tyre, all constructed substantially as and for the purposes
described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 10th dow of Tal
BREWER & SON,
London and Leeds, Agents for the Applicant.