Improved Tire Tightener.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1898-Accepted, 23rd Apr., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Tire Tightener.
I, WILLIAM HENRY WALLINGFORD, of the City of Newport, County of Camp-
bell, State of Kentucky United States of America, 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 means for tightning the tyres of vehicle wheels, and
has for its object to provide a device of the indicated character, which is simple,
inexpensive, practical and effective in use, and that may be readily adjusted
to compensate for the expansion or contraction of the wooden fellies of a wheel,
by one who is not an expert mechanic.
-as
The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts a
is hereinafter described and defined in the claims.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate corresponding
parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 is a side view in part of a wheel rim having the improvements shown
in section;
Figure 2, a plan view of the inner side of a vehicle felly in part, and the im-
provements shown applied;
Figure 3, a transverse sectional view in line 3, 3, Figure 1;
Figure 4, a perspective view of two oppositely disposted facing blocks;
Figure 5, a detached perspective view of a filling plate;
Figure 6, a detached perspective view of a wedge, for spreading the facing
blocks;
Figure 7, a side elevation of the facing blocks with the ends of adjacent fellies
in section; showing a modification of the adjusting wedges, and
Figure 8, a perspective view of a lining hoop that may be used along with the
applied improvement.
tire
In the drawings that illustrate my invention, A, A, represent adjacent end
portions of fellies for a wheel, which are engaged by the improved
tightner."
A metal casing sleeve 10 is provided that in the contour of its comparatively
thin wall exactly conforms with that of the felly ends it encircles. The fellies A,
transversely considered are of the same dimensions as the cross section of the
casing sleeve 10, and are so reduced in diameter where they engage therewith
that these end portions of the fellies may be slidably inserted in the sleeve. When
the described parts have been assembled their outer surfaces should conform and
avoid unsightly effects therein.
The inner side of the casing sleeve 10 is apertured to afford means for the
free introduction of two facing blocks 11 therein, and a cover plate 12 is fitted
upon the casing sleeve and thereto secured by the bolt 13, said plate covering
the aperture in a neat, effective manner.

page_text: In constructing a wheel, of which the felly portions A are a part, the ends of
the latter are sufficiently separated from each other, to permit an introduction
of the facing blocks 11 between them. The facing blocks 11 are alike, and each
consists of a metal or hardwood block that conforms in contour and dimensions
with the form and size of the interior cross section of the sleeve .10.
A rib a is formed on each block 11, which ribs are preferably arranged
transversely
and are embedded in cross grooves formed to receive
them in the end surfaces of the fellies A. The blocks 11 are preferably
rendered parallel on their side faces, and have such a relative thickness as will
permit a crevice b to intervene between their adjacent surfaces when said blocks
are in place within the sleeve 10 as shown in Figure 1.
If the fellies A are formed of dry wood when the wheel is manufactured, there
are similar filling plates such as 14 shown in Figures 1, 3 and 5, two of these
plates being employed for convenience in introducing them. The filling plates 14
should be of such area and thickness as to neatly fill the crevice b, so that the
shrinkage of the tire B in place on the fellies will draw all the joints together
and bind the fellies upon the spoke C, of the wheel. Should the fellies become
so tightly compressed on the spoke as to draw the latter sidewise and give too
much dish to the wheel, the liners or filling plates 14 may be removed which
will relieve such a strain on the wooden portions of the wheel and let it come
to a proper dish.
cover
To take up looseness in the joints between the ends of the fellies A, à pair
As indicated
of wedges 15 is employed, the form of which is shown in Figures 6.
in Figure 1, the facing blocks 11, have their transverse and adjacent edges that
are near the aperture of the sleeve 10, beveled thereby facilitating the introduc-
tion of the wedges 15 that are to be driven into the crevice b
through said aperture of the sleeve after the removal of the
It
plate 12.
will be seen that
of
the introduction the wedges 15,
will so spread apart the facing blocks 11 and ends of the fellies they
are in contact with, that the tire B will be sufficiently tightened. It should be
explained, that if the wooden rim of the wheel consists of a single bent felly, then
but a single tire tightning device may be used in conjunction with the ends of
such a felly. However, should the wheel have a series of fellies in its rim, then if
preferred, there may be plurality of tire tightners of improved constructions
employed to spread the parts of the wooden rim against the tire.
If a wheel is manufactured of wood that is not seasoned, and therefore liable
to contract considerably in dry weather, it may be of advantage to introduce a lining
hoop such as is represented in Figure 8, this hoop 16 being slid between the tire B
and felly or fellies of the wheel to partially take up the slackness and enable the
insertion of the wedges 15, as before explained to complete the tightning of the
tire.
It will be evident that after the wedges 15 are driven completely into place
within the casing sleeve 10, the replacing of the cover plate 12, will prevent
a displacement of the wedges and thus render the tightning of the tire re-
liable.
Instead of using single wedges upon each side of the fellies, two wedges 17-18
may be placed reversely to each other as shown in, Figure 7, and one or more liners
19-20 may be used upon the side or sides thereof to fill the space between the
facing blocks. One of the wedges 17 may have a head 22 at its inner end and a
set screw 21 passing through the cover plate 12, to press thereon will serve to
spread the wedges equally so as to bear in opposite directions against the facing
blocks.
It is claimed for this improved tire tightning device, that it is extremely
simple, very effective, easy to adjust, requires but few tools to effect an adjust-
ment of the same, and does not require the services of a skilled mechanic to
tighten the loose tires of one or more vehicle wheels.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
First. A tire tightner comprising a casing sleeve adapted to fit the ends of
a wheel felly, facing blocks in the sleeve to abut with the separate ends of the
felly, and means to spread the facing blocks and hold them separated, as speci-
fied.
Second. A tire tightner, comprising a casing sleeve adapted to fit the ends
of wheel fellies, and having a covered aperture on the spoke side thereof, two
flat facing blocks having ribs that engage grooves in the felly ends, and a spread-
ing block fitted between the facing blocks, and prevented from displacement by
the cover of the aperture in the sleeve through which said wedge is introduced
as specified.
Third. In a tire tightner, the combination with a tire, and wheel felly ends,
of a casing sleeve on said ends, adjustable facing blocks adapted to abut against
the ends of the fellies within the casing sleeve, and means to hold said blocks
separated, as specified.
Fourth. In a tire tightner, the combination with a tire, and adjacent wheel
felly ends of a casing sleeve that is apertured on the spoke side, a secured cover
over the aperture, two facing blocks held within the sleeve and an expanding
device adapted to spread apart the facing blocks when driven through the aper-
ture of the casing sleeve between said blocks, as specified.
D JL: 01at day of Fobruary 1898
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicant's Patent Agents.