Improvements in and relating to Wheels for Vehicles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 16th June, 1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Wheels for Vehicles.
We, GEORGE SHERMAN WEBB, Manufacturer, 148 Kinzie Strect, Chicago,
Cook County, Illinois, and EDWARD JOSEPH SILL, Dentist, of Aurora, Kane
County, Illinois, both of the United States of America 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 wheels for vehicles.
In the accompanying drawing,
Figure 1 is a sectional view on line 1, 1 Figure 2.
Figure 2 is a sectional plan on line 2, 2 of Figure 1, with the tyre removed
shewing the method of tightening the wires.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on line 3, 3, Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of the rim on line 4, 4 Figure 2, and
Figure 5 is a transverse section of a rim illustrating a modification of our said
invention.
In the drawing we have not shown the entire wheel, but we have shown enough
thereof to enable those skilled in the art to make and use our invention, which
relates partly to the rim thereof and partly to means for securing the tyre in
place thereon.
Our said invention consists in features of novelty to be more particularly
hereinafter described.
One of the objects of the said invention is to improve the construction of that
class of rims which are provided with two peripheral grooves. This feature of
the invention is shown in two modifications, in each of which there is a base or
felloe A having a wide peripheral groove (which terminates in two marginal lips
or flanges a) a metallic facing E which covers the periphery of the felloe,
extending from side to side thereof and embracing the said flanges, and a rib C
located centrally between the flanges a, the several parts being so assembled and
secured together as to form a rim having two parallel peripheral grooves D.
In the form shown in Figures 1 to 4, the metallic facing E conforms to the
shape of the outer periphery of the felloe, and the rib C is formed of a strip
(preferably of wood), secured to the facing, preferably by screws driven into the
telloe. In the modified form shown in Figure 5 the rib is integral with the
facing (shown at E¹) both being formed of sheet-metal bent to the required
cross-sectional shape. In both forms the felloe is preferably of wood.
In the form shown in Figures 1 to 4 the facing is preferably of sheet-metal, and
Where the rib is
in the form shown in Figure 5 it is preferably of aluminum.
hollow, as in this latter figure, a steel plate F is placed beneath it and against
the felloe, for affording a suitable bearing for the heads of the spokes.
Heretofore the outer coverings of pneumatic tyres have been secured in place
by wires which engage the margins of the coverings, encircle the rim of the wheel,
and have their ends united by mechanism by which they may be drawn sufficiently
taut to prevent their leaving the grooves of the rim.
So far as our present invention relates to the securing of the tyre in place,
its object is to provide improved mechanism for uniting the ends of the wire
and drawing it taut. According to the present invention, this mechanism is not
secured to the rim. The rim is simply provided with a suitable seat for it, and
it is held in place simply by the tension of the wire itself, so that when the wire
is slackened the connecting mechanism may be unseated. This permits the edge

page_text: •
of the covering to be lifted, or both edges to be lifted and the covering removed,
without disconnecting the binding wire or wires.
In the drawing G represents the inner elastic tube, H the outer covering,
having along each of its margins a longitudinal duct or passage, in which lie the
binding wires I, one occupying each of said ducts. In the drawing we have
shown the connecting mechanism for only one of the wires, but it will be understood
that they are, or may be similarly connected. J is a sheet-metal housing which
is closed at one end, save for the perforation through which the wire passes, the
extremity of the said wire being headed to prevent its being drawn out. The
other end of the wire is passed through a similar perforation in the extremity
of a toothed rack K, and its extremity also headed to prevent its being drawn out.
The housing is of U-shape in cross-section, and is of such depth that it prevents
the teeth from coming in contact with the covering. At an intermediate point the
housing is provided with a pair of perforated ears or lugs j, in which is journalled a
spindle or arbor L, and between which is located a pinion M secured to the said
arbor and engaging the rack. The said arbor is provided with a longitudinal hole
through which passes a rod or stem N, of sufficient length to project on both sides
of the arbor. One end of this stem is bent to form a tooth or pawl n, which is
adapted to engage any one of a series of ratchet teeth k formed in the side of the
rack K. One face of each of these teeth is perpendicular to the length of the rack
bar and the other face inclined, so that as the rack bar is moved inward, or in the
direction that brings the extremities of the wire closer together, the inclined face
of the teeth will engage the pawl n and force it outward far enough to let the teeth
pass it, said pawl being caused to engage the several teeth as they successively
pass it by a suitably arranged spring.
For this purpose a plate spring O may be secured to the housing in such position
that it engages the pawl as shown. The outer end of the arbor is squared, as
shown at 1, for the reception of a key whereby the pinion may be turned for
drawing the two ends of the wire together, and the projecting outer end of the
stem N is threaded for the reception of a cap n' which serves for three purposes;
namely, a covering for the squared end of the arbor, a lock-nut to prevent the stem
being accidentally forced in, and a head or button to facilitate forcing the stem in
when it is desired to disengage the pawl from the ratchet. When it is to perform
the first two offices, the cap is screwed on to the stem until it bears firmly against
the rim of the wheel, and when it is to perform the third office it is screwed off a
sufficient distance to permit the necessary endwise movement of the stem.
From the aforesaid description it will be seen that the connecting mechanism is
not attached to the rim of the wheel in any way, excepting that the rim is provided
with a passage a¹ to receive the arhor L, and that the rib C is cut away to receive
that portion of the housing which encloses the pinion. By locating the borc a¹
with its axis inclined to the plane of the wheel the housing is brought into such
position that it lies snugly in one of the grooves D, and in addition to this the
extremity of the arbor is removed from the plane of the spokes so that it may be
conveniently reached and turned.
It will be understood that the duct or passage in the margin of the covering is of
sufficient size to receive all of the housing except the ears j, and to accommodate
these it is cut away.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In a wheel, the combination with the rim and tire, of a band engaging the
tire and binding it to the rim, said band having mechanism connecting its ends and
adapted to draw and hold it taut, said mechanism being removably seated upon the
rim so that it can be lifted therefrom with the tire when the band is slack, said
mechanism including a rack and pinion, means for turning the pinion, and a detent
for holding the parts to their adjustment, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 2. In a wheel, the combination with the rim and tire, of a band engaging the
tire and binding it to the rim, said band having mechanism connecting its
ends and adapted to draw and hold it taut, said mechanism being removably seated
upon the rim so that it can be lifted therefrom with the tire when the band is slack,
said mechanism including a rack and pinion, means for turning the pinion, a pawl
and ratchet, and means for causing said pawl to automatically engage the ratchet
for holding the mechanism to its adjustment, substantially as set forth.
3. In a wheel, the combination with the rim and tire, of a band engaging the tire
and binding it to the rim, said band having mechanism connecting its ends and
adapted to draw and hold it taut, said mechanism being removably seated upon the
rim so that it can be lifted therefrom with the tire when the band is slack, said
mechanism including a housing to which one end of the band is attached, a rack
bar mounted to slide in the housing and to which the other end of the band is
attached, a pinion journalled in the housing and engaging the rack bar, means for
turning the pinion, and a detent for holding the parts to their adjustment,
substantially as set forth.
4. In a wheel, the combination with the rim and tire, of a band engaging the
tire and binding it to the rim, said band having mechanism connecting its ends and
adapted to draw and hold it taut, said mechanism being removably seated upon the
rim so that it can be lifted therefrom with the tire when the band is slack, said
mechanism including a housing to which one end of the band is attached, a rack
bar mounted to slide in the housing and to which the other end of the band is
attached, a pinion journalled in the housing and engaging the rack bar, means for
turning the pinion, a pawl engaging one of the operative parts, and a spring
holding said pawl normally in engagement, substantially as set forth.
5. In a wheel, the combination with the rim and tire, of a band engaging the
tire, a housing to which one end of the band is attached, a rack bar to which the
other end of the band is attached, a series of ratchet teeth formed on the said rack
bar, a pinion journalled in the housing and engaging said rack bar, means for turning
the pinion, a pawl, means for causing said pawl to automatically engage said ratchet
teeth, and a stem for moving said pawl and disengaging it from said ratchet teeth,
substantially as set forth.
6. In a wheel, the combination with the rim and tire of a band engaging the tire
and holding it to the rim, said band having mechanism connecting its ends and
adapted to draw and hold it taut, said mechanism including a sliding bar having a
series of ratchet teeth, a pawl, and a spring engaging said pawl and holding it
normally in engagement with said teeth, substantially as set forth.
7. In a wheel, the combination with the rim and tire, of a band engaging the
tire, mechanism for connecting the ends of the band and drawing and holding it
taut, said mechanism including a rack and pinion, and a shaft to which the pinion
is secured, said shaft having a longitudinal perforation, a detent for preventing
retrograde movement of the rack bar, means for causing said detent to engage
automatically, and a stem for lifting the detent, said stem occupying the perforation
of the shaft, substantially as set forth.
8. In a wheel, the combination with the rim and tire, of a band engaging the
tire, mechanism for connecting the ends of the band and drawing and holding it
taut, said mechanism including a rack and pinion, a longitudinally perforated shaft
to which the pinion is secured, a detent for preventing retrograde movement of the
rack, a stem for lifting said detent occupying the perforation of the shaft, and a cap
screwed on to the projecting end of the stem and serving as a lock for preventing
the accidental inthrust of the stem and serving also to facilitate its inthrust when
the detent is to be raised, substantially as set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.