AN IMPROVED APPLICATION OF ELASTIC TYRES TO THE WHEELS OF VELOCIPEDES AND OTHER LIGHT VEHICLES
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM HENRY JAMES GROUT of 7 Watson Street Stoke Newington in the
county of Middlesex Engineer and Velocipede Manufacturer do hereby declare the
nature of the said invention for AN IMPROVED APPLICATION OF ELASTIC TYRES
TO THE WHEELS OF VELOCIPEDES AND OTHER LIGHT VEHICLES to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a further application of the improvements in elastic tyres
for velocipedes or other vehicles mentioned in the Letters Patent granted to me on
the 4th day of April 1874 No 1163.
These tyres were formed by moulding junction rubber on the felloe of the wheel
and such elastic tyres were then (in practice) cut out to leave interdental spaces
round the periphery.
The advantage of an elastic tyre thus broken away on its face at regular
intervals is that the tyre only touches the ground at regular intervals and in fact
small stones are bridged over by the spaces in the tyre thus greatly reducing
vibration.
The disadvantage of the arrangement referred to was the waste of rubber
incurred by cutting the spaces out or the great expense of moulding such tyres on
the wheel.
Now my present invention is designed to embrace all the advantages of my
previous one and to obviate its disadvantages.
In carrying it out I arrange the tyre in separate sections pieces or blocks and
secure these at regular intervals with a space between each round the felloe either
by cementing them on, or by screwing or by pinning or in any other convenient or
well known manner.
The blocks can be united by a thin web of rubber canvas or other suitable
material and form an entire band if desired and this latter arrangement would
ensure equal spacing.
The advantage of this invention will be seen that the use of rubber is greatly
economized especially for tricycles or quadricycles and that if any individual
section or block is injured it can be readily removed and replaced by a new piece
at a trifling cost and by any intelligent person.
The faces of the blocks can be formed square inclined curved or as desired.

page_text: I WILLIAM HENRY JAMES GROUT of 7, Watson Street, Stoke Newington Green
in the county of Middlesex, Engineer and Velocipede Manufacturer do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for AN IMPROVED APPLICATION OF ELASTIC
TYRES TO THE WHEELS OF VELOCIPEDES AND OTHER LIGHT VEHICLES "
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 a further application of the improvements in elastic tyres
for velocipedes or other vehicles mentioned in the Letters Patent granted to me on
the 4th day of April 1874 Number 1163.
These tyres were formed by moulding junction rubber on the felloe-of-the-wheel-
and such elastic tyres were then (in practice) cut out to leave interdental spaces
around the periphery.
The advantage of an elastic tyre thus broken away on its periphery at regular
intervals is that the tyre only touches the ground at regular intervals and in fact
small stones are bridged over by the spaces in the tyre, thus greatly reducing
vibration.
The disadvantage of the arrangement referred to was the waste of rubber
incurred by cutting the spaces out or the great expense of moulding such tyres on
the wheel.
Now by my present invention I entirely dispense with the cost of cutting out
such interdental spaces to form such a tyre and the waste of rubber involved
thereby, or with the trouble time and expense of moulding the same on the wheel.
In both my former methods if a portion of the tyre were seriously damaged
I was obliged to send the wheel to the rubber factory to have a new tyre
moulded on.
By one modification of my present invention I can replace the damaged portion
without disturbing the rest.
In referring to the drawings accompanying this specification.
Fig 1. is an elevation and
Fig 2. a plan of my improved tyre with blocks A and spaces B the blocks are
united by webs C of rubber canvas or other suitable material. I make this tyre
in a continuous ring or in flat lengths by means of moulding the same in suitable
moulds as will be well understood by rubber manufacturers.
The tyre can be secured by cementing as is usual, or in addition to cementing
by pinning as will be hereafter described. The figures are supposed to represent
the blocks A and webs C in one piece of rubber.
Fig 3. is an elevation and
Fig 4. a plan of another tyre but the faces of the blocks A which form the
interdental spaces are formed inclined and curved like a screw thread in place of
being curved as in Figs 1 and 2.
Fig 5 is a section and
Fig 6. a plan of a rubber tyre made for what is termed a non-stretching tyre in
which the blocks A and webs C are built on or fastened to a strip of canvas or
like material D. As shewn, a flat length tyre is supposed to break joint at E.
To better secure the tyre to the wheel pins F. are passed through the webs C
and countersunk rivetted or screwed into the felloe G. The pins may be moulded

page_text: in the rubber or driven or forced through the same or holes be made in the web
for the purpose.
These pins by laying in the spaces B are in great measure protected from the
actual road surface, as in fact when running on a smooth hard road free from gravel
small stones or grit, they miss coming in contact therewith.
If a tyro of this description with the blocks A and spaces B be moulded in a
continuous ring with a non-stretching canvas or like material strip D the whole
can be readily sprung on a wheel by slitting the canvas in one or more places and
the pins F before referred to must be put in each end of the split canvas and
project into the felloe of the wheel.
Or instead of an endless length of canvas or like material D made in a continuous
rubber tyre the canvas or like material may be made in two or more pieces and
can be sprung on the felloe as before described and afterwards pinned.
Figs. 7 to 9 are transverse sections of such tyres Figs 1. 3. 5.
Fig 10 is a section and
Fig 11. a plan of a tyre similar to Figs 1 and 2 but made in short sections
breaking joint at H the sections being cemented to the felloe of the wheel or each
section pinned (or cemented and pinned) by pins F as before, or the sections can
be pinned at intervals.
Figs 12 and 13. show respectively an elevation and a plan of my screw tyre
built in separate sections as in Figs 10 and 11.
The advantage of the screw form of tyre is that it can be used with a spoon
brake to check the machine while the other form of tyre before described is more
applicable for tricycles using band brakes.
The advantage of the blocks in separate sections is that any cut portion of a
tyre can be replaced by another block the same being cemented or pinned. In
place of every block being separate short lengths with several blocks may be used.
My previous invention was designed with a view to bridge over or roll over
small stones or like obstacles or uneven surfaces capable of fitting into the
interdental spaces of the tyre and at the same time to take a better grip of the
road and thus tend to prevent skidding of the wheels.
I have found in practice that a space of from one half to one inch between the
blocks has given me good results but I do not bind myself to dimensions.
I am well aware that traction engines have been fitted with solid elastic blocks
faced with iron round the wheels and I am also aware of the existence of elastic
tyres for velocipedes grooved slightly in a longitudinal direction to better prevent
lateral slip but not in such a manner as to effect the purpose of this and my
previous invention.
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.
Firstly. My improvement on my former tyre for velocipede or like light wheels,
consisting in moulding the tyre with blocks united by webs leaving the before
described interdental spaces between the blocks such tyres being made continuous
or in flat lengths, (instead of moulding such tyres directly on to a wheel or
cutting out the said spaces in a continuous tyre as in my former patent) substantially
as described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Secondly. Forming such deeply corrugated tyres having interdental spaces to
bridge over small stones or like obstacles, with the faces of the blocks of inclined
and curved or screw form substantially as described and illustrated in Figs 3. 4.
12 and 13.
Thirdly. The independent blocks or sections D¹ with webs C to receive pins or
screws to secure (or assist in securing) the blocks (with or without the aid of
cement) to the felloe of the velocipede or liko light wheel such blocks when
cemented pinned or screwed being arranged to abut or break joint and so form the
tyre substantially as and for the purposes described.

page_text: Fourthly. In an elastic tyre (formed with interdental spaces or deep corruga-
tions) for a velocipede or like light wheel the method of securing same to the felloe
by headed pins or screws passing through the webs C of the same and consequently
below the rolling surface of the tyre and so partly protecting such pins or screws
from the actual ground surface substantially as described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
W. H. J. GROUT.
By E. Gardner Colton, A.S.T.E.,
Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents,
Of the firm of Popplewell, Colton & Co.,
17 & 18, Southampton Buildings, W.C.