Improvements in Wheels for Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 30th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 8th Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in Wheels for Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
We, WILLIAM BORTHWICK SMITH, of 139, Cannon Street, in the City of
London, Engineer, and WILLIAM HENRY STARLEY, of 112 Leman Street, in
the County of London, Mechanician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
Our present invention relates more especially to the wheels of bicycles, tricycles,
and other velocipedes, but some parts of it are also applicable to the wheels of
other vehicles.
The first part of our invention relates to what are well known as pneumatic tyres
used for the wheels of velocipedes of different kinds, and it has for its object novel
methods of making and fixing such tyres, and the parts connected with them so
that they are very strong, durable, cheap, and easily fixed and removed for
repairing or other purposes when necessary.
In one form of our improved tyre, we make the ordinary metal rim of the wheel
in the form (in transverse section) of a shallow angular recess, the sides of which
may be either straight or curved, the angle at the centre of the recess being bent
so as to form a continuous deep recess or hollow flange completely round the inside
of the metal rim. The outer edges of the recess upon each side, are bent down so
as to form flanges at right angles, or nearly so, with the bottom of the recess, the
extreme edge being again bent up so as to double the thickness of the flange but
its upper edge being not quite in contact with the first mentioned flange.
Upon the outer or hollowed side of the rim so formed we fit an endless hollow
tyre of india rubber or other sufficiently flexible and elastic material which can be
inflated in the usual way, when required, and has then the following transverse
section. The outer part is semi-circular or nearly so, and its two lateral edges are
bent inward and fitted upon the two inclined sides of the bottom of the metal rim,
which have a certain amount of elasticity, the inner edge of one of them being
inserted into the longitudinal central recess round the rim, the edge of the other
(which is left longer) being first passed down in contact with the side of the first
and then round the lower edge of the latter and up its opposite side, so that the
three thicknesses fill the recess, and form an air-tight joint when pressure is
produced by inflating the tyre. The inner flange first described may also be
doubled, so that four thicknesses are formed.
To further ensure such air-tightness, one of the sides just above the upper edge
of the recess, may have a longitudinal flap formed upon it which fits upon a
corresponding longitudinal flap formed upon the other side. The pressure between
the flaps further ensures an air-tight joint.
Outside the pneumatic tyre constructed as described we fit a covering tyre
consisting of a strip of sufficient width of one or more thicknesses of canvas
embedded in india rubber in the usual way. Each of the edges of this strip is
bent round a ring of flat steel or other suitable material, these rings being
adjustable against the outside of the double flanges upon the metal rim already
described, to which they are fixed by a sufficient number of small bolts, or of studs
having their outer ends fixed into the metal ring whilst their inner ends which are
provided with suitable heads are inserted into radial slots in the double flange on
the rim.
The inner edge of the flange upon the metal tyre not being quite in contact with
the other part of the flange (as already described) has a certain amount of elasticity

page_text: which when the studs are forced up in the slots, hold them firmly by pressure
against their heads.
Round the outer part of the covering tyre described which touches the ground
when running, we prefer to fix, by cement or other suitable means, a protecting
strip of leather or other suitable material, which preserves the covering tyre itself
from wear and can be renewed when necessary.
The parts of the pneumatic tyre which fit against each other to form a joint are
preferably dressed or coated with castor oil, oil of cassia, or other viscous material
not affecting india rubber.
The improved compound tyre described is very effective, and is easily removed
wholly or in part for the purpose of repair when necessary. The spokes are
'formed with T-heads and are inserted through holes at the bottom of the recess
described.
Each
In a slightly modified form of wheel tyre, we make the hollow recess in the
metal rim with lateral extensions bent out at each side at the bottom, to which
extensions the outer ends of the wheel spokes are attached. The edges of the
metal rim in which the pneumatic tyre fits are not bent to form double flanges as
in the arrangement already described, but are simply bent or curved over, their
outer edges being folded over below to give additional strength and finish.
of the edges of the covering tyre is provided with a continuous wire embedded in
it and extending completely round the wheel, and the wire is bent, at suitable
distances apart into T-headed projections which protrude through the edge of the
covering tyre and fit and engage into corresponding slots or notches made
transversely in the edge of the metal rim, so that when the tyre is inflated the
edges of the covering tyre are firmly held in position. Or the wire may be bent
into projecting rings which fit over corresponding studs fixed in the lower side of
the edge of the metal rim.
In another somewhat modified form of the wheel tyre we make the metal rim
hollow, its outer surface being flat or nearly so in transverse section, the edges
being curved up and inward for a short distance so as to form recesses and being
then bent outward and down and curved inward until their edges meet and overlap,
at the centre of the width of the wheel. The pneumatic tyre or air chamber is
formed of a strip consisting of canvas embedded in india rubber, the edges of the
strip being fitted into the recesses formed on the edges of the flat metal rim, and
being then turned inward for a short distance and supported upon the latter. A
strip or band of metal, xylonite, vulcanite, or other suitable elastic material,
somewhat arched in cross-section, passes completely round the inside of the air
chamber, its edges (which are preferably rounded, bent up, or beaded) pressing the
edges of the pneumatic air chamber into the recesses in the metal rim, and at the
same time forcing them down upon the flat part of the metal rim so as to make a
perfectly air-tight joint. The heads of the spokes are inserted through holes in
the inner part of the rim, and are then passed into slots connected with such holes.
The arched ring described is tightened and fixed by means of a sufficient number
of small bolts passing through its centre, with the intervention of air-tight india
rubber washers, their outer ends passing through the flat part of the metal rim and
then through the curved overlapping edges of the latter, their ends being provided
with nuts by which they are tightened. Or screws or hooks may be used the outer
ends of which are screwed or hooked into bosses or projections upon the lower side
of the arched ring, through which it is not therefore necessary to make holes
(through which air might escape).
The edges of the air-chamber described may be provided with embedded metal
strips or bands, or their edges may be continued to the centre, and fitted into a
recess in the rim, as in the arrangement first described.
The metal rim may be made concave or curved outside to receive the pneumatic
tyre, the edges of which fit into a recess in the metal rim in which the T-headed
spokes also fit as already described.
The edges of the metal rim are turned outward and down, and receive the edges

page_text: of the covering tyre which are provided with plates or adjustable wires fitting
round and under the curved edges of the rim. We fill the spaces between the
inner pneumatic tyre and the sides of the covering tyre with india rubber or other
packing which preven's the former from being forced into the spaces and injured.
The centres or hubs of the wheels, where they are intended to run loose upon
their axles are formed with a central bore fitting the axle but not passing completely
through the outer end of the hub. The inner end of this bore is enlarged
sufficiently and provided with a screw thread into which is screwed a nut or bearing
which fits upon the axle, the latter being provided with two projecting collars
between and upon the outer edges of which the nut fits and runs. In order that
the nut may be fitted upon the axle it is made in two parts, one of which is fitted
radially into the other the edges of the two parts being dove-tailed or otherwise
fitted together so that they can be separated and fitted upon the axle, and are then
screwed into the recess in the nut. A set screw or other equivalent device is used
to prevent the nut from becoming unscrewed, and means are provided for
lubrication.
Anti-friction balls may be inserted between the axle and the nut or bearing
described.
Dated this 20th day of
We, WILLIAM BORTHWICK SMITH, of 139, Cannon Street in the City of
London, Engineer, and WILLIAM HENRY STARLEY, of 112, Leman Street, in
the County of London, Mechanician, 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 and accompanying drawing, that is
to say :-
Our present invention relates more especially to the wheels of bicycles, tricycles,
and other velocipedes, but some parts of it are also applicable to the wheels of
other vehicles.
The first part of our invention relates to what are well known as pneumatic
tyres, used for the wheels of velocipedes of different kinds, and it has for its object
novel methods of making and fixing such tyres, and the parts connected with them,
so that they are very strong, durable, cheap, and easily fixed and removed for
repairing or other purposes when necessary.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of our invention.
b
In one form of our improved tyre, (illustrated in Figure 1), we make the
ordinary metal rim of the wheel in the form (in transverse section) of a shallow
angular recess a, the sides of which may be either straight (as shewn) or curved,
the angle at the centre of the recess being bent so as to form a continuous deep
recess or hollow flange completely round the inside of the metal rim. The outer
edges of the angular recess upon each side, are bent down so as to form flanges c, c,
at right angles, or nearly so, with the bottom of the recess a, the extreme edges
being again bent up at d, d, so as to double the thickness of the flange, but its
upper edge being not quite in contact with the first mentioned flange c.
Upon the outer or hollowed side of the rim so formed we fit an endless band,
forming when folded as shewn, a hollow tyre e of indiarubber or other sufficiently
flexible and elastic material, which can be inflated in the usual way, when required,
and has then the following transverse section. The outer part is semi-circular or

page_text: nearly so, and its two lateral edges are bent inward and fitted upon the two inclinect
sides a, a, of the bottom of the metal rim, (which have a certain amount of
elasticity), the inner edge of one of the edges f being inserted into the longitudinal
central recess b round the rim, the edge of the other g (which is left longer), being first
passed down in contact with the side of the first, and then round the lower edge of
the latter and up its opposite side, so that the three thicknesses fill the recess, b, as
shewn and form an air-tight joint when pressure is produced by inflating the tyre.
The inner edge f first described may also be doubled, so that four thicknesses
are formed.
To further ensure such air-tightness, one of the inner sides of the flexible tyre,
just above the upper edge of the recess b, may have a longitudinal flap h formed
upon it, which fits upon a corresponding longitudinal flap i formed upon the other
side. The pressure further ensures an air-tight joint between the flaps.
Outside the pneumatic tyre constructed as described we fit a covering tyre k
consisting of a strip of sufficient width of one or more thicknesses of canvas
embedded in indiarubber in the usual way. Each of the edges of this strip is bent
round a ring of flat steel or other suitable material I, these rings being adjustable
against the outside of the double flange c, d, upon the metal rim, already described,
to which they are fixed by a sufficient number of small bolts, or of studs m having
their outer ends fixed into the metal ring whilst their inner ends which are
provided with suitable heads are inserted into radial slots in the double flange c, d,
on the rim.
The inner edge d of the flange upon the metal rim not being quite in contact
with the other part c of the flange (as already described) has a certain amount of
elasticity which when the studs are forced up in the slots, holds them firmly, by
pressure against their heads.
Round the outer part of the covering tyre described which touches the ground
when running, we prefer to fix, by cement or other suitable means, a protecting
strip n of leather or other suitable material, which preserves the covering tyre
itself from wear and can be removed when necessary.
The parts of the pneumatic tyre which fit against each other to form a joint are
preferably dressed or coated with castor oil, oil of cassia, or other viscous material
not affecting india rubber.
The improved compound tyre described is very effective, and is easily removed
wholly or in part for the purpose of repair when necessary. The spokes are formed
with T-heads and are inserted through holes at the bottom of the recess b
described.
In a slightly modified form of wheel tyre (illustrated in Figure 2), we make the
hollow recess b in the metal rim with lateral extensions o, o, bent out at each side
at the bottom, to which extensions the outer ends of the wheel spokes p, p, are
attached. The edges of the metal rim in which the pneumatic tyre fits are not
bent to form deep double flanges as in the arrangement already described, but are
simply bent or curved over, at c, their outer edges being folded over below, as
shewn, to give additional strength and finish. Each of the edges of the covering
tyre is provided with a continuous wire r, embedded in it and extending completely
round the wheel, and the wire is bent, at suitable distances apart, into T-headed
projections at s which protrude through the edge of the covering tyre and fit and
engage into corresponding slots or notches made transversely in the edge of the
metal rim c, so that when the tyre is inflated the edges of the covering tyre are
firmly held in position. Or the wire may be bent into projecting rings which fit
over corresponding studs fixed in the lower side of the edge of the metal rim.
Instead of as described, the metal rim may be made concave or curved outside
(as illustrated in Figure 3) to receive the pneumatic tyre, the edges of which fit
into a recess in the metal rim in which the T-headed spokes also fit as already
described.
The edges of the metal rim are turned outward and down, and receive the edges
of the covering tyre which are provided with circumferential plates t, or adjustable

page_text: wires u fitting round and under the curved edges of the rim. We fill the spaces
atv between the inner pneumatic tyre and the sides of the covering tyre with
indiarubber or other packing which prevents the former from being forced into the
spaces and injured.
In another somewhat modified form of the wheel tyre (illustrated in Figure 4)
we make the metal rim a hollow, its outer surface being flat or nearly so in
transverse section, the edges being curved up and inward for a short distance so as
to form recesses at c and being then bent outward and down and curved inward
until their edges meet and overlap, at the centre of the width of the wheel and are
then brazed together. The pneumatic tyre or air chamber e is formed of a strip
consisting of canvas embedded in indiarubber, the edges of the strip being fitted
into the recesses formed at c, c, on the inside edges of the flat metal rim, and being
then turned inward for a short distance and supported upon the latter. A strip or
band of metal, xylonite, vulcanite, or other suitable elastic material. somewhat
arched in cross section, passes completely round the inside of the air chamber, its
edges (which are preferably rounded, bent up, or beaded, as shewn), pressing the
edges of the pneumatic air chamber e into the recesses in the metal rim, and at
the same time forcing them down upon the flat part of the metal rim so as to.
make a perfectly air-tight joint.
The arched ring is tightened and fixed by means of a sufficient number of
small bolts g, passing through its centre, with the intervention of air-tight india.
rubber washers, their outer ends passing through the flat part of the metal rim,
and then through the curved overlapping edges of the latter, their screwed ends
being provided with nuts by which they are tightened. Or screws or hooks may
be used, the outer ends of which are screwed or hooked into bosses or projections
upon the lower side of the arched ring, through which it is not therefore necessary
to make holes (through which air might escape).
The edges of the air chamber described may be provided with embedded metal
strips or bands, or their edges may be continued to the centre, and fitted in a recess
formed in the rim to receive them, as in the arrangement first described.
The heads of the wheel spokes are inserted through holes in the inner part of
the rim, and are then passed into slots cut transversely in the overlapping edges of
the rim centre, and connected with such holes, which are formed on alternate sides
of the rim for alternating spokes.
The
The centres or hubs A of the wheels, where they are intended to run loose upon
their axles are formed (as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6) with a central bore fitting
the axle B but not passing completely through the outer end of the hub.
inner end of the bore is enlarged sufficiently at C and provided with a screw thread
into which is screwed a nut D or bearing which fits upon the axle, the latter being
provided with two projecting collars between and upon the outer edges of which
the nut D, fits and runs, an internal ring upon the latter fitting between the collars.
Or instead of such ring anti-friction balls may be inserted as shewn at E. In
order that the nut D may be fitted upon the axle it is made in two parts, one of
which is fitted radially into the other (as shewn in Figure 6), the edges of the two
parts being dove-tailed or otherwise fitted together, so that they can be separated
and fitted upon the axle, and are then screwed into the recess in the hub.
screw or other equivalent device is used to prevent the nut from becoming
unscrewed, and means are provided for lubrication.
A set
We do not confine ourselves to the precise details and proportions of the several
parts, which may be varied more or less as may be found advisable, but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The combination of the angular recess a, the recess b, and the flexible strip
forming the hollow tyre e, and having its edges folded and inserted into the recess b,
substantially as described, and illustrated in Figure 1.

page_text: 2. In combination with the parts claimed in Claim 1,-the flaps h and i,
substantially as and for the purpose described, and illustrated in Figure 1.
3. The combination with the metal rim a, of the bent elastic flanges c, d, the
covering tyre k, having strengthening plates l, l, inserted in its edges, and the bolts
or studs m, arranged and operating substantially in the manner and for the purpose
described, and illustrated in Figure 1.
4. In combination with the metal rim a and recess b, the lateral extensions o, o, to
the latter, substantially as described, and illustrated in Figure 2.
5. In combination with the metal rim a and recess b, and hollow pneumatic tyre e,
the covering tyre having embedded in its edges plates t, or wires u, fitting under
the curved down edges of the metal rim a, and filling pieces v, v, substantially as
and for the purpose described, and illustrated in Figure 3.
6. The combination of the hollow metal rim a, having its sides bent down and
overlapping at their edges, their upper sides being bent upward and inward at c to
form recesses to receive the edges of the hollow pneumatic tyre e, which edges are
held in place by the curved ring f, adjusted and fixed by bolts g, substantially as
and for the purpose described, and illustrated in Figure 4.
7. The combination of the fixed axle B, provided with flanges, the wheel hub A,
screwed recess C, and screwed nut D, made in two parts, substantially as described,
and illustrated in Figures 5 and 6.
8. In combination with the arrangement described and claimed in Claim 7, the
anti-friction balls E, substantially as described and illustrated in Figure 5.
Dated this 20th day of October 1894.
EDWARDS & Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicants.