Improvements relating to Metallic Rims and Elastic Tyres for Vehicle-wheels, and to Apparatus for Putting such Tyres on the Wheels.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Mar., 1897--Accepted, 1st May, 1897
[Communicated from abroad by JOHN F. ALDRICH, of the City and State of
New York, United States of America.]
Improvements relating to Metallic Rims and Elastic Tyres for
Vehicle-wheels, and to Apparatus for Putting such Tyres on the
Wheels.
I, DAVID YOUNG, Patent Agent, of the Firm of D. Young & Co., of
11 and 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., 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 the wheels of carriages and other vehicies and to elastic
tyres therefor, and comprises improvements in such tyres and in channelled metallic
wheel-rims for use therewith, and also an improved apparatus for putting the said
tyres on wheels provided with channelled wheel-rims.
For preventing creeping of the tyre on the wheel-rim, the channelled metallic
rim is, according to the present invention, made with a channel having an
approximately flat seat or base and with transverse ribs, ridges or corrugations
formed integrally with the rim and extending either wholly or partially across the
bottom or base or the sides or walls of the channel; and the india-rubber or elastic
tyre is made with corresponding transverse groves, notches or indentations to
engage with the said ribs, ridges or corrugations. The tyre is held securely in
place on the wheel-rim by helical or wavy wires which are passed through holes in
the tyre, and have their ends joined by twisting or in any other convenient manner,
and are then more or less elastic so that they are capable of being stretched to
some extent and will then contract These wires are so arranged that certain of
their bends or convolutions will extend over the said ribs or ridges on the wheel-
rim, and over the notches, grooves or indentations of the tyre, and consequently
the said notches, grooves or indentations will be very effectively kept in engagement
with the said ribs or ridges.
To obviate the liability to cutting or undue wear of the tyre by its being
squeezed between the road and the edges of the flanges of the channelled wheel-
rim, and to preclude dirt and grit from the space between the tyre and the wheel-
rim, the said tyre is made with a laterally-projecting lip or rib extending around it
on either side; these lips or ribs are so formed on the tyre that, when the latter is
in place in the channelled wheel-rim, they are located above or outside of, or even
with, the periphery of the flanges of the wheel-rim and overlap and lie closely
against approximately the inner halves of the rounded edges of the said flanges
respectively.
The channelled metallic wheel-rim is preferably made with the outer sides of
its flanges of convex form in transverse section so as to diminish the wear of the
same due to rubbing against kerb-stones or other objects while the vehicle is
travelling.
The improved apparatus or machine for stretching the said tyres and putting
them upon the channelled wheel-rim, comprises a conical or bevelled roller adapted
to roll against the inner surface of the tyre, and provided with a handle-bar
mounted on its axle whereby it can be positively rotated about its axis through

page_text: the medium of a suitable device, such, for instance, as a double-acting ratchet.
This roller is mounted on a carrier adjustable to and fro in or upon a frame to be
pivoted centrally to the wheel, which frame serves as a lever to move the said
bevelled roller about the axis of the wheel.
bevelled to suit the maiu roller, is mounted on the underside of the said carrier in
A supporting roller, preferably
the rear of the main roller, for the purpose of supporting the latter against the
force exerted thereon by the elastic tyre. The carrier is held in position and
adjusted when necessary by a screw-threaded rod extending backward therefrom
and provided with an adjusting nut.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a sectional perspective view of part of the improved channelled
metallic wheel-rim.
Figure 2 is a similar view showing a part of the improved elastic tyre.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of the wheel-rim and tyre shown in the preceding
figures.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of a wheel-rim and tyre, illustrating a slight
modification of the said invention.
Figure 5 is a plan or top view of a portion of the channelled wheel-rim,
illustrating another slight modification of the said invention.
Figure 6 is a plan, and
Figure 7 a side elevation, partly in longitudinal section, of the machine for
putting the tyres on the wheels.
a is the channelled metallic wheel-rim, which is to be secured in any well-known
mauner upon the felloe b of the wheel, and which has formed integrally therewith
the transverse ribs or ridges c. In Figures 1 and 3, these ribs or ridges extend
completely across the flat bottom or base of the channel between the flanges a¹ ;
in Figure 4 they extend across only the middle portion of the said channel; and
in Figure 5 they extend partially across the same alternately from either
flange a¹. These ribs or ridges may be of the shape shown or of other suitable
shape.
d is the elastic tyre, which is formed with transverse grooves, notches or
indentations d¹ to fit the ribs or ridges c of the wheel-rim.
The tyre is secured on the wheel-rim by wires e, Figures 2 and 3, passed
through holes d² in the rubber tyre and extending throughout the length thereof,
and connected at their ends respectively by twisting or in any other convenient
manner, the rubber being previously compressed on the said wires in the usual
manner. These wires, instead of being plain and non-stretchable, are made helical
or wavy so that they are more or less elastic, and, after being stretched to put the
tyre on the wheel, will contract and hold the tyre securely in place in the channelled
wheel-rim. The said wires are arranged as shown in Figure 2, so that one or other
of the outwardly-extending bends or crests of each helical or wavy wire will extend
over each rib or ridge c and groove or notch d', one or more of the bends or
convolutions of the said wire lying between adjacent ribs or ridges and grooves or
notches. This arrangement more effectually prevents creeping of the tyre, by
keeping the said grooves or notches in engagement with the said ribs or ridges.
In order to obviate the liability to cutting or undue wear of elastic tyres by
their being squeezed between the road and the flanges of a channelled wheel-rim,
it has heretofore been proposed to make the said 'tyre of taper form in transverse
section from a point below or within the periphery of the flanges of the said
wheel-rim. It is evident, however, that with such form of construction, mud and
dirt can readily enter the space between the tyre and the wheel-rim. In order to
prevent this and at the same time avoid undue wear of or injury to the tyre from
the cause just above mentioned, the elastic tyre is, according to the present
invention, made with laterally-projecting lips or ribs f one on each side thereof and
extending throughout its length. These lips or ribs fare located above or outside
of the periphery of the flanges a' of the wheel-rim a, and are made of such form in
-transverse section that they partially overlap and lie closely against the rounded

page_text: edges of the said flanges respectively, as clearly shown in Figure 3 and in Figure 4.
It will be seen that, when the tyre is compressed between the road and the wheel-
rim, no injurious action can be exerted upon the tyre by the flanges a' of the said
rim. The lips or ribs f, moreover, effectually exclude dirt or grit from the spaces
between the tyre and the wheel-rim.
The wheel-rims usually employed with channels tapered from the periphery to
the base thereof, are of such shape in transverse section that the outer sides of the
flanges are liable to be rapidly worn by friction against kerb-stones or like objects,
Now to
the part that rubs against the same being of comparatively small area.
diminish the wear from this cause, the channeiled rim or band a is according to the
present invention, rolled to such form that the outer sides of its flanges a¹ are
convex in transverse section as shown at a² in Figures 1 and 3.
A much greater
area of metal is thus provided for rubbing against kerb-stones and the like, with
the result that the wheel-rim will last much longer.
Referring to Figures 6 and 7, 9 is a support or table upon which the wheel is
placed in order to facilitate the putting on of the tyre. A frame comprising two
parallel guide-rods h connected at their extremities by cross-pieces ', h², is pivoted
upon a rod or holt j, which is secured at its lower end to a cross-bar of the table
and extends up through the centre of the hub or kuave of the wheel. A nut,
screwed upon the upper end of this rod or boit serves to hold the parts in position.
A sliding carrier k is mounted upon the guide-rods h, and is provided with a screw-
threaded rod extending backward therefrom through a lug m on the cross-piece h¹.
On this rod is screwed a nut n which bears against the said lug m, so that, by
turning this nut in one or the other direction, the carrier k can be adjusted towards
or away from the centre of the wheel. The machine can thus be adapted for
wheels of different diameters.
p is a conical or bevelled roller, the axle pl of which extends upward through
and works in a hole or bearing in the carrier k. On the said axle, above the
carrier, is loosely mounted a hand-lever g, and above this lever a ratchet-wheel r
is fixed upon the axle of the said roller. A double spring pawls is pivoted to the
said lever, and is so arranged that it can be placed centrally as shown, or can be
turned in one or the other direction from the central position into engagement with
the ratchet-wheel r, according to the direction in which it is desired to turn the
said roller.
•
Another conical or bevelled roller t is mounted on a pin or stud t¹ fixed in the
underside of the carrier k and bears against the roller p, for the purpose of
supporting the same against the pressure exerted thereon by the tyre.
In using this machine, the carrier k is so adjusted that the outer or forward side
of the roller pis directly above the periphery of the channelled rim b, as shown
in Figure 7. The tyre is then inserted'in the channelled wheel-rim as far around
the same as is practicable by hand, so that the part still remaining out of the
channel, which is passed around the roller p as shown, presses against the said
roller. The frame h, h', h² and the parts carried thereby are then pushed in the
direction indicated by the arrow 1 in Figure 6, and thus moved about the axis of
the wheel, and the roller p is at the same time rotated about its own axis in the
direction indicated by the arrow 2 in Figure 6, by means of the handle-bar q and
the double-acting ratchet, the pawls being properly adjusted for this purpose. The
tyre will thus be stretched sufficiently to pass it over the upper flange of the
channelled rim, and it will then spring into its place in the said rim.
It is evident that, if desired, other suitable means may be provided for positively
rotating the roller pabout its axis simultaneously with its movement about the axis
of the wheel, for the purpose of putting the tyre on the wheel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination of a channelled metallic wheel-rim having formed integrally

page_text: 4
"therewith on the approximately flat seat or base or on, the sides of the channel,
transverse ribs, ridges or corrngations which extend wholly or partially across the
same at suitable intervals, and a rubber tyre fitting into the said channel and having
transverse grooves, notches or indentations formed in the base or sides thereof to
engage with the said ribs, ridges or corrugations, substantially as hereinbefore
described and for the purpose specified.
2. A channelled metal wheel-rim in which the channel is made with an
approximately flat seat or base, and which has formed integrally therewith
transverse ribs, ridges or corrugations extending wholly or partially across the
said seat or base or the sides of the channel, as, and for the purpose, above
..specified.
3. A rubber tyre formed with transverse grooves, notches or indentations in its
base or sides extending wholly or partially across the same and adapted to engage
with corresponding ribs or ridges on the channelled wheel-rim, as, and for the
purpose, above specified.
4. A rubber tyre formed with laterally-projecting lips or ribs extending around
the same, one on either side thereof, and adapted to partially overlap and lie
closely against the rounded edges of the flanges of the channelled wheel-rim, and
located above, or even with, the periphery of the said flanges, substantially as, and
for the purposes, above specified.
5. A tyre for vehicle-wheels, consisting of a chaunelled metal rim having
transverse ribs, ridges or corrugations formed integrally therewith on the bottom
or sides of the channel, and a rubber band or tyre having corresponding transverse
grooves, notches or indentations and secured upon the said rim by helical or wavy
wires, and having laterally-projecting lips or ribs extending around the same on
both sides thereof and overlapping the rounded edges of the flanges of the said rim,
substantially as, and for the purposes, set forth.
6. The channelled wheel-rim having the outer sides of its flanges of convex form
in transverse section, as, and for the purposes, above specified.
7. The herein described method of putting elastic tyres on wheel-rims by means
of a conical or bevelled roller to which positive rotary motion is imparted about its
axis simultaneously with its movement about the axis of the wheel, as, and for the
purposes, above specified.
8. A machine for putting elastic tyres on wheel-rims, comprising a sliding carrier
adjustable to and fro in or upon a frame to be pivoted to the wheel, a conical or
bevelled roller the axle of which is mounted in a bearing in the said carrier, and
suitable means for positively imparting rotary motion to the said roller about its
own axis simultaneously with the movement of the said frame about the axis of the
wheel, substantially as, and for the purposes, above specified.
9. The improved machine constructed 'substantially as described with reference
to Figures 6 and 7 of the accompanying drawings and operating as, and for the
purposes, above specified.
Dated the 16th day of March 1807
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.