Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for setting Rubber Tires.
Year: 1898

page_text: United States),
Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 19th Mar., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 19th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 28th May, 1898
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for setting Rubber
Tires.
I, ARTHUR WILLIAM GRANT, of Sheriden Avenue, Springfield, Clark County,
Ohio, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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:―
My invention relates to improvements in the method and devices for setting
rubber tires on vehicle wheels. In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan
view of a device embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a part sectional side elevation
of the same. Figs. 3 and 4 are detail views of some of the different parts. Figs. 5
and 6 are detail views illustrating some of the features of the invention and the
manner of carrying out the same.
Similar letters of reference represent similar parts in the several views.
The particular object of the invention is to provide ways and means for
closing up the joint or space in the rubber tires, which necessarily results when
the encircling band or bands are completed in the channel rim. If the rubber
part of the tire is left sufficiently loose to permit the ends of the rubber to be
moved in the channel to close this joint it will be too loose for use. If the bands
are sufficiently tight to prevent movement in the channel then it is obvious that
it can not be closed by any ordinary means. In carrying out my invention I
employ flexible supporting and gripping vices, which are made to engage with the
rubber tire before the bands are united or the rubber tightened on the wheel rim.
These flexible gripping devices are preferably inserted under the rubber between
the same and the channel. The wheel rim is then held firmly by suitable clamp-
ing devices and the gripping device connected to the flexible tire supports, after
which the gripping device is moved forcibly so as to carry the rubber along
the retaining band or bands and within the wheel rim sufficient to close the
joint.
A detailed description of the machine and devices is as follows; A bed plate a,
is provided with adjustable clamping devices b, which are pivoted or swiveled
to the bed plate by a trunnion 6', journaled in the bed plate. The clamp 6 has a
stationary jaw 2, and an oppositely arranged jaw b³, operated by an
adjustable screw 6, and having a screwed guide b At one end of
the bed plate is a swiveled head a¹, in which is journaled a supporting
box a³, through which there is adapted to slide a screwthreaded rod a³, having an
D017

page_text: internal screwthreaded hand-wheel a thereon. Means are provided in the box a³
to prevent the turning of the screwthreaded shaft, and the shaft is pivotally
attached at one end to a supporting bar a, preferably formed on the arc of a
circle and having at intervals along its length clamping devices aº. In Figs. 5
and 6 I have shown the flexible supports or connections c', which are inserted
between the rubber c and the channel before the tire retaining bands are united.
The supports c', are preferably formed from soft annealed iron wire but other forms
of connecting supports may be employed as for instance, a single piece of canvas
or similar material as shown in Fig. 6. The supports or connections should have
sufficient flexibility to clamp the rubber in operation and be capable of being
removed after the operation or the projecting parts cut away, so as not to interfere
with the tire in case they are not removed.
In preparing a rubber tire for this machine, that part of the rubber c next to
the joint or open space, is compressed longitudinally along the band or bands and
the flexible supports c¹, inserted where the compression is greatest. The bands
are united with this compression in the tire and if properly tight the tire c will
be held firmly in position with the compression adjacent to the open space. The
wheel holding the tire c is then placed on a suitable support so that the wheel
rim comes within the clamps b, the clamps being turned to suit the curvature of
the wheel rim. The jaws of the clamping device are then caused to engage the
wheel rim by the clamp screws 64, so that it is immovable in the bed plate.
The supporting devices c¹, are connected to the movable bar a5, by the clamps a,
the screw-threaded shaft a³ is then drawn longitudinally by the hand-wheel a¹,
which causes the bar as, to travel around the periphery of the wheel. The box a²
being journaled to the head a¹, on the bed plate a, forms substantially a universal
joint which will permit the adjusting screw the necessary movement to allow the
bar to follow the periphery of the wheel.
As the bar moves, the supporting device will be drawn tightly against the rubber
and clamp the same. The supports c¹, also will prevent the friction that would
otherwise result between the rubber and the rim, the action of the bar will also
have a tendency to compress the rubber slightly away from the rim. As the rubber
is thus drawn along the retaining bands the extra compression in the rubber at
this point will be gradually drawn out. When several supporting devices are
employed the one farthest from the joint is released first, then the next in order,
the one nearest the joint being released last so that the compression in this part
of the rubber is utilized in closing the joint, and when completely closed the
compression will be uniform throughout the tire.
When the joint or space is thus closed the supporting device if formed of
metal may be removed by cutting off one end and working it out from under the
tire by the aid of an ordinary pair of nippers or pliers. If canvas or similar
fabric be employed the projecting ends may be cut off and the tabric left under
the rubber without any ill effects.
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:
1. The method and means for setting and closing joints in rubber tires, which
consists in compressing the rubber to be closed or set, and moving the same in its
supporting channel by the aid of a flexible support or supports forcibly moved
approximately in line with the periphery of the tire, substantially as described.
2. The use of flexible supports between a rubber tire and its holding channel
in connection with means for gripping said supports and forcibly moving the
same for the purpose specified.
3. The arrangement of the longitudinally moving gripping device, means for
forcibly moving the same, and the flexible supports forming a connection between
movable gripping device and a rubber tire in connection with wheel holding clamps,
substantially as described.

page_text: 4. The arrangement of the swiveled head with a pivoted box, a shaft in the box
and means for moving the shaft in connection with the movable gripping bar
which is pivoted to the shaft and connecting means between the bar and a
rubber tire for the purpose specified.
5. The arrangement of the swiveled head with a pivoted box, screwthreaded
shaft and movable gripping bar in connection with flexible tire supports connected
to said bar, and the swiveled wheel clamps, substantially as specified.
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1000
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.