Improvements in and relating to Elastic Tyres for the Wheels of Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application (in the United Kingdom), 1st Dec., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 1st Dec., 1898-Accepted, 22nd July, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Elastic Tyres for the Wheels of
Vehicles.
We, JEAN FRANÇOIS GOMMERET and LEON GOMMERET, both of Troyes, (Departe-
ment de l'Aube), in the Republic of France, Mechanical Engineers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment:
-
The improved elastic tyre for the rims of vehicle wheels which forms the subject
of this invention serves to produce easy travelling, without vibration and offers
greater resistance to slip than wheels as hitherto constructed.
This tyre enables air-chambers to be dispensed with, and whilst fulfilling the
same purpose, obviates the trouble and annoyance occasioned by such air-chambers.
Our tyre is more durable than those hitherto employed, and finally it is applicable
to wheels of all kinds.
The arrangement and operation of our improved elastic tyre will be readily
understood from the following description with reference to the accompanying
drawing, in which:-
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wheel, shewing in section a portion of the
spherical elements composing the tyre.
Figure 2 is a section taken upon the axis of the wheel.
Figure 3 shews a spherical element adapted for a wheel-rim having a semi-
circular groove.
Figure 4 represents a spherical element adapted for the wheel-rim of a light
cycle.
Figure 5 is a sectional view of a spherical element adapted for a flat wheel rim.
Figure 6 is a sectional view of a spherical element adapted for the wheels of
motor vehicles.
Figure represents a number of spherical elements connected so as to constitute
a tube.
Figures 8 and 9 shew, in plan and in side elevation respectively, the connection
serving to unite the extremities of the rods.
Figures 10 and 11 are detail views, in front and side elevation respectively,
of the clips serving for mounting the tyre upon the rim.

page_text: Figure 12 represents two forms of bolt for fixing the rods.
Our improved tyre comprises essentially, elastic bodies a which are either hollow
or solid, and spherical or approximately spherical in shape (the internal form of
which bodies may be variable when they are hollow), in combination with one
or more flexible bars passed through these spheres which are arranged one after
the other, and with one or more connections c enabling the extremities of the
said rods to be fixed upon the wheel rim when they have been arranged in position.
The spherical elements are made of various forms according to the load which
the vehicle to which they are intended to be adapted is to carry, and according
to the different rim section upon which they are to be fitted.
The section illustrated in Figure 3 is suitable for relatively heavy loads; that
shewn in Figure 4 for light vehicles; that in Figure 5 to flat wheel rims; that
in Figure 6 to motor vehicles. In every case, the spheres a are formed with an
opening d for the passage of the rod b or rods 661 which serves to connect them.
They may be entirely independent one of the other and simply placed in juxta-
position when passed upon the rod b, or they may be connected one with the other,
in varying numbers, in such a manner as to constitute groups of spheres in one
piece (as shown in Figure 7) provided with a passage di going from one end to
the other for the reception of the rod b.
For the purpose of fixing the extremities of the rod upon the rim, we adopt the
following device: Each extremity of the flexible rod terminates in hooks cel
intended to engage with the tongues ff¹ of a part c, which is arranged upon the
rim at a suitable place, and which is represented in detail in Figures 8 and 9.
In order to arrange the rod in position, it is necessary to exert considerable
tractive effort upon its extremities, and for this purpose we have devised a special
tool comprising (Figures 10 and 11) two clips g g jointed to the extremities of
a transverse rod h; each of these clips comprises a movable arm i guided by a
pin and pressed against the fixed arm g or g₁ of the clip by means of a screw k.
Between the two arms are formed recesses m and n, one corresponding to the
form of the rod b, the other being circular and intended for the passage of a
screw threaded rod p, provided with a nut, which traverses the two clips g g' and
which enables these latter to be drawn together. By means of this tool the tyre
may readily be placed in position if care be taken to previously force back the
elastic spheres at the extremities of the rod in such a manner as to free a sufficient
length of these extremities, as shewn by way of example in Figure 1. When
the hooks ee are in engagement with the tongues f f these latter are turned
inwards in order to avoid a too pronounced projection at this point of the tread
of the tyre. This having been done, the clips gg¹ are detached and the adjacent
spheres are caused to resume their normal position.
In order to complete the fixing of the tyre upon the rim, it is possible to pass
upon the rod at intervals bolts indicated in detail in Figures 4, 6 and 12,
which bolts traverse the rim in a radial direction. The head of these bolts is
formed with a transverse opening s adapted for the passage of the rod or if
necessary with several apertures ss (Figure 6) when the tyre is provided with
two rods.
In a tyre thus mounted, the spheres a pressed one against the other and well
fitted in or upon the rim, are in contact one with the other and with the rim
upon relatively small portions of their surface only; when the wheel moves over
the ground, the deformation of the india-rubber under the influence of the pressure
and of the inequalities of the road, is able to take place with so much the greater
freedom in that the spaces existing between the spheres permit of their becoming
flattened in every direction, whilst in pneumatic or hollow tyres of the ordinary
kind deformation can only take place in the transverse direction. This arrange-
ment therefore enables the whole of the elasticity of the india-rubber to be utilised.
On the other hand the contact of the tyre with the ground taking place only
upon portions of spheres separated one from the other, these latter become deflected

page_text: at the places where they touch the ground and consequently ensure great resistance
to slip or skidding.
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. An elastic tyre for vehicle wheels of all kinds, comprising elastic india rubber
bodies or elements, of spherical or approximately spherical form, either hollow or
solid and passed upon a flexible rod in combination with a connection serving to
unite the extremities of the said flexible rod.
2. An elastic tyre for vehicle wheels of all kinds comprising elastic india rubber
bodies or elements, formed into one piece by the connection of several spherical
or approximately spherical elements, in combination with a rod threaded or passed
through these elastic bodies and with a connection serving to unite the extremities
of the rod.
3. In an elastic tyre in accordance with Claim 1 and 2, the combination, with
clastic bodies, either solid or hollow, of two or more flexible rods, and of one or
more connections serving to unite the extremities of these rods.
4. In an elastic tyre in accordance with Claim 1, a connection comprising two
projections or tongues directed one towards the other, in combination with a
Hexible rod terminating at both its extremities in a hook, and upon which are
passed the elastic bodies.
5. In combination with an elastic tyre in accordance with Claims 1 to 4, a tool
serving to engage the extremities of the flexible rod upon the tongues of the con-
necting part, comprising essentially, two clips hinged to the extremities of a rigid
rod and a screw threaded rod enabling the two clips to be drawn together.
6. An elastic tyre for the wheels of vehicles constructed and arranged sub-
stantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 1st day of Donanilor 1808
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.