An Improved Vehicle Wheel Rim.
Year: 1897

page_text: An Improved Vehicle Wheel Rim.
I, TIMOTHY SHEPHERD, of Kenilworth, Oakfield Road, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:
My invention has for its object to provide a rim or felloe which will admit of
the securing or fastening in position thereon of any ordinary tyre independently
of the form of the latter, and without necessitating the provision of any special
means for fastening or securing upon the tyre itself, such for example as tyres
having outer coverings formed with beaded edges, or with edges containing
inextensible wires or the like.
In the accompanying drawing
Figure 1 is a transverse section through a solid rim or felloe.
Figure 2 is a like view through a hollow rim or felloe, and
Figure 3 is a like view through a tubular edged rim or felloe showing appli-
cations of my said invention.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing.
According to my said invention I provide the rim or felloe a with a number of
points, teeth, or projections 6 which may be raised out of the body of the metal-or
other material from which the said rim or felloe is constructed.
The points,
teeth, or projections b are preferably inclined towards the centre of the rim or
felloe. In the arrangement shown in Figure 1 I provide three rows of the points,
teeth, or projections & at each side of the rim or felloe a, and I turn over the edges
of the said rim or felloe, as shown, so as to cover the perforations caused by
raising the points, teeth, or projections b.
In the case of a hollow rim or felloe I form the perforations, and raise the
points, teeth, or projections 6 in that part of the said rim or felloe forming the bed
of the tyre, as shown in Figure 2.
Figure 3 shows an application of my said invention to a tubular edged rim or
felloe. In this case the points, teeth or projections b are formed at such a distance
from the edges of the rim or felloe as to admit of the said edges being turned back
into tubular forms, which tubes will contain the rows of points, teeth or projec-
tions. The turned over edges of the rim or felloe may be brazed or otherwise
secured at their points of junction.
Figures 2 and 3 show two rows of points, teeth, or projections at each side of the
rim or felloe, instead of three as shown in Figure 1. I may however employ any
other suitable number of rows of points, teeth, or projections at each side of the
rim or felloe.
In some cases I form the said points, teeth, or projections, upon a separate or
independent strip which latter may be attached or secured in position upon the
rim or felloe by brazing or otherwise. I am thus enabled to convert any ordinary
rim and to adapt it for holding a pneumatic tyre.
Dated this 22nd day of Ha 1807

page_text: An improved venicle wheel кım.
I, TIMOTHY SHEPHERD, of Kenilworth, Oakfield Road, Birmingham, in the
County of Warwick, Engineer, 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 an improved vehicle wheel rim for pneumatic tyres,
and is designed to provide an improved means for securing or fastening the sad
tyres upon the rims or felloes of the wheels, the object of the invention being to
provide a rim or felloe which will admit of the securing or fastening in position
thereon of a pneumatic tyre, by the act of inflation, without necessitating the
provision of special means for such fastening or securing upon the cover of the
tyre itself, such for example as having the outer coverings formed with inextensible
beaded edges or with edges containing inextensible wires or the like.
With this object in view I provide the rim, or a strip of metal to be inserted
within the rim, with a series of sharp points or teeth arranged upon each side
annularly, at a distance from the edges thereof, the points extending inwardly and
downwardly towards the centre of the base of the rim, whereby the said points
are caused to penetrate into the walls of the tyre or cover, as the tyre becomes
inflated. The points are or may be formed by perforating the body of the rim,
while a clear central annular space remains between the series of points or teeth
located on either side. The tyre cover as aforesaid has its edges unprovided with
inextensible wires, the said edges being extensible or elastic, so that as the tyre
is inflated the said edges are driven laterally outwards, and are caught and held by
the said series of inwardly and downwardly directed points or teeth.
In order that my invention may be readily understood I have shewn at Figure 1
a transverse section through a solid rim or felloe made according thereto.
Figure 2 is a transverse section and Figure 3 is a plan view of a hollow rim or
felloe. Figure 4 is a like view through a tubular edged rim or felloe. Figure 5
is a transverse section of a tyre in position, the latter having extensible or elastic
enlarged edges, formed by the insertion of cores of corrugated or coiled wire, or
elastic, or other similar material. Figure 6 is a transverse section of a tyre and
rim, shewing the latter fitted with an annular strip having teeth formed and
arranged according to my invention, and Figure 7 is a perspective view of a portion
of such a rim as is shewn at Figure 4.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawing
According to my invention, and with reference to the figures of the drawings
aforesaid, I provide the rim or felloe A with a series of sharp points or teeth B,
arranged annularly upon each side of the bed of the rim, and such points or teeth
may be raised out of the body of the metal or other material from which the said
rim or felloe is constructed. The sharp points or teeth B I cause to incline
inwardly and downwardly towards the centre of the rim or felloe, as shewn in
the drawings. In the construction of rim shewn at Figure 1 three rows of the
inwardly and downwardly inclined points or teeth are shewn at each side of the
rim, the said points or teeth commencing at a short distance from the edges thereof,
and a clear central annular space remaining in the centre of the bed of the rim.
The sharp points or teeth are formed by piercing the metal of the rim or of the
strip C Figure 6, with a V-shaped tool, the point of which is elevated to the height
that the points or teeth are required to stand up from the rim or strip aforesaid,
and the points thus produced, consequently are arrow-headed or V-shaped and
being pointed inwardly and downwardly towards the centre of the base of the
rim, and not at a right angle to the interior surface of the said rim, they directly

page_text: and effectively engage the tyre as it is inflated, such teeth being of the aforesaid
shape in contradistinction to conical teeth or projections raised at right angles to
the surface of the metal, such as in the ordinary nutmeg grater.
If the teeth are conical in shape or raised at right angles to the surface of the rim
they would fail to effectually engage the tyre as it inflates.
It is preferable that the apertures or projections so produced should be covered
at the back to prevent water or any foreign substance reaching the tyre fabric,
and to this end I turn over the edges of the rim as shewn at Fig. 1, or when con-
structing a hollow rim as at Fig. 2, I raise the points in that part of the metal
forming, or to form, the base or bed for the tyre. In the case of a tubular-edged
rim, as shewn at Fig. 4, I form the points B at such distances from the edges of
the rim as to admit of the said edges being turned back into tubular forms and so
that the portions turned back to form the tubular edges, cover the perforations
produced by the bending up of the points B. The turned-over edges of the rims
or felloes may be suitably secured at their points of junction.
Figures 2, 3 and 4 shew two rows of the sharp points or teeth (downwardly and
inwardly inclined), at each side of the rim or felloe instead of three as shewn at
Figure 1. I may however employ any suitable number of rows or series of such
points or teeth at each side of the rim or felloe, that is to say, so that the points
shall occupy positions extending annularly round the rim at a distance from the
edge thereof, and shall extend inwardly and downwardly or so as to penetrate into
or grip the walls of the tyre or cover, as the tyre is being inflated while a clear
annular space shall remain in the rim between the series of points or teeth.
In applying a double tube tyre to the aforesaid rim, the inner tube is placed
in position, and the outer cover is stretched over the rim edges, the extensible or
elastic edges aforesaid of the said cover being located centrally of the rim in the
clear space left between the points or teeth, the said edges being pulled into this
position by the elastic or extensible nature of same. The tyre is then inflated
and the sides and edges of the cover being thereby forced out laterally as the
inflation proceeds, and being caught by the points or teeth equally, thereby ensures
the tyre being of equal size throughout when so fixed.
I make the points or teeth in the rim of such a size length and number, that it
is impossible for them to entirely pierce through the walls of the tyre or cover,
and therefore in some cases it is convenient to provide the said edges of the cover,
or the bottom or sides of the tyre, with strips of material or fabric of open texture
attached to the cover where the points or teeth engage same, or I leave the edges
of the cover unsolutioned or uncovered with rubber, so that the teeth shall engage
with the usual canvas lining of such cover.
In heavy vehicle tyres where the walls are fairly thick and the teeth are required
to penetrate more deeply, fewer points or teeth are raised from the rim, so that the
air pressure will accomplish this more readily, and the rim is made of correspond-
ingly thicker material.
In order to secure the elasticity of the tyre cover I insert the elastic core, com-
posed of corrugated or coiled wire, or elastic, or other similar material, as shewn
at Figure 5, in each extreme edge of such cover to draw it into the centre of the
clear space of the rim as aforesaid.
In some cases I form the sharp points or teeth upon a separate or independent
strip of trough section, as shewn at Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings, such
strip is then attached or secured by brazing or otherwise onto or into the rim which
it is adapted to fit, and thus any ordinary rim can be converted for holding a
pneumatic tyre according to my said invention.
It is obvious that with the employment of my improved rim even when a tyre,
fixed or secured as described, is deflated, the points of the rim will remain in the
fabric of the cover or tyre until the fabric is pushed by hand away from the said
points or teeth, so that while the tyre is secured firmly in position when inflated,
it is yet held in place and is not likely to become detached, when deflated, by
reason of puncture or other causes.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A wheel rim to hold a pneumatic tyre, such rim having a series of sharp
points, or teeth, in shape arrow-headed or V-shaped, arranged annularly upon
each side of the bed of the rim at a distance from the edges thereof, so as to leave
a central smooth annular space between the series of points or teeth, the latter
extending inwardly and downwardly towards the centre of the base of the rim,
substantially as described and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
2. A metal strip adapted to fit into the channel of a vehicle wheel rim to receive
a pneumatic tyre, such strip having a series of sharp points or teeth, in shape
arrow-headed or V-shaped, the points extending inwardly and downwardly towards
the centre of the base of the strip, and arranged annularly upon each side of the
bed of the strip, so as to leave a smooth central annular space between the series of
points or teeth, substantially as set forth.
3. A wheel rim to hold a pneumatic tyre, such rim having a series of sharp
points or teeth, in shape arrow-headed or V-shaped, arranged annularly upon
each side of the bed of the rim, at a distance from the edges thereof, so as to
leave a central smooth annular space between the series of points or teeth, the
latter extending inwardly and downwardly towards the centre of the base of the
rim, in combination with an outer cover having elastic cores composed of coiled
wire, or elastic or other similar material inserted in the edges thereof to draw the
said edges to the centre of the base of the rim before inflation; whereby during
inflation the edges are forced equally outwards and the tyre cover becomes caught
and held by the points or teeth aforesaid substantially as herein before described,
and shewn in the accompanying drawings.
4. A wheel rim to hold a pneumatic tyre, such rim having a series of sharp
points or teeth, in shape arrow-headed or V-shaped, arranged annularly upon each
side of the bed of the rim at a distance from the edges thereof, so as to leave a
central smooth annular space between the series of points or teeth, the latter
extending inwardly and downwardly towards the centre of the base of the rim,
in combination with an outer cover having extensible and elastic edges, those
parts of the edges into which the sharp points or teeth are to engage being left
unsolutioned or uncovered with rubber, the edges of the cover being elastically
drawn to the plain centre of the rim, and equally forced out during inflation,
becoming caught and held by the sharp points aforesaid, substantially as herein-
before described.
5. A wheel rim to hold a pneumatic tyre, such rim having a series of sharp
points or teeth, in shape arrow-headed or V-shaped, arranged annularly upon each
side of the bed of the rim at a distance from the edges thereof, so as to leave a
central smooth annular space between the series of points or teeth, the latter
extending inwardly and downwardly towards the centre of the base of the rim,
in combination with a single tube tyre, whereby during inflation, the said tyre
is forced outwardly and becomes caught as expansion of the tyre takes place, by
the sharp points or teeth aforesaid, and is thereby securely held even when deflated,
all substantially as herein before described.
6. A wheel rim to hold a pneumatic tyre, such rim having a series of sharp
points or teeth, in shape arrow-headed or V-shaped, arranged annularly upon each
side of the bed of the rim at a distance from the edges thereof, so as to leave a
central smooth annular space between the series of points or teeth, the latter
extending inwardly and downwardly towards the centre of the base of the rim, in
combination with an outer cover having extensible and elastic edges, and strips
of material of open. texture attached to those parts of the cover edges, with which
the aforesaid sharp points or teeth of the rim are to engage substantially as and for
the purposes described.
7. The general construction and arrangement of parts composing my improved
rim, with means for holding a pneumatic tyre thereon, including the means for

page_text: covering the perforations formed by the raising of the sharp arrow-headed or
V-shaped points or teeth, all combined and acting substantially as and for the
purposes described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 21st day of March 1898.
A. F. SPOONER,
323, High Holborn, London, Agent for the Applicant.