Year: 1898

page_text: I, EDWARD EVERETT POWERS, of 15, Quai du Mont Blanc, Geneva, in the
Republic of Switzerland, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The invention consists of a wheel formed of an outer portion having two con-
centrical rims, connected with one another by the spokes and of an inner portion
having a nave rigidly connected to one of the rims and these two portions being
connected with one another by means of an air-chamber.
This arrangement has the great advantage of placing the air-chamber out of
reach of certain objects (sharp stones, glass, nails, and the like) which are the
most frequent causes of the bursting open of pneumatic tyres.
In the accompanying drawings, showing by way of example two constructions
of the invention;
Figure 1 is a partial view of the face of the wheel, with sectional portions.
Figure 2 is a section of the wheel illustrated in Figure 1.
Figure 3 illustrates a face and longitudinal section view and a transverse
sectional view on an enlarged scale, of details of construction of the said wheel.
Figure 4 illustrates in section a modification of the construction illustrated
in Figure 1, and
Figure 5 is a front view of this modification.
In Figures 1 to 3, A is the axis of the wheel; B is the air chamber, C are the
spokes and D is the periphery of the wheel, provided with a solid rubber-tyre d.
To the hub E there are provided two inside-cheeks F and F¹ with intermediate
arms e to which an inside wheel-rim G is fixed, around which the air-chamber B
is engaged. Around the said air-chamber B a second inside wheel-rim H is
arranged the edges h of which are raised up to receive the spokes C and to the
said rim H there are fixed two outside cheeks J J' which bear against the inside
cheeks FF of the hub E so as to maintain the wheel-rim H laterally in position
on the air chamber B. Now as the said wheel-rim H and its cheeks JJ' need
to be movable with regard to the hub of the rim G pivoted on the axis A,
the cheeks J J¹ are provided with a hole ; which is large enough for the hub of the
axis to which the inner wheel-rim G is fixed, to work loose within the outer
wheel-rim H. On the other hand, this displacement of the cheeks JJ with
respect to the cheeks FF' having to take place without strain, whatever the
017

page_text: position of the wheel may be, balls K are arranged in suitable grooves between
the said inside and outside cheeks, so as to render their play easy.
The edges of the second inside wheel-rim H are connected by spokes C arranged
in any suitable way whatever, to the outside wheel-rim D.
In order to have the outer wheel-rim 1) constantly rotating with the inside
rim G there are provided segments L between the inside rim H and the air-
chamber B said segments being formed so as to suit the outside shape of the
inflated air-chamber and they are provided with projections / passing through
suitable openings of the wheel-rim H, so as to be separable from the same in
the radial direction, without being allowed to rotate with respect to it. Moreover
the segments L are provided with inside projections connected by suitable
links or chains M to the inside cheeks FF. Therefore the rotation of said
cheeks FF is transmitted to the segments L with the help of said links or
chains M and the projections of the said segments L cause the rotation of the
wheel-rim H and of the outside wheel-rim 1) as well.
In order to mount the wheel and to take it easily to pieces, one of the outside
cheeks J only is riveted to the rim H. The check J is fixed to the same by means
of bolts. Moreover, as it may be convenient to be able to regulate very
accurately the distance of the cheeks J and J' from one another so as to determine
the play of the balls K, the cheek J¹ is made to fit on the rims of the wheel-rim H
in the manner shown on an enlarged scale in Figure 3. The cheek J¹ has pro-
jecting segments ³, each forming an inclined plane in the circumferential
direction and the edges h of the rim H have corresponding projec.
tions arranged so that, when the projections of the cheek J are supported
by the projections h¹ of the wheel-rim H and one of these pieces is rotated with
regard to the other, said pieces are brought together or separated. The bolts 11
passing through the extended openings of the cheek J¹, the same may be secured
in the required position with regard to the wheel-rim H, once the required distance
of the cheeks is obtained by the means just described.
In order to avoid the wear of the air-chamber B in the places where the ends of
the segments L are supported on the said air-chamber, the same is provided with
reinforcements 6 which are placed between the ends of two neighbouring segments
(see Figure 1 and 2).
In the modification shown in Figure 4 and 5, the balls K are arranged further
from the centre of the wheel and held in their grooves in the inside cheeks F Fi
by a perforated plate F2 the opening of which corresponds to the grooves or recesses
made in the cheeks F and F¹ to receive the balls K, but narrower than those
grooves so that the balls cannot fall out of them when the plates F are
placed on.
The plates Fare held on the cheeks FF1 by means of screws m¹ securing the
links M which are formed as knee joints connected in the centre which can be
depressed, as shown in Figure 5.
The described wheel is provided at a suitable point of the air-chamber, with a
valve of the usual form allowing of the inflating of the same. It is provided too
with suitable devices for the lubricating the balls, hub and cheeks, not shown in
the drawings.
The inside portions of the wheel can be made of wood to lighten the
construction.
The balls K may be arranged in radial series instead of forming a circle.
The fastening of the wheel-rim H to the wheel-rim G may be done directly
with the aid of links having the desired play, without using the segments L.
In order to prevent the dust entering the opening the latter may be covered
over with a shield of metal or of any other suitable material, fixed to the hub or to
one of the cheeks, and bearing with friction on the outside cheek.
The described wheel works in the following manner:
The weight of the vehicle, acting upon the axle A is transmitted by the spokes e
to the lower portion of the rim which bears upon the air-chamber B.

page_text: This latter bears in turn upon the rim H which is connected to the spokes C
and to the rim D.
The air-chamber B forming an elastic medium between the rinis G and H it
follows that the inner portion of said air-chamber is compressed by the weight
of the vehicle, and that this compression causes the rim G to move towards the
rim H, and a corresponding separation of the said rims in the diametrically
opposite portion of the wheel.
While the wheel is rotating that portion of the rim G which approaches the
corresponding part of the rim H changes every moment but the chains Mor
the links M always cause the rim H to rotate with the rim G; on the other hand
the cheeks J and J¹, fixed to the rim H and bearing laterally by means of the
balls K against the rim G prevent the lateral displacement of the said rim G or
of the air tube B with respect to the rim H.
Dated this 22nd day of June 1898
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
mprovements in Pneumatic wheels for Vehicles.
I, EDWARD EVERETT POWERS, of 15, Quai du Mont Blanc, Geneva, in the
Republic of Switzerland, 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:.
1
This invention consists of a wheel formed of an outer portion having two con-
centrical rims, connected with one another by the spokes and of an inner portion
having a nave rigidly connected to one of the rims and these two portions being
connected with one another by means of an air-chamber.
This arrangement has the great advantage of placing the air-chamber out of
reach of certain objects (sharp stones, glass, nails, and the like) which are the
most frequent causes of the bursting open of pneumatic tyres.
In the drawings left with my Provisional Specification showing by way of
example two constructions of the invention:
Figure 1 is a partial view of the face of the wheel, with sectional portions.
Figure 2 is a section of the wheel illustrated in Figure 1.
Figure 3 illustrates a face and longitudinal section view and a transverse
sectional view on an enlarged scale, of details of construction of the said wheel.
Figure 4 illustrates in section a modification of the construction illustrated
Figure 1, and
Figure 5 is a front view of this modification.
In Figures 1 to 3, A is the axis of the wheel; B is the air-chamber, C are the
spokes and D is the periphery of the wheel, provided with a solid rubber-tyre d.
To the hub E there are provided two inside-cheeks F and F with intermediate
arms e to which an inside wheel-rim G is fixed, around which the air-chamber B
is engaged. Around the said air-chamber B a second inside wheel-rim H is
arranged the edges h of which are raised up to receive the spokes C and to the
said rim H there are fixed two outside cheeks J J which bear against the inside
cheeks FF of the hub E so as to maintain the wheel-rim H laterally in position
on the air chamber B. Now as the said wheel-rim H and its cheeks J need
to be movable with regard to the hub of the rim. 6 pivoted on the axis A,
the checks are provided with a hole j which is large enough for the hub of the

page_text: axis to which the inner wheel-rim G is fixed, to work loose within the outer
wheel-rim H. On the other hand, this displacement of the cheeks J J¹ with
respect to the cheeks FF having to take place without strain, whatever the
position of the wheel may be, balls K are arranged in suitable grooves between
the said inside and outside cheeks, so as to render their play easy.
The edges h of the second inside wheel-rim H are connected by spokes C arranged
in any suitable way whatever, to the outside wheel-rim D.
In order to have the outer wheel-rim 1) constantly rotating with the inside
rim G there are provided segments L between the inside rim H and the air-
chamber B said segments being formed so as to suit the outside shape of the
Inflated air-chamber and they are provided with projections 7 passing through
suitable openings of the wheel-rim H, so as to be separated from the same in
the radial direction, without being allowed to rotate with respect to it. Moreover
the segments L are provided with inside projections connected by suitable
links or chains M to the inside cheeks FF¹. Therefore the rotation of said
cheeks F F is transmitted to the segments L with the help of said links or
chains M and the projections of the said segments L cause the rotation of the
wheel-rim H and of the outside wheel-rim D) as well.
In order to mount the wheel and to take it easily to pieces, one of the outside
cheeks J only is riveted to the rim H. The cheek J is fixed to the same by means
of bolts j¹. Moreover, as it may be convenient to be able to regulate very
accurately the distance of the cheeks J and J' from one another so as to determine
the play of the balls K, the cheek J is made to fit on the rims of the wheel-rim H
in the manner shown on an enlarged scale in Figure 3. The cheek J¹ has pro-
jecting segments, each forming an inclined plane in the circumferential
direction and the edges of the rim H have corresponding projec-
tions h¹ arranged so that, when the projections of the check J are supported
by the projections h¹ of the wheel-rim H and one of these pieces is rotated with
regard to the other, said pieces are brought together or separated. The bolts j¹
passing through the extended openings of the cheek J', the same may be secured
in the required position with regard to the wheel-rim H, once the required distance
of the cheeks is obtained by the means just described.
In order to avoid the wear of the air-chamber B in the places where the ends of
the segments L are supported on the said air-chamber, the same is provided with
reinforcements b which are placed between the ends of two neighbouring segments
(see Figure 1 and 2).
In the modification shown in Figure 4 and 5, the balls K are arranged further
from the centre of the wheel and held in their grooves in the inside cheeks F F¹
by a perforated plate F the opening of which corresponds to the grooves or recesses
made in the cheeks F and F to receive the balls K, but narrower than those
grooves so that the balls cannot fall out of them when the plates Fa are
placed on.
The plates are held on the cheeks F F1 by means of screws m³ securing the
links which are formed as knee joints connected in the centre which can be
depressed, as shown in Figure 5.
The described wheel is provided at a suitable point of the air-chamber, with a
valve of the usual form allowing of the inflating of the same. It is provided too
with suitable devices for the lubricating the balls, hub and cheeks, not shown in
the drawings.
The inside portions of the wheel can be made of wood to lighten the
construction.
The balls K may be arranged in radial series instead of forming a circle.
The fastening of the wheel-rim H to the wheel-rim G may be done directly
with the aid of links having the desired play, without using the segments L.
In order to prevent the dust entering the opening ; the latter may be covered
over with a shield of metal or of any other suitable material, fixed to the hub or to
one of the cheeks, and bearing with friction on the outside cheek.

page_text: The described wheel works in the following manner:
The weight of the vehicle, acting upon the axle A is transmitted by the spokes C
to the lower portion of the rim G which bears upon the air-chamber B.
This latter bears in turn upon the rim H which is connected to the spokes C
and to the rim D.
The air chamber B forming an elastic medium between the rims G and H it
follows that the inner portion of said air-chamber is compressed by the weight
of the vehicle, and that this compression causes the rim G to move towards the
rim H, and a corresponding separation of the said rims in the diametrically
opposite portion of the wheel.
While the wheel is rotating that portion of the rim G which approaches the
corresponding part of the rim H changes every moment but the chains M or
the links M always cause the rim H to rotate with the rim G; on the other hand
the cheeks J and J', fixed to the rim H and bearing laterally by means of the
balls K against the rim G prevent the lateral displacement of the said rim G or
of the air tube B with respect to the rim H.
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. A pneumatic wheel for vehicles of any kind, formed of an exterior portion
having two concentrical rims rigidly connected with one another by the spokes
of the wheel and of an inner portion having a nave connected to one another
by means of an air-chamber placed between the same so as to always stand at a
sufficient distance from the road to prevent the roughnesses of same, from reaching
the said air-chamber and allowing the external portion of the said wheel to be
displaced in regard to the central portion a sufficient distance to avoid blows.
2. A wheel of the kind specified, characterized by the combination of the wheel-
rim G with the wheel-rims D) and H, the air chamber B lodged between the wheel-
rims G and H, cheeks J and J¹ secured to the outside wheel so as to hold it
laterally on the inside wheel, balls K being arranged between the same and the
cheeks J J¹.
3. In a wheel of the kind specified the combination of wheel-rims G and H with
segments L and their projections 7.
Doted this 7th day of Santambon 1909
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.