An Improved Method of and Means for Fixing Elastic Tyres to Velocipede Wheels.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 7th Mar., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of and Means for Fixing Elastic Tyres to
Velocipede Wheels.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD ROBERTS, of Saint James' Square, Bristol, in the County
of Gloucester, Cycle 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 is essentially an improved method of and means for quickly, and
easily attaching, and detaching, to and from the rims of velocipede wheels, all kinds
of hollow flexible tyres, whether charged with compressed air or not, the object of
which is to dispense with, or supersede the present known methods of attaching such
tyres by means of solution, cement, or the like, and to render said tyres when fixed
according to my invention, less liable to lateral distortion when in use, as compared
with other methods of fixing same hitherto adopted.
My invention mainly consists of a band, or strip of suitable material, passed
through the whole length of the hollow tyre, and the ends connected and drawn
tightly together, when said tyre is in position upon and within the rim of the
wheel.
With a view to the better illustration of my invention, and the manner of its
application to such wheels, I have appended hereunto the accompanying sheet of
drawings.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a velocipede wheel rim and hollow
tyre, attached to each other, by the means forming the subject of my invention.
Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section of the same.
Fig. 3 is an external view of same when viewed from the tyre towards the axis,
or bearing of the wheel, the tyre being partly removed to show the position of the
strap, or band, and one of the methods employed by me of fastening together the
two ends thereof.
Figs. 3 and 4 are views shewing alternative methods of fastening together the
ends of said strap or band.
1 carry my invention into effect by providing a strap, or band of leather, thin
metal, gutta percha, vulcanite, or any suitable material, or substance, adaptable for
the purpose, which may be of any width not in excess of the internal breadth
of the rim of the wheel, and of a length corresponding to the circumferential
measurement of said rim, or thereabouts, plus the thickness of the material
forming the hollow tube. Said strap or band is rendered concave in cross
section by any suitable means according to the nature of the material employed for
the purpose, in order that it may coincide with the internal formation of the rim of
the wheel, and may be provided at each end with straps, and buckles, eyelet holes,
or studs, similar to those used in laced boots. The band, or strap thus formed,
is placed within the hollow elastic tube intended to form the tyre, before the
ends of said tube are joined together, and both band and tube placed within the
concave rim of the wheel, and the two ends of the strap or band fastened together.
The position of the band within the tube when said tube is seated within the
rim of the wheel, is clearly defined by Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying
drawings, in which, A is the strap or band, B the elastic tube forming the tyre,
and C the rim of the wheel. The ends of the strap or band A. must occur at
the point of junction of the ends of the tube B, so that the ends of B may be
turned back sufficiently to permit the fastening together of the ends of A.
Given that the tube B and the band A. are placed within C, the bottom half of
the ends of B, may be cemented together, and when said cement is set, the ends
of A may be drawn tightly together, either by lacing in eyelet holes formed
ID C17

page_text: within the end of A, as at Fig. 3, or. by lacing with studs, fixed upon the
inner surface of the ends of A, as at Fig. 4, or by means of straps and buckles
attached to the inner surface of the ends of A, as at Fig. 5, or by any other suitable
means. When the ends of A are thus tightly drawn together, the tube B is held
firmly seated within the rim C, and the ends of B, may then be finally sealed and
the tyre is complete.
In cases where tyres are used charged with compressed air, I provide an inlet
therefor, by means of a small tube, fitted with a suitable valve, projecting from any
part of the internal circumference of B, passing through a hole in C, that
air may be pumped thereinto. The band A may be punctured with one, or
more holes, to permit the free passage of air into B, and when so charged B
may be further coated with any suitable substance or material as desired.
My invention is equally applicable to each hollow tyre, in cases where two or
more such tyres are used upon a suitably grooved rim, each tyre being fixed by
the same means, and in the manner described.
I find in practice that tubes so fixed within the rim of the wheel, have less
tendency to distortion, laterally, when the wheel is describing a curve, than
obtains with any of the methods of fixing tyres hitherto adopted, as the width
of A, being nearly that of C, holds B firmly seated therein.
When it becomes necessary to remove B, from C, all that is needed is to dissolve
the cement at the junction of the ends of B, sufficiently to gain access to the band A.,
and by unlacing, or otherwise unfastening the ends of A, the tyre can be removed,
and this operation may be performed in a very short space of time.
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
1st. For improvements in the fixing of hollow tyres to the rims of velocipede
wheels, the method of and means for carrying out the same, substantially as herein
described and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
2nd. In an improved method of, and means for, fixing hollow tyres to the rims of
velocipede wheels, the use and application of a concave band A, retained by lacing,
strapping, or any other suitable means, within a hollow tyre B, upon a rim C,
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth, and shewn by the drawings
hereunto appended.
Dated this 6th day of February 1891.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.