IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WHEELS OF TRACTION CARRIAGES FOR USE ON COMMON ROADS AND TRAMWAYS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Firth, of Rose Villa, Viewforth, Edin-
burgh, in the County of Mid Lothian (Secretary to the North British
Rubber Company Limited), for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE WHEELS OF TRACTION CARRIAGES FOR USE ON COMMON ROADS AND
TRAMWAYS."
Sealed the 12th April 1870, and dated the 20th October 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Firth at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th October
1869.
I, WILLIAM FIRTH, of Rose Villa, Viewforth, Edinburgh, in the
(Secretary to the North British Rubber
County of Mid Lothian
Company, Limited, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WHEELS OF TRACTION CARRIAGES FOR USE ON COMMON
ROADS AND TRAMWAYS," to be as follows:-
These improvements relate to the construction of the external bearing sur-
faces of wheels of traction carriages for use on common roads or tramways,
the felloes or tire segments being suitably linked or bound together, and having
[Price 8d.]

page_text: as
First. Resting in and all round the groove of such a wheel rings or perforated
pieces of india-rubber are placed and kept firmly against the face
of the wheel by an external thin metallic band or hoop surrounded or surround-
ing a similar band or bands of india-rubber, leather, or any suitable
material, which may also be surrounded by another metallic band;
or a series of such rubber rings or perforated pieces of rubber and such metallic
bands or hoops may be used to get the required thickness. By
this or an equivalent arrangement the central spaces of the rings,
and the spaces between the rings, or the perforations in the rubber
will be formed into air cells, which with the surrounding or covering band or
bands will when" bearing the weights of the carriage be air-tight,
and the air thus contained in india-rubber cells will be compressible with that
substance, and the air will thus be utilised for the object of this
Invention.
Second. Instead of placing a metallic hoop outside the rubber rings, these
as also solid pieces of india-rubber of any desired shape may be passed or
pressed half way or nearly through corresponding holes formed in such a hoop
or hoops, being thus kept at any distance apart or close to each other so as to
form cells, which may be surrounded if required by unperforated bands or hoops,
as already described, which bands or hoops may be continuous all
round, or in segments joined to each other; and instead of such covering hoops
discs or plates of metal may be used to cover the perforations or
cells, also instead of perforated bands or hoops a network of iron or other
metal may be used.
Third. Instead of metallic hoops or bands or network the rings or pieces of
rubber may be perforated from side to side, and strung on to round or narrow
flat hoops or bands, the ends of which are afterwards suitably bound together,

page_text: whereby such pieces of rubber are retained in the groove of the wheel. Fur-
ther, slightly dovetailed grooves may be made in the face of the
wheel, into which the pieces of rubber may be pressed and so
retained in position; or they may be held from central fastenings by bolts or
rods passing through perforations in the face of the wheel, in which case a
groove therein might be dispensed with; or they may be held together by
forked pieces of metal, the prongs of which are pressed into holes formed in
the rubber. Or lastly, the pieces of rubber may be easily made on solid or
hollow metal mandrils extending at either end a little beyond their
surfaces, and if the mandrills be placed parallel to the axis of the wheel a suit-
able band or hoop on each side may be made to embrace the ends
of all the mandrils, and thus the pieces of rubber may be held to the surface
of the wheel.
Fourth. Outside the rings or pieces of india-rubber or their coverings as
already described felloes or treading pieces of metal or of metal combined with
other substances are placed and linked or bound together by any or a com-
bination of any of the modes described under the third head, ог
by various other suitable means wherein provision is made for the
expansion and contraction of the link or fastening.
Fifth. Pieces of india-rubber may be employed between such treading pieces
or felloes so as to form a joint or articulation, so as to admit of the surfaces
of the metallic pieces assuming various angles with the normal plane of the
road, while their thickness may be varied and made as great or even greater
than half the radius of the wheel.
Sixth. When desired I form the treading surfaces of such felloes so as to
coincide or nearly coincide with the circumference of a circle less in diameter
than the diameter of the wheel, which will make the periphery of
This arrange-
the improved wheel waved or undulated instead of circular.
ment may be carried to the extent of making the treading pieces
entirely cylindrical.
Seventh. The forms of these treading pieces in any section. perpendicular
to the axis of the wheel may be varied to any extent, by some
of which the fastenings for the pieces of rubber described under the first and
second heads may be dispensed with or superseded by the links or fastenings
be
of the treading pieces, while said pieces of india-rubber may
arranged to perform the function of the pieces described under the fifth head.
the circular, elliptical, and tri-
The forms specially applicable are
angular, and a form which may be said to be like the section of a frustrum

page_text: of a prism. The lengths of these felloes or treading pieces are
equal to the width of the face of the wheel, but several shorter may be employed
to make one whole treading piece. They are by preference made
hollow from plate iron into these forms, and the cavities are preferred to be
filled wholly or partially with india-rubber, the design of which is
to receive the linking or fastening arrangements, some of which
have been described under the third head, and also to hold the several smaller
pieces which may be used to form one whole treading piece ог
felloe.
Eighth. One very convenient form for the treading piece or felloe will be
that of a metal trough without ends and filled with india-rubber. This may
be applied to the wheel with bottom towards the centre of the
wheel and resting on the rings or perforated pieces or solid pieces of india-
rubber described under the first and second heads, for which purpose it will
be very convenient to make the said pieces of india-rubber T-shaped, the
horizontal branches being intended to bear up or cushion the ends of two con-
tiguous felloes and the upright branch to be placed between them. The rubber
inside the trough is pierced by three longitudinal holes, the middle
one of which is formed like a button hole, the narrow end of
which terminates with the surface of the rubber. The end holes
are intended to receive the forks or linking arrangements described under the
third head; the centre hole is intended to receive one or a series
of pieces of treading irons. The swell at the foot of the up-
right branch being placed in the hole in the rubber will be thereby and very
conveniently held.
Ninth. The felloes may be made with side pieces extending towards the
centre of the wheel, which pieces are provided with either outward or inward
projections, which can be embraced by one common ring, band, or
hoop secured to the wheel in any convenient manner, and from
which said projections will rise when the felloes are subjected to
pressure, and to which they will return when relieved from pres-
sure by the recoil of the bearing or cushioning pieces of rubber already
described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Firth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 20th
April 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
FIRTH, of Rose Villa, Viewforth, Edinburgh, in the County of Mid
Lothian (Secretary to the North British Rubber Company, Limited),
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-third year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said William Firth, Her special licence that I, the said
William Firth, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said William Firth, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should
and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and
Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WHEELS OF
TRACTION CARRIAGES FOR USE ON COMMON ROADS AND TRAMWAYS," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Firth, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their
hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the
said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Firth, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:-
The objects of my said Invention are to construct wheels with treading
surfaces having an elastic or compressible character, which surfaces
shall be of such a nature that they will not be easily affected by the
wear and tear of the road, and therefore not require frequent repairs,
and if repairs be required the same can he effected with facility. These
objects I effect by constructing the external bearing surfaces of the

page_text: wheels of traction carriages for use on common roads and tramways or
railways by applying outside the rigid metallic or wooden tires hitherto
in use, compressible and elastic felloes or tire segments suitably linked
or bound together so as to form a compressible, elastic, and articulated
or segmental outer wheel tire, instead of the continuous compressible
and elastic or the metallic or wooden tires hitherto in use, amongst other
advantages affording at any particular instant a much larger treading or
bearing or road or rail contact area than can be obtained with rigid tires,
and thereby yielding a much higher tractive effect with the same weight
of carriage.
And in order that my said Invention, and the manner of performing the
same may be clearly and properly understood, I have appended hereto six
Sheets of explanatory Drawings sometimes referred to in the following
explanation or description of the mode of carrying out my said Invention,
in which description a wheel is to be understood and is intended to be
referred to as constructed in any convenient way and of any convenient
materials, but provided if necessary with a circumferential groove. or
grooves in the rigid inner tire, or with flanges forming the equivalent of
such groove or grooves.
And further to aid the more easy and proper understanding of my
said Invention and the mode of performing the same, I shall describe
the four special constituents forming the elements of my said Invention,
which are applicable in whole or in part to all the modes of performing
the same as hereafter fully explained, and to various other modes of
adaptation of the said four elementary constituents not specially described
in the constructive details hereafter given.
Firstly. The first elementary constituent consists in the employment
of solid pieces of compressible and elastic materials, such as india-rubber
or of cellular pieces, or of pieces arranged and covered to form cells or
cellular spaces of or by such materials, so as to economize said materials
and to utilize if desired the air by and with and partly as an equivalent of
such materials. Such combinations, which may be carried out in various
ways, form the first element of my Invention, and are the pieces called
hereafter in this description bearing pieces.
Secondly. The
second elementary constituent consists in covering
such bearing pieces with metal felloes or treading pieces or with suitable
bands or hoops, or with chains, or with a combination of these, the
intention being to form treading pieces of metal to come in contact with

page_text: the road or rail surface.
Such treading pieces may be formed in various
ways, and also be combined with or attached to each other and to the
bearing pieces in various ways.
Thirdly. The third elementary constituent consists in placing pieces
of india-rubber or other elastic or yielding material between such
treading pieces or between such treading pieces and such bearing pieces, the
intention being to make provision for the outside or treading surfaces of
the rigid metallic treading pieces assuming various angles with the
normal plane of the road or rail. A small portion of the surfaces of
these pieces will be exposed to the surface of the road or rail, and be
liable to wear more rapidly than the bearing pieces, hence provision is
made for renewing such pieces (which I call hereafter junction pieces)
from time to time apart from the bearing pieces, an economical advantage
not possessed by a continuous elastic tire.
Fourthly. The fourth elementary constituent consists in linking,
binding, or fastening together or to each other these several bearing
pieces, treading pieces, and junction pieces so as when so bound to form an
articulated and segmental wheel tire, such links, bands, or fastenings, or
their equivalents being provided with the means of extension or con-
traction, or with means equivalent thereto, which are effected by employing
rigid metal links, bands, or fastenings or linking pieces in combination
with elastic india-rubber or other elastic socket pieces.
These four elementary constituents may each be carried out in a
variety of ways, and may be combined to supersede each other wholly
or partially, for example. the first (the bearing piece or pieces) and third
(the junction piece or pieces) may be united, and also the second (the
treading piece or pieces) and fourth (the linking piece or pieces) united,
but the functions performed by each of such combinations will in
consequence be twofold, as will appear from the following constructive
details.
And I desire it further to be understood that as such details and also
such Drawings as are appended hereto will be best understood by
reference to the four elementary constituents and their functions or uses,
which I have above described, therefore the same letters will be used as
far as convenient throughout all the Drawings to indicate pieces having
like uses or functions; and such several pieces will be designated by the
names given in describing the said four elementary constituents.

page_text: First. Resting in and all round the groove of such a wheel rings or
perforated or solid pieces of india-rubber are placed and kept firmly
against the face of the wheel by an external thin metallic band or hoop
surrounding or surrounded by a similar band or similar bands of india-
rubber or any suitable material, which may also be surrounded by another
metallic band or a series of such rubber rings or perforated pieces of
rubber and such metallic bands or hoops may be used to get the required
thickness. The said rings or perforated pieces of rubber, also solid,
cylindrical, or polygonal pieces of rubber, may be placed so as to touch
each other sideways, or they may be placed apart and have strips or
pieces of rubber placed between them, by which means both the per-
forations and the surrounding spaces will be formed into air cells; also
into or around such perforations and pieces of rubber helical or other
steel springs may be placed so as to economize the rubber. Further, the
surrounding thin metallic bands or hoops may be continuous or (as I
prefer) in sections suitably joined or linked or hinged together, or instead
of bands or hoops chains may be employed with metal, leather, or other
suitable coverings for the cells or cellular spaces. By these or any
equivalent arrangement the central spaces of the rings and the spaces
between the rings or pieces of rubber will be formed into air cells,
which with the surrounding or covering band or bands or cell coverings
will when bearing the weight of the carriage be air-tight, and the air
thus contained in the india-rubber cells will be compressible with that
substance and the steel springs which may be employed therewith, and
the air will thus be utilized for the object of this Invention.
as to
Second. Instead of placing a metallic hoop outside the rubber rings
or perforated pieces of rubber, these (as also solid pieces of rubber of
any desired shape) may be passed or pressed half way or any convenient
distance through corresponding holes formed in such a hoop or hoops,
being thus kept at any distance apart (or close to each other) so
form cells, which may be surrounded, if required, by unperforated bands
or hoops, and which may have strips or pieces of rubber between them
forming cellular spaces, as already described, and such bands or hoops
may be continuous all round or in segments suitably joined to each other,
and instead of such covering hoops or bands discs or plates of metal may
be used to cover the perforations or cells or cellular spaces; also, instead

page_text: of perforated bands or hoops a network of iron or other metal may be
used. Further when the metal hoops or bands are not made continuous
all round the wheel, but are (as I prefer) in segments, the end of one
segment may be made to underlap or overlap the contiguous segments,
and the pieces of rubber being passed through corresponding holes in
both segments, where they overlap or underlap each other, will serve as
The cellular
fastenings for such segments in addition to their other use.
or solid or perforated pieces of rubber described partly under this and
partly under the first head are the bearing pieces referred to in the
elementary arrangements forming the elements of my Invention
already described, but I wish it to be understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details of said bearing pieces as given under these
two heads.
A
as
Or a
Various other forms and arrangements for bearing pieces might be
employed which in combination with the other elements of my Invention
Thus
would accomplish the functions or uses of such bearing pieces.
instead of air and india-rubber steel springs of various forms might be
employed either alone or in combination with cork or rubber.
number of rubber balls might be placed between the flanges of the
wheel and covered by hoops, as already described. Again the spokes or
arms of such a wheel might be arranged in two or more rows instead of
one as heretofore and kneed or jointed and fitted with suitable springs
counteracting or resisting in directions parallel to the axis of the wheel
when bearing the
the outward. or inward movements of such spokes
weight of the carriage.
Third. Instead of metallic hoops or bands or chains or network being
employed to attach the rings or perforated pieces or other bearing
pieces to each other and to keep them to the rigid face of the wheel, as
described under the first and second heads, these bearing pieces may be
perforated from side to side and strung on to round or narrow flat hoops
or bands or chains made either continuous all round or in sections, the
ends of which are suitably bound together,
are retained in the groove of the wheel.
grooves may be made in the rigid face of the wheel, into which the
bearing pieces of rubber may be pressed and so retained in position; or
rods passing
they may be held from central fastenings by bolts or
through perforations in the face of the wheel in which case a groove
therein may be dispensed with; or they may be held together by forked
whereby such bearing pieces
Further, slightly dovetailed

page_text: pieces of metal, the prongs of which are pressed into holes formed in the
rubber. Or lastly, the bearing pieces may easily be made on solid or
hollow metal mandrils extending at either end a little beyond their
surfaces, and if the mandrils be placed parallel to the axis of the wheel
a suitable band or hoop or ring or washer on each side of the wheel
may be made to embrace the ends of all the mandrils, or the mandrils
may be linked together by journal holes in such hoops or otherwise by
separate links, and thus the pieces of rubber or the bearing pieces may
be held to the surface of the wheel. The linking pieces may be attached
to contiguous tire segments or increased in length to extend from any
one such segment to the second, third, or fourth distant from it and may
be placed within the body of the tire. The linking or binding arrange-
ments as described under this and the two foregoing heads are. the
linking pieces referred to in the arrangements already described as
forming the elements of my Invention. The linking pieces already
described as applicable to the bearing pieces are in most cases equally
applicable to the linking of the treading pieces to be hereafter described,
and it is to be observed that in many cases no special linking pieces will
be required for the bearing pieces apart from the linking of the treading
pieces.
Fourth. Outside the bearing pieces or their coverings, as already
described, felloes or treading pieces of metal (or of metal combined with
other substances) are placed and linked or bound together by any or a
combination of any of the modes described under the third head, or by
various other suitable means wherein provision is made for the expansion
or contraction of the link or fastening, or for the equivalent of expansion
and contraction. These treading pieces already referred to in describing
the elementary arrangements of my Invention will be hereafter more
fully described. The equivalent of contraction and expansion in the
metal linking pieces which I employ to bind these treading pieces is
obtained in the socket pieces of india-rubber into which or over which
I place the metal linking pieces.
Fifth. Pieces of india-rubber are or may be employed between the
treading pieces or between both them and the bearing pieces so as to
form a joint or articulation, and to admit of the surfaces of the said
treading pieces assuming various angles with the normal plane of the
road or rail, while the thickness or depth of said treading pieces may be
varied and made as great or even greater than half the radius of the

page_text: wheel. These pieces of india-rubber I call junction pieces or articulation
pieces, and by them in combination with the treading pieces the following
advantages and improvements are obtained.
(1.) The surface of my improved wheel, although in segments, will be
smooth, and the joints of such segments will be mud and gravel proof.
(2.) The bearing surface will be almost entirely of metal, and there-
fore as durable or more durable than the rigid tires hitherto in use.
(3.) The bearing surface although covered with metal will be flexible,
and will bend or flatten when bearing the weight of the carriage,
whereby the normal plane of the road or rail will not be a tangent to
the wheel circle but will coincide with a segmental line of said circle;
thus the treading or bearing surface or the road or rail contact surface
will subtend a greater angle at the centre of the wheel than a rigid tire
in the direction of said normal plane can admit of, and hence the
tractive effect or the resistance to slip will be greatly increased.
(4.) Much less india-rubber will be required than in a continuous
and solid rubber tire, and it can be disposed so as to yield the maximum
of compression and elasticity with the minimum of material, and
without so much injurious slip round the rigid metal tire which a
continuous and solid rubber tire must tend to promote.
And (5.) The india-rubber employed, being by preference vulcanized
india-rubber and made in small pieces, can be much more easily and
cheaply made, can also be renewed or repaired in detail and with less
expense, and in localities far removed from rubber manufactories, and
the repair may be readily effected in localities where it would be impos-
sible to repair a continuous rubber tire.
Sixth. When desired I form the bearing or road contact surface of the
felloes or treading pieces so as to coincide or nearly coincide with the
circumference of a circle less in diameter than the diameter of the wheel,
which will make the periphery of the improved wheel
waved or
undulated instead of circular. This arrangement may be carried to the
extent of making the treading pieces entirely circular, and will be most
convenient for the wheels of locomotives or traction carriages for steep
tramways or railways. Three or two of such shaped treading pieces of
such a wheel may easily be arranged to be in contact with the rail
at once, and with the following effects:-If three be in contact the
great weight will be on the middle one, but the part of the rail in

page_text: contact will subtend a greater angle at the centre of the wheel. Again
if two be in contact with the rail each will bear a greater weight than
the average on each of the three in contact, but the rail in contact will
subtend a less angle at the centre. In either case the result will be the
same, namely, a greater resistance to slip and a greater tractive effect
than with a rigid tire, and with much less injury to the rail.
Seventh. The forms of the treading pieces in any section perpendicular
to the axis of the wheel may be varied, by some of which the fastenings
for the bearing pieces described under the first, second, and third heads
may be dispensed with or superseded by the links or fastenings of the
treading pieces, or by the treading pieces themselves, while the said
bearing pieces may be arranged to perform the functions or uses of the
junction pieces described under the fifth head. The forms specially
applicable are the circular, elliptical, oblong, and triangular, and a form
resembling in section the frustrum of a hollow prism or of a trough, but
various other forms may be employed. The lengths of these treading
pieces or felloes are equal or nearly equal to the width between
the flanges of the wheel, but several shorter may be employed to make
whole treading piece. There extent circumferentially may vary
from an inch to several inches according to the size of wheel. They are by
preference made hollow from plate or flat bar iron into the forms desired, and the
cavities may be filled with wood, cork, or any suitable substance, but 1 prefer
to fill them wholly or partially with india-rubber, the intention being to form
said filling into bearing pieces or combined bearing and socket pieces,
the intention of which is to form socket pieces for receiving the
linking pieces, and to provide thereby for the extension or contraction or the
equivalent thereof of said linking pieces, some of which have been described
under the third head, and also if required to hold together the whole or the
several smaller pieces which may be employed to form one whole treading piece
or felloe.
one
Eighth. One very convenient form for the treading pieces or felloes
will be that of a metal trough without ends, and filled wholly or
partially with rubber, cork, or other materials. This may be applied to
the wheel with the bottom towards the centre of the wheel, and
resting on the bearing pieces, for which purpose it will be convenient to make
the said bearing pieces T shaped in section, the horizontal branches being
intended to rest on the rigid tire of the wheel, and to bear up or
form the bearing pieces for the ends of two contiguous trough tread-

page_text: ing pieces, and the upright branch to be placed between them to act as a
junction piece. The rubber or other elastic materials employed to fill such
troughs either wholly or partially may be considered and used as a
second tire or series of bearing pieces, outside of which suitable and
similar treading pieces to those already described may be placed and
linked, and between which a second series of junction pieces similar to
those already described may be used. The bearing pieces inside the
troughs may also be used as socket pieces for the linking pieces, as
already described. Thus the bearing pieces inside the troughs may
be pierced by three longitudinal holes, the middle one of which is formed
like a button hole, the narrow end of which terminates with the surface
of the rubber. This hole is intended to receive one or a series of.
T-shaped metal treading pieces, the swell at the foot of the upright
branch being placed in the broad end of the hole in the rubber, and
thereby conveniently held. The two outside holes are intended to
serve as socket holes for the prongs of forked or other suitable linking
pieces. (2.) The metal treading pieces to be placed outside of the metal
troughs just described may themselves be made into troughs with their
bottoms curved to the circle of the wheel, and placed with their
bottoms away from the centre of the wheel, and filled with elastic socket
pieces for receiving the linking pieces, as already described; or they may be
very conveniently placed so as to cover about one half of each of
two contiguous troughs of the inner series, and thus perform the double
function of acting as linking and treading pieces; and to carry this out
it will simply be necessary make the sides of both series of
troughs a little wider than otherwise and turn inwards the increase throughout
their lengths, which will cause them to hook or lock into each other, but
they are prevented from touching each other by socket and junction pieces
suitably formed and placed. (3.) The outside troughs or freading pieces
may be, as already stated, formed by a series of shorter troughs formed
from flat bar iron, thus providing for one part of the width of the
bearing face of the improved wheel being more compressed at any
instant than the other part, which is equivalent to providing
flexibility and compressibility transverse to that referred to under the fifth
head. (4.) I prefer to make the metal treading pieces so as to have a number
of smaller ones forming one whole treading piece, and of such forms as will
allow them to perform the double function of acting both as linking and
treading pieces. One way of doing this is by. taking a series of short

page_text: troughs, say about an inch in length by about five or six inches in
width. If the face of the wheel be about twelve inches between the
flanges twelve of such troughs will be required, and if they be placed not
end to end but alternately in advance of each other circumferentially by
about half their extent circumferentially, and the troughs formed con-
siderably wider at the bottoms than across the tops or mouths, there
will be a V-shaped space formed, into which a socket piece of rubber or
other material made on without or with a metal mandril throughout its
length may be thrust or placed. The length of such a socket piece
will be about equal to the width between the flanges of the wheel, and
it will form either the right-hand or left-hand socket piece for the
next alternated and contiguous series of small treading pieces, forming one
whole treading piece. Contiguous to the V-shaped space, or between
two contiguous V-shaped spaces, there will be a A-shaped space formed
by the alternations of the treading pieces; this space is intended to
receive one of the bearing pieces extended therein in order to form a
combined bearing and junction piece. (5.) Instead of the treading
pieces being formed like open troughs they may be formed like
closed ones or tubes, round, elliptical, triangular, or oblong shaped, or a number
of circular, elliptical, triangular, or oblong rings formed from flat
bar iron may be employed to form one such tube or whole treading piece.
These tubes may be placed side by side, and filled with socket pieces,
and linked together by separate links, as already described, or the
flat rings may be placed alternately and circumferentially in advance of each
other, by which socket spaces corresponding to the V spaces just
described will be formed, into which suitable socket pieces are placed.
These socket pieces may be made on solid or hollow metal mandrils,
and therefore strong enough to resist the shearing strain to which
they will be subjected by the binding or keeping together of the con-
tiguous treading piecès; thus a sort of chain or webb will be formed for the
surface of the improved wheel wherein the metal treading pieces form the
warps and the elastic socket pieces the wefts, and underneath which are the
bearing pieces however formed as described under the first and
second heads. (6.) The sides of these trough-formed treading pieces may be
bent inwards and outwards in one or more places so as to form between
any two contiguous treading pieces one or more lozenge-shaped spaces
across the face of the wheel, into which one or more lozenge-shaped
junction pieces of rubber, cork, or other elastic materials may be placed,

page_text: whereby the linking arrangements are converted or superseded by a sort
of arched arrangement wherein the troughs or treading pieces form
set of elements, and the lozenge-shaped junction pieces the other set of
elements or keying elements, and thus with suitable bearing pieces an
elastic tire will be formed of a series of rigid and detached felloes kept.
together and in form by a set of elastic keys, acting also the part of
junction pieces or articulations, and superseding the use of socket
whereby the linking arrangements are converted or superseded by a sort
of arched arrangement wherein the troughs or treading pieces form one
set of elements, and the lozenge-shaped junction pieces the other set of
elements or keying elements, and thus with suitable bearing pieces an
elastic tire will be formed of a series of rigid and detached felloes kept.
together and in form by a set of elastic keys, acting also the part of
junction pieces or articulations, and superseding the use of socket
pieces.
common
Ninth. The felloes or treading pieces may be made with side pieces
extending towards the centre of the wheel, which pieces are provided
with either outward or inward projections embraced by one
ring, band, or hoop secured to each side of the wheel in any convenient
manner, and from which band or hoop said projections will rise when
the felloes or treading pieces are subjected to pressure, and to which
they will return when relieved from pressure, or when not bearing the weight
of the carriage, by the recoil of the bearing or cushioning and the junction
pieces of rubber or other material, as already described. Should it be
desired to relieve the friction which will result from the motion of the
flexible or outer tire round the rigid or inner tire, I can do so by means
of a ring, hoop, or washer on either side of the hearing pieces a little
larger in internal diameter than the diameter of the outer surface
of the rigid wheel tire. These rings will be pressed against the rigid tire
towards the part bearing the weight of the carriage, and thereby
rendered eccentric to the axis of the wheel, resulting in lifting the
flexible tire over the upper part of the rigid tire where the friction would
be greatest. These rings I also advantageously employ in connection
with and as part of the linking pieces by piercing them with journal
holes to receive the mandrils that may be employed with the bearing or
treading pieces. The wheel hitherto referred to I have assumed to be
furnished as before mentioned with a continuous circular rigid tire, but
I sometimes advantageously employ a segmental circular rigid tire, or a
waved or undulated rigid tire either continuous or in segments. Further
such rigid tire segments may be formed of two or more layers of metal,
and the groove in all such rigid tires may be conical between the flanges
or semicircular as well as rectangular as heretofore assumed. Or the
rigid tire may be dispensed with altogether, and its functions per-
formed by pins or bolts passing through the treading pieces and through

page_text: journal holes in the flanges of the wheel against which pins or bolts the
bearing pieces placed in this instance inside the treading pieces are made to
act.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS HEREIN-BEFORE REFERRED TO.
The Drawings (6 Sheets in number) which accompany these
presents illustrate various modes of construction whereby I can put
in practice my said Invention. In these Drawings the bearing pieces
herein-before referred to are marked throughout all the Sheets by
the letter B. The cells or perforations in the bearing pieces and the cellular
spaces between them are marked C, and the ends of these cellular spaces
are filled in with pieces of india-rubber of similar shape. The treading
pieces are marked T, and are of various forms suitable for com-
bination with the other pieces, and for hooking. linking, or keying with each
other, and several smaller pieces are employed to form one whole
treading piece. The junction pieces are marked J and are made of
various forms so as to fill up wholly or partially the spaces between the
treading and bearing pieces, ande are sometimes perforated circum-
ferentially. The linking pieces are marked L; they are preferred to be of
metal, and in themselves rigid but attached to or in contact with
compressible and elastic pieces or .socket pieces. As sometimes I make
the treading pieces perform the functions or uses of the linking pieces,
then I generally employ keying pieces marked K, which may be placed in
the centre of the tire in the spaces between the bearing pieces. Various com-
binations and arrangements of the above elements are illustrated by the several
Figures of the said Drawings, such Figures being marked Fig. 1 to Fig. 26
inclusive.
Figure 1 represents a segmental sectional side view of my improved wheel
tire, where W, W, is the rigid wheel tire, and B, are the bearing pieces
resting thereon. Taking any one of these it may extend across the
surface of the wheel in one length, or it may be formed in sections or
cubical pieces, both of these arrangements being shewn in Figure 2
(cross section), and Fig. 3 (sectional plan). These cubical bearing pieces are
pressed through holes formed in the linking pieces, or pieces of metal
hoops overlapping similar pieces of metal hoop L*. The junction pieces J
are V-shaped, and keyed or connected with the bearing pieces B by
lozenge-shaped wooden or metal keys k extending across the face of the
wheel acting on bridges to throw the pressure on the rigid tire by means

page_text: of the bearing pieces. The treading pieces T are trough-shaped, and
may each be made in length about equal to the width of the face of the
wheel, but I prefer to make them much shorter and have several shorter
pieces making one whole treading piece, in which case I employ them
for linking pieces as well as treading pieces. For this purpose they
are placed circumferentially and alternately in advance of each other, as
shewn in Fig. 4 (external plan), which represents the flattened outside
surface of the bearing face of this form of my improved tires. The two
spaces in each trough T not occupied as above described are filled
in with two socket pieces S, each embracing a prismatic metal or wooden
key K. The spaces marked C are the cellular spaces, the ends of which are
filled with nieces of india-rubber which also serve to keen the linking nieces
The cross section Fig. 2 is taken partly through each of the three places
marked with section lines in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view. Corre
sponding pieces are marked with corresponding letters.
t, f, are the wheel flanges attached to the wheel by the bolts b, furnished at
one end with a head and at the other with a nut.
Fig. 4 represents the outside flattened face of my improved wheel tire
shewing the disposition of the treading pieces, wherein seven rows are employed
to form one whole or combined treading piece. An alternative plan for
spacing, regulating, or holding in position the bearing pieces B, to be used in
lieu of Land L described for that purpose, is shewn on the left hand of Figs. 1
and 3; this consists of blocking strips of wood X resting against the rigid
tire W.
Fig. 5 represents an improved wheel tire with one tier of cylindrical
rubber bearing pieces B surrounded by another tier of tubular bear-
ing pieces B2 of iron or steel surrounded by another tier of combined bearing
and junction pieces B, J. Outside are the trough treading pieces T
alternating with others on the width or face of tire, as shewn in the plan.
R is one of the friction relieving rings, more particularly described with reference
to Fig. 6, and also to Figs. 8 to 13; K are the metal keying pieces, and S,
the rubber socketting pieces; L, L, are links for connecting the tubular bearing
pieces B.

page_text: Fig. 6 represents a cross section taken as indicated in Fig. 5. f, f, are
the wheel flanges, and W the rigid tyre; R, R, the friction relieving rings,
a little larger in internal diameter than the external diaineter of the rigid
tire W, and fitting into recesses or rebates at each end of the bearing pieces B,
by the compression of which they will be forced against the rigid tire at the
bearing part, and from which they will lift said bearing pieces over the upper
part of the rigid tire.
Fig. 7 represents the above-mentioned plan or flattened outside surface of the
flexible tire.
Fig. 8 represents by a segmental side view partly in section my
improved wheel tire where employ trough-shaped treading pieces T
the trough being formed with open sides and closed ends; Fig. 9
represents a cross section of same; and Fig. 10, plan partly in section.
The ends of these treading pieces have each a slot through them equal
in length to the internal depth of the trough. Through these slots are
wooden or metal keys K equal in length to the width of the tire
face. On either side of any one of these socketting pieces of rubber S are
placed; from any one of these socket pieces a second keying bar of
wood or other material K* extends to the corresponding socketting
piece S in the next treading trough T.
the junction piece J, and above it the bearing
the bearing pieces and the flanges f of the
a circular flat ring or washer R a little larger in diameter than
the diameter of the face of the rigid tire W. When bearing the weight of
the carriage these rings will bear against the rigid tire on the under side
and tend to lift or carry round the flexible tire with very little friction against
the rigid tire. The ring R is supposed as pressed against the rigid tire in
Fig. 9, and at the top of the wheel as in Fig. 11 as lifted in consequence of
such pressure from the rigid tire. Figures 12 and 13 are diagrams on a small
scale further explaining the eccentric position of the ring with reference to the
right tire.
Below this key is placed
piece or pieces B. Between
wheel on each side I employ
Fig. 14 is à sectional side view, and Fig. 15 plan of my improved.

page_text: J are junction pieces, and S socketting pieces, both of india-rubber, and
B3 auxiliary bearing pieces of india-rubber, also extending as before.
The first-mentioned bearing pieces B may either so extend or be formed
in pieces, these alternatives being both shewn by thick dotted lines in Fig. 15.
Care air cells as have described by other Figures. In said Figure 1+
pieces marked B3 are of india-rubber and form a second series of bearing
pieces marked B3 are of india-rubber and form a second series of bearing
pieces.
Fig. 17 is a sectional side view of my improved wheels, being partly
a modification of that lastly described. Linking pieces as at L are
substituted for the inverted troughs t. Q are wooden bridge or blocking
pieces, and as before (B, J,) are bearing junction pieces, and S socketting
pieces of india-rubber. The treading pieces T and the pieces (B, J,)
X and S extend across the face of the tire, but the bearing pieces B may
either so extend or be made in blocks, pillars, or pieces as before.
Fig. 18 is a sectional side view shewing the application of solid
cylindrical bearing B and junction pieces J applied in tubular metal
sockets S formed in or on a frame of treading pieces T. Fig. 19 is a
similar view in which the treading pieces T non-continuous in the width
are employed, and of such shape as to admit of and become keyed
together by the insertion of lozenge-shaped rubber junction pieces J
continuous or extending across the face of the tiré. F are filling
or blocking pieces of cork (continuous across), and B the bearing
pieces of rubber either continuous or non-continuous. Instead of the
parts B and J being completely solid they may have inserted within
them tubes of metal or rods of metal or wood, as illustrated in the
Figures 20 and 21 are sectional side view and cross section of a
modification or combination of the foregoing arrangements in which a linking
ring or hoop R is employed to carry metal tubes Z, on which the treading
pieces T may in a slight degree exercise a kind of rocking motion; F are
filling or packing pieces of cork or rubber, and F packing pieces
of wood within the tubes Z; R³ are metal pins connecting the parts R and Z;
B are bearing pieces; J, junction pieces; and S, socketing pieces of
india-rubber as before. All the parts are continuous across the width of
tire except the treading pieces, which may or may not be so. C are air cells
as before.

page_text: the improved felloe, and are splayed towards the periphery so as to secure or
hold upon the bent up plate metal covering or treading pieces T and are linked
together by linking irons a, plates L and L* with holes in them as described
in the firstly mentioned Figures 1, 2, 3. K, keying or blocking piece of wood
or cork.
Figures 25 and 26 shew a modification, which after what has been
stated will be understood by reference to the Drawing and the notes
thereon.
In Figures 1 to 4 some of the bearing pieces B are hollow, and some are so
shewn in plan view, Fig. 3, and although not shewn in the Drawings spiral
springs may be introduced in the hollows, shewn in the pieces B in Fig. 3 to
assist their action.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed or
carried out in practice, I have now to state that although I have shown
various forms and contrivances for constructing my improved wheels so
as to fulfil the objects and intent of my Invention, yet I do not limit or confine
myself to such forms and contrivances only, as it is possible that other forms
and contrivances might be adopted for carrying out my said Invention;
what I do claim being the improvements in wheels herein-before described
and illustrated by the accompanying Drawings, and particularly the use
and adaptation of the elements or elementary constituents herein-before
described, and when and where provisions are made for fulfilling the functions
of some such element or elements I claim the use of two or more of the said
elements.
1

page_text: And I also claim the use of the friction relieving ring herein-
before described under the ninth head, and illustrated by the said
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Firth, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy.
Witness,
THOMAS MORGAN,
Secretary to the
Inventors' Patent Right Association, Limited,
Patentees' Agents,
21, Cockspur Street,
Charing Cross.
W. FIRTH. (L.S.)

page_text: Piece B. Cylindrical
is placed between tw
trending pieces beari
against the linking
pier natend of
rigid wheel tire
thin only limiting
the range of
compression
mat metal tube
covering pin or
red, and locie..
thereon
The linking pin
or rod L passed
through holes in
the Flanges and
rings the flanges
serving as linking
pieces. b.t bottom
of treading piace
2. Net.
w. Rigid tire
Bb binding bolt
The letters not
here roted
denote the
same parts as '
in the other
Drawings.