provements in Tyres for the Wheels of Velocipedes and other Vehicles
Year: 1897

page_text: 66
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Tyres for the Wheels of Velocipedes and other
Vehicles."
I, ALEXANDER MACMILLAN, of 42 Bow Lane, in the City of London, Mechanician,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in tyres for the wheels of velocipedes
and other vehicles.
Tyres constructed according to my invention are intended to replace the
pneumatic tyres in common use, and therefore, to obviate the many disadvantages
to which the latter tyres are liable, this result being obtained by enclosing in
the cover of the tyre a yielding core formed of cork or other analogous material.
For the purpose of increasing the elasticity of the tyres, the said core is or may
be supported on a flexible band having springs interposed between it and the
wheel rim, the band being of such a length that it compresses the said springs
slightly against the rim.
According to one method of carrying out my invention I form the yielding
core of short cylindrical lengths or pieces of cork threaded upon a cord fastened
at its ends to form a ring, its length being such that when in position it holds
the core tightly on to the flexible band. The core, flexible band and springs,
are preferably partially or wholly enclosed in an envelope of canvas or the like,
secured in position by stitches or otherwise and assisting to keep them in their
proper relative positions. Over the tyre body thus formed, the tyre cover is
placed and its edges secured to the rim by means of elastic bands one of which
engages a groove or a head at each edge of the said cover. By these means the
edges of the tyre are caused to embrace the rim tightly, where they lie in circum-
ferential recesses formed in the said rim to receive them.
I prefer to employ plate springs and to attach them midway of their length
to the steel band by rivetting or otherwise and I may also provide them at their
ends with slots which engage pins or studs projecting from the bottom of the
groove of the rim. By this arrangement the springs can yield to the pressure
without shifting relatively to the flexible band and rim and creeping of the tyre
is prevented.
Instead of threading short lengths of cork, indiarubber or the like on a cord,
I may thread them on a wire leather strip or the like, and in place of making the
core of short lengths it may be made of cork or other suitable material in a single
piece. I may moreover substitute horse-hair, wool, feathers or other resilient
material for the curved springs. Again, I do not limit myself to the use of a
flexible band made of steel; the said band may be made of aluminium, hardened
india-rubber or leather, wood or any other suitable substance. Obviously certain

page_text: details of construction may be varied without departing from the nature of the
invention.
HASELTINE LAKE & Co.
45 Southampton Buildings, London W.C.
Agents for the Applicant.
"Improvements in Tyres for the Wheels of Velocipedes and other
Vehicles."
I, ALEXANDER MACMILLAN of 42 Bow Lane, in the City of London, 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
statement:
-
This invention relates to improvements in tyres for the wheels of velocipedes
and other vehicles, and is designed to provide a light and resilient tyre which
shall be free from the objections that apply to inflated or pneumatic tyres.
To this end I employ in place of the usual air tube of a pneumatic tyre, a core
of cork enclosed in a suitable outer cover, and I employ in combination therewith,
springs or other suitable means for increasing the resiliency or elasticity of the
tyre.
According to one arrangement the core of the tyre consists of short cylindrical
pieces or lengths of cork threaded or strung upon a wire ring, and has arranged
around its inner circumference a flexible metallic or other suitable strip or band
against which the springs bear.
According to a modification of this arrangement I replace the flexible metallic
band and springs by a band of india-rubber in a state of tension interposed
between the core and the wheel rim.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into
effect I will proceed to describe the same by aid of the accompanying drawings,
in which:
Figure 1 is a side view in section of a tyre for a velocipede constructed accord-
ing to the arrangement above referred to.
Figures 2 and 3 are sections of the same at right angles to each other.
Figure 4 is a transverse section showing the modified arrangement above
mentioned.
Referring more particularly to Figures 1 and 3, aa represent the short pieces
or lengths of cork forming the core of the tyre, the cork employed being pre-
ferably of a soft or spongy kind; a¹ is the wire upon which the said pieces are
threaded or strung, and a² is a wrapping or covering of canvas or cotton tape or
webbing with which the core is surrounded.
b is the flexible strip or band which is preferably formed of steel and is arranged
inside the tyre. This strip or band is preferably kept in position, and creeping
of the tyre is prevented, by short pins or bolts 61 engaging in the inner portion of
the wheel rim c¹.
d are the springs which serve to impart resiliency or elasticity to the tyre.
These are, as shewn, plate springs of bow-shape and are connected at their centre
to the strip or band 6 by suitable clips or fastenings e while their free ends press
upon the wheel rim c. The said ends may if desired be slotted and embrace
steadying pins or studs projecting from the bottom of the rim groove thus allow-
ing the springs to yield without danger of their becoming displaced.

page_text: It is desirable that the parts be so arranged that the springs d are constantly
in a state of slight compression between the band b and the wheel rim. The
springs thus constantly tend to force the tyre outward from the wheel rim, and
enable the same to instantly resume its original form after being subject to
pressure.
f is an outer cover or tread which surrounds the tyre after the manner of the
outer cover or tread of an ordinary pneumatic tyre. In the example shewn the
cover is secured in position by means of elastic bands each of which engages a
groove or bead c¹ in the rim. By these means the edges of the cover are caused
to embrace the said rim tightly. Obviously however the cover may be secured
in place by lacing passed around the rim of the wheel, or by any other convenient
means.
Referring now to the modified arrangement shown in Figure 4, 9 is the band
of india-rubber which takes the place of the flexible strip or band b and the
springs d. This band is made shorter than the tyre so that it requires to be
stretched in order to make it fit against the inner side of the tyre, to which it
is bound by tape or webbing a² or by means of binding wires or cords or both.
The said band g thus serves both to give resiliency to the tyre and also to cause
the tyre to firmly grip the rim of the wheel. The outer cover f in this case
encloses both the core and the india-rubber band g.
h is a thickness or layer of strands of wool or other textile material twisted
together and interposed between the rim of the wheel and the tyre so as to form
a bed or pad to receive the tyre and to afford the latter better adhesion. I may
also arrange between the wool and the rim of the wheel a thin india-rubber band
or lining.
Instead of threading short lengths of cork upon a wire ring, I may thread
them on a wire, leather strip or the like and in place of making the core of short
lengths it may be made of a single piece of cork.
I may also employ a band of aluminium, hardened india-rubber, leather, wood
or any other suitable material instead of the steel band 6 whilst obviously various
other details of construction can be modified without departing from the nature
of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A wheel tyre comprising a core of cork between which and the wheel rim
a flexible band and a series of springs are interposed, substantially as and for
the purposes described.
2. The modification of the tyre wherein an india-rubber band in a state of
tension is employed in combination with the core of cork, substantially as described.
3. A wheel tyre constructed substantially as herein before described with refer-
ence to Figures 1 to 3 or to Figure 4 of the annexed drawings.
Dated this 19th day of November 1897
HASELTINE LAKE & Co.
45 Southampton Buildings, London W.C.
Agents for the Applicant.