Improvements in Elastic Tyres, and Methods of and Means for Attaching the same to the Wheels of Road Vehicles generally.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Apr., 1892-Accepted, 14th May, 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Elastic Tyres, and Methods of and Means for
Attaching the same to the Wheels of Road Vehicles generally.
I, PERCY ALBERT CRAVEN of 9, Kings Road, Wimbledon, in the County of
Surrey, Gentleman, 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 improvements in the construction of india rubber and
other elastic tyres, and an improved method of, and means for, attaching the same
to the wheels of road vehicles generally. whether these be new or have been
previously in wear, and this may be, and in most cases would be, carried into effect
without removing the original metallic binding tyres therefrom. My present.
invention is an improvement upon, or modifications of my previous invention
constituting the subject matter of my application for a l'atent No. 18145 and dated
October 22nd 1891, and the object of my present invention and the improvements
upon my said previous invention is, to provide an elastic tyre at less cost of
manufacture, and more easily and quickly fixed upon existing wheels, and removed
therefrom, and by the methods and means hereinafter explained and shewn, I am
enabled to provide a perfectly elastic noiseless wearing surface, any part of which
may be removed if worn, and replaced by a like portion of new material, without
disturbing the whole, and by the methods and means employed by me, and the
particular construction of the several parts according to my invention, the
possibility of lateral distortion of the elastic wearing surface during wear, or when
the wheel is describing a short curve, is thereby reduced to a minimum, as
compared with the methods and means of constructing and fixing such tyres
hitherto adopted, and which, previous to my invention of prior date, hereinbefore
cited, had only been attained by the employment of a specially constructed metallic
binding tyre, and not capable of being attached to vehicle wheels generally already
in use, or ready for use.
For the purpose of rendering my invention more clear, I have appended here-
unto a sheet of drawings, in which,
Fig. 1 is a cross section of an ordinary vehicle wheel rim, to which an elastic
tyre has been attached by one of the methods constituting my present invention.
Fig. 2 is a side view of part of the rim of a wheel and tyre as in Fig. 1, part of
which is broken away in order to the better illustrate my invention.
Figs. 3 and 4 are views similar to Fig. 1, but illustrating a further modification
thereof.
Fig. 5 is a section taken upon the line A B Fig. 4.
Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view in which I show a yet further modification of the
methods shewn in the previous views.
Fig. 7 is a cross sectional view shewing the method employed by me for
connecting and fixing upon existing wheels a thin metallic channel for the
reception and holding of the elastic tyre, and which will be hereinafter fully
explained.
Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 are views illustrating further modifications hereinafter
explained.
Similar letters of reference are used throughout the drawings to indicate the
same or like parts.
In adapting my invention to vehicle wheels already in use, or ready for use, I
prefer to remove the rivets or bolts that have been employed for holding on the
flat metallic tyre proper A, surrounding and shrunk upon the felloes A of the
wheel, and when these are removed I place around the periphery of A, either in
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page_text: i
one piece or in sections or short lengths, a thin metallic channel B, in which I
provide holes coinciding with the rivet holes in A and A' before mentioned, and
from the inside of the channel B I pass through the said holes suitable screw
bolts C, provided with, preferably, flat or cheese heads a, which may be counter-
sunk into the substance of B if desired, or may stand up therefrom as in Fig. 7,
and if necessary provision may be made in the under surface of the elastic tyre for
the reception thereof, and by the means of suitable locking or other washers 6, and
nuts c, screwed upon the bolts C, within or upon the inner periphery of the felloes
or rim A¹, the channel or sections of channel B, is or are held firmly in position
upon and surrounding the tyre A.
Within the said channel tyre or sections of a tyre B, I place an elastic tyre E,
either in one continuous strip as in Fig. 2, or in sections or short lengths, preferably
the latter, as in Fig. 5, which may be arranged to occur alternately with the
sections of B if such be used, or coincidentally therewith as also shewn in Fig. 5.
The said elastic tyre or wearing surface E, may be of any suitable shape in cross
section, but preferably as shewn in the drawings, provided with a flat or even base,
coinciding with the interior of B, and may be made of vulcanized rubber of any
suitable consistency, or a combination of rubber and other material incorporated
as one mass, and within which has previously been formed either by active means,
or provided during the manufacture thereof, a longitudinal semicircular or similar
shaped channel or channels d, and preferably near to the aforesaid base, the object
of said channel or channels is or are to provide greater elasticity or flexibility in
the tyre E, and further reduce vibration, and assist in the prevention of lateral
distortion during wear.
Upon each side of the elastic tyre E at the part thereof that would be hidden
when seated within B, I previously provide a longitudinal groove, into each of
which I force a metallic, wooden, vulcanite or other hard substance ring or sections
of a ring, shewn by e and in Figs. 1 and 2, and if in sections these may be
arranged to occur alternately or coincidentally with the sections of E, or the
sections of the channel B when these are used, as may be desired. In this method
the channel or sections of channel B, would be first placed upon and surrounding
the periphery of the tyre proper A, and the bolts C passed therethrough, and
thereby be fastened in position as before described. The sections of E, with the
sections of rings ef, may then be placed in position end to end, within the channel
or sections of channel B, and are retained therein by the means of screws y passing
through countersunk holes in the upturned rims of the channel B, and screwed
into threaded holes, provided in the sections of rings e and f. This will be
clearly understood by reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
Or the said rings or sections of rings may be formed integrally with, upon, and
projecting from the inner surface of the upturned rims of the channel tyre or
sections of channel tyre B, as shewn by e¹ and in Fig. 3, in which case I should
prefer that the junctions of the elastic tyre E, should coincide with the junctions of
the sections of B, when these be used, and each section of the latter may be first
placed in position upon A, and bolted thereto as described, when the section of the
elastic tyre E would be slid thereinto, but in the case of the last section of B, the
section of E, must be first placed therein, and B and E together placed in between
the first and last sections already in position. Or each section of B may have the
bolts C placed in position therein, and the section of E placed therein as described,
and the compound sections thus formed placed around A, and fastened in position
one at a time, until the circle is completed. In this method the screws y may be
dispensed with.
Or in lieu of ef or e' f' and the grooves in the sides of E therefor, I may forcibly
insert within the sides of E, at intervals coinciding with the screw holes in the rims
or flanges of B, washers or blocks i k, made of metal, wood vulcanite or other hard
substance, each provided with a threaded hole for the reception of the screws g,
and for the same purpose, reference being had to Fig. 4. In this method I prefer
that, the row of washers or blocks i upon one side of E, should occur alternately

page_text: with those upon the opposite side, as shewn in Fig. 5, and the said washers or
blocks may be first placed within the sides of the elastic tyre or sections of tyre E,
and together placed within the channel 13 or sections of channel, after the latter
has been fixed upon A, the screws g may then be inserted in the holes in B, and
screwed into the blocks or washers i and k as shewn in Figs. 4 and 5.
Or as an alternative method, I may form the longitudinal channel or channels d
in the tyre or sections of tyre E, of rectangular shape in cross section, instead of
semicircular as in the previous methods, into which I force a strip or strips of
metal, wood, vulcanite or other hard substance m, of a size and shape in cross
section, similar thereto, and I may form upon the upper face thereof a semicircular
groove or grooves, or channels d for the same purpose as that for which d was
provided in the previous methods, and which has been herein before explained. Or
the substance m may, if desired, be moulded with E, during its manufacture, and if
the consistency or density of E is, for any reason, lower than in the previous
methods, I may dispense with the groove or grooves or channels d'. In this
method (shewn by Fig. 6) the holes would be formed in the sides of the strips m,
and the screws g, passing through the rims of B as before, and through the
intervening substance of E, would be screwed into m, and preferably in the same
alternating manner as in Fig. 5.
It may suggest itself that the rectangular aperture in E, for the reception of m,
might be dispensed with, and the base of E be solutioned to, and upon, the strip ni; ·
this in practice would be bad, as E would be likely to strip from m, which cannot
occur when E surrounds m as shewn.
:
Suitable washers may if needed be interposed between the inside of the rims
of B, and the adjoining surfaces of E, through which the screws g may pass before-
entering m.
Or as a further modification of my invention I may employ, in combination with
either of the methods explained, that shewn by Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11. In this
method I make use of discs of leather or raw-hide F, and if the former, preferably,
from scrap or waste pieces, each of which is provided with a central, or approxi-
mately central hole, and in suitable and predetermined quantities these I thread
upon a wire or rod G, and by the aid of suitable elastic cement interposed between
each disc and its neighbour, I am enabled by subjecting the said series of discs to
pressure, lengthwise, to obtain a solid resilient mass. The said leather or raw hide
discs may
be circular, rectangular, polygonal or any shape desired, and in Fig. 11
I have shewn four such discs of different shapes, the first of which is circular, and
a series of these when fastened together as described, would appear externally as
at Fig. 9, and in longitudinal cross section as at Fig. 10. The strips or lengths
thus formed I place within a similar shaped longitudinal groove in the tyre or
sections of a tyre E, or I may mould E therewith, and if the former, the said
leather or raw hide strips would be fastened within the groove in E, by the aid of
suitable elastic cement, and when in position would appear in cross section, as
in Fig. 8. The ends of the said leather or raw hide strips may or may not occur
coincidently with the ends of the strips E, and may be connected together by
cement, or, and by dowel o, engaging with recesses p in the ends of G, as shewn
in Fig. 10. The end of the grain of the leather or hide being presented as a
wearing surface, the life of the tyre E may be materially prolonged thereby, and
any strip may be removed, without removing the whole.
Or I may use in lieu of the said raw hide or leather discs F, formed into strips
or short lengths, similar strips or short lengths prepared from paper pulp (papier-
maché) moulded into any shape or design in cross section, and suitably curved
longitudinally to coincide with that of the elastic tyre to which the said lengths
may be attached. Or instead of papier maché may form the said strips or short
lengths of vulcanite fibre, or similar material, the same arrangement being observed
in so far as regards the moulding, as that described in the case of papier maché.
Or I may construct the said strips or short lengths of any suitable kind of wood;
preferably, in such a manner that the end of the grain would be presented as a

page_text: wearing surface, that the dirt or grit from the road entering thereinto, may preserve
the life thereof. In this case the said wooden strips may be cut from the solid to
the curve required, or cut straight and curved by the means of damp heat in the
usual way, of bending wood.
In either of the last three methods, the papier maché, vulcanite fibre, or wooden
strips may be either moulded with the elastic tyre or sections of tyre E, during
the manufacture thereof, or placed within a corresponding groove in E, and fastened
therein and thereto by the aid of suitable elastic cement, the ends of said strips
being fastened together by the same adhesive, provision being made for the use of
dowels o if required, and would appear in connection with E, precisely as at Fig. 8.
I am thus enabled to provide a non resonant wearing surface for any tyre E,.
the greater density of which lightens the draft of the vehicle, and consequently
the work of the horse.
I have before mentioned that the channel B may be in sections or short lengths,
and I prefer to use them so, but when this is in one continuous piece, I may, if
desired, heat the same and shrink it upon the tyre A, still using the bolts C, in
the manner stated, and where B is used in sections or short lengths it may occur
that the original bolt holes in A and A' may not be sufficient in number to provide
two or more bolts for each section of B, in which case supplementary bolt holes
may be provided for that purpose. I also prefer to use the elastic tyre E in
sections, and connect or join the ends together when in position, by the means of
india rubber solution, or other suitable cement, and in the method shewn by
Fig. 6 I may in some cases in lieu of the screws g, use suitably headed bolts or
pins passing through both the flanges or upraised rims of B, and the intervening
substances E and m, and retain them in position by burring the ends, or by screwing
nuts upon the protruding ends, thereof.
In adapting my invention to new wheels in the course of their construction, I
may if desired, necessary, or preferable, construct the channel tyre in one piece,
and of such substance in cross section as to enable me to dispense with the usual
flat tyre, in which case the channel tyre B would be shrunk upon the wheel in
the usual way, and the rubber or other elastic tyre or sections of a tyre E, be
attached thereto in either of the methods described, as may be preferred.
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.
1st. In an improved elastic tyre for road vehicles the employment of the several
methods of constructing same herein described, and the several methods herein
set forth for attaching same to the existing wheels of road vehicles without
removing the original metallic tyre therefrom, substantially as herein stated,
explained and shewn by the appended drawings.
2nd. In an improved elastic tyre for road vehicles and the method of attaching
same thereto the construction and use of an india rubber or other elastic tyre E,
in one piece or in sections or short lengths, of any shape in cross section, provided
with an internal longitudinal semicircular aperture d, with rings or sections of
rings e f, of any material, seated within grooves in the sides of E, the whole
seated within a thin metallic channel tyre or sections of a tyre B, fixed upon the
original tyre A of a wheel A', by the means of bolts C, passing through B and
the original rivet-holes in A and A¹, and retained in position by the means of
nuts c. The manner of retaining the elastic tyre within B, by the means of
screws passing through the rims or flanges of B, and engaging with e and f
substantially as and for the purposes described and shewn by Figs. 1 and 2 of the
accompanying drawings.
3rd. The elastic tyre as set forth in the preceding claim and the manner of
fixing same within the channel or sections of a channel B, by the means of rings
or sections of rings e and f', formed upon the inner surfaces of the rims or flanges
of B, engaging with grooves in the sides of E, the whole connected by bolts C,

page_text: to the tyre and wheel A and A', substantially as herein described and shewn by
Fig. 3 of the appended drawings.
4th. The elastic tyre or sections of a tyre E, as set forth in the second claim
hereof, and the manner of fixing same within the metallic channel or sections of
channel B, by the means of washers or blocks ik made of any suitable material,
and inserted at convenient intervals within the sides of E, engaging with which
are screws 7, passing through the rims of B, the whole connected by bolts C, to
the tyre and wheel A, A¹,—substantially as described and shewn by Figs. 4 and 5
of the drawings.
5th. The elastic tyre or sections of a tyre E, as set forth in the second claim
hereof, with a strip or strips of any hard substance m placed longitudinally
therein, or formed therewith, with or without the grooves d², and seated within a
metallic channel or sections of a channel B, and retained therein by the means
of screws g, engaging with m and being countersunk in the rims of B, or by that
of bolts or pins passing through m and both of said rims, the whole counected by
bolts C, to the tyre and wheel A and A¹ substantially as described and shewn by
Figs. 6 and 7 of the appended drawings.
6th. In combination with either and all of the methods set forth in the preceding
claims, the construction and use of a supplementary wearing surface for the elastic
tyre E, consisting of discs of leather or raw hide F, of any suitable shape placed
and cemented together flatwise, in series or short lengths, and through which is
passed centrally or thereabouts and longitudinally a core G, with or without
recesses for the reception of dowels o. The manner of embedding said strips by
the aid of suitable cement within a corresponding groove in the tyre E, or
incorporated therewith during the moulding or otherwise manufacture of E. The
manner of connecting and fastening the ends of the said leather or raw hide
strips or short lengths with each other, by the aid of suitable cement, and, or that
of dowels o engaging with recesses p, or by other suitable means, substantially
as and for the purposes herein described and shewn by Figs. 8, 9, 10 and 11 of the
accompanying drawings.
7th. The employment of discs of leather or raw-hide F, with core G, connected
and combined to form strips or short lengths as herein described, and the use of
same inserted in, or incorporated with, any form or type of elastic tyre as a
supplementary wearing surface therefor, substantially as and for the purposes
herein set forth.
8th. As a supplementary wearing surface for, and in combination with, any form
or type of elastic tyre, the employment and use of papier maché, vulcanite fibre or
wood, formed into strips or short lengths, of any shape in cross section, and attached
and fixed to, with or upon the said elastic tyre by the aid of suitable cement, or
incorporated therewith during the moulding or otherwise manufacture thereof,
the ends of said strips being fastened together by the aid of any waterproof
cement, with or without the dowels o substantially as and for the purposes herein
described.
1
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.