Improvements in tyres.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in tyres.
I, EUGENE SWERTSCHKOFF, College Assessor, of Furstatskajastrasse No. 27,
St. Petersburg, Russia, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
The subject matter of the present invention is a protective cover composed of
metallic scales, for the bearing surfaces of rubber tyres of cycles and carriages.
Its object is to protect the tyres against any injury which they might suffer on
a bad road or through accidental circumstances and to prevent as far as possible
the stoppages resulting from such accidents on the road or reduce them to a
minimum.
"
The protective cover is in the form of a chain composed of links joined together
after the manner of "military scales," and which are made of steel wire of suit-
able thickness, in the shape of a flat "W" with the two ends bent off at right
angles to the transversal axis of the link. The lower part of these bent ends,
which are placed at an angle of about 45° to the longitudinal axis of the "W
is shaped in the form of an eye, having its extreme end bent towards the outside
at right angles to the eye. The links thus formed are joined together by forcing
the pin-like bent ends of one link into the eyes of the preceding link, the corres-
ponding sides of the W" being placed parallel. In order to prevent the
central part of the W" from being completely in contact with the bearing
surface of the tyre the two inner limbs of the "W" are slightly corrugated.
"
The covering composed of links of the above form is intended for solid rubber
tyres of rectangular section such as are chiefly used for motor-cars and other
vehicles. For cycles with pneumatic tyres and the like, of round section, the
formation is similar, with the exception that instead of the angular shape of
the various links a semi-circular one must be adopted.
For fastening the protective chain or cover to the rubber tyre, in either case,
the inward-bent half of the eye is utilised, which in its bearing part will
press into the elastic substance of the tyre, thus giving to the whole a sufficient
hold on the tyre. However, for greater safety, "U"-shaped clips may be used
which will clasp the rims and with their outward-bent ends will catch into eyes
inserted in some of the links, distributed at uniform intervals throughout the
periphery, between the connecting eyes and the pin-like ends.
Dated this 13th day of September 1899.

page_text: what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:―
The coverings hitherto fitted to the elastic tyres of vehicles such as cycles,
carriages and auto cars for protecting them from the irregularities of the road,
are composed either of single short segmental pieces, jointed or hinged together
and surround the part of the tyre which projects from the wheel rim; or of
plates which surround this part of the tyre arranged, like, slates on a roof so
that the part of the circumference referred to is protected at every part by the
covering and often by, several thicknesses. The characteristic feature of this
covering is always the absence of interspaces. They give to the tyre the pro-
tection desired to the fullest extent but they have the disadvantage arising
from their mode of construction, that from the want of any kind of interspaces
in the surrounding band it is difficult for any mud, or grit which may have
entered,between the crevices and collected between their inner surface and the
tyre to escape after the water or moisture has been driven out by the centrifugal
force of the rapidly revolving wheel. The present coverings have further the
disadvantage that they drive either forwards or sideways all the coarser par-
ticles of mud upon the road with which they come in contact (which do not
penetrate the covering) as it is impossible for the mud to escape backwards;
there is therefore especially when going very fast a disagreeable spirting forwards
and sideways of squeezed mud of a watery consistency.
To mitigate or altogether obviate these deficiencies whilst maintaining a
sufficient protection for the elastic tyre is the object of the present invention.
It comprises a chain of links formed of pieces of metal wire maintaining regu-
lar interspaces forming a covering which is clamped fast over the (round or
square) periphery of the elastic tyre which projects beyond the rim of the wheei
and having parts which penetrate the sides of the tyre or it may be attached at
intervals along the rim by any of the well methods of fixing the covering.
The novelty and characteristic of the invention is the forming of the protect-
ing chain from pieces of metal wire of uniform thickness which have the shape
required given to them by simply bending, such shape enables them to be con-
nected together without any connecting piece, forms the interspaces between
the separate parts of the chain and enables the fixing of the whole chain by
means of clips along its edge pressing into the sides of the tyre.
The accompanying drawing illustrates a protecting chain of this kind, the
method of making it and the manner of applying it to rubber tyres of various
sectional forms.
Fig. 1. Side elevation of a portion of the protecting chain.
Fig. 2. Plan of same Fig. 1.
Fig. 3. Side elevation of a single link.
Fig. 4. Plan of single link Fig. 3.
Fig. 5. Side elevation of a single link with eyes for fixing the chain to the
wheel-rim.
Fig. 6. Section of a solid tyre with the protecting chain clamped over it.
Fig. 7. Similar section showing the protecting chain clamped over the tyre
and also clamped to the rim.
Fig. 8. Section of hollow tyre with the protecting chain clamped over it.
The protecting chain is composed of links a shaped separately like scales
which are made of round steel wire of uniform thickness in the form of a W
lying flat having each of its free ends bent at bat right angles to its trans-
verse axis. The lower parts of these bent ends are inclined at an angle of
about 45° to the longitudinal axis of the links and shaped into an eye c and
the extreme end d is bent at right angles to this and points outwards. The
joining of the links thus constructed in order to form the chain is effected by
inserting the outward bent ends d of each link into the eye c of the preceding
one, the corresponding parts of the W being made to lie parallel with each

page_text: other (Fig. 2). In order to prevent the central part of the link from being com-
pletely in contact with the bearing surface of the tyre the two inner limbs are
bowed slightly.
The protector constructed of links of the above form is intended for use with
solid rubber tyres of rectangular section such as are used mostly for motor
cars and other vehicles. For cycles with hollow tyres of round section the con-
struction is similar with the exception that instead of the angular shape of the
individual links (Fig. 6) a semi-circular form (Fig. 8) must be adopted.
For fixing the protecting chain or cover to the india rubber tyre use is made
in either case of the inward bent half of the wire which forms the eyes c which
press into the elastic body of the tyre thus giving to the whole a sufficient grip
of the tyre. For greater safety however, U shaped clips e may be used which
embrace the rim h of the wheel and with their outward bent ends f engage
the eyes g made between the eyes c and the projecting ends d of some of the
links which are distributed at uniform intervals throughout the length of the
chain.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:―
1. A protective covering for the elastic tyres of cycles, auto cars and other
carriages, formed of an endless chain of links a of metal wire of uniform thick-
ness each made to fit the section of the tyre, and bent into a zig-zag at the
centre to cover the bearing surface leaving intervals between the successive
links, the links being held together at their ends b by hook and eye shaped
bends cd and by which they are also firmly fixed to the elastic tyre gripping
the sides when placed on it in position substantially as described and shown.
2. A covering for protecting elastic tyres constructed and arranged substan-
tially as described and shown.
Dated this 11th day of July 1900.
WM, P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.