An Improved Method and Means of Attaching Rubber Tyres.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method and Means of Attaching Rubber Tyres.
ALFRED HOPTON, 124, Euston Road, London, Coach Ironmonger, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
I use ordinary rubber tyres through which are inserted wires longitudinally
in the holes already prepared. The wires used are of spiral or corkscrew form.
I allow each of the ends of the wires to project. beyond the ends of the rubber
tyre & fasten the ends of the projecting wires at one end of the rubber to their
corresponding ends by entwining or coiling each end of the spiral wire round the
other.
This makes a firm circular attachment when pulled tight, & enables the rubber
tyres to be stretched on to the wheel better than by welded, brazed, or looped wires.
Dated this 15th day of June 1897.
ALFRED HOPTON, 124, Euston Road, London, N.W., Coach Ironmonger, 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:
-
I take an ordinary vehicle wheel fitted with a metal channel or rim in which a
solid rubber tyre can be placed.
The rubber tyre is made with two or more longitudinal holes running parallel
to each other through its entire length. I cut this rubber tyre to a suitable length
and insert into each of the longitudinal holes, a hardened steel wire of a spiral or
corkscrew form so far that the ends of the wire at one end of the rubber project a
sufficient distance to allow for lapping over and coiling round its corresponding
end, the wires at the other end of the rubber tyre being cut off flush with the
rubber.
I then secure the ends of the wires already projecting with a clamp or screw
close to the end of the rubber from which they project. I then take the other end
of the rubber tyre and force back the rubber until the wires at this end project
sufficiently far to use them in coiling round the opposite ends for making my joint
or attachment, the wires when the rubber is drawn back being clamped or held
as with the corresponding ends.
Having now the ends of the wires from each end of the rubber tyre ready for
attaching I bring the end of one wire over its corresponding end and proceed to
entwine or coil one round the other making a twisted or coiled attachment or

page_text: joint, each wire, whether two or more, being manipulated in the same way and
forming a strong and reliable joint without welding.
The clamps are then removed and the rubber is brought over the coiled ends
and the tyre is then ready for fitting into the rim or channel of the wheel.
To fit the rubber tyre into the rim, the tyre, now joined is laid into the rim or
channel as far as possible, and, when too tight to be pulled in by hand is grasped
by a clamp and levers, and forced over the edges of the metal rim into the channel
the spiral or coil form of wire giving an elasticity and diminishing any risk of
breaking the wires or attachments.
Fig. 1 shews the rubber tyre with the spiral or coiled wire projecting A A being
the rubber tyre, BB being the wires, one not joined, I one wire before joining
E one wire joined.
Fig. 2 shews the wires coiled or joined and covered with the rubber tyre ready
for placing into the channel or rim of the wheel. F being the rubber-tyre formed
into a circle by the wires G G joined at HH.
Fig. 3 shews a section of the wheel with the rubber tyre fitted II being the
metal channel or rim.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim
is:-
A method of forming a joint or attachment of hardened, but stretchable or
expanding wires inserted into a rubber tyre of a vehicle wheel, by coiling or
entwining the ends of such wire, in the manner herein described, for the purpose of
holding together the rubber tyre and securing the same in the metal rims or
channels of vehicle wheels.
Dated this 23rd day of October 1897