An Improved Pneumatic Wheel for Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 24th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 13th Mar., 1897
An Improved Pneumatic Wheel for Vehicles.
We, EDWARD CLARK of 84 West Ferry Road, Millwall, in the County of
Middlesex, Engineer, and FREDERICK WILLIAM SAGE, of 75 Mellish Street,
Millwall, in the County of Middlesex, Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to a pneumatic wheel for vehicles generally and has for its
object the construction of these wheels in such a manner that each part may be
interchangeable, and that the whole structure may be light, with the minimum of
friction upon the rolling contacts, and also that each separate part may be readily
replaced or repaired.
In carrying our invention into effect, we employ preferably metallic spokes,
carrying a rim comprising a partial groove at its outer extremity, and a recess
leading to a screwed fillet, the thread of which is below the groove aforesaid and is
formed upon the outer circumference of said fillet. A ring, the inner face of which
is formed with a recess corresponding to that previously described, is provided with
an internal thread so that it may engage with, and be screwed upon the fillet
aforesaid. The upper part of this annular device is shaped to correspond with the
partial groove formed upon the fixed portion of the rim. An annular vessel or
chamber of indiarubber or any resilient material, which is U shaped when deflated,
and provided with cored or projecting rims, is placed in position within the groove
formed by tightening the screwed ring upon the fixed part of the rim, thus
compressing the cored or projecting rims into the recesses provided for them.
Said resilient annulus is thus firmly held in position upon the rim, and within the
groove, and the junction of the two edges is made airtight so that the tyre thus
formed may be inflated by the ordinary means without leakage. Two collars are
screwed or otherwise fixed upon the axle, having semicircular grooves formed upon
the outer peripheries thereof. The hub of the wheel is screwed interiorly upon
each side of the centre, and two rings are thus screwed into position, bottoming the
recess formed for them, fitting the screw thread of the hub but passing freely over
the collars of the axle aforesaid. Said rings are chamfered on the inner edges to
correspond with the semicircular grooves upon the axle collars. Ball or similar
antifriction devices may be placed in position so as to be held by a second screwed
ring on each side, with chamfered edges, to correspond to the shape of the balls or
the like. These last rings may be held in position by set pins, reverse threads, or
any equivalent device fulfilling the same purpose.
We may, as an alternative, construct the rim and hub exactly as described with
the exception that the outer rim, when the annulus is screwed upon the fillet, and
holds the tyre in place, is not integral with the hub, but may be connected by wire
or skeleton spokes thereto, and thus form a light and compact wheel. The ring
and groove forming the rim of the wheel is channeled out radially to render the
structure as light as possible, the intervening ribs serving to preserve the strength
of the groove holding the tyre. A resilient washer may be interposed between the
faces of the ring and screwed fillet so as to prevent the tyre from dragging" when
aid ring is screwed into position. Certain set screws may be used to prevent it
from slackening, or we may use reverse threads for the same purpose.

page_text: We may as an alternative substitute a plain ring for the screwed ring-herein before
described and attach the same to the rim by means of three or more slotted
bayonet joints with set screws for finally compressing the tyre when the ring
is in place.
FREDK. WALKER,
73 St. Stephen's Road, Upton Park, E., Agent for the Applicants.
An Improved Pneumatic Wheel for Vehicles.
We, EDWARD CLARK of No. 84 West Ferry Road, Millwall in the County of
Middlesex Engineer, and FREDERICK WILLIAM SAGE, of No. 75 Mellish Street
Millwall in the County of Middlesex Electrician 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 :-
Our invention relates to a pneumatic wheel for vehicles generally and has for its
objects the construction of these wheels in such a manner that each part may be
interchangeable, and that the whole structure may be light, with the minimum of
friction upon the rolling contact, and also that each separate part may be readily
replaced or repaired.
In order that our invention may be the better understood, we have appended the
accompanying sheet of drawings, in which
Figure 1 is an elevation of a driving wheel, (divided upon the line A. B. and
Figure 2 a part section thereof.
Similar letters of reference are used to denote corresponding parts in the.
two views.
In carrying our invention into effect we preferably employ metallit spokes a
supporting a rim R, consisting of a cupped flange G, a recess and carrying
a screwed fillet, the thread of which is formed upon the outer circumference
thereof. A ring or screwed annulus T, having a cupped flange G and a recess r
corresponding to those upon the rim R, is also provided with a screwed thread
internally, so that it may engage with, and be screwed upon the screwed fillet f
hereinbefore referred to. An annular vessel or chamber M of india rubber or
other resilient material, which is U shaped when deflated, and is provided with
cord edges or rims n n is placed in position within the semicircular groove formed
by the two cupped flanges G G', in the rim R and annulus T, the action of
screwing said annulus T into position being to compress the cored edges or rims n n¹
into the recesses provided for them, as shown by Figure 2. The annular
vessel or chamber M is thus firmly held in position upon the periphery of the wheel
and within the groove formed by the cupped flanges G G', and the junction of the
two cored rims or edges n n' is made airtight and gas-tight, so that the tyre thus
formed may be inflated by a pump or other device, and retain the air or gas charge
without leakage.
When the annulus T is screwed in place, in order to prevent "dragging" or
distortion of the resilient chamber or vessel M we interpose a washer t, which
allows of the requisite amount of slip. We may fix the annulus or ring T by means
of set screws or equivalent devices, or may use a screw thread on the fillet fand
ring T which is of opposite iuclination to the rotary motion of the wheel.
In the example shown by Figures 1 and 2, a driving wheel, or axle driven wheel
is shown with key or feather ways p, p in the bore of the hub. In this case the
manner in which a tyre formed by an annular vessel or chamber M. is fitted to, and

page_text: fixed within the rims of a wheel and then inflated, obviates the "creeping" or
circumferential motion due to traction under the conditions of a centre driven wheel
impinging upon an ordinary road.
But in other cases, where the wheel is simply required to carry a portion of the
load, and thus freely revolve upon the axle, we may provide internal collars screwed
or otherwise fitted or attached, whereby ball or roller antifriction bearings may be
applied between the fixed and rotary parts.
The primary advantage appertaining to our said invention is in the fact that a
wheel may, in case of necessity be deflated, and by unscrewing the ring T, be also
dismantled and repaired, or any defective part replaced in a short space of time.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed, we declare that what.
we claim is :-
First. The combination of an elastic resilient annular chamber or vessel, with.
cored or projecting rims or edges, with a cupped flange G forming a wheel rim R
upon which is screwed a ring T completing a groove, substantially as herein.
described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings.
Second. In an improved pneumatic wheel for vehicles, the employment of a fixed
rim R, having a cupped flange G¹ for the reception of an annular chamber or
vessel M as referred to in the preceding claim in combination with an annulus or
ring T which screws upon a fillet f, and completes the seating and compression.
of said annulus M substantially as herein described and shown by the drawings.
Third. In an improved pneumatic wheel for vehicles the employment of an
annular chamber or vessel M with cored or projecting rims n n' in combination with
a wheel rim formed of a fixed portion R and a screwed ring or annulus T,.
substantially as herein described and shown by the drawings.
Dated this 24th day of November 1896
FREDK. WALKER,
73 St. Stephen's Road, Upton Park, E., Agent for the Applicants.