IMPROVEMENTS IN TIRES FOR WHEELS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Samuel Hill, of Southwark, in the County of Surrey,
and George Edward Williams, of East Dulwich, in the same County, for an
Invention of “IMPROVEMENTS IN TIRES FOR WHEELS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Samuel Hill and George
Edward Williams at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th
April 1880.
SAMUEL HILL, of Southwark, in the County of Surrey, and GEORGE EDWARD
WILLIAMS, of East Dulwich, in the same County. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TIRES FOR
WHEELS."
The object of this Invention, which relates to improvements in tires for the
wheels of ordinary road vehicles, is to render the safe and easy travelling of any
ordinary road vehicle less dependent upon the condition of the roadway by
providing a means whereby the wheels of such vehicles will be enabled to rise
freely from any ruts, grooves, hollows, or depressions, such, for instance, as those
generally produced by the settling of the stone-sets adjacent to the kerbs, or to
the rails of tram-ways or the grooves of tramway rails, and which are so detri-
mental to the safe and easy travelling of vehicles, and contribute much to the
occasioning of accidents.
We attain the object of our Invention by shaping the edges and part of the
periphery of the tires in such a manner as to leave catching points at suitable
intervals apart, the object and nature of such a provision being to enable the wheel
when in any rut or depression to rise freely therefrom on the vehicle in its
progression being turned a little to one side, the catching points then engaging
with the upper edge of the rail or any adjacent projection, such as a stone-set,
and thus obtaining a good leverage and an easy rise onto the level of the
roadway.
The catching points may be confined to the outer or inner edge of each tire, or
they may be made in both edges, and either opposite to each other or intermediate,
and they may obviously be made of a variety of shapes and in various ways; but
though it is not essential, we prefer that they shall not project either beyond the

page_text: edges, where they would be liable to be quickly worn away, or beyond the
periphery, where they would interfere with the even travelling of the vehicle.
According to one modification, which we find presents many advantages, we
form the catching points by producing by rolls or any suitable means in the
manufacture of the tire, either in its curved form or in a straight strip subsequently
to be curved, to form a series of recesses in the edge or edges for part of the thick-
ness of the tire, and in the periphery for a part of the width thereof; and these
recesses may gradually increase in width and depth until culminating in the
catching points, which is a very desirable arrangement, enabling a more gradual
rising of the wheel, or they may be made of an even depth and width throughout
their length, the catching points in the latter case being produced by leaving at
the desired intervals the tire of its full thickness for any sufficient length, and of
its full width should the catching points be made opposite cach other.
By these means the continuous and even tread of the tire is unaffected, and the
desired object is attained very effectively.
It will of course be understood that we do not limit ourselves to any precise
method of forming the catching points, but as above referred to we prefer to make
them by any suitable means during the manufacture of the tire, which we prefer
to make of drawn steel or of any other suitable metal or well wearing material.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Samuel Hill and George Edward Williams in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 23rd October 1880.
SAMUEL HILL, of Southwark, in the County of Surrey, and GEORGE Edward
WILLIAMS, of East Dulwich, in the same County. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TIRES FOR
WHEELS."
The object of this Invention, which relates to improvements in tires for the
wheels of ordinary road vehicles, is to render the safe and easy travelling of any
ordinary road vehicle less dependent upon the condition of the roadway by
providing a means whereby the wheels of such vehicles will be enabled to rise
freely from any ruts, grooves, hollows, or depressions, such, for instance, as those
generally produced by the settling of the stone-sets adjacent to the kerbs, or to
the rails of tramways or the grooves of tramway rails, and which are so detri-
mental to the safe and easy travelling of vehicles, and contribute much to the
occasioning of accidents.
We attain the object of our Invention by shaping the edges and part of the
periphery of the tire in the manner substantially as is shown on the accompanying
Sheet of explanatory Drawings, so as to leave catching points 1 at suitable
intervals apart, the object and nature of such a provision being to enable the wheel
when in any rut or depression to rise freely therefrom on the vehicle in its progress
being turned or drawn a little to one side, the catching points then engaging with
the upper edge of the tram rail or any adjacent projection, such as a stone set,
and thus obtaining a good leverage and an easy rise onto the level of the
roadway.
The catching points 1 may be confined to the outer or inner edge of each tire, or
they may be made in both edges, and either opposite to each other, as illustrated
in Figures 2, 6, and 7, or intermediate, as illustrated in the remaining Figures of
Figures 1 to 9, and they may obviously be made of a variety of shapes and in various
ways; but though it is not essential we prefer that they shall not project either beyond
the edges, where they would be liable to be quickly worn away, or beyond the
periphery, where they would interfere with the even travelling of the vehicle.
According to a principal modification which we find presents many advantages,
and variations of which are illustrated in the various Figures of the Drawings, wo
form the catching points 1 by producing by rolls or any other suitable means in
or during the manufacture of the tire, either in its curved form, or when in a
straight strip subsequently to be curved, to form a series of grooves or recesses 2 in
the edge or edges for part of the thickness of the tire 3, and in the periphery for
part of the width thereof; and these recesses may gradually increase in width, or in
width and depth, until culminating in the catching points, as illustrated in Figures 1,
4, and 5, and which is a very desirable arrangement, enabling a more gradual
rising of the wheel, or they may be made of an even depth and width throughout
their length, as illustrated in Figures 2, 3, and 6 to 9, the catching points in the
latter case being produced by leaving at the desired intervals the tire of its full
thickness for any sufficient length and of its full width should the catching points
be made opposite each other, as shown in Figures 2 and 7.
By these means the continuous and even tread of the tire is unaffected, and the
desired object is attained very effectively.
It will of course be understood that we do not limit ourselves to any precise
method of forming the catching points, but, as above referred to, we prefer to make
them by any suitable means during the manufacture of the tire, which we prefer
to make of drawn steel, though it may be made of iron or of any other suitable
metal or well wearing material.

page_text: On the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3 represent plan views
of parts of tires (for the wheels of any ordinary road vehicles) constructed according
to our Invention, and Figures 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 are severally cross-sections thereof
through the lines a-b, c-d, Figure 1; e-f, g-h, Figure 2; and i—j, k—l,
Figure 3.
In each Figure, 4 represents the usual rim of the wheel.
Having now described the nature and object of our said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical
effect, we would remark in conclusion that what we claim as the Invention secured
to us by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is,―
The constructing or shaping one or both edges and part of the periphery of the
tires of the wheels of any ordinary road vehicles in such a manner as to leave
catching points (which preferably do not project beyond the edges or periphery
of the tire) at suitable intervals apart, substantially as herein before described
and for the purposes set forth, and as illustrated on the accompanying Sheet of.
Drawings.
In witness whereof, we, the said Samuel Hill and Georgo Edward Williams,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-second day of October,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and eighty.