IMPROVE- MENTS IN INDIA-RUBBER TYRES FOR WHEELS
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Leigh, of the City of Manchester, Manager of
India-rubber Works, and Robert William Henry McDowell, of the City of
Manchester, Salesman in India-rubber Works, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN INDIA-RUBBER TYRES FOR WHEELS."
Sealed the 26th May 1877, and dated the 19th December 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Leigh and Robert
William Henry McDowell at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on
the 19th December 1876.
JAMES LEIGH, of the City of Manchester, Manager of India-rubber Works,
and ROBERT WILLIAM HENRY MCDOWELL, of the City of Manchester, Salesman in
India-rubber Works. "IMPROVEMENTS IN INDIA-RUBBER TYRES FOR WHEELS."
India-rubber tyres as in ordinary use are constructed of various forms with a
view of causing the same to be attached to the wheels of the vehicle, but hitherto
this has been a great difficulty as the tyres when in motion have a tendency to
work off the wheels, which fact has been a great hindrance to their adoption,
especially with regard to smaller vehicles, such as perambulators, velocipedes, &c. To
obviate this tendency, to render the use of india-rubber tyres thoroughly practicable,
and to effect our improvements, we construct our india-rubber tyre from two kinds
of material, viz., of hard india-rubber, vulcanite, or ebonite, which is formed by
preference so as to act as a core and is continuous for the whole of the circle. We
then cover this hard portion or core with a coating of suitable thickness of soft or
ordinary india-rubber which we vulcanize upon the hard portion or core, covering
the same partially or entirely therewith. We have thus produced a ring of suitable
dimensions formed with an ebonite or hard rubber portion or core and a soft rubber
portion running along with it, either through the same or attached thereto. These
continuous rings containing such hard portion or core thus form the tyre for a wheel
and are then quite ready for use.
The method of securely attaching them to the wheels is as follows:-A groove is
prepared in the periphery of the wheel of suitable size and form for the reception
of the tyre, the diameter of the wheel being rather larger than that of the india-

page_text: rubber tyre. The tyre is then subjected to a heating process whereby the ebonite
or vulcanite portion or core is expanded, as the same possesses great power of ex-
pansion under suitable heat. When this has been done to a sufficient extent
it is placed in position on the wheel, and as it cools it contracts or shrinks itself on
to the wheel with such force as will cause it to be attached thereto very securely
indeed.
. The tyres may be constructed of various forms in cross section, either square, flat,
circular, oval, or any shape which may be most suitable for the particular vehicle or
wheels under operation. They may also be formed with the ebonite portion of a
different form to the outer covering, which ebonite portion may be placed in the
centre of such covering or at some other convenient position.
Tyres constructed according to our improvements may be applied to wheels of all
kinds of vehicles, to castor wheels for furniture, and to other purposes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Leigh and Robert William Henry McDowell in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 19th June 1877.
"
JAMES LEIGH, of the City of Manchester, Manager of India-rubber Works,
and ROBERT WILLIAM HENRY MCDOWELL, of the City of Manchester, Salesman
in India-rubber Works. IMPROVEMENTS IN INDIA-RUBBER TYRES FOR WHEELS."
India-rubber tyres as in ordinary use are constructed of various forms with a
view of causing the same to be firmly attached to the wheels of different kinds of
vehicles, but this has been found to be a great difficulty, inasmuch as the tyres
which are attached to the wheels by the ordinary process have a great tendency to
work off the same upon being subjected to running friction. To obviate this
tendency and to effect our improvements we construct our india-rubber tyres from
two kinds of material, viz., hard india-rubber, vulcanite, or ebonite, and soft or
ordinary india-rubber. The vulcanite or hard india-rubber we form by preference
so as to act as a core and to be continuous throughout the circle. We then cover
this hard portion either completely or partially with a coating of suitable thickness
of soft or ordinary india-rubber, vulcanizing the two together.
The method of securely attaching tyres thus formed to the wheels is as follows:-
A groove of suitable size and form is prepared in the periphery of the wheel for the
reception of the tyre, the diameter of the wheel being rather larger than that of
the india-rubber tyre. The tyre is then subjected to a suitable heating process
whereby the ebonite is made capable of being expanded or stretched (this ebonite:
or vulcanite possessing great power of being expanded or stretched under suitable
heat) and the tyre is then by its increased diameter enabled to be placed in the
groove of the wheel. Upon being again allowed to cool it shrinks or contracts
itself upon the wheel very securely indeed.
These compound tyres may be constructed in various forms in their cross sections,
either square, flat, circular, oval, or any shape which may be found most adaptable
to the particular vehicle or wheels under operation. The ebonite portion of the
tyre may be placed either in the centre of the covering of soft india-rubber or in any
other convenient position. Also tyres thus formed may be strengthened by
embedding a wire of iron or other metal within them; they may also be formed 4
with the soft india-rubber portion hollow, either in combination with a wire or
otherwise.
Such tyres may also be applied to the wheels of all kinds of vehicles, railway and
other trucks, to castor wheels for furniture, and other purposes.
But that the Invention may be fully understood, we will (by the aid of the accom-
panying Drawings) proceed to describe means employed by us in carrying the same
into effect, that is to say :-

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section; and Fig. 2, a cross section of a tyre with a
central circular core or vulcanite portion.
Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 are cross sections of other forms of tyres constructed according
to our Invention; and Fig. 7 shows a cross section of hollow tyre with a wire run-
ning through the same.
The same letters indicate similar parts wherever they occur.
Wo would here observe that a great variety of designs or forms may be employed
without departing in any way from the peculiarity of our Invention.
a, a, is the hard india-rubber portion or ebonite; b, b, is the soft india-rubber
covering or portion; c, c, is the wire running through (in Fig. 7) to strengthen the
whole.
We first form the ebonite portion a, a, in a continuous ring, or it may be in a long
length, to be afterwards cut into the required lengths for splicing or otherwise joint-
ing into rings of the required dimensions. We cover the same, either in lengths or
rings, by means of any suitable apparatus or by hand labour, with the soft india-
rubber portion b, b, and vulcanize the one to the other by the ordinary well known
methods. We next subject the whole to a suitable licating process, whereby ex-
pansion takes place, or the rings are made capable of being stretched to a larger
diameter. We are then enabled to place the same on the periphery of a wheel
properly grooved and prepared for its reception. The tyre is then allowed to cool,
and in so doing great contraction of its particles takes place and it is tightly and
securely shrunk or compressed on to the wheel.
"
Having now described our Invention and means employed by us in carrying the
same into effect, we would have it particularly understood that we do not confine
ourselves to the precise details shewn and described, as variations may be made
therein without departing from the peculiar character of our Invention, but what
we do claim is,-
First. The forming of an india-rubber tyre of two portions, viz., one portion of
ebonite or vulcanite, or other forms of hard india-rubber, and the other part of soft
india-rubber, the one vulcanized either within or alongside the other, or in any
other way in juxtaposition, substantially as described.
Second. The application of any suitable heat as a means whereby such compound
tyres may be expanded or stretched so as to enable them to be placed on suitable
wheels, and thus allowed to shrink or contract themselves thereon upon cooling
down, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, wo, the said James Leigh and Robert William Henry
McDowell, have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Eighteenth day of
June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
seven.
Witness,
W. GADD,
JAMES LEIGH.
(L.S.)
ROBERT WILLIAM HENRY MCDOWELL. (L.S.)
Consulting Engineer,
64, Barton Arcade,
Manchester,
Agent to the Patentees.