Improvement in the Construction of Wheels suitable for Bicycles and for other purposes.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 22nd May, 1894-Accepted, 21st July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in the Construction of Wheels suitable for Bicycles
and for other purposes.
.
JOSEPH WILKINSON Engineer Church Road Hall Green near Birmingham
Worcestershire, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
I propose to make wheels suitable for bicycles and for other purposes in the
following manner.
The spokes instead of fixing direct into the hub as in an ordinary wheel-are
fixed in the ordinary way-but to a ring-the diameter of which must be so much
larger than the hub-that it will admit of a hollow ring or case, or a coil of tube-
or tubes of elastic material being placed between this spoke ring and the hub.
This elastic ring or tube must be provided with a valve or valves or stop cock
through which it can be inflated with air by an ordinary air pump until it expands
and fills up the space between the spoke ring and the hub and is capable of bearing
the required weight that the wheel has to carry-and it will be sufficiently elastic
to overcome or modify the vibrations or joltings caused by the unevenness of
the roads.
Dated this 20th of July 1893.
JOSEPH WILKINSON.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in the Construction of Wheels suitable for Bicycles
and for other purposes.
JOSEPH WILKINSON Engineer Church Road Hall Green near Birmingham
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 :-
My invention is for the construction of wheels in the following manner-The
spokes instead of fixing into the hub as usual-are attached to a ring of metal of
a diameter that will admit tube rings of india rubber being placed between the
hub upon which the wheel revolves and this ring of metal which I designate
the spoke ring. The rubber rings of which two are used for ordinary cycles but
for larger wheels three or more can be used. These rings are hollow and are
fitted with valves for inflation by ordinary air pump and are placed between the
spoke ring and the hub or axle-and to give steadiness to the wheel are placed as
wide apart as the width of the hub will admit and of sufficient strength when
inflated to fill the space between the hub and spoke ring-and bear the required
weight but yet being sufficiently elastic to overcome or modify the vibrations-
caused by the unevenness of the roads. In order to prevent any escape of air
from the tube rings-I construct them with an inner thin casing of very compact
rubber.
Fig. 1 of the drawing represents a section of a wheel center suitable for cycles.
A is the spoke ring having two channels for the heads of the spokes and holes
pierced equidistant round the ring for the spokes to go through.
B is a metal hub arranged at each end for ball bearings.

page_text: for inflating-or the two rings may be connected and inflated by one valve.
E the air space.
F the spokes.
Fig. 2. End elevation of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3. The rubber tube rings are shown formed with a piece for clamping to
the hub by clamps at D. This is for a driving wheel and is clamped to prevent
slipping.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is-
1st. I claim the form and arrangement of the tube rings.
2nd. The form and arrangement of the spoke ring and metal hub.
3rd. The construction of the rubber rings with inner casing as described.
-4th. The use of inflated tube rings practically as set forth in this description.
Dated this 21st day of May 1894.
JOSEPH WILKINSON.