IMPROVEMENTS IN ELASTIC TYRES FOR THE BETTER SECURING OF THE SAME TO VELOCIPEDE AND LIKE LIGHT WHEELS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JOHN KEMP STARLEY of the Meteor Works, Coventry in the county of
Warwick Velocipede Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN ELASTIC TYRES FOR THE BETTER SECURING OF THE SAME
TO VELOCIPEDE AND LIKE LIGHT WHEELS to be as follows :--
This invention has for its object improvements in elastic tyres for the better
securing of the same to the rims of velocipede or like wheels. It relates to that
method of securing in which the tyre is fastened by a wire passing through it and
round the rim of the wheel. Hitherto such tyres have been made with a central
groove through which the wire has been passed (the rubber surrounding the wire
on all sides) and the ends were fastened by a coupling larger than the wire. This
coupling forming a bulge or protuberence on the tyre struck the ground at each
revolution of the wheel causing the wire to be strained and finally break.
According to my invention I form a groove in the bottom of an elastic tyre and
vulcanize a strip of strong textile fabric such as canvas over the groove and into
the rubber in such manner that it would form a crescent in section the rubber
protecting the canvas except where the canvas covers the groove where the canvas
can be on the rim of the wheel.
A wire is passed through the groove and the ends pass through holes or bosses
on the under side of the felloe and may be secured by locknuts or other means of
adjustinent.
Dated this 13th day of October 1884.
POPPLEWELL, COLTON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicant,

page_text: I JOHN KEMP STARLEY of the Meteor Works Coventry in the County of
Warwick Velocipede Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of my invention
for IMPROVEMENTS IN ELASTIC TYRES FOR THE BETTER SECURING OF THE SAME
TO VELOCIPEDE AND LIKE LIGHT WHEELS and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement
This invention has for its object improvements in elastic tyres for the better
securing of the same to the rims of velocipede or like wheels.
It relates to that method of securing in which the tyre is fastened to a wire
passing through it and round the rim of the wheel.
Hitherto such tyres have been made with a central groove, or hole through which
the wire has been passed the rubber surrounding the wire on all sides, and the ends
were fastened by a coupling larger than the wire.
The coupling forming a bulge or protuberance on the tyre, struck the ground
at each revolution of the wheel causing the wire to be strained and finally break.
According to my invention I form a groove or hole in the bottom of an elastic
tyre and vulcanize a strip of strong textile fabric such as canvas (or equivalent
material such as woven metallic gauze or thin metal or leather or other suitable
material) over the groove or hole and into the rubber in such a manner that both
its sides are held to the rubber so that it would approximately form a crescent in
section, the rubber protecting the canvas except where the canvas covers the groove
where the canvas can be on the rim of the wheel if desired or a thin web of rubber
may cover this bottom part.
A wire is passed through the groove and the ends pass through holes or bosses
on the under side of the felloe and may be secured by lock nuts or other means of
adjustment.
In a former Provisional Specification No. 4860 of 1881 I described a somewhat
similar method of fastening, but the canvas strip was merely vulcanized outside
the tyre and so might be liable to strip off and the tyre become loose or come
off the wheel as only one side of the canvas offers a resistance to the wrenching
strain.
Referring to the accompanying sheet of drawings and to the figures and letters
of reference marked thereon.
Fig 1 is a section of a tyre on my former principle.
Fig 2 is a section of my improved tyre in which both sides of the canvas are
eimbedded in the tyre by which a double holding surface is obtained.
Fig 3 is a section of my improved tyre where the rubber entirely surrounds the
canvas or other material instead of leaving its central portion bare.
Fig 4 is a section of a tyre where the canvas or other material has more of
a U or semi-tubular than a crescent form.
Fig 5 a further inodification of the same.
Fig 6 is a section of the tyre put ou the rim of the wheel, spokes being omitted.
Fig.7 a plan of back of rim,

page_text: A is the soft rubber, tyre. B the groove or hole in the same or more than one
hole could be used. C the strip of canvas or other material as before described
vulcanized in the tyre.
It will be seen that the strip is vulcanized in, crescent-wise, so that its sides are
held in the tyre and so prevented from being pulled out, the strip thereby being
prevented from coming off until the tyre is worn out.
The difference between Figs. 2 and 3 is that in Fig. 2 the central part of the
strip C is exposed to lie on the rim while in Fig. 3 it is covered by a thin web of
rubber though both are alike in principle.
D is the wire, or a wire in halves or more than one wire could be used.
It is passed through the groove or hole or holes B and when the tyre is put on
the wire is drawn tight through lugs E E¹ on the rim and secured by lock-nuts e e'.
The wire cau be screwed to fit these nuts or the nuts be hard enough to cut their
own thread on the strained wire. If the tyre gets a little slack, a turn of the nuts
will tighten it.
Instead of using two lugs one can be used, the other end of the wire being booked
to one end of the tyre or otherwise secured thereto. Other suitable ineaus of
securing the ends of the wires may be used, but the above mentioned plan is best,
owing to the ease of replacing a damaged or worn tyre. "Rubber" in this
specification includes gutta percha or the like..
Tyres constructed on my improved plan are readily applied to a rim and require
no cement.
I am well aware that it has been proposed to make a hole in a rubber tyre for a
wire and line the hole itself with a thin canvas tube.
The wires have been put through the rubber round the rim and then rivetted.
But this arrangement is unsatisfactory owing to the very small amount of
resistance offered by the canvas lined hole, thus rendering the tyre liable to be torn
off the rim by the wrenching strain of the wheel on the ground which uny invention
is designed to obviate, as in my arrangement a large bearing and holding surface
for both sides of the strip is provided, by the same laying in the body of the tyre.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what mauner the same is to be performed would have it
understood that I do not in this specification claim the mere wiring of rubber tyres
to rims by wires passing through the lower portion of the tyre and abutting on a
canvas strip merely vulcanized wholly outside the surface of the tyre, but I declare
that what I claim is
An elastic tyre for velocipede or like light wheels in which the canvas or other
suitable strip C bas both its sides vulcanized or built into the body of the tyre
for the purpose of securing the strip more firmly to the tyre substantially as
described.
E. GARDNER COLTON,
Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents,
of the firm of Popplewell, Colton, & Co.,
17 & 18, Southampton Buildings, W.C.,
and Albert Street, Derby,
Agents for the Applicant.
Dated this 24th day of April 1885.
E. GARDNER COLTON,
Fellow of the Institute of Patent Agents,
of the firm of Popplewell, Colton, & Co.,
17 & 18, Southampton Buildings, W.C.,
and Albert Street, Derby,
Agents for the Applicant.