Improvements in the Tyres and Rims of Wheels for Carriages, Bicycles and other Road Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 21st June, 1897
Complete Specification Left 19th Mar. 1898-Accepted, 14th May, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Tyres and Rims of Wheels for Carriages, Bicycles
and other Road Vehicles.
I, SAMUEL CLELAND DAVIDSON, of Sirocco Engineering Works, Belfast, Ireland,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to the tyres and rims of wheels for carriages,
bicycles and other road vehicles, in which india rubber leather or other more or
less elastic tyres are employed to give resilience thereto, and more particularly
to the type which may be termed "non-pneumatic," inasmuch as the resilience.
of the tyres is not dependent on the employment of tubes inflated with air under
pressure, such as in the tyres usually known as pneumatic.
As hitherto ordinarily made, indiarubber or elastic tyres of said non-pneumatic
type, when constructed so as to have a resilience at all equivalent to that of
pneumatic tyres have been found so dificult to retain securely in position on the
wheel rims, when in practical use, that the employment of such highly resilient
non-pneumatic tyres for road vehicles has consequently heretofore been un-
successful, and the objects amongst others of my invention are to so construct
non-pneumatic indiarubber or elastic tyres and the wheel rims therefor, that
while the tyres may have a practically similar resilience to that of pneumatic
tyres their attachment and mounting on the wheel rims shall be thoroughly secure
and reliable in practical use on vehicles.
According to my invention I construct the india rubber or elastic tyre with a
hollow or channel around its inner face, so that a cross-section of the tyre some
what resembles a horseshoe in shape, and I construct the wheel rim on which
the tyre is mounted, with a rib or projection (hereinafter called the rim projection)
around the central part of its outer face, leaving the outer edges of the rim as a
flange or collar on each side of the rim projection. In this flange or collar the
outer ends of the wire or other metal spokes are secured to the wheel rim, on
preferably the opposite sides of the rim projection from the side of the wheel hub
to which the inner ends of the spokes are attached. The rim as a whole may be
constructed either of wood, or solid light metal such as aluminium, or sheet metal
suitably curved or formed to the right shape, or a recess or ledge may be made
on each side of the wooden felloes of an ordinary carriage wheel, in approximately
the plane of the wheel, whereby the remaining central portion of the same con-
stitutes the rim projection, and the base of each recess the flange or collar thereto.
When the tyre is mounted upon any of the above referred to constructions of wheel
rim, the ends of the horse-shoe section of the tyre (hereinafter referred to as the
tyre ends) rest on the outer flanges or ledges of the wheel rim on each side of the
rim projection, which accordingly fits and extends a short way into the hollow or
channel of the tyre. When the tyre has been so mounted I place an annulus,
or sections of an annulus as washer plates, upon the outer sides of the tyre ends
on each side of the rim projection; these annuli or washer plates are so

page_text: constructed that their inner edges approximately correspond with the outer edges
of the wheel rim flanges, and that their, outer edges extend a little beyond the
radius of the rim projection, and so fit against the tyre as to form a supporting
collar or flange thereto, on each side of the rim projection, and to give it a firmer
resistance against the compression of the roadway or any side thrusts the tyre may
sustain in practical use, when going round a quick curve at a high speed, or from
coming in contact with a stone or other obstruction on the one side of the tyre.
The annuli or washer plates are then drawn up tightly by any suitable fastening
such as bolts with nuts on their outer ends, and passed through the annuli or
washer plates and through the tyre ends through or into the rim projection, so
that on the nuts being tightened up, the annuli or washer plates are drawn in
Lowards the rim projection, and securely clasp the tyre to the wheel rim.
According to another modification of my invention I may alternatively mount
and attach the said horse-shoe shaped tyre upon the wheel rim by means of an
edging or flaps of canvas or other suitable fabric with preferably a "mixture or
coating of india rubber amalgamated therewith, and vulcanized to the inner faces
of the tyre ends so as to form an integral part therewith, and applied preferably
in such a way that the fabric connects the tyre ends together. This connection
forms between the fabric and the hollow interior of the horse shoe cavity in the
tyre what might be defined as a tubular air space. The outer continuation edges
of the fabric are so folded along the outer edges of the tyre ends as to form flaps
on each side of the tyre (hereinafter referred to as the tyre flaps) the back folded
edges of the fabric being vulcanized to the outer sides of the tyre so as to form an
integral part therewith. I construct the wheel rim for this modification of the
tyre of wood or metal, with its outer face suitably shaped to support the inner
faces of the tyre ends and the connecting fabric between same; the outer sides of
the wheel rim are made in approximately parallel plane with that of the wheel,
so that when the tyre is mounted thereon, the flaps may be laid against the same.
place an annulus, or sections of an annulus as washer plates, on the outer sur-
face of the tyre flaps, and therewith secure the same to the wheel rim by screws or 3
bolts with nuts in substantially the same manner as in my first described modifica-
tion, the annuli or washer plates being so constructed that their inner edges cor-
respond with or cover the inner edges of the tyre flaps, and their outer edges
extend beyond the junction of the tyre flaps with the tyre and fit against the
inner face of the tyre, so as to form a supporting flange or collar thereto, for the 3
purpose of giving the tyre a firm resistance against side thrusts, as in my first
described modification.
Or, according to another modification, the tyre may be constructed with a
tubular air space in its outer part, and a hollow or channel formed around its
inner face, into which the rim projection is inserted; or the inner face may be 4
made as a flat surface to fit against the flat outer surface of the wheel rim, such as
that upon an ordinary carriage wheel, and have slight grooves around its outer
edges into which corresponding projections formed on the inner faces of the
clasping-in annulus or washer plates on each side, fit. In either of these lastly
described modifications, the annuli or washer plates on being tightened in by bolts
with nuts, upon the outer sides of the tyre, firmly clasp and secure the same to
the wheel rim, as in the first herein before described modifications.
To render any of the herein before described tyres more efficiently suitable for
variable weights or for heavy vehicles such as carriages or motor cars, I preferably
form around the interior base of the tyre channel, and facing the centre of the 5
wheel rim, a projection or rib of somewhat V-shape, with the apex or angle of the
V pointing towards the centre of the wheel rim, so that when the tyre is subjected
to heavy pressure, and is much compressed thereby, this projection or rib, if
thereby forced against the rim projection, prevents the outer portion of the. tyre
from unduly pressing against the inner portion of it, which is supported by the 5
annuli or washer plates, and so that also when the tyre is subjected to strong side
thrusts this projection or rib comes in contact with and bears interiorly against

page_text: one side or other as 'the case may be of the tyre itself, and thereby gives it a
stronger resistance to such side thrusts.
Although I have described the invention particularly in regard to the use of
india rubber tyres, it is applicable to other tyres of a more or less elastic nature,
such for example as tyres of leather or of compressed leather.
Dated this 21st day of June 1897...
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.
Improvements in the Tyres and Rims of Wheels for Carriages, Bicycles
and other Road Vehicles.
I, SAMUEL CLELAND DAVIDSON, of Sirocco Engineering Works, Belfast, Ireland,
Merchant, 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 has reference to the tyres and rims of wheels for carriages,
bicycles and other road vehicles, in which indiarubber, leather or other more or
less elastic tyres are employed to give resilience thereto and more particularly
to the type which may be termed "non-pneumatic" inasmuch as the resilience
of the tyres is not dependent on the employment of tubes inflated with air under
pressure, such as in the tires, usually known as pneumatic.
As hitherto ordinarily made, indiarubber or elastic tyres of said non-pneumatic.
type, when constructed so as to have a resilience at all equivalent to that of
pneumatic tyres, have been found so difficult to retain securely in position on the
wheel rims, when in practical use, that the employment of such highly resilient
non-pneumatic tyres for road vehicles has consequently heretofore been un-
successful and the objects amongst others of my invention are to so construct
non-pureumatic indiarubber or elastic tyres and the wheel rims therefor, that
while the tyres may have a practically similar resilience to that of pneumatic
tyres their attachment and mounting on the wheel rims shall be thoroughly secure.
and reliable in practical use on vehicles.
According to my invention I construct the indiarubber or elastic tyre with a
hollow or channel around its inner face, so that a cross-section of the tyre some-
what resembles a horse-shoe in shape and I mount and attach the said horse-shoe
shaped tyre upon the wheel rim by means of an edging or flaps of canvas or other
suitable fabric with preferably a mixture or coating of indiarubber amalgamated
therewith, and vulcanised to the inner faces of the tyre edges so as to form an
integral part therewith, and applied in such a way that the fabric connects the
tyre edges together. This connection forms between the fabric and the hollow
interior of the horse-shoe cavity in the tyre what might be defined as a tubular
air space. The outer continuation edges of the fabric are so folded along the
outer edges of the tyre ends as to form flaps on each side of the tyre (hereinafter
referred to as the tyre flaps) the back folded edges of the fabric being vulcanised
to the outer sides of the tyre so as to form an integral part therewith. I construct
the wheel rim of wood or metal, with its outer face suitably shaped to support
the inner faces of the tyre ends and the connecting fabric between same; the
outer sides of the wheel rim are made in approximately parallel plane with that
of the wheel so that when the tyre is mounted thereon, the flaps may be laid against
the same.
I place an annulus, or sections of an annulus or washer plates, on the
outer surface of the tyre flaps, and therewith secure the same to the wheel rim by

page_text: screws or bolts with nuts, the screws or bolts being passed through the annuli
or washer plates, through the flaps and through or into the wheel rim. The
annuli or washer plates are so constructed that their inner edges correspond with
or cover the inner edges of the tyre flaps, and their outer edges are turned out-
wardly at an obtuse angle and extend beyond the junction of the tyre flaps with!
the tyre and fit against the inner face of the tyre, so as to form a supporting flange
or collar thereto, for the purpose of giving the tyre a firm resistance more especially
against side thrusts.
The accompanying drawing represents a cross section of a tyre and wheel rim
constructed according to my invention. A is the tyre of india rubber or other
suitable material and B is a continuous cavity therein a cross section of the tyre
somewhat resembling a horse-shoe in shape. D) is the wheel made solid of wood or
metal preferably aluminium. E is a rib projecting centrally from the inner face
of the rim and entering the opening in the tyre. The sides of this rib are inclined
as shown and on these inclines the inner face of the tyre at each side of the open-
ing rests. G represents the spokes. L L are flaps of folded canvas or other
textile material. These flaps form part of a piece of canvas or material, the middle
portion M M of which extends across the inner face of the tyre and bridges over
the opening therein, thereby closing the inner side of the cavity B and forming
a tubular air space. The canvas is vulcanised to the inner face of the tyre so as
to form an integral part therewith. The outer portions of the canvas are so folded
along the outer edges of the inner face of the tyre as to form the flaps L L and
the outermost portions N N are vulcanised to the outer sides of the tyre. The
flaps L L when the tyre is mounted on the rim lie against the outer sides of same
and are then secured by means of the obtuse angled side plates H, bolts J and
nute, the bolts passing through the plates H, flaps L and rim D.
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:-
1. In a tyre having a centrally channelled inner face, a piece of folded textile
material integral with the tyre, the said piece extending across the inner face
of and closing the cavity of the tyre channel and having a flap at each outer edge
fitting against the corresponding side of the wheel rim, substantially as described.
2. In a wheel, the combination with a tyre having a centrally channelled inner
face and flaps of folded textile material at the outer edges and integral therewith
as set forth, of a rim shaped to support the inner face of the tyre at the sides of
the channel, obtuse-angled annuli. or plates against the outer sides of the tyre and
rim and transverse bolts or screws passing through the said plates and through
the flaps and through or into the rim, whereby the tyre is secured to the rim by
means of the flaps and the bolts or screws, substantially as herein before described.
Dated this 18th day of March 1898
J. C. MEWBURN & ELLIS,
55 and 56, Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agents.