Improvements in or relating to Wheel Tires and Apparatus for Mounting the same.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1899 -Accepted, 13th Jan., 1900
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Wheel Tires and Apparatus for
Mounting the same.
I, JAMES CALDWELL ANDERSON, of Highland Park, in the County of Lake and
State of Illinois, United States of America, Mechanical Expert, 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 relates to certain new and useful improvements in wheels and
tires for vehicles, especially that class known as automobiles, and the method
and apparatus for making same.
In automobiles, as is well known, the power exerted for the propulsion of the
vehicle is applied in a rotary direction directly to the wheel, in contradistinction
to the application of animal or other auxiliary power applied in a horizontal and
longitudinal direction to pull the vehicle, as in common use.
When the power is
applied directly to the wheel, the tendency is to cause the same to slip upon the
road without effecting the desired propulsion of the vehicle, and consequently it
has been found not only desirable, but absolutely necessary to equip the wheels
with tires having such properties or characteristics as to secure the proper degree
of traction or adhesion to the roadway.
In the progress of the art of automobile locomotion where the traction wheels
must be used for driving the vehicle it will be recognized that the use of materials
adapted to secure the required traction involves a rapid destruction of the tread
surface of the tire, and with this knowledge in view, the most approved material
thus far used has been rubber and for the sake of economy and in lighter classes of
automobiles, inflatable or pneumatic tires have been used, although in the heavier
class known as auto-trucks, solid tires are necessary; but in both cases, the wear
which necessarily takes place cannot be readily and economically compensated for.
A further concomitant disadvantage in the pneumatic tire rests in the fact that
they are to a greater or less degree liable to puncture which liability is greatly
increased owing to the fact that in the ordinary use of automobiles, they must of
necessity travel over roadways not especially adapted to the use of such tires and
hence, it has been found that the use of pneumatic tires involves frequent delays
in travel and very large expense in repair and renewal.
;
My invention has for its object to provide a wheel for automobiles which
shall embody all of the advantages of wheels provided with pneumatic tires or solid
rubber tires, in so far as traction is concerned; which shall take up what is known
as the momentum shock; which will not creep upon the rim, which shall be noise-
less economic of original construction and quickly and cheaply renewed or
repaired when necessary; and for a further object, a method of forming the
tire so that it shall be absolutely composite and without any definable joints of any
character whatever and consists in the steps hereinafter in detail explained.
My invention has for a further object, to provide an apparatus to be used to
expeditiously and economically carry out the method hereinafter described.
With these ends in view, my invention consists in providing the rim of the wheel

page_text: with a steel or other suitable metallic circumferential box or tire receptacle of
peculiar form and arranging therein and projecting therefrom, a tire proper or
tread surface composed of asphaltum or bitumen or material of similar properties
compounded with other ingredients applied in manner and proportions as herein-
after fully explained.
In order that those skilled in the art may know how to make my improved
wheel, tire and apparatus, and fully understand all of the details, I will proceed to
describe same in detail, referring to the accompanying drawings in which―
Fig. 1 is a central longitudinal section of an apparatus designed to carry out
my improved method, the wheel upon which the tire is to be formed being shown
in elevation.
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation taken at the line x, x of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the apparatus with the wheel removed.
Fig. 4 is a detail cross section showing the tank, the rim of the wheel, the tire
in course of formation and a scraper, and
Fig. 5 represents partly in section and partly in perspective, a portion of the
rim and tire of a wheel embodying my invention, and in which-
A is an ordinary wooden felly or rim to which is secured by suitable screw bolts,
a steel box or receptacle B having a dovetail recess as shown. The dovetail recess
constitutes a receptacle for the composition tire and serves to hold the same secured
in place as will be presently explained, and by reason of the shape of the circum-
ferential receptacle a comparatively broad surface is obtained at the edge of each
of the lateral walls or sides of the said box or receptacle.
C is the tire proper, located within the dovetail recess of the box B and extend-
ing beyond the latter, as clearly shown, to constitute the tread. This tire is
composed of asphaltum or bitumen and any comminuted material having the
characteristics of resistance to abrasion; such for instance as metallic filings,
corundum, sand, &c., and it will be understood that wherever hereafter I use the
expression sand or its equivalent" I mean it to be understood that I may mix
with the body or base of the composition any comminuted or granulated material
best adapted to resist the abrading effect which follows from the ordinary contact
between the tire and a roadway, the proportions and mixture being such as I will
now proceed to describe.
In filling the receptacle or dovetail space, I first employ asphaltum or bitumen
or other similar viscid material at the base or what may be termed the bottom
of the receptacle. I then coníplete the filling of said box or receptacle and extend
beyond the same asphaltum or bitumen mixed with sand or any equivalent of sand
and in such proportions as to obtain a sufficient degree of solidity and hardness
to the tire. This I do, gradually increasing the quantity or proportion of sand
or equivalent until the proper degree of hardness is secured to protect the tire
against undue wear and at the same time without depriving it of its grasping or
tration quality or of its adaptability to take up the momentum shock.
To properly and expeditously locate and form the tire within the recess in the
box B, I employ an apparatus hereinafter described, although it will be understood
that I may carry out the method without the use of any special apparatus.
When the rim A of a wheel has been provided with a metallic box or tire recep-
tacle B, commercial asphaltum or bitumen or other similar viscid material in melted
or fluid condition is caused to enter the dovetail recess in the box B and impinging
and adhering to the bottom and sides of said box is held in position. This process
of filling the box is conducted gradually in order that perfect cohesion shall ensue..
When a suitable depth or thickness of this material has been introduced to consti-
tute a cushion, and which should be about one-fourth or one-third of the depth
or thickness of the completed tire, I begin mixing with the asphaltum, bitumen or
other similar viscid material which is subsequently deposited upon that which
has already been located. sharp sand or its equivalent, the proportion of sand
or equivalent gradually increasing as the tire is built up and until the admixture
of asphaltum and sand or equivalent is such that the outer or tread surface of

page_text: the tire will become sufficiently hard when completed, to retain its form and resist
undue indentation or abrasion by contact with the roadway; this result being
best attained by following the formulas employed in making asphaltum roadways
or streets, which formulas vary according to the recognized climatic conditions in
the localities where such roadways are built.
In building up the tire according to my invention the asphaltum, or bitumen
with the sand or equivalent combined therewith is deposited while the wheel is
revolved upon its axis, and consequently said material is deposited in a thin
layer in substantially the manner that a bolt of ribbon or other textile fabric is
wound, and consequently no joints occur which would become liable to separation.
The result described may be accomplished by pouring the asphalt from any suit-
able receptacle and revolving the wheel during the pouring process, but I prefer
to employ an apparatus especially designed and which I will now proceed to
describe.
D is the base and E the end of a hollow metal box provided with a burner F
for heating the same, but in lieu of said burner, which may be
of any desired kind, the interior of the box may be equipped with steam
heating pipes or steam may be admitted directly to the interior of the box from
any source of supply. The end E of the box rises up and is formed with a
curved face as shown, which is adapted to coincide substantially with the peri
phery of a wheel. G is an asphaltum tank mounted upon the base 1 of the box,
and secured thereto by parallel arms H on each side which are pivoted at their
ends to the base and the tank respectively in order that the latter may be
elevated as shown at Fig. 3. The elevation and return of the tank is secured
through the medium of a hand screw I pivotally connected to a lug a¹ pivoted
to the upper end of an arm J extending from the end of the base D of the box.
K is a gauge scraper adapted to ride upon the walls of the tank G and having
its upper edge cut out in a design to conform to the face or profile of the tire
which extends beyond the receptacle B on the rim of the wheel. This scraper is
provided with a screw-threaded arm b which passes through a bridge or lug e on
the tank and near the end thereof. The arm is provided with a threaded wing or
hand nut d by means of which the gauge scraper may be gradually drawn away
from the periphery of the tire as the same is being built up. This gauge scraper
not only controls the profile of the tire and the quantity of asphaltum to be
deposited, but it also prevents the asphaltum from being thrown off by centrifugal
action.
The purpose of constructing the base D and end E of the box hollow is in order
that the heat generated therein may be utilized to melt the asphaltum and keep
it in proper plastic condition and also serve as a heating surface to warm the
box or receptacle B on the rim of the wheel before the asphalt is deposited thereon.
With my improved method and apparatus as described, it will be seen that
whenever any ordinary wear of the tires occurs from use of same, they may be
readily repaired and restored to their original condition by first rotating the wheel
in close proximity to the curved heated face of the end of the box a sufficient
length of time to warm and soften the face of the tire and adapt it to readily
take up and hold the mixture of asphaltum and sand in the tank C which is then
applied in the manner already described.
In originally constructing the tire the wheel may be placed upon any suitable
axle or shaft supported in proper relation with the tank G, and when it is desired
to repair the tires after use, it will not be absolutely necessary to remove the
wheels from the vehicle as the latter may be lifted by an ordinary staple jack to
a proper height and the wheel adjusted to proper relation with the asphaltum tank.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
As a new article of manufacture, a vehicle wheel having the rim surrounded.

page_text: and equipped with a box or receptacle and a tire located within and extending
from said box and composed of asphaltum and sand or its equivalent, substantially
as described.
2. In a wheel, the combination with the rim A, a metallic box or receptacle B
formed with a dovetail recess as described, and a tire C composed of asphaltum
and sand or its equivalent, as and for the purpose set forth.
3. The herein described method of making tires upon wheels which consists in
depositing fluid asphaltum or bitumen and asphaltum or bitumen mixed with
sand or its equivalent, within a suitable receptacle surrounding and secured to
the rim of the wheel, while the wheel is rotated and removing any excess of asphal-
tum and sand and giving to that which remains any desired design or profile.
4. The method herein described of forming tires on wheels provided with a tire
receptacle, which consists in revolving the wheel and during the rotation thereof
depositing in the tire receptacle a suitable quantity of asphaltum or bitumen while
in a fluid condition, and superimposing upon such base while in a plastic condition
a composition of asphaltum or bitumen and sand or its equivalent, gradually in-
creasing the proportion of sand or its equivalent, substantially as herein before
set forth.
5. The method herein described of repairing or building up tires composed
of asphaltum and sand or its equivalent, which consists in heating the worn surface
of the tire to a sufficient degree and grafting thereon a composition of asphaltum
and sand or its equivalent, substantially in the manner set forth.
6. An apparatus for building up composition tires upon wheels, which consists
of a hollow box having a base 1) and an end E with a curved face adapted to be
heated as described, a tank mounted upon the base D and adapted to be raised and
lowered, and means for raising and lowering the tank, substantially as and
for the purposes set forth.
7. In combination with the hollow box D, E tank G mounted on the box and
means for raising and lowering the tank, a guage scraper and means for moving
the same toward and from the center of the tank, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
8. In combination with the hollow box D. E tank G mounted upon the box
and means for raising and lowering the tank a heating device substantially as
described for heating the box D, E and tank G, substantially as and for the pur-
pose set forth.
171
1
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.