Improvements relating to the Wheels and other Parts of Cycles and other Road Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Wheels and other Parts of Cycles and
other Road Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD SMITH, of 8, Armstead Road, Attercliffe, Sheffield, in the
County of York, Baths Proprietor, do hereby declare the nature of my invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates more particularly to cycles, and in the first place to the
construction of the wheels to avoid puncturing the pneumatic cushion.
I propose therefore to use a solid tyre carried by a self adjusting rim, supported
upon a pneumatic cushion, or upon a circle of pneumatic rollers, which is or are
carried by the central portion of the wheel.
The construction of the central portion of the wheel may be varied, but I prefer
to make it from two discs of sheet metal which may be perforated to reduce the
weight, and which are fastened to the sides of hub upon the axle, so that they
be at some distance apart.
Between the two discs and near the outer edges or circumference I fix a concaved
ring to form a support for the annular pneumatic cushion or air tube, over or upon
which I place a double concaved rim one side to fit upon the tubular cushion and
the other side to receive the tyre. The said rim has two annular flat sides which
pass over the beforementioned discs by which it is held in position and lateral
movement is prevented.
The second part of the invention refers to the driving gear, that is to the chain
and the chain wheels, the nature of which is to construct the wheels of two plates.
or discs held at a little distance apart having circles of holes of different diameters
and provided with interchangeable pins or rollers which pass through the said
plates, the portion of the pins or rollers between the two plates forming the teeth
of the wheel. All the pins may be secured by an outside disc.
The chain consists of metal links pinjointed together, and having a slot or recess
formed in one side midway between the joints, to engage with the pins or rollers of
the wheel, or a slot may be made between the joints upon each side of the link, but not
opposite each other or central, to enable the chain to be reversed when one side is
worn.
With reference to the improvement in the brake action, the object of which is
to enable the brake to be operated when the handlebar is at any angle or in turning
corners or sharp curves, I propose to use a pivotted lever the back end of which is
connected with the brake, preferably a strap brake, the front end being made into
a ring freely encircling the upright part of frame carrying the handlebar.
The brake handle may be of the ordinary character, with a vertical rod reaching
down the said ring and terminating with an open link having two grooved rollers,
one over the other, and between which the ring shaped end of the brake lever is
placed. As the cycle handle is turned in rounding corners and the like its rollers
travel upon the ring so that it is always in position for operating the brake.
The brake strap after passing round or partly round the driving wheel hub or

page_text: brake wheel, may be extended forward to the gear wheel and be curved partly
round its hub so as to act against it in addition.
Dated the 1st day of March 1897.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Agent for Applicant, Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield.
Improvements relating to the Wheels and other Parts of Cycles and
other Road Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD SMITH, of 8, Armstead Road, Attercliffe, Sheffield, in the
County of York, Baths Proprietor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention,
and in what manner the same has to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:--
My invention relates more particularly to cycles, and to the construction of wheels
for same, but it also applies to wheels for other road vehicles, and it has for its
chief object to prevent damage to the pneumatic tubes of such wheels.
The second part of my invention refers to the driving gear of such cycle wheels
and also the driving gear of other cycles.
The invention is illustrated in the annexed sheets of drawings, in which:-
Fig. 1, is an elevation (in part) of an improved wheel.
Fig. 2, an enlarged section of the rim of same.
Fig. 3, a modification in the construction.
Fig. 4, another modification.
Fig. 5, enlarged section of the rim of Fig. 4.
Fig. 6, a modification.
Fig. 7, elevation of a disc wheel.
Fig. 8, half vertical section of same.
Fig. 9, construction of driving wheels.
Fig. 10, the driving chain.
In carrying out my invention in the construction of a cycle wheel such as is
shown for example in Figs. 1 and 2, with the object of protecting the air tube from
damage, and also retaining the shock absorbing qualities of the wheel, the nave or
hub and the spokes may be of the usual design but the rim of the wheel I con-
struct as follows:
I stamp, roll or otherwise form or construct two circular rim-plates A, and B,
which are facsimiles of each other, and which when put together as shown in Fig. 2,
form a rim having a concave periphery to contain a tyre C, which may be of solid
rubber, leather or the like.
The two rim-plates A, and B, are secured together at D, and the air tube E, is
placed within the space between the two curved flanges of A, & B.
The spokes F, are secured to a rim G, upon the periphery of which the air tube E,
rests; this rim G, is preferably made with depending flanges which fit loosely
between the parts A & B, and preferably but not of necessity I use inside guide
rings H, secured to the outside flanges of A and B.
The air tube is thus perfectly protected from accidental perforation or damage
of any kind, and any shock, or sudden pressure upon the outer tyre C, is absorbed
by the air tube E, which is compressed against the spoke rim G.
In Fig. 3, I have dispensed with the lower part or flanges of A, and B, and sub-
stituted the lugs I, either made from the continuous metal, or affixed to A and B,
and I attach spokes J, to them and to a ring K, its centre opening being large

page_text: enough to clear the axle L, as shown, to permit the required movement between
the two parts when the rim is compressing the air tube.
Instead of the air-tube being a complete ring I may divide it into sections or
separate lengths, or may use a ring of rubber balls filled with air, or for any of
these I may substitute a series of wheels M, as shown in Fig. 4, each wheel having
a pneumatic rubber tyre N, and being supported upon an axle secured between the
the two side discs 0.
The rim consisting of the two parts A and B, rests upon the pneumatic tyres of
the wheels, it is provided with an outside tyre C, but I may in any case if preferred,
omit the upper portion of the rim from the line - or thereabouts.
Guide plates P, may be fastened upon the ends of the wheel axles on both sides to
prevent any lateral displacement of the parts.
In Fig. 6, I show a modification of my wheel in which the side discs O, are
carried upwards and so shaped as to form an annular recess, to enclose the air
tube E, and terminating in two flanges Q, between which a ring having a cross
section somewhat resembling the letter I, is placed, the lower member rests upon
the air tube and the upper one supports a tyre C, or it may be made to constitute
the tread of the wheel.
Figs. 7 and 8, represent another type of my wheel in which a disc is used-instead
of spokes. The air tube E, is supported upon the suitably formed periphery of a
ceutral disc R, connected with the hub S; the sides of flanges A & B, are con-
tinued until they nearly reach the hub, where they pass between two outer collars T,
and the central part of the disc R.
Antifriction balls or rollers indicated at U, may be interposed to prevent lateral
oscillation and friction.
It will thus be understood from the foregoing description that the wheel shown
in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 7, and 8, is built up in two distinct combinations of parts, namely
an outer part or rim with or without a tyre C, and an inner part or centre consist-
ing of a hub with spokes or discs arranged to support the compressed air tube upon
its periphery.
The air tube of any cross sectional form is placed within and is protected by the
annular concavity of the rim between the rim plates A & B, and rests upon the
periphery of the central part.
That any portion of the outer part or rim is free to be moved towards the centre,
subject to the resistance of the compressed-air tube or its equivalents, the tendency
of which is to react and return the rim to its normal concentric position.
Before the air tube is inflated the rim and the centre are practically separate
unattached parts, but when the tube is inflated the two parts are united.
The same principle and action are embodied in the modified wheel shown in
Figs. 4 & 5.
The second part of my invention relates to the driving gear of cycles and is
illustrated in Figs. 9, and 10, and refers more particularly to the construction of
the chain wheels and the chain.
I construct the wheels with two strong side-plates V & V2, either made solid with
or affixed to the boss, and prepared with one or more circles of holes.
These holes are provided with pins or rollers W, which constitute teeth to engage
with the driving chain, and the pins being of one diameter throughout they can be
placed in position or withdrawn from either side; they are secured by outside
plates Y, screwed to the plates V and V2.
If desired the holes may be bushed or fitted with antifriction bearings either
ball or roller.
By the use of more than one circle of holes, of different diameters but always of
the same pitch or distance apart, in one or both of the wheels, and by removing the
rollers from one circle to another, the speed of the gearing may be varied.
The chain consists of single links 1, and double links 2, alternately, and pinjointed
together in the usual manner, the inside of each single and double link has a
recess 3, to engage with the roller teeth of the wheels, and the ends of the single

page_text: links 1, are shaped to enable them to act against the teeth of driving wheel of
ordinary construction, and thus to answer two purposes.
Thus for example the wheel upon the crank shaft may be a toothed wheel of
ordinary construction and the smaller hub wheel may be made after my invention
and both will engage with my improved chain.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1-A cycle wheel or other like wheel having a central part extending from the
hub outwards, and a separate or non-connected metallic rim and tyre supported upon
an interposed elastic air-tube substantially as hereinbefore described and set forth.
2-A wheel for cycles and other road vehicles having a peripheral rim capable
of being moved radially (or towards the centre of the wheel) by the application of
force, and supported upon an interposed elastic compressible air tube, or sections
of such tube, rubber balls, or wheels with air-tube tyres, substantially as herein-
before described and shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
3A disc wheel constructed with an inner part R, connected with the hub, and
an outer part A, B, with or without a rubber tyre C, the two said parts being con-
nected by an interposed compressed-air tube E, as hereinbefore described and shown
in Figs. 7 & 8.
4-A wheel for cycles and other road vehicles having a metallic rim A, B, pro-
vided with radial lugs attached to a central ring K, by wire rods. The central
spokes having a rim which supports an elastic air tube upon which the rim A, B
rests, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown in Fig. 3.
5-A chain driving wheel having two side plates with one or more circles of holes
through them, provided with removable roller teeth of equal diameter throughout
to enable them to be inserted and withdrawn from either side, and secured in work-
ing position by side plates or their equivalents, as herein before described and shown
in Fig. 9.
6-A driving chain composed of single or central links 1, and double or side
links 2, pinjointed together, and having recesses 3, in their inside faces to engage
with the roller teeth of the improved driving wheels before described, the single or
central links 1, being also constructed to engage with the teeth of ordinary toothed
driving wheels, as hereinbefore described and shown in Fig. 10.
Dated the 16th day of December 1897.
ROBT. F. DRURY,
Agent for Applicant.