Improvements in the Manufacture of Rubber Type Wheels.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 1st Dec., 1893-Accepted, 13th Jan., 1894
Improvements in the Manufacture of Rubber Type Wheels.
I, FREDERICK HERBERT WILLIAM HIGGINS, of 17 and 18 Cornhill, in the
City of London, Electrician do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
:-
The object of the invention is to enable the circumference of metal wheels to be
covered rapidly economically and with great accuracy with a covering of vulcanized
india rubber having moulded on it raised type for printing.
To form the covering around the circumference of a metal wheel I place the
wheel within a mould and then force into the space which is left between the inner
circumference of the mould and the rim of the wheel a ring of india rubber
composition previously softened by heat and allow the wheel to remain in the mould
until the process of vulcanization is completed the mould being heated to the
temperature required.
The mould I form of a flat plate having a pin standing up from it for the boss of
the metallic wheel to fit over-and also having standing up from it a number of
equidistant radial projections each coming to an edge at the circumference of the
rim of the wheel to be formed and tapering and extending for a distance outwards.
Into each of the spaces between these radial projections is fitted a segment of a
metallic ring with letters moulded on its inner circumference. The several
segments when in place form a complete cylindrical mould for shaping the circum-
ference of the wheel. The segments may be made to extend somewhat beyoud and
to fit against the outer end of the radial projections above mentioned so that any
segment when slidden towards the central pin may be stopped when it comes into.
proper position. Outside the segments and concentric with the central pin a ring
is placed to keep the segments in place and prevent their being forced back by
pressure against their inside face. The ring, the segments and the radial
projections are all of a depth equal to the width of the wheel to be moulded.
Above them is placed a cover plate which has standing up from its centre a
cylinder approximately of the same diameter as the rim of the wheel to be moulded.
The cylinder is fitted with a plunger which can be forced downwards by means of a
screw or otherwise.
If the wheel to be coated is a light skeleton wheel with comparatively broad rim
and slender spokes such for example as are used in printing telegraphs and in some
type writers, I place an annulus on each side of the spokes to fit to the interior of
the circumference of the rim of the wheel and give it support and thereby prevent
its being crushed by the pressure to which it is subjected when the plunger is forced
downwards.
When a ring of india rubber composition has by the descent of the plunger been
forced into the space between the metal wheel and the inner circumference of the
mould the mould is kept heated for the required length of time. Afterwards when
it has been allowed to cool the top cover plate and the ring are taken off and then
the segments can be slidden outwards away from the wheel leaving the completely
moulded wheel free to be removed.
Dated this 2nd day of March 1893.

page_text: Improvements in the Manufacture of Rubber Type Wheels.
I, FREDERICK HERBERT WILLIAM HIGGINS, of 17 and 18 Cornhill, in the
City of London, Electrician, 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 :-
The object of the invention is to enable the circumference of metal wheels to be
covered rapidly economically and with great accuracy with a covering of vulcanized
india rubber having moulded on it raised type for printing.
To form the covering around the circumference of a metal wheel I place the
wheel within a mould and then force into the space which is left between the inner
circumference of the mould and the rim of the wheel a ring of india rubber
composition previously softened by heat and allow the wheel to remain in the mould
until the process of vulcanization is completed the mould being heated to the
temperature required.
Into
The mould I form of a flat plate having a pin standing up from it for the boss of
the metallic wheel to fit over-and also having standing up from it a number of equi-
distant radial projections each coming to an edge at the circumference of the rim of
the wheel to be formed and tapering and extending for a distance outwards.
each of the spaces between these radial projections is fitted a segment of a metallic
ring with letters moulded on its inner circumference. The several segments when
in place form a complete cylindrical mould for shaping the circumference of the
wheel. The segments may be made to extend somewhat beyond and to fit against
the outer end of the radial projections above mentioned so that any segment when
slidden towards the central pin may be stopped when it comes into proper position.
Outside the segments and concentric with the central pin a ring is placed to keep
the segments in place and prevent their being forced back by pressure against their
inside face. The ring, the segments and the radial projections are all of a depth
equal to the width of the wheel to be moulded.
Above them is placed a cover plate which has standing up from its centre a
cylinder approximately of the same diameter as the rim of the wheel to be
moulded. The cylinder is fitted with a plunger which can be forced downwards by
means of a screw or otherwise.
If the wheel to be coated is a light skeleton wheel with comparatively broad rim
and slender spokes such for example as are used in printing telegraphs and in some
type writers I place an annulus on each side of the spokes to fit to the interior of
the circumference of the rim of the wheel and give it support and thereby prevent
its being crushed by the pressure to which it is subjected when the plunger is
forced downwards.
When a ring of india rubber composition has by the descent of the plunger been
forced into the space between the metal wheel and the inner circumference of the
mould the mould is kept heated for the required length of time. Afterwards when
it has been allowed to cool the top cover plate and the ring are taken off and then
the segments can be slidden outwards away from the wheel leaving the completely
moulded wheel free to be removed.
In the drawing annexed I have shewn a mould constructed as above described.
Figure 1 is a side elevation. Figure 2 a vertical section and Figure 3 a plan
with the cover removed.
A is an iron plate with a pin B standing up from it. CC are tapering
projections fixed to the plate radially to the pin. D D are segments filling the
spaces between the projections C, one in each space.
One of these segments is shewn separately at Figure 4. E is a ring held
concentrically with the pin B by other pins which stand up from the plate A

page_text: and pass through holes in the ring-the ring is shewn separately at Figure 5..
G is a cover plate placed above the ring and projections C. H is a cylinder rising
up from the centre of the cover plate. The pins F enter holes in the plate G and
thereby hold the cylinder concentric with the pin B. II are clamping pieces..
drawn down on to the plate G by screws J to hold it down. If the screws J are.
slightly unscrewed the pieces I can be turned aside and the cover plate and.
cylinder carried by it be lifted away. K is a plunger fitting the interior of the
cylinder. It can be raised or lowered by a screw L which screws through a cross-
bar H' secured to the cylinder H as shewn-the lower end of the screw passes.
through the closed upper end of the plunger and has collars L' fixed upon it one
above and the other below the plungers upper end. To get the mould ready for
use the segments D are all pushed inwards into their places-the ring E is placed
around them and holds them all from being pushed back out of place so that the
inner circumference of the several segments is kept with great accuracy concentric
with the pin B. The metal wheel which is to have its circumference coated with.
vulcanized india rubber is now placed on to the pin B and above it is placed a
metal ring M-a ring of vulcanizing rubber is placed into the cylinder H below
the lower end of the plunger K and the cover plate G is put on and secured in:
place. The mould is then subjected to heat sufficient to soften the rubber-the-
plunger is moved downwards by turning the screw L, and its lower end presses the
softened ring of india-rubber composition into the space between the inner surface
of the segments D and the rim of the metal wheel which is to be covered. The
mould is then further heated to effect the vulcanisation of the india rubber
compound, and afterwards allowed to cool sufficiently for the vulcanised rubber to
retain its form when released from the mould-the cover plate G and ring E are
taken away and each of the segments D drawn somewhat outwards to release them
from the moulded surface of the wheel and the wheel can then be removed. A
plan view of the completed wheel is shewn at Figure 6.
When very light wheels with slender spokes have to be coated support may be
given to the rim of the metal wheel by placing a ring N on either side of it to fit
to the inner circumference of the rim as shewn in section at Figure 7.
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:-
1. A mould adapted for use in the manufacture of rubber type wheels consisting
of a bottom plate-radial divisions and central pin standing up from the plate-
segments fitting between the radial divisions forming by their inner circum-.
ference a cylindrical mould each segment having part of the design to be moulded
on the rubber circumference of the wheel engraved on its inner circumference..
A ring embracing and fitting accurately to the outer circumference of all the
segments and holding them securely from being pressed outwards out of position.
and a top cover plate substantially as described.
2. The construction of moulds used in the manufacture of rubber type wheels.
substantially as herein before described and illustrated in the drawing annexed.
3. Supporting the rim of the wheel whilst the coating of rubber is being formed.
around it substantially as described.
Dated this 29th day of November 1893