Improvements
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 21st Jan., 1897-Accepted, 17th Apr., 1897
Improvements
плотов.
JAMES WATSON 118 Goldsmith Street Nottingham Surgoon do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in wheels for road vehicles and more
particularly to wheels for cycle and light road vehicles, the object of the invention
being the construction of a wheel with a spring rim or tyre so designed that the
elasticity or resiliency of the wheel is obtained from the rim or tyre without the use
of auxiliary springs.
According to this invention the rim or tyre is constructed of tempered steel or
other material having similar properties, and there may be one or more rings or the
rim or tyre may be made from a thin strip which is coiled to give the necessary
strength and properties of a spring rim or tyre. These rims or tyres may be
connected to the wheel hub by flexible or sliding spokes, or the spokes may be
attached to a' flexible or spring ring so arranged in conjunction with the hub, that
the movement of the ring is limited or controlled by the hub. The apring rim' or
tyre may be fitted with a cover or cushion of any suitable material.
Dated this 20th day of April 1896
W. H. POTTER, Wh. Sc.,
Nottingham, Patent Agent.
1, JAMES WATSON, of 118 Goldsmith Street, in the Borough of Nottinghani,
Surgeon, 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 :-
This invention relates to vehicle wheels and more particularly to wheels for
cycles or light road' vehicles, of the kind known as spring wheels, in which the
periphery or tyre is capable of moving relatively to the axis against the action of a
spring or springs.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
in which
I, JAMES WATSON, of 118 Goldsmith Street, in the Borough of Nottinghani,
Surgeon, 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 :-
This invention relates to vehicle wheels and more particularly to wheels for
aycles or light road' vehicles, of the kind known as spring wheels, in which the
periphery or tyre is capable of moving relatively to the axis against the action of a
spring or springs.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
in which
Fig. 1 is a side 'elevation, and
Fig. 2 a section of part of a wheel constructed according to my invention.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation, and
Fig. 4 a section of part of a wheel showing a modified arrangement.
Fig. 5 is a side elevation, and
Fig. 6 a section showing an alternative arrangement.
Fig. 7 is a side elevation, and
TD

page_text: and 10 are sections BDowing modifications.
Figs. 5 to 10 inclusive, are drawn to a larger scale than Figs. 1 to 4.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
In carrying out my invention, the periphery or outer circumference of the whee
is formed by a preferably endless spring band or rim, formed of steel or other
suitable material. This spring band is connected to the knave or hub, or to ar
intermediate rim of less diameter, by convenient means which are preferably
inextensible and thus maintain the spring band normally in a concentric position
but are flexible, or arranged to slide or contract and thus do not prevent the move
ment of any part of the band towards the centre of the wheel.
With this arrangement the elasticity or resiliency of the wheel may be mainly or
altogether obtained from the spring band or rim.
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2 the spring band or rim A which may
be formed in one piece or be built up of two or more bands, is connected to the
hub B by spokes C. The flanges of the hub B are each formed with inuer and
outer annular ribs B' B' through which the inuer ends of the spokes C pass and are
held in position by heads or nuts on their inner ends, which heads or nuts engage
with the inner annular rib B' and prevent their withdrawal.
The spokes C fit loosely in the holes in the ribs B B so that although they
normally hold the rim A concentric with the hub C, when external pressure is
exerted on the spring rim A. the spokes at that point where such pressure is exerted
will slide in the hub, and allow the rim A to bend inwards. If preferred, the
spokes may be formed in two parts and be connected by a joint which will permit
the outer part to slide relatively to the other.
With this arrangement, tangential spokes may be conveniently employed.
The spring band or rim A may be provided with a preferably india-rubber or
other suitable tread or wearing surface D, which may be fixed or detachable.
In the latter case the wearing surface is preferably formed on a canvas or other
flexible foundation which is secured to the baud or rin A by lacing or other
convenient means.
In the modified arrangement shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the spring band or rin A is
connected to the hub B by spokes C and flexible loops E. These loops E may be
formed of thin flexible metal or other suitable material and are each connected as
showu to the spring band or rim A and the outer end of two of the spokes C, in
order to give the spring band liberty to move towards the hub. The form of the
loops prevents any outward movement of the spring band beyond its concentric
position, as in the arrangement previously described.
In an alternative arrangement shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the spring band or rim A
is connected to an intermediate rigid rim F by pins G which may be secured to the
spring frame A. and slide in holes in the rigid intermediate rim F.
The rigid intermediate rim F is connected to the hub by spokes C in any well
known manuer.
The inner ends of the pins G are provided with nuts G¹ to adjust the spring band
or rim A, aud limit its outward movement.
In a modification of the above arrangement shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the spring
band or rim A is connected to a rigid intermediate rim F by a cover H of canvas
or other suitable material.
The cover H encloses the spring band A and its two edges may be secured to the
rigid rim F by any well known arrangement.
As shown in the drawings, in the two edges of the cover H are endless
wires H¹ H'.
The circumference of those wires II and the diameter of the interior and
exterior of the rim Fare adjusted so that the wires cau be placed on the rim, and
they are then held concentric with the rim by turn buttons I (ouly one of which is
shown) the ends of which are formed to hold the wires in the correct position.
In order to remove the cover H the turn buttons 1 are turned by means of the
external heads I¹ until their length is parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel..

page_text: The spring band or rim A may be padded with india-rubber, or other suitable
material, in order to prevent it from injuring the cover.
The rubber tread or wearing surface D, is in this case secured to the cover H.
In some cases the wires H may each be formed with two free ends and be
connected and drawn together by means of a sorewed nut or nuts, or by a lever or
other well known device.
If preferred the inward movement of the spring band or rim A may be limited
by buffers or stops in order to protect it from excessive blows or shocks. For this
purpose an indin-rubber tyre J may be placed on the rigid rim F as shown in
Fig. 10. This tyre may be solid as shown, or be inflated with air to give greater
resiliency and reduce the concussion. In some cases I employ two independent
spring bands or rims of different diameters (see Fig. 9) an outer one A, and an
inner one A. Each spring band may be secured to the rigid rim F by an
independent cover H, and the space between them may be adjusted so that the
outer one is only forced down to the inner one by excessive pressure. In some
cases the inner spring band may be held in position by a flexible partition extending
across the outer cover.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A spring wheel formed by a spring band or rim such as A. connected to the
hub by means which restrict its outward movement beyond, but permit of its being
depressed within its concentric position substantially as described.
2. A spring wheel formed by a spring band or rim such as A. connected to an
intermediate rigid rim F by means which restrict its outward movement beyond,
but permit of it. being depressed within its concentric position substantially as
described.
3. In a spring wheel the combination with a spring band or rim such as A of
spokes C sliding in the hub B substantially as described.
4. In a spring wheel the combination with a spring band or rim such as A of
spokes C, hub B and flexible loops or connections such as E, substantially as
described.
5. In a spring wheel the combination with a spring band or rim, such as A, of a
rigid intermediate rim such as F and pins G, for connecting the spring and rigid
rim substantially as described.
6. In a spring wheel the combination with a spring band or rim, such as A, of a
rigid intermediate rim such as F and cover such as H for connecting the spring
and rigid rim substantially as described.
7. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete spring
wheela substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 20th day of January 1807
JAMES WATSON.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.
JAMES WATSON.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.