Improvements in Elastic Tyres.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Elastic Tyres.
I, WILLIAM FREDERICK WILLIAMS, of 32, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W.,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to elastic tyres for wheels and consists, first, in a novel
construction whereby a degree of elasticity comparable to that of a pneumatic tyre
may be obtained and whereby the tendency to side slip on muddy surfaces is
counteracted and, secondly, in the application around the tyre constructed as above
referred to of a rigid hoop acting as the trend of the tyre to adapt the tyre for the
wheels of motor cars and other vehicles as well as bicycles.
The elastic tyre is constructed of spiral springs of circular, flattened, or other
scation arranged transversely or diagonally and preferably contained in a sheathing
forming a flat belt which when applied to the wheel rim is arched in the direction
of its width, the edges of the strip being confined between the suitably shaped sides
of the wheel rim against which as abutments the ends of the springs bear. The
edges of the sheath (which may extend beyond the ends of the springs and be folded
inwards towards each other) may be united by lacing through eyelets or lacing hooks,
or be otherwise connected so as to draw the tyre up to the curved or D-section
previous to applying it to the wheel rim, or it may be held in this form merely by
being confined between the suitably shaped sides of the wheel rim. The tyre thus
presents a convexly arched form to contact with the ground, the form and position
of the springs being such that the whole of the elasticity of the springs which are for
the time under pressure of the load is brought into play whilst the position of the coils
of each spring is such as to check the tendency to side slip in the case of a bicycle tyre.
The exterior envelope of the sheath may be suitably thickened at the tread to allow
for wear and instead of the springs being merely enclosed in a sheath they may be
embedded in indiarubher so as to add to the strength and resiliency of the tyre.
The tyre may be also stiffened by an internal band extending circularly around the
wheel.
In order to bring a greater number of springs into play than those actually in
contact with the ground and so adapt the tyre for the wheels of heavy vehicles, the
elastic tyre constructed as above described may be encircled by a rigid metal ring
which then forms the tread and which may be retained in place by partially embracing
the convexly curved surface of the tyre or by interlocking engagement with a rib
formed around the tyre. This external ring may be of any required width so as to
form a flat tread of sufficient breadth for heavy vehicles, the same being held in place
by an envelope of rubber or rubber-coated canvas.
The elastic portion of the tyre, instead of being made in one width encircled by a
hoop as above described, may be made in two widths with the rigid hoop which

page_text: forms the tread of the tyre interposed between them and interlocked or otherwise
connected with both.
Dated this 20th day of November 1896.
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.
I, WILLIAN FREDERICK WILLIAMS, of 32, Shaftesbury Avenue, London, W., Gentle-
man, do hereby declare the nature of this Iuvention and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
stateuient :-
My Invention relates to elastic tyres for the wheels of road vehicles and velocipedes
and it has for its object to produce a tyre combining the advantage of a high degree
of elasticity characteristic of a pneumatic tyre with the non-liability to puncture,
durability, and other advantages of a solid rubber tyre.
Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings forming part of this
Specification wherein
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of the tyre band in the flat.
Figure 2 is a cross-section of the improved tyre as applied to the rim of a vehicle
wheel.
Figure 3 is a cross-section of a modified form of tyre band.
Figure 4 is a cross-section and Figure 5 a part longitudinal section of a tyre band
tnould.
Figure 6 is a cross-section of the improved tyre as applied to a bicycle wheel rim.
The Luvention consists in the combination of spiral metal springs of circular, oval,
or other section, with indiarubber in the form of a flat or slightly curved band
wherein the springs are disposed transversely and which when applied to the wheel
rim is brought to an arched or shape in the direction of its width and is so
retained by the edges of the band being confined between side flanges on the wheel
rium. The form and position of the springs is then such that in addition to the
tendency to resume its original forn, and the resistance to flattening of the arched
form of the band which its presence in the rubber imparts, each spring acts in com-
pression in the direction of its length when the weight of the load comes upon it and
under the most favourable conditions for bringing the whole of the elasticity of the
spring into play.
In Figure 1 which shews a portion of the band in the flat, and in Figure 2 which
shows the tyre as applied to the wheel rin, a are the spiral springs embedded in
indinrubber b which forms a sheathing for the springs. The aprings a are closely
juxtaposed and are arranged transversely in the band as shewn, the springs being
substantially equal in length to the width of the band. They are of steel or other
suitable metallic wire of round or other section spirally coiled to form springs of
circular, oval, square, or other suitable form in end view and may be enamelled to
prevent rust, and their ends are ground off or otherwise flattened so that when the
springs are imbedded in the rubber baud and the latter is applied to the wheel
the ends of the springe will abut as squarely as possible against their bearing on
the wheel rim. The springs are imbedded in the rubber band b either by moulding
and vulcanizing the rubber around them, as hereafter described, or in any other suit-
able way so that the combined elasticity of the rubber and springs will be brought
into play, and the springs will be protected against moisture. With the same object
and in order to afford a more uniform bearing of the tyre against the wheel rim the

page_text: ends of the springs may, if desired, be covered by strips of rubber cemented to the
edges of the band as shewn at b¹.
The band with the springs imbedded therein may be inade in one length or in
several lengths vulcanized together, and the ends of the band would be vulcanized
together so as to form au endless band of corresponding diameter to the wheel rim;
or by means of a suitable annular mould the band might be moulded of complete
annular form. It may be made either of the flat form shewn in Figure 1 or of the
partially arched form in cross-section shewn in Figure 3 to facilitate the operation of
springing the tyre into place on the wheel rim, in which latter case springs tempered
of a correspondingly curved form in the direction of their length would be used. In
either case it would generally be preferable that there should be a greater, thickness
of indiarubber on the outer than on the inner side of the band, especially towards the
middle of its width to form an adequate sheathing for the springs where the tread of
the tyre or its point of contact with the ground will be. The rubber night however
be otherwise disposed relatively to the springs if required.
The endless band when applied to the wheel rim is bent or arched transversely to
a U-shape, as shewn in Figure 2, and its edges are sprung into confinement between
the inwardly inclined side flanges c of a metal rim d (similar to that used for solid
rubber tyres) in the case of ordinary road vehicles, whereby the elastic tyre is securely
retained owing to the combined tendency of the rubber and springs to cause the tyre
to resume its original form and dimensions.
A suitable inode of embedding the springs in the rubber is to thread them upon
core pins e as shewn in Figure 4, supported in a two-part mould so that when the
monk is filled with plastic rubber and submitted to pressure the rubber will be
caused to envelop as completely as possible the section of the wire at all points of the
spring, the core pius which are so much smaller than the interior diameter of the
springs as to allow of this, being withdrawn after moulding and vulcanization. Any
other suitable form of mould and mode of manufacture may however be adopted.
In the case of a tyre for bicycle wheels the form of tyre above described may be
used for wheel rims of the "Clincher" pattern but in order to adapt the tyre to be
applied to the various other forms of rim now in use it is preferred to provide the
band with lateral extensions of rubber of reduced thickness (as at f Figure 6) stiffened
by the partially uncoiled or straightened end portions g of the springs being imbedded
in them. In this case the springs would not be ground off square at the enda as
above mentioned but would be prolonged as at g, these prolongations being straight
or bent of any required shape, and the extensions f being beaded as at f, or otherwise
adapted to engage with the wheel rim as shewn in Figure 6, whilst the shoulders
forined at the termination of the coiled part of the springs abut directly against the
rim as shewu.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what mauner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
The herein described elastic tyre for wheels consisting of a band of rubber having
juxtaposed transversely extending spiral springs imbedded therein, the band being
transversely arched to a U form when applied to the wheel rim, and being retained
thereon by heing sprung into engagement therewith, substantially as specified.
Dated this 20th day of Santawber 1907
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.