Improvements in Elastic Wheels.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Nov., 1898-Accepted, 25th Feb., 1899
I
Improvements in Elastic Wheels.
Pat.MOND BAILLY, of Yvoir, near Namur, in the Kingdom of Belgium,
Engineer, 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:-
―
Wheels provided with india-rubber tyres either solid or hollow present
undoubted advantages, but also have their disadvantages of which the principal
consist in wear and in the puncturing of pneumatic tyres, which latter are also
liable to become detached from the rim of the wheel.
The principle of my invention consists in applying to wheels of any kind of an
elastic tyre, (whether of india rubber or any other suitable material) independent
or otherwise, in one or more parts such as spheres, for example-and upon this
tyre is arranged a ring which may also be independent or otherwise; in short to
arrange one wheel within another with an elastic medium between the two.
This application may be effected in various ways, several examples of which
are shown in the accompanying drawing in which:
Figure 1 represents a vertical sectional elevation of a wheel constructed in
accordance with my invention.
Figure 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same, and Figs. 4 and 5 are
modifications thereof.
Similar letters of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawing.
a is the wooden rim of an ordinary wheel and bits iron tyre; c is an independent
ring of india rubber of square or other cross-section, either solid or hollow, or
else a combination of metallic or other springs; d is the wooden portion of a
circular ring and f its tyre; and m are two metal plates attached to and which
embrace the parts a and b. These metal plates serve as slides and prevent the
ring & from leaving the plane of the wheel whilst at the same time enabling the
india rubber to fulfil its main object that of deadening the shocks.
The manner in which the device acts will be readily understood.
Amongst the advantages offered by this arrangement which are not possessed
by others is that of preventing the introduction of glass, nails, mud and other
substances. The elastic tyre becomes compressed between the ring and the wheel,
but it is free to rotate around the wheel which runs in the ring. Briefly stated,
the ring acts as a rail moving with the vehicle and being, so to speak, laid upon
the ground.
My arrangement does not prevent or prejudicially affect the fulfilment of any
of the functions of a wheel; whether it be a bearing, driving or steering wheel
its operation is the same. Whether the tractive effort takes place through the
axle or through the rim, the arrangement is precisely the same.
In certain cases it may be advantageous to form apertures or stampings in the
metallic tyres, in order that the india rubber tyre may enter the same and thus
form temporary attachments whilst at the same time permitting of its
displacement.

page_text: Figure 3 represents an arrangement in which the ring is wholly of iron; a
represents the wooden rim of an ordinary wheel, as above; b its tyre; the india
rubber tyre or elastic medium and f the ring; and m are the metal plates
forming slides.
The tyre 6 of the wheel may be omitted or the wheel may be made wholly of
iron.
Another arrangement, whereby great economy in the india-rubber employed
is effected, is represented in Figure 5 in which a represents the hub of a wheel
mounted upon the axle is the india-rubber tyre or elastic medium; d and d¹
form a very large ring guided in the plane of the hub by the metal plates / and m.
Wheels made in accordance with my invention may be readily fitted or
dismounted. In fact, in order to mount them, the india rubber is arranged round
the tyre, the ring is then placed in position, the sheet metal plates screwed up
and the wheel is complete.
The metal plates which form slides may be fixed to the wheel as shewn in
Figure 4 where a is the wooden rim of an ordinary wheel, bits tyre and c the
india rubber tyre; the metal plates are fixed at a or any other point of the wheel
and leave the ring free to move vertically whilst guiding it laterally.
The principal resultant advantages are:-
1. Adaptability to all kinds of wheels, whether provided with iron, pneumatic
or solid rubber tyres.
2. Economy in the first cost of the wheel.
3. Simplicity of the parts.
4. Protection of the rubber tyre from injury.
5. Readiness of attachment and detachment. (In case of injury the tyre may
be dismounted and the wheel employed in the usual manner.
6. Suppression of vibration.
7. Combination of the advantages of rubber-tyred and iron-tyred wheels.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
A form of vehicle wheels, such wheels being constituted by two concentric
wheels, between which is left a space in which is interposed an elastic mass, the
external wheel serving as a tyre, substantially as described and for the purpose
specified.
Dated this 7th day of November 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.
Agents for the Applicant.