Improvements in Wheels for Velocipedes and other Vehicles for Common Roads.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Nov., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 17th Aug.. 1895-Accepted, 21st Sept.,
1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wheels for Velocipedes and other Vehicles for
Common Roads.
I, AUGUSTE MORTERA, of Toulouse, Haute Garonne, in the Republic of
France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to wheels for velocipedes and other vehicles for common
ronds.
According to my invention I construct such wheels with a hollow concave rim in
the concavity of which I place a metal ring composed of a number of springs
arranged transversely and having their ends abutting against a projection on the
rim. The said springs are united by two hoops and the part of the springs not
encased by the rim covered with a flanged casing of india rubber or other
suitable material forming the tread or contact surface of the wheel with the ground,
two annular grooves being provided in the rim to receive the flanges of the said
casing.
In order to facilitate repair I connect each spring to the hoops by means of small
bolts and nuts. After the introduction of the hoops into the concavity of the hollow
rim the two ends of each hoop are united by a bolt.
In order to put the parts together, the left hand side of the spring ring is first
introduced into the hollow rim and then the other side is pressed into position.
The two hoops are then exactly opposite the two annular grooves in the rim
designed to receive the flanges of the outer casing or covering and (the
elasticity of the springs assisting) all the springs adhere to the inner walls of
the rim.
It only remains to apply the outer casing or covering; for this purpose one of the
flanges thereof is first introduced into one of the annular grooves in the rim and
then the other. flange is placed in position in a similar manner.
Dated the 19th day of November 1894.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
Common Roads.
I, AUGUSTE MORTERA, of Toulouse, Haute Garonne, in the Republic of
France, 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 :-
Improvements in Wheels for Velocipedes and other Vehicles for
Common Roads.
I, AUGUSTE MORTERA, of Toulouse, Haute Garonne, in the Republic of
France, 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:-
My invention relates to elastic wheels or tyres for velocipedes and other vehicles
for common roads.
According to my invention I construct such wheels with a hollow concave rim in
the concavity of which I place an annular metal rim or band to which are attached

page_text: a number of springs arranged transversely. The part of the springs not within the
rim is covered with a flanged jacket or outer covering of india-rubber or other
suitable material forming the tread or contact surface of the wheel with the ground,
two annular grooves being provided in the rim to receive the flanges of the jacket.
I connect each spring to the band by means of a bolt and nut or a rivet.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood I will describe the same
by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which :-
Figure 1 represents a section of a wheel rim constructed according to my
invention:
Figures 2 and 3 are respectively an end and a side view of one of the springs
attached to the annular band:
Figure 4 is a section of the outer covering or jacket which encloses the annular
spring band:
Figure 5 is a section shewing the tyre attached to the rim :
Figure 6 is a modification; and,
Figure 7 is a sectional view shewing three of the springs in position in
the tyre.
a is the concave hollow rim in which I place the metal band b provided with a
suitable number of springs c arranged transversely, the ends of these springs over-
lapping and coming against the outer face of the annular band b. The springs c
are connected to the band 6 by means of rivets d and the parts of the springs which
are not within the rim are enclosed in a flanged outer covering or jacket e of india-
rubber or other suitable material forming the tread or contact surface of the wheel
with the ground. The edges of the rim are formed with grooves or recesses a¹,
to receive the flanges e¹, e² of the outer covering e.
a¹
The parts are put together in the following manner. After having rivetted the
springs c around the circumference of the metal band b at suitable distances apart
proportionate to the weight which is to be supported by the velocipede or other
road vehicle, the spring band is placed in the position represented in Figures 5
to 7, and its two ends are fixed in the rim a by a screw. Then resting the india-
rubber outer covering e upon the spring c and suitable pressure being exerted on
the sides of the springs, the flanges e¹, e² are sprung into the grooves a', a¹ of the
rim a.
In the arrangement shewn in Figure 6, instead of forming the rim with
grooves to receive flanges on the jacket, the jacket is fixed to the rim a by two
wires f.
From this construction it will be seen that as the vehicle travels along each
spring c yields under the weight of the rider or load when it comes over the
ground, but by reason of its elasticity retakes its original form as soon as it
leaves the ground whereby I obtain the advantages arising from the air-chambers
of pneumatic tyres.
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 :-
1. In a wheel for velocipedes and other carriages for common roads the
combination of a hollow concave rim a with grooved edges, a metal band b,
springs c and an outer covering or jacket e having flanges e¹, e², substantially
as bereinbefore described and illustrated in Figures 1 to 5 and 7 of the
accompanying drawing.
2. In a wheel of the kind referred to in Claim 1, the use of a metal band b
forming a ring, the two ends being fixed together upon the rim a substantially as,
and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated in the drawing.
3. In a wheel of the kind referred to in Claim 1, the combination with the
band 6 of a number of springs c arranged at suitable distances apart substantially
as, and for the purposes, hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.

page_text: 4. The improvements in elastic wheels or tyres for velocipedes and other
vehicles for common roads hereinbefore described and represented in the
accompanying drawing.
Dated the 17th day of August 1895.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.