IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELS FOR BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, AND ALL LIGHT CARRIAGES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Conyers Morrell, of Leyland, Lancashire, Gentleman,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELS FOR BICYCLES, TRICYCLES,
AND ALL LIGHT CARRIAGES."
Sealed the 30th December 1879, and dated the 15th October 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Conyers Morrell at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th October 1879.
JAMES CONYERS MORRELL, of Leyland, Lancashire, Gentleman. "IMPROVEMENTS
IN WHEELS FOR BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, AND ALL LIGHT CARRIAGES."
The object of my Invention is to provide an improved tyre by which the friction
in running over a rough or moist road surface will be reduced to a minimum, and
the vibratory motion produced by an ordinary india rubber tyre obviated.
My Invention consists in the application of a hollow steel or other metal
combined felloe and tyre in section, round, oval, or egg shaped, within or through
the hollow of which I pass an india rubber cording, such as is now mainly used as
a tyre for bicycles and trycycles, or run through the same some absorbant of a like
or suitable kind.
My improvements consist further in perforating this tyre by circular, elongated,
or oval shaped perforations at intervals along the surface or along the sides, the
object of these perforations being to aid in the deadening of the jingle which would
be produced in passing over a stone paved way.
It will be obvious that the absorbant material will more or less fill up these
perforations, and so combine to aid in producing a thuddy in lieu of a ringing sound.
My improvements also consist in forming a steel or metal casing which can be
fitted to existing wheels which have india rubber tyres. This I make in one
continuous piece or in sections, but by preference in one continuous piece of the
length required for the circle of the wheel, open or split at its under side, so as to
slip on to the existing tyre.
At intervals along its under side I have, as parts of the metal itself by preference,
flanges by which the metal tyre can be tightened round the existing tyre and felloe,
or such flanges can be formed so as to clip the spokes of the wheel near their
junctions with the rim.
This metal casing may in section when fitted in to the wheel be circular, oval, or
other convenient shape, and may or may not have the perforations previously
described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Conyers Morrell in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
14th April 1880.
"
JAMES CONYERS MORRELL, of Leyland, Lancashire, Gentleman. IMPROVEMENTS
IN WHEELS FOR BICYCLES, TRICYCLES, AND ALL LIGHT CARRIAGES."
My Invention consists in the application of a hollow steel or other metal
combined felloe and tyre in section, round, oval, or egg shaped, within or through
the hollow of which I pass an india rubber cording, such as is now mainly used as
a tyre for bicycles and tricycles, or run through the same some absorbent of a like
or suitable kind. My improvements consist further in perforating this tyre by
circular, elongated, or oval-shaped perforations at intervals along the surface or
along the sides, the object of these perforations being to aid in the deadening of
the jingle, which would be produced in passing over a stone paved way. It will
be obvious that the absorbant material will more or less fill up the perforations,
and so combined to aid in producing a thuddy in lieu of a ringing sound. My
improvements also consist in forming a steel or inetal casing, which can be fitted to
existing wheels having india rubber tyres; this I make in one continuous piece or
in sections, but by preference in one continuous piece of the length required for the
circle of the wheel, open or split at its under side, so as to slip on to the existing
tyre at intervals along its under side. I have, as parts of the metal itself by
preference, flanges by which the metal tyre can be tighened round the existing tyre
and felloe, or such flanges can be formed so as to clip the spokes of the wheel near
their junction with the rim; this metal casing may in section, when fitted to
the wheel, be circular, oval, or other convenient shape, and may or may not have
the perforations previously described.
Having described the nature of my Invention, I now proceed to explain the same
and how it may be carried out by reference to Drawings. Figure AI is a section
of the tyre, a representing the hollow tube; R, the india rubber or other absorbant;
Figure A 2 is a section, a representing the hollow tube; R, the india rubber or
other absorbant; c, the perforation in the tube which will admit of the india
rubber or absorbant protruding to the wearing surface of the tyre; Figure A 3 is a
section, a representing the hollow tube; R, the india rubber or absorbant; 8, one
of the spokes of the wheel with its head countersunk by preference into the outer
surface of the tyre, and passing through the body of the tyre, as shewn.
b
Figure B1 is a section, a representing a casing or cap which may be fitted on to an
existing india rubber tyre, or may be applied in the first instance with a new tyre
of that or a similar kind, representing the rim, and 8, the spoke as ordinarily
applied, R representing the india rubber; Figure B 2 is a section corresponding
with Figure B 1, O representing in addition a bolt running through the body of the
tyre with its head countersunk, by preference, into the cap or casing, as shewn,
with a nut and screw at the underside, and by which the cap or casing will be
firmly affixed. These bolts will be placed at intervals between the spokes;
Figure B 3 is a section shewing one of the spokes (8) continued to the outer surface
of the cap or casing. For new wheels, this latter mode of attachment may be
preferred to that of the bolt shewn by Figure B2; Figure C1 is a section shewing
a cap or casing (a) running round the outer circle of the wheel in one continuous
piece or in sections, and sitting or bedding itself more or less within a groove
prepared for it in the india rubber or other suitable absorbant, b representing
the ordinary rim; 8, the spoke; R, the india rubber; Figure C2 is a section, s
representing one of the spokes of the wheel running from the outer surface of
the cap through the body of the tyre with its head, by preference, countersunk
into the cap; Figure C 3 is a section representing the india rubber or absorbant
prepared to receive the cap or casing. In lieu of the spoke being continued

page_text: through the tyre, the bolt attachment, as shewn in B 2, may be applied; Figure D 1
is a section (a) representing the hollow tube; R, the india rubber or absorbant ;
C, the perforations on its outer surface; Figure D2 is a section corresponding
with Figure D1 with the spoke (8) continued to the outer surface of the tyre.
It will be understood that the cap or casing may be attached by flanges passing
under the rim or round the spokes, but I prefer the bolt attachment.
I do not confine myself to the sections or sizes as shewn in the Drawings, as
these may be varied as desired, nor do I confine myself to the particular modes
described of attachment, as these will admit of various modifications.
The perforations may be made in the cap or casing as well as the tube and may
be of any suitable shape and form.
Having described the nature and mode of carrying out my said Invention,
I claim as the novel features thereof,-
1st. The construction of a metal tube tyre fitted with india rubber or other
suitable absorbant, substantially as and for the purposes described.
2nd. The application of a casing or a cap to an existing or to a specially
prepared india rubber or other absorbant tyre, substantially as and for the purposes
described.
3rd. The perforating of the tube, or the casing, or the cap, substantially as and
for the purposes described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Conyers Morrell, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.