Improvements in the Construction of Wheels of Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application; 7th Apr., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 6th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 27th Mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Wheels of Velocipedes and
other Vehicles.
We, JOHN MORRISON of Yeo Vale, Colac, in the Colony of Victoria, Con-
tractor, and WILLIAM THOMAS DALE of South Purrumbete, in the Colony of
Victoria, Carrier, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention is devised to obviate an objectionable feature in the wheels of
bicycles, tricycles and like vehicles, niz the liability of their tyres to puncture.
The invention provides a wheel having a tyre which while receiving the shocks
and vibrations on meeting obstacles or during travelling on a road does not
communicate same to a rider, and is at the same time not liable to puncture.
The wheel to which we apply our invention has a steel or other rim which may
be of the form ordinarily constructed, but is preferably of flat or rectangular form
in section. An outer rim is arranged to encircle this latter, said outer rim being
preferably constructed of thin flexible steel, flat in section and may have its edges
turned over. Within the enclosure between these rims are placed a number of
spiral springs preferably about one to each spoke. These spiral springs being set
in such a manner that a pressure on the wheel as it passes over the ground will
tend to compress them. The springs may be held in position in any convenient
manner such as
1. By securing the ends of the spirals to the rims against which they impinge
viz. the outside of the inner rim, and the inside of the outer rim by means of rivets,
the rivet head formed on the outside of the outer metal rim being formed flush
with its surface.
2. By securing a pin to the inside of the outer tyre which will project into the
enclosure, placing the spiral spring so as to encircle this pin leaving the end of
spring where it encircles the pin free and securing the opposite end to the inside
rim by a rivet.
.
3. To the inside of the outer metal rim may be secured a tube which will project
about half way into the enclosure whilst a pin (preferably hollow) secured to the
opposite rim will project into the enclosure opposite same. The spiral spring in
this case will be placed so as to encircle the pin and tube and will be held
sufficiently in position by same without being otherwise secured. In operation the
portion of the tyre to which such arrangement is attached on being compressed
will cause the pin to move into and out of the tube as the periphery of the wheel
at that particular portion passes over the ground, but of these constructions we
prefer that described under (2) as being simple and efficient.
The sides of the enclosure formed by the respective plates composing the inner
and outer rim may be closed in by a strip of rubber, canvas, or other material
arranged at each side of same and connecting the inner to the outer rim or plate.
This will serve to keep the springs and the enclosure free from dirt and will at the
same time allow for altering distances between the two tyres as the wheel passes
over the ground.
It will be seen that the outer plate will be free to vibrate as it passes over the

page_text: ground or over obstacles without materially communicating the vibration to the
body of the vehicle and to the person mounted thereon.
Doted this 7th day of April 1896.
JOHN P. O'DONNELL, Fel. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
70 & 71 Palace Chambers, Westminster, S. W.,
Agent for the said Applicants.
Improvements in the Construction of Wheels of Velocipedes and
other Vehicles.
We, JOHN MORRISON of Yeo Vale, Colac, in the Colony of Victoria, Con-
tractor, and WILLIAM THOMAS DALE of South Purrumbeté, in the Colony of
Victoria, Carrier, 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 is devised to obviate an objectionable feature in the wheels of
bicycles, tricycles and like vehicles, viz. the liability of their tyres to puncture.
The invention provides a,wheel having a tyre which while receiving the shocks
and vibrations on meeting obstacles or during travelling on a road does not
communicate same to a rider and is at the same time not liable to puncture.
In order to make our invention clear we will now refer to the accompanying
drawings in which
Fig. 1 shews a longitudinal section of one form of our improvements.
shews a similar section with an alternative part.
Fig. 1 shews a second alternative arrangement.
Fig. 2 is a cross section of the tyre.
Fig. 18
The wheel to which we apply our invention has a steel or other rim "A" which
may be of the form ordinarily constructed, but is preferably of flat or rectangular
form in section. An outer rim "B" is arranged to encircle this latter, said outer
rim being preferably constructed of thin flexible steel, curved or flat in section and
may have its edges turned over. Within the enclosure between these rims are
placed a number of spiral springs "C, C," preferably one between each pair of
spokes. These spiral springs are set in such a manner that a pressure on the tyre
as the wheel passes over the ground will tend to compress them. The springs may
be held in position in any of the following ways;-
1. By securing the ends of the spirals (Figs. 1 and 2) to the rims against which
they impinge riz. the outside of the inner rim, and the inside of the outer rim by
means of rivets "D," the rivet on the outside of the outer metal rim being formed
flush with its surface.
2. By securing a pin "E" (Fig. 1B) to the inside of the outer tyre which will
project into the enclosure, placing the spiral spring "C" so as to encircle this pin
leaving the end of spring where it encircles the pin free and securing the
opposite end to the inside rim by a rivet "D'."
3. To the inside of the metal rim "B" (Fig. 1°) may be secured a tube "F"
which will project about half way into the enclosure whilst a pin "G" (preferably
hollow) secured to the rim "A" will project into the enclosure opposite same.
The spiral spring "C" in this case will be placed so as to encircle the pin "G"
and tube "F" and will be held sufficiently in position by same without being
otherwise secured. In operation the portion of the tyre to which such arrangement
is attached on being compressed will cause the pin to move into and out of the
tube as the periphery of the wheel at that particular portion passes over the

page_text: ground, "G" and "F" being occasionally lubricated to minimise friction; of
these constructions we prefer that described under (2) as being simple and
efficient.
The sides of the enclosure formed by the respective plates "A" and "B"
composing the inner and outer rim may be closed in by a strip of rubber, canvas or
other flexible or elastic material "H" (Fig. 2) arranged at each side of same and
connecting the inner to the outer rim or plate. This will serve to keep the springs
and the enclosure free from dirt and will at the same time allow for the altering
distances between the two rims as the wheel passes over the ground.
It will be seen that the outer plate "B" will be free to vibrate as it passes over
the ground or over obstacles without materially communicating the vibration to the
body of the vehicle and to the person mounted thereon. In some cases "B" may
be coated er covered with a flexible or rubber covering to further soften its
action; or "B" itself may be constructed of chain work similar to that employed
in chain purses or chain-mail, composed of a number of fine links or rings inter-
laced with each other, so as to further carry out the intended cushioning or
softening effect.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is-
1. In wheels of velocipedes and other vehicles-In combination rims as "A"
and "B" spiral springs as "C" flexible or elastic material as "H" all arranged
substantially as described with reference to, and illustrated on Figs. 1 and 2 of the
accompanying drawings.
2. In wheels of velocipedes and other vehicles-In combination rims as "A"
and "B" spiral springs as "C" pins as "E" all arranged substantially as
described with reference to, and illustrated on Fig. 1 of the accompanying
drawings.
3. In wheels of velocipedes and other vehicles-In combination rims as "A"
and "B" spiral springs as "C3" tube as "F" pin as "G" all arranged
substantially as described with reference to and illustrated on Fig. 1° of the
accompanying drawings.
Deted this Sixth day of January 1897
JOHN P. O'DONNELL, Fel. Chart. Inst. P.A.,
70 & 71 Palace Chambers, Westminster, S.W.,
Agent for the said Applicants.