Improvements in Elastic Tyres for the Wheels of Velocipedes and other Vehicles."
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Feb., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 23rd Nov., 1897-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1897
66
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Elastic Tyres for the Wheels of Velocipedes and
other Vehicles."
I, WILLIAM ROWLAND EDWARDS, of Riverside Works, Weybridge, in the County
of Surrey, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows: :-
The elastic tyres ordinarily used for the wheels of velocipedes and other vehicles
consist either of hollow flexible indiarubber tubes protected by outer coverings,
and inflated with air under pressure, or of solid or hollow indiarubber tyres not so
inflated, but in the former case the inflated tyre is unreliable and very liable to
injury which cannot easily be repaired, whilst the others are not sufficiently
elastic and resilient.
It has been proposed to make the elastic tyres of a series of metal springs attached to
and extending completely round the metal rim of the ordinary wheel as used in
velocipedes, and my present invention has for its object a novel method of making
such elastic metal tyres, in such manner that they are very simple, durable, and
easily fixed, whilst if one or more of the separate springs should from any cause
be broken or injured, it can be very easily and quickly removed and a fresh one
substituted for it.
In order to put my invention in operation, supposing that it is to be applied to
the wheels of an ordinary bicycle, I make the metal rim of a hollow or somewhat
shallow shape, of sufficient strength, but I make the inner part of this rim in
cross section of somewhat dovetailed shape, or recessed or undercut at its sides.
I make the elastic metal tyre which is fitted into this rim, of a sufficient number
of springs of steel or other sufficiently elastic metal, flat or more or less curved in
cross section, and so made that the inner or fixed end of the springs has formed upon
it a transverse bar of sufficient length, to fit somewhat tightly across the hollow
rim of the wheel, its ends being bevelled or so shaped that they fit in the dovetailed,
recessed, or undercut sides of the inner part of the metal rim already described,
so that when thus fitted in the rim they are securely and firmly held.
I use a sufficient number of such transverse bars, (each of which has a spring
formed upon it), to extend completely round and fill up the circumference of the
rim, at its dovetailed or recessed part, and I make the metal springs formed upon
each bar of such shape that they curve gradually outward and forward, their outer
ends being nearly concentric with the wheel and each one overlapping the previous
one, so that the entire set of overlapping ends constitute practically a continuous
elastic metal tyre, which runs upon the road and gives way to all irregularities and
obstacles, the ends of the springs remaining constantly in contact, sliding upon
each other during such yielding and giving way, perfect elasticity and resiliency
being obtained.
In order to introduce the transverse bars which carry the springs, into the dove-
tailed or recessed groove round the rim, I make at one or more parts of the groove
(but preferably at one only) an opening somewhat wider than the width of a
bar, from the outer part into the dovetailed or recessed part, and extending to the

page_text: extreme width of the groove, so that the transverse bars (with the springs) can be
introduced through this opening one by one, and then passed or forced round the
groove until the whole of the latter has been filled, and the outer ends of the
springs form a complete elastic tyre as already described.
way
Any one or more of the bars and springs can be removed in a similar when
desired. When the annular groove round the rim has been completely filled with
the bars, the opening through which they are introduced is closed by a plate or
plates screwed above it, or by other equivalent means. A wheel properly made with
the elastic metallic tyre consisting of separate springs fitted and fixed as described,
is durable, effective, and easily made. I do not however confine myself to the
precise method of fitting and fixing the springs, which may be varied as may be
found advisable.
ד
11.
1
.
1008
66
Improvements in Elastic Tyres for the Wheels of Velocipedes and
other Vehicles."
I, WILLIAM ROWLAND EDWARDS, of Riverside Works, Weybridge, in the County
of Surrey, 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, and accompanying drawing, that is to say:---
The elastic tyres ordinarily used for the wheels of velocipedes and other vehicles
consist either of hollow flexible indiarubber tubes protected by outer coverings,
and inflated with air under pressure, or of solid or hollow indiarubber tyres not so
inflated, but in the former case the inflated tyre is unreliable and very liable to
injury which cannot easily be repaired, whilst the others are not sufficiently elastic
and resilient.
It has been proposed to make the elastic tyres of a series of metal springs
attached to and extending completely round the metal rim of the ordinary wheel
as used in velocipedes, and my present invention has for its object a novel method
of making such elastic metal tyres, in such manner that they are very simple.
durable, and easily fixed, whilst if one or more of the separate springs should from
any cause be broken or injured, it can be very easily and quickly removed and a
fresh one substituted for it.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of my invention. Figure 1 repre-
sents, partly in side view and partly in section, part of the rim of a bicycle or
other wheel. Figure 2 is a transverse section through the rim of the wheel, and
figure 3 is an end view of one of the springs and the part by which it is held in
position.
In order to put my invention in operation, supposing that it is to be applied
to the wheels of an ordinary bicycle, I make the metal rim a of a hollow or some-
what shallow shape, (as shown in figure 2) of sufficient strength, but I make
the inner part of this rim in cross section of somewhat dovetailed shape, or recessed
as shown, or undercut at its sides.
I make the elastic metal tyre which is fitted into this rim, of a sufficient number
of springs b of steel or other sufficiently elastic metal, flat as shown in cross section,
and so made that the inner or fixed end of the springs has formed upon it a trans-
verse bar c of sufficient length, to fit somewhat tightly in the recess across the
hollow rim of the wheel, its ends being bevelled or so shaped (as shown) that they

page_text: tit in the dovetailed, recessed, or undercut sides of the inner part of the metal rim a
already described, so that when thus fitted in the rim they are securely and firmly
held.
I use a sufficient number of such transverse bars c, (each of which has a spring b
formed upon it), to extend completely round and fill up the circumference of the
rim a, at its dovetailed or recessed part, and I make the metal springs b formed
upon each bar of such shape (as shown in figure 1) that they curve gradually
outward and forward, their outer ends being nearly concentric with the wheel and
each one overlapping the previous one, so that the entire set of overlapping ends
and gives way to all irregularities and obstacles, the ends of the springs remaining
constantly in contact, siding upon each other during such yielding and giving
constantly in contact, sliding upon each other during such yielding and giving
way, perfect elasticity and resiliency being obtained.
In order to introduce the transverse bars which carry the springs, into the dove-
tailed or recessed groove round the rim, I make at one or more parts of the groove
(but preferably at one only) an opening d somewhat wider than the width of a
bar, from the outer part into one side of the dovetailed or recessed part, so that
the transverse bars c (with the springs b attached to them) can be introduced
through this opening one by one, and be then passed or forced round the groove
until the whole of the latter has been filled, and the outer ends of the springs form
a complete elastic tyre as already described.
Any one or more of the bars and springs can be removed in a similar way when
desired. When the annular groove round the rim has been completely filled with
the bars, the opening through which they are introduced can be closed by a plate
or plates screwed above it, or by other equivalent means. A wheel properly made
with the elastic metallic tyre consisting of separate springs fitted and fixed as
described, is durable, effective, and easily made. I do not, however, confine
myself to the precise method of fitting and fixing the springs, which may be varied
as may be found advisable.
I do not claim the use of a series of elastic springs to form the tyre of a wheel,
but,
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. The combination with a continuous, recessed, or dovetailed rim a, of elastic
springs b, resting upon each other at their outer ends so as to form a continuous
tyre, and having formed upon them transverse bars c, fitting into and entirely
filling the dovetailed or recessed rim a of the wheel.
2. In combination with the recessed or dovetailed rim a, and springs having
transverse bars c, the opening d in one side of the rim, substantially as and for
the purpose described and illustrated.
Dated this 23rd day of November, 1897.
EDWARDS & Co.
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.