A Wheel Rim and Tyre for Light and Heavy Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: A Wheel Rim and Tyre for Light and Heavy Vehicles.
JOHN THOM, 95, Bowman Street, Govanhill, Glasgow, in the County of Glas-
gow, Coach Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The wheel rim is composed of malleable iron in two or more segments, screwed
or bolted together, which forms a channel, wherein is laid a layer of rubber,
covered with steel.
The spokes where they enter the rim to be protected by rubber.
The rim forms the tire for binding the wheel. The outward ring of steel 3/4 inch
thick (for light vehicles) protects the rubber from the tear and wear of the road-
way.
Provision is made in this rim for the spokes to enter full size.
The rubber and steel ring are kept in their place by the planges of the rim.
I, JOHN THOM, 95, Bowman Street, Govanhill, Glasgow, in the County of Glas-
gow, Coach Builder, 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 relates to an improved construction of metallic rim and tyre
in combination with india-rubber for wheels of light and heavy vehicles and
it has for its object to minimize vibration and lessen noise when the vehicle is
running.
In order that my said invention may be properly understood I have hereunto
appended an explanatory sheet of drawings, whereon,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of the rim and tyre.
Fig. 2 is a cross section taken on the line X-X Fig. 1
Fig. 3 is a sectional elevation taken on the line Y-Y Fig. 1.
On the drawings:-A is the metal rim, B a spoke of the wheel, C an india
rubber cup or cap drawn over the end of the spoke, I india rubber packing between
the flanges B of the rim, and E an india rubber ring acting as a cushion to the
steel tyre F
The rim shown by way of example on the drawings is suitable for the wheel
of a brougham, landau or the like.
The rim is made in segments secured together by the bolts G and the front
side A' may consist of two to four segments whilst the back side A³ may consist

page_text: of eight segments, or one segment for every two spokes, or other suitable number
of segments. These segments can either be made of rolled mild steel bent round
so as to form an are of a circle and with the socket bosses H for the reception of
the ends of the spokes blocked out, or of malleable cast steel with the bosses H
cast.
The rubber ring E may have side flanges E, E¹.
The rim, of course, is made to vary in size according to the load it is destined
to carry.
In building the wheel I proceed as follows:-
5
I first lay the wheel on a table, having an opening cut in it for the hub to 1
enter, and I then cut the spokes according to the diameter of the wheel required.
Thereafter I drill the bolt holes, for the bolts G, at each side of each spoke. These
holes are drilled through the segments of the side A¹ first. Then I fit the joints
true together and thereafter lay the segments A on the spokes and see that they
are close up on the ends of the spokes all round the wheel whereupon I fit the
segments A in their places so that they overlap the joints of the segments A¹.
Marks are made for the bolt holes of the segments A through the bolt holes,
already drilled, of the segments A', and, after the holes are drilled, the seg-
ments A² are replaced and a few bolts are fitted in place round the rim so as to
draw the segments A and A2 together upon the spokes. After this has been
done the india rubber ring E is drawn into the channel of the rim and the length
of its circumference taken. The steel tyre F.is now welded into a ring which
should have a circumferential measurement of about of an inch less than the
circumference of the india rubber ring.
The india rubber ring is, now, again taken out of the channel of the rim
and the bolts are also taken out of place whilst the different segments are
numbered, so that they can be readily fitted together again, and are removed.
The india rubber cups C are now fitted over the ends of the spokes whilst the
india rubber packing ) is secured by solution or rubber cement between the
bosses H for the spokes on the flange of the front segments A¹ of the rim. Now
replace the front segments of the rim on the spokes as before. Put on one seg-
ment A of the back of the wheel. Insert the bolts of this segment and screw
them up. Draw the india rubber ring into the channel as before. Apply
cramps to the segments A' of the rim. Draw all the joints close together. Put
on the steel tyre from the back of the rim. Put on and arrange in their places
the last segments composing the rim. Apply hand cramps to press the rim, now,
as a whole, upon the spokes. Insert all the bolts and screw them hard up. Cut
the bolts close to the nuts and give them a slight barb when the rim will be
finished.
As the spokes are admitted into the rim the full size no tenons are required.
The rubber cups on the ends of the spokes serve to protect them from water
and damp thereby preventing decay.
I am aware that there are wood rims which have the india rubber protected by
an iron tyre.
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 consider novel and desire to claim is:
A wheel rim and tyre constructed substantially as herein before described with
_reference to the drawings annexed.
Dated this 9th day of January 1900
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
100, Wellington Street, Glasgow,
Agent.