Improvements in Tyres for the Wheels of Bicycles or other Light Vehicles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 1st June, 1893-Accepted, 1st July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tyres for the Wheels of Bicycles or other Light
Vehicles.
I, SQUIRE GREEN, of Peel Terrace, Stretford, in the County of Lancaster,
Cashier, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a steel cushion tyre for bicycles,
tricycles, and like vehicles which while securing a high degree of elasticity and
resistance will avoid the defects of the pneumatic tyre and other tyres constructed
with steel springs.
It consists essentially in constructing the tyre of a hollow thin steel tube with a
number of slits or slots cut transversely at the sides preferably covered with a
covering of any suitable material.
In carrying out the invention I construct the tyre of a steel tube bent to the
required shape. The tube is made of thin finely tempered steel preferably thicker
at the part which lies against the rim of the wheel and in cross section I make it
oval or egg shaped to give the desired lateral strength. Around the sides of the
bent tube or tyre I cut a number of slits or slots transversely leaving the tube intact
both top and bottom. Or if found desirable to give greater resistance the slits may
be cut through the top surface of the tube and over this may be fitted a ring or
independent rim of steel or other material. At present however I prefer to cut the
slits in the sides of the tyre only.
The steel tyre so formed is fixed to the rim of the wheel by rivets or like
connections the rim being of a contour corresponding thereto to receive it.
The steel tube is covered with a covering of any suitable material such as canvas
rubber or other elastic material for the purpose of protecting it and of presenting a
non-skidding surface to the ground.
I consider that by this construction I obtain a durable, elastic, resilient tyre, not
liable to be easily damaged and one that will not present the disadvantage that
some other spring tyres do of catching and lifting the mud of the road or of offering
a great resistance in its motion through the air.
Dated this 8th day of February 1893.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6. Bank Street. Manchester, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tyres for the Wheels of Bicycles or other Light
Vehicles.
I, SQUIRE GREEN, of Peel Terrace, Stretford, in the County of Lancaster,
Cashier, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to provide a steel cushion tyre for bicycles,
tricycles, and other light vehicles which while securing a high degree of elasticity
and resilience will avoid the defects of the pneumatic tyre and other tyres
constructed with steel springs.
It consists essentially in constructing the tyre of a hollow thin steel tube divided
into a number of transverse sections by a series of slits or slots cut transversely
preferably covered with a covering of any suitable material.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
as an example a wheel for a bicycle is illustrated.

page_text: Fig. 1, is a front elevation of wheel partly in section.
Fig. 2, is a longitudinal sectional elevation of part of the wheel.
Fig. 3, is a transverse sectional elevation.
Fig. 4, is a perspective view of tyre.
Fig. 5, is an elevation showing modified form of slits or slots.
Fig. 6, is a perspective view of another modification.
The wheel is constructed with a rim A and spokes B of any ordinary
construction.
The tyre C is a thin tube bent to the required shape to fit the rim A. I is
constructed of thin steel preferably weldless and in cross section oval or egg sha
to give the desired lateral strength and to more efficiently distribute the ben
strain. To give the required degree of resilience to the tyre I cut transversely
around its periphery a number of slits or slots c at short intervals thus dividing the
tyre throughout its length into a number of narrow steel springs leaving the tyre
intact along the bottom. Or if desired the slits may be cut only at each side as
at c Fig. 6, leaving the tyre intact both top and bottom. The slits may either be
radial or slightly inclined as in Fig. 5.
It is preferable to make the tyre from a weldless tube but it is not essential that
the tyre should be completely tubular as it may be open or the edges unconnected
at the under side where they bear upon the rim.
The tyre thus constructed is then finely tempered to give a large degree of
elasticity and resilience.
of
The tyre may be made in one piece the size of the wheel or may be made in any
desired number of sections to render it more easily repaired in case of a frac
any part of it through accident.
...~
In applying the tyre to the wheel it may be affixed to the rim by rivets,
or other device and is preferably laid on a piece of felt or other soft material D
interposed between it and the rim and is covered with an outside tread or ver E
of rubber, canvas, or other elastic material for the purpose of protecting it. nd of
presenting a non-skidding surface to the ground.
Between the outside tread or cover EI also prefer to insert a piece of iexible
material F such as raw hide or leather to prevent any wearing or cutting ation on
the rubber tread E. The rubber or other tread E may be secured in po ition by
lacing, cement or any other well known device. To prevent slipping or skidding a
band of material G may be wound between the steel tyre and the outer rubber
tread to present a number of projections or irregularities on the outer sur .e.
I consider that by this construction I obtain a durable, elastic, resilient yre, not
liable to be easily damaged and one that will not present the disadvantage that
some other spring tyres do of catching and lifting the mud of the road or of offering
a great resistance in its motion through the air.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
1. A steel tyre for bicycles and other vehicles constructed of tubular or hollow
form divided into a number of narrow transverse sections by a series of transverse
slits or slots around the periphery substantially as described.
2. A tyre for bicycles or other vehicles constructed of a hollow steel tube of
oval or egg shape with a number of slits or slots cut transversely to give the desired
amount of elasticity and resilience and covered with a suitable covering of rubber,
canvas or other material substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 31st day of Man 1002
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.