Improvements in or connected with Elastic Wheel Tyres.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Elastic Wheel Tyres.
We, WILLIAM HANCOCK, of 345, Manchester Road, Hollinwood, in the County of
Lancaster, Ironmonger and Locksmith, JOHN CHARLES HANCOCK, of the same
address, Ironmonger's Assistant, and EDMUNDSON SCHOLES, of 939, Hollins Road,
Hollinwood, aforesaid, Brewer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
Our said invention relates to improvements in or connected with elastic wheel
tyres and refers more particularly to the method of securing the outer covers of
pneumatic tyres.
Previous to our invention it has been proposed to secure the outer covers of
pneumatic tyres in position upon the rim, by means of an encircling flat band or
riband of steel or other metal or material. The outer cover is formed with thickened
edges which are disposed beneath the edges of the band so that upon the band being
contracted in diameter the cover is firmly gripped between the band and the rim.
The difficulty in carrying out successfully this method of securing the covers of
pneumatic tyres has been in providing means whereby the encircling band may be
readily contracted and expanded in diameter, and which shall also firmly secure the
band when contracted in position so that it will not creep or rub against the edges of
the cover.
The object of our invention is to overcome these defects and thus enable this
method of securing the covers of pneumatic tyres to be successfully carried out.
In carrying our invention into effect we provide each end of the encircling band with--
a nut. A screwed spindle engages with these nuts the spindle being formed with right
and left hand screw threads so that on revolving the spindle the two ends of the band'
are advanced or retracted from each other thus causing the diameter of the band to
be correspondingly contracted or expanded.
The spindle formed with right and left hand screw threads is disposed within the
rim and below the flat metallic riband. To operate the screwed spindle we provide a
flexible connection projecting through the rim and by revolving this connection by
means of a suitable key the metallic band may be readily contracted or expanded in
diameter as required. The screwed spindle engaging with the nuts formed on the
ends of the band securely maintains the band in position so that when the band is
contracted it firmly grips the edges of the cover and both the band and cover are
prevented from creeping.
.
The flexible connection secured to the screwed spindle is formed with universal
joints so as to facilitate the expansion and contraction of the metallic band and to
enable the connection to revolve the screwed spindle from any angle. The screwed
spindle may also be provided with a flexible joint at some portion of its length. To
provide a bearing for the protruding end of the flexible connection we slit the rim by.
means of a suitable tool and form a circular aperture by forcing outwards one
portion of the rim the other portion being forced inwards. A metallic sleeve formed
with a half collar is passed within this opening and the outer link of the flexible.
connection passed through the sleeve and revolved therein.

page_text: This outer link is formed with an annular groove with which engages the ends of a
spring partly embracing the sleeve the ends projecting through holes formed
therein. The half collar and spring are disposed within the rim.
The sleeve is formed with an external screw thread and a nut engaging therewith
secures the sleeve to the rim.
The protruding link of the flexible connection can thus be freely revolved within
the sleeve by means of a suitable key whilst the ends of the spring engaging with the
A dust cap
annular groove.formed in the link prevents any lateral movement.
may be provided to engage with the screw thread of the sleeve so as to shroud the
protruding end of the flexible connection.
We do not confine ourselves to securing the outer covering of a pneumatic tyre
alone as the retaining band and improved means of operating the same may be used
with a single tubè tyre where an inner air bag is dispensed with.
"
To effect this we propose to sheath the metallic band within a tube of india rubber
or similar material so as to provide a fluid tight joint, as well as a means of retaining
the cover in position.
Our improved method of securing the covers of pneumatic tyres may be applied
to all descriptions of vehicles such as velocipedes, motor cars and other vehicles.
We wish it however to be understood that we do not confine ourselves to pneumatic
tyres as our invention may be utilised to secure solid rubber tyres such as are or may
be chiefly used in vehicles of a heavy type.
In this case the base of the solid rubber tyre is formed with turned in edges which
can be sprung open to permit of the insertion of the flat riband. On resuming
their normal position the turned in edges serve to retain the riband.
The riband or ring is contracted and expanded as already described. When
contracted the riband firmly grips the turned in edges of the solid rubber tyre and
maintains the tyre securely in position upon the rim.
When using the metallic or other riband to secure a solid rubber tyre upon a flat
metal hoop or rim of a heavy vehicle, in order to prevent the riband from slipping off
the flat hoop, we form the end of the riband with two or more studs adapted to
engage with recesses in the hoop or rim of the vehicle wheel.
Improvements in or connected with Elastic Wheel Tyres.
We, WILLIAM HANCOCK, of 345, Manchester Road, Hollinwood, in the County of
Lancaster, Ironmonger and Locksmith, JOHN CHARLES HANCOCK, of the same address,
Ironmonger's Assistant, and EDMUNDSON SCHOLES, of 939, Hollins Road, Hollinwood,
aforesaid, Brewer, 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 drawings:-
:-
Our said invention relates to improvements in or connected with elastic wheel
tyres and refers particularly to the method of securing the outer covers of
pneumatic tyres.
Previous to our invention it has been proposed to secure the outer covers of
pneumatic tyres in position upon the rim, by means of an encircling extensible
flat band or riband of steel or other metal or material.

page_text: The outer cover is formed with thickened edges which are disposed beneath
the edges of the band so that upon the band being contracted in diameter the
cover is firmly gripped between the band and the rim.
The difficulty in carrying out successfully this method of securing the covers
of pneumatic tyres has been in providing means whereby the encircling band may
be readily contracted and expanded in diameter, and which shall also firmly secure
the band when contracted in position so that it will not "creep or rub against the
edges of the cover.
33
The object of our invention is to overcome these defects and thus enable this
method of securing the covers of pneumatic tyres to be successfully carried out.
Our invention will be more fully understood with reference to the accompanying
sheet of drawings in which
Fig. 1 shows a cross section of a wheel rim and tyre in which the outer cover is held
in position by means of an encircling band or riband.
Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of a portion of the wheel rim and tyre showing our
improved method of operating and locking the riband.
Fig. 3 is a plan of the underside of the riband and locking means.
Fig. 4 shows a plan view of the key for operating the locking mechanism.
Fig. 5 shows a method of applying the extensible flat riband to a single tube tyre.
Fig. 6 indicates in cross section an arrangement whereby the extensible flat riband
can be utilized for securing solid rubber tyres upon the rims of carriage and other
vehicle wheels.
In carrying our invention into effect we provide each overlapping end of the
extensible encircling band a with a nut 6 c.
A screwed spindle d engages with these nuts 6 c, one portion of the spindle being
reduced in diameter as shown in the drawings. The screwed spindle d is formed with
right and left hand screw threads so that on revolving the spindle the two ends of the
band a are advanced or retracted from each other thus causing the diameter of the
band to be correspondingly contracted or expanded.
It will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 2 that the screwed spindle a is disposed
within the rim e and below the extensible riband a. To operate the screwed spindle d
we provide a flexible connection of the end of which projects through the rim e and is
formed with a nut f¹. By revolving the flexible connection of by means of a key g
(shown in plan view in Fig. 4) the metallic band a may be readily contracted or
expanded in diameter as required. The thickened edges of the outer cover h enclosing
the air bag i are introduced beneath the edges of the riband a when the same is
expanded. The screwed spindle d engaging with the nuts bc formed on the
underside of the band a provides a positive locking arrangement for any desired
diameter of the band a. By operating the screwed spindle d by means of the
key g the diameter of the band a may be reduced so that it firmly grips
the edges of the outer cover h and both the band a and the cover h are
prevented from slipping round the rim or "creeping." We form the cover h with
beads h² which when resting on the edges of the rim e serve as guides to
indicate that the edges of the cover h have been placed in position. The
flexible connection f is provided with universal or knuckle joints as shown in
Figs. 2 and 3 so as to facilitate the expansion and contraction of the metallic
band a and to enable the connection f to revolve the screwed spindle from any
angle. If considered desirable the screwed spindle d may be provided with a
flexible joint at some portion of its length.
To provide a bearing for the end of the flexible connection f protruding beyond
the rim e we slit the rim by means of a suitable tool and form a circular aperture by
forcing outwards one portion of the rim whilst the other portion is forced inwards as
shown in Fig. 2. In some cases and especially with hollow rims we may form a cir-
cular opening in a separate plate brazed or rivetted to the rim. The end of a
metallic sleeve j formed with a half collar is passed through this circular opening
in the rim e and the outer end link f¹ of the flexible connection f is arranged to be
revolved within the sleeve j. This end link f¹ is formed with an annular groove fr

page_text: with which engages the ends of a spring k partly embracing the
projecting through holes formed therein. The half collar
disposed within the rim e as shown in Fig. 2.
sleeve j, the ends
and spring k are
The sleevej is formed with an external screw thread and a nut engaging there-
with secures the sleeve j to the rim e, the spring kabutting between the half collar j¹
and the inner part of the rim thus preventing the withdrawal of the sleevej as will
be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 2. The nut is cut or recessed as shown in
the drawings so that the same may be operated by a suitable tool. The protruding
link f¹ of the flexible connection f can thus be freely revolved within the sleeve by
means of the key g whilst the ends of the spring k engaging with the annular
groove formed on the link f¹ prevent any longitudinal movement of the link f¹.
A dust or weather cap m is provided to engage with the screw thread of the sleeve j
and shroud and protect the protruding end of the link of the flexible
connection f.
A salient advantage in the use of such an extensible riband a as described lies in
the fact that no special section of rim is required and the riband a may therefore
be readily applied to existing rims.
We do not confine ourselves to securing the outer covering of a pneumatic tyre alone
as the retaining band a and improved means of operating the same may be used with
a single tyre where an inner air bag is dispensed with.
To effect this we propose to sheath the metallic band a within a tube of india
rubber or similar material n so as to provide a fluid tight joint, as well as a means of
retaining the cover in position.
The thickened edges of the cover h are also enclosed in rubber or similar resilient
material h¹. A fluid tight joint between the meeting edges of the rim e, cover hand
band a is thus provided as indicated in Fig. 5.
:
Our improved method of securing the covers of pneumatic tyres may be
applied to all descriptions of vehicles such as velocipedes, motor-cars and other
vehicles.
We wish it however to be understood that we do not confine ourselves to pneu-
matic tyres as our invention may be utilized to secure solid rubber tyres such as are
or may be chiefly used in vehicles of a heavy type as shown in Fig. 6.
In this case the base of the solid rubber tyre o is formed with turned in edges o
On
which can be sprung open to permit of the insertion of the flat riband a.
resuming their normal position the turned in edges serve to retain the riband a.
The riband or ring is contracted and expanded by the improved locking means as
already described the rim p and felly q being bored out to accomodate the flexible
connection f. When contracted the riband a firmly grips the turned in edges of
the solid rubber tyre o and maintains the tyre securely in position upon
the rim.
When using the metallic or other riband to secure a solid rubber tyre upon a flat
metal hoop or rim of a heavy vehicle as shown in Fig. 6, in order to prevent the
riband a and tyre o from slipping off the flat rim p we secure studs r to the rim p
which studs project through slots formed in the riband a and serve to maintain
the riband a and tyre o in position upon the flat rim p. This method is readily
applicable to existing carriage wheels.
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) The improved means for positively actuating and locking the extensible flexible
riband a for securing the outer covers of pneumatic tyres, said means consisting of a
screwed spindle formed with right and left hand threads engaging with nuts formed
on or secured to said riband a to which screwed spindle is secured a connection made
flexible by means of universal joints, the outer protruding joints of the flexible con-
nection being arranged to revolve within a sleeve secured to the rim and operated
by means of a key so as to revolve the screwed spindle whereby the flexible riband a

page_text: is expanded or contracted in diameter for the purposes and substantially as set
forth.
2) In combination in a tubeless tyre, the riband a sheathed in rubber or other
resilient material n, the cover h with rubber enclosed edges so as to form a fluid tight
joint at the meeting edges of the rim e cover h and band a, the band a being
actuated and locked by means of a screwed spindle formed with right and
left hand threads engaging with nuts carried by the band a substantially as set
forth.
3) In combination the solid rubber tyre o formed with turned in edges o³, an
expansible flexible band a, the flat or other shaped metallic rim p secured to a
felly q and carrying studs r sliding in slots formed in the band a the band a being
actuated and locked by means of a screwed spindle formed with right and left hand
screw threads engaging with the nuts carried by the band a for the purposes and
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 3rd day of February 1898.
For the Applicants,
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
Chartered Patent Agents, 5, John Dalton Street, Manchester.