Improvements in the Tyres of Bicycles and other Light Vehicles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Oct., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 10th Mar., 1891-Accepted, 2nd May, 1891
.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Tyres of Bicycles and other Light Vehicles.
ROBERT SCOTT 168 Croydon Road Newcastle-on-Tyne Clerk I do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
The object of my invention is to effect certain improvements in Thomson's.
Patent for improvements in carriage wheels 1845 to 10,990 in the Patent just
mentioned a flexible tyre is used, this tyre is made of indiarubber and it is hollow
in the centre, into which air is forced, by this means the tyre forms an air cushion
to the motion of the wheels, the greater the weight upon the wheels the greater is
the amount of surface of the tyre in contact with the ground. The object of my
improvement is to construct a tyre of india rubber and canvas, so that whatever
weight may be upon the bicycle, the amount of tyre in contact with the ground
shall always be the same, this is accomplished by thickening the under part of the
tyre in a particular way. Attached to the bottom of the tyre is a solid piece of
india rubber, this piece is nearly flat at the top and nearly round at the bottom
forming a half circle. Air is forced into the tyre under pressure, and when weight
is placed upon the wheels the under part of the tyre is forced up towards that part
of the tube which contains the air, the tube expands towards the sides, but this solid
piece of indiarubber placed at the bottom of the tyre only comes in contact with
the ground, instead of using air I may place water into the tube or other suitable
liquid, thus making a water cushion for the wheels. The shape of the tube may be
round, oval and corrugated like a pair of bellows. My invention also consists of a
number of spiral springs placed upon the rim of the bicycle, around these springs is
placed an ordinary indiarubber tyre, when this method is used air and water are
dispensed with, in all cases when air or water is used I employ a hollow tyre, and
around the outside is placed a solid india rubber rod which prevents this part of the
tyre from being damaged, a similar arrangement may be placed inside of the tube
to prevent the tube from forming too much of a crease. A screw down valve is
used to retain the pressure of the air or water.
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
:
Improvements in the Tyres of Bicycles and other Light Vehicles.
ROBERT SCOTT 168 Croydon Road Newcastle-on-Tyne Clerk 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:
As mentioned in my Provisional Specification, the object of my invention is, to
construct a tyre of indiarubber and canvas so that whatever weight may be upon
the wheel, the amount of tyre in contact with the ground shall be the same.
Attached to the tube which contains the air is a piece of india rubber, this part
which is attached forms the under portion of the tyre, and when weight is placed
upon the wheel, the under portion is forced up towards the tube which contains the
air. The under portion of the tyre may be attached to the tube in various ways, it
may be cemented to the air tube, and this attachment is further secured by
connecting the ends which forms the under portion of the tyre to the rim of the
bicycle. That part of the tyre which comes in contact with the ground, is nearly
round at the bottom and nearly flat where it comes into contact with the tube which
contains the air.

page_text: In Figures 13 and 5 A A A represents the spokes of the bicycle. In Figure 13
and 5 B B B represents the rim. In Figure 1°C represents a method of connecting
the under portion of the tyre to the rim, it consists in placing a number of projec-
tions upon the rim, in the shape of oval buttons, and the under portion of the tyre
has an equal number of eyelets, and the eyelets are buttoned to the projections.
In Figure 2 C represents the under portion of the tyre containing the eyelet. In
Figure 1 D represents a piece of steel plate, this steel plate goes round the circum-
ference of the rim, and the ends of the under portion of the tyre is placed under this
steel plate, this steel plate may be screwed or riveted to the rim, instead of placing
this arrangement upon the spoke side of the rim, it is quite evident that it could be
placed upon the outside of the rim.
In the Provisional Specification it is stated that a rod of india rubber is placed
outside of the tyre, and that a similar arrangement may be placed inside of the tube."
In Figures 1 and 3 F F F F represents this arrangement, it consists of a rod or
ridge of india rubber and forms part of the tube, when the under portion of the tyre
is pressed up, this ridge or rod prevents a sharp crease from being formed.
Figures 1 and 3 G G G G represents a similar arrangement upon the outside of the
tyre. In Figures 1 and 3 E E represents the tube which contains the air, this tube
is made of india rubber and canvas.
In
Fig. 2 represents the under portion of the tyre before being attached to the tube
containing the air.
In Figures 1 and 2 H H represents that portion of the under part of the tube,
which is immediately at the bottom, it is nearly round at the bottom and nearly
flat upon the top, this fits into a suitable arrangement upon the bottom of the air
tube. In Figures 3 and 4 I I I represents an arrangement for connecting the under
portion of the tyre to the rim, upon the rim there is a recess into which fits a hoop,
the ends of the under portion of the tyre lap round the hoop. When the hoop is
tightened the under portion is secured in its attachment to the tube containing
the air.
Figure 4 represents the hoop and in the same figure L represents the screw for
tightening the hoop, it is quite evident that a similar arrangement could be placed
upon the spoke side of the rim, the only difference in this case would be, that
expanding the hoop would tighten it, instead of contracting it, as is the case with
the method shown.
In the Provisional Specification it is stated, "that a number of spiral springs may
be placed upon the rim of the bicycle and around these springs is an ordinary
rubber tyre.
Figure 5 shows this arrangement J represents spiral spring, the dotted lines shows
a spring attached to the opposite side of the rim, by this means their motion is
equalized. K represents the rubber tyre. In almost all cases I use air to inflate
the tyre, but where the tube is small, water may be used.
Figure 6 represents the valve but as I do not claim any novelty with reference to
it; I have not described it.
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.
1st. An improved tyre whereby only one portion comes into contact with the
ground as described and shown in Figures 12 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
2nd. Improvements in attaching the under portion of the tyre to the tube which
contains the air, and connecting the under portion of the tyre to the rim, as
described and shown in Figures 1. 2. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
3rd. An improved spring as described and shown in Fig. 5 of the accompanying
drawings.