Improvements in Spring Wheels for Vehicles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Jan., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 18th Oct., 1895-Accepted, 23rd Nov., 1895
Improvements in Spring Wheels for Vehicles.
I, BEWICKE BLACKBURN, of 12 Calverley Park, Tunbridge Wells, in the
County of Kent, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a construction of spring wheels for velocipedes and
vehicles generally in such a manner that the work performed in flattening that
part of the elastic tyre which bears on the track as the wheel is running, is given
back by the resilient action of the tyre as it returns to its circular form.
I shall describe the construction of a velocipede wheel according to my invention
referring to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a side view and Fig. 2 is a radial section of part of the periphery of
the wheel.
Fig. 3 is a plan of part of the tyre and rim.
A is a rigid rim which may be of metal, the section of which may be varied,
but it is preferably of such a section that it presents two projecting edges such
as a a, and a hollow b in the middle to receive the heads of the nuts which secure
the spokes B.
Beyond the metal rim A there is an elastic tyre C which may be of caoutchouc
or such like material strengthened by fabric. The tyre C is connected to the
rim A by a number of spokes D, each consisting of a bent wire of steel or other
elastic metal; the wire has an upper limb d'¹ which is inserted in the tyre C and
may be retained therein by a nut on its end or by notching its end and twisting a
piece of wire round it as shewn at d; it has a straight part d² constituting the
spoke, and a base consisting of four limbs d³ d d d forming the sides of a
rectangle.
Each rectangular base is clamped firmly on the rim A by a piece of sheet
metal E which is laid over the base and has its sides e bent over and under the
edges of the rim A.
Instead of clamping each of the bases of the spokes D by a separate piece E of
sheet metal, a hoop might be laid over all the bases and secured to the rim by rivets
at intervals.
I prefer however to clamp the bases in the manner shown so as to ensure lateral
steadiness.
The rectangular bases are of such size that they completely cover the rim A so
that none of them can slide along it. The limbs d' are inserted through the
tyre C alternately from opposite sides, and the rectangular bases are fixed on the
rim A in such positions that the part d² of each spoke is considerably inclined to
a radius preferably in such direction that as the wheel revolves in the direction of
the arrow the limbs d' are behind the limbs d³.
When the tyre A is pressed inwards, the spokes D are deflected towards the
rim A causing a twist or torsion of their parts d³, and, when the tyre is relieved
from pressure, the elasticity of those parts causes the spokes to return to their
normal position.
DL: 001 dow of Ianuare 100%
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant..,

page_text: Improvements in Spring wheels for venicies.
I, BEWICKE BLACKBURN, of 12, Calverley Park, Tunbridge Wells, in the
County of Kent, Civil 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 :-
My invention relates to a construction of spring wheels, for velocipedes and
vehicles generally, in such a manner that the work performed in flatteningl that
part of the elastic tyre which bears on the track as the wheel is running, is given
back by the resilient action of the tyre as it returns to its circular form.
I shall describe, the construction of a velocipede wheel according to my
invention referring to the drawings accompanying my Provisional, Specification
and the additional Figs. 4, and 5 accompanying this Specification.
Fig. 1 is a side view and Fig. 2 is a radial section of part of the periphery, of
the wheel.
Fig. 3 is a plan of part of the tyre and rim.
A, is a rigid rim which may be of metal, the section of which may be varied,,
but it is preferably of such a section that it presents two projecting edges such
as a a, and a hollow b in the middle to receive the heads of, the, nuts, which secure
the, spokes, B.
Beyond the metal rim. A there, is an elastic tyre C which may be of caoutchouc
..or such like material, strengthened by fabric. The tyre C is connected to the
rim A by a number of spokes D, cach consisting of a bent wire of eteel, or, other
...elastic, metal; the wire has an upper limb d' which is inserted in the tyre C and
...may be retained therein by a nut on, its end or by, notching its end and twisting a
piece of wire round it as shewn, at d; it has a straight part d² constituting..the
, spoke,, and a base. consisting of four limbs d³ d d de forming the side of a
rectangle.
Each. rectangular base is clamped firmly on the rim A by a piece of sheet
metal E which is laid over the base, and has its sides e bent over and, under...the
edges of the rim A.
Instead of clamping each of the bases of the spokes D by a separate piece. E of
sheet metal, a hoop might be laid over all the bases and secured to the; rim by rivets
at intervals.
I prefer, however to clamp the bases in the manner shewn so as to ensure lateral
stendiness.
The rectangular bases are of such size that they completely cover the rim. A so
that none of them can slide along it. The limbs d are inserted through the
tyre C alternately from opposite sides, and the rectangular bases are fixed on the
rim A in such, positions, that the part d² of each spoke is considerably inclined to a
radius, preferably in such direction that as the wheel revolves in the direction of
the arrow, the limbs d are behind the limbs d³.
When, the tyre A is pressed inwards, the spokes D are deflected towards the
rim, A causing a twist or torsion of their parts d³, and, when the tyre is relieved
from pressure, the elasticity of those parts causes the spokes to return to their
normal position.
According to a modified construction shewn in Fig. 4 each of the inclined bent,
spokes D has its, end d inserted in the rim, A which may be of wood .and its end d'
inserted in a block of caoutchouc or other elastic material fastened to a tyre C¹,
which may be of elastic wood, vulcanised fibre or other suitable elastic material,
on which is, fixed an outer tyre of caoutchouc or compound of caoutchouc and
fabric. The blocks F may be fastened to the tyre C¹by a staple f as shewn or
otherwise.

page_text: Instead of holding the ends d' in blocks F, they may be inserted in the rim C¹
as shewn in Fig. 5, and in this case as there is no give where the ends d¹ are
inserted I bend the spokes D.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
A spring wheel for a vehicle having a tyre at some distance beyond the rim,
connected to the rim by spokes capable of yielding, each of which is inclined to a
radius, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 18th day of October 1895.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.