Improvements in or Additions to India-rubber. Tyres for Wheels and other Rolling Bodies, and in the Method of Fixing the same.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 29th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 29th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Additions to India-rubber. Tyres for Wheels
and other Rolling Bodies, and in the Method of Fixing the
same.
I GEORGE HOOKHAM of Nos. 7 & 8 New Bartholomew Street Birmingham,
Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
In my previous Patents viz. those numbered 3778/86 & 1009/89 I have described
in the former a method of affixing a tyre to a wheel-rim by means of a strong
metallic spring, and in the latter a combined method in wh. a weaker spring may
be used in combination with a tape-cement, the said tape cement being sometimes
I have found in
applied to the tyre before it is sold as an article of manufacture.
practice that it is better to affix the canvass or fibrous tape to the india-rubber tyre
during the process of manufacture of the latter and afterwards to apply the cement
to this canvass. By impregnating the canvass with or spreading on one side of the
canvass (before the canvass is applied to the india-rubber) a weak solution of
cement or a solution of the "dough," or uncured india-rubber, the solvent being
evaporated or otherwise got rid of before application to the india-rubber, a more
perfect union between the canvass & the india-rubber is effected: but care must be
taken that the outer surface of the canvass is not to any considerable extent covered
with india-rubber or any other substance to which the cement, to be afterwards
used for fixing the tyre in the wheel-rim, will not readily & firmly adhere. The
canvass tape or strip should embrace about half the circumference of the tyre, and,
when finally placed in position on the wheel, may extend above the rim, so as to
prevent cutting by the edge of the rim. The canvass-backed tyre may be made in
a long length, having a hole, preferably axial, for the insertion of a spring, sub-
stantially as described in the earlier of my before-mentioned Specifications; or it
may be manufactured in complete rings either in moulds or otherwise, the india-
rubber being moulded round a metallic or other spring; or, if the tyre is made in
a complete ring, a separate spring may be dispensed with, and the tyre made solid,
the strength of the canvass in combination with the improved method of cementing
being sufficient to hold the tyre in place. The canvass may be re-inforced by
spring-wires woven in it. The tyre while in the uncured state inay be made in two
parts and a spring or springs may be enclosed between them; one part may be
sector-shaped & form the portion next the rim; this part may be of inferior india-
rubber or even of different material. The two parts are united in the curing.
I may make one part of the tyre, viz. that next the rim of the wheel, a more
permanent part of the machine, the tread' or wearing-part of the tyre being
replaced from time to time; the surfaces being preferably canvassed and cemented.
The wearing-part may be of tougher india-rubber; the permanent part may be a
pneumatic tyre. In both cases I prefer to make the wearing-part approach a
rectangular section so as to give a flat tread to the wheel.
Doted this 28th day of Anril 1890

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Additions to India-rubber Tyres for Wheels
and other Rolling Bodies, and in the Method of Fixing the
same.
I, GEORGE HOOKHAM, of Nos. 7 & 8 New Bartholomew Street, Birmingham
Manufacturer 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:-
In my previous Patents riz, those numbered 3778/86 and 1009/89 I have described,
in the former a method of affixing a tyre to a wheel-rim by means of a strong
metallic spring, and in the latter a combined method in which a weaker spring may
be used in combination with a tape cement, the said tape cement being sometimes
applied to the tyre before it is sold as an article of manufacture. I have found in
practice that it is better to affix the canvass or fibrous tape to the india-rubber
tyre during the process of manufacture of the latter, and afterwards to apply the
cement to this canvass. By impregnating the canvass with or spreading on one
side of the canvass (before the canvass is applied to the india-rubber) a weak
solution of cement, or a solution of the "dough or uncured india-rubber, the
solvent being evaporated or otherwise got rid of before application to the india-
rubber, a more perfect union between the canvass and the india-rubber is effected :
but care must be taken that the outer surface of the canvass is not to any considerable
extent covered by the india-rubber or other substance to which the cement, to be
afterwards used for fixing the tyre in the wheel-rim, will not readily and firmly
adhere (see Fig. 1). The canvass tape or strip should embrace about half the
circumference of the tyre, and when finally placed in position on the wheel may
extend above the rim, so as to prevent cutting by the edge of the rim. The
canvass-backed tyre may be made in a long length having a hole, preferably axial,
for the insertion of a spring substantially as described in the earlier of my before-
mentioned Specifications; or it, may be manufactured in complete rings either in
-moulds or otherwise, the india-rubber being moulded round a metallic or other
spring. Or if the tyre is made in a complete ring a separate spring may be
dispensed with, and the tyre made solid; the strength of the canvass in combination
with the improved method of cementing being sufficient to hold the tyre in place.
The tyre while in the uncured state may be made in two parts, and a spring or
springs be enclosed between them; one part may be sector-shaped and form the
portion next the rim (see Fig. 2): this part may be of inferior india-rubber or even of
.material other than india-rubber. The two parts are united in the curing, I may
.make one part of the india-rubber tyre, viz. that next the rim of the wheel, a more
permanent part of the machine, the tread or wearing part of the tyre being replaced
from time to time-the surfaces being, preferably, canvassed and cemented; the
wearing part may be a tougher india-rubber; the permanent part may be a
pneumatic tyre (see Figs. 3. 4. & 5).
I will now proceed to describe the method or methods in which my improvements
may be carried out.
As regards the canvass-backed tyre, adhesion between the canvass and the rubber
is most perfect when the thin coating of rubber spread on the convass is of the
same quality as the rubber to which it is to be applied. If the outer surface of the
canvass is not entirely free from rubber it must be scoured or ground on an emery
wheel. The cement shd. be applied in several layers, the first being a weak
solution so as thoroughly to impregnate, and waterproof the canvass. If the tyre is
to be affixed by a spring-wire an axial or other. hole must be formed in it: this is
most advantageously effected before the application of the canvass.
In the accompanying drawing (see Figs. 4 & 5) 1 have illustrated a composite
tyre. A is a section of a wheel-rim. B a section of the more permanent part of

page_text: the india-rubber tyre. C is an ordinary tyre, which may or may not have a hole D
for the insertion of a spring wire. Where the surfaces of B and C touch each
other they should be canvassed and cemented: if C is strongly constricted by a
spring-wire, then B should be a pneumatic tyre, capable of inflation from time
to time.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. An india-rubber tyre with a canvass backing cured on it, the said canvass
being free of india-rubber on its outer surface, and having a coating of cement
substantially as described.
2. A canvass-backed tyre made in lengths, having a hole, preferably axial, for the
insertion of a spring substantially as described.
3. A composite india-rubber tyre, one part of which may be a pneumatic or a
cushion-tyre, and in any case is a more permanent part of the wheel, the other part
forming the tread, and being renewable from time to time, the adjoining surfaces of
the two parts being preferably canvassed and cemented substantially as described
and in part illustrated in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 28th day of January 1891.
GEORGE HOOKHAM.