Improved Means of Applying Elastic Tyres to Cycle and other Vehicle Wheels.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 25th Sept., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means of Applying Elastic Tyres to Cycle and other
Vehicle Wheels.
We, FERDINAND VON EULENFELD, of 28, Finsbury Square, London, Gentleman,
and HENRY BINGHAM TUPPER, and ALEXANDER BOGUSLAVSKY, both of 8, Park
Lane, Piccadilly, London, Gentlemen; 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:
This Invention relates to improved means of applying elastic tyres to cycle
and other vehicle wheels, the object of the Invention being to apply an elastic
tyre to such wheels in such manner as to attain all the advantages of a pneumatic
tyre, while avoiding the disadvantage incidental to such tyres of being rendered
useless by being punctured.
The Invention is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying
drawings, on which Figs. 1 to 3, represent cross sectional elevations of wheel
rims adapted or fitted with tyres in accordance with the present Invention;
Fig. 4, represents, as to the left-hand side thereof, a side elevation of Fig. 2,
and, as to the right-hand side thereof, a central longitudinal sectional elevation
of Fig. 2; Fig. 5, represents, as to the left-hand side thereof, a plan of the same
side of Fig. 4, and, as to the right-hand side thereof, a plan of Fig. 4, without the
tyre; Fig. 6, represents, as to the left-hand side thereof, a plan of Fig. 3, and,
as to the right-hand side thereof, a similar view with the tyre removed.
To the end aforesaid, the Invention consists essentially in the application to
the rim a, of a cycle or other vehicle wheel, of a series of springs b, and a
surrounding tyre c, the springs being independently applied to and seated in the
wheel rim, preferably in radial relation thereto and spaced apart, and collectively
serving to locate and support the tyre c, either directly, vide Figs. 1, 2, 4, and 5,
or by means of an intermediate rim d, applied to the springs and serving as a
seating to the tyre, vide Figs. 3, and 6.
The springs and tyre are represented on the drawings as applied to a wheel rim
of a certain form in cross section, but the wheel rim may be of any other usual
or desired section.
The springs b, at the part thereof seated in the wheel rim, are shaped to the
conformation of the rim to which they are applied, and, at the part thereof
adapted to support the tyre c, or the rim d, they are troughed or shaped to the
conformation of the tyre or rim they are intended to support, and, at their sides,
they may be more or less bulged outwardly as desired, but they are preferably
made of a cylindrical formation at such part, as represented.
The springs, being spaced apart, vide Figs. to 6, are adapted to act inde-
pendently of each other, and they are respectively screwed, as at 6', or otherwise
suitably secured to the wheel rim.
The springs may each be entire or formed in one continuous piece, or they may
each consist of two parts meeting side by side or one under the other at their
connection to the wheel rim, or where they support the tyre c; or they may each

page_text: be made in four parts meeting side by side, or one under the other, at both their
connections to the wheel rim and where they support the tyre c. The springs
are preferably arranged in radial relation to the wheel rim, but they may be
helically bent or set askew so that, if formed in parts, their ends may be side by
side or one under the other as aforesaid.
The tyre c, is preferably made of solid rubber or other suitable elastic com-
position, but may be made tubular, as indicated by the dotted circular line c¹,
Fig. 2. It may be made circular in cross section, vide Figs. 2, and 3, or it may
be made of a more or less flattened shape, or it may be made with edges c³,
adapted to engage with the edges 62, of the springs b, vide Fig. 1, so as to avoid
any liability of the tyre rolling around and preventing side slip, or it may be maile
of any suitable shape.
66
When the tyre is adapted to rest on and to be supported by the springs b, it is
formed or fitted at its inner periphery with cross ribs c³, respectively adapted to
enter the spaces between the adjacent springs b, whereby all liability of the tyre
creeping around the springs will be obviated. Or, the tyre may be formed
or fitted with inner projections or studs adapted to enter holes made in the
adjacent supporting part of the springs, whereby all tendency of the tyre to creep
around the springs or to roll laterally therein will be avoided.
But when the tyre is adapted to rest on and to be supported by a rim d,
surrounding the springs b, vide Figs. 3, and 6, the tyre may be formed without
such ribs, and may be located in the rim d, without liability of creeping around
or rolling laterally therein by spiked pins or the like d, which may be screwed,
rivetted or otherwise conveniently applied to the rim d, and springs b, so as to
secure the former to the latter, and may locate and secure the surrounding tyre c,
by projecting thereinto, as represented.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
-
1. The application to the rims of cycle and other vehicle wheels, of elastic
tyres, by means of independent springs applied to the wheel rim and serving to
support and locate the tyre, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
2. The application to the rims of cycle and other vehicle wheels, of elastic
tyres, by means of independent springs applied to the wheel rim, and a surrounding
rim applied to the springs and serving to support and locate the tyre, sub-
stantially as hereinbefore set forth.
.
O
P
1000
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents,
321, High Holborn, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.