Improvements in Pneumatic Wheels.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Aug., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 10th May, 1899-Accepted, 1st July, 1899
Improvements in Pneumatic Wheels.
We, JOHN EDWARD THORNTON, of Rokeby, Oldfield Road, Altrincham, in the
County of Chester, Manufacturer, and JAMES POLLARD LEA, of Worsley Mills,
Worsley Street, Hulme, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of wheels fitted
with pneumatic tyres, whereby lightness stiffness and strength are secured in the
frame of the wheel, greatly increased resiliency in running over obstacles and
improved wearing qualities in the tyre, and in the combination of the wheel and
the tyre the avoidance of undue dragging and driving strains transmitted through
the tyre material and the ability to get at, examine, and repair the air tube and
cover which can be effected on the inside without the necessity of removing
either from the wheel.
In the construction of each wheel two rings of suitable section and material are
placed side by side at a suitable distance apart and secured to each other by a
number of cross pieces. The two rings are connected by spokes to a central
hub so that each ring is truly concentric with the axis.
The tyre when inflated is of a very much greater depth measured radially than
is usual and it is supported on the two rings forming the rim of the wheel which
are suitably shaped to hold it. The tyre at the sides is corrugated so as to work
easily when compressed in passing over an obstacle like the bellows of a camera.
This form or cross section of tyre is secured and maintained by internal cross
ties which at intervals connect the apex of each depression on one side with
the apex of the corresponding depression on the other. At the bottom of each
depression in the sides a flexible ring or cord of suitable material may be placed
and the internal stays grip over these and securely hold the sides of the tyre
without piercing the internal air tube.
To give stability to the tyre sideways, and to transmit the driving and dragging
strains direct from the rim to the running edge or tread of the tyre (or near to it)
we connect the sides and tread of the tyre by movable ties or struts to the rim or
frame of the wheel-as for example in a wheel of moderate size about eight
sockets are fixed to the rim between the two rings at equal intervals round the
wheel. These sockets support tubes which fit and slide in them and are suitably
connected inside to the tyre. When the wheel meets a large obstacle the tubes
slide up into the sockets to pass and thus the resiliency of the tyre is not inter-
fered with. To gain access in the interior of the tyre in order to place cross ties
sliding supports and to examine and repair any puncture (which repair is effected
on the inside) the tyre has a number of openings each of considerable size which
come opposite the running edge of the tyre and between the rings forming the
sides of the wheel rim and also between the cross ties connecting the said rings,
and the spokes of the wheel are disposed in number and arrangement so as not to
interfere with the access to the inside of the air tubes which is obtained between

page_text: them. These openings in the air tube and protecting cover are secured by suit-
able fastenings.
The air tube may be cemented or otherwise to the protecting cover.
To obtain greater sinuous flexibility and to easily repair the tyre if damaged
outside the protecting cover may be formed in segments each of which passes
round the air tube transversely. Anyone of them may be easily removed and
replaced.
The tyre does not itself come in contact with the ground but runs on and is
held well away from it by a rim very flexible circumferentially so that it may
easily adapt itself to the contour of the ground and obstacles encountered.
Such flexible rim may consist of one or more air tight tubes suitably con-
structed of small diameter or cross section disposed side by side (if more than one)
round the outside of the tyre.
Or blocks of leather or wood or other suitable material may be affixed to the
cover of tyre or to a thin band of suitable material running round same. Such
blocks may touch each other at their bases where they join the band or cover
but at their points where they touch the ground there is a space between them.
Thus in running over an obstacle or inequality in the road they adapt themselves
to it without compressing the material of the tread rim and thus easy flexibility
is provided for.
When the flexible rim is formed of small tubes such tubes are charged with air
at a very considerable pressure.
Datad 41.: 041
1
1000
J. E. THORNTON.
J. P. LEA.
Improvements in Pneumatic Wheels.
We, JoHN EDWARD THORNTON, of Rokeby, Oldfield Road, Altrincham, in the
County of Chester, Manufacturer, and JAMES POLLARD LEA, of Worsley Street,
Hulme, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, 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:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of wheels fitted
with pneumatic tyres, whereby lightness stiffness and strength are secured in the
frame of the wheel, greatly increased resiliency in running over obstacles and
improved wearing qualities in the tyre, and in the combination of the wheel and
the tyre the avoidance of undue dragging and driving strains transmitted through
the tyre material and the ability to get at examine and repair the interior
without the necessity of removing the tyre from the wheel.
It consists essentially in constructing the tyre with expanding or accordion
shaped sides connected to the rim by means of ties or strips and when necessary
securing lateral stability and transmitting driving strains direct from the rim to
the periphery or near it so as not to pass through and distress the material of the
tyre.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings :-
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of part of a wheel partly in section.
Fig. 2.
Transverse section of same (on line - Fig. 1).
Fig. 3. Transverse section of Fig. 1 on line y—y showing the flaps L and K.
Fig. 4. Plan of under side of tyre of Figs. 1 and 3 showing the opening H
and lacing 7.

page_text: The tyre A is constructed of any suitable flexible material capable of contain-
ing air or vapour under pressure and strong enough to resist a high degree of
pressure. It is shaped at the sides to what may be termed accordion shape with a
series of re-entering angles a and the tyre when inflated may be of very much
greater depth measured radially than is usual or than it is in width.
The accordion shaped sides a work or move easily when compressed by passing
over any obstacle on the road without greatly extending or expanding laterally
or in width.
This form of cross section of tyre is maintained and the sides a secured in
position by internal cross ties B which are placed at intervals and connect the
angles a or apex of one side with that of the corresponding side at the opposite
side of the tyre. Also by internal radial ties C to prevent undue outward expan-
sion and maintain the accordion shape of the tyre.
The cross ties B may be metal clips clamped into the interior of the angle a
of the sides a as in Fig. 2, or they may be strips of flexible material secured by
cement or otherwise. The cross ties B prevent lateral extension of the tyre under
the pressure of the compressed air.
At the bottom of the angle a of the sides a¹ a flexible ring or cord of suitable
material may be inserted as in Fig. 2 and the internal stays or cross ties B grip
over these and securely hold and connect the sides of the tyre without piercing it.
The radial or vertical ties C may be thread tape chain or like flexible material.
These ties prevent radial expansion of the tyre to too great a degree.
To give stability to the tyre and to transmit the driving force direct to the
periphery or tread of the tyre from the rim of the wheel the periphery or tread
of the tyre is connected with the rim of the wheel by telescopic sliding pieces or
movable ties or struts D). The ties or pieces D are in the form of sliding hollow
bars or rods passing down into the interior of the spokes E or into sockets in
the rim and are connected to the cross ties B by sleeves b. The sleeves b
fast to or slide over the ties or struts D.
may be
When the wheel passes over a large obstacle the struts D are caused to slide
into the spokes or sockets E and thus the resiliency of the tyre is not interfered
with.
The tyre may be made with a number of openings H through which access may
be had to the interior in order to place the cross ties B and the struts or ties D
in place and to examine and repair any puncture such repair being effected on the
inside. The holes or openings H are of considerable size and are closed by internal
flaps which are held in position by the pressure of air. These flaps on the
exterior may be covered by other flaps L held in position by lacing or otherwise
so that they are easily accessible.
The wheel rim is made of two rings or hoops M of steel or suitable material
placed side by side at a convenient distance apart and secured to each other at
intervals by a number of cross pieces N to which they are firmly bolted or
rivetted. This construction of rim forms a number of spaces 'm between
the outer rings of the wheel rim. The openings H and covering flaps L of
the tyre are placed over the spaces m of the rim so that the tyre can be
opened examined and repaired without removing it from the wheel. The two
rings M are connected by the spokes E with a central hub the spokes prefer-
ably engaging with the cross blocks N but they may connect direct with the rim.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is: -
1. A pneumatic tyred wheel constructed with tyre of accordion shape with
re-entering angles secured by cross ties and flexible radial or vertical ties and
with telescopic sliding pieces to transmit driving strain direct to or near the
tread of the tyre and give increased lateral stability substantially as described.
2. In a pneumatic wheel the combination of the accordion tyre with re-entering

page_text: side angles, the cross ties connecting the sides the telescopic sliding pieces sliding
in the spokes the hollow ended spokes the blocks N to which the spokes are
attached and the two rings or hoops M forming the tyre of the wheel substantially
as described.
3. A pneumatic tyre for wheels for vehicles constructed with a number of
openings on the under side through which access can be had to the interior of the
tyre closed on the inside by a flap and covered on the outside by one or two
covers secured in position by placing or otherwise substantially as described.
4. In a pneumatic wheel the combination with the accordion tyre with re-enter-
ing side angles secured by cross_ties connecting the sides and provided with
openings H of the internal flaps K and the external flaps L the two hoops M
and blocks N forming the rim and by which the tyre is supported substantially
as described.
5. A pneumatic tyre for the wheels of vehicles constructed substantially as
described and shown.
Dated this 3rd day of May 1899.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.