US1939095A

US1939095A - Wheel

Info

Publication number: US1939095A
Application number: US547946A
Authority: US
Inventors: George T Balfe
Original assignee: Detroit Gasket and Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Detroit Gasket and Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1931-06-30
Filing date: 1931-06-30
Publication date: 1933-12-12
Anticipated expiration: 1950-12-12

Description

G. T. BALFE Dec. 12, 1933.

WHEEL Filed June 30, 1931 mventor mye Sa/f@ 1%@ Dm* (Ittornegs i Patented Dec. 1,2, 1 933 WHEEL Georg-'e yalfe, 'j Detroit, Mich., assigner to Detroit Gasket & Mfg. Co., Detroit,vMi ch., a corporation of Michigan Application Juneeo, 1,931. serial Namibie 4 crains. o1.-1522 0) The vpresent invention relates to wheels, and specifically to the llrims thereof, and has lto do "withan improved liner and securing means therefor for-'holding the liner at all times in opera- 5 tivefposition, V y

With present constructions of this character,-

the linerfis subject to weather conditions, causing it to buckle and detach itself orride off the .'rim, and fituisi' this tendency which the present invention'seeks to overcome. Also, with present conventional-stnctures, the application of the liner tothe irirnfrequires considerable time and telfort, whereas the present invention seeks to l"pi"ovide a construction which will enable the liner to beapplied and removed quickly andeasily.

" A` further-object of the invention is to produce an inexpensive construction and one which can `be manufactured in large quantities and applied without the necessity for skilled labor.

In the drawing:-

Figure 1 is a sectional View.

Figure 2 is a perspective view, and

Figure 3 is a perspective view.

The numeral 10 indicates the conventional wire wheel rim, and the numeral 11 the usual pneumatic tire within which is disposed an inner tube 12.

While I have illustrated the invention in connection with a drop-center rim, it will be understood that it can be applied to all types of rims and wherever it is desired to protect the inner tube from wear by contact with the rough, exposed surface of the rim.

The improved liner of this invention is indicated at 13, and is preferably a flexible composite material having a cloth finished surface on one side 14 which abuts the surface of the inner tube and an adhesive cork layer on the opposite side l5 which contacts with the surface of the rim.

It will be understood that any other suitable flexible material may be used in the manufacture of the liner, there being several commercial materials available for this purpose.

The liner will be cut from a strip of material to a length so that it may be disposed about the exposed surface of the rim in the form of a band.

At the ends of the band, the liner or protector is provided with openings 16, which are preferably circular and are preferably so disposed that when the ends of the band are overlapped, the edges will coincide and the respective opening 16 will register.

The band 13 is applied to the rim, as shown in Figure 1, and the edges thereof overlapped, as

shown at 1'?, As is well understood, the rim is provided with an vopening lito permit thevalve tube stem 19, connected to theinnentube, to project through the rim'. f :w l

r .In positioning the Aband, the registering Aopen- I :Iings 16 are broughtinto register Withthe-opening 18 for a purpose which-will now be'described. Referring to Figure 3,. there is'illustrated one type of 'connecting member 20 :which I employ for the dual purpose of 'connecting the overlapped ends of the band 13 and securing the band to the This member 20'. may bev of A.yieldable material,

v such as rubber, metal, and, in fact, any lcomposite material which will be eective for thev purpose, and will preferablybe resilient. it y I The member 20, `as 'will be observed, is tubular, as shown in Fig. 3, andfthe ends of the tube .are provided with circular an'gesZl. i n

Referring now to Figure 1, it will be assumed that the band has been positioned tightly upon the rim, with its overlapping ends bringing the openings 16 into register with each other and with the opening 18 in the rim.

In order to obtain a simple and effective securing of the said ends in their overlapping engagement and to bind them to the rim, the separable member 2S is buttoned through the registering openings 16 and 18, so that one of the fianges contacts with the exposed surface of the top overlapping portion of the band, and the other flange contacts with the exposed portion of the rim.

Where a resilient material is used, this can be readily accomplished, and. where a metal bushing or separable member 2G is employed, one of the flanges, preferably that which contacts with the exposed portion of the rim, Will not be formed until after the tubular member has been positioned, When the tube will be bent over after thev manner of a grommet. Also, the tubular member may have a threaded portion to receive a threaded stem carrying a flange where a metal construction is employed.

By reason of the present invention, it will be clear that the liner or protector may be tightly positioned in the exposed surface of the rim and securely held to the rim by the simple expedient of applying the flexible or resilient button 20, or a button 20 of resilient metal.

It will be observed that the member 20 in any event being substantially circular in cross section, will provide a satisfactory bushing for the valve stem, thereby protecting the edges of the liner openings against Wear, as well as the edges of the rim opening.

A .be nolikelihood 'of wear said'flange21z" f As stated, the flanges `21 act to clamp the three K comprising the rim and the two ,overlap-- tpingportions ofthe linexzxandit will be lunder- The valve stem 19 is threaded at 22 and -re ceives the usual nut 23 which is secured thereon to firmly engage the rim. A suitable washe'nay be interposed between thenutl and the adjacent flange 21 of the separablefinembenfsuch" washer being of metal, leather, or other desiredmaterial.

On the other hand, I have Afpoundgit desirable to provide the nut 23 with 'a circular recess 24 of suicient area to freely receive the adjacent ange 21, so that as the nut is turned, there will upon the 'material of the ,-stood1that since the liner 'is' ofrexible material and 'compressible, that where a rigid Vbutton is employed, .it will actto resilientlycompress the three parts togetherand hold them tightly.

`Iclaim: a -f 1. The combination with a wheel rim, of a nexible protecting liner therefor positioned in the exposed surface of the rim toengage and protect the tube of a tire carried b'y the rim,' said liner having its abutting'endsrpro'vided with openings .and the .ends overlapped to, bring said openings into register with each-other, and with the valveA stem opening' in the rim,`and an independent yieldable member having flanges at its ends, p0- sitioned in the registering openings to connect the ends of the liner and secure the same to the rim, the flange on one end of the member engaging over the liner and the flange on the other end of the member engaging over the rim.

2. The combination of a wheel rim, of a ilexible protecting liner therefor, and an independent fastening member of yieldable material`r connecting the ends of the liner, said fastening member extending through the valve stem opening of the rim, and having a means for securing the liner to the rim.

3. A wheel rim liner adapted to be positioned upon the outer surface of a wheel rim and to be secured thereto to contact with the inner tube -of a tire assembled upon the rim, comprising a strip of exible material, valve stem openings in -the ends of the liner, a fastening member engaging in said openings for securing the ends of Vthe liner together, said fastening member also vadapted to be received in the valve stem opening of the wheel rim and having means thereon for engaging the inner surface of said rimto'secure the liner thereto and hold it in position.

4. A wheel rim liner adapted to be positioned upon the outer Suriace of a wheel rim and to be vSecured thereto Yto contaet with theinner'tube of