US576836A - Tiees - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

A. H. OULLEY. MEANS FOR SECURING TIRES TO RIMS.

Patented Feb. 9, 1897.

3 SheetsShet 2.

(No Model.)

A. H. GULLEY. MEANS FOR SEGURING TIRES TO RIMS.

No. 576,836. Patented Feb. 9, 1897.

(No Model.) 3 sheets-Sheet 3. A. H. OULLEY. MEANS FOR SECURING TIRES T0 RIMS.

No. 576,836. Patented Feb. 9, 1897.

PETERS co, Pno'rauma, wunmamuj o. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

ALFRED HENRY OULLEY, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

MEANS FOR SECURING TIRES TO RIMS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 57 6,836, dated February 9, 1897. Application filed July 27,1896. Serial No. 600,653. (No model.) Patented in England December 4, 1895,}1'0. 23,218.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LALFRED HENRY CUL E Y, a subject of the Queen of Great Britain, residing at 139 Brayard Road, Peckh'am, London, England, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in the Method of and Means for Securing Pneumatic Tires to Wheels, (patented in Great Britain,No. 23,218, dated December 4, 1895,) of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is a method of or means for securing pneumatic tires to wheels of cycles and other vehicles by the aid of flexible links, a series of which when pivoted end to end form a rigid band or a flexible band, according to whether said band be set with the links vertical or horizontal, one of said bands being attached to each edge of the outer envelop or cover, which incloses the airtube, whereby the tire can be readily placed and fixed on the rim or easily removed, either at any particular portion only or entirely all around, if desired.

For the purpose of my invention I prepare thin strips of flexible metal, preferably steel, and connect any desired number of these end to end to form an endless band, the pivotholes being near the outer edges or out of the longitudinal central line, so that when set with the links vertically and the pivots next the larger circumference or outer periphery a rigid endless band is produced; but such band, if laid on its flat side, causes the former inner periphery to be enlarged and the former outer periphery to be reduced, the enlargement of the inner periphery being the greater of the two. The band in this flat condition from the character of its material becomes flexible at all parts of its circumference, so that if one part of the band be pulled the remainder or other part can be drawn close into the body of the rim and the pulled portion lifted over for removal. The band during the lift action by an attendant assumes the outline shape of an egg-via, a broad lower part and a narrowed upper part or apex. When the links of the band are in a vertical position or on edge and the inner tube is inflated, the bandpossesses a gripping power to resist outward thrust due to expansion of the inflated tube. The band thus formed is inserted and fixed into the edges of the outer envelop or cover of a pneumatic tire. WVhen the tube and cover are in place and the tube is being inflated, the band turns from a horizontal to a vertical condition or on its edge and is pressed outwardly toward the rim and -grips the rim at every part of its periphery without kinks orbulges, the links also taking their seating on the rim and bearing uniformly all around.

With this system of tire-fastening it is not necessary to have a curved hollow groove in the rim, as in some systems of fastening, as I am enabled to employ a rim with a flat surface for the air-tube to bear upon, which in sures greater resiliencyor life to the inflated tire, a feature of great advantage for fast and easy running of the wheel.

The facility I obtain for partial displacement of the tire at any desired spot overcomes the inconvenience of removing a wheel bodily of the frame.

My invention is clearly represented in the annexed drawings.

Figure 1 is a face and Fig. 2 an edge View of a few flexible links of the kind I purpose using; Fig. 3, a transverse section of a pneumatic Wheel-tire, with my flat flexible band shown in section within the edges of the cover and in position when pressed outwardly and vertically against the vertical walls of a flatbased rim by the inflation of the pneumatic tube; Fig. 4, a partial side elevationof a cycle-tire with a portion of the rim in section and a part of pneumatic tube-cover cut open to show the position my flexible chain occupies therein when vertical. Fig. 5 represents a portion of the cover lifted from the rim and the edge of a portion of my flexible band exposed, the band being turned over on the flat, which facilitates this lift. Fig. 6 is a diagram elevation showing one half of the band in a vertical condition and the other half in a turned-down or horizontal condition, the dotted line and the full lines on the right hand of the figure showing the differences of the diameters for fixing and for removal purposes.

A A are flat flexible steel strips, connected by joint-pins B B near one edge, 11. e., the outer of the band when the strips are vertical O, the cover, within the edges of which or secured to them the strips in band form are held; D, the pneumatic tube; E, the rim, the base F of which is preferably fiat, as shown, but the base may be of other shape and preferably with straight side walls G G, the outward pressure of the pneumatic tube combined with the circumferential grip of the band forming the bond to keep the tire in place.

In cases of puncture or other cause of deflation of the tube D the side edges of the cover 0, with the band A, can be laid flat, which increases the diameter of the band and enables the edge of the cover to be lifted out of the rim at any desired part and gradually all around if the cover has'to be removed.

Vhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a wheel'rim having a suitable channel, of a pneumatic tire lying in said channel, and continuous bands each composed of short, flat plates of suitable metal lapped upon one another at their ends so that all the alternate plates will be in the same plane, and connected by pivots inserted in the angles next to the outer edges of said strips, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a wheel having a rectangular channel, of a pneumatic tire 1ying in said channel, a cover for said tire, and two flexible bands each composed of short, fiat strips lapped one upon the other at their ends and pivoted together by pins inserted in the angles of said strips nextto their outer edges, said strips being arranged between the pneumatic tire and its outer cover with their fiat faces lying parallel with the flat sides of the channel in the rim, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED HENRY CULLEY.

\Vitnesses:

RICHARD CORE GARDNER, ALEX. RIDGWAY.

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