US578035A

US578035A - Vehicle-wheel

Info

Publication number: US578035A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1897-03-02
Anticipated expiration: 1914-03-02

Description

(No Model.)

E C.E.EULELEY.

VEHICLE WHEEL.

No. 578,035. PatentedMar. 2, 1897.

- lates-3&5."

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES E. BULKLEY, OF SUMMIT, NEW JERSEY.

VEHICLE-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 578,035, dated March 2, 1897.

Application ned Aprn 16, 1896.

To all whom t may concern:

Beit known that I, CHARLES E. BULKLEY,

' a citizen of the United States,residing at Summit, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Vehicle-lVheelspf which the following is a specication.

The invention relates more particularly to wheels for bicycles and like vehicles, in which strength,lightness, and resiliency are the most necessary characteristics. Pneumatic tires secured to light and strong rims are perhaps the nearest approach to perfection previously attained, but the liability to puncture is great, and unless means for repairing are at hand in case of such accident the wheel is useless. A wheel embodying the good points of the aircushion without its attendant disadvantages is much to be desired; The present invention is intended to supply such, and it is believed successfully attains that object.

It consists of an annulus or hollow ring of steel or other strong and resilient material forming the wheel-rim, receiving the spokes on the inner face and having a continuous open channel or slot cut through to the interior on the periphery along the line of the tread.

When a load is applied, the rim tends to flatten at the point in contact with the ground into an approximately elliptical cross-section by increasing the width. This tendency is resisted bythe stiffness of the curved springs forming the sides of the rim. The resistance increases in proportion to the weight of the load vfor the reason that the effective length `of the springs is reduced by the amount of the increased area thereby brought in contact with the ground.

In the most approved form of the invention the cross-section of the rim is crescent-shaped being thicker along the line at the junction with the spokes and gradually thinning in both directions toward the slot. The edges or lips so produced engage and hold an annular shoe or thread of soft vulcanized rubber, grooved on the opposite faces to receive them. The portion of the shoe exterior to the rim is curved away from the latter on the adjacent face, so thatthe flattening of the rim and the compression of the shoe combine to Serial N o. 587,850. (No model.)

close the joint between them and thus lessen the effective length of the springs. A narrow flange of rubber forming another portion of the shoe extends vertically across the interior of the rim and aids in resisting the tendency to iiatten.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification. Figure 1 is a side view of acomplete Wheel constructed in accordance with myinvention. The remaining figures are on a larger scale. Fig. 2 is a cross-section through the rim and shoe. Fig. 3 isa corresponding view showing the form assumed by the same parts when sustaining a load. Fig. 4L is an edge view of a portion of the rim alone. Fig. 5 is a face view of aportion of the shoe. Figs. 6, 7, and 8 are cross-sectional 'views showing several modiiied forms of the rim alone.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in all the figures.

Referring to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, which show the invention in its most com plete form, A is the wheel-rim, of steel or other material having a high degree of elasticity. It is produced in th'e form of a strip thickened along the center line and gradually thinned toward each edge. The strip is rolled into tubular form by treatment in suitable dies or otherwise bringing the edges nearly in contact with each other, and the ends are joined by brazing to form a hollow annulus, the section of which shows as a crescent, thicker at A and terminating in the thin lips A2 A2. A central rib A8 on the inner surface of the portion A extends completely around and aords sufcient metal in which to set the spokes I, which may be of any of the well-known forms and secured in any ordinary or approved manner. I have in these figures shown them as screwed into holes drilled and tapped at the proper intervals in the rim.

The adjacent edges of the lips are smoothly finished and rounded to avoid cutting and match to annular grooves b b, provided on each face of a ring of soft vulcanized rubber B. This shoe is inserted by forcibly parting the lips A2 and crowding it through the peripheral slot a between them. It aords means for insuring a reliable frictional hold on the ground and comprises the tread B',

IOO

" of the grooves b upon the lips.

connected by the narrow neck B2 between the grooves l) IJ to the supporting-fiange B2, eX- tending vertically across the interior of the rim and finding a bearing against the face of the rib A2'. The ange is thickened just above the neck at Bl to match to and increase its effective base on the inner face of the lips A2 and tapers slightly therefrom.

The portion B', forming the tread, is elliptical in cross-section, as shown, the upper surface curving away from the adjacent faces of the lips, so as to lie against a narrow line only on each close to the edge when the Wheel is not sustaining a load. Vhen the load is applied, as by a person mounting the wheel, the tread B attens somewhat at the point in contact with the ground, as does also the rim A, the several parts assuming positions approximating those shown in Fig. 3, increasing the area of the joint between the lips A2 and the shoe, thereby reducing the length of the free arms o'f the crescent on each side, forcing the flexion to take place at points farther from the lips and where the metal is thicker and correspondingly stiifer. The iange B3 is also compressed, thereby extending the bearing-surface forming its base and assisting the tread B in holding the thin edges A2 against springing, and also by acting strutwise between the lips and the rib A3 resists the tendency of the rim to shorten its diameter on that line.

The elasticity or resiliency may be described as obtaining in three portions of the rim and shoe: rst and principally, in the springs formed by the curved sides of the rim; secondly, in the compression of the tread of the shoe, and, third, in the compression of the flange B3. In applying a light load the first effect is to deflect inward the sides of the rim nearest the lips A2, to slightly compress the tread B and also the flange B2, ifthe latter fills the space very exactly. A further accession of weight still further flattens the cross-section of the rim, compresses the tread of the shoe, and closes the surfaces rIhe iiange asserts itself by opposing its mass to the crushing strain and any additional weight finds all the parts Working together to resist further depression.

By dispensing with the usual rim and tire and substituting the form here shown a considerable saving in weight may be effected, but the main advantage in this invention is the freedom from the evils of puncture, which require either that the rider be equipped with a repair kit and sufficient mechanical skill to use it or rely on ndin g a repair-shop at which the leak may be stopped. The construction here shown will allow the rider to continue, if necessar f, even though the rubber shoe be cut entirely through and rendered useless by riding with the curved sides of the rim in di rect contact with the ground, the resiliency afforded by the spring of the rim being sufficient to enable him to ride without serious discomfort or danger of damage to the wheel.

It is believed that the peculiar effect of the pneumatic tire, namely, the property of momentarily embedding within itself any small obstruction in its path instead of requiring the entire load to be lifted in surmounting it, will be found to a great degree in this mode of construction.

Modifications may be made in the forms and proportions within wide limits without departing from the principle of the invention or sacrificing its advantages.

Fig. 6 shows a similar shape, but made from a strip of uniform thickness throughout. The strengthening-rib A3 is here shown as a separate reinforcing-piece secured in position by riveting or otherwise. v

In the modification shown in Fig. 7 the rim is built up of several slotted tubes one Within the other, each having a narrower slot than the one it incloses. This form will have an action somewhat analogous toa leaf-spring.7

Fig. S shows a triangular form of cross-section.

I may, if it is deemed expedient, soften the yielding action of the springs by producing transverse slots or openings in the sides, or the ends of such slots may be cut away to form teeth or iin gers of greater or less length engaging the shoe between their tips or ends.

The material has been described as steel throughout this specification, and I believe such to be generally preferable, but other metals may be used and any suitable materials, including hard rubber, gutta-percha, or Celluloid in its various forms.

The best proportions in regard to the thickness of the rim, width of tread of the shoe, distance between the lips, and the like have not been fully determined and will depend in great measure on the material used. The drawings show these details as designed for steel.

Although I have described the invention as applied to a wheel-rim, it will be understood that it may be made to serve independently as a tire and be attached to any of the usual forms of rims to which it is adaptable.

I claiml. In a vehicleewheel, a tubular rim of resilient material, having a peripheral slot on the line of the tread, the free edges and side walls of the tube serving as springs to support the load, in combination with an annular shoe serving as a bearing-surface for the wheel, and having a flange B3 bearing against the inner face of the rim diametrically opposite said slot, substantially as herein specified.

2. In a vehicle-wheel, a tubular rim of resilient material having a peripheral slot on the line of the tread, the free edges and side walls of the tube serving as springs to support the load, in combination with an annular shoe matching said slot and held therein to IOO IIO

serve as a bearing-surface for the Wheel, and having a supporting-Harige extending across the rim and bearing against the inner face thereof diametrically opposite said slot, all substantially as herein specified.

3. In a vehicle-Wheel, a tubular rim of resilient material, reinforced interiorly along the line of attachment of the spokes to receive the latter and having a peripheral slot on the line of the tread, in combinationwith an annular shoe matching to and held insa-id slot to serve as a bearing-surface for the load and having a portion extending across the rim and bearing on said reinforce, substantially as herein specified.

4. In a vehicle-Wheel, a tubular rim of resilient material, receiving the spokes in a thickened portion and gradually thinned therefrom toward a peripheral slot formed on the line of the tread, in combination with an annular shoe matching to and held in said slot to serve as a bearing-surface for the Wheel and having a portion extending across the rim and bearing against said thickened portion, substantially as herein specified.

5. In a vehicle-Wheel, the tubular rim crescent-shaped in cross-section, the thickened portion A receiving the spokes, and the thin lips A2 having their adjacent ends rounded and the peripheral slot a between them, in combination With the annular shoe having` the grooves b engaged by said lips, the neck being thickened to form the bearing-surface B4 on the interior of the rim and the tread B on the exterior thereof and the flange B3 Within the rim, all substantially as herein` specified.

6. In a vehicle-Wheel, the tubular rim crescent-shaped in cross-section, the thickened portion A receiving the spokes, the additional strengthening-rib A3 thereon, and the thin lips A2 having the peripheral slot a between them, in combination With an annular shoe having grooves b engaged by said lips, the bearing-surface B4 on the interior face of the rim, the tread B' on the exterior thereof and the iange B3 extending vertically across the interior of the rim and abutting against said rim, all substantially as herein specified.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I afx my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES E. BULKLEY.

Vitnesses:

VICTOR G. REYNOLDS, LoUIs A. REPETTO.