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THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



[January 1, 1914. 



A Few of the Latest Tires. 



SPRING TIRE WITH A RUBBER BLOCK THEAD. 



IN their search for a practical aiUomnliiU" wlicel with the resili- 

 ent qualities of the pneumatic and without its disadvantages, 

 inventors have brought out numerous designs embodying 

 spring hubs, spring spokes and spring rims, the majority of which 



with a slender rod projecting down into the tube a certain dis- 

 stance, and when the tire becomes sufficiently deflated so that 

 the tread is pushed against the rod, the rod is pushed into the 

 valve and causes the whistle to blow. 



Ohlsson Spring and Rubber Block Tire. 



have proved either too expensive to manufacture in competition 

 with the pneumatics, or impractical in actual operation. Here, how- 

 ever, is a wheel of entirely new design, which lays claim to at 

 last having solved the problem. It has been examined in opera- 

 tion by a representative of the India Rubber World^ and seems 

 to uphold the contentions of the designers. A good idea of the 

 construction of this tire may be gained from the illustration. 

 It has a solid rubber tread consisting of rubber blocks, each 

 attached to a steel plate so that each plate and block is inde- 

 pendent of the one adjacent to it. In the center of each plate 

 is a depression or groove, so that when all plates are placed end 

 to end a continuous channel is formed around the wheel. 

 Through this channel runs a flexible, endless steel cable which 

 binds the blocks securely together, resists the pressure of the 

 springs and allows the tread to weave over the road, regardless 

 of the condition of the surface. The felloe has a flat rim pro- 

 vided with two series of studs, over which the springs are set. 

 Each plate also has two corresponding studs and is supported 

 by two springs. Thus, it will be seen that the whole tire is of 

 simple construction as well as substantial, there being no wear 

 on any part except the rubber blocks. In case of injury to one 

 of these blocks, it can be removed in a few minutes and a new 

 one bolted on in its place. [The Ohlsson Spring Tire Co., 528 

 Bergen street. Brooklyn, New York.] 



THE WHISTLE BLOWS WHEN THE TIRE IS fXAT. 



Another device has recently been put on the market similar 

 to the one described in December, except that here the rod is 

 inserted into the tube instead of being situated outside, and the 

 signal which it gives of the soft tire is by means of a whistle 

 instead of by means of a bell. In this apparatus a valve is fitted 



A NEW REPUBLIC TIRE TREAD 



The accompanying illustration shows a new non-skid tire for 

 use on light cars. It is called the "WM" tire, since the design 

 forms these two letters. This tire is made in the following sizes : 

 30 X 3, 30 X 354, 32 x 3H inches. [The Re- 

 public Rubber Co., Youngstown. Ohio.] 



THUEE PNEUMATIC TUBES IN ONE. 



While all sorts of constructions and im- 

 provements in the outer casings of automo- 

 bile tires have been introduced, very few 

 changes have been made in the design of the 

 inner tube. Here, however, is a tube which 

 embodies three independent tubes in one. 

 On the exterior it resembles any 

 ordinary inner tube, but by reference to 

 the cross sectional views it will be seen 

 y that it differs radically from the usual con- 

 struction. The three tubes are shown at 

 A B and C. They may be inflated inde- 

 pendently, one at a time, by means of a 

 specially constructed tire valve D, which 

 has three separate air passages leading to 

 the three tubes. When the tube is placed 

 in the tire the section A is first inflated by 

 turning the valve so that the proper air 

 duct communicates with this section. The 

 compressed air in the tube A flattens the 

 walls of the tubes B and C against the 

 outer walls as shown in Fig. 1, and the tire is run with 

 the one tube inflated until a puncture occurs. Then instead of 

 having to replace the tube, or to repair the puncture, the valve 

 is turned into such a position that either tube 5 or C may be 

 inflated. In Fig. 2 the tube C is shown inflated so that it 

 entirely fills the internal space of the tube A, and at the same 



Republic "WM" 

 Tire. 



New Triple Inner Tube. 



time increases the thickness of the tread portion of the tube. 

 When this tube becomes punctured the third tube may be in- 

 flated and used until a third puncture occurs. The advantages 

 of such a tube may be readily recognized by any driver who has 

 had the experience of having to stop by the wayside and spend 

 many valuable minutes in repairing a puncture. [U. S. Patent 

 No. 1,078,515.] 



