February 1, 1914.] 



THE INDIA RUBBER WORLD 



265 



Rubber at the Pans Automobile Salon. 



By a Special Correspondent. 



w 



lll.li there has iindoublcdly been progress of late years 

 \n the European tire industry, it must be admitted that 

 sucli progress has been slow. .V good deal still has to 

 be (lone in that branch of the rubber industry. The aim of 



Decauvii.le Wrapimxc Machine. 



inventors was formerly to prevent the bursting and 

 puncturing of tires, in which endeavors they used sys- 

 teins more or less of a complicated and expensive 

 nature. All these inventions and systems have com- 

 pletely ilisappcared. Today every one understands 

 that the pneumatic tire should be light and. above all. 

 extremely resilient: the latter quality being the prin- 

 cig^al reason for its existence. 



Tires formed the most interesting object as regarded 

 rulibcr in the Fourteenth Automobile Salon, recently 

 held in Paris, but the exhibits included only standard 

 types of pneumatic tires with anti-skid treads in round 

 or flat outlines, and with steel rivets upon foundations 

 of leather. This style of tire is the most popular in 

 France, being preferred to one entirely of rubber, and 

 being practically free from the risk of punctures, while 

 maintaining a sufficient degree of resiliency. It was 

 brought out in 1907 by Michelin & Co., and has since 



remained in favor, superseding the other more complicated 



styles. 



DKC.VUVIIJ.K WRAPPING MACIIINK. 



The principal improvement seen at the exhibition has been in 

 connection with the wrapping of tires. It was for a long tiiue 

 customary to vulcanize tires on straight mandrels, and to unite 

 them after vulcanization. This method having been found incon- 

 venient, tires are now made in a number of factories on circular 

 mandrels. This allows of the definite shape they will have when 

 in the tires being obtained during vulcanization. 



But this operation is not easily performed by hand, and the 

 wrapping of the bands of fabric round the air-chamber is a 

 lengthy process. M. Emil Decauville, a well-known machinist, 

 has elaborated a machine for the mechanical wrapping of these 

 bands, which is said to effect its purpose successfully, and is 

 illustrated herewith. It includes a wheel, cut to allow the pas- 

 sage of the mandrel, and is simple in its operation. The machine 

 is operated by an endless band passing over aluminum guides. 

 .\ guide likewise regulates the tension of the fabric. 



The wheel carrying the bobbin is set in motion by a belt cover- 

 ing five-sixths of its surface, thus giving considerable motive 

 power. A connecting pulley to receive the motion is attached to 

 the machine, which can also be directly driven by an electric 

 motor, as shown in the annexed cut. 



It is anticipated that this manufacture of tul)es on circular 

 mandrels is an improvement which will be ailopted by all makers 

 lit pneimiatic tires. 



MUnCUARDS. 

 .Mudguards first received attention at the Thirteenth Automo- 

 bile Salon, referred to in the March, 1913, issue of The India 

 RinitER World (page 328). As the question continues to be of 

 current interest for rubber manufacturers, some further details 

 are given of the "L'Eclair" system, briefly referred to in the 

 above-named article. This type is said to have given satisfactory 

 results and is represented by cut shown below. The Shield A 

 consists of a circular band of rubber with one or two layers of 

 fabric lining. The attachment-rod B is shown on the side. The 

 movalile plates 1. 2. 3 and the extensible plate 4 insure the firm 

 hold of the whole appliance on the rim. This mudguard can be 

 applied equally well to all wdieels with wooden or metallic spokes, 

 and likew-ise to emergency and twin wheels. It can be fitted very 



A = Rubber shield. 

 B = Attachment rod 



L'Eclair Midgiard. 

 1. 2, 



3 ^ Movable plates. 



4 = Extensible i>late. 



