The " Lynton " Resilient Wheel.
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An Invention in which Springs are not Employed.
The problem of the " spring " wheel has greatly exercised the minds of many men during the last few years, but so far without any result of practical use on heavy commercial motors, on account of the multiplicity of parts which such a structure involves.
Our attention has recently been
drawn to an invention which is extremely simple and which, after a test
-of some 10,000 miles on a light car, has shown no tendency to failure. The general idea of this wheel is conveyed by our sectional drawing. It is not generally known that rubber is not a compressible material, or at any rate the mixtures used for tires only possess this quality to a limited extent. The
cushioning effect which is secured by the use of a rubber tire is, practically, due to the displacement of the rubber, rather than to any compression of its substance. The Lynton wheel permits the rubber to spread out sideways when the periphery of the tire meets with any unevenness of the road surface. The tire thus takes the load
at two points in its circumference : at the place of contact with the road, at which point it is caused to swell out, and at a position diametrically oppo site, where it is nipped between the two portions of the rim.
As the rubber swells out at one place, it causes the loose steel disc to cant over on the central, spherical portion of the hub, and it is this canting of the disc which causes the diametrically-opposite point to be nipped. Creeping of the tire is prevented by the ribs on the fixed
disc. Continuous, or sectional, tires may be used, and the cost of production of the wheel is slightly lower than for an artillery type of wheel.
The makers are first turning their attention to wheels suitable for motorcabs, and already they are in a position to give delivery of 3o-inch and 32-inch wheels for single or twin tires. It is our intention, at some future time, to submit this make of wheel to a practical test on the road. Mr. Ernest H. Arnott, of 15, Nile Street, Warrington, is responsible for its manufacture and sale, and he will, no doubt, be pleased to give any further information to interested parties on application.