Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Tyres.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 15th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Tyres.
I LEOPOLD HOLT, of Gilston Road, South Kensington, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to an improved construction of pneumatic tyre, having for
its object, facilitating its repair when punctured.
In carrying my invention into practice, I form the outer cover or sheath of
rubber, lined or not with canvas or similar material as found necessary. This
cover or sheath is circular in form but not tubular, being divided longitudinally
along its under or thinner side. On each edge is formed or fixed a flange radial to
the cover or sheath, so that the transverse section of the tyre is circular with a
radial flange. The rim of the wheel, which may be either solid or hollow, is of a
flat crescent section, and it has a longitudinal depression in the centre of its
concave face, adapting it to receive the double flange on the cover or sheath of the
tyre.
The canvas or analogous covering for the air tube is either made in the form of
a tube, or it is made in the form of an endless strip in which case it is attached to
the sides of the flanges of the outer cover or sheath by lacing, by buttons, or by
any other convenient device.
To fix the tyre to the rim, the air tube is placed within the canvas and outer
covers, and the flanges thereof may if desired be laced or otherwise fixed together.
The cover is then placed in the rim, the double flange bedding in the longitudinal
depression in the rim. The air tube is then inflated by a valve in the usual manner,
when the pressure within the tyre beds it to the rim and firmly secures it thereto
without the aid of cement. If desired the driving wheel tyre may be fixed to the
rim by means of one or two transverse bolts passing through the depression in the
rim and the flanges of the outer cover or sheath of the tyre therein.
I sometimes divide the interior space of the tyre into two compartments, each
having a separate air tube, so that whilst the inner one can be blown out
sufficiently tight to firmly secure the tyre to the rim, the outer one can be blown
up as lightly as the nature of the road or the weight of the rider demands.
Dated this First day of August 1891.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Tyres.
I LEOPOLD HOLT of Gilston Road, South Kensington, in the County of
Middlesex Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in
what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:—
My invention relates to an improved construction of pneumatic tyre having for
its object facilitating its repair when punctured.
In carrying my invention into practice I form the outer cover or sheath of
rubber, lined or not with canvas or similar material as found necessary. This
cover or sheath is circular in form but not tubular being divided longitudinally

page_text: along its under or thinner side. On each edge is formed or fixed a flange radial to
the cover, so that the transverse section of the tyre is circular with a double radial
flange. The rim of the wheel-which may be either solid or hollow is of a flat
crescent section and it has a longitudinal depression in the centre of its concave
face, adapting it to receive the double flange of the outer cover or sheath of the
tyre.
The canvas or analogous covering for the air tube-if the outer cover is not lined
with canvas-is either made in the form of a tube, or it is made in the form of an
endless strip in which case it is attached at its sides to the flanges of the outer
cover by lacing, by buttons, or by any other convenient device.
To fix the tyre to the rim, the air tube is placed within the canvas cover, if one
is used, and the edges thereof may if desired be laced or otherwise fixed to the
flanges of the cover. The cover is then placed in the rim, the double flange
bedding in the longitudinal depression in the rim. The air tube is then inflated by
a valve in the usual manner when the pressure within the tyre beds it to the rim
and firmly secures it thereto without the aid of cement, the flanges on the cover
locating its position in the rim and defining the size of the tyre. If desired the
cover when used on the rim of a driving wheel may be fixed to the rim by means
of one or two transverse bolts passing through the depression in the rim and the
flanges of the cover or sheath of the tyre therein.
I sometimes divide the interior space of the tyre into two compartments, one
above the other, each having a separate air tube, so that while the inner one can be
blown up sufficiently tight to firmly secure the tyre on the rim, the outer one may
be blown up as lightly as the nature of the road or weight of the rider demands.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I append a drawing hereto
illustrating how it is carried into practice.
Referring to the said drawing,
Figure 1 is a view in transverse section of my improved tyre fitted to a hollow
rim, and
Figure 2 is a view in transverse section of the outer cover or sheath.
Figure 3 is a view in transverse section of my improved tyre fitted to a solid
rim.
Figure 4 is a view in transverse section showing how the canvas lining is attached
to the outer cover when it is not permanently fixed thereto.
Figure 5 is a view in transverse section of an improved form of air tube which I
sometimes use.
Figure 6 is a broken view in transverse section showing how the cover may be
fixed to the rim to prevent its creeping thereon, and
Figures 7 and 8 are views in transverse section showing the use of two air
tubes.
Throughout the several views similar parts are marked with like letters of
reference.
Referring to the drawings. A designates the cover or sheath of the tyre formed
of rubber or analogous material tubular, or approximately tubular in cross section
and thicker on the part adapted to form the tread than elsewhere. The tube is
open on its under side and has a radial flange or enlargement a on each edge.
B designates the rim of the wheel which may be hollow or solid, and it has a
longitudinal groove or depression, formed in its concare face to receive the flanges
or enlargements a, a, of the cover A. The edges of the groove or depression bare
made parallel with the edges of the rim and the width of the said groove or
depression is greater than the combined thickness of the two flanges a, a, so that
they fit easily therein and allow space for the flange of the air tube if required.
The groove or depression may if desired be made in two parts each adapted to
receive one of the flanges a, but as the spaces between the edges of the rim and the
outer edges of the groove or grooves form the frictional gripping surfaces they
must not be unnecessarily diminished.
The outer cover A may be either lined with canvas C as shown by Figures 1

page_text: and 2 of the accompanying drawing, or the canvas lining C may be loose therefrom
and adapted to be fixed thereto by lacing as shown by Figure 4.
I sometimes lace the two flanges a, a, together before putting the tyre on the rim
of the wheel, and when the lining C is loose from the cover it may be laced to the
flanges a, a, at the same time they are being laced together. D designates the air
tube which may be of the usual type and fitted with any suitable form of inflation
valve. I sometimes however form a radial flange d on the underside of the air tube
as shown by Figure 5 of the accompanying drawing, the said flange being adapted
to fit between the radial flanges a, a, of the cover and to be laced thereto if desired.
To prevent the cover A from creeping round the rim when applied to driving
wheels I pass one or more bolts E transversely through the groove or depression b
in the rim, and through the flanges or enlargements a, a, of the cover A as shown
by Figure 6.
Referring to Figures 7 and 8, D₁ designates the second air tube adapted to
confine the outer cover A to the rim B, and d' designates the non-stretchable band
encircling the said air tube. This band-if its diameter is greater than that of the
rim B-may be attached to the air tube D' as shown by Figure 8, but if its
diameter is less than that of the rim B as shown by Figure 7 the band must be
provided with any suitable device for connecting its ends or shortening its length
when it is in position in the rim, and in this case it is preferably not attached to the
air tube D¹. In Figure 7 both air tubes are shown deflated, and in Figure 8 the
air tube D is shown deflated and the air tube D¹ inflated. Both air tubes are
provided with suitable valves each arranged to pass through the rim of the wheel in
any suitable position.
It will be seen that when the air tube-or tubes if two are used-is deflated and
the tyre removed from the rim of the wheel, the air tube can be at once got at for
the purpose of repair owing to the divided cover. The flanges or enlargements
on the edges of the cover serve but one purpose; i., to define the size and shape of
the tyre and its correct position on the rim. The principle on which this tyre is
fixed to the rim by inflation is exactly the same as that of tubular tyres of the
Boothroyd" type, the flanges or enlargements on the cover in no way assisting in
the fixing of the tyre to the rim.
66
It will be understood that that part of my invention relating to the use of two air
tubes, the one adapted to fix the outer cover to the rim of the wheel and the other
forming the air cushion or tyre proper, is applicable to all types of pneumatic tyres
in which the outer cover or sheath is fixed to the rim of the wheel by the pressure
of air within the tyre.
I am aware that tyres have already been fixed to the rims of wheels by the
pressure of air within them, also that pneumatic tyres have been made the outer
covers of which are fixed or clinched to the rim by the pressure of the air in the air
tube, also that tyres have been made with dovetail flanges adapted to fit in similar
recesses in the rim of the wheel, and also that tyres have been made with radial
flanges having circumferential side recesses into which the edges of the rim have
been pressed or rolled to permanently fix the said tyres to the rims, but I do not
claim any of such arrangements as my invention and
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The improvements in pneumatic tyres, substantially as herein before described
and illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
2. A pneumatic tyre the outer cover of which is circular or approximately
circular in cross section, divided along its underside and having flanges or enlarge-
ments on each edge adapted to engage with a groove or depression in the rim of the
wheel designed to receive the said flanges or enlargements, as and for the purpose
set forth.
3. In a pneumatic tyre, the combination with an air tube, of an outer cover

page_text: approximately tubular in form and having a radial flange or enlargement on each
edge, and of a rim having one or two grooves or depressions in its outer face
adapted to receive the flanges or enlargements on the outer cover, as and for the
purpose set forth.
4. In a pneumatic tyre, the combination with an air tube, of an outer cover
approximately tubular in form and having radial flanges or enlargements on its
edges, of a lining of canvas or similar material, and of a rim having a groove or
depression in its outer face of a size adapted to receive the said flanges or enlarge-
ments without compression, as and for the purpose set forth.
5. In a pneumatic tyre, the combination of an outer cover approximately tubular
in form and having radial flanges on its edges adapted to be fixed together by
lacing or otherwise to complete the tubular form, as and for the purpose set forth.
6. In a pneumatic tyre, the combination of an outer cover approximately tubular
in form and having radial flanges on its edges, of a loose canvas or other suitable
textile lining adapted to be attached to the cover by lacing, as set forth.
7. In a pneumatic tyre, the combination of an outer cover approximately tubular
in form and having radial flanges on its edges, and of an air tube having a radial
flange adapted to fit between the flanges on the cover when the tyre is in position
on the rim of the wheel, as set forth.
8. In a pneumatic tyre, the combination of an outer cover approximately tubular
in form and having radial flanges on its edges, of a lining of canvas or other
textile fabric, and of an air tube having a radial flange all adapted to be fixed
together by laces passing through the said flanges, as and for the purpose set
forth.
9. In a pneumatic tyre, the outer cover of which is adapted to be fixed to the
rim by the pressure of air within the tyre, the use of two separate air tubes, as and
for the purpose hereinbefore set forth."
10. In a pneumatic tyre, the combination of the outer cover or sheath made in
the form of a band, of a rim adapted to receive the said cover and so shaped that
the cover becomes locked to the rim by internal pressure, of an air tube adapted to
fix the cover to the rim, of a non-stretchable band adapted to confine the said air
tube, and of a second air tube adapted to fill the outer part of the cover and form
the elastic tread, as set forth.
11. The improved pneumatic tyre as hereinbefore described and illustrated by
Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.
12. The improved pneumatic tyre as hereinbefore described and illustrated by
Figures 7 and 8 of the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 15th day of January 1891
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.