An Improved Composition Chiefly Designed for Automatically Closing and Sealing Punctures in Pneumatic Tyres.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 10th May, 1898-Accepted, 6th Aug., 1898
An Improved Composition Chiefly Designed for Automatically
Closing and Sealing Punctures in Pneumatic Tyres.
We, GEORGE JOHN BETTS, of No. 44, Beaconsfield Parade, St. Kilda, in the
Colony of Victoria, Commercial Traveller, and FREDERICK THEODORE BOWER, of
No. 13; Grey Street, St. Kilda, aforesaid, Auctioneer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be parti-
cularly. described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
:-
This invention has been devised mainly for the purpose of providing means for
automatically closing and sealing punctures in pneumatic tyres for bicycles,
although it is obvious that it is applicable for a similar purpose to pneumatic tyres
for vehicles, and flexible pneumatic tubes pads and cushions of every description.
It consists of the following ingredients mixed in the manner and proportions
substantially as set forth, that is to say,-
Twenty four parts of pure india-rubber are placed in a suitable vessel and sub-
jected to heat until the rubber is thoroughly melted. When this has been accom-
plished and the melted rubber is at or about boiling point, three parts of French
chalk are added and thoroughly mixed. This mixture is then allowed to cool to
about 180° Fah., when four parts of meal-preferably wheat meal--are added, and
thoroughly mixed with it.
This "then allowed to cool to about 160° Fah. when one part of glycerine is
added and the whole thoroughly mixed together, the product being our improved
elastic viscous composition.
It will be seen that the india-rubber is the basis of our composition; the French
chalk is added for the purpose of stiffening the composition; the wheat meal is
added for the purpose of thickening it without hardening it; and the glycerine is
added for preserving its viscosity.
Instead of pure india-rubber, impure may be used so long as it is not adulterated
to too great an extent. If it will not sink in water it is sufficiently pure for the
purpose of assisting in the manufacture of our composition. If it will sink it
is not advisable to use it.
Vulcanised india-rubber might be used if it were heated until all the sulphur
it contained were driven off. In any case the melted rubber should be about the
consistency of very thick molasses, and when the French chalk is added it should
be about the consistency of light dough.
As to the glycerine, the mixture must not be sufficiently cooled as to prevent the
glycerine being intimately mixed with it, and in the event of the composition being
required for use in cold countries, a larger proportion of glycerine may be added so
as to prevent the composition becoming too hard.
Our composition may be spread by any suitable means on to the inner surface of
the tube pad or cushion to which it is to be applied, and may be put on to any
thickness which the operator may think desirable, and it must be covered with some
suitable material to prevent its adhering together when the two sides of the tube
pad or cushion are compressed together.

page_text: When being used for what is known as the Fleus' tyre, we prefer to place it
between the folds of the fabric constituting the inner part of the tyre.
Its operation is that when the tube is punctured say by a nail or any other
article, a certain proportion of our composition will remain attached to the nail,
and as it is withdrawn the composition will automatically follow it and close and
seal the orifice which has been formed by the puncturing article.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
Our improved elastic viscous composition made of the ingredients, in the propor-
tions, and for the purposes specified, substantially as herein described and ex-
plained.
Dated this Sixth day of April One Thousand Eight Hundred and Ninoter
eight.
GEORGE JOHN BETTS.
FREDERICK THEODORE BOWER.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.