Improvements in or relating to Pneumatic Tyres.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 6th Jan., 1892-Accepted, 6th Feb., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Pneumatic Tyres.
I, FRIEDRICH VEITH, of Kreuznach, in the Kingdom of Prussia and Empire
of Germany, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in tyres, particularly destined for use in
cycles and having for its object to reduce, as much as possible, the vibrations and
concussions caused by uneven ground. To obtain the same object many improve-
ments have recently been tried, particularly by employing hollow tyres. This
kind of tyre may be classified in two systems, one of which is termed cushion tyres,
having hollow tyres with sufficient elasticity of their own, and the other pneumatic
tyres, having the bore of the tyre filled by compressed air. The said compressed.
however is not introduced directly into the hollow bore of the tyre, but into
an air-tight interior tube which is inserted into and fills the bore of the tyre
air,
proper.
The pneumatic tyres are superior in elasticity to the cushion tyres, but are liable
to require repairing very frequently owing to the deficiencies of the interior tube
which becomes easily injured by wear and allows the compressed air to escape. It
has been found by experience that most or nearly all of the injuries to the tyres :
which occur are not to be attributed to external wear, cuts or stitches which.
penetrate the tyre, but to the interior tube containing the compressed hir. and
allowing it to escape through worn or rent portions of its thin material.
The present improvements of my invention are based upon the observation, that
the interior air-tight tube is most objectionable from the view of causing frequent
repairs and that the same ought to be entirely dispensed with.
To provide a tyre which obviates the deficiencies hitherto connected with
pneumatic tyres, I employ a hollow rubber tyre slotted all round, or at portions of
its innor side and secure said tyre upon the rim of the wheel by means of an open
hoop, preferably of steel, the two ends of which hoop overlap each other and are
provided with suitable means for being forced towards and over each other, thereby
reducing the circle formed by said hoop.
The wheel-rim is preferably made of steel and of a semi-circular or similar
shape; the upper or outside surface of said rim is preferably made rough or
provided with small teeth, projections or corrugations, into which the rubber of the
tyre is pressed to catch and hold the same and prevent its slipping.
The tyre is laid upon said hollow rim and the open hoop introduced into the
hollow slotted tyre; the said hoop being narrower than the rim of the wheel.
Lugs are formed or secured to the lower side of the two ends of the open hoop,
said lugs project through the slotted tyre and through the wheel-rim to the inner
side thereof. One of the said lugs has sufficient play in a longitudinal slot of the
rim to be drawn towards the other lug. By means of a removable screw and nut,
or by leverage or other suitable means, the two lugs are forcibly drawn against
and the hoop ends over each other and the hoop, thereby, becoming more and more
narrow, presses the edges of the slotted tyre firmly on to the wheel-rim and into-
the teeth or projections or corrugations of the same. To better grasp the rubber
on both sides, the lower side of the said hoop may also be provided with small
teeth, or projections or corrugations, or a rough surface. The pressure of the said
hoop, as its ends are forcibly drawn over each other, acts all round the wheel in an
equal, strong pressure on the inside of the tyre where it rests against the wheel-
rim, and an air-tight joint is formed by said hoop. To more fully ensure the air-
tight joint between the tyre and hoop, the latter may be lined with a suitable
elastic material, such as rubber, leather or fabrics, and I also prefer to place

page_text: between the two overlapping ends of the open hoop a strip of rubbar or suitable
packing material.
To facilitate the fastening of the lugs to the ends of the open hoop, said ends
may be re-enforced by plates or pieces of metal, riveted or soldered to the said ends
of the hoop, the lugs forming part of said strengthening plates.
When the two ends of the hoop are sufficiently drawn towards and over one
another and the tyre all round is tightened up to the wheel-rim by its interior
hoop, screw plugs are introduced from outside through the wheel-rim into suitable
screw sockets of the hoop or strengthening plates, and by said screws the hoop is
firmly locked in its tightened position to hold the tyre upon the wheel-rim.
Additional screws may be used, distributed on the circumference of the wheel, but
such additional screws may in most cases be dispensed with.
To force air into the hollow tyre, a suitable valve is provided which may
conveniently be arranged within the bore of one of the lugs serving to tighten
the hoop.
By the improved method described of securing the tyre on the wheel by an inside
hoop and by locking said hoop through screws it is almost impossible for the tyre
to slip off from the rim of the wheel.
The improved tyre of my invention offers the particular advantage of allowing
any repairs to be made by the rider on the spot and without any loss of time. The
tyre may be readily removed by releasing the tightened hoop and mounted again
by tightening the hoop anew. Any cuts or stitches or crevices may be repaired
by applying, inside of the tyre through the slot a suitable plaster to close the
injured part. Said plaster being pressed upon the wounded part by the inside air
pressure, will hold though its paste or glue is not at all dry. All plasters administered
from outside of the tyre will be thrown off by the pressure of air, if the paste is
not quite hard, which requires a considerable length of time to become hardened.
In some cases, I prefer to use a peculiar rubber plug for repairing small cuts or
stitches which may have pierced the rubber of the tyre. A plug of this kind is
provided, at its forward end with a folding collar, similar to an umbrella. The cut
or stitch to be repaired is widened up by a suitable pair of tongs or nippers and the
plug is introduced with its collar folded up to the stem. Inside of the tyre the said
collar will unfold and cover the injured part; the inside pressure of the air helps to
press the said collar against the side of the tyre to close the crevico through which
air might escape.
A tyre made according to my invention will answer to any requirements which
may reasonably be put forth for constituting a faultless tyre of superior clasticity.
Dated this 14th day of September 1891.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of C, Lord Strock, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.
MOC DROG May ago App
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Pneumatic Tyres.
I, FRIEDRICH VEITH, of Kreuznach, in the Kingdom of Prussia and Empire
of Germany, 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 is connected with elastic tyres, particularly for use in cycles, and
it has principally for its object to reduce as much as possible the vibrations and
concussions when running on uneven ground, moreover it is intended to prevent the
necessity of frequent repairs of the tyre, and to facilitate repairs, when necessary,
without much loss of time.
My improved tyre is a hollow pneumatic tyre the elasticity of which is increased
by its being inflated with compressed air. Pneumatic tyres, in general; are well

page_text: the two ends of hoop B tightly together and of thereby forcing it closely around
the rim A, to squeeze the rubber of tyre C tightly on to said rim and prevent any
escape of air.
As a mechanical means to force the two lugs ab towards each other, I prefer to
use a removable screw D, passing with one end through a tapped lug or bracket d
and terminating at its other end in a slotted plate or hook, suitably adapted to
engage the projecting hug b. A nut c is mounted on the screw D, behind the
lug d, and it will be seen that, on turning said screw in one or the other direction,
the lug 6 of hoop B will be drawn towards or removed from the lug a, which, in
this case, is locked in an aperture a of the wheel rim A.
Instead of a screw D, other suitable means, such as a lever or the like, may be
employed for forcing the lug b in its slot y in the direction of the lug a, or else the
reverse way, to tighten the two ends of the hoop B, or to release the same.
The pressure of this hoop B, as its ends are forcibly drawn over each other,
exerts all around the wheel an equally strong pressure on the inside of tyre C,
where it rests against the wheel rim, and an air-tight joint is thereby formed by
means of the said hoop B.
To more fully ensure the tightness of the joint between the tyre and hoop B, the
latter may be lined or covered with a suitable elastic material, such as rubber,
leather or fabrics, as shown in Figures 5, 7 and 8, the ends of such lining g being
glued or pasted or cemented to the tyre C by a suitable binding substanco, and I
also prefer to establish, between the two overlapping ends of the open hoop B, a
strip of rubber or other suitable packing material.
When the two ends of the hoop B are sufficiently drawn towards and over
another, and the tyre C is tightened all around up to the wheel rim by the said
hoop B, screw plugs i are introduced through slots in the wheel rim and screwed
into screw sockets i carried by the strengthening plates e and projecting therefrom,
and the hoop B is firmly locked by the said screws i, in its tightened position so
as to hold the tyre C taut and firmly upon the wheel rim A. Additional screws h,
distributed over the lower side of the wheel rim A and entering into screw sockets
of the hoop B, may be employed, but in most cases such additional screws may be
dispensed with.
By the hereinbefore described means for securing the tyre upon the wheel rim,
it becomes almost impossible for the tyre to slide off from the rim.
A suitable valve is provided, whereby air can be forced into the hollow tyre,
said valve may conveniently be arranged on, or within the bore of one of the
luga a b, which serve to tighten the hoop. In the drawings, the valve k is shown
to open and close the inside mouth of the bore of lug b, to which lug, a tube or pipe
is fastened for forcing air into the hollow tyre C.
My improved tyre offers the particular advantage that any repairs needed can be
made by the rider on the spot and without any loss of time. The tyre may be
readily removed by releasing the tightened hoop B, and be mounted again upon
the wheel by tightening said hoop anew. The open slot or slots in the lower side
of the tyre C affords or afford ready admission to the inside of the tyre, when the
hoop B has been removed, and permit any cuts, stitches or holes to be repaired by
applying a strip or plaster or the like, inside the hollow tyre, to close the injured
spot. Said plaster, being afterwards pressed upon the injured spot by the inside
pressure of the air, will firmly hold, though the paste or glue or cement is not at
all dry, while all strips or plasters, applied from outside, would be thrown off the
tyre by the same air pressure, if the paste or glue is not quite hard, necessitating a
considerable waste of time.
In some cases, I prefer to use a peculiar rubber plug or stopper l', Figures 9, 10
and 11, for repairing small cuts, stitches or arevices which may have pierced the
rubber of the tyre. A plug of this kind is provided, at its forward tapering end,
with a folding collar &, which, when open, as represented in Figures 9 and 11, gives
the plug the shape of an umbrella. The cut or stitch in the rubber to be repaired
is widened up by a suitable pair of tongs or nippers or their equivalent, and the

page_text: plug introduced with the collar folded up to the stem. Inside the hollow tyre C,
the said collar will unfold and cover the injured part all around, the stitch or out,
being filled up and closed, besides, by the stem of the plug. The inside pressure
of the air then helps to press the said collar tightly against the side of the tyre, to
close the cut or crevice against the escape of air. A suitable paste or glue may be
used to coat the collar before introducing the same, and the projecting part of the
stem is cut flush with the tyre surface when the repair has been made. By the
use of such plugs or stoppers, small crevices, cuts or holes in the tyre C may be
immediately repaired without even removing the tyre from the wheel rim.
A tyre made according to my invention will answer any requirements which
may be reasonably expected when a faultless tyre of superior elasticity is
required.
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. A pneumatic tyre, consisting of an elastic hollow tyre or tube, slotted or
slitted on the lower or wheel rim side, and adapted to be secured to and tightened
to the wheel rim by an interior open hoop, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
2. A pneumatic tyre, consisting of an elastic hollow tyre or tube slotted or
slitted on the lower or wheel rim side, in combination with an open hoop arranged
inside said tyre and means to force the ends of said hoop towards each other so as
to tighten the said boop on to the wheel rim, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination, with an elastic hollow tyre or tube slotted or slitted on the
lower or wheel rim side, of an open hoop arranged inside of said hollow tyre, lugs
secured or formed to said hoop and projecting through the tyre slot or slots and
through apertures of the wheel rim, and mechanical means for forcing the said luge
towards each other, substantially as set forth.
4. The combination, with an elastic hollow tyre or tube slotted or slitted on the
lower or wheel rim side, of an open hoop arranged inside of said hollow tyre, lugs
secured or formed to said hoop and projecting through the tyre slot or slots and
through apertures of the wheel rim, mechanical means, such as screws, levers or
the like, to tighten the hoop on to the wheel rim, and screw sockets and screws for
locking the hoop in its tightened position substantially as set forth.
5. The combination, with an elastic hollow tyre or tube slotted or slitted on the
lower or wheel rim side, of an open hoop arranged inside of said hollow slotted
tyre, lugs secured or formed to said hoop projecting from the tyre and wheel rim, a
valve or valves for introducing compressed air into the hollow tyre through one of
the said lugs, mechanical means for forcing the said lugs towards each other and
screws to lock the hoop in its tightened position, substantially as set forth.
6. The combination, with an elastic hollow tyre or tube slotted or slitted on the
lower or wheel rim side of an open hoop arranged inside of said hollow slotted tyre,
strengthening plates secured to the ends of said open hoop, lugs secured or formed
to said hoop or strengthening plates, a suitable packing material tightening the
joint of the said hoop against the tyre, mechanical means for tightening the open
hoop on to the wheel rim, and screws to lock the said hoop in its tightened position,
substantially as set forth.
7. The combination, with an elastic hollow tyre or tube slotted or slitted on the
lower or wheel rim side, of an open hoop arranged inside of the said hollow alotted
tyre, strengthening plates secured or formed to the ends of said hoop, lugs formed
or secured to said hoop or strengthening plates, a valve or valves connected with
one of said lugs for forcing air into the hollow tube, a suitable packing material
lining the hoop and tightening the same against the tyre, mechanical means for
tightening the open hoop on to the wheel rim, and means for locking the said hoop
in its tightened position, substantially as set forth.
8. As an article of manufacture, elastic plugs or stoppers for repairing pneumatic

page_text: tyres, said plugs or stoppers consisting of a stem or shank having a folding collar
at the forward tapering end, substantially as hereinbefore described and shown and
to be applied as set forth.
Dated this 5th day of January 1892.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.