Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres.
I, JOHN TOWNSEND TRENCH of Kenmare, County Kerry, Ireland, Land
Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved construction of that type of single tube
tyre divided longitudinally along its inner edge so that it can be repaired internally,
the said tube being self-closing so as to be capable of containing air under pressure
when fixed or placed in the wheel rim.
Hitherto such tyres have been made with their edges overlapping, but by my
improved construction I make or form on each edge of the tyre, lips adapted to
come together and press against each other when the cover is placed in or fixed to
the wheel rim, the said lips being approximately vertical to the wheel rim and
radial to the cover.
In order that these lips may press against each other sufficiently tight to make
an air tight joint they are moulded or otherwise formed to slope outwards so that
they meet and press one against the other as the cover is placed in or fixed to the
wheel rim, thus ensuring a firm and tight joint before air is introduced into the
tyre.
The lips are preferably tapered or cone shaped so that the pressure of air within
the tyre acts to force and keep them together.
The lips may be either moulded or formed in one piece with the cover, or they
may be made of strips of more elastic or superior rubber cemented or otherwise
attached to the cover, and their abutting faces may be faced with semi-plastic
rubber or its equivalent for the purpose of ensuring a more perfect air tight joint.
I do not limit myself to any particular method of attaching the cover to the
wheel rim as it may be attached thereto by means of the "Clincher," "Welch-
Dunlop," or any other suitable and convenient attachment.
Dated this 20th dor of Anil 1906
1, JOHN TOWNSEND TRENCH of Kenmare, County Kerry, Ireland, Land
Agent, 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:-
This invention relates to an improved construction of that type of single tube
tyre divided longitudinally along its inner side or base and having its margins or
edges so arranged as to become self-closing and capable of containing air under
pressure when mounted in the wheel rim.

page_text: Hitherto such tyres-commonly known as "tubeless tyres "-have been made
with the edges of the tube overlapping or making joint with the wheel rim, but
such constructions have inherent defects which it is the object of this invention to
overcome. These defects are, difficulty of ensuring an air tight joint between the
edges or margins of the tube before inflation is commenced, liability of the tube
to fly off the wheel rim when it becomes suddenly deflated through puncture.
Various attempts have been made to overcome these defects but there is no
tyre of this type that has yet been produced which has not one or more of the
said defects.
In my improved tyre I make use of any of the ordinary one part wheel rims,
and the construction of tube to contain the air is such that a perfect air-tight joint
is made between its edges or margins without the use of any extraneous aids and
it is capable of containing or holding the air for indefinite periods.
According to my invention I form on or fix to the margins a of the tube A
internal radial or vertical lips such as a¹ so shaped that they meet and press
against each other when the tube is mounted in the wheel rim B, that they form
an air tight joint before inflation is commenced.
The tube A is formed of rubber reinforced with canvas or other fabric in the
well-known manner and it is lined with a liuing A' of rubber or other suitable
material to make it air-proof. The lips a¹ may either be formed in one with the
lining A or the said lining may be carried round the said lips.
The lips a' are made of a tapered or coned shape so that the pressure of air
within the tyre acts to force and keep them together, and they are so formed or
shaped with respect to the body of the tube that they curve or slope out of the
vertical as shown by Figure 2, and therefore, when the tube is mounted in the
wheel rim B they bear against each other and thereby form an air-tight joint. If
desired the abutting faces of the lips a' may be faced with semi-plastic rubber or
its equivalent for the purpose of ensuring a more perfect air-tight joint.
The tube A is attached to the wheel rim B anx the outward expansion of its edges
or margins is limited by any suitable devices such as those shown in the accompanying
drawing.
Referring to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawing the edges a of the
tube are thickened and are shaped to form external lugs or ears a² which are
adapted to engage with the inturned edges 6 of the wheel rim. In a modification
of this construction the enlarged edges a of the tube may simply fit in or engage
with one or two plain grooves in the wheel rim as shown by Figures 4 and 5.
Instead of forming lugs or ears on the edges of the tube hooks such as a may
be attached to them the said hooks being shaped to adapt them to engage with the
recurved edges b of the wheel rim as shown by Figures 6 and 7 or with holes b in
the rim as shown by Figure 8.
A further modification is illustrated by Figure 10 in which the edges a of the
tube are attached to the wheel rim by means of wires or cords such as a. These
wires or cords may either be made in the form of hoops or rings, or they may be
provided with any suitable devices for adjusting their lengths or for attaching
their free ends either to one another or to the wheel rim.
Figure 11 shows another modification in which the enlarged edges a of the
tyre engage both with the wheel rim B and with a band or hoop C. In this
construction the edges of the lining A' of the tube carrying the internal radial
or vertical lips a' are not fixed to the edges of the tube A as shown, for the
purpose of allowing the band or hoop C to engage with its enlarged edges a.
Instead of temporarily attaching both margins or edges of the tube to the wheel
rim, one of the margins or edges may be permanently fixed thereto by cement or
otherwise, and the other margin or edge be temporarily attached thereto as shown
by Figure 9, the temporary attachment shown-which is by way of illustration
only consists of a series of studs a' formed on or attached to the tube A and
adapted to engage with holes b in the wheel rim B.
The method of construction I prefer to employ is to separately mould or

page_text: otherwise fashion and to vulcanize the two parts A and A' of the tyre, and to
subsequently make them integral by means of rubber solution or the like. In
this construction I also prefer to make the lips a part of the lining A' as shown
by Figure 12 which shows the two parts of the tyre slightly separated for
distinctness.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
(1.) A pneumatic tyre consisting of a tube adapted to contain air under pressure,
divided circumferentially along its base or inner side and furnished with lips
substantially as described and shown, and of a one part wheel rim adapted to
receive and hold the same securely when the tyre is inflated, substantially as
described.
(2.) In a pneumatic tyre of the type herein referred to, forming the internal
radial or vertical lips so that they incline towards one another whereby they meet
and become pressed firmly one against the other in the act of mounting the tube
in the wheel rim, as set forth.
(3.) In a pneumatic tyre of the type herein referred to, forming the internal
lips of a cone-shape in cross section, and so that they incline towards one another
whereby they meet and become pressed firmly one against the other in the act of
mounting the tube in the wheel rim, as set forth.
(4.) In a pneumatic tyre the combination of an outer part such as A of rubber
or other suitable material and reinforced with canvas or other suitable fabric, of
a lining such as A' of rubber or other suitable air-proof material adapted to be
fixed to the part A by rubber solution or the like to make them integral, and of
lips such as a formed on or fixed to the edges or margins either of the part A or
of the part A' as and for the purpose set forth.
(5.) Pneumatic tyres constructed and working as herein described and shown in
Dated this 27th day of February 1897.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.1. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.