Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Tyres and Rims for Wheels.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 6th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 10th Nov., 1804
JOYIDIUNAL OF ELEVATION.
Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Tyres and Rims
for Wheels.
I, CHARLES KINGSTON WELCH, of The Hollies, Eaton Road, Coventry, in the
County of Warwickshire, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to pneumatic tyres and rims for wheels and has for its
objects to provide improved means for securing pneumatic tyres to the rims or
felloes of wheels, and also improved rims for wheels to which such tyres are to be
attached. My said invention also includes improvements in the tyre itself as
hereinafter indicated. .
One of the chief features of my invention relates to the employment of a single
endless core of wire or other inextensible material for securing the tyre to the
wheel rim.
Another important feature of my invention relates to the means I provide for
securing to a wheel rim a pneumatic tyre or jacket which not permanently
tubular the two edges of said tyre or jacket being lapped one over the other and
kept in place by the air pressure in the.tyre.
I further provide for constructing a pneumatic tyre without an inner tube which
tyre in some instances I make self-closing.
Another important feature of my invention relates to an improved construction
of rim which is especially suitable for tyres which are to be attached to the wheel
by a single endless inextensible core.
In carrying out my invention I provide a rim having a groove or channel
preferably at or near the centre thereof. The tyre which may be either a single
tube tyre or one having a separate air-tube with an enclosing jacket, is according
to one method of carrying out my invention a complete tube and is furnished with
an endless wire or other inextensible core. Said core which is larger in circum-
ference than the circumference of the rim at the bottom of the groove but is smaller
than the circumference of the rim near the top of said groove, is located within the
tyre either inside the air-tube or between the air-tube and the jacket or it may be
placed in a pocket furnished in said jacket or secured to the tyre in any other
manner. In order to place the tyre in position on the rim the air-tube is deflated,
the core is placed with a portion of its circumference in the bottom of the groove
on one side of the rim so that it is eccentric to the wheel, and the remaining part of
its circumference can then he lifted over the edge of the rim on the opposite side
of the wheel. The air-tube is now inflated which tends to bring the tyre to a
circular form in cross-section and the edges of the rim pressing on the tyre cause
the latter to pull the inextensible core as far away from the rin as possible, at the
same time the core owing to the equality of the pull all round the rim assumes a
position concentric with the wheel. The tyre is thereby held very firmly between
the endless core and the edges of the wheel rim. The edges of the wheel rim are
turned over or rounded so as not to injure the tyre when the latter presses on
them.
In another method of carrying out my invention I make a tyre with a cover
which is not permanently tubular. One of the edges of said cover has secured to
it an endless inextensible core of a character similar to that hereinabove described,

page_text: the other edge of the cover is provided with a lip or thickened by the insertion of
a core of gutta-percha india-rubber or ordinary cord or other suitable material.
The tyre cover is applied to the rim so that the thickened edge is outside one edge
of the rim the cover extending across the rim. I sometimes provide an auxiliary
groove near one edge of the rim wherein the lip or thickened portion of the cover
can be placed. This groove may if desired be made narrower at its mouth than it
is inside that is to say, approximately of a dove-tail character. The air-tube is
placed outside the part of the cover adjacent to the rim and the remaining part of
the cover wrapped round until the other edge thereof comes between the air-tube
and the other side of the cover which is against the wheel rim, the endless
core being introduced into the groove in the wheel rim in the manner herein-
before described. When the tyre is inflated the air-tube presses the two edges
of the cover tightly against the wheel rim, that part of the cover adjacent to
the rim being prevented from slipping out by means of its thickened edge and the
other edge of the cover being held in place by the inextensible core. I sometimes
permanently secure one edge of the cover to the rim by solution or cement or other
suitable means, the other edge of the cover which is provided' with the inextensible
core being movable to admit of the air-tube being passed in and out. I can use a
rim of ordinary crescent form without special groove or channel for the above
constructions or the rim may be channelled or grooved at one of its edges if
desired.
Such a wrapped or lapped cover as that above described may be used without an
air-tube if desired. 1 in such case prepare the edges of the cover by solution or
otherwise so that when pressed together they form an airtight joint. For this
purpose said edges may be covered with rubber' having a smooth surface and the
said edges may be corrugated longitudinally if desired. Instead of using solution
which makes a practically permanent joint I very often introduce a viscid liquid at
the joint when first inflating the tyre so as to prevent the air escaping therefrom.
When however the tyre is fully inflated the pressure of the air within presses the
two edges so closely in contact that an air-tight joint is made. Such a tyre can
obviously be very' readily repaired by deflating the same and then opening the joint
and placing a patch on the inside.
The tyres hereinabove described, used with or without an interior air-tube, may
be made in such a manner that when in place on the wheel the material is in
compression, or they may be made of canvas, silk or other fabric lined with any
suitable air-proof coating. Such a coating is preferably made of a solution of a
viscid natural gum or the like which does not dry and which will flow together and
be readily closed or be self-closing after puncture.
I sometimes make the tyre of an endless or seamless band of fabric cut from a
tube of approximately the same diameter as the wheel rim. I fold said band,
preferably placing an endless core in the fold and thickening the opposite edge of
the band to form the lip in the manner above stated."
The inextensible core which I use for attaching the tyre to the rim is preferably
made endless by brazing or otherwise uniting the ends of said core by a plate
pierced with a suitable hole. The valve spindle is then put through this hole and
assists in maintaining the core in place. Said core may be made of a stranded wire
if desired.
In the case of a lapped tyre having one edge secured to the rim I preferably
secure the valve to one'side instead of in the middle of the rim. Said valve may
be permanently secured to the rim when the tyre is used without a separate
air-tube.
The improved rim which I preferably employ is made with a groove or channel
at or near its centre and the edges thereof are rounded or turned over so as not to
injure the tyre. Such a rim may be made solid or hollow by any of the methods
now commonly known and practised. I sometimes provide a second groove at or
near one edge for use with a lapped tyre as aforesaid.
By my invention I am enabled to make if desired a very light and resilient tyre

page_text: which can be moreover very readily repaired when necessary, these tyres can also
be made suitable for use with heavy vehicles.
Dated this 8th day of December 1893.
C. KINGSTON WELCH.
Haseltine, Lake & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Tyres and Rims
for Wheels.
I, CHARLES KINGSTON WELCH, of The Hollies, Eaton Road, Coventry, in
the County of Warwickshire, Engineer, 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 pneumatic tyres and rims for wheels and has for its
objects to provide improved means for securing pneumatic tyres to the rims or
felloes of wheels, and also improved rims for wheels to which such tyres are to be
attached. My said invention also includes improvements in the tyre itself as
hereinafter indicated.
One of the chief features of my invention relates to the employment of a single
endless core of wire or other inextensible material for securing the tyre to the
wheel rim.
Another important feature of my invention relates to the means I provide for
securing to a wheel rim a pneumatic tyre or jacket which is not permanently
tubular the two edges of said tyre or jacket being lapped one over the other and
kept in place by the air pressure in the tyre.
I further provide for constructing a pneumatic tyre without an inner tube which
tyre in some instances I make self-closing.
Another important feature of my invention relates to the use of a peculiar form
of rim which is especially suitable for tyres which are to be attached to the wheel
by a single endless inextensible core.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a sectional view of a single tube tyre secured to the rim of a wheel
after my improved manner.
Figure 2 is a similar view shewing a tyre which is provided with a separate
air-tube.
Figures 3 and 4 are similar views shewing modified forms of tyre in which the
cover is not permanently tubular.
Figure 5 is a view shewing the natural shape of a tyre cover such as shewn in
Figure 3.
Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 shewing a different form of wheel rim.
Figure 7 is a view hereinafter explained, illustrating the method of attaching
and detaching a tyre from the wheel rim.
Figure 8 is a view shewing a plate for joining the ends of a wire to form an
endless core.
Like letters denote similar parts in all the drawings.
A is the rim, B is the tyre cover, C is the air tube, D is the endless core.
The rim A may be solid or hollow and has a groove or channel a at or near the
centre thereof.
Referring now to Figure 1 which shews a single tube tyre that is to say one in
which the cover is integral with the air tube, the core D which is larger than the
circumference of the rim at the bottom of the groove a but is smaller than the
circumference of the rim near the top of said groove is located inside the tyre as
shewn.
If the tyre is furnished with a separate air tube as shewn for example

page_text: in Figure 2 the core D may be placed either between the air tube and the
jacket 6 of the 'tyre as shewn in said figure, or inside the air tube or it may be
placed in a pocket furnished in the jacket or secured to the tyre in any other
manner.
1
t
**
In order to place the tyre in position on the rim the air-tube or tyre is deflated,
the inextensible endless core D is placed with a portion of its circumference in the
bottom of the groove a on one side of the rim so that it is eccentric to the wheel,
and the remaining part of its circumference can then be lifted over the edge of
the rim on the opposite side of the wheel. The tyre is now inflated and tends
to assume a circular form in cross-section and the edges of the rim pressing on the
tyre causes the latter to pull the inextensible core as far away from the rim as
possible, at the same time the core owing to the equality of the pull all round the
rim assumes a position concentric with the wheel. The tyre is thereby held very
firmly, between the endless core and the edges of the wheel rim. The edges of the
wheel rim are turned over or rounded so as not to injure the tyre when the latter
presses on them.
In another method of carrying out my invention I make a tyre with a cover
which is not permanently tubular.
Such tyres are shewn in Figures 3 to 5 which I will now proceed to describe.
One of the edges of the cover B has secured to it an endless inextensible core D
and the other edge of the cover is provided with a lip b' or thickened by the
insertion of a core of gutta percha, india rubber or ordinary cord or wire or other
suitable material.
A very suitable method of making such a cover is as follows, that is to say:
A strip of canvas is doubled the core D being enclosed in the fold and the other
edge of the canvas is then rolled up to form the lip b'. The canvas which is in
two layers as shewn by the dotted lines 63, 63 in Figure 3, is then covered on the
side which will ultimately form the outside of the tyre with a layer of india-
rubber . Said indiarubber layer is preferably thickened at that part of the cover
which comes in contact with the ground as shewn at and may be omitted where
the cover comes in contact with the rim A.
In Figure 3 I shew the tyre fitted with a separate air tube C but I may dispense
with such air tube in which case I preferably line the cover inside with a layer of
rubber 6 as shewn in Figure 4. Such inner layer of rubber is preferably continuous
with the outer layer passing quite round the core D and I sometimes arrange that
the rubber on the inside should not only be thicker at that part near the tread but
also be in a state of compression which is denoted by the short radial lines shewn
in the drawing. In order to produce this state of compression the tyre cover is
moulded with a curvature in the reverse direction to that which it will have when
in position on the wheel rim, the natural position which such a cover would tend
to take being shewn in Figure 5. It will be seen from a comparison of Figures 4
and 5 that the rubber part marked is curved in the opposite direction in Figure 4
to that in Figure 5 hence it must be in a state of compression as shewn by the
radial lines in Figure 4 as the canvas 62, is outside it in Figure 4 and inside it in
Figure 5.
I sometimes provide an auxiliary groove a¹ near one edge of the rim as shewn in
Figure 6. The lip can then be placed in such groove instead of being outside
the rim. This groove may be if desired narrower at its mouth than it is inside
that is to say approximately of a dovetail section.
In placing such a tyre as shewn in Figures 3, 4 and 6 on the rim the part of the
cover near to the thickened edge b' is first slipped over the rim then the air tube
when such is used is placed outside that part of the cover adjacent to the rim.
The remaining part of the cover is wrapped round until the edge containing the
endless core is resting on the wheel rim above the groove enclosing the air tube
when such is used.
To get the endless core into position on the rim a portion of the circumference
thereof is placed in the groove in the bottom of the said rim as shewn at the place
i.

page_text: marked 1 Figure 7 and that part of the circumference of the core on the opposite...
side of the wheel is slipped over the edge as shewn at 2 in Figure 7. The core is
by this means readily brought to its proper position. When the air tube is inflated
the two edges of the cover are pressed tightly against the rim that part of the
cover adjacent to the rim being prevented from slipping out by means of its.t.
lip or thickened edge and the other side of the cover being held in place by
its inextensible core. When dispense with the air tube as shewn in Figure 4.
I prepare the edges of the cover by solution or otherwise so that when pressed
together they form an air-tight joint. For this purpose said edges may be
covered with rubber having a smooth surface and the said edges may be corrugated
longitudinally if desired. Instead of using solution which makes a practically
permanent joint I very often introduce a viscid liquid preferably of a resinous
nature at the joint when first inflating the tyre so as to prevent the air escaping
therefrom. When however the tyre is fully inflated the pressure of the air within
presses the two edges so closely in contact that an air-tight joint is made. Such a
tyre can obviously be very readily repaired by deflating the same and then opening
the joint and placing a patch on the inside.
Instead of providing one edge of the tyre with a lip or thickened part 11 may
permanently secure that edge to the wheel rim by any suitable means.
Said edge
may be lapped round on the outside of the rim if desired.
The tyres hereinabove described, used with or without an interior air-tube, may
be inade in such a manner that when in place on the wheel the material is in
compression as hereinabove described, or they may be made of canvas, silk or
other fabric lined with any suitable air-proof coating. Such a coating is preferably
made of a solution of viscid natural gum or the like which does not dry and which
will flow together and be readily closed or be self-closing after puncture.
I sometimes make the jacket of an endless or seamless band of fabric cut from a
tube of approximately the same diameter as the wheel rim.
The inextensible core which I use for attaching the tyre to the rim is
preferably made endless by brazing or otherwise uniting the ends of said core
by a plate pierced with a suitable hole. Such a plate E is shewn in Figure 8,
the valve spindle is put through the hole E' and assists in maintaining the
core in place. Said core may be made of a spiral wire if desired, or of any
suitable metal or material, and covered or not with canvas or gutta percha or other
substance.
In the case of a lapped tyre having one edge secured to the rim I preferably
secure the valve to one side instead of in the middle of the rim. Said valve may
be permanently secured to the rim when the tyre is used without a separate
air-tube.
The rim may be made solid or hollow by any of the methods now commonly
known and practised or I may use a wooden rim, said rim may be of
any suitable
shape provided that the centre thereof is of smaller diameter than the edges.
By my invention 1 am enabled to make if desired a very light and resilient tyre
which can be moreover very readily repaired when necessary, these tyres can also
be made suitable for use with heavy vehicles.
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. The combination with a wheel rim of special form of a tubular pneumatic
tyre detachably secured in position thereon by a single endless inextensible core
placed inside the tyre and detachable therewith.
2. The combination with a pneumatic tyre enclosing a single endless retaining
core, of a rim having a central groove or depression of such a depth as will admit
of the removal of the tyre.
3. The combination, with a wheel rim, having a central groove or depression such
as a, of a pneumatic tyre which is not permanently tubular the two edges of said

page_text: tyre being lapped one over the other to form a circumferential lapped joint, and an
inextensible endless core provided in one edge of the tyre for securing the same to
the wheel rim, the whole being so arranged that on inflation the core automatically
assumes a position concentric with the rim and rests above the aforesaid groove or
depression in the rim.
4. The introduction of a viscid substance between the edges of the tyre above
described in Claim 3 for the purpose of dispensing with an inner tube.
5. The combination with such a rim and tyre, of a separate air-tube enclosed in
the tyre substantially as described.
6. The combined pneumatic tyre and rim constructed substantially as herein
before described with reference to Figure 1, or to Figure 2, or to Figure 3, or to
Figure 4, or to Figure 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 6th day of October 1894
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.