Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres and Rims for the same.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres and Rims for the same.
I, SAMUEL HENRY CROCKER, of 31, Furnival Street, Holborn, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to pneumatic or inflatable tyres for wheels of the kind
capable of opening out into the form of a band, and having ribs or projections
near the edges adapted to engage the turned in edges of the rim by means of
which they are held in position. The invention also relates to a special form of
rim for my improved tyre.
In carrying out my invention I form ribs or projections upon the tyre capable
of engaging with the rim of the wheel in the well known manner.
The continuation of the tyre from these engaging ribs or projections on each
side are tapered towards the edge and upon the inner side of each of these
tapered continuations and preferably very close to the extreme edge, I attach a
separate continuous piece of suitable elastic material to form a spring flap which
is capable of being pressed back againt the inside of the tyre.
I form my rim with the edges turned over, and it is provided with a central
portion carried up to about the height of the top of the edges of the rim.
In attaching my tyre to the rim, the spring flaps will be pressed back close
to the inside of the tyre, and when the tapered continuations are inserted into
their proper position, it will readily be understood that the ribs or projections
upon the tyre will engage with the turned over edges of the rim in the well
known manner, and at the same time the spring flaps will be partially released
and pressed against the sides of the central portion of the rim, and thus an initial
air tight joint is formed between these flaps and the sides of the central_portion
of rim before referred to.
In all the best tubeless tyres with which I am acquainted, side pressure upon
the tyre tends to open the joint and allow the compressed air to escape while a
tyre and rim made according to my invention entirely obviates this serious defect,
as no side leverage over the edge of the rim will release the pressure forming the
initial joint between the spring flap and the central portion of the rim.
The spring flaps before referred to may be made separately and attached to
the tyres, or they may be made homogeneous with the tyre. The heads of the
spoke nipples in the rim can be covered with an elastic band or otherwise made
secure against any escape of air from the tyre.
In order that the invention may be more clearly described, reference is had
to the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a section of the tyre
showing the shape in which I prefer to mould the same, and Fig. 2 is a section
of the tyre in position upon the rim of the wheel.
The tyre A is provided with ribs or projections ab capable of engaging with the

page_text: turned over edges of the rim B in the well known manner. The tapered con-
tinuations are marked respectively cd. The spring flaps ef are formed in such
a manner as to press against the central portion of the rim when the tyre A
is placed upon the rim B as in Fig. 2, and owing to the tendency of these spring
flaps to recoil when pressed against the tyre, a close contact will be made between
them and the central portion of the rim, and an air tight joint is thus obtained
when the tyre can be pumped up to the required pressure, through a suitably
fitted valve.
Dated this 12th day of May 1898
GEQ. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres and Rims for the same.
I, SAMUEL HENRY CROCKER, of 31, Furnival Street, Holborn, 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 follow-
ing statement;
-
This invention relates to pneumatic or inflatable tyres for wheels of the kind
capable of opening out, and having ribs or projections near the edges adapted to
engage the turned in edges of the rim by means of which they are held in
position. The invention also relates to a special form of rim for my improved
tyre.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, I will refer to the
accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a section of the tyre shown separate
from the rim, Fig. 2 is a section of the tyre and rim together, and Fig. 3 shows
a slightly modified form of rim.
To secure the tyre A. in the rim, I form a short distance from each edge the
ribs or projections which engage in the channels of the rim B. The turned
« in such a
over edges of the rim engage with the upper edge of the projection
manner that when the tyre is deflated a slight horizontal pressure will disengage
the rib from the edge of the rim.
The continuations of the tyre from these engaging ribs or projections on each
side are tapered towards the edge and upon the inner side of each of these tapered
continuations and preferably very close to the extreme edge, I attach a separate
continuous piece of suitable elastic material to form a spring flap which is
capable of being pressed back against the inside of the tyre.
I form my rim with a central portion 1) carried up to about the height of the
top of the edges of the rim. in the form illustrated in Fig. 3 the central por-
tion D is of inverted U form in section, the continuations of which are brazed
or otherwise secured to the outer portion of the rim making an air-tight joint
therewith. This leaves at each side a channel tapering to the bottom, to receive
the shaped edges of the tyre. I do not however, confine myself to any special
form of central rib, but to produce an effective arrangement it is necessary that
the channel at each side of the rim formed by the central portion shall be narrow
and deep and approximately of V form to receive the edge of the tyre.
In attaching my tyre to the rim, the spring flaps will be pressed back close
to the inside of the tyre, and when the tapered continuations are inserted into
their proper position, it will readily be understood that the ribs or projections
upon the tyre will engage with the turned over edge of the rim in the well

page_text: known manner, and at the same time the spring flaps will be partially released
and pressed against the side of the central portion of the rim, and thus an initial
air-tight joint is formed between these flaps and the sides of the central portion
of the rim.
In all the best tubeless tyres with which I am acquainted, side pressure upon
the tyre tends to open the joint and allow the compressed air to escape while a
tyre and rim made according to my invention entirely obviates this serious defect,
as no side leverage over the edge of the rim will in any way tend to open or
weaken the air tight joint between the spring flap and the central portion of
the rim.
The spring flaps before referred to may be made separately and attached to
the tyre, or they may be made homogeneous with the tyre. The heads of the
spoke nipples in the rim can be covered with an elastic band or otherwise made
secure against any escape of air from the tyre.
The spring flap C is formed or fixed so that it makes an acute angle with the
edge of the tyre even when free from the rim, although the angle is greater than
when the tyre is fitted in place.
The angle of the spring flap is a feature of considerable importance in placing
the tyre on the rim as in order that the tyre may be fitted easily in position it
is necessary that the edges shall be of V shape so that they can be placed with
certainty in the channel between the outer and central portions of the rim. If
made in the form illustrated there can be no difficulty in securing the tyre pro-
perly as the edges must spring into the required position in the channels.
An important feature of the tyre is that while no side pressure exerted when
the tyre is inflated can in any way tend to open the joint or to detach the tyre
from the rim, when the tyre is deflated all that is necessary to release the retain-
ing ribs a from the turned over edges of the rim is a slight horizontal pressure
which collapses the edges of the tyre against the inner flaps. This enables the
edge of the tyre to be lifted clear of the rim and as there is nothing to interfere
with the action produced by the horizontal pressure i.e. the inward movement
of the rib, the tyre is one which can be detached from the rim with great ease.
The tyre is formed in the usual manner having the fabric E inserted in the
material to give the necessary strength.
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 tyre adapted to open out having a continuous internal spring flap at
each edge extending at an acute angle from the inner surface of the tyre, and
adapted to form an air tight joint with a rim having a central rib, substantially
as described and for the purposes specified.
(2) The combination with a rim having a central annular rib or projection
forming a narrow channel at each side of the rim and a turned over edge, of a
tyre adapted to open out having a rib close to each edge adapted to engage with
the turned over edge of the rim and an internal spring flap at each edge making
an acute angle with the inner surface of the tyre, so that the edge of the tyre
is of V shape, and adapted to make an air tight joint with the outer surface of
the central portion of the rim, substantially as described and for the purposes
specified.
1
(3) In combination with the rim B having the central projecting portion D of
channel form forming a V shaped channel at each side of the rim, and turned
over edges, a tyre A adapted to open out, ribs a on the tyre engaging with the
edges of the rim B in such a manner that the ribs can be disengaged from the
rim by horizontal pressure when the tyre is deflated and a spring flap C inside
each edge forming an acute angle with the inner surface of the tyre and adapted

page_text: to make an air tight joint with the outer surface of the part D of the rim, the
whole constructed and operating substantially as described and shown in the
accompanying drawings and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 13th day of February 1899.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.