Improvements in Means for Detecting Punctures or Leakages in Pneumatic Tyres and in Chambers,, Vessels and other Apparatus.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 27th June, 1898-Accepted, 27th Aug., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Means for Detecting Punctures or Leakages in
Pneumatic Tyres and in Chambers,, Vessels and other Apparatus.
We, GERARD JULIUS GEORGE JENSEN, of 14, Victoria Street, Westminster,
London, S.W., Civil Engineer, and GEORGE HENRY CONGDON, of 14, Victoria Street,
Westminster, London, S.W., Electrical 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:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in apparatus for detecting and
locating punctures in pneumatic tyres, as used for cycles & other vehicles, and
also for locating leakages in containing vessels and in other apparatus which are
required to be air tight, also in structures such, for example as chambers built
of bricks, metal or other material, for use in chemical manufactures, in which
the said chambers are required to be air-tight, as, for instance, retorts and stills.
In carrying out this invention, we employ a chamber (a) provided with an
inlet (b) to which can be attached a pump or similar appliance, and an outlet (c)
which can be attached to the pneumatic tyre or other apparatus in which it is
proposed to trace a leakage. In the chamber (a), is placed ammonia or other suit-
able chemical or substance which is capable of generating or giving off fumes or
gases traceable by a reagent, such as turmeric in the case of ammonia or even by
sight only.
By pumping air through the chamber (a) which contains the gases, the pneu-
matic tyre or other apparatus is charged or inflated with the said gases or fumes
which will then escape through any puncture or leakage & may be traced by
the reagent or by sight.
We do not confine ourselves to the use of any particular chemical or substance
for generating the gases or fumes, but we find ammonia very suitable for the
purpose. In this case we use the reagents turmeric or litmus which may be
applied in the form of test-papers on the outside of the said tubes or chambers
may be coated with the reagents. Wherever the gases or fumes escape, the reagents
will change colour & thus the exact spot of leakage is ascertained.
If desirable, as in the case of liquid ammonia, a sponge or similar absorbent
substance may be placed in the chamber (a) to better retain the chemical from
which the gases or fumes are generated.
Heat or cold may be applied to the chamber if desirable.
The inlet & outlet to & from the chamber may also be supplied with valves,
cocks, or caps to keep in the chemical or the fumes or gases generated.
Having now particularly described & 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:
(1) An apparatus for detecting punctures or leakages in pneumatic tyres,
whereby the latter may be charged with gases or fumes whose escape may be
traced by the reagents of the said gases or fumes or by sight.

page_text: (2) An apparatus for detecting punctures or leakages in chambers, vessels or
other apparatus whereby the latter may be charged with gases or fumes whose
escape may be traced by the reagents of the said gases or fumes.
(3) The apparatus herein before described & shown in the accompanying draw-
ing for detecting punctures or leakages in pneumatic tyres, chambers used for
chemical manufactures and other structures, and such vessels & apparatus generally
as are required to be airtight.
Dated th
1
T
1000