Improvements in and Connected with Pneumatic Tyres of Cycles, Carriages, Motor Cars, and other Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and Connected with Pneumatic Tyres of Cycles,
Carriages, Motor Cars, and other Vehicles.
We, RODERICK MCLEOD, Junior, of 69, George Street, Edinburgh, in the County
of Midlothian, North Britain, Wholesale Tea Merchant, and ALEXANDER MATHERS
MCLEOD, of 20, Greenhill Gardens, Edinburgh, aforesaid, Solicitor, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in pneumatic tyres of cycles, carriages,
motor cars, and other vehicles, and has for its object to construct these in such a
manner that in the event of the tyres becoming punctured they will not collapse,
and so cause the rider or occupants great inconvenience.
In carrying out our invention we have one continuous air tube but it is so
constructed as to form separate sections or compartments of perhaps one inch, or less or
more as may be found most suitable, which communicate with each other by means
of a common passage. Where these sections or compartments communicate with
each other necks or bridges are formed, round the outside of which narrow strips,
bands or rings of aluminium, steel, or other suitable metal, or other material may be
placed. These strips, bands, or rings may be covered with india-rubber, cloth or
other material to prevent the edges in any way damaging the sectional air tube.
Passing through the tube and through these necks or bridges there is an india-rubber
tube of small diameter. This tube when it has been inflated will act as a valve for
each compartment.
The sectional air tube is provided with a suitable valve and when it has been
inflated, which is accomplished in the ordinary manner, the sections or compartments
lie contiguous to one another or nearly so thereby making a continuous tube. The
smaller tube which is also provided with a suitable valve is then inflated when its
outer edges press hard up against the necks or bridges of the sectional air tube
already referred to thereby completely closing the passages leading from one section
or compartment to the other and making each one self contained and independent of
the other, the restricted diameter of the necks or bridges preventing the expansion
of the smaller tube at those points beyond their limits. Of course it is to be
understood that primarily our invention is intended to be used as an inner air
chamber having an outer covering or series of coverings, but it may also be used as
a single tyre. In such case a suitable arrangement for fixing the same to the rim
of the wheel would be provided.
From our improvements therefore it is obvious that in the event of a puncture in
the sectional air tube, it would simply mean that only one of the sections or
compartments would become deflated which would not effect the efficiency of the
machine so as to be of any material inconvenience to the rider, or to the occupants

page_text: of the carriage or other vehicle to which the tyre is applied. Even if two contiguous
sectious were punctured there would be little effect.
Dated this 13th day of October 1896.
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicants' Agents.
Improvements in and Connected with Pneumatic Tyres of Cycles,
Carriages, Motor Cars, and other Vehicles.
We, RODERICK MCLEOD, Junior, of 69, George Street, Edinburgh, in the County
of Midlothian, North Britain, Wholesale Tea Merchant, and ALEXANDER MATHERS
MCLEOD of 20, Greenhill Gardens, Edinburgh aforesaid, Solicitor, 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 improvements in pneumatic tyres of cycles, carriages,
motor cars, and other vehicles, and has for its object to construct these in such a
manner that in the event of the tyres becoming punctured they will not collapse,
and so cause the rider or occupants great inconvenience.
In order that our invention may be properly understood and readily carried into
effect, we have hereunto appended an explanatory sheet of drawings in the several
figures of which corresponding parts are marked with the same letters of reference.
Figure 1 is a section of part of tyre constructed according to our improvements
in its inflated condition.
Figure 2 is a similar view of part of tyre in the act of being inflated.
Figure 3 is a side view of a cycle with the tyre constructed according to our
improvements, the tyre being shewn partly in elevation with a cover, partly in
section without a cover, and partly in elevation also without a cover.
Figure 4 is section of part of tyre shewing the small air tube passing through the
sectional air tube near the bottom; and Figure 5 is a similar view shewing tyre
in the act of being inflated.
Figure 6 is a view partly in section and partly in elevation of a slightly modified
form of tyre constructed in accordance with our invention.
In carrying out our invention, we have one continuous air tube A, but it is so
constructed as to form separate sections or compartments B of perhaps one inch, or less
or more as may be found most desirable, which communicate with each other by
means of passages C when the tyre is in the act of being inflated, as seen more
particularly in Figures 2 & 5. Where these sections or compartments B communicate
with each other necks or bridges 1) are formed, round the outside of which narrow
strips, bands or rings B of aluminium, steel, or other suitable metal or material are
or may be placed. These strips, bands or rings E may be covered with india-rubber,
cloth or other material to prevent the edges in any way damaging the sectional
air tube A. Passing through the sectional air tube A and through these necks or
bridges D, there is a tube F of any suitable material or combination of materials and
of small circumference. This tube F when it has been inflated, will act as a valve
for each section or compartment B, as seen more particularly in Figures 1, 3, and 4.
The sectional air tube A is provided with a suitable valve G, and when it has been
inflated, which is accomplished in the ordinary manner, the sections or compartments B
lie contiguous to one another or nearly so, as seen more particularly in Figures 1
and 3. The smaller tube F which is also provided with a suitable valve H is then
inflated when its outer edges f, press hard up against the necks or bridges D of the

page_text: sectional air-tabe A already referred to thereby completely closing the passage.
leading from one section or compartment 1 to the other and making each one
self-contained and independent of the other, as seen in Figures 1, 3, and 4, the
restricted diameter of the necks or bridges 1) preventing the expansion of the smaller
tube at those points beyond their limits.
In lieu of the necks or bridges as described, 'small discs G of any suitable
metal or material may be fixed inside the tube to form the sections, and the
hollow tube f passes through these as shewn in Figure 6. The locking tube f
may also be made of strong rubber or other flexible material so that, when in its
normal condition, it will lock all the necks or bridges D without the aid of a special
valve or high air pressure. In such case, when inflating the air tube A, this locking
tube f would be kept in a state of depression by means of an air pump, which has
extracted all the air from it. The locking of the necks or bridges would be effected
by allowing this locking tube to spring back to its normal condition by removing
the air pump, which had kept it depressed.
From our improvements therefore it is obvious that in the event of a puncture in
the sectional air-tube A, it would simply mean that only one of the sections or
compartments B would become deflated which would not effect the efficiency of the
machine so as to be of any material inconvenience to the rider, or to the occupants
of the carriage, motor enr, or other vehicle to which the tyre is applied. Even if two
contiguous sections were punctured there would be little effect.
Of course it is to be understood that primarily our invention is intended to be used
as an inner air chamber having an outer covering or series of coverings, but it may
also be used as a single tyre. In such case, any suitable arrangement for fixing the
same to the rim of the wheel would be provided.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
1. In cycles, carriages, motor cars, and other vehicles having the tyre of one
continuous air tube but so constructed as to form separate sections or compartments
communicating with each other by means of passages, necks or bridges or discs
being formed where these sections or compartments communicate with each other,
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated on the
accompanying sheet of drawings.
2. In cycles, carriages, motor cars, and other vehicles, having the tyre of one
continuous air tube but so constructed as to form separate sections or compartments
communicating with each other by means of passages, necks or bridges being formed
where these sections or compartments cominunicate with each other, and round
which narrow strips, bands, or rings of aluminium, stoel or other metal or material
are placed, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated
on the accompanying sheet of drawings.
S. In cycles, earringes, motor cars, and other vehicles having the tyre of one
continuous air tube but so constructed as to form separate chambers or sections
communicating with each other by means of passages, necks or bridges being
formed where these sections or compartments communicated with each other, and
with a .tube of any suitable material or combination of materials and of small
circumference passing through the sectional air-tube, and through the necks or
bridges, the outer edges of the small tube when inflated pressing hard up against
the said necks or bridges and so acting as valves, thereby completely closing the
passages leading from one section or compartiment to the other and so making
each one self contained and independent of the other, substantially as and for the
purposes hereinbefore described and illustrated on the accompanying sheet of
drawings.
4. In cycles, carriages, motor cars, and other vehicles having the tyre of one
continuous air tube but so constructed as to form separate chamber or sections
communicating with each other by means of passages, necks or bridges being formed

page_text: where these sections or compartments communicate with each other, and with a
tube of strong, rubber or other flexible material passing through the sectional air
tube so that when in its norinal state it will lock the sections without the aid of a
valve, substantially as described.
5. In cycles, carriages, motor cars, and other vehicles, a tyre constructed
substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and
illustrated on the accompanying sheet of drawings.
Dated this 12th day of July 1897. .
BOTTOMLEY & LIDDLE,
154, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow, Applicants Patent Agents.