Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres, and in Means for Securing the same to the Rims of Wheels.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 1st June, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 1st Mar., 1894-Accepted, 7th Apr., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres, and in Means for Securing
the same to the Rims of Wheels.
I, JOHN HUSTON STEWART, B.Sc., B.A., of No. 25 Marlborough Road, in
the County of Dublin, Professor of Experimental Physics in the University
College, Dublin, a Fellow of the Royal University of Ireland, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has reference to pneumatic tyres and comprises improved means
whereby such tyres may be detachably secured to the rims of wheels.
According to my invention the tyre on being inflated, automatically grips the
outside of the wheel rim to which it will adhere firmly so long as a sufficient air
pressure is maintained in the inflatable tube of the tyre, no keying or other
fastening being necessary. On allowing the air to escape, the tyre may be at once
removed from the wheel rim.
In carrying out my invention the attachment to the rim is made by means of
two flaps which project from opposite sides of the canvas tube or lining.
Each of these flaps forms a circle of slightly less diameter than that formed by
the outer edge of the wheel rim and contains a hoop or band of some sufficiently
strong and inextensible substance. When the tyre is deflated, so that the canvas
and air-tube can collapse, the side flaps may be drawn apart to a considerably
greater distance than that represented by the diameter of the tyre. This enables
the tyre to be removed from the rim. On inflation, the section of the tyre tends
to become circular, the side flaps are drawn towards each other and thus grasp the
rim from the outside. If thought advisable one of these flaps may be permanently
fixed to the rim.
The side of the canvas tube next the rim does not come into contact with it,
so that the tyre is suspended from the edge of the rim. When the tyre takes the
ground, not only does the side next the ground change shape, but that next the
rim flattens also. This gives to the tyre increased resiliency, and causes it to act
as a spring, as well as a pneumatic tyre of ordinary construction.
Dated this lot day of Luna 1202
J. H. STEWART.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres, and in Means for Securing
the same to the Rims of Wheels.
1, JOHN HUSTON STEWART, B.Sc., B.A., of No. 26 Leeson Park, (formerly
of No. 25 Marlborough Road) in the County of Dublin, Professor of Experi-
mental Physics in University College Dublin, a Fellow of the Royal University
of Ireland, 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 has reference to pneumatic tyres and comprises improved means
whereby such tyres may be detachably secured to the rims of wheels.
According to my invention the tyre on being inflated automatically grips the
outside of the wheel rim to which it will adhere firmly so long as a sufficient air
pressure is maintained in the inflatable tube of the tyre no keying or other
fastening being necessary. On allowing the air to escape, the tyre may be at once
removed from the wheel rim.

page_text: In carrying out my invention the attachment to the rim is made by means of
two flaps which project from opposite sides of the canvas tube or lining. Each of
these flaps forms a circle of slightly. less diameter than that formed by the outer
edge of the wheel rim, and contains a hoop or band of some sufficiently strong and
inextensible substance. When the tyre is deflated so that the canvas and air tube
can collapse, the side flaps may be drawn apart to a considerably greater distance
than that represented by the diameter of the tyre. This enables the tyre to be
removed from the rim. On inflation, the section of the tyre tends to become
circular, the side flaps are drawn towards each other, and thus grasp the rim from
the outside. If thought advisable one of these flaps may be permanently fixed to
the rim.
The side flaps may be of varying size, and in some cases may he so narrow as to
merely contain the strengthening wire or band. Any convenient method of
opening the tyre so as to get at the inner or air tube, may be adopted with the
tyre.
The side of the canvas tube next the rim does not come into contact with it,
therefore the tyre is suspended from the edges of the rim.
The accompanying drawing, which shows a cross-sectional view of a velocipede
wheel rim and tyre, illustrates my invention.
A is the usual internal or inflatable tube which is provided with customary or
suitable valvular apparatus for charging and discharging. B shows a metallic rim
which may be either hollow or solid and of crescent or other suitable section.
C is the outer casing or tread, aich-shaped in cross-section, and composed of
india-rubber or its equivalent in the usual way. D is one of the spokes of the
wheel.
The inflatable tube A is enveloped by a tubular or other covering or lining of
canvas or equivalent strong and inextensible material a. Two strong canvas or
other flaps y are formed with, or are attached to, the canvas tube or lining and
project therefrom at opposite points as shown. Each of these flaps forms a circle
of slightly less diameter than that formed by the outer edge of the wheel rim and
contains at its edge a hoop or band of wire or its equivalent e.
In some cases one of the flaps y may be permanently fixed to the wheel rim or
felloe, and the other one may be adjustable as herein described.
It will be seen that the part f of the canvas tube next the rim does not come in
contact with it so that when the tyre takes the ground, not only does the tread
portion change its shape, but that next the rim changes also. This gives the tyre
increased resiliency and causes it to act as a spring as well as a pneumatic tyre of
ordinary construction.
Upon the tube A being inflated and a high tension put upon the canvas bag or
retaining medium, the flaps y will also be in tension and the hoops or bands e will
be uniformly pulled all round towards the edge of the rim or felloe by reason of
the air-chamber expanding and tending to become circular in cross-section.
The
limit of expansion is, however, reached before the part of touches the rim B.
Consequently the tyre is suspended from the points b. .
When the tyre is inflated it is impossible for it as a whole to pass over the edges
of the rim or felloe, but when it is deflated, so that the canvas and air-tube can
collapse, the flaps y may be drawn apart to a considerably greater distance than
that represented by the cross-sectional diameter of the tube. This enables the
hoops or bands e to assume a position eccentric to the wheel rim or felloe and,
although of smaller diameter than such rim or felloe, to be released therefrom in
the well-understood manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
I. In a pneumatic tyre, the combination. with an inflatable tube and outer tread,
of a restraining medium having flaps or projections such as y each provided with a

page_text: hoop or band of wire such as e together serving, upon inflation and attachment to a
wheel rim or felloe, to detachably secure and suspend the tyre to and from the
wheel rim or felloe substantially as set forth.
2. The improved combination and arrangement of parts constituting my
improved suspended and inflated tyre substantially as set forth and illustrated in
the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 28th day of February 1894.
A. F. SPOONER,
124, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.