Improvements in and connected with Pneumatic Tyres.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Nov., 1896
3
Complete Specification Left, 9th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 30th Oct., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Pneumatic Tyres.
AUBREY JAMES WILLIAMS, of 45 Kew Bridge Road Middlesex Designer, HENRY
LEONARD ASHFORD of 5 Cloudesdale Road Upper Tooting Surrey Designer, and
CHARLES ALEXANDER SWAN of 47 Nightingale Road Hackney Downs Middlesex
Draughtsman do hereby declare the 'nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It consists of a non-extensible band or outer cover made in the manner and by
the method usual 'with these articles from a combination of rubber and canvas
or other fabric. This cover is held longitudinally down its centre by a wire or
This wire or
flat ribbon made of metal or other suitable substance (Fig. 5).
ribbon to go into a channel or groove prepared in the bed of the wheel rim for its
reception, thereby holding the band between the rim and wire. The aforesaid
band or outer cover to have one side moulded or built with a groove, and the
other sidé moulded or shaped and stiffened by a wire, if required, to fit into the
groove so formed, by bringing over and round the usual air tube and hooking one
side within the other (Figs. 1 and 4). The top surface of the overlapping side
can be thickened and moulded into any form of non-slipping device advisable to
form a tread.
The principle involved can be applied in various other ways as illustrated.
Both edges of the cover can be shaped to form a key or square beading and a
separate grooved band to fit over and lock into the beading put on, thereby locking
the edges together. This band will form the tread and can also be moulded with
a non-slipping arrangement on its face. This band when worn can be replaced
instead of renewing the whole tyre (Figs 2 and 3). Fig 5 shows joining
arrangement of wire or ribbon which will be held in position by metal air valve
passing through the holes.
Our invention allows of the tyre being opened for repairs by simply deflating,
disengaging the grooved edges and drawing apart, whereby repairs can be effected
without removing cover or tube from the rim.
Dated this Oth day of November 1896.
H. LEONARD ASHFORD.
AUBREY J. WILLIAMS.
CHAS. A. SWAN.
Improvements in and connected with Pneumatic Tyres.
We, AUBREY JAMES WILLIAMS, of No. 45, Kew Bridge Road Brentford in the
County of Middlesex, Designer, HENRY LEONARD ASHFORD of No. 5, Cloudesdale
Road, Upper Tooting in the County of Surrey Designer and CHARLES ALEXANDER
SWAN of No. 47, Nightingale Road, Hackney Downs, in the County of Middlesex,
Draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
We, AUBREY JAMES WILLIAMS, of No. 45, Kew Bridge Road Brentford in the
County of Middlesex, Designer, HENRY LEONARD ASHFORD of No. 5, Cloudesdale
Road, Upper Tooting in the County of Surrey Designer and CHARLES ALEXANDER
SWAN of No. 47, Nightingale Road, Hackney Downs, in the County of Middlesex,
Draughtsman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner

page_text: the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
The present invention relates to improvements in and connected with the
pneumatic tyres of wheels.
Hitherto there have been two classes of pneumatic tyres. One class (a) is
characterised by an air tube held in position on the wheel rim by 'an external
cover which, in its turn, is held to the said rim by the junction of its edge with
the respective edges thereof. The other class (b) is characterised by a band held to
the wheel rim by the air tight junction of its edges with the respective edges of
the said rim, the two-band and rim-holding a body of compressed air between
them.
The present invention is applicable to tyres of either of the classes above
described. The object of it is to facilitate access to the interior of the tyre, as
for example when it becomes necessary to repair a puncture in it, such facilitation
being due to the fact that the invention keeps the meeting line of the two edges
of the band away from the wheel rim, preferably by nearly half the circumference
of the tyre.
The principal part of the invention is the combination with the wheel rim,
of a band capable of either serving as a cover to hold an air tube to the said rim or
of enclosing and retaining a body of air, the edges of the band being adapted to
meet along either the tread or one side of the tyre,-.e., in either case, away from
the wheel rim, and a locking device of elastic material, non-extensible in respect
of its smallest diameter, adapted to make an air-tight junction between the said
edges, and, when the two edges of the band meet in a line behind the tread of
the tyre, to act as a thickened and elastic tread of soft material.
It further includes the combination with the band, of an improved device
adapted to engage the band and to hold it in working position on the wheel rim.
All the accompanying figures excepting one, include the well known air tube
referred to in the description of the (a) class of tyres, but it must be distinctly
understood that the present invention is the same whether its band serves as a
cover to hold such a tube to the wheel rim or to hold and retain a body of
compressed air within its embrace. For that reason, the presence of the air tube
in the figures, may be regarded as outside the invention as such.
Figure 1 is a transverse section including wheel rim band, air tube, locking
device, and holding wire.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same parts shewing the two halves of
the band incompletely locked.
Figure 3 is a sectional elevation taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1, including
the air valve.
Figure 4 is a plan of the two meeting ends of the holding wire illustrated in
Figures 1 and 3.1
Figure 5 is a plan of the same ends in working position, shewing the two ends
rebated and fitted to each other in working position.
Figure 6 is a side elevation corresponding with Figure S
Figure 7 is a plan of the meeting ends of a band holding ribbon.
Figure 8 is a plan of the same ends in working position.
Figure 9 is a transverse section including a modified locking device and the
adjacent portion of an air tube.
Figure 10 is a transverse section including spoke ends, wheel rim, band, air
tube, a further modified locking device and a holding ribbon.
Figure 11 is a transverse section including spoke ends, wheel rim, band, air
tube, a further modified locking device, and an elastic holding cord.
Figure 12 is a transverse section including spoke ends, wheel rim, band, air
tube, a further modified locking device, and a holding ribbon.
Figure 13 is a transverse section including wheel rim, band, air tube,
modified locking device, and a holding wire.
a further

page_text: Figure 14 is a transverse section including wheel rim, band, air tube, a further
modified locking device, and a holding wire.
Figure 15 is a transverse section of part of a band aud a further modified
locking device.
A is the wheel rim and B is an air tube.
C is a central groove in the outer face of the rim A adapted to make room for
the holding device D described further on C is likewise à central groove in the
outer face of the rim A. It is wider and deeper than the groove C being thereby
adapted to receive the elastic holding device D' described further on. C is a wide
and shallow groove centrally situated in the outer face of the wheel rim, A, being
thereby adapted to make room for the holding device D described further on.
E is the improved band already described as capable of either holding an air
tube to the rim A or of enclosing and retaining a body of compressed air. As in
the case of the well known covers for pneumatic tyres, the material of it is elastic
excepting along the sides, both of which latter must be non-extensible. Beyond
that, our improved hand may be of any suitable material and be made according
to any suitable method.
This improved band E is held to the rim A along the centre of the latter by the
improved holding device. This may be of either of the three forms above
mentioned. One of them is a metal wire D inside the band E and pressing it
into the groove C, as shewn in Figures 1, 13 and 14. The ends of the wire
terminate in eyes d which register with each other in either of the ways illustrated
in Figures 3 and 5 and are held in that position by the stem d of the air valve
which is passed through them for that purpose. Another is an endless elastic
cord D' made fast to the outside of the band E and adapted, by being normally of
a smaller diameter than the internal diameter of the said band, to cling to the
bottom of the groove C¹ as shewn in Figures 2 and 11. A third is a metal
ribbon D. The transverse shape of this ribbon is shown in Figures 7, 8, 10 and 12
as being slightly convex to the band E and having a bead along each edge on
the convex side of it. The two ends are made fast to each other in substantially
the same way as are the two ends of the wires D, that is to say, each end of the
ribbon terminates in a ring . These rings overlap each other as illustrated in
Figures 6 and 8 and are held in that position by having the stem of the air
valve passed through them. The metal wire D, elastic cord D', and metal
ribbon are only different forms of the above mentioned device for holding the
improved band (next described) to the rim A.
Our invention does not concern itself with the way in which the two edges e, e
of the hand E meet each other. Such nieeting may be of any suitable type. There
are several illustrated in the figures, viz: very nearly touching, as illustrated
in Figures 9 and 15; one edge prolonged into a tapered flap el adapted to fit up
to the inner face of the opposite portion of the band, as illustrated in Figure 14;
the like combined with an overlapping flap between which and the band E, the
flap el can be tucked, as illustrated in Figures 10, 11 and 12; or two tapered
Jips el, e, one fitting over the other, as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.1
The improved locking device consists of a ridge incorporated with one edge of
the band E on the outer side of it and projecting outwardly from it at about a right
angle with it, and a concave or hooked lip incorporated with the opposite edge of
the said band and having an internal contour corresponding with the external
contour of the said ridge, and adapted to fit over it. The invention includes,
in this respect, the distribution of the above mentioned ridge equally between the
two edges of the band E and a separate concave or hooked lip having an internal
contour corresponding with the external contour of the said ridge, as distinct from
one incorporated with the said band E. Whether the concave or hooked lip be
incorporated with, or separate from, the band E, its function remains the same,
for the reason that either incorporate or separate lip is characterised by its smallest
liameter being less than the largest one of the ridge when the locking device is
along the tread of the tyre. Consequently, when the said ridge is placed within

page_text: the lip and the tyre so produced, is distended, the former will be locked within
the concavity of the latter and held there with a force increasing in proportion to
the increasing distension.
Both single and distributed ridges as well as both incorporate and separate lips.
are illustrated in the figures, and an examination of them will shew that while one
is a substitute for the other, respectively, both have the above described
relationships and functions in common.
Both the ridge and lip are of rubber or other equivalent elastic and soft material.
They are made and, when so required, incorporated with the band E by any well
known and suitable method.
Referring to Figure 14, F is the ridge incorporated with one edge of the band E;
and G is the concave or hooked lip incorporated with the opposite edge of the said
band. The two having been locked together in the way already described, it is
obvious that the lock between them will continue as long as the distension above
mentioned continues, provided that the outer edge of the hooked lip G does not
suffer extension, for that would lead to it undoing the lock by slipping over the top
of the ridge F. Our invention includes means for preventing such extension of
the said outer edge, and consists in a device capable of stiffening the said hooked
lip G along or near the edge g. This device may consist of a lip gl projecting from
the inner face of the outer edge g in the direction of the opposite face of the
ridge and a groove f in the last mentioned face in which the lip gl engages, as
illustrated in Figure 14, or of an endless ring of metal wire (and therefore non-
extensible) embedded in the outer edge g as illustrated in Figure 10; or of a
combination of both groove f, lip gl and endless metal wire ring g², as illustrated
in Figure 12; or of two embedded endless metal wire rings gone on each side
of the hooked lip G, as illustrated in Figure 15.
Figures 1, 2 and 9 illustrate the ridge F as distributed in two equal
portions f, f, between the two sides of the band E the two edges of the said band
being locked together by a separate concaved or hooked lip G. Each edge of the
said lip G is stiffened by a combination of the stiffening devices illustrated in
Figures 10 and 14 and described therewith.
Figure 11 likewise illustrates the ridge Fas distributed in two equal
portions f, f between the two sides of the band E, and the two edges of the said
band being locked together by a separate concaved or hooked lip G¹. Each
edge is stiffened by the same stiffening device as is illustrated in Figure 10 and
described therewith."
Figure 13 likewise illustrates the ridge Fas distributed in two equal portions
between the two sides of the band E, the two edges of the said band being locked
together by a separaté concaved or hooked lip G. The latter.is stiffened against
extension by a centrally embedded endless metal wire ring as well as along each
edge of it by the same device as is illustrated in Figure 14 and described therewith.
Our invention further includes a device for preventing mud working in between
the edge of the ring G or edges of the ring G, as the case may be, and the band E.
It is illustrated in Figures 12 and 13, and consists of a flap H projecting from
each edge and fitting close to the band E. The outer edge of this flap is prevented
from standing off from the said band E by being tucked under a lip h fast to
the side of the said band for that purpose.
The invention is used as follows. The improved band E is made fast in its
working position on the rim A by means of the holding device, the air tube B,
if there is one, being next placed around the band E. The two sides of this
latter are then locked together by passing the ridge within the concave or hook
shaped lip. The tyre is then inflated. Deflation permits of the lip and the
ridge being instantaneously unlocked from each other, partly because of the
absence of the locking force exerted by the distension, partly because both lip and
ridge are made of elastic material, and partly because the material of the band E
is flexible.

page_text: Any type of device to prevent side slip, such as ridges i, i may be incorporated
with the tread of the tyre but no claim is made to these.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is:-
1. The combination of band and locking device consisting of ridge and concave
or hooked lip each having the respective diameters set forth and both being of
soft and elastic material.
2.The combination of band; locking device consisting of ridge and concave or
hooked lip each having the respective diameters set forth and both being of soft
and elastic material; and a stiffening device along the edge of the said locking
device.
3. The combination of band; locking device consisting of ridge and concave
or hooked lip each having the respective diameters set forth and both being of
soft and elastic material; a stiffening device along the edge of the said locking
device; and a device adapted to hold the band to the wheel rim.
4. The combination of band; locking device consisting of ridge and concave
or hooked lip each having the respective diameters set forth and both being of
soft and elastic material; a stiffening device along the edge of the said locking
device; and a flap adapted to prevent mud working in between the said concave
or hooked lip and the band.
5. The combination of band; locking device consisting of a ridge and concave
or hooked lip each having the respective diameters set forth; and an endless metal
ring embedded in the said lip along or near the edge of it.
6. The combination of band; locking device consisting of a ridge and concave
hooked lip each having the respective diameter set forth; a lip projecting from
the inner side of the said hooked lip; and a groove in the opposite face of the ridge,
in which the said projecting lip is adapted to engage.
7. The combination of band; locking device consisting of a ridge distributed
in two portions between the two edges of the said band and incorporated there-
with, respectively; a separate concave or hooked lip adapted to fit over the said
ridge; and a stiffening device along or near each edge of the said lip.
8. The combination of band; locking device consisting of a ridge distributed
in two portions between the two edges of the said band and incorporated therewith,
respectively; a separate concave or hooked lip adapted to fit over the said ridge;
and an endless metal ring embedded in each edge of the said lip..
9. The combination of band; locking device consisting of a ridge distributed
in two portions between the two edges of the said band and incorporated there-
with, respectively; a separate concave or hooked lip adapted to fit over the said
ridge; a lip projecting from the inner edge of the said hooked lip; and a groove in
the opposite face of the ridge, in which the said projecting ridge is adapted
to engage.
10. The combination of band; and holding device consisting of a metal ring
the ends of which terminate in rings adapted to be held together by the stem of
the air valve.
11. The combination of band and holding device consisting of an elastic cord
fast to the outside of the band and adapted by its resilience to pull the said band
towards the bottom of a groove in the wheel rim.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.