An Improvement in Pneumatic Tyres.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Jan., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 18th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 21st Mar., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Pneumatic Tyres.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT FOSTER, of 87, Grange Road, Bermondsey, India-rubber
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to what are known as pneumatic tyres for bicycles, etc.,
and it has for its object to provide means for effectually closing the opening at
which air is admitted during inflation of the tyre and whereby the internal pressure
may be readily relieved to suit the requirements or fancy of the rider, should it be
excessive.
It has been already proposed to provide such tyres with a valve which closes
automatically after the tyre has been charged, the said valve consisting of a solid
piece of india-rubber fixed within the tyre and provided with an opening in the
form of a narrow slit which is connected with the delivery of the pump and expands
when the tyre is being charged and closes automatically by the internal pressure
when the tyre is fully charged, and prevents the air escaping.
Such a valve is not effectual for its intended purpose, and the object of my
invention is to remedy its defects, and to this end my invention consists in reinforcing
the valve by a band of india rubber or other equivalent elastic or semi-elastic
material which extends around the solid india rubber piece above referred to and
while it does not obstruct the opening of the valve when charging the tyre or
prevent its being opened when it is desired to relieve the internal pressure, yet
closes the valve more quickly and effectually when the tyre is fully inflated.
Dated this 2nd day of January 1901
W. R. FOSTER.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improvement in Pneumatic Tyres.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT FOSTER, of 87, Grange Road, Bermondsey, India-rubber
Manufacturer, 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 relates to what are known as pneumatic tyres for bicycle and other
wheels; and it has for its object to provide a valve which will effectually close the
orifice at which air is forced into the tyre and will admit of being slightly opened
to relieve the internal pressure, to suit the requirements or fancy of the rider,
should the inflation be excessive.
It has been already proposed to provide such tyres with a valve which closes
automatically after the tyre has been inflated, the said valve consisting of an
inwardly-projecting nozzle of india-rubber provided with a narrow slit which is
caused to expand when the tyre is being inflated and closes automatically by the
internal pressure when the tyre is fully charged.
Such a valve is not effectual for its intended purpose of preventing the escape of
the air which is liable to slowly leak out, thus necessitating frequent inflation of the
tyre; and the object of my invention is to remedy this defect, and, to this end, my
invention consists in reinforcing the valve by an elastic circumferential band of
india-rubber or metal surrounding the nozzle so as to cause the valve to close more
quickly and effectually when the tyre is fully inflated.

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Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this
Specification, wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal, and Figure 2 a cross section of
the part of the tyre where the valve is situated. Figure 3 is an end view of the
valve nozzle, the circumferential band being of rubber, and Figure 4 is an end view
of the nozzle with a metal band.
A is the hollow rubber tyre, B the metal rim, and C the valve nozzle inserted
through a hole in the rubber tyre so as to project internally therein, the nozzle being
provided with a flange c by which it is cemented to the rubber tyre said flange being
held between the tyre A. and rim B, all in the usual way.
The nozzle has a bore d
which projects through a hole in the rim B to receive the delivery nozzle of the
air pump, as usual, and at its inner projecting end the usual diametrical slit e
extending to the bore d. This inner end of the nozzle is slightly concave, as shewn,
and the part of the nozzle projecting within the tyre is, in Figures 1, 2, and 3,
encircled by a band of india-rubber Ď which is sprung on to the nozzle and cemented
thereon after the slit e has been cut therein. As the slit e necessarily extends some
little way up the sides of the nozzle in order to reach the bore d, the lips of the
slit, as usually made, have but little tendency to close together so that the valve is
dependent to a great extent on the air pressure within the tyre for the maintenance
of an effectual closure of the valve. By means of the band D a considerable con-
strictive force is exerted upon the slitted end which holds the lips tightly closed
together without the assistance of the air pressure. At the same time the opening
of the slit during inflation is permitted, while, by temporarily inserting a wire or
other instrument, the slit may be opened to relieve the internal pressure.
Figure 4, the band is a strip of spring steel whose ends overlap, the strip having a
permanent set or curl when sprung around the nozzle. It is merely retained by its
own grip, the nozzle being made of slightly larger diameter at its slitted end, to
prevent the spring slipping off.
In
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
In a pneumatic tyre, the combination, with the herein-described valve nozzle, of
the circumferential reinforcing or constricting elastic band or spring, as and for the
purpose specified.
Dated this 18th day of February 1891.
WILLIAM ROBERT FOSTER.
By A. M. & Wm. Clark,
53, Chancery Lane, London, Patent Agents.