Improvements in and in relation to Pneumatic Tyres for Bicycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 16th July, 1894-Accepted, 1st Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in relation to Pneumatic Tyres for Bicycles
and other Vehicles.
I, PERCY ALBERT CRAVEN, of 9 Kings Road Wimbledon, in the County of
Surrey, Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the manufacture of rubber tyres for cycles and the like,
and the object of my invention is to increase the speed of the machine, and at the
same time, add considerably to the comfort of the rider by giving to the, tyre
greater resiliency than has hitherto been done by any of the well known methods
of manufacture.
I attain this result by lining the outer cover, or jacket of what are generally
known as detachable tyres, with elastic webbing, such as is used for elastic side
boots, or some such similar material, the elasticity of which is possible in one
direction only. This elastic webbing may be secured to the jacket, or outer cover,
as a lining therefore, in any suitable manner, but preferably in such a way that the
longitudinal elasticity of the tyre is not impeded, though transverse distension is
substantially prevented, or I may employ the elastic webbing in such a way that
the rubber strands passing through the woven stuff of which this class of material
is manufactured are not parallel to the circumference of the wheel, as in the
foregoing method, but are at an angle thereto, or I may employ two or more
thicknesses of such webbing, arranged one upon the other in such a way that the
rubber strands of the one are at an angle with the rubber strands of the other, and
these may be secured together in any satisfactory way, either by vulcanization or
otherwise. I may if preferred embed the elastic webbing in rubber, or it may be
embedded in, or incorporated with the outer cover, or jacket, in place of being
used as a lining for same. I desire it to be distinctly understood that I do not
confiue myself absolutely to the use of elastic webbing as it is at present manu-
factured, but I may employ the use of any similar fabric in which strands, or strips
of rubber, of any shape in cross section are woven, or otherwise embedded, or as
an alternative method, I may employ some such pliable material as silk net, or
cellular cloth, capable of considerable extension in any one direction, and after
having extended same to the utmost in the direction of its length, breadth, or on
the bias as may be most advantageous for the purpose it is intended to serve,
place it upon one, or between two sheets of rubber, and the whole may then be
vulcanized, or partly vulcanized, and it will be easily understood that a sheet thus
formed is capable of very considerable distension in the direction more or less
contrary to that in which the silk net, or other suitable material, was stretched
prior to its being embedded in the rubber. The material thus formed may be
employed in lieu of the elastic webbing in any of the methods before mentioned as
I

page_text: may find
a lining for the jackets of pneumatic tyres. I do not confine myself to the use of
this description of material for detachable tyres only, and I wish it to be under-
stood that I can employ its use in the manufacture of what are known as single
tube tyres, in which case the method of construction I prefer to adopt is in
principle similar to that herein dealt with in reference to the former.
it advantageous to line only that portion of the jacket which comes in contact
with the ground when the machine is in motion, with the webbing or other elastic
material, in which case I prefer to employ ordinary canvas as a lining for the
remainder of the cover on each side of the said elastic material, and the canvas
may be joined to the elastic material by any suitable means, either by joining them
together at their edges, or by overlapping, or by using a double thickness of canvas
and solutioning, or otherwise securing the webbing, or other suitable elastic
material employed between the surfaces.
I may find it convenient, and advantageous, to manufacture the air tubes of
pneumatic tyres out of a similar elastic material to that herein specified, in which
case I prefer to adopt the method of construction herein dealt with in regard to
single tube tyres, in which case I may dispense with any lining to the outer jacket,
or cover, as the tube thus formed will not be liable to undue expansion.
22nd January 1894.
Improvements in and in relation to Pneumatic Tyres for Bicycles
and other Vehicles.
I, PERCY ALBERT CRAVEN of 9 Kings Road, Wimbledon, in the County of
Surrey, Gentleman, 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 the manufacture of rubber tyres for bicycles, tricycles
and the like, and has for its object to increase the speed of such machines, and at
the same time to add considerably to the comfort of the rider or riders by providing
in the tyre greater resiliency or flexibility longitudinally or in other words circum-
ferentially of the wheel, while acting as a stiffening to the sides thereof, for the
prevention of spread or displacement in a lateral direction, than obtains with any
of the tyres hitherto constructed by the well known means of manufacture.
I attain the object of my invention by the employment of an elastic webbing,
such as that used in the manufacture of elastic or spring side boots and shoes, or
some such or similar material the elasticity of which is possible in one direction
only, and for the purposes of one part of my invention I use this to line, partly
line, or embed within the substance of, the outer cover or jacket of what are
generally known as detachable tyres. Or in lieu of, or in combination with such
or similar webbing, I may employ silk or cotton netting or cellular cloth, or some
such or other material capable of considerable expansion in one direction, which,
after being extended to its uttermost in the direction of its length, breadth or on
the bias, as may be most advantageous for the purpose it is intended to serve, I
place upon one, or between two sheets of rubber, and subject the whole to a process
of vulcanization or part vulcanization.
Or I may find it convenient or advantageous to employ either of the said
materials or any desired combination thereof, in the manufacture of the air tubes or
bags of pueumatic tyres, and I may use air tubes so constructed in combination
with the covers or jackets of ordinary manufacture, as tubes thus formed would not
be liable to undue expansion, but I may employ tubes so made in combination with

page_text: outer covers or jackets in or with which the said one way elastic material has been
employed as hereinafter described.
I desire that my invention may be fully and clearly understood, and not
confounded with inventions prior to my own, in which a one-way elastic material is
constructed by placing strands or threads of. non elastic material, parallel with
each other, between, and divided and separated from each other by, a sheet or
sheets of rubber, and wherein it is specially provided that such non-elastic threads
or strands shall in no case be in touch with each other, as I make no such provision
herein. but on the contrary, the non-elastic portions of the one way elastic material
employed by me are or may be in actual touch with each other, while the elastic
threads are not, and in order to make this perfectly clear 1 have hereunto
appended two sheets of drawings, in which
Fig. 1 Sheet 1 is a plan view of a portion of one form of one way elastic material
employed by me, in which the parallel elastic threads are parted or divided from
each other by non-elastic threads or cords interwoven crosswise therewith.
Fig. 2 is an end view or cross section of Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is a duplication or two plies of Fig. 1 or Fig. 2 as hereinafter explained.
Fig. 4 is similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating how bands of rubber may be used
instead of threads of rubber.
Fig. 5 is a plan view of a portion of silk or cotton netting or cellular cloth
hereinbefore mentioned, the meshes or cells of which are shewn in their normal
position or shape.
Fig. 6 illustrates how this may be distended or expanded length or breadth wise
before being placed upon one. or enclosed between two sheets of rubber, as
previously mentioned.
Fig. 7 is a plan view, while Fig. 8 is a cross section of a portion of finished
material according to my invention, when used as a lining for an outer cover or
jacket, and in which I have chosen to show the employment of the one-way elastic
webbing shewn in Fig. 1.
Fig. 9 Sheet 2 is a perspective view of a portion of an outer cover or jacket in
which the said material Figs. 7 and 8 (or may be that provided by the employment
of netting or cellular cloth), has been used as a lining or part lining therefor.
Fig. 10 is a cross section of an air bag or tube, made entirely of one or the other
of the said one way elastic material.
Fig. 12 is a like section of an outer cover or jacket, further illustrating how the
said one-way elastic material may be employed as a lining therefor, while Fig. 13
illustrates how the same may be moulded with or embedded in the substance of the
said outer cover or jacket.
I have previously stated that, I may employ silk or cotton net, or cellular cloth,
and an illustration of such a material is shewn by Fig. 5, the meshes or cells of
which may be of any size or shape desired, and for the purposes of my invention I
first distend, stretch or expand this in the direction of its length breadth or width
or on the bias, and in Fig. 6 1 show, as far as it is possible to show in a drawing,
what I mean by this, but it is obvious that in actual practice such material is
capable of greater distention than that shewn. When stretched or distended to its
fullest extent in whatever direction may be most desirable, I place the said. net or
cellular cloth, while so stretched, upon a sheet, or between two sheets of rubber,
and solution or otherwise cement the rubber thereto, or subject the whole to a
process of full or part vulcanization, and it will be easily conceived that a sheet of
material thus formed would be elastic, and capable of very considerable distention
or stretch in a direction more or less contrary to that in which the said net,
cellular cloth, or other similar material was stretched prior to its being placed upon
or embedded in the rubber, and the texture of such a material will be fully under-
stood without further description or illustration.
I have also previously stated, that I may employ elastic webbing such as is used
for elastic or spring side boots, or some or other similar material capable of being
stretched or extended in one direction only, the elastic strands or threads of which

page_text: may be circular or polygonal, in cross section as at Figs. 1 and 2, or in the form of
flat bands as at Fig. 4, and I wish it understood that hereinafter when speaking of
the elastic material I mean either of the one way elastic materials described, or any
suitable combination of both.
In employing the elastic material A as a lining for the covers or jackets of
detachable pneumatic tyres, I prefer to arrange that the direction of its elasticity
shall be that of the circumference of the wheel, but I do not confine myself to this
arrangement, but may place it at an angle therewith, or I may employ two
thicknesses or plies of elastic material as at Fig. 3, which may or may not be
connected together by rubber solution or other cement, or by that of stitching or
vulcanization, and I may arrange that the direction of elasticity of each may be at
an angle with each other, and either or both at an angle with the direction of the
circumference of the wheel. I inay find it advantageous to line only that portion
of the cover or jacket B which comes in contact with the ground, as shewn at
Fig. 9, or the whole of the surface thereof that would be exposed outside the rim
of the wheel, as at Fig. 12, and the determination of this would of course determine
the width of the elastic material employed. I prefer to use ordinary canvas C, cut
on the bias, as a lining for the remainder of the cover or jacket not lined by the
elastic material, and to effect this I may first connect C, by means of solution, or by
that of stitching C¹ as at Fig. 7, or both, or by any other suitable means, to the
elastic material A, either by joining them at their edges, or by overlapping, or by
using a double thickness of C and enclosing the edges of the elastic material A
between the two surfaces, as shewn at Fig. 8. Or 1 may arrange that one edge of
the duplex canvas C may be connected to A, while its other edge may be
connected to B, as at Fig. 12, thus utilizing the two surfaces of canvas for
enclosing the duplex edges of A and B. In order to detract as little as
possible from the spring and elasticity of the tyre, I prefer to pink, slit, notch
or otherwise jag the inner edges of the canvas C, an example of which is shewn
by D in Fig. 7, and to further attain this end I may perforate the inner or
jagged edges of C as at E, or the opposite edges as at F, or the whole of its width
as at G Fig. 7, and I may before solutioning or otherwise connecting the said lining
to the cover B, solution or otherwise connect to the edges D, and the exposed
surfaces of A, a thin sheet of rubber H, as shewn by the dotted lines in Fig. 8,
and when the detachable cover B, is to be connected to the rim by endless or
other cords or wires in any of the well known methods, (which forms no part of
my present invention) loops or channels for the reception of these may be formed
by the canvas C, as shewn by J in either of the methods illustrated by Figs. 8, 12
or 13, the latter view illustrating the manner in which the elastic material A, may
be incorporated with or embedded in the substance of B, in lieu of or in addition to
its being employed as a lining therefor.
In Fig. 10 illustrate how I may employ the said elastic material in the
construction of the air bags or tubes of such tyres, with which an outer cover or
jacket is used. For this purpose the elastic material A may be of such a width as
to form the entire tube, the joint in which (if any) may be effected by stitching or
solution or both, or by any other suitable means, and may or may not be lined
inside or out or both with a sheeting of rubber or rubber solution H, and the
direction of the elasticity of the material A, may be longitudinally of the tube, or
at an augle thereto, and may consist of one or two plies, and if the latter, the
direction of the elasticity of these may be parallel with the tube or at an angle
therewith and with each other.
By these means or any desired combination of these means, I am enabled
to provide an air bag or tube for pneumatic tyres having detachable covers,
that shall be capable of free, easy and perfect elasticity in the direction of
the circumference of the wheel, and yet incapable of undue distension or
distortion in any direction, and in like manner when employing either of the one
way elastic materials herein described, or any desired duplication or combination
thereof as a lining or part lining for or embedded in the substance of, detachable

page_text: outer covers or jackets of pneumatic tyres, I am enabled to provide elasticity therein
in a longitudinal direction, with perfect immunity from side stretch or lateral
distortion.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is.
1st. In the construction of pneumatic tyres for bicycles, tricycles and similar
manumotive machines. the employment of elastic webbing such as at present used
in the manufacture of elastic side spring boots, or similar material the elasticity of
which is possible in one direction only, and composed of elastic strands, threads or
bands running parallel with each other, divided by a cross interweaving of non-
clastic cords or threads, or composed of silk or cotton netting, or cellular cloth,.
first stretched to its uttermost limit in the direction of its length, or breadth or in
the bias, and placed upon a sheet, or between two sheets of rubber and afterwards
solutioned thereto, or subjected to a process of vulcanization or part vulcanization,
and the application of these or such elastic materials or any desired and suitable
combination thereof in the manufacture of air bags or tubes for pneumatic tyres,
or as a lining or part lining for, or moulded or otherwise embedded within the
substance of, the outer covers or jackets of detachable or other pneumatic tyres,.
substantially as and for the purposes, and in the manner herein described and
provided.
2nd. In the manufacture of pneumatic tyres, the construction and use of a one
way elastic webbing or other similar material A, composed of strands, cords, threads
or bands of rubber placed side by side and parallel with each other, and divided
by a cross interweaving of any suitable non-elastic cords or threads as shewn at
Fig. 1, aud the employment of one or more plies of such material, with or without
being stitched, solutioned or otherwise connected to each other, the edges of which
are stitched, solutioned or otherwise attached to one, or enclosed between two
surfaces of canvas C, pinked, notched or jagged as at D, and perforated or partly
perforated in any desired manner such for instance as that shewn by E, F or G iu
Fig. 7, and with or without an outer facing of rubber as at H, in Fig. 8, and the
application and use of such or similar combination of these materials, as a lining
or part lining for the outer covers or jackets B of such tyres, as at Figs. 9 and 12,
or incorporated with, or moulded or otherwise embedded within, the substance
of B, as at Fig. 13, substantially as and for the purposes herein described and
shewn.
3rd. In the manufacture of pneumatic tyres, the employment of one or more
plies of the one-way elastic material A, as set forth in the preceding claim, with
or without being coated with rubber H, in the manufacture of air bags or tubes
for pneumatic tyres, as shewn by Fig. 10, substantially as and for the purposes
herein described and shewn.
4th. In the manufacture of pneumatic tyres, the construction and use of a one-
way elastic material A, composed of silk or cotton netting or cellular cloth, such
for instance as at Fig. 5, first stretched or distended to its uttermost limit in the
direction of its length or breadth, or on the bias, substantially as at Fig. 6, and
while so stretched or distended placed upon one, or between two sheets of rubber,
and solutioned thereto or subjected to a process of whole or part vulcanization, and
the employment of one or more plies of same in combination with one or two
surfaces of canvas C, (prepared in either of the manners set forth in the 2nd claim
hereof) as a lining or part lining for the outer cover or jacket B of such tyres, as
at Figs. 9 and 12, or incorporated with, or moulded or otherwise embedded in the
substance of B as at Fig. 13, substantially as and for the purposes herein described
and shewn.
5th. In the manufacture of pneumatic tyres, the employment of one or more plies
of the one-way elastic material A, as set forth in the preceding claim, in the

page_text: manufacture of air bags or tubes for pneumatic tyres as shewn by Fig. 10,
substantially as and for the purposes herein described and shewn.
6th. In the manufacture of pneumatic tyres, the construction and use of a one-
way elastic material A, composed partly of the one way elastic material as set
forth in the 2nd claim, and partly of that set forth in the 4th claim hereof,
connected and combined in any desired manner, and the employment of same in
the manufacture of air tubes of pneumatic tyres, or as a lining or part lining for
the covers or jackets therefor, substantially as herein provided, and for the object
and purposes stated.
7th. The use and application of an elastic material as herein described in the
manufacture of pneumatic tyres substantially as and for the purposes herein set
forth.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1, Broad Street Buildings, Liverpool Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.