Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Tyres.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Mar., 1892
Complete Specification Left. 7th Dec., 1892-Accepted, 14th Jan., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Tyres.
I THOMAS DUNN of 83 Tierney Road, Brixton Hill, in the County of Surrey,
Member of The Stock Exchange, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates first to an improved method of constructing pneumatic
tyres, secondly to an improved method of attaching them to the rims of wheels,
and thirdly to an improved valve.
Pneumatic tyres are usually made up of an india rubber tube to contain the
air, one or more layers of canvas or other tough flexible material to strengthen it,
and an outer covering of rubber, thick enough to withstand the wear of road
friction. In some tyres the three parts are separate, and in others they are
combined together in the process of manufacture, forming what are called solid
walled tyres.
A separate air tube to have the necessary strength requires to be made of some
thickness, but a very much thinner layer of rubber, in combination with a canvas
layer in a tyre, is equally efficacious in retaining the air, and is less liable to
injury.
In making up even a solid walled tyre by the ordinary processes with so thin an
inner lining there is some practical difficulty, the thin film of rubber being difficult
to handle, and very liable to accidental injury in the process of making up the tyre.
This difficulty is best overcome by first combining the thin film of rubber with the
canvas in the sheet by the ordinary processes for that purpose. I sometimes also
coat the back of the canvas with rubber solution, I then make up the tyre with this
material.
This method not only facilitates the manufacture of such tyres by avoiding the
above mentioned difficulty and liable to failure, but also materially reduces the
number of processes involved and greatly cheapens their manufacture. The method
I adopt in making up my tyres is, to make them of two layers of the above
described material stuck together back to back, the rubber coated surface of the
inner layer being turned inwards to make the tyre water-proof, and to make the
layers over-lap in those places where the tyres particularly want strengthening.
According to my method of construction I proceed as follows:-
I take a strip of the combined rubber and canvas of the required breadth cut on
the cross, and form it into a straight tube with the rubber surface inwards by
solutioning a narrow strip of the same material over the joint on the inside,
bringing the rubber surface of the strip into contact with the rubber surface of the
tube. I then connect the ends of this tube so as to form it into a ring, with the
joint on the inside, by means of a short similar tube of such a size as just to fit into
the main tube. This short piece of tube is made with the rubber surface on the
outside, and its edges are carefully joined so as to be perfectly smooth on the
outside and air-tight. To prevent the air escaping between the connecting piece
and the main tube along the edges of the joining strip of the latter, I chamfer off
the corners of the joining strip, so that its points are reduced to about a quarter of
an inch in breadth, and I bevel its sloping sides where the corners are chamfered
off. I fix the valve-which I will presently describe in the connecting tube so
that it protrudes just at the joint in the main tube, and helps, as it is designed to
.do, to make the joint air-tight. When the tube is thus formed into a ring with the
valve in it, I inflate it till it is fully distended, without being materially stretched,
the cross cutting of the canvas allowing it to readily take the form of a true circle"
all round: I then stick a strengthening strip of plain prépared canvas cut on the

page_text: cross and of such breadth as to cover about a third of the circumference of the
tube round it on the inner side, and place the tube in the rim of the wheel having
previously bound round the rim a strip of clean thin canvas of such breadth that
its edges project about a quarter of an inch on each side of the rim. I then fix the
plano-convex band of rubber, with the corrugated steel band embedded in it, as
described in my prior Patent No. 14173 of 1891 on to the outer face of the tube by
means of solution and an outer strengthening strip of prepared canvas cut on the
straight, laid over the plano-convex band which becomes pressed and drawn down
till the tube is flattened out so as to be brought into contact with the whole breadth
of the under. surface of the said band.
The outer cover of the tyre is made of two strips of the combined rubber, and
canvas, one edge of each strip being folded over inwards and stuck down, so as to
form a little tube on the edge. These tubular edges are brought together round
the inner side of the rim, and notched alternately so as to fit into one another like
a hinge, being at the same time notched to clear the spokes of the wheel. The
two strips are then joined with their rubber surfaces outwards by inserting pins
of wood, or other suitable material through the ears, each pin extending between
two adjacent spokes of the wheel which when the cover is in its place, prevent
the pins coming out again. The edges of the strengthening strips being solutioned
as far as necessary, the strips of the outer cover are folded over and stuck to the
tube, the width of each strip being such that its edges extend to about a quarter
of an inch beyond the edges of the plano-convex band, and thus in ordinary sized
tyres come to within about an inch of each other on the running surface of the
tyre. I bevel these edges and finally fix on the face of the tyre a wearing strip, of
rubber of a suitable width and thickness. The tyre is now deflated and taken off
the rim to remove the strip of canvas bound round it before the tyre was put on it,
the object of which strip was to prevent the outer cover sticking to the inner tube
for a space of about a quarter of an inch on each side of the rim, this being
necessary so that when the tyre is deflated, by pressing it down on the rim the
inner edges of the outer cover may be rendered full, and loose to facilitate the with-
drawal or insertion of the pins connecting the two strips of the outer cover together..
As an alternative construction the strips adapted to fix the tyre to the rim may.be
connected across the rim in such a manner that the inflation of the tyre draws the
strips apart and so locks the tyre to the rim. This method of fixing the tyre on the
rim is obviously applicable to almost all types of tyres.
My improved valve is of the mechanically fixed type. On the stem of the valve
which has a screw thread cut on it, is fixed an oval shaped metal plate slightly
curved in cross section so as to fit the inner. surface of tyre, and covered on its
outer side with sheet rubber to prevent it chafing the tyre. A corresponding
metal plate covered on its inside with rubber fits over the stem of the valve and
is capable of being locked down by one or more nuts threaded on the stem of the
valve. The stem of the valve is passed through the tyre at the point of the longi-
tudinal and transverse joints and through the rim, and is secured in its place and
the tube pinched between the oval plates, by the nut or nuts on the stem of the
valve.
The inside of the stem of the valve is drilled for a portion of its length, and a
plug is screwed down into it leaving about a quarter of an inch of the outer end, of
the stem clear. This plug has a notch cut in its outer end to enable, it to be
screwed in by the use of a 'screw-driver and it has two flats or notches along. its
sides and a hole through its centre. The inner end of this plug is turned smaller
than the rest to receive a piece of rubber tube, the free end of which projects into
the tyre and has a round plug inserted in it adapted to enlarge it beyond the
diameter of the hole in, the stem of the valve. This plug is secured in such a
position that it stretches the tube between the plug to which it is attached, and the
inner. end of the stem of the valve the tension of the tube keeping the plug up 5
against the edge of the bole in the stem of the valve, and so preventing the air
in the tyre escaping, but allowing air to be forced past it into the tyre. To make

page_text: the valve doubly secure, and prevent dust getting into it, I provide it with a set
screw to screw tightly into the mouth of the stem, with a washer under the head
bearing on its end to make it air-tight.
Dated this 7th day of March 1892.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
70. Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Tyres.
I THOMAS DUNN of 83 Tierney Road, Brixton Hill, in the County of Surrey,
Member of the Stock Exchange, 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 first to an improved method of constructing pneumatic tyres,
secondly to an improved method of attaching them to the rims of wheels, and
thirdly to an improved valve.
In
Pneumatic tyres are usually made up of an india rubber tube to contain the air, one
or more layers of canvas or other tough flexible material to strengthen it, and an
outer covering of rubber, thick enough to withstand the wear of road friction.
some tyres the three parts are separate and in others they are combined together in
the process of manufacture, forming what are called solid walled tyres. A separate
air tube to have the necessary strength requires to be made of some thickness, but
a very much thinner layer of rubber, in combination with a canvas layer in a tyre,
is equally efficacious in retaining the air, and is less liable to injury. In making up
even a solid walled tyre by the ordinary processes with so thin an inner lining there
is some practical difficulty, the thin film of rubber being difficult to handle, and
very liable to accidental injury in the process of making up the tyre, while the
slightest injury to it is fatal to the soundness of the tyre. This difficulty is best
overcome by first combining the thin film of rubber with the canvas in the sheet
by the ordinary processes for that purpose. I sometimes also coat the back of the
canvas with rubber solution. I then make up the tyre with this material. This
method not only facilitates the manufacture of such tyres by avoiding the above
mentioned difficulty and liable to failure, but also materially reduces the number of
processes involved and greatly cheapens their manufacture.
The method I adopt in making up my tyres is broadly, to make them of two
layers of the above described material stuck together back to back, the rubber
coated surface of the inner layer being turned inwards to form an air tube, and
that of the outer layer outwards to make the tyre water-proof, and to make the
layers overlap in those places where the tyres particularly want strengthening.
In the accompanying drawing which illustrates my invention
Figure 1 is a view-on an enlarged scale-in transverse section showing my
improved construction of tyre.
Figure 2 and 3 are broken views in transverse section showing a modification
thereof.
Figure 4 is a view-on an enlarged scale-in sectional elevation of my improved
valve.
Figure 5 is a plan in view thereof with the cap removed and Figure 6 is a view
in transverse section on line x, x, Figure 4.
Throughout these views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
I take a strip A of the combined rubber and canvas of the required breadth cut
on the cross, and form it into a straight tube with the rubber surface inwards by
solutioning a narrow strip A' of the same material over the joint on the inside;
bringing the rubber surface of the strip into contact with the rubber surface of the
tube. I then connect the ends of this tube so as to form it into a ring, with the

page_text: joint on the inside, by means of a short similar tube of such a size as just to fit into
the main tube. This short piece of tube is made with the rubber surface on the
outside, and its edges are carefully joined so as to be perfectly smooth on the
outside and air tight. To prevent the air escaping between the connecting piece
and the main tube along the edges of the joining strip of the latter, I terminate
the joining strip A' short of, the ends of the strip A and chamfer off its corners so.
that its points are reduced to about a quarter of an inch in breadth and I bevel
these points and its sloping sides. I fix the valve-which will presently
describe in the connecting tube, so that it protrudes just at the joint in the main
tube, and helps, as it is designed to do, to make the joint air-tight. When the tube
is thus formed into a ring with the valve in it, I inflate it till it is fully distended,
without being materially stretched, the cross cutting of the canvas allowing it to
readily take the form of a true circle all round. I then stick a strengthening
strip B of plain prepared canvas-cut on the cross and of such breadth as to cover
about a third of the circumference of the tube-round it on the inner side, and
place the tube in the rim of the wheel having previously bound round the rim a
strip of clean thin canvas of such breadth that its edges project about a quarter
of an inch on each side of the rim. I then fix a plano-convex band of rubber C,
with the corrugated steel band D embedded in it, as described in my prior
Patent No. 15952 of 1891 on to the outer face of the tube A by means of solution
and I lay over it an outer strengthening strip E of prepared canvas cut on the
straight so that the plano-convex band is pressed down until the tube is flattened
out so as to be brought into contact with the whole breadth of the under surface
of the said band, making the edges of the strengthening strip securely adhere to
the tube so as to hold the combination steel and rubber band closely and firmly
on it.
The outer cover of the tyre is made of two strips F, F, of the compound rubber
and canvas, one edge of cach strip being folded 'over inwards and stuck down, so as
to form a tube or pocket on the edge. These tubular edges are brought together
round the inner side of the rim X and are notched alternately so as to form ears
fitting into one another like a hinge, being at the same time notched to clear the spokes
of the wheel. The two strips F, F, are then joined with their rubber surfaces
outwards by inserting pins G of wood, or other suitable material through, the ears,
each pin extending between two adjacent spokes of the wheel which, when the cover
is in its place, prevent the pins coming out. The edges of the strengthening
strips B and E being solutioned as far as necessary, the strips F, F, forming the
outer cover are folded over and stuck to the tube A, the width of each strip being
such that its edges extend to about a quarter of an inch beyond the edges of the
plano-convex band C, and thus in ordinary sized tyres come to within about an inch
of each other on the running surface of the tyre. I bevel these edges and finally
fix on the face of the tyre a wearing strip of rubber H of a suitable width and
thickness. The tyre is now deflated and taken off the rim to remove the strip of
canvas bound round it before the tyre was put on it, the object of which strip was to
prevent the outer cover sticking to the inner tube for a space of about a quarter of an
inch on each side of the rim, this being necessary so that when the tyre is deflated,
by pressing it down on the rim the inner edges of the outer cover may be rendered
full, and loose to facilitate the withdrawal or insertion of the pins connecting the
two strips, of the outer cover together. As an alternative construction the
strips F, F, adapted to fix the tyre to the rim may be connected across the concaye
face of the rim X as shown by Figure 2 by means of a web F in such a manner
that the inflation of the tyre causes the strips F, F, to grip the rim as shown by
Figure 3, and so firmly lock the tyre to the rim. This method of attaching a tyre
to a rim is obviously applicable to almost all types of tyres.
The above method of construction may be variously modified, for instance, the
outer cover may consist of one strip instead of two and may be folded round
the tyre so as to form a join round its inner side over which if it is a butt joint the
inner strengthening strip of thin canvas is solutioned. Such a tyre as this usually

page_text: requires to be cemented into the rim. Again the outer cover consisting of one
strip may be folded over the tyre and its edges made to overlap the rim on to
which it may be stuck either wholly or partially round the wheel and the hinge
like joints as before described may be formed on to the edges of the cover either
wholly or partly round the wheel. When the material of the cover is very thin I
prefer to make one side of it entirely overlap the rim and the other side to overlap
it on the top of the first side as far as the spokes, the broad side being stuck to the
rim and the narrow side on the top of the broadside. When the material of the
cover is thick the rim should be covered with thin canvas and the sides of the cover
stuck on to it and made to form a butt joint in its centre on which a narrow strip of
thin prepared canvas of the same colour as the cover should be solutioned. When
a hinge joint is formed on the edges of the cover all round the wheel it may
either be of the same colour as the cover or of some other colour preferably black.
My improved valve is of the mechanically fixed type. On the stem J of the
valve which is threaded externally is fixed-preferably by being screwed thereto-
an oval shaped metal plate K slightly curved in cross section to fit the inner surface
of the tyre, to which it is attached by a strip of canvas. A similar plate K'
covered with rubber on its concave face is passed on to the stem of the valve and
is capable of being locked down by a nut j threaded on the stem J. The stem of
the valve is passed through the tyre at the point of the longitudinal and transverse
joints and through the rim and it is secured in its place, and the tube pinched
between the oval plates, by the nut j on the stem of the valve. The stem J of the
valve is hollow and is threaded for a portion of its interior and recessed for the
other part. A plug L having a central hole and a tapered projection L' is
adapted to be screwed into the hollow stem J as shown, so that the tapered
projection L protrudes into the recessed part of the hollow stem.
Onto the tapered
projection L is fixed by solution or otherwise a short length of rnbber tube M
which has two or more holes m, m, in it and which has its free end blocked by a
coned plug N of rubber or other suitable material to enlarge it beyond the diameter
of the end of the recessed part of the stem J of the valve. The length of the
rubber tube M is such that it is stretched between the tapered projection of the
plug L and the end of the stem of the valve, the tension of the tube M keeping the
plugged end of the said tube up against the end of the stem of the valve and thus
closing it against the escape of air. When air is forced into the valve it passes
through the holes m, m, in the tube M and lifts the coned end thereof and so passes
into the tyre. The outer end of the stem J of the valve is closed by a screwed
cap or plug O and a washer O'.
If desired a separate air tube may be used with the type of tyre hereinbefore
described, the said separate air tube being adapted for use as the main air chamber
of the tyre or as an auxiliary air chamber adapted to be used only when the tyre is
punctured.
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:-
1. The improvements in and relating to pneumatic tyres, as hercinbefore
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
2. The improved construction of pneumatic tyre, as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing.
3. The improved method of attaching pneumatic tyres to the rims of wheels as
hereinbefore described and illustrated by Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the accompanying
drawing.
4. The improved construction of valve, as hereinbefore described and illustrated
by Figures 4, 5, and 6 of the accompanying drawing.
5. In a valve for a pneumatic tyre, the combination of the stem J, of the tubular
plug L screwed therein, of the rubber tube M attached to the said plug and having

page_text: one or more holes m in it, and of the cone N closing the mouth of the tube M, all
combined, arranged, and operating as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 7th day of December 1892,
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent, 70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.