Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres for the Wheels of Bicycles, Tricycles and other Velocipedes and Wheel Carriages.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of 'Application, 22nd Sept., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 3rd June, 1897-Accepted, 10th July, 1897
'PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres for the Wheels of Bicycles,
Tricycles and other Velocipedes and Wheel Carriages.
I, EDMUND JOSEPH BYRNE, of The Chestnuts, Erdington, in the County of Warwick,
India Rubber and Gutta Percha Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this
Invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to pneumatic tyres for the wheels of bicycles, tricycles and
other velocipedes and wheel carriages of the kind commonly called 'single tube tyres,
that is, tyres in which the use of an outer separate or detachable protecting cover for
the air tube or tyre proper is dispensed with; and my invention .consists of the:
improvements hereinafter described in the said single tube tyres whereby they are
readily and securely attached to the metallic rims of the wheels without the use of
cement or the like.
I will describe my invention in connection with a pneumatic tyre for the wheel of
a bicycle.
In constructing a tyre according to one of the arrangements constituting my
invention I take an endless band of india rubber having an insertion or insertions of
canvas or the like, the said endless band having a figure in cross section somewhat
resembling that of the outer protecting cover of an ordinary pneumatic tyre provided
with ribs for engaging with overhanging edges or flanges formed on the metallic rim
of the wheel. In conjunction with the endless band described, I employ an endless
tube of india rubber the said tube having a diameter in cross section equal to or some-
what greater than the internal diameter in cross section of the endless band. I attach
the endless tube described to the interior of the endless band preferably in the
vulcanizing process and thereby form a single tube tyre having ribs on the inner side,
a portion of the tube between the said ribs being elastic.
In constructing a pneumatic tyre according to another of the arrangements
constituting my invention I take the endless band first described and I employ in
conjunction therewith a second endless band of india rubber which I will hereinafter
call the inner band. The said inner band has a breadth equal or nearly equal to the
metallic rim of the wheel with which the tyre is to be used. I attach the inner
band to the interior of 'the first named or outer band at or near its edges preferably
in the process of vulcanization and thereby form a closed tube.
The tyres described are provided with a valve of the ordinary construction by which
valve they are inflated or deflated as desired.
In attaching either of the single tube tyres herein before described to the metallic
rim of the bicycle wheel the said tyre is placed in a deflated condition in the trough
of the rim the ribs on the said tyre being situated in the said trough at a short
distance from the overhanging edges or 'flanges of the rim. On the inflation of the
tyre the elastic part situated within the trough of the rim expanding, the ribs on the
tyre are forced outwards and inade to engage with the overhanging edges or flanges
on the metallic rim of the wheel. The tyre is thus securely attached to the rim of
the wheel.
I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the methods described of

page_text: constructing a single tube pneumatic tyre containing my improvements as it may be
otherwise made, the essence of my invention consisting in forming a single tube tyre
the inner part of which, that is, the part which when the tyre is attached to the rim
is situated within the rim, has ribs between which ribs is an elastic part the part of
the tyre external to the rim being inelastic, so that on the inflation of the tyre the
inner elastic part expanding, the ribs of the tyre are made to engage with the over-
hanging edges or flanges of the metallic rim and thus securely fix the tyre to the
wheel, no cementing or other fastening being required.
Dated this Twenty-second day of September 1896.
W. T. WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres for the Wheels of Bicycles,
Tricycles and other Velocipedes and Wheel Carriages.
.J, EDMUND JOSEPH BYRNE, of The Chestnuts, Erdington in the County of Warwick
India Rubber and Gutta Percha Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my
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 pneumatic tyres for the wheels of bicycles, tricycles, and
other velocipedes and wheel carriages of the kind commonly called single tube tyres,
that is, tyres in which the use of an outer separate or detachable protecting cover for
the air tube or tyre proper is dispensed with; and my invention consists of the
improvements hereinafter described in the said single tube tyres whereby they are
readily and securely attached to the metallic rims of the wheels without the use of
cement or the like.
I will describe my invention in connection with a pneumatic tyre for the wheel of
a bicycle.
In constructing a tyre according to one of the arrangements constituting my
invention I take an endless band of india rubber having an insertion or insertions of
canvas or the like, the said endless band having a figure in cross section somewhat
resembling that of the outer protecting cover of an ordinary pneumatic tyre provided
with ribs for engaging with overhanging edges or flanges formed on the metallic rim
of the wheel. In conjunction with the endless band described I employ an endless
tube of india rubber. I attach the endless tube described to the interior of the endless
band preferably in the vulcanizing process and thereby form a single tube tyre having
ribs on its inner side, a portion of the tube between the said ribs being elastic.
In constructing a pneumatic tyre according to another of the arrangements
constituting my invention I take the endless band first described and I employ in
conjunction therewith a second endless band of india rubber which I will hereinafter
call the inner band. The said inner band has a breadth equal or nearly equal to the
metallic rim of the wheel with which the tyre is to be used. I attach the inner band
to the interior of the first named or outer band at or near its edges preferably in the
process of vulcanization and thereby form a closed tube.
The tyres described are provided with a valve of the ordinary construction by
which valve they are inflated or deflated as desired.
In attaching either of the single tube tyres hereinbefore described to the metallic
rim of the bicycle wheel, the said tyre is placed in a deflated condition in the trough
of the rim, the ribs on the said tyre being situated in the said trough at a short
distance from. the overhanging edges or flanges of the rim. On the inflation of the
tyre the elastic part situated within the trough of the rim expanding, the ribs on the

page_text: tyre are forced outwards and made to engage with the overhanging edges or flanges
on the metallic rim of the wheel. The tyre is thus securely attached to the rim of
the wheel.
I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the methods described of
making a single tube pneumatic tyre containing my improvements as it may be
otherwise made, the essence of my invention consisting in forming a single tube tyre
the inner part of which, that is, the part which when the tyre is attached to the rim
is situated within the rim, has ribs between which ribs is an elastic part, the part of
the tyre external to the rim being inelastic so that on the inflation of the tyre the
inner elastic part expanding, the ribs of the tyre are made to engage with the over-
hanging edges or flanges of the metallic rim and thus securely fix the tyre to the
wheel, no cementing or other fastening being required.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawing represents in cross section a portion of a
single tube pneumatic tyre made according to one arrangement of my invention;
Figure 2 represents the same applied to the metallic rim of a wheel and before the
inflation of the tyre and Figure 3 represents the same after inflation.
Figure 4 represents a single tube pneumatic tyre made according to another
arrangement of my invention.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures of the
Drawing.
I will first describe the arrangement Figures 1, 2 and 3.
a, a is the inelastic portion of the endless vulcanised india rubber tube constituting
the tyre, which inelastic portion a when the tyre is in position on the rim f is external
to the said rim and b is the elastic portion of the said endless vulcanised india rubber
tube which when the tube is inflated on the rim f occupies the trough or concave
side of the said rim as is seen in Figure 3. The portion a, a of the tyre is made
inelastic by. one or
more insertions or linings of canvas or the like.
One insertion of canvas is represented and marked e. At or about the junctions
of the inelastic part a of the tyre with the elastic part b, are ribs c, c which
ribs are preferably strengthened by a metallic or other inelastic core c¹ ci; d, d are
inelastic flaps on either side of the tyre, which when the tyre is in position on the rim
serve as a protection to the elastic portion of the tyre. The elastic part b is of such
a width that before the inflation of the tyre the inner side of the tyre does not occupy
the whole of the concave or trough like surface of the rim (see Figure 2) but on the
inflation of the tyre the elastic part b stretches and fills the concave surface of the
rim and causes the ribs c, c to engage under the overhanging edges f, f of the rim
as is seen in Figure 3. The pneumatic tyre is thus securely fixed in position on the
rim without the use of cement or the like and without the employment of an outer
cover.
In Figure 4 I have shown the tyre without the flap d, d, otherwise it differs in no
essential respect from the tyre Figures 1, 2 3 and corresponding parts are marked
with the same letters of reference.
Although I have described the making of the whole width of the inner portion b, b
elastic, I wish it to be understood that a part or parts only of the said inner portion
may be made elastic, that is to say, the said inner portion b, b may have a narrow
canvas or like insertion or lining occupying the middle or other part of the
portion b, b.
The single tube pneumatic tyre Figures 1, 2 and 3 is made preferably in the way
first described, namely, by taking an endless band of india rubber mixture made
inelastic by one or more insertions or linings of canvas or the like, the said band
having ribs on its outer side and near its edges, and an endless tube of india rubber
mixture only, that is to say, without an insertion of canvas or the like. The endless
band described is attached except near its edges to the endless tube and in this
attached condition the combined endless band and endless tube are vulcanized and
made homogeneous.
The single tube pneumatic tyre Figure 4 is made preferably by taking two endless
bands of india rubber mixture one considerably wider than the other. The wider

page_text: band is made inelastic by insertions or linings of canvas or 'the like and has on its
edges the thickenings to form the ribs c, c of the tyre. The other or narrower
elastic band is attached by its edges to the edges of the inner side of the wider
inelastic band and in this condition the combined endless bands are submitted to the
vulcanizing process.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I claim
as my invention of "Improvements in pneumatic tyres for the wheels of bicycles,
tricycles and other velocipedes and wheel carriages."
First A single tube pneumatic tyre the outer part of which, that is, the part
which when the tyre is inflated on the rim is external to the said rim, is inelastic and
the inner part or part which occupies the said rim elastic or partly elastic and partly
inelastic, the said single tube tyre having at opposite sides of its inner or elastic
part ribs, with or without inelastic cores, for engaging on the inflation of the tyre with
the overhanging edges of the rim substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
Secondly-A single tube pneumatic tyre the outer part of which, that is, the part
which when the tyre is inflated on the rim is external to the said rim, is inelastic and
the inner part or part which occupies the said rim elastic or partly elastic and
partly inelastic, the said single tube tyre having at opposite sides of its inner or
elastic part ribs, with or without inelastic cores, for engaging on the inflation of the
tyre with the overhanging edges of the rim and also flaps which bearing directly on
the metallic rim protect the elastic portion of the tyre substantially as herein before
described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying Drawing.
Dated the Twenty-seventh day of May 1897.
EDMUND JOSEPH BYRNE.