Improvements in Tyres for Cycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 9th May, 1894-Accepted, 9th June, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tyres for Cycles and other Vehicles.
I, JOHN GEORGE AULSEBROOK KITCHEN, of 54 Croppers Hill, St. Helens, in
the County of Lancaster, Cycle Maker, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to tyres for the wheels of cycles and other vehicles,
and has for object to substitute, for inflated tyres which are always liable to be
punctured or to burst when in use, a resilient tyre composed of celluloid or other
suitable material such as will after compression in use return to its normal position.
These tyres may be of various forms to suit different classes of machines.
According to this invention a tyre for an ordinary roadster machine may be
formed from two annular discs of celluloid having concentric corrugations, their
outer edges being formed or secured together whilst their inner edges are so shaped
as to fit against or engage in projecting flanges of the wheel rim. In another form
for a lighter built machine the tyre may be formed of one disc of celluloid
concentrically corrugated. In each case the tyre tapers more or less to the tread
so as to have a narrower tread than the inside of the tyre where it fits on to the
wheel rim. When a single disc of celluloid is used the smallest or innermost
corrugation may have its exposed edge turned over to give additional strength and
bearing on the wheel rim and may have an outer covering of canvas with a rubber
tread if desired for preventing the indentations or corrugations becoming filled or
clogged with mud. The edges of the encircling casing may overlap the wheel rim
and be cemented thereto.
In another form of wheel tyre according to this invention suitable for racing
purposes the tyre may be circular in cross section and have slits cut across the face
of the tread to give greater pliancy.
In this case the tyre is or may be encased by a suitable covering secured to the
wheel rim which covering may be of canvas, cloth or rubber according to the
purpose the tyre is intended for.
In another modification according to my invention the celluloid tyre may be of
elliptical or egg shaped form in cross section the smaller end forming the tread,
and within such tyre one or more celluloid U-shaped encircling rings may be
provided for giving support thereto. As they approach the tread the edges of the
rings may be tapered off or the inner U-shaped rings may be made tapered from
the middle towards their edges.
I would have it understood that I do not confine myself solely to the before
described sections exactly as they may be slightly varied to suit different classes of
machines.
Dated this oth doxe of Av1902

page_text: Improvements in Tyres for Cycles and en
I, JOHN GEORGE AULSEBROOK KITCHEN, formerly of 54 Croppers Hill,.
St. Helens in the County of Lancaster, but now of Rose Grove, Ardwick,
Manchester, Cycle Tyre 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 :-
This invention has reference to tyres for the wheels of cycles and other vehicles,
and has for object to substitute for inflated tyres which are liable to be punctured
or to burst when in use, a resilient tyre composed of celluloid or other like material
such as will after compression in use return to its normal position or shape. These
tyres may be of various forms to suit different classes of machines.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a cross section showing one construction of hollow tyre, according to
this invention suitable for a roadster or heavy machine, and
Fig. 2 is a similar view showing a modified construction.
In each case the tyre comprises two annular side pieces A A' of sheet celluloid
or like resilient sheet material such as xylonite corrugated in a circular direction
as shown and connected together at their outer edges so as to form a rounded
tread A somewhat narrower than the base or inner portion or periphery of the
tyre which takes into the hollow of the wheel rim B. The tyre may be moulded
in one piece of the form shewn in Fig. 1; or the two side pieces A, A¹ may be
moulded separately in right and left handed dies so that when they are afterwards
placed together in the manner shown in Fig. 2, their outer edges will overlap each
other and form a rounded tread, the said outer edges being firmly secured together
in any convenient way such as by being cemented together in the way usually
followed for connecting pieces of celluloid.
If
The corrugations in each of the side pieces A A¹ are concentric and are such as
to allow the tyre to spring and rebound when passing over uneven surfaces.
greater resilience be required narrow radial slits Aª (Fig. 2) may be cut across the
tyre extending from the tread to any suitable depth Bay to about the depth of the
tyre. To protect the edges of the slits from being damaged and also to prevent
dust accumulating within the tyre, the tyre may be provided with an cuter
cover C (Fig. 2) of nonextensible material such as canvas, preferably coated
outside with a layer of india rubber and having a thickened tread, the edges of
such cover being secured to the wheel rim B in any suitable or well known way.
The tyre proper may be secured to the wheel rim in any suitable way, as for
example by cement or by a metal hoop or hoops drawn tightly within the tyre, or
bolts may be used.
_Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 2 showing a modified construction of tyre
suitable for a lighter vehicle than the tyres shown in Figs. 1 and 2. In this case
the tyre is formed of one annular piece A of celluloid or like material formed, by.
moulding, with concentric corrugations so that the tyre is of a zig-zag or. serpentine
form in cross section the tread or outer portion A being formed by bending over
the outer edge as shown, and the base or inner portion A being bent or shaped to
suit the wheel rim B and slightly turned outward at the free edge as shown. This
tyre may also be formed with radial slits A' if desired.
To prevent the concentric corrugations in this tyre from becoming charged with
dirt, the tyre may be provided with a non-extensible cover C drawn tightly over
the tyre and wheel rim, as in the arrangement shown in Fig. 2. The cover may,
if desired, bave a thickened rubber tread as shewn in Fig. 4 which in other
respects shows a tyre similar to that shown in Fig. 3. For racing purposes the
outer cover C may be made very thin and light, or may be dispensed with.

page_text: Fig. 5 is a cross section and Fig. 6 a part side elevation showing another form
of wheel tyre according to this invention applied to a wheel rim and suitable for
racing purposes. In this case the tyre A is of circular form in cross section. It
may as shown be provided with radial transverse slits A³ cut across the face of the
tread to give greater resiliency. This tyre like the others herein before described
may if desired be enclosed by an outer cover secured to the wheel rim and formed
of suitable material such as canvas, cloth or rubber according to the purpose for
which the tyre is intended. In some cases, as when racing on a wood track, the
outer cover may be dispensed with.
Fig. 7 is a cross section showing a further modified form of tyre according to
this invention. In this case the celluloid or like tyre A is of elliptical or
egg-shaped form in cross section, the smaller end forming the tread. Within it.
may be arranged one or more U-shaped celluloid encircling rings A* for giving
lateral support to such tyre. Each of these rings may be tapered off at its edges
or it may be made of gradually decreasing thickness from its middle part towards
each edge so as to gradually reduce the thickness of the tyre from its inner to its.
outer or tread portion.
Instead of forming the tyre shown in Fig. 7 of built up rings A*, the thickness.
of the celluloid constituting the hollow wall of the tyre may be made of
correspondingly greater thickness, the thickness gradually decreasing from the
inner periphery to the tread.
Celluloid or like tyres according to this. invention may be made endless and.
sprung into place on a wheel rim, or they may be each slit through at one part so
that it can be more readily fitted to a wheel rim, the free ends being cemented or
connected together in any convenient manner. Preferably slits are cut across the
tread portion of the tyre at right angles, diagonally or in other suitable ways.
according to requirements.
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 :-
1. A hollow tyre composed of one or more rings or annular pieces of celluloid or
like resilient material capable of itself re-assuming its original form or shape after
compression, whether or not the tread portion of such a tyre be slit transversely,
substantially as herein described.
2. Hollow tyres for cycles and other vehicles, composed of celluloid or like
resilient material constructed substantially as herein before described with reference.
to the several examples shown in the drawings annexed, whether or not such tyres.
be formed with transverse slits, or be provided with outer covers as set forth.
Dated this 9th day of May 1894.
Dated this 9th day of
May 1894.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.