Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres...
Year: 1892

page_text: Complete Specification Left, 5th May, 1894-Accepted fo
* 291 1
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
1°
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres...
I, JOHN FULLERTON PALMER of Riverside, in. the County of Cook, State of
Illinois, United States of America, 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: 1
1
My invention relates to an improvement in pneumatic tires for bicycles, etc., and
relates more particularly to a method of providing the air tube of the pneumatic tire
with a, protective covering for the purpose of 'closing any holes that may occur. in
the tube, and to strengthen the tube when in use. Heretofore the usual practice
has been to provide on the pneumatic tube a case or covering of canvas; and somé-
times of layers of canvas aud vulcanized rubber. It has been the practice, so far
ast I am aware, first to form the rubber tube ready for application as a tire and for
filling with air and then when thus produced to apply directly to the same the
casing or covering deemed desirable for its protection against expansion and for
strengthening it.
.
.
The object of my invention is to improve the present structure of tires and the
method of producing the same in the particulars hereinafter explained.
My invention relates also to an improved construction of the tire under which the
material involved in the casing, which is immediately in contact with the pneumatic
tube shall be made of raw rubber; or of vulcanized rubber having a facing of raw
rubber, or otherwise provided with a suitable cement, whereby any apertures in the
tire which would permit the escape of air shall be closed by the pressure of the
resilient soft rubber.
1. My invention consists further in a method of applying to a pneumatic-tire a
rubber or similar protective covering extending entirely or part way around the
same in cross section, which consists in molding the covering material upon fabric,
such as canvas, in such a manner as to extend in an opposite direction both in cross
section and longitudinally to the intended direction of the covering when applied to
the tubing, and thereupon and after thus producing the covering to turn the same
longitudinally and transversely to present as the inner face what in the course. of
production had been the outer face, thereby causing a compression of the resilient
material increasing its effectiveness, all in the manner hereinafter more fully
explained.
1.:
1
My invention consists further in an improved method' of securing the canvas
covering upon a pneumatic tube, particularly if the same shall be provided with the
intermediate soft rubber covering above described.

page_text: My invention consists further in an improved method of securing the outer
covering upon the tire having an intermediate canvas covering and of securing the
tire so produced to the wheel.
My invention consists further in certain details of improvements and combinations
of parts, all as hereinafter more fully pointed out.
In the drawings-
Figure 1 represents a rubber tire and illustrates the method of its production;
Figure 2 represents a transverse section of a pneumatic tube tire constructed in
accordance with my invention;
Figure 3 represents the method which I prefer to employ for constructing the tire
and applying a protective coating; and
Figure 4 is a view in cross section of a rubber tire provided with my improvement
and involving some additional features not shown in Figure 2.
A represents the pneumatic tube formed in the usual way so as to present an
annular tire to be filled with air. B represents a coating or covering of soft or raw
rubber extending part way around the tire or tube A and inclosing the tread
portion of the tube. C is a covering of canvas or similar fabric inclosing the soft
rubber covering B and tube A, the lateral ends of which canvas covering are
brought together and so sewed as to leave the flaps C. D represents the outer
preferably vulcanized rubber covering to inclose the tube constructed as described,
said outer covering D being provided with longitudinal groovest near the con-
verging edges to receive the longitudinal beads s formed on the outer edges of the
flaps C of the canvas covering C. E represents a protective loop or doubled strip
of canvas introduced under the meeting parts of the canvas covering C, said loop or
strip having the longitudinal projecting flaps E' intended to extend between the
adjacent parts of the canvas C so that when the latter are sewed together the
stitches will also pass through said flaps leaving the loop portion under
the stitching to serve as a guard to protect the inner air tube from the chafing
action of the stitched edges. In practice I prefer to employ in connection with the
foregoing construction a soft rubber protective covering F on the inner side of the
tube, which may be applied in any convenient manner before applying and securing
the canvas C and outer tube D.
My improved method of applying the covering of soft rubber is illustrated in
Figures 1 and 3 and is as follows:
A former or mandrel G is employed upon which the canvas C is stretched so as
to present substantially the configuration of the finished rubber tire. Upon the
canvas thus secured the covering of soft rubber is applied being caused to adhere
to the same in any substantial manner. If instead of raw rubber, vulcanized
rubber be used I prefer to apply thereto, after it has been secured to the canvas, a
facing of raw rubber or other suitable material. When thus formed the canvas is
removed from the former G and turned inside out, so that whereas the covering B
when applied on the mandrel was on the outside of the canvas it is now upon the
inside; and the meeting ends of the canvas tubing are turned backward and caused
to meet in an opposite circle, so that the inner edges a will become the inner
edges and the outer edges y will become the outer edges y' on the opposite end
of a common diametrical line.
By thus turning the canvas tubing to the opposite curvature longitudinally and
transversely it is quite apparent that the rubber which is changed from the external
to the internal part of the tubing is compressed, because the canvas or other fabric
or backing is incapable of being stretched.
In practice I usually prefer to apply the rubber to the canvas in a transverse
measurement so as to extend only to the points r, thus covering what will constitute
the tread portion when the covering is applied to the tire. The canvas is made
much wider than the circumferential measurement of the tube A viewed in cross
section and thus presents the flaps C, before referred to, when the meeting parts of
the canvas are stitched together, as indicated at p. Between the meeting parts of
the canvas and the interior rubber tube A; the loop or protector E is introduced

page_text: and the stitching passes through the flaps E¹ thereof. After the external rubber
coating has been applied the tube thus constructed may at once be introduced upon
the felly H of the wheel, the pressure serving to hold the flap C¹ against the
tubing, the beads s entering the recess t serving firmly to hold the parts together.
When, as in accordance with my preferred construction, a soft rubber protective
coating is introduced upon the inner or hub side of the tube it may be done, as
clearly illustrated in Figure 4, in which case the canvas C incloses the covering F
and holds it in position.
I am aware that it has previously been proposed to make pneumatic tyres of
india-rubber in a state of compression for the purpose of closing punctures and also
to make such tyres with a layer of un vulcanized india-rubber for a similar purpose
and I make no general claim for such arrangements, but what I claim as new and
desire to secure by Letters Patent is―
1-A pneumatic tire for bicycles comprising an air-tube having applied to its
outer surface a partial tube of soft rubber with an inelastic backing, whereby any
apertures occurring in the inner tube may be sealed, substantially as described.
2-The method of applying a protective coating of rubber or like material to the
air tube of a pneumatic tire, which consists in applying the rubber or similar
material to a backing having a curvature opposite to that of the tube and thereupon
reversing the curvature of the backing and applying it to the pneumatic tube to
cause the rubber or similar material to lie between the tube and backing, sub-
stantially as described.
3-The method of applying rubber or like material to the air tube of a
pneumatic tire, which consists in applying the rubber or, similar material to a
Hexible backing and thereupon applying the backing to the tube, curving the
backing with the rubber or similar material on the interior so as to present the
curvature of the pneumatic tube, whereby the rubber or similar material shall be
compressed by reason of its mode of application to the air tube, substantially as
described.
4-The method of applying a protective coating of rubber or similar material to,
the air tube of a pneumatic tire, which consists in curving a flexible backing, such
as canvas, so as to present in transverse section a curvature opposite to that of the
air tube, then applying to the outer face of the backing in part of its width the
layer or coating of rubber or similar material, then reversing the curvature of
the backing and the protective material carried thereby and applying the same to
the rubber tube in such manner that the protective material shall be between the
backing and tube, substantially as described.
5-In a pneumatic tire for bicycles the combination with the air tube of a pro-
tective layer B of soft rubber, or the like, an inclosing casing of canvas or the like
having, when secured, the flaps C beaded at the lateral extremities, as shown, and
the outer covering D having the longitudinal grooves s to receive the beaded edges
of the flaps, substantially as described.
6-A pneumatic tire comprising, in combination, air tube A, protective layer B
on the tread portion, protective layer F on the inner side of the tube inclosing
casing C and felly H, substantially as described.
7-In a pneumatic tube for bicycles the combination with the air tube A of
an inclosing casing of flexible material C and a loop or strip E between the
stitched edges of the casing and the tube, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
Dated this 5th day of May 1892
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.