Certain Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres and Metal Rims for the Wheels of Bicycles and other Velocipedes, Motor Cars, and Road Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Jan., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 14th Oct., 1897-Accepted, 14th Feb.,
1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Certain Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres and Metal Rims for the
Wheels of Bicycles and other Velocipedes, Motor Cars, and Road
Vehicles.
I, RICHARD GREEN, of 2 to 6, Horse Fair, in the City of Birmingham;
Mechanician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention consists in constructing pneumatic tyres and wheel rims in the
manner herein described so that the pneumatic tyre, or the outer covering of the
same, will be secured to the wheel rim independently of the air pressure within
the tyre and so as to enable the said outer covering or tyre to be readily removed or
opened when desired for the inspection of the inner air tube of the tyre or for other
repairs to the interior of the tyre.
In carrying out this invention as applied to one of those pneumatic tyres which
is provided with a separate inner air tube, I provide a canvas and rubber outer
covering which may be of the usual section but the edges are thickened and made
practically or partially inextensible by being formed of hard india-rubber or
vulcanite or otlier suitable material with or without canvas insertion so that these
edges when thus formed are just of the proper diameter to fit upon the wheel rim.
The wheel rim is of peculiar form and construction as it has a tubular beading
or enlargement at each side; one of these tubular beadings or enlargements being
formed in a piece with the rim and the other tubular enlargement being made in
the form of a removable tubular ring which fits on to the wheel rim which is shaped
to receive it. These tubular enlargements are by preference of circular form in
cross section so that the space between them at a short distance from the main
portion of the rim is rather narrower than is the distance between these two tubular
beadings close down on to the rim itself. The edges of the outer covering are
shaped so as to fit and take against the edges of the rim.
In putting the tyre together the removable tubular beading has first to be removed
from the wheel rim. That edge of the outer covering which is to come against the
fixed tubular beading is then placed on the wheel rim and pushed close up against
the said tubular beading so as to fit against the same. A ring of cork leather hard
rubber metal or other suitable substance which is made internally of a shape to fit
the wheel rim is now placed upon the wheel rim so as to bear against the inner
surface of one edge of the outer covering. The inner air tube is now or previously
placed in position within the outer covering and around the wheel rim. The other
edge of the outer covering is placed on the wheel rim and pushed close up against
the said ring; the removable tubular beading is now placed in position on the wheel
rim thus pinching the parts of the outer covering and the said central metal or
other ring together and securing the tyre to the wheel rim as the enlarged edges
of the outer covering cannot be drawn through the narrower spaces between the
tubular beadings of the rim and the central metal or other ring which fits on the
The removable tubular beading is secured in place by its ends being made
same.

page_text: so that they can readily be connected together and the tubular beading tightened
up round the wheel rim. This can readily be done by a right and left hand
screwed connector or by other suitable means.
When it is desired to examine the interior of the pneumatic tyre the said remov-
able tubular beading has first to be expanded slightly so that it can be removed
from the wheel rim, one edge of the outer covering can then be removed from the
wheel rim and so as to allow of the air tube or the interior of the tyre to be inspected.
When my invention is applied to one of those pneumatic tyres which are made
without the separate inner air tube I make the meeting surfaces of the said loose
central ring and of the cuter covering of soft rubber so that when they are placed
together on the wheel rim as aforesaid they will make an air tight joint and retain
the air in the tyre.
Or I may make the said outer covering or tyre air tight, so as to form what is
known as a single tube tyre, by solutioning an endless band or strip of india-
rubber or like material on to what I may term the base of the tyre, that is to say,
this endless band of indiarubber will surround the wheel rim and be located
between the wheel rim and the said edges of the outer covering and be solutioned
to the said two edges so as to make an air tight joint. When any repairs to the
interior of the tyre are necessary the said indiarubber band or ring has to be
pulled away or unstuck from a portion of one edge of the outer covering so as to
give access to the interior of the tyre and when the repairs have been effected, the
said band can again be solutioned on to the part of the outer covering from which
it has been unstuck and then the tyre is again placed in position on the wheel rim
and secured thereto by the removable tubular beading as aforesaid.
If preferred the said central ring above described as surrounding the wheel rim
and fitting between the two edges of the outer covering may be dispensed with,
the said edges of the outer covering being made wider than above described so as
to come in contact with each other.
Datad this 18th day of Ton 1907
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY.
Agent for the Applicant.
Certain Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres and Metal Rims for the
Wheels of Bicycles and other Velocipedes, Motor Cars, and Road
Vehicles.
I, RICHARD GREEN, of 2 to 6, Horse Fair, in the City of Birmingham,
Mechanician, 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 for its object the construction of pneumatic tyres and wheel
rims for the same, in such a manner that the tyre or its outer covering shall be
secured to the rim independently of the internal air pressure, and as to permit of
the ready removal or opening of the tyre or its outer covering for repairs or inspec-
tion of the interior.
In the accompanying sheet of explanatory drawings to be hereinafter
referred to,-
Figures 1, 2 and 3 are sectional views of tyres and rims made in accordance with
my invention, whilst
Figure 4 is an elevation representing a short length of such a tyre and rim.

page_text: The same reference letters in the different views indicate the same or similar
parts.
In the application of my invention to the construction of pneumatic tyres with
an independent or separate inner air tube as A, I provide a tyre cover B with
enlarged or thickened continuous and extensible edges as 6 for fitting upon the
wheel rim C. The rim C has a tubular beading or enlargement C₁ on each side,
one of which may be in one piece with the rim, but I preferably make each of them
in the form of a removable split or open tubular ring as illustrated, of metal or
other rigid material, the ends being connected by a right and left hand screw D
as shown at Figures 4.
With the type of the rim shown at Figure 1, the central portion is raised to pro-
vide abutments for the inner sides of the edges 6 of the cover B, the abutment for
the outer sides being formed by the removable ring edges C¹ of the rim.
To fix the tyre on the rim the ring edges C¹ are removed or extended or opened
sufficiently to permit of the placing of the enlarged edges b of the cover B in
position against its inner abutments formed by the raised central portion of the
rim as hereinbefore described. The ring edges C₁ are then replaced and secured
in position by the tightening up of the right and left hand screw D. The parts
are so arranged that a line (1, 2, Figure 1) drawn through the centres of the ring
edges C¹ falls above or beyond a line 3, 4, drawn through the thickened edges; and
as the space between the inner side of each of such ring edges and adjacent portions
of the rim in the centre line 1, 2, is less than the width or thickness of the enlarged
edges 6 of the cover B, it follows that such edges cannot be withdrawn from the rim
whilst the rings C¹ are in position.
With the rims illustrated at Figures 2 and 3, the raised central part as at
Figure 1 is dispensed with, the inner abutments for the cover edges being formed
by a hard rubber or other central ring such as E, Figure 2, or by extensions on the
inner side of the cover which meet each other as at Figure 3.
To obtain access to the interior of the tyre it is only necessary to slacken one of
the screws D and thus open or extend one ring sufficiently to permit of the with-
drawal either of the whole or a portion of the adjacent edge of the cover as may be
required. On reinsertion of the cover edge in its position after effecting the required
repairs or inspection, the tyre is again secured before its inflation, by tightening
the screw D. The opening out of the tyre and the subsequent replacing and
securing of the same in position as described is readily effected without removal of
the wheel from the cycle frame or the vehicle on which it is employed.
In the event of deflation of the tyre when in service through a puncture or leak-
age, its'attachment to the rim will be in no wise affected, as my method of securing
is, as will be readily understood, quite independent of the pressure within the
interior of the tyre.
My invention is applicable to pneumatic tyres having no separate inner air tube,
and in one such application I make the meeting surfaces of the central ring such
as E Figure. 2, and of the outer covering, of soft rubber, so that when placed
together on the wheel rim as described, they form an air tight joint. I also form
a single tube tyre by the employment of an endless band or strip of india-rubber
or like material, surrounding the wheel rim and solutioned to the two tyre edges
which are secured to the rim by the rings C¹ in the manner herein before described.
Access to the interior of such a tyre is obtained by pulling away a portion of one
edge from the band or strip to which it is solutioned.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. A pneumatic tyre rim with removable tubular ring edges preferably of metal
which when screwed up form part of the rim section, together with a tyre cover or
tyre having enlarged extensible edges, substantially as and for the purposes
described and as illustrated.

page_text: 2. In the pneumatic tyres of cycle and other vehicle wheels the improved arrange-
ment and general combination of parts substantially as and for the purposes
described and as illustrated.
Dated the 14th
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.