Improvements in Tyres for Bicycles, Carriages, and the like.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th June, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 24th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 29th May, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tyres for Bicycles, Carriages, and the like.
J, ARTHUR JAMES LEWIS of Moray Lodge, Campden Hill, London declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements in tyres for bicycles, carriages or other
vehicles. My invention is designed to transfer the elastic portion of the tyre to the
surface of the metal or other rim of the wheel, and to use a firm tyre between such
clastic portion and the ground, and thereby, while providing a firm and, if necessary
elastic running surface to the tyre to obtain a highly resilient tyre not liable to
puncture at all, or only to an immaterial degree, while I claim that my invention
combines all the advantages of the existing pneumatic tyres with a material
lessening of friction surface and thereby gain of speed, with minimum expenditure
of power.
I minimise the wear and tear of the elastic, or inflated portion, of .my
tyre by entirely protecting it from contact with the road, and I provide either
entire immunity from puncture, or so arrange the tubes, which I hereafter describe,
tbat a puncture, if it does take place, becomes of little or no practical effect. My
tyre can be used either with or without artificial inflation.
I provide a metal or other rim to the wheel (hereinafter called the wheel rim) of
a suitable curved form with the edges on either side projecting sufficiently high to
provide space for the internal tubes hereafter described.
I propose to use a firm
tyre, either solid or hollow, which is sufficiently larger in circumference than the
wheel rim to leave a space between the inner edge of the firm tyre and the wheel
rim for the tubes hereinafter described to be laid therein. This tyre which for
convenience sake I hereafter refer to as the firm tyre, may be either circular or
oval or may be flattened at that portion which approaches the wheel rim, or any
other suitable shape. It may be made of wood, rubber, cork, metal tubes or other
suitable material, or rubber tubing internally or externally protected by wire coils
of a strength to make the tyre sufficiently firm. If made of any substance which
does not itself prevent slipping 1 propose. to insert on the outer edge of the firm
tyre a band of india rubber, or other non-slipping substance. For tyres for
carriages, or other vehicles, this band may be of metal. Between this firm tyre
and the surface of the wheel rim I insert a number of rubber tubes placed side by
side, such tubes lying close together along the whole circumference of the wheel,
and being kept in position by the edges of the wheel rim described and the firm
tyre. The outermost tubes have a rubber flange which may be attached to the
sides of the firm tyre, or may have a suitable rim or lip to keep it in position,
which flange presses up between the inner edge of the wheel rim and the firm tyre
and moves with it, preventing thereby the entrance to the tubes of dirt and dust,
while allowing free play to the firm tyre upon the elastic tubes. These rubber
tubes may vary in number and thickness according to the size of the wheel rim and
the strength required. They may be unsealed and may be provided with apertures
to admit air and rely for their resilience on the elasticity of the rubber and
ordinary atmospheric pressure, or they may be sealed tubes containing air at
normal pressure, or they may be inflated with compressed air and provided with
any suitable valves to admit of such inflation.. If unsealed tubes are used suitable
aust protected apertures will be made in the wheel rim to admit the air. Whatever

page_text: tubes are used there is no liability to puncture, but even if sealed or inflated tubes
are used a puncture, should it occur, becomes of no importance, and would not
practically affect the working efficiency of the tyre, and would only reduce the
elasticity of the injured tube or tubes to the normal elasticity of the open tubes
firstly mentioned, and in any event injury or puncture to these tubes is rendered
most unlikely, from the fact that they are kept from contact with the road by the
firm tyre and the flanged attachments. As the weight is applied to the machine
the firm tyre coming in contact with the ground is pressed against these rubber
tubes which act as an elastic cushion, and give all the advantages now obtained by
the external pneumatic tyres in use while giving enormous increase of running
ease and consequent speed at a minimum expenditure of power.
Dated 23rd dox of Iun 100'0
THEO. MCKENNA,
17 & 18 Basinghall Street, E.C., Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tyres for Bicycles, Carriages, and the like.
I ARTHUR JAMES LEWIS of Moray Lodge Campden Hill, London, 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:
My invention relates to improvements in tyres for bicycles carriages or other
vehicles. My invention is designed to transfer the elastic portion of the tyre to
the surface of the metal or other rim of the wheel and to use a firm tyre between
such elastic portion and the ground and thereby while providing a firm and if
necessary elastic running surface to the tyre to obtain a highly resilient tyre not
liable to puncture at all or only to an immaterial degree while I claim that my
invention combines all the advantages of the existing pneumatic tyre with a
material lessening of friction surface and thereby gain of speed with minimum
expenditure of power. I minimise the wear and tear of the elastic portion of my
tyre by entirely protecting it from contact with the road and I provide either
entire immunity from puncture or so arrange the tubes which I hereafter describe
that a puncture if it does take place becomes of little or no practical effect.
1 propose that my tyre should be used without artificial inflation.
I provide a metal or other rim to the wheel (hereinafter called the wheel rim) of '
a suitable curved form with the edges on either side projecting sufficiently high to
provide space for the internal tubes hereafter described. I propose to use a firm
tyre either solid or hollow fitting between the edges of the wheel rim and larger in
inner circumference than the wheel rim to leave a space between the inner edge of
the firm tyre and the wheel rim for the tubes hereinafter described to be laid
therein. This tyre which.for convenience I hereafter refer to as the firm tyre may
be either circular or oval or may be flattened at the sides or at that portion which
approaches, the wheel rim or of any other suitable shape. It may be made of wood
rubber cork metal tubes leather or other suitable material or rubber tubing either
plain or internally or externally protected by wire coils of a strength to make the
tyre sufficiently firm according to the purpose for which it is required. If made of
any substance which does not itself prevent slipping I propose to insert append or
fix on the outer edge of the firm tyre a band of india rubber or other non slipping
substance or this band may be of metal where desirable. Between this firm tyre
and the surface of, the wheel rim I insert a number of rubber tubes placed in.
juxtaposition to one another so as to occupy the space between the firm tyre
and the wheel rim and to be kept in position by the edges of the wheel rim

page_text: hereinbefore described and the firm tyre. The resilience is greatly increased
by laying the tubes in layers one above the other. The outermost tubes may
have rubber flanges which may be attached to the sides of the firm tyre.
or may have suitable rims or lips to keep them in position which flanges
press up between the inner edge of the wheel rim and the firm tyre and move with,
it preventing thereby the entrance to the tubes of dirt and dust while allowing free
play to the firm tyre upon the elastic tubes but this is not essential. For the same
purpose I sometimes provide the band of webbing hereinafter described. The
rubber tubes may vary in number and thickness according to the size and nature of
the wheel rim and the strength required. Tubes having an aperture of about of
the total diameter being very suitable but care should be taken to select such sizes
of tubes as will in the aggregate fit somewht closely between the firm tyre and the
surface of the rim before they are compressed by the weight acting upon them and
small tubes can be laid in the interstices which occur with the use of circular tubes
to assist resilience. The tubes may be unscaled and the ends simply laid together
or be provided with apertures to admit air and relying for their resilience on the
elasticity of the rubber and ordinary. atmospheric pressure or they may be sealed
tubes containing air at normal pressure.
If unsealed tubes are used suitable dust
protected apertures may be made in the wheel rim to admit the air. Whatever
tubes are used there is no liability to puncture. But even if sealed tubes are used
a puncture should it occur becomes of no importance' and would not practically
affect the working efficiency of the tyre and would only reduce the elasticity of the
injured tube or tubes to the normal elasticity of the open tubes firstly mentioned
and in any event injury or puncture to these tubes is rendered most unlikely from
the fact that they are kept from contact with the road by the firm tyre and the
flanged attachments if used. When the weight is applied to the machine the firm
tyre coming in contact with the ground is pressed against these rubber tubes which
act as an elastic cushion and give all the advantages now obtained' by the external
pneumatic tyre in use while giving enormous increase of running ease and con-
sequent speed at minimum expenditure of power.
To make my invention more readily,understood I refer to the accompanying
drawings in which I give several instances of the application of my invention to a
tyre for cyclés or other light vehicles but it is obvious that the shape of the rim
and firm tyre may vary as also the arrangement, number, thickness and distribution
of the tubes without departing from the principle of my invention. In all the
figures I use the same reference letters.
Fig. 1 shews one form in section shewing the component parts in their normal
position at rest the tubes being slightly compressed by the normal pressure of the
firm tyre.
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same when in contact with the ground the tubes.
being fully compressed.
Fig. 3 is another view of the same at the upper portion of the wheel immediately
opposed to that shewn in Fig. 2.
Figs. 4. 5 and 6 are sectional views and show the component parts in their normal
position at rest with the tubes differently arranged.
Fig. 7 is a sectional view of a suitable rim.
A is the metal rim having flattened or flanged edges as at F. B is the firm tyre
which may be of any suitable material as before mentioned and made if necessary
in suitable sections joined in any suitable way so as to be readily fixed or removed.
The firm tyre should be constructed so as to fit closely to the edges or jaws of the
rim while allowing free play and to slightly compress the tube when at rest. The
firm tyre may be shod as at C with rubber leather canvas iron or other suitable
material and it may be covered wholly or in part with rubber canvas or any suitable
material. D are the tubes and I show some of the modes of arranging the tubes
the ends of which may be simply laid together or may be joined by short rubber or
other plugs inserted into or cemented into the ends in any usual and suitable
way. Where tubes thus sealed are used it may, to avoid undue strain when the

page_text: tubes are compressed by weight be desirable to have such plugs hollow to allow
the free circulation of air through the entire tubes:
In Fig. 4 at E is shewu a band of webbing or other like material of suitable size
to allow for the free play of the firm tyre when weight is on the machine which
webbing may be kept in position either by thickened edges or the use of the edges
of wire but the use of this band is not essential though it may in some forms of
rim be of use in excluding dirt and wet. In Fig. 6 at G is shewn the outermost
tubes provided with rubber flanges attached to the sides of the firm tyre.
To facilitate the placing of the tubes in position they may be carried through
looped tapes at convenient intervals.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed what I claim is:-
1. A tyre for cycles and other vehicles substantially as herein described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination of elastic tubes confined in a rim with a firm tyre substantially
as herein before described and shewn.
3. A rim having flattened or flanged edges substantially as hereinbefore described
and shown for use with a firm tyre and tubes as hereinbefore described.
4. A firm tyre substantially as herein before described and shewn for use with
resilient tubes in a rim as hereinbefore described.
Dated the 24th day of March 1897. -
THEO. M KENNA,
17 & 18 Basinghall Street, London, Agent.