Improvements in or relating to Pneumatic Tyres.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 30th July, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Pneumatic Tyres.
I, FRANCIS WINDHAM, Engineer, of 73, Queen Victoria Street, in the City of
London, 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 relates to pneumatic tyres its object being to provide an im-
proved means of retaining a pneumatic tyre upon a wheel rim.
According to this invention I employ in combination with the valve of the tyre
a flat band of thin steel or other suitable material between which and the rim of
the wheel, the edges of the outer cover of the tyre are gripped. One end of this
band is held stationary by means of the valve past which the other end of the band
free to move. This free end of the band passes between the stationary end and
the rim and the parts are preferably so arranged that the two overlapping ends
of the band may be clamped together by the valve. This may, for instance, be
effected by slotting the free end of the band for a sufficient length to allow of the
required movement and passing the valve through the slot.
The free end is provided with a wire chain or other retaining or tightening
device which passes through the rim and may be tightened up upon the inner
periphery of the rim by means of a nut, cam or other suitable device.
The edges of the cover are preferably enlarged, a convenient way of doing this
being to form a pocket or pipe in the ends of the canvas or other material of
which the cover is made and to fill this with cork, rubber, cord or other suitable
material. These edges are made large enough to easily slip on to or off the largest
diameter of the wheel rim and when in use the edges lie inside the rim, which may
be of any suitable channel section.
To apply this invention, one edge of the cover is inserted in the rim and the band
placed in position with the valve attached to the stationary end and passing
through the slotted end and the tightening device passing through a hole in the
rim, but slack so as to allow of room between the band and the edge of the rim
for the insertion of the second edge of the cover which is then inserted. The tyre
is then inflated and the valve gradually screwed up, the act of inflation, assisted if
necessary by a pull being given to the tightening device, causing the band to grip
the edges of the tyre and to contract in diameter, the free end sliding past the fixeil
end in order to permit of such contraction. When inflation is complete the valve
may be screwed up and the band further secured in position by means of the retain-
ing or tightening device.
To remove the cover or obtain access to the air tube the valve and tightening
device may be slackened when either edge of the cover can be easily withdrawn,
giving access to the air tube.

page_text: If desired a pulley may be employed at the part where the chain or similar
tightening device passes through the rim.
The accompanying drawings illustrate one construction of pneumatic tyre accord-
ing to this invention.
Fig. 1 being a side view of the tyre showing the cover and rim in section, and
the air-tube, valve and fastening device in elevation.
Figure 2 is a transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing also the under-
side of the rim in perspective, and
Fig. 3 a perspective view showing part of the band and air tube with the air
valve and fastening device.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
A is the rim of the wheel which may be of any suitable channel section. B is
the cover of canvas or other suitable material having its edges B₁ enlarged as
herein before described. C is a band preferably of spring steel having one end C¹
perforated and near the other end a slot Ca wide enough to permit that end to
easily travel past the air valve.
At the extremity of this end of the band is fastened a wire C³ threaded and pro-
vided with a free washer C and a fly nut C³.
D is the inner or air tube fitted in the usual manner with an air valve E.
The valve passes through the perforation C¹in the band C and is preferably rigidly
attached thereto although if desired it may merely pass through the said perfora-
tion. Two holes F and F¹ are provided in the rims to admit the air valve E and
the tightening wire C³ respectively.
The application of this invention is then as follows:-One edge of the cover B
is first placed in the inner channel of the rim and the band C placed in position
over it with the air valve passing through the slot C2 and also through the hole F
in the rim. The tightening wire C3 passing through the hole and the nut C5 left
quite slack the other edge of the cover is then placed in position.
Upon inflation the air pressure in the tube 1) causes the band C to take up a
smaller diameter and to press upon the inside of the cover thus keeping it in its
place.
The two nuts, viz:-the valve nut and the nut C5 may now be screwed up
tight.
The nut C5 may also be employed to tighten the band C if desired or necessary.
It is to be understood that by placing the movable end of the band C below the
stationary end, the latter serves as a shield to prevent the air tube when inflated
from being nipped or cut by the moving end of the band or from bulging into or
being cut by the slot.
Other retaining or tightening devices may be employed if desired. The device
illustrated in the accompanying drawings may serve both purposes, but a cord,
or rack and pinion gear, might be employed without departing from the spirit of
this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I am
aware of the Specification of British Letters Patent No. 21564 of 1891 granted to
Fane and Lavender and that I do not claim any of the subject matter thereof, but
that what I claim is :-
1. In a pneumatic tyre the combination of the valve and a flat band with over-
lapping ends having one end retained by the valve the other end movable past the
valve and adjustably attached to the rim all substantially as and for the purpose
described.
2. In a pneumatic tyre the combination with a tyre cover such as B of a flat band
such as C which has one end attached to the valve and the other end movable
between the fixed end and the rim and adjustably attached to the rim substantially
as and for the purpose described.

page_text: 3. The complete retaining device for a tyre-cover constructed and operating
substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
F. WINDHAM.
Boult & Wade,
Agents for the Applicant.