Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres for Cycle and like Wheels.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 5:h Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 4th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 5th June, 1895
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres for Cycle and like Wheels.
I, FREDERICK WESTWOOD, of 1 Lombard Street, in the City of Birmingham,
Cycle Fittings Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention relates to detachable pneumatic tyres having an inner inflatable
tube and an outer cover, and my object is to produce a detachable pneumatic tyre
in which the air pressure acting by the expansion of the said inner rubber tube
produces reactions on the outer cover and on certain cords, tapes, or strands
attached to or overlying the cover which reactions cause the cords, tapes or strands
or the cover to firmly grip the metal rim so that the more the inner tube is blown
up the greater becomes the grip of the cover or its edges or the cords, tapes or
strands on the metal rim of the cycle wheel.
My invention consists of a method of arranging cords, tapes or strands in
relation to a divided removable cover so that when inflated the cover with its
enclosed tube is firmly held on the wheel rim, and when deflated the said cover is
easily removable to enable the inner tube to be taken out.
In one construction carrying my invention into effect I arrange a divided cover
to enclose an inner inflatable rubber tube and I form the cover of a flat length of
canvas joined together to form a ring with the edges turned over to form tubular
selvedges or hems. On the outside of the cover I lay a cord, tape or strand
across the cover diagonally from one edge to the other, and lay the end within the
turned over edge and right round the circle, taking it out again at a position to
cross the first part also in a diagonal direction to the opposing edge. I then wind
the cord within this edge round the circle bringing it out to cross the cover
diagonally parallel to the first crossing part. I continue this process until I have
covered the whole circle of the cover with a diagonal network consisting of one
continuous cord. I then sew up or otherwise fasten the two turned over edges of
the canvas in such manner as to hold the strands of the cord within each loop,
but so as to leave the diagonal or cross parts of the cord liberty to pull upon the
parts of the cord forming a circle within the turned over loops.
I now place one edge of the said canvas cover upon the metal rim, which may
be of any convenient trough shape, and then lay in the rubber tube and then place
under it the other edge of the canvas cover so that the inner rubber tube lies
within an outer cover enclosing the tube. The outer cover in fact forms a tube
with a division running round the whole inner circumference.
Upon inflating the inner tube in the usual manner the whole diagonal network
is strained, and the pull of each diagonal cross part of the cord, tape or strand is
transmitted to the circumferential part laid within the edges of the cover, and the
circumferences of the two inuer edges are reduced. By this arrangement the
edges of the canvas cover are powerfully contracted upon the metal rim and hold
the whole tyre on with a pressure which increases with the air pressure within.

page_text: The canvas may be covered with rubber in the usual manner and the network
may be protected from the road in any usual manner by rubber or rubber and
canvas.
Instead of laying my whole cover with one continuous strand I may lay it with
two or more parallel strands carried across and laid round the edges as above
described. Instead of starting with a flat canvas strip and bending round I may
form my outer cover, part canvas part rubber, on a circular mandril and produce
a ring which consists of a tube with a division running round the whole inner
circumference.
Instead of continuing each cross cord, tape, or strand right round the circle, I
sometimes arrange to attach one set of diagonals to one end of a tape or canvas
laid circumferentially and another set of diagonals to another end so as to pull
the two ends together and reduce the diameter so as to give sufficient grip upon
inflation.
I sometimes arrange a groove or grooves in the wheel rim into which the pull of
the diagonals forces the circumferential parts of the strand, cord or tape, in which
case the rim may be of very shallow trough section.
The outer cover may if desired be constructed without canvas.
By my invention I securely hold a removable cover firmly on the wheel rim
without any of the mechanical or dovetail or hook fastenings at present employed.
Dated this 4th day of Anril 1894
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.
I, FREDERICK WESTWOOD, of 1 Lombard Street in the City of Birmingham,
Cycle Fittings 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 :-
-
My invention relates to detachable pneumatic tyres having an inner inflatable
tube and an outer cover, and my object is to produce a detachable pneumatic tyre
in which the air pressure acting by the expansion of the said inner rubber tube
produces reactions on the outer cover and on certain cords, tapes or strands
attached to or overlying the cover, which reactions cause the cords, tapes or strands
or the cover to firmly grip the metal rim so that the more the inner tube is blown
up the greater becomes the grip of the cover or its edges or the cords, tapes or
strands on the metal rim of the cycle wheel.
Referring to the three accompanying sheets of drawings:
Figure 1 is a transverse section of a pneumatic tyre constructed in accordance
with my invention.
Figure 2 is an elevation of a tyre in its blown up form illustrating the mode of
winding on the cord.
Figure 3 is a plan corresponding to Figure 2.
Figure 4 shows, flattened out, a portion of a cover having a cord or strand
wound upon it to form a complete network from one cord.
Figure 5 illustrates in plan a modified winding.
Figure 6 shows the network produced by following the method shown in
Figure 5.
Figure 7 illustrates the structure of Figure 4 on a larger scale.
Figure 8 shows the structure of Figure 6 on a larger scale.
Figure 9 shows the winding of Figure 5 in side elevation.

page_text: Figure 10 is a section showing my invention as applied to a rim having a very
shallow trough.
Figure 11 shows a modified tape arrangement.
My invention consists of a method of arranging cords, tapes or strands in
relation to a divided removable cover so that when inflated the cover with its
enclosed tube is firmly held on the wheel rim, and when deflated the said cover is
easily removable to enable the inner tube to be taken out.
In one construction carrying my invention into effect I arrange a divided cover B.
to enclose an inner inflatable rubber tube A, and I form the cover B of a flat
length of canvas joined together to form a complete ring with the edges turned
over to form tubular selvedges or hems B1 B2. On the cover B, I lay a cord,
tape or strand within the turned over edge and right round the circle beginning as
at a Figure 2 passing round the circle in the direction of the arrow and taking
out again at a position as a to cross the cover B as at position a² in a diagonal
direction to the opposing edge as indicated by the arrow 2. The cord is thus first
carried round the edge B' then across the cover and round the opposite edge B³ as
indicated in the dotted lines at a3 and by the dotted arrow 3.
After winding the cord within this edge B2 round the circle I bring it out to.
cross the cover diagonally as shown at a and by the arrow 4. The cord then
continues as shown at a and by the arrow 5 and is carried round the edge B' again
and brought out to cross the cover again parallel to the first crossing but at a slight
distance from it. The cord is then wound round the edge B2 and back again. [
continue this process until I have covered the whole circle of the cover with a
diagonal network consisting of one continuous cord. I then sew up or otherwise
fasten the two turned over edges B1 B2 of the canvas in such a manner as to hold
the strands of the cord within each loop, but so as to leave the diagonal or cross
parts of the cord liberty to pull upon the parts of the cord forming a circle within
the turned over loops. The course of the cord is clearly shown in plan at Figure 3
in which the arrows indicate the direction of winding.
I now place one edge say B2 Figure 1 of the said canvas cover B upon the
metal rim C, which may be of any convenient trough shape, and then lay in the
rubber tube A and then place under it the other edge B₁ of the canvas cover so
that the inner rubber tube lies within an outer cover enclosing the tube. The outer
cover in fact forms a tube with a division running round the whole inner circum-
ference. C is a flat bottom to the rim C, Figure 1.
Upon inflating the inner tube A in the usual manner the whole diagonal network
is strained, and the pull of each diagonal cross part of the cord, tape or strand is
transmitted to the circumferential part laid within the edges of the cover, and the
circumferences of the two inner edges are reduced. By this arrangement the
edges of the canvas cover are powerfully contracted upon the metal rim and hold
the whole tyre on with a pressure which increases with the air pressure within.
At Figure 4 I show the network on a larger scale as produced by winning a
continuous cord as described. The cord crosses in sequence the positions a² a6 a7
and so on till the whole network is produced. At Figure 7 this is shown on a
larger scale and the hem B2 is laid open to show the cord passing round the
circumference. In this figure it will be clearly seen that each diagonal continues
round the circumference.
The canvas may be covered with rubber in the usual manner and the network
may be protected from the road in any usual manner by rubber or rubber and
canvas.
Instead of laying my whole cover with one continuous strand I may lay it with
two or more parallel strands carried across and laid round the edges as above
described. Instead of starting with a flat canvas strip and bending round I may
form my outer cover, part canvas part rubber, on a circular mandril, and produce
a ring which consists of a tube with a division running round the whole inner
circumference.
Instead of crossing once for a complete revolution of the cord round the circle

page_text: of the cover, I may cross several times from side to side in the revolution as
illustrated at Figures 5, 6, 8 and 9.
Figure 5 is a plan and the cord b crosses from the side B2 as shown by the
arrow 1, continues along the edge B of the cover B for some distance then crosses
to B2 as shown by the arrow 2, continues along the edge B2 and crossing as
indicated by the arrow 3 to B', along B¹ then crossing to B2 again as shown by the
arrow 4. So long as the crossings are not too numerous as compared to the
diameter of the wheel and the diameter of the tyre tube, then the cord lying in
the circumferential portions has no tendency to pull out but
hard upon
presses
the
metal rim.
The reason of this is clearly shown at Figure 9 where the cord 6 is shown as
passing along the edge B₁ of the rim at the part 63. This part will be strongly
pulled against the rim by the expansion of the diameter of the tube within the
cover B, any increase in the said diameter at once causes the cord b to tend to
straighten to form the chord of the arc of the circle between the two points where
it crosses the cover, and if the rim is above the line of the cord then the cord is
pulled down strongly against the rim without the necessity for winding right round
the circle. The network produced by this method is clearly shown at Figures 6
and 8. In Figure 8 the hem B2 is laid open to show the cord. The parts 61 62 63
Figure 5 are the parts of the cord lying in the circumferential edges.
Instead of continuing each cross cord, tape, or strand right round the circle, I
sometimes arrange to attach one set of diagonals to one end of a tape or canvas
laid circumferentially and another set of diagonals to another end so as to pull
the two ends together and reduce the diameter so as to give sufficient grip upon
inflation. Such an arrangement is shown at Figure 11 where D D' are the two
ends of one tape carried round one edge of the cover and D2 D3 are two ends
of a tape carried round the edge. Diagonals E connect the ends D' D2 and
diagonals F connect the ends D D³ so that the ends D D1 and D2 D³ are drawn
together when the diagonals E and F are strained.
I sometimes arrange a groove or grooves in the wheel rim into which the pull of
the diagonals forces the circumferential parts of the strand, cord or tape, in which
case the rim may be of very shallow trough section.
The outer cover may if desired be constructed without canvas.
By my invention 1 securely hold a removable cover firmly on the wheel rim
without any of the mechanical or dovetail or hook fastenings at present employed.
Figure 10 shows in section a shallow trough rim with the edges B1 B2 brought
together under the air tube A. Such an arrangement may be adopted instead of
the section shown in Figure 1.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I am
aware of Phillip's Specification No. 1225 of 1894 and do not claim anything
described and claimed therein, but what I claim is :-
In pneumatic tyres, a divided detachable cover having in its edges tapes or
wires, both ends of each tape or wire in one edge being connected to the diagonally
opposing ends of the tape or wire on the other side of the cover, so that when the
air tube is inflated the tapes or wires are tightened circumferentially and grip the
metal rim, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of February 1895
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.