Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Apr., 1896-
Complete Specification Left, 13tn Jan., 1997-Accepted, 17th Apr., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres.
1, JOHN TOWNSEND TRENCH, of Kenmare, Co. Kerry, Ireland, Land Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved construction of that type of tyre divided
circumferentially along its inner side and having its edges adapted to interlock so
that it will contain the air without the use of an independent air tube.
According to my invention I formn the cover of such a size that its edges overlap
considerably, and I so shape those overlapping edges that they interlock preferably
in the form of hooks. The edge adapted to lie against the wheel rim may if desired
be fixed to the rim by a band, wire, or its equivalent, and the other edge I make
sufficiently flexible to grip on to the other edge of the cover lying against the wheel
rim and make an air tight joint by its own elasticity.
Instead of fixing the outer edge of the cover to the wheel rim by means of a
band or wire, I sometimes insert a band or wire in the inner edge of the cover
in such a position with respect to the said edge that it lies--when in its normal
position-approximately near the edge of the wheel rim which is made of the usual
crescent section, so that by twisting the tyre to bring the said wire towards the
centre of the rim the interlocked edges of the cover are freed from one another
thus enabling them to be separated for the purpose of effecting a repair in
the tyre.
As a modification I may use a flap inside the cover so arranged and adapted
as to overlap the interlocked edges of the cover and make an auxiliary air-proof joint.
CA
11000
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
I, JOHN TOWNSEND TRENCH of Kenmare, Co. Kerry, Ireland, Land Agent, 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 an improved construction of that type of pneumatic tyre
known as "tubeless" i.e., a tyre consisting of a split tube the divided edges of which
form an air-tight joint when the tyre is mounted in the wheel rim, so that it is capable
of containing air without the use of an independent air tube.
In the accompanying drawing which illustrates-by way of example-some
methods of carrying this invention into practical effect:-
Figure 1 is a view in transverse section of one form my tyre may assumo.

page_text: Figure 2 is a similar view showing a modification, and
Figure 3 is a view in transverse section of the tyre before it is mounted
in the rim.
Figure 4 is a broken view in transverse section-on an enlarged scale-showing
the construction of the inner edge of the tyre.
Figures 5 and 6 are views in transverse section showing another modification the
latter showing one edge of the tyre dismounted.
Figures 7 and 8 are similar views showing a further modification.
Figures 9 and 10 are views in transverse section showing other forms my invention
may assume, and
Figure 11 is a hroken view in transverse section-on an enlarged scale-showing
more clearly the construction and arrangement of the engaging edges of the tyre.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
The tyre consists of a strip A of rubber reinforced with canvas or other fabric and
lined with rubber so as to be air proof. This strip is preferably moulded or otherwise
constructed flat or approximately flat as shown by Figure 3.
On the strip A at or near its edges a and a¹ are formed projections forming
hooks a² which engage one with the other and convert the strip into a tube when
the tyre is mounted in the wheel rim. The edge a¹ which lies within the other
edge a is so formed with respect to the other part of the strip that when it is
placed in position and the tyre is mounted in the wheel rim it exerts-by its own
elasticity a strong outward pressure thus insuring an initial joint before inflation
is commenced. This elasticity is to some extent obtained by making the strip A flat
or approximately flat, but it may be intensified by fashioning the edge with respect to
the body of the strip as shown by Figure 4.
If the reinforcing fabric employed is cut on the cross or bias the tyre will hold
itself on to the wheel rim without extraneous aid but if desired the edge a may be
cemented to the rim, or it may be fixed thereto by an adjustable band or wire Bas
shown by Figure 2.
As a modification a double male hook may be formed on the edge a of the
strip and a double female hook a² on the other edge al as shown by Figure 9, the
initial joint in this construction being made between the edge a' and the inner side of
the edge a.
Instead of making the edge a' a divided one as shown by Figure 9 a
flap D may be solutioned or otherwise attached to the edge a' of the strip A the free
edge d of the said flap being adapted to make an initial joint against the inner side of
the edges a as shown by Figure 10.
To obtain the best results the inner edge a' should be formed of softer and better
quality rubber than the other part of the tyre and to this end it is more convenient
to make the edge in the form of an independent band C as shown by Figures 5, 6,
7 and 8. This band has edges c' and hooks c the former adapted to lie in contact
with the inner surface of the tyre A and the latter to engage with hooks a² on the
edges of the tyre. One edge of the band C is cemented or otherwise permanently
fastened to one edge of the tyre so that there is but one air-tight joint to make and
therefore the band C may have but one hook and the tyre but one hooked edge the
other edge of the band and tyre respectively being plain but in practice it is more
convenient to make both edges of the band and cover respectively alike so that either
edge of the tyre may be closed or left open.
Instead of fixing one edge of the cover to the wheel rim by a band or wire Bas
shown by Figure 2 the band C may be so fixed as shown by Figures 5 and 6.
The hooks a at the edges of the strip may be formed in any convenient manner
by folding or rolling up the edges of the fabric used to reinforce the rubber, or
by the use of insertions of any suitable material or substance such for instance as
crinkled wire, and their engaging faces are made of soft rubber or other suitable
material so that they make an air-tight joint, the security is enhanced as the
pressure of air within the tyre increases.
It will be seen that in this tyre two air-tight joints are made between the edges of
the tyre thus ensuring a more perfect retention of the air.

page_text: 1 am aware that it is not broadly new to connect the edges of tyre covers together
by means of hooks and equivalent devices, and also that internal flaps have been
employed to make an air-tight joint between the edges of a split tubular tyre, and I.
do not therefore claim such as my invention, but
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 what
I claim is :-
(1) A pneumatic tyre consisting of a strip or band of rubber reinforced with
fabric and faced with rubber on that side intended to form the inner side of the
tyre and having its edges constructed so as to form an interlocking air-tight joint, as
and for the purpose set forth.
(2) A pneumatic tyre consisting of a strip or band of rubber reinforced with
fabric and faced with rubber on that side intended to form the inner side of the
tyrę and having its edges hooked shaped so that they interlock, the said edges being
extended to forin external and internal flaps as and for the purpose set forth.
(3). In a pneumatic tyre of the type specified by the preceding claim, a form
of construction in which the inner engaging edge of the tyre is made in the form
of a band adapted to be permanently fixed to the other edge of the tyre, as and for
the purpose set forth.
(4) In a pneumatic tyre of the type specified by the first and second claims, a form
of construction in which one edge of the tyre has a double male hook and the other
edge has a double female hook, as herein specified.
(5) In a pneumatic tyre of the type specified by the second claim, a form of
construction in which a flap band is attached to the inner side of the outer edge of
the tyre and is adapted to lie over the inner edge thereof, as herein specified.
Dated this are
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.