Improvements in and relating to the Vulcanization of Air-tubes of Pneumatic Tyres, and to Apparatus therefor.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1896
[Communicated from abroad by FRED. W. MORGAN and RUFUS WRIGHT, both of
Chicago, Illinois, United States of America, Manufacturers.]
Improvements in and relating to the Vulcanization of Air-tubes of
Pneumatic Tyres, and to Apparatus therefor.
I, JOHN THOMAS KNOWLES, Trade Marks Agent, of the Firm of D. Young & Co.,
of 11 and 12 Southampton Buildings, London W.C. 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 apparatus for vulcanizing air-tubes for pneumatic
tyres, and has for its object to obtain a high degree of perfection in a rapid,
economical and convenient manner.
To the attainment of the foregoing and other useful ends, the invention
contemplates enclosing the tubes in tubular casings composed of non-oxidizable
material preferably aluminum and disposing the casings within a vulcanizer.
The employment of a non-oxidizable material for the casings has the advantages
that the tubes are not burned by the corrosion of casings and thereby rendered
defective, and that they have a smooth, velvety finish which is otherwise difficult
to obtain.
For the broader purposes of the invention these casings may be of circular or
other suitable cross-section, but as a matter of further improvement they are
constructed with flat longitudinal bottoin portions and curved or inclined sides rising
therefrom. By such arrangement, the air tubes, being light and thin, will flatten
of their own accord within the casings, and be vulcanized in such normally flat
condition, which it may be observed, is known to be a desirable characteristic in
such air tubes. Furthermore, the curved or inclined sides of the casings will prevent
the formation of longitudinal creases in the tubes, such creases being undesirable by
reason of their tendency to weaken the tubes and allow the rupture of the same at.
such points.
The casings are desirably provided with ports arranged at intervals along their
length; and the ports are covered with steam-filtering material, each portion of
which may be retained in place by a clip passing over the same, and embracing
the casing.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a top plan of one of the casings.
Figure 2 is a transverse section of the same, taken on line 2-2 in Figure 1, on a
larger scale, and showing an inner tube enclosed within the casing.
Figure 3 is a central longitudinal section of a portion of the casing.
Figure 4 represents in perspective, an end portion of the same.
Figure 5 shows, in perspective, a clip for fastening the steam-filtering material over
the ports of the casing.
The casing A is made of non-oxidizable material, preferably aluminum. It is
desirably flattened, although it may be elliptic or circular, or of other desired shape in
cross-section; and is closed at its ends by one or more layers B, of cloth or other
steam-filtering material, a convenient arrangement being to temporarily hold the
layer or layers of cloth upon the casing by removable caps or bands C. The casing

page_text: is also ported at intervals between its ends, and these ports Dare covered with
one or more layers E of cloth or other suitable steam-filtering material, as shown in
Figure 2. Such steam-filtering material may be held over the ports by a suitable
clip F, constructed with clasping portions which detachably embrace the casing.
The casing may be easily made of sheet aluminum, since its longitudinal edges
can be bent and hooked together as at G, Figure 2. A longitudinal shoulder K may
thus be formed by the junction of the edges G, and the clip F, may be arranged to
fit the casing when provided with such a longitudinal shoulder.
To such end the clip comprises the plate 6, which is provided with the aperture L
and is herein shown flat to fit upon the flat top of the casing A; and the clasps f!
and the former of which consists of a hook portion to engage said shoulder, and
the latter of a couple of spring portions which fit about the curved edges of the
casing, and which are provided with the outwardly turned ends f*, whereby the
clip may be readily disengaged from the casing. The employment of such a
clip permits the ready removal and replacement of injured or defective portions of
steam-filtering material.
The air-tube H to be vulcanized is introduced within the casing, and the ports of
the latter are covered with steam-filtering material. The casing is then placed
within a vulcanizer and steam turned on. The ports of the casing form vents
which permit the equal distribution of steam throughout the space within each casing;
and the cloth covering the ports prevents the condensation of steam within the
casings by retarding the entrance of the steam until the latter have been heated to
its temperature.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. As an improvement in apparatus for vulcanizing air-tubes for pneumatic tyres,
a non-oxidizable casing formed to receive the tube and having ports covered with
steam-filtering material.
2. As an improvement in apparatus for vulcanizing air-tubes for pneumatic tyres,
an aluminium casing formed to receive the tube and having ports covered with
steam-filtering material, substantially as described.
3. A non-oxidizable casing A, having hooked engaging longitudinal edges and
provided with ports covered with steam-filtering material, substantially as described.
4. As an improvement in apparatus for vulcanizing air-tubes for pneumatic tyres,
in a flattened condition, a non-oxidizable casing providing a chamber wherein the
unvulcanized tube can flatten of its own accord, and having ports covered with
filtering material, as set forth.
5. As an improvement in apparatus for vulcanizing air-tubes for pneumatic tyres in
a flattened condition, a non-oxidizable casing provided with ports covered with
steam-filtering material, and having a flat botton and curved or inclined sides, the
width of the flat bottom being less than the width of the proposed flattened air-tube,
as set forth.
6. As an improvement in apparatus for vulcanizing air-tubes for pneumatic tyres,
a vulcanizing casing having ports covered with steam-filtering material, and provided
with detachable clips adapted to temporarily hold said material over the ports, said
clips being constructed with clasps which serve to hold the clip detachably in
engagement with the casing, as set forth.
7. As an improvement in apparatus for vulcanizing air-tubes for pneumatic tyres,
a vulcanizing casing having ports covered with steam-filtering material, said casing
being constructed with a longitudinal shoulder and provided with detachable clips
adapted to temporarily hold said material over the ports, and constructed with clasps,
whereof one consists of a hook portion adapted to engage the longitudinal shoulder
on the casing, substantially as described.
8. A detachable clip for vulcanizing casings provided with clasping end portions
as set forth.

page_text: 9. A detachable clip for vulcanizing casings provided with clasps, whereof one
consists of a hook, and the other of one or more springs, substantially as described.
Dated this 4th day of August 1896.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.