Improved Means for Detecting and Closing Punctures and Leakages. in Pneumatic Tyres.
Year: 1897

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after..
Amendment (under Section 18 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883) as allowed by.
the decision of the Comptroller General of the 9th day of February 1899.
Date of Application, 30th Aug., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 1st Apr., 1898-Accepted, 20th May, 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Detecting and Closing Punctures and Leakages.
in Pneumatic Tyres.
I, ALEXANDER BASIL WILSON, of Holywood, in the County of Down, Ireland,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists in a convenient means of determining the position of small
leakages from the air space outwards in the air tubes of pneumatic tyres as used for
cycles and other vehicles and of stopping the leakage from minute orifices.
Whereas in tyres used for the above purpose and which are distended by compressed
air, punctures frequently occur from thorns or similar pointed substances of small
size, the position of which it is difficult to ascertain for the purpose of repairing,
same.
And whereas for the purpose of determining the position of such punctures, it has
been hitherto necessary to detach the air tube, and after partial inflation with air,
pass it through a vessel of water to locate the puncture spots.
And whereas where such punctures are minute, the air pressure which it is possible
to put in the tube without danger of rupture, when it is not enclosed in the outer
case, is not sufficient to indicate the spot punctured by the issues of bubbles through
the water.
And whereas such punctures when the tube is distended with the usual pressure
within the cover continue to leak and give serious trouble and annoyance.
And whereas it frequently happens, that even without a definite puncture caused
by thorns or similar sharp pointed substances, leakage will occur through the air tube
from porosity or imperfect connection of the joint, which leakages from reasons as
above described are difficult or impossible to locate.
Now, in my invention I inject into the interior of the air tube a distinctively
coloured fluid which passing through the puncture or porous spot while the tube is
within the outer casing and fully distended indicates the position of the leakage on
its outer surface.
If the puncture or opening is small the fluid has the effect of closing same..
As an alternative, in place of injecting the fluid I place within the tyre the
colouring matter in a solid form which may be conveniently made in the form of a
pill which will pass through the air valve. This pill may remain within the air tube
until leakage occurs. when the injection of a small quantity of water or other fluid
sufficient to wet the interior of the tube, will dissolve the colouring matter in the pill
and indicate the spot.
. I make up-the colouring matter out of any of the well-known coal tar colours 'such
as fuchsine or eosine combining them with sufficient adhesive matter which will

page_text: readily dissolve in water, such as soap or sugar, as may enable them to be made into
the form of a pill.
My invention therefore consists in :-
First. The use of a colouring matter dissolved in water or suitable fluid injected
into the air tube of tyres as aforesaid to determine the location of leakages.
Second. The use of the well-known coal tar colouring matters such as fuchsine or
eosine for the purpose.
Third. The use of a pill consisting of the above named colouring matters, either
separately or in combination, and either separately or in combination with an adhesive
substance sufficient to form them into a pill for the purpose as aforesaid."
Dated this 28th day of August 1897
Improved Means for Detecting and Closing Punctures and Leakages
in Pneumatic Tyres.
I, ALEXANDER BASIL WILSON, of Holywood, in the County of Down, Ireland,
Engineer, 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 consists in a convenient means of determining the position of small
leakages from the air space outwards in the air tubes of pneumatic tyres as used for
cycles and other vehicles and of stopping the leakage from minute orifices.
Whereas in tyres used for the above purpose, and which are distended by com-
pressed air, punctures frequently occur from thorns, or similar pointed substances of
small size, the position of which it is difficult to ascertain for the purpose of repairing
same.
And whereas, for the purpose of determining the position of such punctures, it has
been hitherto necessary to detach the air tube, and after partial inflation with air,
pass it through a vessel of water to locate the puncture.
And whereas, where such punctures are minute, the air pressure which it is possible
to put in the tube without danger of rupture, when it is not enclosed in the outer
case, is not sufficient to indicate the spot punctured by the issue of bubbles through
the water.
And whereas, such punctures when the tube is distended with the usual
pressure within the cover continue to leak, and give serious trouble and annoy-
ance.
And whereas, it frequently happens, that even without a definite puncture caused
by thorns or similar sharp pointed substances, leakage will occur through the air tube
from porosity or imperfect connection of the joint, which leakages from reasons as
above described are difficult or impossible to locate.
Now, in my invention, I place within the tyre a colouring matter made in the form
of a pill, which will pass through the air valve, and which may remain within the air
tube until leakage occurs; when the injection of a small quantity of water or other
fluid sufficient to wet the interior of the tube will dissolve the colouring matter, and
indicate the spot or close the opening, or puncture if it be small.
I make up the colouring matter, out of any of the well-known coal tar colours such
as "fuchsine" ''
or eosine" combining them with sufficient adhesive matter which
will readily dissolve in water, such as soap or sugar, as may enable them to be made
into the form of a pill.

page_text: 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:-
First. The use of any of the known coal tar colouring matters, which are soluble
in water, in the form of a pill, for the purpose, as aforesaid.
Second. The use of pills consisting of the above named colouring matters, in com-
bination with an adhesive substance, sufficient to form them into a pill for the purpose
as aforesaid.