Pneumatic Tires.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 30th Apr., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Pneumatic Tires.
We, ORISON MATHEW SMITH, residing at No. 111 Perry Street, in the City of
Cleveland, County of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, United States of America,
Inventor, and LEONARD WHITE BRADLEY, residing at No. 218 Lincoln Avenue,
in the City of Cleveland, County of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, United States
of America, Insurance 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:-
Our invention relates to improvements in pneumatic tires for bicycles and other
vehicles, and has for its object to provide a tire which is proof against injury
by_puncturing or the like, as hereinafter fully described.
In the accompanying drawings we show cross sections of three different forms
of our improved tire, which are substantially the equivalents of one another and
either of which may be used, as preferred.
A represents the outer tube, and in Fig. 1 is essentially the pneumatic tube, this
figure differing from Figures 2 and 3 in that there is no supplemental tube as in
said two figures.
In Fig. I there are shown two diaphragms 2 and 3 of rubber which run con-
tinuously with the tube and are vulcanized thereon at their edges and spaced
sufficiently far apart to form a close pocket for the protecting armor or sheet metal
hand or strip, 4, which likewise extends from side to side of the tube A. If found
necessary any sufficient re-inforcing means may be employed to connect the
diaphragms 2 and 3 with the tube and give strength and support along the edge
for the sheet metal armor 4, and to this end continuous beads or the like may be
formed within the tube at said edges above and below to afford a stronger bearing
for the said armor. In this instance the pneumatic chamber is beneath the dia-
phragm 3 in the body of the tube and the immediate tread of the tube is re-enforced
both inside and outside by the annular ribs 5 and 6. The rib 5 is on the exterior
and constitutes the outer tread of the wheel, and in this instance is rounded in
cross section, while the rib 6 is on the inside and has a flat inner surface engaged
upon the diaphragm 2 and is vulcanized thereon so as to make said parts practically
one. In this way a depth of solid rubber is formed in the immediate tread of
the wheel which is backed and re-enforced by the armor plate, 4, so that in
case there be penetration through said solid portion to the armor it cannot go
further and the pneumatic character of the tube is not impaired.
In Fig. 2 the tube B is a plain tube of the ordinary kind and within the same
is the pneumatic tube proper C. That is, the air is blown into this inner tube
and by its inflation the outer tube is inflated. Just within the tread of this tube
is a rubber strip, 7, extending the full circle of the tube and having a rounded
outer edge and a flat inner edge and forming a bearing for the armor plate 8
therein. This plate lies flat against the flat surface of the strip or backing 7,
and the pneumatic tube C presses against the inner surface of said plate so that

page_text: said plate lies between the said strip and said tube and forms a protection for the
tube against possible puncturing through the outer tube and the strip 7.
Fig. 3 is a further modification in which the tube D is shown as a plain tube
of the ordinary pneumatic kind or its equivalent, and within this is
the pneumatic tube E and backing or strip 9, preferably of rubber,
though it may be any other suitable material, as is also true of the strip 7 in
Fig. 2, and between said strip and the tube E is the armor plate 10 corresponding
to the plates 4 and 8 in the other views. The only difference between this view
and Fig. 2 is in the form of the re-enforcing strip 9, and if preferred, the outer
tube 1) may have an outer encircling rib corresponding to rib 5 in Fig. 1, as,
also, may the tube B in Fig. 2. However, the constructions shown are preferred
because we are thus enabled to take the common and even the well-known pneumatic
tube of current use and introduce therein the pneumatic and other elements
substantially as shown and thus produce a tube which cannot be punctured to
injure the tube because it is impossible for the puncture to penetrate into the
pneumatic chamber. Fig. 1, however, requires a special construction of tube
to make it available.
In all the foregoing views and contemplated modifications thereof there is a
pneumatic chamber apart from the tread of the tire and having protecting elements
between it and the tread.
If a sheet or plate of non-puncturable material other than metal is preferred
or found available it may be used without departing from the spirit of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is:
1. A pneumatic tire for vehicles comprising an outer tube and an inner pneumatic
chamber separated from the tread of the tire and elements between said chamber
and tread to prevent puncturing into said chamber, one of said elements being a
sheet or plate of non-puncturable material, substantially as described.
2. The outer tube, a rib of flexible material immediately within the tread of the
tube and re-enforcing the same, a strip of non-puncturable material next inside
of said strip and pressing against the same, and a pneumatic chamber pressing
against said strip, substantially as described.
Dated the Twenty-first day of January 1898.
ORISON MATHEW SMITH,
LEONARD WHITE BRADLEY.