Improvements in Pneumatic Tires.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Nov., 1895-Accepted, 11th Jan., 1896
Improvements in Pneumatic Tires.
We, ANDREW GRAFF, Shoe Manufacturer and CALEB HENRY COGGESHALL,
Gas Engineer both residing at 111 Pacific Street, in the City of Brooklyn, and
County of Kings, State of New York, United States of America, 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 pneumatic tires, and the object thereof, is to provide
an improvement in this class of devices, whereby the tire is rendered more durable
and less liable to injure or puncture, and the invention involves the application_to
the ordinary pneumatic tire of a covering of leather, and also a new process for
treating such leather covering, whereby strong and heavy leather may be employed,
which will remain flexible and provide for the proper elasticity of the tire, under
all conditions.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following Specification of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, in which :-
Fig. 1, is a transverse section of my improved tire ;
Fig. 2, a side elevation of a portion thereof; and,
Figs. 3 and 4, represent modified forms of construction.
In the accompanying drawing, I have shown my improvement applied to a
bicycle wheel, though as will be apparent, my improved tire may be applied to any
kind or class of wheels, such as wagons, carriages, buggies, etc.
In the accompanying drawing, A represents the ordinary rim of a bicycle
wheel, and secured thereto is the ordinary rubber tire B, which is provided with
the usual lining C, of canvas or other material, and secured to the outer side of
the tire B, is my improved covering or casing D, which is composed of leather,
and is secured to the rim A, by lacing as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, a strong cord,
wire or other device E, being passed through holes, formed in the opposite sides
or edges thereof, and around the rim A, as clearly shown in said figures.
The covering or casing D, may be composed of leather of any desired thickness
or strength, and even what is known as sole leather may be employed, if desired.
My invention also involves a new process of treating the leather covering or
casing D, by means of which it will retain the proper flexibility without its density
or becoming less durable, and this process consists in first soaking the leather in
water; then running it through a pair of rollers, by means of which the water is
compressed or forced therefrom, and the thickness of the leather considerably
decreased, the leather is then allowed to dry and after it has become thoroughly
dry, is placed in a bath of water-proof cement, of any desired composition, after
which it is again run through a pair of rollers which compresses the same into the
fibre thereof, and before the leather is allowed to dry, the outside thereof, is
covered with sand, after which it is run through another pair of rollers, to force
the sand into the leather, after which it is formed into the required shape.
By means of this process, the leather is toughened and rendered more durable,
without destroying the flexibility thereof, and by means of this process, even sole
leather may be rendered sufficiently flexible to form a covering or casing for
pneumatic tires.
In the construction shown in Fig. 3, I provide the usual tubular tire A 2, which
is composed of rubber and canvas, in the usual manner, and provided with a

page_text: covering or casing B 2, of leather, and this leather covering or casing is secured
to the rim C 2, in the following manner.
The rim C 2, represents the ordinary rim employed in connection with bicycle
wheels, and if a metal rim is employed, as shown in Fig. 3, the edges thereof, are
curved inwardly as shown at D2, and connected with the outwardly curved edges
of sides of the leather covering or casing as shown at E 2, this connection being
similar to that now employed in connecting inetal rims of bicycle wheels with the
usual pneumatic tire.
If a wooden rim is employed, as shown in Fig. 4, the tubular casing or
covering B 2, is carried around the pneumatic tire A 2, and the edges thereof, are
overlapped as shown at F 2, and the rim C 2, may be secured thereto by bolts or
in any preferred way.
In this construction, the casing or covering B2, of the pneumatic tire A 2, is
preferably composed as herein before described of strong heavy leather, and sole
leather is preferably employed for this purpose; and if sole leather is employed,
it must be first treated in the manner herciubetore described, so that it will become
flexible and remain so in order that the necessary flexibility and elasticity of the
tire may not be destroyed.
My invention is not limited to the means of connecting the casing or covering
with the tire, or rim of a wheel, as herein shown and described, and any preferred
arrangement for this purpose may be employed, and I also reserve the right to
make all such changes and modifications in the construction and method of treatment
as herein described, as fairly come within the scope of the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1. The herein described method of treating leather, which consists in first
soaking the leather in water, then running the same through a pair of rollers,
then allowing the same to dry, then placing the same in a bath of water-proof
cement, then running it through another pair of rollers, then covering the surface
thereof, with sand, and then passing it again through a pair of rollers, substantially
as shown and described.
2. The herein described method of treating leather for use in making pneumatic
tires, which consists in first soaking the leather in water, then running the same
through a pair of rollers, then allowing the same to dry, then placing the same in
a bath of water-proof cement, and then running it through another pair of rollers
substantially as shown and described.
3. A pneumatic tire for bicycles, or other vehicles, provided with a covering or
casing of sole leather, which is subjected to a process of treatment, by which it
is rendered soft and flexible, substantially as shown and described.
4. A casing or covering for pneumatic tires, composed of leather, and secured
to the rim of a wheel as in the foregoing description, and as shown in Figs. 1, 3
and 4, substantially as shown and described.
5. The combination with a pneumatic tire, of a casing or covering therefor,
composed of leather, which extends entirely around the exposed portion of the
tire, and is connected with the rim of the wheel, to which the tire is applied,
substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 17th day of November 1895.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.