Improvements in and connected with Inflatable and other Elastic Wheel-tyres, and in Means or Appliances for Storing Spare or Reserve Tubes or Tyres in Cycles and other similar Vehicles or Carriages.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 27th Sept., 1894-Accepted, 27th Oct., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Inflatable and other Elastic
Wheel-tyres, and in Means or Appliances for Storing Spare or
Reserve Tubes or Tyres in Cycles and other similar Vehicles
or Carriages.
I, ANTHONY PULBROOK, of 14 Victoria House South Lambeth Road, in the
County of Surrey, Solicitor, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention to
be as follows
This invention relates more especially to improvements connected with the
inflatable wheel-tyres of bicycles, tricycles and other such like vehicles; but it is
also applicable to inflatable wheel-tyres used on the wheels of other vehicles or
carriages and partly to non-inflatable wheel tyres.
One object of the invention is to provide means whereby a spare or reserve
inflatable tube may be carried on the vehicle or carriage in such a position that it
can be used to replace a punctured tube without removing the wheel from the
vehicle or carriage.
For this purpose I provide a hollow case of any suitable construction attached
permanently or otherwise to the fork stays or other fixed part of the machine or
vehicle. In this hollow case I place the spare or reserve inflatable tube, after
having passed the same round the axle or hub of the wheel. The said spare or
reserve tube is so supported in the said case that it does not come into contact with
any part of the wheel as the latter revolves, whereby it is preserved from wear
and tear when not in use. The part of the spare or reserve tube, which does not
immediately surround the axle or hub of the wheel, is disposed in any suitable
manner in the aforesaid hollow case, but preferably so folded or rolled up that it
occupies as little space as possible.
It will now be understood that, so long as the inflatable tube actually in use on
the wheel remains unpunctured, the spare or reserve tube is carried in the aforesaid
case; but when the inflatable tube in use becomes punctured, it may be removed
from the rim of the wheel and the spare or reserve tube taken out of its case and
placed round the rim of the wheel in place of the punctured one which can then
be placed in the case and carried there, preserved from further injury until an
opportunity occurs of repairing it, thus avoiding the inconvenience and delay of
finding and repairing a puncture by the way-side.
The spare or reserve tube being, when in the case, already passed round the
axle or hub of the wheel, there is no difficulty in placing it on the rim of the
wheel without (especially in the case of bicycles, or tricycles) removing the wheel
from the fork in which it is carried.
The case containing the spare or reserve tube, or the injured tube, as the case
may be, is constructed in any suitable way that will admit of getting the tube in
or out of it with comparative case, and for that purpose it may be provided with
folding or sliding doors, or it may be arranged to be entirely detached and
replaced as may be required. It may also be provided with a suitable device for
carrying a spare valve."
Instead of the case containing the spare or reserve tube being secured to the
fork or other fixed part of the machine or vehicle, it may, in some cases, be secured
to the wheel so as to revolve therewith.
Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for joining together
the ends of the inflatable tube, and for this purpose I close the two ends of the
tube airtight, but so shape and adapt them that they can be inserted one into the

page_text: other in such manner that the pressure of the air when the tube is inflated tends
to hold the said ends in place and prevent them from separating. This action of
the air may be facilitated by corrugating or otherwise shaping the ends of the
tubes with projections or hollows so that, after the insertion of one end of the tube
into the other, the pressure of the air forces the projections on one end into the
hollows into the other end. If desired, the ends may also be cemented together
with bands of tape or otherwise.
A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for preventing
slipping of the wheels on the roadway. For this purpose I attach, in any suitable
way, to the outer surface of the tyre what is known as card-cloth, such as is used
in carding machines for example, with the wire bristles or staples outward. This
card cloth may be applied to the tyre in the form of a strip or band running
longitudinally thereon, or may be arranged transversely or obliquely thereto and
may be secured in place by any suitable means. The rough surface of the card-
cloth secures a firm hold of the ground and prevents slip both circumferentially
and sidewise of the wheel.
Dated this 27th day of December 1893
A. PULBROOK,
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Inflatable and other Elastic
Wheel-tyres, and in Means or Appliances for Storing Spare or
Reserve Tubes or Tyres in Cycles and other similar Vehícles or
Carriages.
I, ANTHONY PULBROOK, of 14 Victoria House, South Lambeth Road, in the
County of Surrey, Solicitor, 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, reference being had to the accom-
panying drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
This invention relates more especially to improvements connected with the
inflatable wheel-tyres of bicycles, tricycles and other such like vehicles, but it is
also applicable to inflatable wheel-tyres used on the wheels of other vehicles or
carriages, and partly to non-inflatable wheel-tyres.
One object of the invention is to provide means whereby a spare or reserve
inflatable tube may be carried on the vehiele or carriage in such a position that it
can be used to replace a punctured tube without removing the wheel from the
vehicle or carriage.
For this purpose I employ the arrangements illustrated in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4
of the annexed drawings, in which A is a hollow case of any convenient shape
(triangular, as shewn, or circular for example) and of any suitable construction.
This case is shown to a larger scale in Figures 1 and 2, and with the cycle complete
in Figure 3, and is attached permanently, or otherwise, to the fork B, stays C, or
other fixed part of the machine or vehicle, and in such a position as to be between
the inner side of such fixed part and the wheel. Or if preferred, the case A may
form part of the gear case now commonly employed.
In this hollow-case A is placed the spare or reserve inflatable tube D in such a
manner as to surround the axle and hub E of the wheel. The said spare or
reserve tube D is so supported in the said case A that it does not come into contact
with any part of the wheel as the latter revolves, whereby it is preserved from
wear and tear when not in use. The slack part of the spare or reserve tube D is
disposed in any suitable manner in the aforesaid hollow-case A, but preferably so
folded or rolled-up that it occupies as little space as possible, for example it may

page_text: be disposed somewhat as shown in Figure 1, supported at various points on the
cross-bars or distance pieces F connecting the two sides of the case A together,
the loose part of the tube being folded together and tied with string or otherwise
secured so that it shall not fall down into contact with the hub E. And in order
to prevent the possibility of such contact with the hub E, I prefer to provide a
sleeve A connected to the two sides of the case A in which sleeve the said hub
is free to rotate, a suitable clearance being left between the surfaces of the hub
and the sleeve A*.
may
It will now be understood that so long as the inflatable tube actually in use on
the wheel remains unpunctured, the spare or reserve tube D is carried in the
aforesaid case A, but when the inflatable tube in use becomes punctured, it be
removed from the rim of the wheel and the spare or reserve tube D taken out of
its case A and placed round the rim of the wheel in place of the punctured one
which can then be placed in the case A and carried there, preserved from further
injury, until an opportunity occurs of repairing it, thus avoiding the inconvenience
and delay of finding and repairing a puncture by the way-side.
The spare or reserve tube being, when in the case, already passed round the
axle or hub of the wheel, there is no difficulty in placing it on the rim of the
wheel without (especially in the case of bicycles or tricycles) removing the wheel
from the fork in which it is carried.
The case A containing the spare or reserve tube, or the injured tube, as the
case may be, is constructed in any suitable way that will admit of getting the
tube in or out of it with comparative ease, and for that purpose it may be made
so that it can be opened all round its periphery so that the tube D can be drawn
out radially in all directions, folding or sliding doors, covers, or other suitable
means, being provided for closing the peripheral sides to exclude dust and dirt
when it is not required that they should be open. The case may be attached to
the fork, framing, mud-guard, stay, or other fixed part of the carriage, by clips,
bolts and nuts, rivets, or otherwise, and either permanently, or so that it can be
detached and replaced as may be required.
A suitable ledge or other fixing G may be provided in the case A for the
charging valve H of the spare or reserve tube D to rest upon to prevent injury
thereto by shaking or by striking against the inside of the case A when the carriage
is in motion. The case A may also be furnished with a suitable device for
carrying repairing tools or other light articles.
Instead of the case A, containing the spare or reserve tube, being secured to
the fork or other fixed part of the machine or vehicle, it may in some cases be
secured to the wheel so as to revolve therewith as illustrated in Figure 4 for
example, in which A' represents a case of comparatively small diameter fixed to
the spokes and surrounding the hub E of the wheel, and A2 represents a case of
In either case
larger diameter fixed to the spokes inside the rim I of the wheel.
the spare or reserve tube is first passed round the hub or axle of the wheel and is
then folded so that it can be passed into the case A' or A² as the case may be; the
said cases being provided with suitable covers either at the side or circumferentially
to keep out dust and dirt.
The cases A, A1 or A2 may be made of any suitable material preferably in most
cases as light as possible, such as wood, vulcanite, celluloid, xylonite, carboline,
duroline, aluminium or other sheet metal, or papier maché, for example.
Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for jointing
together the ends of the inflatable tube, and for this purpose I close the two ends
of the tube airtight but so shape and adapt them that they can be inserted one
into the other in such manner that the pressure of the air, when the tube is
inflatable, tends to hold the said ends in place and prevent them from separating.
The action of the air may be facilitated by corrugating or otherwise shaping the
ends of the tube with projections or hollows so that, after the insertion of one end
of the tube into the other, the pressure of the air forces the projections on one
end into the hollows in the other end.

page_text: Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10, illustrate examples of the above mentioned method
of closing and connecting together the ends of pneumatic tyre tubes. The two
ends of the tube E are closed airtight, the ends being so shaped that one can be
inserted in the other. For example the left hand end E' may be made of the
shape shown in Figure 5, the other end E being made of similar shape but
preferably somewhat larger, and turned outside inwards so as to project into the
tube as shown in that figure. The end E' is then brought round in bending the
tube E into the hoop form, and is pushed into the socket or part E2 as shown
in Figure 6. The compressed air forced into the tube E in the usual way expands
the end E' in the socket or end E2 and compresses the socket or end E2 on to the
end E' and the shape of the parts prevents them from being drawn out of one
another so long as the air pressure is maintained, thus ensuring practically an
endless tube with the internal pressure equal or nearly so throughout.
cases be
As however the internal surface of the part E' is necessarily less than the outer
surface of the socket or part E2, the compressed air in E will exert a greater
compressive force on E² than it does an expanding force on E, there will be a
tendency to flatten or deform the connection which may in some
objectionable. To obviate this I sometimes place a diaphragm E³ in the tube near
the smaller end E' and provide the space between it and the said end with a
separate inflating valve E, and force air in through such valve, preferably at a
higher pressure than that in the rest of the tube E, so as to balance any excess of
pressure there may be acting on the surface of E2. The diaphragm E³ may be
provided with a valve E³ opening towards the part E', which valve will allow air
to find its way from the other side of the diaphragm to that part but will prevent
the passage of the air at higher pressure, when such is employed, from the part E
into the other part of the tube E.
Figure 7 shows another form of the ends E' E' in which the said ends are
formed with circumferential corrugations that interlock with one another.
Figure 8 shows another form of the ends in which the interlocking parts are
made of comparatively thick rubber or other suitable elastic material, instead of
being shaped out of the uniform thickness of the tube. The parts E¹ E² represent
the airtight ends of the tube as before, and these may be made of the usual
thickness of rubber or other elastic stretchable material. The part E of the
end E' of the tube is preferably made tapering and thickened towards the point E
to assist in holding the parts together. When the interior of E' is filled with
compressed air, the parts E E' are forced outwards against the inclined part Es of
the end E2 of the tube, and the greater the pressure of air the firmer these parts
are pressed together and consequently the more securely the ends E' and E² are
held together. The arrangement shown in Figure 8 may also be provided with a
diaphragm E³ with or without a back pressure valve E, and with a charging
valve E opening into the space between the end E' of the tube and the diaphragm E
as in the arrangement shown in Figure 6.
a
Figure 9 shows a simpler form of the joint in which the socket end E' of the
tube, which receives the end E, is formed with a thick ring E of indiarubber
which takes into a groove E' formed round the part E' when the latter is passed
through the ring E and is expanded by the compressed air. I sometimes place
diaphragm E in the end E2 of the tube and form the end of E' to fit against it.
The pressure of the air in E' forces it up against the diaphragmn E on the one
hand and against the inclined back face of the ring E on the other, so that it is
firmly held in the socket end E of the tube. This arrangement may also be
provided with a diaphragm E3 and charging valve E, as in Figures 6 and 8.
The interlocking projections and recesses in the parts E and E' may, in some
cases, be made of dovetait shape, as shown by way of example in Figure 10.
A further object of the invention is to provide improved means for preventing
slipping of the wheels on the roadway. For this purpose I attach in
any suitable
way to the outer surface of the tyre what is known as card-cloth such as is used in
carding machines for example, with the wire bristles, or staples outward. This

page_text: card-cloth may be applied to the tyre in the form of a strip or band running
longitudinally round the same, or it may be applied transversely, or obliquely,
thereto and may be secured in place by any suitable means such as cement for
example. When it is desired to prevent slip of the wheel, both circumferentially
and laterally, the card-cloth may pass round the tread of the tyre and extend so
far up each side thereof as may be necessary to enable the card-cloth to grip the
road when the wheel is inclined somewhat to right or left, and this may be effected
either by making the strip or band of card-cloth in one width, or in three separate
strips, one on the tread and one adjacent to it at each side. Or if it is desired to
apply the card-cloth to prevent lateral slip only, the strip at the tread may be
dispensed with and the side strips only applied so that when the wheel stands
vertically the card-cloth is not brought into action, but when the wheel becomes
inclined and therefore liable to slip, the side strips of card-cloth grip the road and
prevent lateral slip.
The wire of the card-cloth is preferably made of or covered with metal not
easily oxidized.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. The improved means or appliance for storing spare or reserve tubes or
tyres in cycles and other vehicles or carriages, which consists of a hollow case
secured to a fixed part of the cycle, vehicle or carriage, and adapted to contain and
support the spare or reserve tube in position surrounding the axle or hub of the
wheel, substantially as described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the
drawings.
Second. The improved means or appliance for storing spare or reserve tubes or
tyres in cycles and other vehicles or carriages, which consists of a bollow case
secured to the wheel and adapted to contain and support the spare or reserve tube
in position surrounding the axle or hub of the wheel, substantially as described
with reference to Figure 4 of the drawings.
Third. The method of connecting together the ends of the inflatable tubes of
wheel tyres which consists in closing such ends airtight and inserting and securing
one in the other substantially as described with reference to Figures 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
and 10 of the drawings.
Fourth. An inflatable tyre having airtight ends, one end having the projection
and the other the socket to receive the same, the said projection and socket having
a circumferential groove or corrugation, substantially as described.
Fifth. An inflatable tyre having airtight ends with a projection on one end
adapted to fit into a socket on the other end, the said projection and socket having
circumferential locking portions engaging each other, substantially as described.
Sixth. In inflatable wheel tyres having closed ends inserted into and secured in
one another in the manner hereinbefore described, the use of a separate air
chamber at that end of the tube which is inserted into the other end, substantially
as described with reference to Figures 6, 8 and 9 of the drawings and for the
purpose specified.
Seventh. In inflatable and other clastic wheel-tyres the use of card-cloth for the
purpose of preventing slipping or skidding, substantially as described.
Dated this 27th day of September 1834.
Dated GIS TL uay of September 1974.
A.
PULBROOK,
Per W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, Agent.