Improvements in and connected with Pneumatic Tyres for Cycles or other Vehicles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 30th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 6th Oct.,
1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Pneumatic Tyres for Cycles
or other Vehicles.
JAMES HARRISON 82 Stanley Grove Longsight Manchester in the County of
Lancaster Manager do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
1
This invention consists in the shape of the rim of wheel and the way the
pneumatic tyre is fastened thereto. It is designed with the object of facilitating
the method of getting at the air tube, or balloon tyre in case of puncture. The
rim of wheel is almost flat on the part on which the tyre rests, and has on either
side of it a cavity around the periphery next to the spokes to receive on either
side of it a strip of hard substance which is attached to the inside edges of the
outer cover-solutionized, vulcanized or otherwise fastened thereto. The strip
which is attached to, and goes around the inside edges of the outer cover is
put into the cavity on either side of the rim, next to the spokes, when this is
done it is ready to inflate and the tighter you inflate it the tighter it will
pull against the flanges on the edges of the rim and on the top of the
cavity next to the spokes a liner of canvas or felting may be passed around the
rim to protect the air tube if desired.
Dated this 16th day of February 1894.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Pneumatic Tyres for Cycles
or other Vehicles.
I, JAMES HARRISON, of 82 Stanley Grove, Longsight, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Manager, 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 the shape or construction of the rim of the wheel
and of the outer covering or tread which envelopes the pneumatic tube and
is designed to provide a secure method of affixing the outer covering or tread
and to facilitate the removal and refixing of the same for the purpose of getting
at the inner or pneumatic tube in case of puncture.
It consists essentially in constructing the rim of the wheel almost or approximately
on each side
flat on the part on which the inner or pneumatic tube rests provided
with a cavity or recess round the inner side (next the spokes) formed by flanges on
the rim and by either adding a second hoop or rim or by bending or rolling the
rim into this shape and in constructing the outer cover with a flat strip of stiff
material on each edge which fits into the recess or cavity round the inner side of
the rim and is held in position by one side and edge of the strip abutting or pressing
against one side and Hange of the recess or cavity when the pneumatic tube is
inflated and pressure exerted on the outer side of the rim.
It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1. Longitudinal section.
D: D T.

page_text: Fig. 3. Extended transverse section of the outer cover or tread.
Fig. 4. Transverse section showing a modified form of rim.
I construct the rim of the wheel preferably of two hoops A and B connected
together by rivets, soldering, brazing or other suitable means. The outer hoop A is
formed with flanges a on its edges by being bent or turned inwards and with a deep
channel shaped corrugation at its centre and the inner hoop B is a plain flat hoop
attached thereto the depth of the corrugation determining the distance apart of the
two hoops. The inner hoop B is narrower than the outer hoop A and the two thus
connected form a recess C round each side of the wheel. The space formed round
the centre of the hoop A by the corrugation may be filled with felt or other soft
material to prevent the pneumatic tube D coming into contact with the heads of
the spokes E and being damaged thereby.
It will be evident that the rim could be constructed in three pieces instead of
two pieces a third hoop being inserted between two flat hoops to form the cavities C
or the rim may be rolled into the shape shown in Fig. 4 the cavities C being
formed by the convolutions of the rim but at present I prefer the arrangement
shown in Fig. 2.
The outer covering or tread F is formed of rubber in the ordinary way with a
layer of canvas f inside the rubber to strengthen it. Along the inner side of each
edge of the outer cover F I attach a flat strip G of stiff material. The flat strip G
may be made of hard rubber, rubber and canvas or other suitable material
sufficiently stiff to resist bending to an extent sufficient to permit it to withdraw
from the recess. It may be attached to the cover F by stitching or may be
cemented, vulcanised or otherwise attached thereto. It is preferably not attached
over its whole width so as to allow the cover F to bend away from it slightly at its
inner edge.
The pneumatic tube D is of the ordinary construction.
The pneumatic tube D is placed on the outer periphery of the hoop A and the
outer cover F placed over it, the flat strips G are inserted into the recesses C
round either side of the rim and when this is done the tube D is inflated. The
inflation of the tube D draws the cover F outwards causing the edges of the
strips G to press against the flanges a and the undersides thereof to press against
the top face of the hoop B that is the upper face of the lower part of the recess C.
The strips G are thereby tightly held and until the tube D is deflated the edges of
the strips G cannot be drawn down to clear the flanges a and cannot be withdrawn
from the recesses C. The strips G not being attached to the cover F right up to
their edges allows of a slight downward movement of the cover F without moving
the strips G. When the tube D is deflated the strips G are easily withdrawn
from the recesses C and the cover F removed.
I wish it to be understood that I do not claim broadly the holding on of the
outer cover by the pressure of the pneumatic tube as I am well aware that tyres
have been constructed in which the rims are formed with cavities on the outer
peripheries and the covers with beaded, looped or wired edges which are held
therein by the pressure of the pneumatic tube resting upon them and also by
forming hooks on the edges of the covers which engage with flanges on the inner
periphery of the rim and such do not form any part of this invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A pneumatic tyre for cycles or other vehicles constructed with a rim having
an inwardly projecting flange and flat recess or cavity round each side of the wheel
and with a cover provided with flat strips of stiff material on both edges which fit
into such recesses and are caused to bind and hold against the sides thereof by the
pressure of the pneumatic tube on the other side of the rim when inflated
substantially as described.
2. In a pneumatic tyre the combination with a rim having recesses round the
'

page_text: inner side, of an outer cover provided with marginal strips abutting against the
lateral boundaries of the recesses and also bearing on the upper faces of the lower
parts of the recesses when the tyre is distended on the outer side of the rim
substantially as described.
3. In a pneumatic tyre the combination with a rim formed with flat cavities
round the inner side as shown of an outer cover formed with strips of stiff material
attached to both edges substantially as described and shown.
Dated this 28th day of August 1894.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.