Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Tyres, and their Attachment to the Wheels of Vehicles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 31st Dec., 1894-Accepted, 2nd Feb.. 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Tyres, and their
Attachment to the Wheels of Vehicles.
I, THOMAS DUNN, of 83 Tierney Road, Brixton Hill, in the County of Surrey,
Member of the Stock Exchange, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
In the Complete Specification of Letters Patent granted to me No. 23423 of
1892 I have described a construction of pneumatic tyre with a circular strip of
material that is rigid transversely and flexible longitudinally but practically non-
extensible in length, arranged centrally within the tyre between the air tube and
outer canvas cover at the inner side or periphery of the latter and so that its ends,
which are unconnected with external attachments, are free and capable of end ways
movement relatively to the sheath or channel in which the said circular strip is
placed, the arrangement being such that when the tyre is inflated, the said circular
strip will become automatically contracted in diameter by the action thereon of the
air pressure alone and will firmly clamp the tyre around the wheel rim.
In the particular arrangement of such a tyre shown in my said former
Specification, a circular strip of plain sheet metal is employed of such a length as
to extend nearly around the tyre and the ordinary air valve is arranged between
its adjacent ends, so that upon securing the valve to the wheel rim, the ends of the
circular metal strip are thereby held or retained in place between the air tube of
the tyre and the wheel rim, but until the valve is screwed up the said ends are free
to move towards and from each other when the tyre is inflated and deflated
respectively.
Now my present invention has reference to improvements in pneumatic tyres
provided with self gripping strips of the kind referred to, and an object of such
invention is to provide means for more effectually securing the ends of the strip, so
that, when a tyre has once been properly placed on a wheel and inflated, it may
afterwards be entirely freed from the strain of retaining its position, in opposition
to any force that may tend to displace it, and the whole of this strain may be borne
by the self gripping strip, the additional means of securing the strip being, equally
with the self gripping action of the strip, entirely automatic, or dependent only on
the screwing up of the valve, and not involving any alteration to the wheel.
In one arrangement for this purpose, longitudinal notches are formed in the ends
of the strip to permit of their passing the valve and overlapping each other beneath
its base, so that, on the valve being screwed up, the ends of the strip will be firmly
gripped together and pinched thereby on to the wheel rim or felloe, pieces of suitable
material, such as emery cloth, being, if desired, placed between the ends of the
strip, or cemented to them, and on either side of them, so that the pinching action
of the valve shall the more effectually secure them.
In another arrangement, short studs are provided on the base of the valve, or on
a short plate through which the stem of the valve passes and in the ends of the
strip holes are formed into which the studs can enter and so secure the said ends.
The studs may be arranged to slide on the part carrying them, by a device adapted
to admit of their sliding freely towards the valve, but which would resist their
being pulled the reverse wa v

page_text: Or the ends of the circular strip can be made of a comparatively soft metal,
such as tin-plate; or they might be notched longitudinally as before, and the
notches covered with tin-plate soldered or otherwise secured on the ends, the studs
being in this case fixed, and provided with sharp points, the arrangement being
such that on the tyre being inflated and run, or if necessary bumped on the ground
and the valve screwed up, the studs will be caused to pierce the tin-plate, and
thereby make the ends of the strip secure.
In another arrangement the ends of the strip are hooked outwardly, and the
aforesaid short plate is provided on its under side, with a series of small notches
into which the hooked ends of the band can take, and in which they will be
securely held, on the tyre being inflated and the valve screwed up, the hooks and
the notches being sloped one way so as not to interfere with the contraction of the
circular strip.
In another arrangement, in place of using a short plate as above described, there
is provided a metal sleeve into the ends of which the ends of the circular strip can
slide, each end of the sleeve being furnished with a wedge or cam (hereinafter
referred to as a wedge), inserted through suitable slots, the arrangement being such
that when the valve is screwed up, the wedges will securely lock the ends of the
strip in position, at least against any backward movement, but will release them
again when the valve is unscrewed. The wedges may be caused to automatically
lock the ends of the circular strip by fixing them on the ends of a piece of spring
metal arched inwards, and which, on being flattened out by pressure on the wheel
rim or felloe, caused by screwing up the valve, will force the wedges into the sleeve,
and so lock the ends of the strip as described. Strips of suitable material, such as
emery cloth, may if desired be placed or cemented between the ends of the strip
and the inside of the sleeve opposite the wedges, to assist the action of the latter in
securely locking the ends of the band.
In a further arrangement, there are secured to the ends of the circular strip,
narrow lengths of strong flexible material, such as soft steel, leather, or tape, the
ends of which, on the tyre being placed on the wheel, are to be passed through the
valve hole in the wheel rim or felloe which hole in this case is preferably made
square, and the valve passed through the hole between the said lengths of flexible
material. Then when the tyre has been inflated, the outer ends of the said lengths
of flexible material should be pulled tight, folded from the valve, and a washer
placed over the valve stem to protect them, and on the valve nut being screwed up,
they will be firmly pinched on the wheel rim or felloe, and the self gripping strip
thereby securely fastened.
In each of the arrangements hereinbefore described, means may be provided for
preventing the base of the valve, or the short plate or sleeve through which it
passes, as the case may be, pressing upon the ends of the self gripping circular
strip while the tyre is being inflated, and so hindering the contraction of such
strip.
When applying pneumatic tyres, of the kind herein referred to, t> wheels of
vehicles not set perpendicularly to the road and having bevelled or coned metal
tyres, the self gripping strip of each pneumatic tyre should be bevelled or coned
to fit the metal tyre.
A further object of my invention is to provide improved means for making
pneumatic tyres of the kind herein referred to, self gripping in an efficient manner
on different kinds of vehicle wheels, without making any alterations to the said
wheels such as would interfere with their being subsequently used without the
pneumatic tyres; and so that no alteration to the wheels shall be necessary except
to drill in them the valve holes, and in one case some additional holes, and the
arrangements being such that any coachman, carman or other ordinary person can
easily and quickly attach or detach the pneumatic tyres so that should any failure
of such tyres ever occur, no material inconvenience need result.
For light vehicles, such as bath chairs, having light wheels with narrow felloes,
I make the self gripping strip of the pneumatic tyre, about a quarter of an inch

page_text: broader than the wheel felloe, and secure to the inner periphery of the tyre, it may
be by a solution of india-rubber, a strip or band of material such for example as
rubber coated canvas or macintosh cloth, preferably corresponding in colour with
the tyre, and having hard, preferably rectangular, but not too inelastic, beads
formed at its edges, the space between these beads being made to exactly
correspond with the breadth of the felloe so that when the tyre is inflated, the
projecting edges of the self gripping strip will hold these beads down against the
sides of the felloe, and thus prevent the tyre being moved laterally on the wheel.
By this arrangement the base of the pneumatic tyre will project beyond the felloe,
and the sides of the tyre may project still further, consequently they are liable to
become chafed against curbs or other obstacles on the road. To protect the tyre
against such injury, I prefer to make its base its broadest part, or of equal breadth
to its broadest part, and, if the felloe is only slightly narrower, I protect the tyre
by securing to the outer side of the felloe, a ring of suitable material, for example
iron, that is flat next the felloe, but of half round or other convenient shape on its
outer side, and of sufficient thickness to protect the tyre. Such a ring is herein-
after referred to as a guard ring. In cases where the base of the tyre would
project considerably beyond the felloe, there may be secured to one side of the
latter a flat strip or strips or a ring of suitable hard material such as hard india-
rubber or wood, of such thickness that its outer side will be flush, or practically
so, with the base of the tyre, and arranged so as to abut against the bead beneath
the tyre. To this strip or ring is then secured a guard ring of the kind hereinbefore
mentioned. The flat ring, or its equivalent, like the guard ring, need only be
placed on the outer side of the wheel felloe and its edge should be kept sufficiently.
clear of the edge of the wheel as to obviate liability of its being injured when the
wheel is used without the tyre, the bead on the corresponding side of the tyre
being made sufficiently deep to meet it. With this arrangement the other, side of
the tyre is passed over the wheel felloe, when attaching the tyre thereto and
removing it therefrom.
The pneumatic tyre need not always be placed quite centrally on the wheel.
When not so placed, the bead on one side may be made both narrower and thinner
than on the other. To protect the tyre from being chafed on curbs, without the
use of the flat rings above described, the tyre may be set more towards the inside of
the wheel than the outside and be protected by the use only of a guard ring such
as hereinbefore described secured on the wheel felloc.
When pneumatic tyres with my self gripping strips are to be fixed on wheels
with broad felloes, there may advantageously be secured to the inner periphery of
the tyre, a series of plates of suitable hard material as for example metal, these
plates being arranged either at intervals, or close together so as to form a
practically continuous band, but not so secured to the tyre as to impair its
longitudinal elasticity, the edges of the plates being turned down so as to fit the
felloe. Such a band of plates may, if desired, be covered with waterproof canvas,
such as macintosh cloth, preferably either of the colour of the tyre, or the felloe.
In some cases, to protect a pneumatic tyre on a narrow felloe from being chafed,
I secure to the inner periphery of the tyre, a band of plates, such as above
described, of the necessary breadth to protect the tyre, and around the band of
plates, on one or both sides, 1 secure inside the inturned edge or edges of the
plates, strips of suitable material such as hard rubber. Or blocks of such material
may be secured inside the said edge or edges of each plate, so as to form a channel
on the inner side of the plates of just the breadth of the felloe. If desired, flat
rings such as herein before described, may be secured around the felloe with their
outsides flush with the outside edges of the band of plates, and further if desired, a
guard ring of the kind hereinbefore mentioned, may be fixed to the flat ring on the
outer side of the felloe.
The band of plates, or equivalent device, herein before described, may, in some
cases, be kept separate from the tyre, and be independently placed around the
wheel. In this case it is formed with a concavity or channel on its outer side to

page_text: receive the tyre, so that on the tyre being placed over it, when on the wheel, then
inflated, and the valve screwed up as before described, the whole will be securely
fixed to the wheel.
In another arrangement, specially suitable for securing pneumatic tyres on very
large, or very heavy wheels, the inner periphery of the tyre, and the self gripping
strips are formed with oblong holes or slots through which are passed the heads of
a number of tee-headed bolts the shanks of which are passed through the wheel
felloe and provided at their inner ends with nuts. The arrangement is such that
on placing the tyre on the wheel so that the heads of the bolts pass through the
self gripping strip, and then giving the bolts a quarter of a turn, their heads will
be caused to bear on the outer periphery of the self-gripping strip, and, being
provided with squared parts under their heads to fit the sides of the oblong holes
in the strip, or the holes in the wheel tyre, which might be made square to fit the
bolts, they would retain that position, and, on the pneumatic tyre being inflated
and the nuts on the bolts screwed up, the said tyre would be thoroughly secured
on the wheel. When this arrangement is employed, the ends of the self gripping
strip need not be made to lock at the valve.
In another arrangement I provide the pneumatic tyre with flaps at the sides to
fold over the sides of the felloe. The flaps may be tubular, and through them
may be passed rings, wires or cords which, on being tightened up and their ends
secured in any approved manner, would secure the tyre on the wheel. The rings,
wires or cords on one side may be endless, the other side of the tyre being then
passed over the wheel fellor when putting the tyre on or taking it off. The rings
might be flat and rigid with their outer periphery preferably flush with the outer
periphery of the felloes, and the tyre may then be secured on the wheel by sliding
one of the rings circumferentially into one of the flaps, and be removed by similarly
withdrawing one of the rings. By means of these flaps, tyres may be secured on
wheels either with or without the aid of my self gripping strips. When a self
gripping strip is used with the flaps, it should preferably be of the same breadth
as the felloe. When not used, the rings, wires or cords do not require to be
provided with means for being tightened up on either side; it is sufficient if on
one side at least they can be unfastened, and means such as a screw or pin passing
through holes or loops on their ends, are provided for simply joining such ends; or
the ends may be made to hook the one onto the other. Instead of making the
flaps tubular, I may secure the one that is at the outer side of the tyre when on a
wheel, to the inner side of a guard ring of the kind hereinbefore described, and I
may provide the flap at the inner side of the tyre with hooks adapted to engage a
wire or ring provided for the purpose, which may be either free, or be fixed on the
felloe. Or the flap at the inner side may be tubular and be provided with a ring,
wire or cord, and that at the outer side, be furnished with hooks, or with a
continuous bead, to take or bear against the inner periphery of the guard ring,
which is arranged to bear against the outer side of the flap and may be either
movable, or be secured by a few, preferably three, screws to the wheel felloe.
The flaps instead of being provided at their edges with inextensible rings, wires
or cords, may be provided with elastic cords, which, on the tyre being placed on a
wheel will automatically cause the flaps to become drawn tight over the sides of
the felloe, and will hold them in place whilst the hooks, if the same be used, are
engaged with the rings before described, or whilst the guard rings are placed and
secured over the flaps.
When the self gripping strip is not employed, so that it is not available to
secure the flap which normally closes the opening in the tyre through which the
air tube is inserted or withdrawn, the said opening may be closed by any convenient
means such as by lacing, and the tyre may be made to open all round on its inner
periphery, being normally closed by any convenient means such as by lacing. In
one arrangement for closing the opening without the use of the self-gripping
strip, I provide flaps on each side of the opening, preferably extending a short
distance beyond it at each end, and with short bands of hard flexible material in

page_text: them, preferably of the same breadth as the felloe. These flaps, on the tyre being
placed on the wheel, will fold over each other and at the same time close the
opening and support the sides of the tyre throughout the length of the opening.
Or a flap may be provided on one side only of the opening and the other side of the
opening be supported by being folded over a short strip of hard flexible material
This
having its outside edge flush with the corresponding edge of the felloe.
short strip may be so made that it can be readily withdrawn to enable the opening
in the tyre to be more fully distended. In this case it is desirable that the valve,
when in position, should pass through a hole in the said short strip, to prevent it
shifting. When two flaps are used, the valve may advantageously be passed
through them, when the tyre is in position on the wheel, in order to more perfectly
secure them and close the opening.
The method first herein described of securing pneumatic tyres fitted with my
self gripping strips to a narrow wheel rim or felloe by the aid of a band of flexible
material provided with beads at its sides, is suitable for securing the tyres on cycle
rims having a flat periphery, or on comparatively narrow rims, such as those
commonly used for cushion or solid tyres which are not broad enough to admit of
a self gripping band of the desired breadth fitting into them. Or the tyre may be
secured on a narrow concave rim by providing it on its inner periphery with a
central bead or ridge (bereinafter called beads) just broad enough to fit the groove
of the rim. Pneumatic tyres might also be fitted to the wheels of ordinary road
vehicles by providing them each with one, two or more of such beads on its inner
periphery and forming a groove or grooves in the wheel tyre to receive the bead
or beads. Or instead of a bead or beads, a series of studs that may be arranged
in pairs and fixed to short transverse plates might be secured in or upon the under
side of the pneumatic tyre and arranged to fit into corresponding holes made in
the wheel tyre. In some cases these beads or studs may be dispensed with and the
gripping action of the tyre solely depended upon to make it secure on the wheel,
the under side of the pneumatic tyre being rendered frictional or adhesive on the
wheel tyre which might be roughened or otherwise similarly treated to assist the
gripping action of the pneumatic tyre.
When a separate band of plates or an equivalent device, is placed between the
pneumatic tyre and wheel, the groove or grooves for the bead or beads on the tyre
may be formed in the outer side of the said band or equivalent.
As will be obvious fastening devices of the kind hereinbefore described can be
variously modified, and may be combined with one another in various ways.
ليم
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cas
11004
Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Tyres, and their
Attachment to the Wheels of Vehicles.
I, THOMAS DUNN, of 83, Tierney Road, Brixton Hill, in the County of Surrey,
Member of the Stock Exchange, 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. :-—
In the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me No. 23,423 of 1892, I have
described a construction of pneumatic tyre with a circular strip of material that is
rigid transversely and flexible longitudinally but practically non-extensible in
length, arranged centrally within the tyre between the air tube and the outer

page_text: canvas cover at the inner side or periphery of the latter, and so that its ends,
which are unconnected with external attachments, are free and capable of end ways
movement relatively to the sheath or channel in which the said circular strip is
placed, the arrangement being such that when the tyre is inflated, the said circular
strip will become automatically contracted in diameter by the action thereon of the
air pressure alone and will firmly clamp the tyre around the wheel.
In the particular arrangement of such a tyre shown in my said former Specification,
a circular strip of plain sheet metal is employed of such a length as to extend nearly
around the tyre, and the ordinary air valve is arranged between its adjacent ends,
so that upon securing the valve to the wheel rim, the ends of the circular metal
strip are thereby held or retained in place between the air tube of the tyre and the
wheel rim but until the valve is screwed up the said ends are free to move towards
and from each other when the tyre is inflated and deflated respectively.
Now my present invention has reference to improvements in pneumatic tyres
provided with self gripping strips of the kind referred to, and an object of such
invention is to provide means for more effectually securing the ends of the strip, so
that a tyre once properly placed upon a wheel and inflated will be entirely freed from
the strain of retaining its position in opposition to any force that may tend to displace
it, and the whole of this strain will be borne by the self gripping strip, the additional
means of securing the strip heing, equally with the self gripping action of the strip,
entirely automatic, or dependent only on the screwing up of the valve, and not
involving any alteration in the wheel.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section partly in elevation, and Fig. 2 a plan, showing
one arrangement for.thus securing the ends of the strip. In this arrangement the
end portions 1ª of the self gripping strip 1 are formed with longitudinal notches 2
to permit of their passing the air valve 3 and overlapping each other beneath its
base 3, so that when the tightening-up nut 3d of the valve is screwed up, the ends
of the strip 1 will be firmly gripped together and pinched thereby on to the
wheel rim or felloe, pieces 4 of suitable material, such as emery cloth, which may
be either loose or cemented to the strip, being, if desired, placed between the
ends of the strip 1, or on each side of them, as shown, so that the pinching action
of the valve shall the more effectually secure thein. 5 is a part of the air tube of
a pneumatic tyre.
Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 1 showing another arrangement in which short
studs 6, 6ª are provided either on the base 3ª of the valve, or, as shown, on a short
plate 7 through which the stem of the valve 3 passes, and in the ends of the strip 1,
holes are forined into which the said studs can enter and so secure the said ends.
The studs may be arranged to slide on the part carrying them, by a device which is
adapted to admit of their sliding freely towards the valve, but which will resist their
being pulled the reverse way. In the example now being described, the stud 6 is
fixed in the plate 7, which is provided at the other end with a longitudinal slot to
permit of the movement of the stud 6°; the last mentioned stud has a longitudinally
grooved head 6b, shown to a larger scale in cross section in Fig. 3^; and the lower
edges 6 and 6d of its grooves are respectively rounded and sharp so as, during the
inflation of the tyre, to permit the stud 6" to move towards the valve 3 but to
prevent it from afterwards moving away therefrom. The head of the stud 6" may,
however, be made with a hole 6 as shown in Fig. 3, and the corresponding end of
the plate 7 made as a tongue to slide in this hole, the lower edges of the hole 6ª
being rounded and sharp as and for the purpose just described with reference to the
grooved head 6. The portion of the plate 7 on which the head of the stud 6" is
to slide may, in either of these cases, be serrated or roughened in such a manner as
to catch the edge 6 of the head of the stud 6ª and thus to aid in preventing the
backward motion of the stud. Or the ends of the circular strip 1 can be made of a
comparatively soft metal, such as tin-plate; or they might be notched longitudinally
as before (Figs. and 2) and the notches covered with tin plate soldered or other-
wise secured on the ends, the studs 6, 6" being in this case fixed, and provided with

page_text: sharp points, the arrangement being such that when the tyre is inflated and run, or
if necessary bumped, on the ground and the nut 3d of the valve screwed up, the
studs will be caused to pierce the tin-plate, and thereby make the ends of the strip
secure. 3b is a nut between which and the base 3ª of the valve 3, the air tube 5 and
the plate 7 are secured so that when it is desired to detach the tyre the studs 6, 6ª can
be disengaged from the strip 1 by pressing the valve 3 into the tyre and if necessary,
inserting a suitable instrument between the ends of the strip 1 and the plate 7 so as
to separate the two.
Fig. 4 is a side elevation, partly in longitudinal section, showing another arrange-
ment, in which the ends of the strip 1 are hooked outwardly as shown at 8, and the
short plate 7 is provided on its under side with a series of small notches into which
the hooked ends of the band can engage and in which they will be securely held,
when the tyre is inflated and the nut 3d of the valve screwed up, the hooks and the
notches being sloped in the direction shown so as not to interfere with the contraction
of the circular strip.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section showing another arrangement wherein, in place
of using a short plate 7 as above described, there is provided a metal sleeve 9 into
the ends of which the ends of the circular strip 1 can slide, each end of the sleeve
being furnished with a wedge or cam 10 (hereinafter referred to as a wedge),
inserted through a suitable opening or slot in the strip 1, the arrangement being
such that when the nut 3 of the valve 3 is screwed up, the wedges 10 will securely
lock the ends of the strip 1 in position, at least against any backward movement,
but will release them again when the valve is unscrewed. The wedges may be
caused automatically to lock the ends of the circular strip by fixing them on the
ends of a piece 11 of spring metal which is arched inwards and which, on being
flattened out by pressure on the wheel rim or felloe, caused by screwing up the
valve nut 3d will force the wedges 10 into the sleeve 9 and so lock the ends of the
strip as described. Strips of suitable material, such as emery cloth, may if desired
be placed or cemented between the ends of the strip 1 and the inside of the sleeve 9
opposite the wedges 10 to assist the action of the latter in securely locking the ends.
of the strip.
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section showing a further arrangement, in which there
are secured to the ends of the circular strip 1 narrow lengths 12 of strong flexible
material, such as iron, soft steel, leather, or tape, the ends of which, when the tyre
is placed on the wheel, are to be passed through the valve hole 3º (in this case
preferably made square) in the wheel rim or felloe 13, and the valve 3 passed
through the hole between the said lengths of flexible material. Then when the
tyre has been inflated, the outer ends of the lengths 12 of flexible material should
be pulled tight, folded away from the valve and against the rim 13, and a washer 14
placed over the valve stem to protect them; and when the valve nut 3d is screwed
up, they will be firmly pinched on the wheel rim or felloe 13, and the self gripping
strip thereby securely fastened.
In each of the arrangements bereinbefore described, means may be provided for
preventing the base 3ª of the valve, or the short plate 7 through which it passes,
as the case may be, from pressing upon the ends of the self gripping circular strip 1
while the tyre is being inflated, and so hindering the contraction of such strip.
Suitable means for this purpose are shown in cross section in Fig. 7 and in plan in
Fig. 7 and consist of a narrow piece 15 of steel bent as shown, hooked at its ends
so as to be readily hung upon the rim or felloe 13, and provided with a notch 16
adapted to receive the stem of the valve 3. When the tyre is to be inflated the
piece 15 is hooked upon the rim or felloe 13 and the stem of the valve 3 inserted
into the notch 16 with the nut 3ª of the valve resting on the piece 15, the said nut
having been screwed along the said stem into such a position as to raise the base 3*
of the valve, or its plate 7, if such be provided, sufficiently above the strip 1 to prevent
it from pressing the air tube 5 thereupon and thereby impairing the action of the
said strip. When the tyre has been inflated and the stopper 3 (Fig. 6) placed in
the valve, the bent piece 15 is unhooked from the rim 13.

page_text: When applying pneumatic tyres, of the kind herein referred to, to wheels of
vehicles not set perpendicularly to the road (i.e. the axes of which are neither in
the same straight line nor parallel to each other) and having bevelled or coned metal
tyres, the self gripping strip 1 of each pneumatic tyre should be correspondingly
bevelled or coned to fit the metal tyre.
A further object of iny invention is to provide improved means for making
pneumatic tyres of the kind herein referred to, self gripping in an efficient manner
on different kinds of vehicle wheels, e.g. the wheels of cabs, without making any
alterations in the said wheels such as would interfere with their being subsequently
used without the pneumatic tyres; these means being such that no alteration in the
wheels shall be necessary except to drill in them the valve holes, and in one case
some additional holes, and that any coachman, carman, or other ordinary person can
easily and quickly attach or detach the pneumatic tyres, so that should any failure
of such tyres ever occur, no material inconvenience need result.
For light vehicles, such as bath chairs, having light wheels with narrow felloes,
I make the self gripping strip 1 of the pneumatic tyre, about a quarter of an inch
broader than the wheel felloe 13, as shown in cross section in Fig. 8, and I secure
to the inner periphery of the pneumatic tyre, it may be by a solution of india-
rubber, a strip or band 17 of material, such for example as rubber-coated canvas or
macintosh cloth, preferably corresponding in colour to the tyre, and having hard,
preferably rectangular, but not too inelastic, beads 18 formed at its edges, the space
between these beads being made to correspond exactly to the breadth of the
felloe 13 so that when the tyre is inflated, the projecting edges of the self gripping
strip 1 will hold these beads down against the sides of the felloe, and thus prevent
the tyre from being moved laterally on the wheel. As hereinafter more particularly
pointed out, this arrangement is applicable both to cylindrical felloes and to concave
wheel rims.
By this arrangement, the base of the pneumatic tyre will project beyond the
felloe 13, and the sides of the tyre may project still further, consequently they are
liable to become chafed against curbs or other obstacles on the road. To protect
the tyre against such injury, I prefer to make its base its broadest part, as shown
in cross section in Fig. 9, or as broad as any other part of it, and, if the felloe is
only slightly narrower, I protect the tyre by securing to the outer side of the
felloe, a ring 19 of suitable material, for example iron, that is flat next the felloe,
but of half round or other convenient shape on its outer side, and of sufficient
thickness to protect the tyre. Such a ring is hereinafter referred to as a guard
ring.
In cases where the base of the tyre would project considerably beyond the
felloe, there may be secured to one side of the latter, as shown in cross section
in Fig. 10, a flat ring 20, or a circular strip or set of strips of suitable hard
material such as hard india-rubber or wood, of such thickness that its outer side
will be flush, or practically so, with the base of the tyre, and arranged so as to
abut against the adjacent bead 18. To this ring, or strip or strips, is then secured
a guard ring 19 of the kind hereinbefore mentioned. The flat ring 20, or its
equivalent, like the guard ring 19, need be placed only on the outer side of the
wheel felloe, and its outer edge should be kept sufficiently clear of the periphery
of the wheel to obviate liability of its being injured when the wheel is used without
the tyre, the bead 18 on the corresponding side of the tyre being made sufficiently
deep to meet it. With this arrangement, the other side of the tyre is passed
over the wheel felloe when attaching the tyre thereto and removing it therefrom.
The pneumatic tyre need not always be placed quite centrally on the wheel.
When not so placed, the bead 18 on one side may be made both narrower and
thinner than on the other, as shown in Fig. 10. To protect the tyre from being
chafed on curbs, without the use of the flat rings 20 above described, the tyre may
be set more towards the inside of the wheel than the outside, and be protected by
the use only of a guard ring 19, such as hereinbefore described with reference to
Fig. 9, secured on the wheel felloe.

page_text: When pneumatic tyres with my self gripping strips are to be fixed on wheels
with broad felloes, there may advantageously be secured to the inner periphery of
the tyre, as shown in cross section in Fig. 11, a series of plates 21, of suitable hard
material, as for example metal, these plates being arranged either at intervals, or
close together so as to form a practically continuous band, but not so secured to
the tyre as to impair its longitudinal elasticity, the edges of the plates being turned
down as shown at 21° so as to fit the felloe. When the periphery of the felloe is
curved in cross section, a filling-piece 13* may be placed at each of its edges as
indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 13 to make a suitable bed for the band of
plates 21. Such a band of plates may, if desired, be covered with waterproof
canvas, such as macintosh cloth preferably either of the colour of the tyre, or
the felloe.
Figs. 11 and 11B show respectively in cross section and plan how each plate 21
may conveniently be fastened to the inner periphery of the tyre. 21 are hooks
punched out of the body of the plate and both turned outward; these hooks are
passed through slits made in the cover 5 of the tyre (Fig. 11A) and the lower
portion of the sheath 1 of the circular strip 1, the said slits being at a greater
distance apart than the points of the hooks 21b, so that the cover and sheath have
to be bent together in order to insert the hooks, the strip 1 being subsequently
placed into its sheath.
Fig. 11 is a cross section and Fig. 11° a plan showing another way of fastening
the plates 21 to the tyre; and Fig. 11 is a cross section of one of the plates
detached. In this case only the middle portions 21° of the edges of each plate are
turned down, whilst the side portions 21ª of the edges are turned back upon the
main portion of the plate for the purpose of producing non-cutting edges and are
enclosed by two layers 22 of canvas cemented to the respective ends of the plate.
Two pieces 23 of canvas wider than the plate, are then cemented to the undersides
of the pieces 22 and the whole is then cemented to the tyre.
In some cases, to protect a pneumatic tyre on a narrow felloe from being chafed,
I secure to the inner periphery of the tyre, a band or series of plates 21, such as
above described, of the necessary breadth to protect the tyre, and around the band
of plates, I secure inside one or both of the two inturned edges of the plates, as
shown in cross section in Fig. 12, strips or blocks 24 of suitable material, such as
hard rubber, so as to form a channel on the inner side of the plates of just the
breadth of the felloe 13. If desired, flat rings 20, may be secured around the felloe
with their outsides flush with the outside edges 21° of the band of plates 21, as
shown in dotted lines in Fig. 12, and further, if desired, a guard ring 19, of the
kind herein before mentioned, may be fixed to the flat ring 20 on the outer side of
the felloe.
The band of plates 21, may, in some cases, be kept separate from the tyre, and
be independently placed around the wheel, in which case the plates have preferably
continuous flanges 21 and 214 on each side as shown in Fig. 13 and the plates are
surrounded with waterproof canvas 21° cemented thereto so as to enclose them and
form a continuous band of plates having not only a channel on its inner side, formed
by the bent portions 21°, to receive the wheel felloe, but als a channel on its
outer side, formed by the bent portions 21%, to receive the pneumatic tyre, so that
the band of plates being on the wheel, when the tyre is placed over it and inflated,
and the nut 34 of the air valve screwed up as before described, the whole will be
securely fixed to the wheel.
Fig. 13 is a cross section showing another arrangement, specially suitable for
In this case the
securing pneumatic tyres on very large, or very heavy wheels.
inner periphery of the tyre cover 5* and the self gripping strip 1, are formed with
oblong holes or slots through which are passed the heads of a number of tee-headed
bolts 5 the shanks of which are passed through the wheel felloe 13 and provided
at their inner ends with nuts. The arrangement is such that on placing the tyre
on the wheel so that the heads of the bolts pass through the self gripping strip, and
then giving the bolts a quarter of a turn, their heads will be caused to bear on the
B

page_text: outer periphery of the self-gripping strip, and, being provided with squared parts
under their heads to fit the sides of the oblong holes in the strip, or the holes in the
wheel tyre (these holes in this case being made square), they will retain that
position, and, when the pneumatic tyre is inflated, and the nuts on the bolts are
screwed up, the said tyre will be thoroughly secured on the wheel. When this
arrangement is employed, the ends of the self gripping strip need not be made to
lock at the valve.
Fig. 14 is a cross section showing an arrangement in which I provide the cover 5
of the pneumatic tyre, at its sides, with flaps 25 of canvas or other suitable material
to fold over the sides of the felloe 13. The flaps 25 may be tubular, as shown, and
through them may be passed rings, wires, or cords 26 which, when tightened up
and their ends secured in any suitable manner, will secure the tyre on the wheel.
The rings, wires, or cords 26 on one side may be endless, the other side of the tyre
being then passed over the wheel felloe when putting the tyre on or taking it off.
When rings 26 are used, they might be flat and rigid with their outer periphery
preferably flush with the outer periphery of the felloe, and the tyre might then be
secured on the wheel by sliding one of the rings, which must be slit at one part,
circumferentially into one of the flaps, and be removed by similarly withdrawing
one of the rings.
Fig. 15 shows an arrangement in which a flat ring 26 is used on one side, the
ring 27 on the other side being an endless wire; Fig. 15 is an elevation of such
a flat ring.
By means of these flaps, tyres may be secured on wheels either with or without
the aid of my self gripping strips. When a self gripping strip is used with the
flaps, it should preferably be of the same breadth as the felloe. When such a strip
is Lot used, the rings, wires, or cords 26 do not require to be provided with means
for being tightened up; it is sufficient if ou one side they can be unfastened, and
means such as a screw or pin passing through holes or loops on their ends, are
provided for simply joining such ends; or the ends may be made to hook the one
upon the other. Instead of making both flaps 25 tubular, I may secure the one
that is at the outer side of the tyre when on a wheel, to the inner side of a guard
ring 19 of the kind herein before described as indicated in Fig. 16, and I may
provide the flap 25 at the inner side of the tyre with hooks 25* adapted to engage
a wire or ring 26 provided for the purpose, which may be either free or fixed on
the felloe. Or the flap 25 at the inner side may be tubular and be provided with a
ring, wire, or cord 26, and that at the outer side, be furnished wtth hooks, or with
a continuous bead 28 (see Fig. 17), to engage with the inner periphery of the guard
ring 19, which is arranged to bear against the outer side of the flap and may be
either movable or secured by a few, preferably three, screws 19" to the wheel
felloe 13.
The flaps 25, instead of being provided at their edges with inextensible rings,
wires, or cords, may be provided with elastic cords, which, when the tyre is placed
upon a wheel, will automatically cause the flaps to become drawn tight over the
sides of the felloe, and will hold them in place whilst the hooks, if the same are
used, are engaged with rings such as herein before described (Fig. 16), or whilst
guard rings are placed and secured over the flaps (Fig. 17).
When the self gripping strip is not employed, so that it is not available to secure
the flap which normally closes the opening in the tyre through which the air tube
is inserted or withdrawn, the said opening may be closed by any convenient means,
as for example lacing; or the tyre cover may be made to open all round on its
inner periphery, being normally closed by any convenient means, e.g. that just
mentioned. In one arrangement, shown in Fig. 18, for closing the said opening
without the use of the self-gripping strip, I provide flaps 29 on each side of the
opening, preferably extending a short distance beyond it at each end, and with
strips 30, of hard flexible material in them, of the same length as the flaps and
preferably of about the same breadth as the felloe. These flaps, when the tyre is
placed on the wheel, will fold over each other, as shown, and at the same time

page_text: close the opening and support the sides of the tyre throughout the length of the
opening. Or a flap 29 may be provided on one side only of the opening 5* as
shown in Fig. 18, and the material of the cover 5 at the other side of the
opening be supported by being folded round a short strip 5d of hard flexible
material having its outside edge flush with the corresponding edge of the felloe.
In this case it is desirable that the valve, when in position, should pass through a
hole in the said short strip, to prevent it from shifting. When two flaps are used,
the valve may advantageously be passed through them, when the tyre is in position
on the wheel, in order more perfectly to secure them in position to close the
opening.
The flaps 29 instead of overlapping each other as Fig. 18 may be made of
smaller width so that their edges nearly abut at the centre of the tyre as shown in
Figs. 19, 20, and 21 which are respectively an underside view and cross section ou
the lines a and c d of Fig. 19. In this case the opening or slit 5 in the tyre is
arranged to be at or near one side of the tyre as shown. The flaps 29 which are
made tubular, are cut away at four places to make room for four metal loops 32
into which and the flap 29 are inserted short metal strips 33, 33*, and 33 which,
when in position, are adapted to embrace the stem of the valve 3, the strips 33*
and 33 being made narrower at their inner ends, which are arranged to overlap
(Fig. 20). As will be seen, the arrangement is such that, when the parts are in
the positions shown and the tyre is inflated, the pressure of the air within the tyre
will cause the flaps 29 to press the strips 33, 33, and 33 tightly against the ends
of the loops 32, thus adequately locking the parts in position and keeping the
opening closed and that when desired it will be easy to open the tyre after first
deflating it and withdrawing the strips 32" and 32b. The modes of closing the
openings in tyres herein before described may advantageously be used with tyres
provided with my self gripping strip 1 as shown in Figs. 18 to 21 inclusive.
The method herein before described with reference to Fig. 8) of securing
pneumatic tyres fitted with my self gripping strips to a narrow wheel rim or felloe
by the aid of a band of flexible material provided with beads at its sides, is suitable
for securing the tyres on cycle rims having a flat periphery, or on comparatively
narrow rims, such as those commonly used for cushion or solid tyres, which are not
broad enough to permit a self gripping strip of the desired breadth to fit into them:
Fig. 22 shows a tyre secured in this manner on a cycle rim of the kind just referred
to, the reference numerals corresponding in significance to those used in Fig. 8.
Or the tyre may be secured on a narrow concave rim in the way shown in Fig. 23,
by providing it on its inner periphery with a central bead or ridge 34 (hereinafter
called a bead) just broad enough to fit the groove of the rim.
Pneumatic tyres might be secured also on the wheels of ordinary road vehicles
by providing each of them with one, two, or more of such beads 34 (see Fig. 24) on
its inner periphery and forming a groove 34" (or grooves) in the wheel tyre to
receive the bead or beads.
When a separate band of plates, or an equivalent device, is placed between the
pneumatic tyre and the wheel, the groove or grooves for the bead or beads on the
tyre may be formed in the outer side of the said band or equivalent.
Instead of a bead or beads, a series of studs 35 (see Fig. 25) that may be
arranged in pairs, as shown, and fixed to short transverse plates 36 might be
secured in or upon the underside of the pneumatic tyre and arranged to fit into
corresponding holes made in the wheel tyre 37. I have obtained exceedingly
satisfactory results with an ordinary carriage when subjecting it to severe driving
tests by employing five studs arranged singly at equal distances apart around the
pneumatic tyre. These studs are about of an inch in diameter and about of an
inch long and each of them is cast upon a metal plate of about the width of the
iron tyre and about an inch and a half long. This plate is enclosed in a piece of
canvas, which is cemented thereto, a second piece of canvas, considerably larger in
area than the plate, being cemented to the outside of the first mentioned piece and

page_text: to the cover of the pneumatic tyre for the purpose of firmly securing the stud
thereon.
In some cases the beads 34, or studs 35, may be dispensed with and the gripping
action of the tyre solely depended upon to make it secure on the wheel, the under
side of the pneumatic tyre being rendered frictional or adhesive on the wheel tyre,
which might be roughened or otherwise similarly treated to assist the gripping
action of the pneumatic tyre.
As will be obvious fastening devices of the kind herein before described can be
variously modified, and may be combined with one another in various ways.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. The combination with a pneumatic tyre provided with a self gripping strip of
the kind herein referred to, of means whereby the ends of the said strip will, upon
inflation of the tyre, become securely fixed in place either entirely automatically or
only by the screwing up of a nut on the stem of the air valve of the said tyre,
substantially as hereinbefore described for the purpose specified.
2. A pueumatic tyre having a self gripping strip of the kind herein referred to
the ends of which are formed with longitudinal notches to permit of their passing
the air valve, and are arranged to overlap each other beneath the base of the
valve, so that on a nut on the valve stem being screwed up, the ends of the strip
will be firmly secured together and to the wheel rim or felloe, substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to and as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the
drawings annexed.
3. The combination with a pneumatic tyre provided with a self gripping strip of
the kind herein referred to, of means whereby the ends of the said strip will, upon
inflation of the tyre, become securely fixed in place either entirely automatically or
only by the screwing up of a nut on the stem of the air valve of the said tyre,
substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the several examples
illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive of the drawings annexed.
4. The improved pneumatic tyred wheels constructed substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference respectively to and shown in Figs. 8, 9, and 10; in
Fig. 12; in Fig. 13ª; and in Fig. 22 of the drawings annexed, and each comprising
a pneumatic tyre provided with a self gripping strip of the kind herein referred to,
a wheel having an ordinary plain felloe, and attaching devices whereby the
pneumatic tyre is fixed to the wheel felloe without any alteration thereto except
that of forming a hole for the air valve, and in the case of Fig. 134 a few bolt
holes, or any alterations such as would interfere with the wheel being subsequently
used without a pneumatic tyre, as set forth.
5. A pueumatic tyre provided with a self gripping strip of the kind herein
referred to and at its inner periphery with a series of plates of hard material, these
plates being arranged either at intervals, or close together and each having its two
lateral edges turned down so as to fit the sides of a wheel felloe, substantially as
herein before described with reference to Figs. 11 to 11 inclusive for the purpose
specified, whether or not the plates be arranged to form a separate band, as in
Fig. 13.
6. The combination with an ordinary vehicle wheel of a pneumatic tyre provided
at the sides with inwardly extending flaps adapted to fold over the sides of the
wheel felloe and provided with or adapted to be engaged with rings, wires, or cords
whereby the tyre can be readily attached to and detached from the wheel,
substantially as herein described with reference respectively to and shown in
Fig. 14; in Figs. 15 and 15^; in Fig. 16; and in Fig. 17 of the drawings
annexed.
7. In a pneumatic tyre having an opening through which the air tube is inserted
and withdrawn, closing the opening substantially in the manner and by the means

page_text: herein before described with reference to and shown in Figs. 18 to 21 inclusive of
the drawings anBoxed.
8. The combination of a pneumatic tyre provided with a self gripping strip of
the kind herein referred to and on its inner periphery with one or more beads or
ridges, or with a number of studs, and a wheel having its rim or felloe, or a
separate band applied thereto, formed with a corresponding groove or grooves or
holes adapted to receive the said bead or ridge, or beads or ridges, or studs,
substantially as herein before described with reference respectively to and shown in
Fig. 23; in Fig. 24; and in Fig. 25 of the drawings annexed.
Dated this 21st dow of Doromban 1804
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.