Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres for the Wheels of Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Apr., 1893-Accepted, 20th May, 1893
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres for the Wheels of Velocipedes
and other Vehicles.
I, HUGH FAULKNER of Rockleigh, London Road, Leicester, Rubber Manu-
facturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same
is to be performed to he particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement:―
This invention has reference to pneumatic tyres for the wheels of velocipedes
and other vehicles and embodies improvements hereinafter fully set forth :
The first part of the invention is designed with a view of constructing a
pneumatic tyre in such a manner as to prevent "creeping."
"
One of the principal disadvantages in connection with the use of a pneumatic
tyre is its liability to " creep or move round the circumference of the wheel
when the latter in motion, thereby causing undue strain on the tyre in the
region of the inflating valve so that eventually the tyre becomes disconnected from
the latter and collapses.
"
In order to obviate this "creeping' or independent inovement of the tyre as
described I propose to form the tyre and wheel rim with irregular surfaces so
that an amount of friction will be set up between the two to prevent the movement
of the tyre named.
The most convenient form of irregular surfaces in the tyre and wheel consists
of a series of projections in the one adapted to engage a series of depressions or
openings in the other to obviate the creeping above referred to.
The invention is also further designed to prevent double puncturing of the air
tube or air chamber of pneumatic tyres.
Frequently when an air chamber becomes punctured in that portion of its wall
nearest the ground, the object which causes the puncture, particularly if it be a pin,
tack, nail or other pointed instrument, passes through the air chamber and punctures
the opposite part thereof.
I propose to avoid the second puncture taking place by forming that part of
the air chamber or air tube which is located next to the wheel rim, of increased
thickness preferably by combining therewith a suitable protective pad, or hand.
The invention is also further designed with a view of providing a self-closing
or self-repairing air tube or air chamber, so that in the event of the wall of the
latter becoming punctured, the escape of air and consequent deflation of the tyre
will be prevented.
This, according to my invention, is effected by placing promiscuously within the
air chamber a quantity of small pieces of air-proof material, such for example as
oiled silk, rubber coated fabric, sheet india rubber, or the like, disconnected and
separate from each other & free to move about in any direction in the tyre.
Should the air chamber become punctured the current of escaping air will
attract or conduct one or more pieces of the material referred to, to the outlet and
immediately seal it, the internal air pressure serving to keep the piece in its
position..
If however it should occur (which is rather unlikely) that the deflation of the
air chamber has taken place without having attracted any one of the pieces to the
outlet or puncture, the application of the air pump or inflater to re-inflate the air
chamber will set the loose pieces in motion and seldom fail to cause one of them
to follow the stream of escaping air and block the puncture.

page_text: In order to accelerate the movement of the loose pieces some lubricating
substance such for instance, as glycerine, and water may be poured into the air
chamber so as to coat the internal surface of the latter therewith.
The hereinbefore mentioned improvements will be fully understood from the
following further description in reference to the accompanying drawings wherein
Figure 1 is a transverse section of a single tube pneumatic tyre and Figure 2 is
a longitudinal section of a portion thereof.
Figure 3 is a transverse section of a pneumatic tyre consisting of an air tube and
an outer protective jacket.
Figure 4 is a plan of the underside of a portion of one side of the wheel rim
used with the tyre shown in Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of a portion of a single tube pneumatic tyre.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2 the tyre A and rim B are constructed in such a
manner as to prevent "creeping as already hereinbefore stated.
"
For this purpose the tyre is formed with one or more projections of any suitable
shape.
A convenient form of projection may be in the form of a stud A' or more or
less elongated such as A. In any case similarly shaped openings or recesses are
formed in the rim to receive the said projections.
In a tyre cousisting of a separate air tube F and an outer protective jacket Fi
as shown in Fig. 3, the projections A³ may either be formed at intervals round the
edge of the outer protective jacket F' and fit into correspondingly shaped openings
in the wheel rim Cor projections A may be formed on or connected to the wheel
rim Figs. 3 and 4, and lodge into holes, preferably eyeletted, along the edge of the
said jacket.
A further part of the invention has for its object, as before stated, to protect
the air chamber against double puncturing.
For this purpose that part of the air chamber located nearest to the wheel rim
has connected thereto a protective pad D which may be of rubber and canvas, or
leather or other suitable material cemented or otherwise attached within the air
chamber as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 5 illustrate a further part of the invention and includes the means I
adopt to prevent the escape of air when the wall of the air chamber has become
punctured.
As before mentioned there may be placed within the air chamber A prior to
inflating it a number of loose and detached pieces E of air proof fabric or like
material which when a puncture takes place will be carried by the stream of
outgoing air and become lodged against the side of the air chamber by the internal
air pressure thereby stopping the further escape of air and the consequent deflation
of the tyre.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. The combination of a pneumatic tyre formed with one or more projections.
round its circumference and a wheel rim provided with a similar number of
correspondingly shaped openings or depressions to receive the projections on the
tyre substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. The combination of a pneumatic tyre in which the outer protective. jacket
is provided with a series of openings or projections and a wheel rim furnished
with a series of similarly shaped projections or openings substantially as and for
the purpose described.
3. In a pneumatic tyre the combination of an air chamber having that portion
of its circumference located next to the wheel rim formed of increased thickness
substantially as and for the purpose described.j

page_text: 4. In a pneumatic tyre the combination with the air chamber of a quantity of
loose pieces of air proof material inserted within the said chamber substantially as
and for the purpose described.
D
10L
1 1003
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.