Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Tyres.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 29th May, 1897
Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Tyres.
A communication from abroad by THE PARA RUBBER TIRE AND MANUFACTURING
COMPANY, of 617 to 673 East Third Street, in the City of Williamsport, County
of Lycoming and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America.
I, PETER JENSEN, of No. 77 Chancery Lane, London, Chartered Patent Agent, 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 for the wheels of bicycles, velocipedes and
other wheeled vehicles; and it has for its objects to provide an inflatable tire that
shall be light, durable and resilient, and so constructed as to protect the inflation tube
from puncture by sharp obstacles and at the same time obviate objections that are
incident to a heavily or expensively armored tire.
In the annexed drawing illustrating the invention-
Figure 1 is a cross-section of a wheel rim and single-tube tire provided with my
improved protective strip intermediate the inflation tube and tire tread and secured to
the inflation tube.
Figure 2 is a similar view of a single-tube tire illustrating the operation of the
protective strip when the outer covering of the tire is punctured.
Figure 3 is a cross-section of a wheel rim and double-tube pneumatic tire with my
improved protective strip attached along its side edges to the inner textile lining of
the outer tire covering or outer tube.
Referring to the drawing, the numeral 6 designates a wheel rim, in cross-section.
The pneumatic tire comprises an outer seamless and expansible tube 7, constructed,
preferably, from india-rubber and other usual material in any suitable or approved
manner. This seamless and elastic outer tube 7 is preferably provided with a lining 8
of woven fabric or suitable textile material.
In a single-tube tire, as represente:l in Figures 1 and 2, the inner half-circumference,
more or less, of the india-rubber inflation tube 9 is cemented securely to the said
lining 8 in the corresponding portion of the outer tube 7 or tire covering, the said
tubes 7 and 9 being thus practically integral along the inner portion of the tire.
In order to defend the tread portion of the inflation tube 9 against puncture, a
tough, flexible and impenetrable protective strip 10 is provided. In a single tube
tire this protective strip 10 is preferably vulcanized, cemented or otherwise secured
to the outside of the tread portion of the inflation tube 9, as shown in Figures 1
and 2. Although the said protective strip 10 is normally in contact with the inner
side of the tread portion of the outer tube 7, it is not secured thereto, a slight air
space or pocket 11 being afforded between the said strip 10 and the outer portion
of the tire, as shown in Figure 1. Should the tire-covering or outer tube 7 be
cut or punctured by contact with a sharp obstacle, as a nail, or the like, the tough,
flexible and impenetrable strip 10 will be forced back, as shown in Figure 2, carrying
the immediate portion of the inflation tube 9 with it; the compressibility of the air
within said tube being sufficient to permit a momentary yield of the inflation tube and
its impenetrable and flexible protective strip without subjecting either to puncture.
The instant further revolution of the wheel and consequent release of pressure on the
obstacle permits its immediate expulsion by the expansive action of the inflation tube

page_text: and its tough protective strip. The inflation tube and protective strip being uninjured,
the puncture in the outer tire covering is ordinarily of small consequence.
When applied to a double tube tire it is preferable to secure the side edges of the
flexible protective strip 10 to the outer tube 7 or its textile lining 8, as shown in
Figure 3. The attachment of the strip edges may be continuous, throughout the
length of each edge, or only at suitable intervals. A slight air space or pocket 11 is
left, as before, between the main portion of the protective strip and the inner side of
the tread portion of the outer seamless tube 7 or tire covering. The removable inner
tube 9 of the double tube tire, Figure 3, is placed, of course, in the larger pocket 12
between the inner side of the flexible protective strip 10 and the main portion of the
outer tube.
The flexible and impenetrable protective strip 10 is composed of several superposed
layers of canvas or other suitable material having the requisite qualities of pliability,
close texture, light weight, and difficulty of penetration as when these several layers
are firmly cemented together into a tough and durable fabric. Under all ordinary
circumstances it is practically impenetrable by such objects as usually cause the
puncture of air tubes in pneumatic tires.
It is obvious that in a single-tube tire, the inflation tube may have the tough and
impenetrable protective strip secured thereto only along the longitudinal edges of said
strip, or throughout the whole of the strip, as preferred. The edges of the protective
strip are preferably tapered or thinned to facilitate fitting and attachment of the strip
in its required position, and this may be provided for by slightly narrowing each
successive layer of fabric comprised in the said strip.
The several parts of the tyre may be made of raw material and readily vulcanized
together where required.
A protective strip of the construction described adds but little to the weight of the
tire and does not in the least diminish its resiliency. The tire is light, speedy and
lively, and furnishes a reliable protection for the inflated air tube.
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:-
A pneumatic tire composed of an outer tubular covering, an inclosed inflation
ube, and a flexible and impenetrable protective strip secured between the inflation
tube and the tread portion of the outer tubular covering but separate from the latter,
the said protective strip being composed of cemented layers of pliable light-weight
woven fabric united throughout in a compact, tough and puncture-proof body,
substantially as described.