An Improved Method of Inflating Pneumatic Tyres and Hubs.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 1st May, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 28th Oct., 1897--Accepted, 11th Dec., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Inflating Pneumatic Tyres and Hubs.
We, HENRY CROOK BEVAN, of Blaina, Monmouthshire, Medical Practitioner, and
WILLIAM REES JAMES, of 3 Lancaster Street, Blaina, Monmouthshire, Electrician,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention refers to a method of inflating certain descriptions of pneumatic
tyres without employing the usual air valve. The tyres referred to are those which
are formed without an inner tube but which have edges wedged or brought firmly
together by compression, thus forming a tube from a band with enlarged edges, which
edges when compressed together make the band into an air-tight tube or tyre. Our
method of inflating these tyres is to form a hole in the metal rim over the line of
junction of the edges of the rubber band and to insert through said hole and between
the rubber lips or edges a fine metal tube or hollow needle with a blunt end, but with
an aperture near the apex for the passage of the air. A small air-pump of some
suitable description is attached to the needle and air is injected by its aid into the
tube. The needle may be curved or straight and of oval or any suitable section.
would have a smooth polished exterior and would be easily passed between the edges
of the rubber. When the tyre is sufficiently distended the needle is withdrawn and
the air pressure inside the band assists the external compression in closing the hole
or aperture in which it was inserted. By this system the unsightly valve entrances
are dispensed with, and a much smaller and more portable form of inflator is employed.
Similar tubes are employed in some descriptions of cushioned hubs in which a
pneumatic tube of similar construction to that employed in the tyres before described,
is placed in suitable rims between the hub and the spokes. These could be inflated
in the same manner.
It
1005
An Improved Method of Inflating Pneumatic Tyres and Hubs.
We HENRY CROOK BEVAN, of Blaina, Monmouthshire, Medical Practitioner and
WILLIAM REES JAMES of 3, Lancaster Street, Blaina, Monmouthshire, Electrician,
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 refers to certain kinds of pneumatic tyres and hubs for vehicles and
consists of a method of inflating said tyres without employing the usual air valve.
The tyres referred to are those which are formed without an inner tube, but which

page_text: have edges wedged or brought firmly together by compression, thus forming a tube
from a band with enlarged edges, which edges when compressed together, make the
band into an air tight tube or tyre.
Our method of inflating these tyres is to form a hole in the metal rim over the
line of junction of the edges of the rubber band and to insert through said hole and
between the rubber lips or edges a fine metal tube or hollow needle with a blunt end
but with an aperture near the apex for the passage of the air. small air-pump of
some suitable description is attached to the needle and air is injected by its aid into
the tube. The needle may be curved or straight and of oval or any suitable section.
It would have a smooth, polished exterior and would be easily passed between the
edges of the rubber. When the tyre is sufficiently distended the needle is withdrawn
and the air pressure inside the band assists the external compression in closing the
hole or aperture in which it was inserted. By this system the unsightly valve
entrances are dispensed with, and a much smaller and more portable form of inflator
is employed.
Similar tubes are employed in some descriptions of cushioned hubs in which a
pneumatic tube of similar construction to that employed in the tyres before described,
is placed in suitable rims between the hub and the spokes. These could be inflated
in the same manner by the needle described.
We will now describe the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings
in which:-
==
Fig. 1 shows an elevation of the needle inflator. The detail x shows the broad side
of the needle.
Fig. 2 shows a section of a suitable form of tyre adapted for use with said inflator.
Fig. 3 shows a transverse section of part of a pneumatic hub adapted to be inflated
by our method.
:
Referring to Fig. 1, a is the needle of the inflator, which consists of a tube of any
desired section, but preferably oval to facilitate its projection into the tyre to be
inflated; b is the body of the needle inflator; b¹ is a nozzle to which a rubber
air-supply tube c is attached leading from an air pump not shown; 62 is a tube to
the lower end of which the needle a is fitted in any preferred manner.
In Fig. 2. a tyre d provided with beaded edges d¹ is shown. The tyre is enabled
to be inflated by passing the needle a (see dotted lines) through a suitable orifice in
the rim e which is in line with the beads d', of the tyre d, and between the beaded
edges d' and so into the interior of the tyre.
In fig. 3a pneumatic tube is formed by two bands e¹, each of the edges, of which
are beaded to engage a special form of rim f made in two portions which screw
together, the beaded edges of the bands el being confined between them. A hole f
is left in one portion of the rim to afford a passage for the inflator needle, which as
above mentioned is subsequently forced between the beaded edges of the bands e¹.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said Inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The method of inflating elastic tyres of the kinds specified without the usual
air valve, as herein described and set forth.
2. As an inflator for elastic or pneumatic tyres the hollow needle a, tubes b b², with
its nozzle b¹ in combination with an ordinary air pump, or elastic air ball, as herein
described and set forth.
Dated this 28th day of October 1897.
S. S. BROMHEAD,
Patent Agent, 171, Queen Victoria Street, London E.C.