Improved Means for Securing Pneumatic Tyres to Rims of Wheels.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Oct., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 30th Aug.. 1897--Accepted. 28th Oct. 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Securing Pneumatic Tyres to Rims of Wheels.
I, JOHN ADAIR Baker Waterford Co. Waterford do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
I place in the edges of a Pneumatic cover non-endless wires which extend all
round the edges of such cover and overlap by passing each other. The extremities
of each wire are attached to a flat spring which lies outside the cover, the wire
escaping from its seat in such cover for attachment to the spring it is obvious
that the spring will have the power of drawing the wires into a tight position
on rim and also will yield for the purpose of freeing cover from rim-this cover
is expansible.
As the cover becomes inflated the sides are moved to the edge of rim & con-
sequently the flat spring, where it is held in its elongated position by the power
of inflation thus holding the wires firmly. I can place this spring inside the
cover if required or the wire outside the cover in fact both spring and wire may
be unconnected with the cover, suitable arrangements being made for their work-
ings. The spring is a flat piece of steel with a hole at each end to which the
wires after crossing are attached.-When the spring is in the elongated position
the wires are tightened on rim and when it is in the arched position the extremities
of the wires coming closer to each other, the wires are slackened on rim.
In a single air tube tyre I attach such wires to the sides of same by having a
projecting flap to receive them and they work after the manner as described.
If required I use a coil spring to draw the wires together-which may be placed
inside the edges of cover-such coil spring being used to assist the flat spring.
Dated this 27th day of 10th Month 1896.
I JOHN ADAIR Baker Waterford Co. Waterford. Ireland, 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 improved means for securing pneumatic tyres to rims

page_text: of wheels and has reference particularly to the protective covering of the inflated
air-tube, and the means for securing same to rims-and may be thus described:
I place in the edges of a Pneumatic cover non-endless wires, which extend
around the inside edges of such cover, and slightly overlap; each extremity of
such wire being attached to a spring which lies between the overlaps and outside
the edges of cover-the wire escaping from the inside of the edges of cover to the
Having
outside of the edges, for the purpose of attachment to such spring.
formed such spring of a spring wire coil I term it a "Spring Wire" and will
name it as such in the claims.
This spring having no contraction in it, can only operate by arching-thus
permitting the extremities of the overlap to come near to each other and con-
sequently enlarging the circle of coil and contracting again to its original position.
I term this construction-an elastic band-and will name it as such in the claims.
A pneumatic cover having such elastic coil in its edges, can be seated on rim
and removed from rim by its elasticity and also can have a deep inflation grip;
as the edges are pulled down, towards the bottom of the rim by the elasticity
of the coil.
When the tyre is inflated, the elastic air, pressing upon such spring, elastically
restrains it and gives it a resistive power, to counteract the expansive strain
which is then on the edges of the tyre and consequently on the coil-also the deep
inflation grip holding the tyre to the rim, gives a further resistance to the strain
on the edges of cover, and such combined means are sufficient to secure the
pneumatic cover to the rim.
The rim for this cover may be constructed to allow the edges of cover to take
a deep seat in same.
As a means of giving a further elastic power to the coil-I place a coil spring
or elastic rubber band over the overlapping joint attaching each end of same to
the coil the contraction of this band or spring drawing the wires more into the
overlap and thus contracting the coil. I term this a contracting band and will
name it as such in the claims.
Also as a means of keeping the spring slightly arched so that it may more
easily expand to the hand pull. I may place an india rubber ring on the centre
of same; though of course the wires hooking at the bottom side of spring give a
sufficient power for this purpose.
To illustrate the advantage of my elastic coil over an inelastic one, I give the
instructions for dealing with both, stating first that there is a star on my tyre
to mark the place where it should be lifted.
Instructions for dealing with my Elastic Coil are as follows--to remove it
"Lift the tyre at the star and move the fingers round to the right."-To replace
tyre: "begin at the star and enter the cover to the left of same, continuing till
completed.
Considering that the users of cycles are generally speaking not concerned
regarding the repairs of a tyre until the puncture occurs-the certainty is in
tyres where skill is required that having had no practice in the matter, errors
will take place resulting in damage to the air tube and tyre, and frequently to
the fingers of the riders-the following voluminous instructions for the inelastic
tyre are in contrast with mine which are so simple and operate so easily that
even a child can remove and replace my tyre and are inserted here to illustrate
my advantages.
INSTRUCTIONS copied from the printed forms-for dealing with the inelastic coil
are as follows:-To remove the tyre:-Take hold of the tyre on the side furthest
away from the valve; and press one wired edge down into the bed of the rim with the
thumbs then run the thumbs in opposite directions round the wire, pressing i
firmly into the bed of the rim until they approach each other near the valve where
the wire will then rise and form a loop above the edge of the rim. Slip the
finger-tips under this loop lifting the wire over the edge of the rim and pass then

page_text: round until the whole edge of the cover comes off. To replace the tyre:-
Slightly inflate the air tube so that it will not catch under the wire edges of the
cover-slip the edge of the cover furthest from the valve on to the rim, press it
down into the bed of the rim with the thumbs, then run the thumbs in opposite
directions round the wire, pressing it into the bed of the rim, until they approach
each other near the valve, where the wire will then rise and form a loop which
can be slipped over the edge into place in the rim.
Inflate the tyre partially-and examine the wired edges to see that they are
resting properly on the shoulders of the rim-should the tyre bulge out at one
place and appear thin at another partially deflate and pull the cover outward at
the thin place until the wires rest properly on the shoulders, and where the cover
bulges press the wire down to the shoulder-adjusting them thus until an even
tyre is produced.
Use no tool whatever in any of the above operations lest the tyre be damaged.
If the tyre fit so tightly as to prevent removal, a soft and smooth implement (such
as the handle of a tooth brush) might be used with caution, or a detacher as
supplied with each pair of tyres.
Twish it to be distinctly understood that I do not refer to tyres which are
made inelastic by hooking or by screwing--when they are seated on the rim and
performing the like operation for unseating.
Further by this seating on the bottom of the rim I have a deeper inflation
grip which not only hinders moisture from getting at the wire by this deep
inflation grip but also prevents the tyre slipping on the rim.
I may also mention that my elastic tyre will suit several rims--while the
inelastic, which I refer to, is confined to a special rim.
To sum up my invention may be thus described :-
1st. An elastic coil in the edges of a pneumatic cover-the novel construction
of which derives from the inflated air tube two opposing forces acting as a
sensitive medium between them.
2nd. A sensitive elastic coil deriving its resistive power to strain by the
operation of elastic air in an elastic tube thereby continuing its elastic condition.
3rd. Constructing a rim and seating a pneumatic cover in same by its elasticity
in such a manner that it shall have a deep inflation grip in such rim.
Now to illustrate, without confining myself to figures a. d measurements of force
which may be less or more than what I state I give the following.
Presuming that my tyre is seated on rim, and inflated, say to a pressure of
20 lbs. per inch-the 2 spring wires which make my coil elastic then receiv-
ing upon their united surfaces which may measure 3 in. a pressure of 60 lbs.-
and presuming a spring 4 in. in length, arched and rising at its centre to say
inch lift by this pressure can resist a strain pull on its extremities twenty times
greater than such pressure it follows that 1200 lbs. strain will be the equivalent
on the edges of the cover for the 60 lbs. pressure on the spring and in this con-
dition the equivalents equally operating the coil being the medium, there can
be no change whatsoever in the condition of such coil; its resistive force being
exactly the same as previous to inflation.
Now the coil being in this condition would be utterly unreliable as a means
of holding on a pneumatic tyre to a rim, were it not for the fact that the elastic
tyre gives a deep inflation grip say inch at the sides of the tyre, which in a
wheel of 28 in. diameter would equal 84 inches pressed upon by a force of 20 lbs.
to the inch, which let it be presumed is an equivalent for at least one fourth the
inflation strain; it is therefore by this inflation grip and not by the elastic coil-
that the required excess resistance to the inflation strain is obtained, which keeps
on the pneumatic tyre firmly to the rim-for be it noted the drag or pull on a
tyre is only on the part in contact with the ground and the inflation grip extend-
ing beyond this part a resistance is contributed to the part dragged on by the
part not dragged upon-of course this inflation grip can only be in a rim in
which there is neither dovetail or groove-to catch the edges of the cover-in

page_text: other words the rim can not incline inwards at its edges--or have any catch that
inclines inwards-and must therefore be after the fashion illustrated in Fig. 5
viz., with sides which stand at right angles to the base of rim-otherwise it would
be an infringement of the Bartletts Patent No. 1678390.
As already expressed I do not confine myself to this condition of things as I
may enlarge or reduce my springs from the sizes mentioned-also may alter the
inflation grip but the foregoing is stated for the purpose of illustrating the
nature of my invention.
As a means of attaching a single tube tyre to a rim I form such tyres with
side flaps into the edges or attached to the edges of such flaps I place the elastic
coil-operating after the manner previously described. The term Elastic coil or
band means a coil or band which by its elastic condition is self-contracting when
expanded.
I may have more than one "spring wire" in the coil arrangements being made
for such as previously described.
In order that this invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the same fully in reference to accompanying
drawings in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal part section of the cover of a
pneumatic tyre with my invention applied thereto, the air tube wheel rim being
omitted.
A is the cover-B is the spring wire, which lies between the air tube & the
inside of cover, the wire coil being seated inside the edges of cover and slightly
over lapping in same, the extremity of one overlap escaping to the outside of
edge of cover at C by a ring coil the wire still continuing inside the edge of
cover and terminating at 1), such wire being firmly stitched in the edge of cover
on both sides of the eye C, thus securing this eye C from shifting in the cover.
I term this eye one extremity of the coil, as the extension part to D is for the
purposes of securing the eye in cover.
The extremity of the other overlap escapes from the inside of the edges of
cover at E, and extending to G hooks there into B.
The spring B. has the coils opened at one end so that it can screw in after
cork-screw fashion into C and be tightly attached--and the other end has one
of the coils formed into a hook which catches on the wires in the coil.
Thus the spring being held to the coil at both ends is prevented rising in the
ends by any irregularity in the inflation pull.
Though not previously mentioned the wire with the ring C on it escapes from
the inside of edge of cover at F, and re-enters at E, this gives a sliding bar for
the spring-hook to play on, so that when the spring arches, the hook slides to E,
& when it elongates to F.
H is an indiarubber ring placed around the wire spring which lifts it into a
slightly arched position, yet such ring can be dispensed with by putting a slight
arch in the spring or even without this the hook at G pulling below the centre
line of coil will arch the spring-also the spring being pressed into the circle
of the shape of rim, by the inflation force, is in a position convenient to yield
to the arching.
K is an india-rubber band, passing inside the spring B, and attached to both
sides of the wires of coil-the elastic force of which band pulls the wires together
and closes them on rim-the eyes into which this band is attached project through
the cover, and a sufficient freedom slot in cover is made for the eyes to move in.
This rubber band is in tension and co-operates with the spring in tightening the
coil on rim.
It is obvious that this band might be placed outside the coil or might be
attached to only one side of the coil-or might even operate inside the coil-or
nearly so.
The spring B may, as shewn, be of the ordinary helical kind, the coils of the
said spring are compressed against one another, so that it is incompressible or
incapable of contracting further in a longitudinal direction.

page_text: This coil expands by the spring moving out of the elongated position, as shewn
by the full lines, into the arched position as indicated by the dotted lines, thus
permitting the extremities of the coil to move towards each other and consequently
expanding the coil.
The coil contracts by the spring returning by its own force to its original
position viz., the elongated, and thus moving the extremities of the coil further
away from each other, consequently contracts the coil. Cover being entered on
rim & seated there by the elasticity of the coil, air tube is inflated & the elastic
air in the elastic tube pressing on the spring of the elastic coil acts as an elastic
resistance to the inflation strain on the edges of the cover, & consequently on
the coil and as the air pressure on the spring increases & diminishes in harmony
with the inflation strain the equivalents will always operate in the exact pro-
portions of force required.
Obviously instead of a helical spring other arrangements may be employed for
this purpose. For instance-as shewn at Fig. 2-a steel wire spring B may be
inserted between the overlaps of coil-the extremities of such overlaps being
attached to spring at G & C.
I may moreover employ a spring steel plate B, shewn in Fig. 3, & such plate
may be outside the cover, viz: between the cover & rim-& hooks bent on this
plate passing underneath the edges of cover to the inside of same viz: between
cover & air tube, receive the extremities of the overlapped wires at C & G.
Fig. 3 shews an end view of this plate.
The springs B-Figs. 1, 2 & 3 are shewn straight-also the wires of coil lifted
out of line of working-for the purpose of more clearly illustrating.
Fig. 5, shews rim--B, is the spring wire-and Z to Z shews the deep inflation
grip.
Of course rim may be altered to give less inflation grip, and consequently
springs enlarged to take a corresponding inflation pressure to act as an equivalent
for the loss of inflation grip.
I would have it distinctly understood that I am aware that elastic coils have
been used in solid rubber tyres-also that in Welch's Provisional Specifica-
tion 14,56390 the following is stated "or I may use the well known Spring Wire,"
which of course should make the coil elastic but this is abandoned in his Complete
Specification presumably because he discovers no way of using an elastic coil.
I am also aware of an elastic coil formed in a quick bending serpentine form such
being inserted in the edges of a pneumatic cover but I fail to see how such can
be reliable unless that it catches in the edges of rim and consequently infringe the
Bartlett Patent.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:
First. In combination with the pneumatic cover an "elastic band "-elastically
constructed by the interposition of "spring wire" between the extremities of the
overlapp in such bands substantially as herein described and for the purpose
specified.
Second. The "Spring Wire" in contact with an inflated air tube and such
combination giving to the "Elastic Band"-a self adjusting elastic resistive
power, to resist the inflation strain on such band increasing and diminishing to
suit the requirements.
Third. The application of an "Elastic Band" to single tube tyres-after the
manner described and for the purposes specified.
Fourth. In a pneumatic tyre such as referred to in the preceding claims the
substitution for the "Spring Wire" of one of the devices described with reference
to Figures 2 and 3 of the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. My improvements in pneumatic tyres for the wheels of velocipedes and

page_text: other vehicles substantially as herein described with reference to the accompany-
ing drawing.
Sixth. The "Contracting band" substantially as described and for the purposes
specified.