Improvements in and relating to Combined Cushion and Pneumatic Tyres for Cycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application 25th Mar 1898
Complete Specification Left, 19th Oct., 1898-Accepted, 25th Feb., 1899
Complete Specification Left, 19th Oct., 1898—Accepted, 25th Feb., 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Combined Cushion and Pneumatic
Tyres for Cycles and other Vehicles.
We, THOMAS ROBERTSON, Station Master, Haymarket Station, and THOMAS
FULLER SAMWELL DONALDSON, Ironmonger, of 12, Osborne Terrace, both of Edin-
burgh, in the County of Mid-Lothian, N.B., do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to a combined cushion and pneumatic tyre for cycles
and other vehicles, and has for its object to obtain the advantages of the resiliency
of a pneumatic tyre without the disadvantage of it namely the liability to puncture.
This I effect by interposing a cushion tyre between the ground and the air tube.
The said cushion tyre may be formed in one with the air tube; or it may be
detachable therefrom. When made in one with the air tube, I proceed as
follows:-
:~
I make the metal rim of the wheel of an annular shape in section so that the
air tube is contained wholly within it without the interposition of the ordinary
outer cover,
the said air tube is manufactured with a deep, and thick or wide india-
rubber flange portion which portion protrudes from the contracted neck or
opening of the metal rim of the wheel and it is this thick rubber portion which
travels on the ground and acts as a cushion tyre but always under the influence
of the air tube and which is connected or formed a part of that is to say that the
weight of the wheel instead of coming directly upon the air tube as at present,
has the interposition of the cushion tyre, with the same resiliency as if the air
tube was directly in contact with the ground, whilst in accordance with my
invention, the air tube is completely shielded within the metal rim of the wheel.
If there is great weight on the wheel or if the air pressure within the air tube
is reduced, there will be a tendency of the thickened indiarubber tread portion
to vibrate somewhat, up and down through the opening in the metal rim of the
wheel and therefore in order to prevent the edge of the metal rim from coming
in contact with the ground, I may mould the tread of the thickened rubber
portion with flange portions on either side, for the edge of the metal rim to come
against.
As a modification, the thickened rubber tread portion may be detachable from
the air tube. In this case, an ordinary air tube may be inserted within the
annular section of the metal rim with the inner side of the thickened rubber
tread portion in contact with the air tube.
The metal rim of the wheel may be of any other shape so long as it com-
pletely contains the air tube within it and the air tube need not necessarily
completely coincide with the shape of the metal rim section because it may be
of advantage to allow some extra space for the air tube to bulge in to, when
there is an exceptional weight upon the machine, or in order to add resiliency
to the air tube, for example the metal rim may be trough shaped in section with

page_text: the edges turned for the purpose of retaining the thickened rubber tread portion
which may be provided with an expanded or dovetailed shaped portion for the
purpose of locking it within the turned in edges of the metal rim.
Dated this 23rd day of March 1898.
JOHNSONS,
Petitioners' Agents, 115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.
Improvements in and relating to Combined Cushion and Pneumatic
Tyres for Cycles and other Vehicles.
We, THOMAS ROBERTSON, Station Master, Haymarket Station, and THOMAS
FULLER SAMWELL DONALDSON, Ironmonger, of 12, Osborne Terrace, both of Edin-
burgh, in the County of Mid Lothian, N.B., 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 a combined cushion and pneumatic tyre for cycles
and other vehicles and has for its object to obtain the advantages of the resiliency
of a pneumatic tyre without the disadvantages of it, namely the liability to puncture
or receive injury from sharp substances found on a common road. This we
effect by interposing a cushion tyre between the ground and the air tube and
protecting the latter by enclosing it in a steel rim. The said cushion tyre may
be formed in one with the air tube; or it may be detachable therefrom.
But in order that our said invention may be more readily understood and
easily carried into effect we will proceed to describe the same with reference to
the accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a cross section of one form of the tyre.
Figs. 2 & 3 are similar views of modifications of same and
Figure 4 is a cross section shewing our improved type applied to a carriage or
other vehicle wheel.
As shewn in Fig. 1 of the said drawings we make the metal rim A of the
wheel of an annular shape in section so that the air tube B is contained wholly
within it without the interposition of the ordinary outer cover. The cushion tyre C
is manufactured with a deep and thick or wide indiarubber flange portion c
which portion protrudes from the contracted neck or opening of the metal rim
of the wheel and it is this thick rubber portion which travels on the ground
and acts as a cushion tyre but always under the influence of the air tube B
upon which it rests so that the weight of the wheel instead of coming directly
upon the air tube as at present, has the interposition of the cushion tyre with
the same resiliency as if the air tube was directly in contact with the ground,
whilst in accordance with my invention, the air tube is completely shielded
within the metal rim of the wheel. If there is great weight on the wheel or if
the air pressure within the air tube is reduced, there will be a tendency of the
thickened indiarubber tread portion to vibrate, somewhat, up and down through
the opening in the metal rim of the wheel and therefore in order to prevent
the edge of the metal rim from coming in contact with the ground, we may
mould the tread of the thickened rubber portion c with flange portions D on
either side, for the edge of the metal rim to come against.
Or the metal rim of the wheel may be of any other shape, such as shewn in
Fig. 2, so long as it completely contains the air tube within it; and the air
tube need not necessarily completely coincide with the shape of the metal rim
section because it may be of advantage to allow some extra space for the air tube

page_text: to bulge into, when there is an exceptional weight upon the machine, or when it
is desired to add resiliency to the air tube. In the said figure the metal rim is
trough shaped in section with the edges turned as shewn for the purpose of
retaining the thickened rubber tread portion which may be provided with an
expanded or dovetail shaped portion for the purpose of locking
turned in edges of the metal rim.
C
within the
Or the metal rim may be shaped as shewn in Fig. 3 that is to say with the
sides tapered, the solid rubber portion being shaped to correspond.
When applying our improvements to a carriage or other vehicle tyre, the wheel
of which is made of wood, we prefer to employ a metal rim F of a section as
shewn in Fig. 4 which may be screwed or otherwise retained upon the wheel.
Or if the wheel is made with wire or metal spokes an enlarged section of
any of the rims shewn in the other figures may be employed.
The said tyre may without manipulation be used simply as a cushion tyre
without air, should the inner tube by any chance become deflated.
In all the foregoing forms the cushion tyre and inner tube are illustrated as
detachable from each other but we desire it to be understood that the outer
tyre may be made in one with the air tube when desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is;-
1. The combined cushion and pneumatic tyre for cycles and other vehicles,
constructed and arranged substantially as herein before described and shewn in
the accompanying drawings.
2. In tyres for cycles and other vehicles, the combination with a pneumatic
tube of a cushion or solid rubber tyre interposed between the said tube and the
ground and secured within a rim constructed and arranged substantially in the
manner as and for the purposes hereinbefore described and shewn in the accom-
panying drawings.
Doted this 18th day of October 1898
JOHNSONS,
Applicants' Agents, 115, St. Vincent Street, Glasgow.