Improvements in or connected with Pneumatic Tyres.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 10th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 14th Apr., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Pneumatic Tyres.
I, EDWIN CHARLES LACEY of 121 Knights Hill Road West Norwood
London S.E. Manufacturing Chemist do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows :—
It is found that tyres, or tubes, inflated with air and known as pneumatic tyres,
are possessed of serious defects; one of which is the allowing of air to escape and
thus causing collapse, when by accident or otherwise the air containing tube is
punctured or cut by broken glass, nails, pins etc.
My invention relates to the overcoming of the said defect, its object being to
impart a property to the hollow tube, which hollow tube or chamber may be part
of, joined to, or separate from the vulcanized tyre and which hollow, air containing
tube or chamber is made of pure rubber or other suitable composition but
preferably pure rubber.
In virtue of this property the opening made by puncture or otherwise will.
automatically, or aided by pressure, be closed, thus preventing collapse.
Further by this invention the aforesaid property can be maintained.
To carry out my invention, I inject into the hollow tube tyre or chamber before
inflation, during inflation, or at other times, a requisite quantity of ether, chloroform,
carbon disulphide, benzene, naphtha, rectified petroleum or other suitable volatile
substances using any one alone or a mixture of any such.
Dated this Tenth day of May 1893.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Pneumatic Tyres.
I, EDWIN CHARLES LACEY, of Brunswick Villa, No. 121 Knights Hill Road,
West Norwood, in the County of Surrey, Manufacturing Chemist, 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 :-
My invention relates to that class of pneumatic tyre which may be designated
"self-healing" wherein, upon the occurrence of a puncture or cut, the inflated tube
is designed to close and heal such wound.
Self-closing tyres have heretofore been made in various ways; for instance by
employing an inflatable tube of pure unvulcanized rubber or with a lining of pure
rubber or of rubber compound; or otherwise to the end that such tube or lining
may be of an adhesive nature. Tyres hitherto so constructed, even if effective
when newly made, have been found to soon become inoperative in use owing to the
rapid deterioration of the adhesive property of the tube or lining.
My invention has for its object to overcome such defect not only by imparting to,
but renewing and maintaining a property in, the hollow air-containing tube or
chamber which, according to my invention, may be part of, joined to, or separate
from the usual outer vulcanized tyre, being applicable as well to a
66 solid-wall"
tyre as to a "built-up" tyre and which hollow air-containing tube or chamber may
be made either of pure rubber or of other suitable material or compound, but
preferably of pure rubber.

page_text: In carrying out my invention I render the innermost portion of the hollow air-con-
taining tube or chamber of an adhesive nature by injecting into it or otherwise
suitably treating it with a suitable volatile substance, compound, or mixture; or I
may similarly treat such a tube or chamber the innermost portion of which is already
adhesive, or has been rendered so by means other than those herein described.
Among the volatile substances I have found useful for my purposes are ether,
chloroform, carbon disulphide, benzine, naphtha, rectified petroleum, and volatile
essential oils used either separately or in suitable combination.
A suitable quantity.of such volatile substance, compound, or mixture may be
injected or sprayed into the tube or chamber either before, during, or after inflation
and the process may be repeated as frequently as requisite to renew and maintain
the herein described property.
The effect.of.using a volatile substance, compound or mixture as herein described
is such that upon a puncture occurring in the inflated tube or chamber, on with-
drawal of the puncturing instrument a portion of the adhesive lining passes into the
opening and, aided by pressure and by reason of the material losing its volatile
ingredients, the closing and healing of the puncture or wound is effected.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In a pneumatic tyre, rendering or renewing and maintaining the innermost
portion of the hollow air-containing tube or chamber in an adhesive and self-
healing condition by treatment with a suitable volatile substance compound or
mixture.
2. The process of rendering or renewing and maintaining the innermost portion
of the hollow air-containing tube or chamber of a pneumatic tyre in an adhesive
and self-healing condition which consists of injecting or otherwise suitably treating
such tube or chamber with the requisite quantity of ether, chloroform, carbon
disulphide, benzine, naphtha, rectified petroleum, volatile essential oils, or their
equivalents substantially as set forth.
Dated this 10th day of March 1894.
A. F. SPOONER,
124, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.