AMENDED). Pneumatic Tires.
Year: 1896

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 11 of the Patents, &c., Act, 1883), as required by
the decision of the Comptroller General of the 15th day of May 1897.
Date of Application, 5th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 16th Jan., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION (AMENDED).
Pneumatic Tires.
I, THOMAS FURLONG, of No. 304, North 8th Street in the City of St. Louis,
State of Missouri, United States of America, Detective, 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, and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein :-
Figure 1 is a fragmentary view, showing my improved tire in cross-section;
Figure 2 is a similar view, showing the preferred form of tread;
Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view, showing the position of the tire on the wheel
when the wheel is tilted;
Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view through a portion of the tire ;
Figures 5, 6 and 7, are modified forms of the tire tread.
My invention consists in making the crown portion thicker than the sides of
the tire, and in forming a flat tread on said thickened crown, whereby, the tire
is resilient principally at its sides, and, when the wheel, encircled by the tire,
occupies an angular position, as shown in Figure 3, the tread will still have a full
bearing. Other features of the invention reside in the construction, arrangement
and combination of the several parts, all as will hereinafter be described, and
afterwards pointed out in the claims.
In the drawings, A indicates the wooden rim of a bicycle wheel, shown here for
convenience, it forming no part of my invention.
B indicates the tire which is preferably composed of pure rubber, strengthened
by fabric, or other material, as is well understood. This tire is adapted to fit in
the concavity of the wheel-rim.
The outer periphery, or crown portion of the tire, is thickened by forming
compound curves, as shown at the top, Figure 1, which terminate at the edge of a
flat tread B. By so increasing the thickness of the tire at the tread, it will be
seen that this portion of the tire has little or no resiliency, the side walls of the
tire being depended upon for this, with the result that, when the wheel assumes an
angle, as shown in Figure 3, the tread will still remain flat on the ground,
affording as firm a bearing as when in a vertical position. The shape, in cross-
section, which the tire assumes under these conditions, that is, the inner or lower
side wall bulging out distinctly beyond the rim, tends to resist rotary movement of
the tire in its rim. Therefore, the central or true position of the tread is not liable
to be displaced under such circumstances. In this connection, I will say that,
I also prefer to cement the tire to the rim to further resist rotary motion of the
tire in its rim, should it have such a tendency.
The tread of the tire may be honeycombed, or cellular, preferably, as showu

page_text: in Figures 2, 3 and 4, bnt, there are other forms of cells which accomplish the
same purpose, as shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7. In all these forms indicates
cells, depressions, or pockets, of such size, shape and depth, as may be preferred.
I have shown them as of inverted pyramidal form, except in Figure 7, where they
are shown circular. Each cell, except those at the edges of the tread, is surrounded
by walls b', whose faces are on the same plane, so that as they strike the ground,
all the cells in transverse rows whose walls are in contact with the ground will be
closed. It is, of course, understood that, as the tire travels over the ground, any
point on its tread comes in contact with the ground before the greatest pressure
or weight is placed upon that point, and that after the weight or pressure
passes that point, said point will still remain on the ground for some
little time. It is on account of this varying pressure that I am enabled to
produce a partial vacuum in the cells after. the walls of said cells are relieved of
their greatest pressure. This is, when the walls of any particular or transverse
row of cells are under their greatest pressure, the air in the cells will be forced
out, by reason of the gradual approach to said great pressure, and, as the cell,. or
cells, under consideration, pass beyond said pressure, the elasticity of the walls
asserts itself to the extent of its strength, with the result that the air is rarified,
or a partial vacuum produced whose suction or hold is determined by the joint
between the walls of the cells and the ground, the rarification of the air, and the
elasticity of the rubber.
From the above, it will be understood that in sandy ground, where the air can
penetrate into the cells through the sand, the cells will be of little advantage,
except as to the extent of the biting edges presented by the walls, while on
asphaltum, granite block, and other smooth pavements, beneficial results will flow
from the presence of the cells, especially in preventing lateral slipping. Wet
pavements and rails can also be ridden over in safety, the water appearing to act
as a seal for the cell walls. Practical usage has demonstrated the fact that a tire
provided with a cellular tread, as shown in the drawings, will not slip on wet
asphaltum or wet street car tracks, even when the rails are approached at an
acute angle.
The edges of the tread are preferably serrated, which results from forming said
edges at the outside of the outer circumferentially disposed walls. The object of
this is to have biting points at the edges of the tread to grip rails, and to assist in
climbing out of ruts, as is well understood.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I am aware that prior to
the date of this application non-slipping bands or trends for tyres with cavities or
depressions have been used, and I make no claim to such devices, and I declare
that what I claira is:-
1. The combination with a pneumatic tire, of a flat tread formed on its outer
periphery by increasing the thickness of the material at that point, the side walls
of the tire being resilient, whereby, when the tire assumes an angular position, as
when going around curves, the tread will have a full contact with the ground, the
inner or lower side wall of the tire bulging out beyond the rim to prevent rotary
movement of the tire in its rim, substantially as described.
2. The combination with a pneumatic tire, of a flat tread formed thereon, said
tread having biting points at its edges, and cells or recesses in its face, substantially
as described.
Dated this 5th d
1000
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
Chartered Patent Agent, London,
For the Applicant.