Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres for Velocipede and other Wheels.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan., 1894-Accepted, 3rd Mar.,
1894
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres for Velocipede and other Wheels.
I, ARTHUR JOSEPH THOMAS of "Cleveden," Friern Park, Finchley, in the
County of Middlesex, Gentleman, 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:-
The improvements in pneumatic tyres constituting my invention consist of-
Firstly, the employment of two gas or air bags placed side by side within a
concave rim, and both enclosed by one outer cover or envelope, the object of this
arrangement being, that one of said bags may be deflated and idle, while the other
is inflated and at work, the first being inflated and called into use, when the second
has collapsed through puncture or burst. Secondly-Of the employment of an
outer cover or envelope the wearing surface of which is constructed to narrow the
tread of the wheel and prevent side slip, when the machine is travelling upon
greasy roads, or describing sharp curves, the said cover being provided at its
edges with flexible cords, endless or otherwise, by means of which the same would
be retained in position upon the rim of the wheel by and when either of the said
air bags is inflated, and easily and quickly removed therefrom when repairs are to
be made to either of the air bags, and for other purposes, hence the object of this
part of my invention.
For the purpose of making my invention more clearly understood I have hereunto
annexed a sheet of drawings in which,
Figs. 1 and 2 are cross sectional views of my improved outer cover or envelope,
illustrating the employment of flexible cords of different diameters.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of part of such a cover, illustrating how I prefer the
ends of said cords shall protrude through any convenient portion of the edges of
same, when other than endless cords are employed.
Fig. 4 is a plan view and longitudinal section respectively of a form of fastening
I prefer to employ for connecting together the said protruding cord ends.
Figs. 5 and 6 are cross sectional views of a complete tyre and rim according to
my invention, illustrating the position of both air bags when idle, and its companion
is at work.
I wish it understood that I may employ a solid or hollow wheel rim of, any shape
in cross section, so long as its external periphery is sufficiently concave for the
purposes of my invention, and 1 do not broadly claim the use of a rim of the shape
and contour in cross section shewn in the drawings, except in combination with
my improvements as being the most adaptable therefor.
carry my invention into effect by constructing of rubber, rubber composition,
or any combination of such material in general use, a pair of air bags A B, either
or Loth of which may or may not be enclosed within a canvas pocket or cover,
and these I place side by side within the concave outer periphery of a rim C, to
which are fitted suitable charging and discharging valves D and E respectively,
passing through and connected to the rim in the usual way, not necessarily adjacent

page_text: to each other as shewn in Figs. 5 and 6, as these may be any distance apart, and if
desired, diametrically opposite to each other.
The outer cover or envelope F I prefer to construct of rubber or rubber com-
position, and during the moulding of this I form upon its centre or wearing surface
an upstanding ridge or projection G, this being intended to form a narrow tread
for the wheel, and to act as a prevention to side slip, and this may or may not be
continuous for the whole circumferential measurement of the cover F, and prefer-
ably of the shape shewn in cross section. The inner surface of F I coat with
canvas or other suitable fabric H, in the usual way, but preferably terminating &
short distance from the edges of F, in order that the elasticity of said edges may
not be impaired thereby. In each edge of said cover I mould or otherwise enclose
a flexible cord J, both of which may be endless, or one may be endless and the
other not, in which case the ends of the latter would protrude through a suitable
aperture or apertures in said cover as at Fig. 3, or both of said cords may have
ends, protruding in like manner. If both of said cords be endless the cover F
would be sprung upon the rim and its edges seated beneath the gas bags, or if one
only of said cords be endless, that edge of F would be sprung upon the rim first,
and the ends of the opposite cord would be provided with strings or tapes by which
they may be tightened and fastened together, or a hook and eye or other device
may be connected to the said ends for that purpose, but I prefer to use for
effecting the junction of the said protruding ends of either or both cords J, the
hook and eye device a b as at Fig. 4, for the reason that these would lay flatwise
within the rim of the wheel.
The said flexible cords, when of the cross sectional dimensions illustrated at
Figs. 1, 35 and 6, or thereabouts, may be of cotton, silk, worsted, mohair, horse
or other hair, or any combination of these, platted, twisted or stranded together, or
these may be of gut or leather singly or otherwise. Or I may use rubber or rubber
composition in the construction of the cords J when these are endless, in which
case I should prefer that these be of larger dimensions in cross section, as
illustrated by Fig. 2. Whatever may be the material employed for the flexible
cords J, endless or otherwise, when the cover F is placed in position upon the
rim C, one or the other of the air bags A B would be inflated, and presuming for
the sake of illustration that that one be B, the pump K would be connected to the
valve E thereof, and as and when B was inflated, the empty or idle bag A would
be automatically laid flatwise thereby against the cover F, as at Fig. 5, and if
during wear B should become punctured, the rider would dismount, and simply
deflate B by removing the dust cover c therefrom, in the usual way, and connect
the pump K to the valve D and inflate the bag A, and as this was effected the
empty bag B would be laid flatwise against F as shewn at Fig. 6, and the rider
could proceed upon his journey, but if he should be unfortunate enough to
puncture A also, he would have no alternative but to stop and repair A or B or
both, and to effect this speedily and easily he would simply have to deflate A, and
disconnect the ends of one or the other of the cords J or both, if both have ends,
when the cover F could be easily entirely removed, or if both cords J be endless
these would be sprung off the rim C in the same manner, but in reverse order, as
they were sprung on, and when the repairs were completed the cover F would
be again as quickly replaced, and either A or B be again inflated in the manner
first described.
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
I am aware that it has been previously proposed to divide the air tube of a
pneumatic tyre by webs or partitions for the purpose of forming two or more
separate annular chambers, and I do not desire to claim such construction.
I am
also aware that it has been previously proposed to narrow the tread of a wheel by
forming upon the outer cover or envelope, thereof, a projecting ridge, and I do not
desire to claim any such form of tread per se, but only in combination with the other

page_text: improvements herein set forth, therefore what I do claim and desire to secure by
Letters Patent is :-
1st. In an improved pneumatic tyre for the wheels of bicycles, tricycles, and
other vehicles, constructed to obviate or lessen the need of stopping the machine
to effect repairs to a punctured air bag, and to facilitate the quick removal and
replacement of the outer cover or envelope, when such repairs are needed or
inevitable, the construction and use of the herein described combination of parts
connected and operating substantially as herein set forth and shewn by the
appended drawings.
2nd. In an improved pneumatic tyre for velocipede and other wheels, the
combination of a solid or hollow concave rim C, a pair of air bags A B placed
side by side therein, provided with separate and suitable charging and discharging
valves D and E respectively, and enclosed by an outer cover or envelope F,
provided with a narrow tread G, and canvas or other lining H, and having within
its edges flexible cords J, constructed of any of the materials herein provided, or
any suitable combination thereof, endless or otherwise, and if the latter, with their
protruding ends connected together by any suitable means, but preferably by
that of the hook and eye ab constructed as at Fig: 4, and by means of which the
cover F is retained upon the rim C, when A or B is inflated, the whole connected,
combined and operating substantially as and for the purposes herein described
and shewn by the accompanying drawings.
3rd. In an improved pneumatic tyre for velocipede and other wheels, the
employment of two gas or air bags A B placed side by side, and the manner of
inflating and using these alternately, substantially as and for the purposes herein
described and shewn by the accompanying drawings, more particularly by that of
Figs. 5 and 6.
Doch of Le 1904
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.