Improvements in the Construction of Tyres for Cycles and other *Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Sept., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 25th Jan., 1898-Accepted, 12th Mar.,
1898
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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Tyres for Cycles and other
*Vehicles.
We, CHARLES HENRY GREAVES, Solicitor, and GEORGE GREAVES, Rope and Twine
Manufacturer, both of Craven House, Gomersal, near Leeds, in the County of York,
lo hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of our invention is to dispense with the use of air-tubes in cycle and
other tyres; and yet produce a perfectly elastic tyre upon which puncture has no
effect. We employ a number of hollow balls of indiarubber with crewelled cover-
ings, and a small air hole is made in each ball, the balls for the back wheel being
preferably wrapped with strips of pure rubber cemented on in tension and then
crewelled. They are enclosed in the ordinary outer cover of rubber or other
suitable substance, which is secured to the wheel rim by lacing or other suitable
means. . The balls are preferably placed close together in the groove of the rim,
bedded upon a seating made of wool or worsted yarns, and the cover is drawn over
them and laced or fastened, so as to hold them in position.
As each ball is compressed and a little air displaced under the tread of the wheel,
it quickly returns and automatically replaces the air displaced from it...
Puncture does not effect any of the balls, but when required the cover can be
easily unlaced, and the balls removed should any wear out, and fresh ones put in.
Dated this 22nd day of September 1897.
JOHN E. WALSH,
Royal Exchange Chambers, Boar Lane, Leeds,
Patent Agent for the Applicants.
Improvements in the Construction of Tyres for Cycles and other
Vehicles.
We, CHARLES HENRY GREAVES, Solicitor, and GEORGE GREAVES, Rope and Twine
Manufacturer, both of Craven House, Gomersal, near Leeds, in the County of York,
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 object of our invention is to dispense with the use of air tubes in cycle and
other tyres, and yet produce a perfectly elastic tyre upon which puncture has no
affant

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is an elevation showing cross section of indiarubber ball in its first stage.
Fig. 2 is an elevation of ball with indiarubber wrapping cemented on in a
stretched state.
Fig. 3 is an elevation of ball in its finished state with crewelled, woven or-porous
cover.
Fig. 4 is an elevation in cross section of tyre constructed of hollow balls or sections
with packing.
Fig. 5 is a cross sectional elevation of tyre without rubber wrapping around the
balls.
Fig. 6 shows a wheel in elevation with tyre consisting of balls or sections and
cover shown partly in section.
Fig 7 is a side elevation in section of part of tyre, showing antifriction washers.
Fig. 8 is a side view of rubber ring detached."
Fig. 9 is a sectional end view of antifriction washer detached.
Fig. 10 is an end view of antifriction washer with ring in section.
We employ a number of preferably hollow balls or separate hollow sectional
pieces A, of indiarubber, with crewelled, knitted, or woven coverings B, and with
one or more small breathing or air holes C in each ball; the balls or hollow segments
for the back wheel are strengthened and their resiliency increased, by being pre-
ferably wrapped with strips of elastic rubber D), cemented on in tension. Balls
for the front wheel, do not require the elastic rubber wrapping, but are crewelled
or covered as hereinafter mentioned.
It having been found that the rubber balls or sections in contact with each other
wear quickly, we cover the balls or sections with a thin crewelled, knitted, or woven
fibrous covering B, or we insert between each plain rubber ball (shown at Fig. 1,)
an antifriction fibrous washer G, enclosed in which is a rubber ring H, the rings
expand and keep the fibrous washers in position (see Fig. 7).
The balls or sections are enclosed in the ordinary outer cover E of rubber or other
suitable substance, which is secured to the wheel rim by lacing or other suitable
means.
The balls or sections with covers or antifriction rings and washers are preferably
packed close together in the groove of the rim, and preferably bedded upon a
seating made of wool or worsted yarns, asbestos, cork, or other suitable material,
and the cover is drawn over them and laced or fastened in any suitable manner, so
as to hold them in position.
As each ball is compressed and a little air displaced under the tread of the wheel,
it quickly returns to its normal shape, and automatically replaces the air displaced
from it, balls so constructed have great resiliency and cannot burst, they also retain
their hardness, puncture does not affect any of the balls, but when required the
cover can be easily unlaced, and the balls renewed should any wear out.
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. Pneumatic tyres composed of hollow indiarubber balls or sections secured
around the periphery of the wheel by a cover, each ball or section having a breathing
or air hole therein, so that after compression it is self inflating and quickly regains
its original shape, puncture having no effect thereon..
2. The construction of balls or sections forming the pneumatic tyre
of wheels,
each ball or section having a breathing or air hole therein, and having a fibrous
antifriction cover thereon, substantially as shown and described.
3. The construction of balls or sections forming the pneumatic tyre of wheels,
each ball or section having a breathing or air hole therein, and having a fibrous
antifriction washer and ring between each ball, substantially as shown and
described.
4. The construction of balls or sections forming the pneumatic tyre of wheels,

page_text: each ball or section having a breathing or air hole therein, and having an india-
rubber or elastic cover fixed thereon in a stretched state, and a further woven,
knitted, or crewelled cover of fibrous material, substantially as shown and described.
antinth dor of January 1898.
JOHN E. WALSH,
Royal Exchange Chambers, Boar Lane, Leeds,
Patent Agent for the Applicants.