Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres for the Wheels of Cycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Complete Specification Left, 22nd Sept., 1898-Accepted, 19th Nov., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres for the Wheels of Cycles and
other Vehicles.
We, FRANK ARTHUR WILLIAMS, of Church Road, Albrighton, in the County of
Salop, Tube Manufacturer, and THOMAS PIGGOTT AND COMPANY, LIMITED, of
Atlas Works, Spring Hill, Birmingham, Engineers and Tube Manufacturers, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its main object to construct a pneumatic tyre for
a cycle or other vehicle wheel by utilizing the principle of constructing joints
which is described and shewn in the Specification of a Patent No. 13760 of 1892
granted to the said Frank Arthur Williams, and more especially the application
of the principle shewn by Figure 3 of the drawings accompanying such specifica-
tion and described with reference thereto.
According to this invention, a strip of material of the usual or any convenient
character may form the major portion circumferentially in transverse section of
the pneumatic tyre. The edges of this strip are placed within a channelled rim
and the strip thus forms, with the rim, a tube. A closing piece or key of rubber
or other elastic material is placed in position between the two portions of the
strip which are within the channelled rim, and the purpose of this closing piece
or key is to tighten itself between such two portions of the strip, and tighten
such portions of the strip against the inner sides of the rim. The closing-piece
or key, of course, surrounds the entire rim. It is shaped in transverse section
as an arch, or roughly so, and is placed in position within the rim with its
hollow face towards the rim, or it may be formed of a shape in section with a
straight underside, but of such width that when it is first put into place between
the two sides of the strip it takes an arched or roughly arched form with the
hollow face towards the rim. When pressure is brought against the back face
of the closing-piece or key, after it has been placed in position between the two
sides of the strip, it will expand laterally and thus tighten itself with great
firmness against the portions of the strip which are within the channel of the rim
and press such portions also very tightly against the sides of the rim. The closing-
piece or key may be formed with ears to lie against the rounded corners formed
by the change of direction of the material of the strip from the portions which are
within the rim to the curved position which forms the part of the tyre which
stands out from the rim.
As the tube is inflated the pressure against the back of the closing-piece or key,
whether the latter is of an arched or similar form or whether it has been previously
pressed down flat against the metal of the rim, causes the closing-piece to expand
laterally and thus ensures a thoroughly air-tight joint with the strip. In order
to ensure a thoroughly secure hold of the edges of the strip within the rim, the
sides of the rim are formed slanting or curved inwards.
It is preferred to cement one edge of the strip permanently to one side of the
rim and to permanently cement or fasten the closing-piece to the other side of
D
07

page_text: the strip, as this will be found very convenient in putting the tyre in place within
the rim ready for inflating. In putting the closing-piece and free edge of the
strip into place within the rim, the outer side of the closing-piece is pushed up
against the portion of the strip, which is cemented within the rim, and then the
free edge of the strip is pressed inwards to close up somewhat sideways, and thus
narrow the closing-piece sufficiently to allow such edge of the strip to be sprung
into the channel of the rim, after which the reacting elasticity of the closing-
piece presses both portions of the strip which are within the rim against the sides
of the rim and makes a sufficiently air-tight joint between itself and the side of the
strip which is cemented to the rim to enable the tyre to be inflated. The internal
pressure caused by inflating the tyre, pressing against the back of the closing-
piece, tends to expand the closing-piece laterally and thus furthur ensures the
security of the joint.
The portions of the strip which are to be placed within the rim may be set
at angles with the other portions of the strip, during the process of moulding
or forming such strip, if desired, for the purpose of facilitating putting the strip
in place around the rim; and, if desired, the edges of the strip may be thickened
up so that their outer faces, as seen in transverse section, will be inclined or curved
to suit the inclination or curvature of the sides of the rim, in order that when
the strip is placed around the rim the faces thereof against which the closing-
picce presses will be parallel with one another, or less inclined or curved than
would otherwise be the case.
The strength and elasticity of the closing-piece are such that when the closing-
piece has been put into place around the rim it will securely hold the strip,
aforesaid, in place within the rim. in case the tyre becomes accidentally deflated.
According to a modification of the invention, the closing-piece may be formed
channel-shaped, and be placed with its back against the rim, so that "the internal
pressure presses the two sides thereof, respectively, against the two portions
of the strip which are within the rim. The faces of the strip against which the
sides of the closing-piece are pressed may be inclined somewhat towards one
another, in the direction towards the centre of the wheel.
According to a further modification of the invention, one side of the strip
may be utilized as, or as part of the thickness of, one side of the closing-piece,
when the same is either of an arched or similar form, or of a channel shape.
Dated this 21st day of December 1897.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres for the Wheels of Cycles and
other Vehicles.
We, FRANK ARTHUR WILLIAMS, of Church Road, Albrighton, in the County of
Salop, Tube Manufacturer, and THOMAS PIGGOTT AND COMPANY, LIMITED, of
Atlas Works, Spring Hill, Birmingham, Engineers and Tube Manufacturers, 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 has for its main object to construct a pneumatic tyre for
a cycle or other vehicle wheel by utilizing the principle of constructing joints
which is described and shewn in the Specification of a Patent No. 13760 of 1892
granted to the said Frank Arthur Williams, and more especially the application

page_text: of the principle shewn by Figure 3 of the drawings accompanying such specifica-
tion and described with reference thereto.
According to this invention, a strip of material of the usual or any convenient
character may form the major portion circumferentially in transverse section of
the pneumatic tyre. The edges of this strip are placed in a channelled rim
and the strip thus forms, with the rim, a tube. A closing piece or key of rubber
or other elastic material is placed in position between the two portions of the
strip which are within the channelled rim, and the purpose of this closing piece
or key is to tighten itself between such two portions of the strip and tighten
such portions of the strip against the inner sides of the rim. The closing piece
or key, of course, surrounds the entire rim. It is shaped in transverse section
as an arch, or roughly so, and is placed in position within the rim with its
hollow face towards the rim. As the tube is inflated and pressure thus brought
against the back of the closing piece or key after it is in position around the rim
and between the two sides of the strip, the closing piece or key will expand
laterally and thus tighten itself with great firmness against the portions of the
strip which are within the channel of the rim and press such portions also very
tightly against the sides of the rim. A thoroughly airtight joint with the strip
is thus ensured, and the strip is securely held within the rim. It is preferred to
permanently join one side of the closing piece or key with one edge of the strip,
by forming such closing piece or key together with the strip in which case one
side of the strip is utilized as, or as part of the thickness of, one side of the closing
piece, or key, or by cementing the closing piece or key to the edge of the strip.
This arrangement will be found very convenient in putting the tyre in place
within the rim ready for inflating. In putting the tyre into place within the
rim, the edge thereof which is not connected directly with the closing
piece or key is first placed against the inner face of one side of the rim, and
then the closing piece or key and other edge of the strip are put into place by
first pushing the outer side of the closing piece or key against the portion of the
strip which has already been placed within the rim, and then pressing the edge
of the strip which is connected directly with the closing piece or key inwards
to close up the key somewhat sideways, and thus narrow it sufficiently to allow
such edge of the strip to be sprung into the channel of the rim, after which the
re-acting elasticity of the closing piece or key presses both portions of the strip
which are within the rim against the sides of the rim and makes a sufficiently
air tight joint between itself and the side of the strip which was first placed
within the rim to enable the tyre to be inflated. The internal pressure caused
by inflating the tyre, being against the back of the closing piece or key, tends to
expand the closing piece or key laterally and thus further ensures the security
of the joint.
In order to ensure a thoroughly secure hold of the edges of the strip within
the rim, the edges of the rim are formed with inwardly extending flanges or pro-
jections.
The strength and elasticity of the closing piece or key are such that when it is
in place around the rim it will securely hold the strip, aforesaid, in place within
the rim in case the tyre becomes accidentally deflated.
According to a modification of the invention, the closing piece or key may be
formed channel-shaped and be placed with its back against the rim, so that the
internal pressure presses the two sides thereof, respectively, against the two
portions of the strip which are within the rim. The faces of the strip against
which the sides of the closing piece or key are pressed may be inclined somewhat
towards one another in the direction towards the centre of the wheel.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, we have illustrated the
same upon the accompanying sheet of drawings, to which we will now refer.
Figure 1 is a transverse section through a tyre in the form in which it is
preferred to make it, and shews the tyre to be in place within the rim and inflated;
and Figure 2 is a corresponding view to Figure 1, but shews the tyre as if it
were being placed in position within the rim.

page_text: A is the rim, which may be of any convenient section. B is the strip of
flexible material forming the exposed portion of the tyre, and C is the closing
piece or key. In this case, the closing piece or key C is shewn to be moulded
up with the strip 1 so that one side of the key is permanently joined in with
the corresponding side of the strip B. The strip B is formed with thickened-up
pieces or heels b which, when the tyre is in place, pass under inward flanges
or projections a of the rim. The edge of the strip B with which the key C
is not directly connected is first placed within the corresponding side of the
rim, and then the remainder of the tyre is placed into position by first pushing
up the side c¹ of the key C against the side 61 of the strip, then squeezing up the
key C somewhat sideways so as to increase the curvature of its arch sufficiently
to allow the heel b at the other side of the key to be pushed down inside the flange
or projection a at the corresponding side of the rim. When the pressure is
released, the re-acting elasticity of the key C causes such heel to pass under the
projection a and causes the edge of the key to still press somewhat firmly
against the side 61 of the strip. When the tyre is inflated, the pressure on the
top of the arch of the key C, by depressing the arch somewhat, causes sideway
expansion of the key, and thus makes a thoroughly tight joint between the key
and the strip.
Figure 3 is a corresponding view to Figure 1, but shews a modification in which
the closing piece or key C is made separately from the strip, and is put into
place between the two sides of the strip.
In both the modifications shewn by Figure 1, 2 and 3, it is preferred to form the
bearing faces between the key and a side of the strip inclining in an inward
direction from the rim outwards, as shewn.
Figure 4 is a corresponding view to Figure 1, but shews the modification of the
invention in which the closing piece or key C is formed of an inverted shape
and is used with its back against the rim A and with its sides along the sides
of the strip. When the tyre is inflated, the sides of the key are pressed tightly
against the sides of the strip and make a thoroughly airtight joint. This modi-
fication may be further modified by utilizing one side of the strip as one side
of the key, the key in such case being made in one piece with the strip; or the key
may be permanently cemented along one side to one side of the strip.
In all forms of the invention, the inflating nozzle is, of course, connected with
the key and passes through a hole through the rim.
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. A pneumatic tyre in which a closing piece or key of flexible material is
expanded laterally between two portions of a strip of flexible material which are
within, and against the sides of, the rim, substantially as described.
2. A pneumatic tyre in which a closing piece or key of flexible material which
is hollow at its inner or under side, or of an arched, or substantially arched,
form in transverse section, is expanded laterally by the pneumatic pressure
against the back or crown thereof and thus pressed firmly against the inner
sides of portions of the tyre which are against the sides of the rim, whereby an
airtight joint is secured between the parts of the tyre which when the same
is deflated can be opened out from one another, substantially as described.
3. A pneumatic tyre in which a closing piece or key of flexible material which
is hollow at its inner or under side, or of an arched, or substantially arched, form
in transverse section, is utilized in retaining the tyre in place within the rim,
and is expanded laterally by the pneumatic pressure against the back or crown
thereof and thus pressed firmly against the inner sides of portions of the tyre
which are against the sides of the rim, whereby an airtight joint is secured
between the parts of the tyre which when the same is deflated can be opened 5
out from one another, substantially as described.

page_text: 4. A pneumatic tyre in which a closing piece or key of flexible material which
is hollow at its inner or under side, or of an arched, or substantially arched, form
in transverse section, is permanently connected along one side with one side of a
strip which forms the exposed portion of the tyre, and is expanded laterally by
the pneumatic pressure against the back or crown thereof and thus pressed firmly
against the two edges of such strip which are against the sides of the rim and an
airtight joint thereby secured between the parts of the tyre which when the same is
deflated can be opened out from one another, substantially as described.
5. A pneumatic tyre in which a closing piece or key of flexible material which
is hollow at its outer side, or of a channel form in transverse section, is placed
with its back against the rim and with its sides against the opposite sides of a
strip of flexible material forming the main or exposed portion of the tyre, sub-
stantially as described.
6. A pneumatic tyre in which a closing piece or key of flexible material which
is hollow at its outer side, or of a channel form in transverse section, and of which
one side of such key is joined with or is formed by one side of a strip of flexible
material which forms the main or exposed portion of the tyre, is placed with its
back against the rim and with its other side against the opposite side of the strip
aforesaid which is against the corresponding side of the rim, substantially as
described.
7. Pneumatic tyres having closing pieces or keys of flexible material and of
arched, or substantially arched form in transverse section, substantially as
described and shewn by Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings herewith.
8. Pneumatic tyres constructed substantially as described with reference to
Figure 4 of the drawings herewith.
Dated this 21st day of September 1898.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.