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

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 15th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 19th Feb., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres for the Wheels of Bicycles and
other Vehicles.
I, ARTHUR ERNEST EDWARDS, of "Hambleden," Lancaster Road, Wimbledon, in the
County of Surrey, Gentleman,-do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to the pneumatic tyres ordinarily used for the wheels of
bicycles and other vehicles in which a tube of indiarubber or other suitable flexible
material is used, into which air is compressed at sufficient pressure.
It is well-known that such tyres are liable to be punctured, when in use,; by nails
or other sharp objects, the compressed air then escaping and the tyre becoming
useless until the injury to it has been repaired, and air has again been forced into it;
and my present invention has for its object a novel method of construction by which;
in the event of the tyre becoming punctured it can in a very short time and with
little trouble be rendered fit for continued use.
In order to put my invention in operation, I use a tubular pneimatic tyre of the
usual kind, atted and fixed to the rim of the wheel and filled with compressed air.
Round the outer circumference of this tubular tyre I form a second flexible air-tight
chamber of indiarubber or other suitable material, extending however round the inner
tubular tyre for about one half-more or less of the circumference in cross section
of the inner tyre, to which it is firmly attached and at its longitudinal edges only, so
that a somewhat crescent-shaped space is left between the outer circumference of tho
inner tyre and the material which forms the outer part of the outer chamber. Out
side this outer chamber I form a second outer chamber, similar to that just described;
and attached by its longitudinal edges only to the entire circumference of the first
described outer chamber, a inore or less crescent-shaped chamber being formed
between it and the latter.
In the same way a third, and fourth, or more, similar outer chambers may be
formed one outside the other.
Round the outer one may if desired be fitted and attached a covering tyre of the
usual kind, capable of being reinoved and replaced when desired.
The inner tubular pneumatic tyre is provided with a valve and attachment of the
usual kind to which an air-pump can be readily screwed or otherwise attached for
the purpose of inflating the tube with air to a sufficient pressure.
Each of the crescent-shaped chambers outside the tubular inner tyre is also
provided with a similar attachment and valve, by means of which each can be separately
inflated to a pressure the same as, or greater or less than, that in the inner tube,
each such attachment being fixed to a suitable part of the rim of the wheel and con-
nected to the particular outer chamber which it is intended to inflate by it by means
of a short flexible or other tube of small diameter. Or, the principal inflating attach-
ment connected with the inner pneumatic tube may be also provided with a separate
passage and valve for each of the outer chambers, screw or other stop valves being
arranged so that the inflating pump can be made to force air into either the inner
tube or either of the outer chambers as may be desired.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The inner pneumatic tube being first
inflated to a sufficient pressure, the outermost chamber is similarly inflated. If this

page_text: outer chamber is accidentally punctured, the air escapes from it, but the wheel still
continues to run equally well upon the next inner chamber, which is then inflated,
or upon the inner inflated tube if only one outer chamber is used. If two or more of the
latter are used, after the first is punctured the next is inflated in succession without
interfering with the effective running of the wheel, and so on one after the other if
more than two are used; and it is only in the case of all the outer chambers being
punctured, and finally the inner pneumatic tube, that the wheel becomes useless, a
contingency little likely to arise.
The annas
in cimula ina
ive and affection and cavity wood
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres for the Wheels of Bicycles and
other Vehicles.
I, ARTHUR ERNEST EDWARDS, of "Hambleden," Lancaster Road, Wimbledon, in
the County of Surrey, 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, and accompanying drawing, that is to
say
This invention relates to the pneumatic tyres ordinarily used for the wheels of
bicycles and other vehicles, in which a tube of indiarubber or other suitable flexible
material is used, into which air is compressed at sufficient pressure.
It is well known that such tyres are liable to be punctured when in use, by nails or
other sharp objects, the compressed air then escaping and the tyre becoming useless
until the injury to it has been repaired, and air has been again forced into it; and
my present invention has for its object a novel method of construction by which, in
the event of the tyre becoming punctured, it can in a very short time and with
little trouble be rendered fit for continued use.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of my invention. Figure 1 is a
transverse section through the tyre and the rim of the wheel, showing the inner tube
inflated, as well as the outer one of the several thicknesses of indiarubber.
Figure 2 is a similar section in which the covering tyre and the outer thickness
of indiarubber are supposed to have been punctured, and the second thickness of
indiarubber has been inflated.
Figure 3 is a similar section showing the third, or inner thickness of indiarubber,
inflated.
In order to put my invention in operation, I use a tubular pneumatic tyre a of
the usual kind, fitted and fixed to the rim of the wheel and inflated with
compressed air, by means of a pump in the usual way. Round the outer circum-
ference of this tubular tyre a I inake a second air-tight chamber formed by means
of a sufficient thickness c of indiarubber or other suitable material, extending round
the inner tubular tyre a for about one half-more or less of the circumference
in cross section of the inner tyre, to which it is firmly attached at its longitudinal
edges only, so that a somewhat crescent-shaped space is left between the outer
circumference of the inner tyre and the material which forms the outer part of the
outer chamber, when the latter is inflated as hereinafter described and illustrated in
Figure 2. Outside this thickness of indiarubber c I form a second outer chamber
similar to that just described, by means of a second thickness of india-rubber or
other suitable flexible material, also attached by its longitudinal edges only to the
entire circumference of the first described outer chamber, a more or less crescent-

page_text: shaped chamber being formed between it and the latter, when the second outer
chamber is inflated, as shown in Figure 2.
In the same way a third, and fourth, or more, similar separate flexible thicknesses
of indiarubber forming outer chambers may be formed one outside the other, as
illustrated in Figure 1, in which a third thickness e is shown inflated.
Round the outer one may be fitted and altached a covering tyre f of the usual
kind, capable of being removed and replaced when desired.
The inner tubular pneumatic tyre is provided with a valve and attachment of the
usual kind to which an air-pump can be readily screwed or otherwise attached for the
purpose of inflating the tube with air to a sufficient pressure.
Each of the chambers (crescent-shaped when inflated) outside the tubular inner
tyre is also provided with a similar separate attachment and valve, of which one is
shown at g, the others being similarly arranged at suitable parts of the circumference
of the tyre, by means of which each can be separately inflated to a pressure the same
as, or greater or less than, that in the inner tube, each such attachment being fixed
to the rim of the wheel and connected to the particular outer chamber-which it
is intended to inflate by it by means of a short flexible or other tube, h, h³, h³, of
small diameter. Or, the principal inflating attachment connected with the inner
pneumatic tube may also be provided with a separate passage and valve for each
of the outer chambers, screw or other stop valves being arranged so that the
inflating pump can be made to force air into either the inner tube or into either
of the outer chambers as may be desired.
The action of the apparatus is as follows:-The inner pneumatic tube a being
first inflated to a sufficient pressure, the outermost chamber is similarly inflated
through the tube h, as shown in Figure 1. If this outer chamber is accidentally
punctured, the air escapes from it, but the wheel still continues to run equally
well upon the next inner chamber, which is then inflated through the tube, as
shown in Figure 2, or upon the inner inflated tube if only one outer chamber
is used. If two or more of the latter are used, after the first is punctured the next
is inflated in succession without interfering with the effective running of the wheel,
and so on one after the other if more than two are used as shown in Figure 3, in
which a third chamber is shown inflated; and it is only in the case of all the outer
chambers being punctured, and finally the inner pneumatic tube, that the wheel
becoines useless, a contingency little likely to arise.
It is not essential that the edges of the several flexible thicknesses which formn the
chambers should be attached to the inner tube a, as they may be attached to each
other only, the chambers so formed being removeable and replaceable together, when
required.
The apparatus is simple, inexpensive, and effective, and is easily used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. In pneumatic tyres, the combination with an inner air-tube, of one, two, or
more thicknesses of indiarubber or other flexible material, attached together along
their longitudinal edges, each forming, when separately inflated, an air chamber
round the inner pneumatic tube, substantially in the manner and for the purpose
described and illustrated.
2. In combination with the separate air chambers described and claimed in Claim 1,
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In pneumatic tyres, the combination with an inner air-tube, of one, two, or
more thicknesses of indiarubber or other flexible material, attached together along
their longitudinal edges, each forming, when separately inflated, an air chamber
round the inner pneumatic tube, substantially in the manner and for the purpose
described and illustrated.
2. In combination with the separate air chambers described and claimed in Claim 1,
the valves by which each such chamber can be inflated separately
substantially as described and illustrated.
Tdth: 15th day of Dasambar 1907
43
desired,
EDWARDS AND Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.