Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Feb., 1899-Accepted, 19th Aug.,
1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres.
I, HENRY JOHN SCOTT, of 2, Wilmington Street, Wilmington Square, Rose-
bery Avenue, London, W.C., Pneumatic Tyre Maker, 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:-
"
Par. 1. The object of my invention is the manufacture of " covers or "jackets"
of pneumatic tyres for cycles, carriages and the like, which do not depend upon the
exact size or shape of the wheel rims to which they are applied, and have a
self-gripping action on inflation.
Par. 2. A description of these covers is shewn by the following particulars and
drawings.
Par. 3. The cover is made of "canvas
"
fabric or similar material and has a
free continuous pocket in each of its edges, into which are fitted a series of strips
of flat stiff material such as metal or vulcanised fibre. An inflatable air tube is
inserted in the cover, and the edges of the cover are connected to each other
at intervals corresponding to the length of the strips of stiffening material used.
Par. 4. The connections of one edge of the cover to the other, may be made by
connecting the stiffeners contained in the pocket of one edge to the stiffeners
contained in the pocket of the other edge of the cover, by for instance fixing studs
in the stiffeners in one edge, and passing such studs through holes in the other
edge of the cover and the stiffeners within contained as shewn in Figure 1.
Par. 5. Another method of connecting the edges of the cover, is to have one end
of each stiffener (about one inch or so) projecting from its pocket, and this pro-
jecting portion is slid through a suitable opening into the pocket of the other
edge of the cover, as shewn in Figures 3 and 4. Each end of every alternate
stiffener may also be treated in this manner.
Par. 6. In the above cases it is essential that the canvas or fabric of which
the covers are made, should be cut on the "cross"
or "bias" 80 that they may
be stretched or contracted in length, in order that they may be fitted to rims of
varying diameter and also to increase the grip on such rims when inflated.
Par. 7. Another method of carrying out my invention, is to make the covers with
free pockets and stiffeners as before described, with the exception, that instead of
the stiffeners in each pocket being opposite each other, the centres of the
stiffeners in one pocket are opposite the overlapping ends of the stiffeners in
the other pocket. They are then fitted with projections such as studs or hooks
which all engage with an endless flexible cord or wire in such a way as shewn
in Figure 5. When this form of cover is inflated, the tendency of one edge of
the cover to separate from the other, forces the cord with which each edge is
connected, into a series of more obtuse angles or zig-zags, thereby reducing the
diameter of the endless cord, and causing the cover to bind firmly to the rim.
Instead of the cord I have described I may connect the studs with a series of
links arranged in the same manner, which will have the same binding effect.

page_text: Par. 8. In the construction mentioned in the last paragraph it is immaterial
in what manner the canvas is cut.
Par. 9. In all cases the stiffeners slightly overlap each other at the ends and
are free to slide in such pockets, only a very small part, about the centre of the
stiffeners being fastened to the cover to keep them in position.
Par. 10. I am aware that a long band of steel with overlapping ends has been
used in a similar cover to the one I have described, but this I do not use, as in some
cases it is quite unworkable, and in others the grip of the cover material upon
such long lengths of band seriously interferes with, if not entirely prevents the
ready and strong rim-gripping action and adjustability of the covers, which is
the object of my invention.
Par. 11. Figure 1 represents a cover in cross section, A is the canvas B are the
stiffeners and C is the stud which is permanently fixed in one stiffener, and passed
through a hole in the other stiffener.
Par. 12. Figure 2. is a longitudinal section of the cover shewing a convenient
method of fastening one side of the cover to the other. A is the canvas B are the
stiffeners D are flaps of canvas which are cemented to the sides of the cover, and
have free passages in their edges which are dovetailed into one another, through
which a bolt C is passed to connect the two sides of the cover.
Par. 13. Figure 3 illustrates the way of connecting the edges of the cover by
having diagonal openings in the sides of the pockets (which come face to face with
each other when the cover is in position as illustrated) through which one end
of each stiffener in one pocket, is projected in one direction, and one end of each
stiffener in the other pocket, is projected_in_the_opposite direction._To_connect_
the edges, the cover is then overlapped sufficiently far to allow the projecting
ends of the stiffeners to be slid one behind the other, thus on the edges of the
cover being brought into position, the ends of one set of stiffeners have slid
through the diagonal openings into the pocket of the other set of stiffeners, and
vice versa thereby connecting one edge of the cover to the other. A is the can-
vas B are the stiffeners in one pocket and B2 are the stiffeners in the other
pocket E is the diagonal cut in the canvas where the end of B¹ projects, and E2
is the diagonal cut where B₁ enters the pocket of B2 and vice versa.
Par. 14. Another method of connecting the edges of the cover where the ends of
the stiffeners project from their pockets, is to have a slot cut half way across each
stiffener about half an inch from the end, the slots in one set being in one
direction and those in the other set in the opposite direction, the edges of the
cover are then connected by overlapping the edges until the end of one stiffener
may pass into the slot in the other, and the two slots passing and interlocking
each other when the cover is in position.
Par. 15. Figure 4 is another illustration of Figure 3 with one side of the cover
opened out flat, and shewing more clearly the position of the diagonal cuts in
the canvas pockets, and the projecting ends of the stiffeners.
Par. 16. Figure 5 shews the system of placing the centres of one set of stiffeners
in one pocket, opposite the overlapping ends of the others in the other pocket, and
connected together by the studs and cord as described. A is the canvas B are
the stiffeners C are the studs which engage with the cord F.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1 A cover for a pneumatic tyre having free pockets in its edges, which edges
are fastened together at intervals, and having a series of stiffeners free to slide
in such pockets and to take the strain of the air pressure and support such
edges between the fastenings.
2. The various methods of fastening the edges of the cover to each other, as
described and illustrated in Figures 1, 3 and 4.

page_text: 3 A cover for a pneumatic tyre, having free pockets in its edges, which are
supported by stiffeners and such stiffeners being connected with an endless chain
or cord, as described, and illustrated in Figure 5.
4 The method described in the 14th paragraph of this statement of connecting
the edges of the cover by the projecting and slotted ends of the stiffeners inter-
locking.
5 The combination and arrangement of the various parts as and for the pur-
poses described and illustrated.