Improvements in and relating to Air-tubes for Pneumatic Tires.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application; 21st Sept., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 21st June, 1898-Accepted, 17th Sept.,
1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Air-tubes for Pneumatic Tires.
I, JAMES WILLIAM SMALLMAN, of Camp Hill Grange, near Nuneaton, in the
County of Warwick, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to a puncture-closing air-tube for pneumatic tires; to`
apparatus for use in the manufacture of said air-tube; and to a method of joining
the ends of the said air-tube or of other air-tubes.
In making my puncture-closing air-tube, the procedure may be as follows:--I
take a length of vulcanized air-tube with the ends unjoined and solution the tread
part to a band of india-rubber stretched longitudinally and transversely. When
the unstretched air-tube and the stretched band have become firmly united, the
stretched band is released, which puts in compression the adherent tread part of
the air-tube. A length of solutioned fabric is then applied to said adherent tread
part. When the solution has set, the air-tube is removed from the india-rubber
band with the aid of a solvent; the length of fabric inside the air-tube main-
taining the tread part in compression. The air-tube is then turned inside out to
bring the fabric on the outside.
The apparatus I prefer to employ is of the following description:-The band of
india-rubber to be stretched has enlarged edges that engage in two holders mounted
to face one another. Each holder consists of two metal strips connected by thumb-
screws. These strips can be easily made strong enough to resist a severe lateral
pull, as they are outside the india-rubber and consequently the space they occupy
need not be considered. The far end of the band is secured either by projections
that engage with the far ends of the holders or otherwise. The band is thereupon
stretched longitudinally by pulling the near end; the enlarged edges sliding in
the holders. The enlarged edges when stretched have a comparatively small cross
section, and therefore it is advisable to tighten the holders by turning the thumb-
screws. The longitudinally-stretched band would then be firmly held between the
metal strips. The near end of the band may, however, be secured like the far end.
The band is now stretched transversely; the holders being forced apart by means
One holder may be stationary
of levers. The levers are held by pegs or catches.
and there may be a lever at each end of the other holder. In releasing the
stretched band, the levers are first freed and then the thumb-screws; the enlarged
A trough
edges of the band sliding along and remaining within the holders.
is provided to receive the fabric. Each end of the fabric may be held by a weight
while the trough is passed upside down into the air-tube. The fabric is then
released and its solutioned side lowered on to the compressed part of the air-tube.
The trough is afterwards pulled out of the air-tube, leaving the solutioned fabric.
The upper part of the air-tube may then be pressed down by hand to ensure that the
fabric is in proper contact with the compressed part of the air-tube from end
to end. The weights may then be taken off.
I join the ends of the air-tube in the following manner: The air-tube having

page_text: been removed from the compressing apparatus and turned inside out, one end is
stretched over a short soluble cylinder. The other end is also stretched over the
cylinder and turned back. The two ends are then solutioned and the turned-back
end pulled forward. In the finished joint, one end lies inside the other, and the
fabric should lap. Both ends may be bevelled. When the joint is firmly set.
the valve is connected to the air-tube and sufficient water pumped through it to
dissolve the cylinder.
The ends of ordinary air-tubes may also be joined by this method.
The soluble cylinder may be made of hard sugar or of a mixture and may be
hollow. When dissolved it can be left in the air-tube to form what is commonly
called "
puncture-stop." Or the dissolved cylinder may be allowed to run out
through the valve-stem.
Dated the 18th day of September 1897.
rovements in and relating to Air-tubes for Pneumatic Tires.
I, JAMES WILLIAM SMALLMAN, of Camp Hill Grange, near Nuneaton, in the
County of Warwick, Engineer, 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:
-
My invention relates to a puncture-closing air-tube for pneumatic tires; to
apparatus for use in the manufacture of said air-tube; and to a method of joining
the ends of the said air-tube or of other air-tubes.
In making my puncture-closing air-tube, the procedure may be as follows:-I
take a length of vulcanized air-tube with the ends unjoined and solution the tread
part to a band of india-rubber stretched longitudinally and transversely. When
the unstretched air-tube and the stretched band have become firmly united, the
stretched band is released, which puts in compression the adherent tread part of
the air-tube. A length of solutioned fabric is then applied to said adherent tread
part. When the solution has set, the air-tube is removed from the india-rubber
band with the aid of a solvent; the length of fabric inside the air-tube main-
taining the tread part in compression. The ends of the air-tube are then joined.
Or, before the ends of the air-tube are joined, the air-tube may be turned inside
out to bring the fabric on the outside.
The apparatus I prefer to employ is of the following description: The band of
india-rubber to be stretched has enlarged edges that engage in two holders mounted
to face one another. Each holder consists of two metal strips connected by thumb-
screws. These strips (which are longer than the air-tube) can be easily made
strong enough to resist a severe lateral pull, as they are outside the india-rubber
and consequently the space they occupy need not be considered. The far end
of the band is secured either by lateral projections on the enlarged edges that
engage with the far ends of the holders or otherwise. The band is thereupon
stretched longitudinally by pulling the .near end; the enlarged edges sliding in
the holders. The enlarged edges when stretched have a comparatively small cross
section, and therefore it is advisable to tighten the holders by turning the thumb-
screws. The longitudinally-stretched band would then be firmly held between
the metal strips. The near end of the band may, however, be secured like the far
end. The band is now stretched transversely; the holders being forced apart by
means of levers. The levers are held by pegs or catches. One holder may be
stationary and there may be a lever at each end of the other holder. Or screws

page_text: may be employed instead of levers: 'In releasing the stretched band, the levers or
screws are first freed and then the 'thumb-screws; the enlarged edges of the band
sliding along and remaining within the holders. When the near end of the band
has lateral projections, they are pressed, outwardly far enough to miss the near
ends of the holders, the holders being of sufficient size to contain the lateral
projections as well as the enlarged edges. A trough is provided to receive the fabric.
Each end of the, fabric may be attached to and held by a weight lying on the
trough while said trough is passed upside down into the air-tube. The fabric is
then released by moving the weights and its solutioned side lowered on to the
compressed part of the air-tube. The trough is afterwards pulled out of the
air-tube, leaving the solutioned fabric and weights. The upper part of the air-
tube may then be pressed down by hand to ensure that the fabric is in proper
contact with the compressed part of the air-tube from end to end. The weights
may then be taken off.",
.
The ends of the fabric may if preferred be secured to the ends of the trough
otherwise than by weights.
The band may have both ends pulled. The ends of the band may have canvas
solutioned to them and may be furnished with eyelet-holes. A rope and pulleys
may be used for pulling the band.
I join the ends of the air-tube in the following manner: The air-tube having
been removed from the compressing apparatus (and turned inside out if desired),
one end is stretched over a short soluble cylinder. The other end is also stretched
over the cylinder and turned back. The two ends are then solutioned and the
turned-back end pulled forward. In the finished joint; one end lies inside the
other. The outer end or both ends may be bevelled. When the joint is firmly set,
the valve is connected to the air-tube and sufficient water pumped through it to
dissolve the cylinder:
'
The ends of ordinary air-tubes may also be joined by this method.
The soluble cylinder may be made of hard sugar or of a mixture and may be
hollow. When dissolved, it can be left in the air-tube to form what is commonly
called puncture-stop." Or the dissolved cylinder may be allowed to run out
through the valve-stem.,
<
Reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1 is a transverse section illustrating the india-rubber compressing band
and the holders.
In Fig. 2, the india-rubber band is stretched and has an air-tube solutioned to it.
In Fig. 3, the india-rubber band has been released and the tread part of the air-
tube compressed; the trough employed in applying the maintaining fabric being
also shown.
Fig. 4 is a transverse section of the. finished air-tube.
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of the ends of the air-tube and the soluble
cylinder; said ends being ready for joining
Fig. 6 is a similar view representing the ends joined.
Fig. 7 shows the joint completed.
A is the band of india-rubber with enlarged edges a. B and B are the metal
strips of the holders. bare pins fixed to the strips B. are thumb-nuts on
the pins b. are washers beneath the thumb-nuts. The pins have flats and the
washers 6 D-shaped holes to correspond. C is the air-tube. c is the compressed
part of the air-tube. D is the trough for the fabric E. F is the soluble cylinder.
The strips B and B are tightened by turning the thumb-nuts b¹. The washers 6*
can not turn owing to their D-shaped holes.
The strips B may be mounted on cross-bars.
There may be numerous sets of holders and the levers or screws for forcing the
holders apart may be arranged on a bench. The holders would be taken to the
bench (one set at a time) for the purpose of being forced apart. Pegs or catches
on the cross-bars, would retain the holders against the pull of the stretched
band.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is: -
1. For use in a pneumatic tire, a. puncture-closing air-tube made substantially
as described.
2. The improved method, substantially as described, of making a puncture-clos-
ing air-tube, which consists in solutioning part of the outer surface of a length
of air-tube in its normal condition to a stretched band of india-rubber, putting in
compression the adherent part of the air-tube by releasing the stretched band,
applying fabric inside the air-tube to the compressed adherent part, and removing
the air-tube from the released band with the aid of a solvent.
3. In making a puncture-closing air-tube, applying fabric to the inside of the
air-tube in the manner and for the purpose set forth.
4. In making a puncture-closing air-tube, the employment of apparatus sub-
stantially as described and illustrated. .
.
5. For making puncture-closing air-tubes, apparatus comprising a band of
india-rubber with enlarged edges, holders in which the enlarged edges engage,
and means for tightening the holders, substantially as described with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
6. In making a puncture-closing air-tube, employing a trough that goes inside
the air-tube in order to take a length of solutioned fabric into position for being
lowered on the tread part of the air-tube, substantially as described.
7. In joining the ends of an air-tube, the employment of a soluble cylinder,
substantially as described.
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3011 JT1000