Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres for Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 7th Sept., 1896-Accepted, 14th Nov., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres for Vehicles.
We, WILLIAM PURVIS of 807 New City Road Glasgow, Optician, and JOHN
MCCORMACK of 249 New City Road, Glasgow, Waterproof Manufacturer, 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 relates to pneumatic tyres for vehicles and it has for its object to
improve their construction.
No wires or such like are required to attach the tyre or its cover to the rim.
In carrying out our invention we use a piece of inflatable tube of the proper
length which is closed at both ends and which is inserted into an endless tubular
cover through a hole or opening in it, which hole, after the insertion of the inner
tube,is locked or closed up, as hereinafter described, in a special manner.
And in order that our said invention may be properly understood we have
hereu cappended an explanatory sheet of drawings, whereon,
Fig. 1 is a reduced section of a tyre and its rim.
..
Fig 2 and 3 are views showing one of the openings of the tyre and the method
of closing it.
Figs. 4 and 5 show a slightly modified method of closing.
Figs. 6, 7, 8, and 9 are detail sectional views.
Fig. 10 is a sectional view showing the tyre fitted on its rim.
Fig. 11 is a sectional view of the rim.
Fig. 12 shows another method of closing.
Referring to the drawings whereon the same reference letters wherever repeated
indicate the same or similar parts.
a is the outer endless cover, b the inner tube and c the rim which may be of any
well known and suitable shape.
The tubular cover a has two openings a¹, a², in it at diametrically opposite
points, and through one of these openings the length of inflatable tube b is pushed
until its ends meet at the other opening as shown at Fig. 1.
It is very essential that, when the inner tube is inserted in place, the openings
should be closed up in such a manner as, on the one hand, to prevent the inner tube,
when inflated, bulging through, and, on the other hand, to prevent the inner tube
being cut or torn when the cycle is running. The arrangement we provide to effect
this is shown at Figs. 2 and 3; it consists of two pair of leaves d, e, and d', e¹, which
are doubled so as to enclose the edge a* of the canvas lining of the cover between
them as shown in the sections at Figs. 6 and 7. The leaves are rivetted, eyeletted,
or otherwise secured to the canvas lining a* of the cover, or to both the rubber
and canvas, and they are, preferably, covered with thin canvas or cloth to prevent
the rivet heads cutting into the inner tube. The rivet heads, of course are made
as small and flat as possible so as to present very little abrading surface. When
the opening in the cover is closed the eye parts f, f', of the leaves fit into each
other so that pins 9 can be inserted through the eyes and lock each pair of leaves
together like an ordinary hinge as shown at Figs. 3 and 7. These metal hinges
allow the cover to lie properly in the rim and also give it a certain amount of
flexibility at the joint. When it is desired to remove the inner tube for repair or
such like the hinge joint is unlocked by merely withdrawing the pins g, so that it
presents the appearance shown at Fig. 2 and the inner tube being deflated can be
easily pulled through the opening. o is the inflating valve of the tube b.

page_text: Figs. 4 and 5 show a closing arrangement consisting of single interlocking
plates h, i, h, i, which are rivetted or otherwise secured to the canvas lips a* of
the opening in the cover. As shown at Figs. 8 and 9 the plates h, h have a
downwardly bent or houked edge whilst the plates i, ', have an upwardly bent or
hooked edge. These edges, when the lips of the opening are brought together
can be interlocked as shown at Fig. 9. The tension of the inner inflated tube b
prevents them unlocking whilst the cycle is in use.
Before the inner tube is introduced into the cover it is partially inflated and
when properly inserted and the openings closed up the whole tyre is easily sprung
upon the wheel rim. After being sprung into place the tyre is fully inflated and
as a consequence it is held tightly upon the rim.
In order to prevent the tyre creeping the cover has secured on its inner surface
a strip of canvas, tape, or other fabric, k, whilst the rim is lined with a similar strip
of fabric j. These two strips being forced into close contact, when the tyre is
inted, adhere very strongly together and prevent the tyre creeping readily.
The valve o of the inner tube, which is a strong one, and which passes through one
of the openings (al) and also through the rim, as usual, serves as an additional
security against creeping.
The strips of canvas or other fabric are as rough as possible in order to present
as great a frictional surface as possible.
If desired instead of using the closing arrangements hereinbefore described a
slot and button arrangement may be used as shown at Fig. 12. This arrangement
consists of a doubled plate 7 provided with buttons or studs secured to 'one lip of
the cover and a doubled plate m provided with slots n secured to the other lip of
the cover: As will be seen the slots n are made with recesses n in which the
buttons catch when the two lips are brought together. The strain caused by the
inflation of the inner tube prevents the buttons coming out of their recesses when
once locked in place.
The locking arrangements shown on the drawings can be further modified without
departing from the invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
consider novel and desire to claim is :-
1. A pneumatic tyre for vehicles consisting of an outer endless tubular cover
provided with openings through which an inner length of inflatable tubing is
inserted, the openings in the cover being adapted to be locked up or closed by
meaus of binging or interlocking plates or their equivalent, substantially as
hereinbefore set forth.
2. The several arrangements for locking up or closing the openings in the outer
cover substantially as herein before described and shown at Figures 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7,
8, 9, and 12 of the drawings annexed.
Dated this 5th day of September 1896.
H. D. FITZPATRICK,
70 Wellington Street, Glasgow, Agent.