Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres for the Wheels of Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres for the Wheels of Velocipedes and
other Vehicles.
We, HENRY GRENDON TIPPET, of 292, Vauxhall Road, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Merchant, and THOMAS WEBB, of 129, Walton Lane, Liverpool,
Foreman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to pneumatic tyres for the wheels of velocipedes and
other vehicles and is designed to provide a tyre which requires no special rim,
but can be applied or affixed to almost every rim, in common use.
In carrying our invention into effect, we form the tyre or outer cover of an
endless band of rubber, preferably lined on the inside with a layer or layers of
canvas or other textile material, and provide each edge thereof on the inside with
a strong bead or projection. The beads of this band are pressed between the
flanges of the wheel rim. The extreme width of the rim inside being less than
the width of the band or tyre, overall, it is essential for the tvre in order to get
it into position to be bent into tubular form. The flexibility of the rubber
permits of this bending, and moreover its elasticity presses the beads of the tyre
against the flanges of the rim inside. The beads though somewhat elastic and
flexible are made stout and strong and their combined width is greater than the
width of the rim. and consequently when in position in the rim they are forced
to overlap each other. For this purpose the beads are so thinned at their adjacent
edges that they shall have the appearance when placed together of an arch or
saddle, and they are also chamfered, so that they will overlap neatly, and fit the
one over the other accurately and securely. The opposite edges of the beads are
made full depth not thinned, and they have when in position in the rim oblique
faces which constitute practically a continuation of the curve of the tyre when
bent into tubular form. When the tyre is in position in the rim, and inflated
with air, the pressure of the air presses the arched overlapping edges of the beads
firmly together, and it also presses the beads both against the bottom of the rim
(or against shoulders) and also laterally against the rim flanges inside, thus
holding the tyre in place. Furthermore the inside diameter of the tyre or outer
cover when in position will he less than the outside diameter of the rim, and
hence so long as the tyre is kept inflated with the beads overlapping and abutting
firmly against the rim inside, the tyre will be firmly held in place and cannot
come off.
By this arrangement, a tyre or outer cover made in accordance with the inven-
tion. can be fitted to almost any rim, and can be easily opened or removed for
any desired purpose. The tyre or outer cover can be made of a flat endless band,
and then hent into tubular form when required to get it in position in the rim.
or it may be made arch shaped or tubular in course of manufacture, with the
beads close together or in contact, so that they have to be spread apart in the

page_text: course of inserting the air tube and applying the outer cover to the rim of the
wheel.
Dated this 14th day of September 1899
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres for the Wheels of Velocipedes and
other Vehicles.
We, HENRY GRENDON TIPPET, of 292, Vauxhall Road, Liverpool, in the County
of Lancaster, Merchant, and THOMAS WEBB, of 129, Walton Lane, Liverpool,
Foreman, 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 the wheels of velocipedes and
other vehicles and is designed to provide a tyre which requires no special rim
but can be applied or fixed to almost any rim in common use provided it be con-
cave or grooved in cross section.
The invention will be understood from the following description, reference being
had to the accompanying drawings, in which
4
Figures 1 and 2 are cross sections of the tyre before being inflated;
Figure 3 a cross section of the tyre applied to a James rim and inflated ready
for use.
In carrying the invention into effect, we form the pneumatic tyre of a rigid
metallic wheel rim C of practically almost any section provided it be concave or
channelled, a flexible tyre or outer cover A, preferably lined on the inside with a
layer or layers of canvas a or other textile material and an air tube D contained
within the outer cover A. Each edge of the outer cover A is provided on the in-
side with a strong head or Hange B. These beads or flanges are pressed between
the flanges of the wheel rim C. The tyre or outer cover A can be made of a flat
endless band and then bent into tubular form when required to get it in position
in the rim, or it may be made arch-shaped or tubular in course of manufacture
with the beads close together or in contact, so that they have to be spread apart
in the course of inserting the air tube. The flexibility of the rubber permits of
this bending, and moreover its elasticity presses the beads B of the tyre against
the rim inside. The heads or flanges B though somewhat elastic and flexible are
made stout and strong, and their combined width is greater than the inside width
of the rim C, and consequently when in position in the rim, they are forced to
overlap each other. For this purpose the beads are by preference thinned' at
their adjacent edges to form flanges b, while the opposite edges of the beads are
made full depth, not thinned. When the tyre is in position in the rim, and the
air tube inflated with air, the pressure of the air presses the overlapping edge b
of one head B firmly against or on top of the other bead, and it also presses the
opposite edges of the beads laterally against the rim C inside, thus holding the
tyre in place by a jamming or locking action of the parts. Furthermore the
inside diameter of the tyre or outer cover when in position, will be less than the
outside diameter of the rim, and hence so long as the tyre is kept inflated, with
its beads overlapping the one over the other and abutting firmly against the
rim C inside, the tyre will be held in place and cannot come off. By this
.

page_text: arrangement the tyre or outer cover made in accordance with the invention can
be fitted to almost any rim provided the rims have sides or abutments for the
beads to abut against on the inside, and it can be easily opened or removed for any
desired purpose.
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 comprising an inflatable inner air tube, and a tubular
flexible outer cover or tyre, having a strong bead or flange at each edge, said beads
or flanges being so arranged that when placed within a rigid wheel rim of
almost any shape in cross section (provided it be concave or channelled, or have
sides or abutments for the beads to abut against) and the inner tube inflated, the
pressure of the air presses the overlapping edges of the beads firmly together, and
also presses the opposite edges laterally against the rim inside, thus holding the
tyre in place by a certain jamming or locking action of the parts substantially as
described, said construction enabling the tyre to be fixed to almost any rim in
common use.
2. An inflatable rubber or elastic tyre secured to a concave or grooved rim by
means of a flange or bead on each edge of the outer cover which overlap each
other when placed in the rim, said flanges or beads being so arranged that the air
pressure on the inside (when the air tube is inflated) causes the said flanges to
tightly bind or jam against each other at the overlapping parts, and also bind
laterally against the inside of the rim, whereby the tyre is firmly secured in place,
substantially as described.
3. An inflatable rubber or elastic tyre. constructed, arranged and operating sub-
stantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and shown in the drawings
annexed.
Dated this 10th day of June 1900.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Patent Agents, of Liverpool, Manchester, Birmingham & London.