Improvements in or connected with Rims and Inflatable Tyres for the Wheels of Cycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Rims and Inflatable Tyres for
the Wheels of Cycles and other Vehicles.
I, ANTHONY PULBROOK, of No. 8, Unwin Mansions, Queen's Club. Gardens,
West Kensington, London, Solicitor, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:
-
This invention consists in improved methods of constructing, securing and
arranging inflatable tyres in certain forms of rims, and in improved valves for
inflating tyres.
I use transverse levers to secure inflatable tyres to the rim, the fulcrum upon
which each lever works being either a part of the rim extending radially beyond
the lever, or a fulcrum secured to the rim in such manner that the lever bears
upon it radially outwards from the rim.
In some instances the fulcra may allow the lever to bear upon them both
radially outwards and inwards.
One method of effecting this is to pass each lever through a hole or slot in
the rim so that the rim forms a fulcrum, or to fasten or secure the fulcrum to
the rim, and to pass part of the lever through or under it, or otherwise to
attach or secure the lever to the fulcrum, or I may have a circular wire, chain
or band of inextensible material longitudinally inside the rim, and pass the
levers between this wire chain, or band, or part thereof, and the rim, or secure
or attach the levers to the wire, chain or band whereby the wire, chain or band
will act as a fulcrum for all the levers, or I may fix fulcra inside the rim by
means of pins or the like passing through the rim, and screwed or otherwise
fastened on the other side, or I may make the fulcra part of the rim or secure
the fulcra in any other suitable manner for the levers to bear upon as before
described.
One arm of each lever stands transversely inside the rim preferably in such
manner that it can be forced inwards radially by the air pressure. The cover
or tyre, which may be arched, saddle-shaped, or of other form, is secured to the
other arm of the lever which is preferably not at all or only slightly subject
to the radial inward pressure of the air, and may be so arranged as to be drawn
outward radially by the air pressure, or it may be secured by mechanical means
to one or both sides of the saddle or arched shape tyre or cover, or it may be
secured in the, manner herein provided on one side only, the other side being
cemented, clamped, or otherwise secured to the rim in any suitable manner,
or the levers may be so arranged as to secure both sides to the rim. For con-
venience I may make the levers in two parts.
The part of the lever, which stands transversely inside the rim and is pressed
inwards radially by the pressure of the compressed air, may take more or less
the form of the inside of the rim, and may have a projection or projections
passing into a depression or depressions in the rim or vice versa.
Another method of using transverse levers is to arrange them as double levers
forming clamps or pincers which, by inflation of the air tube or by mechanical
means, or both, engage with projections on or holes in the rim.

page_text: The rims may be thickened or strengthened at or about the parts where the
levers bear or the fulcra occur.""
The tyre or cover may have wires or other inextensible material inserted
therein or attached thereto, to which the levers may be attached.
Another method of securing a pneumatic tyre or cover to the rim is as
follows Inextensible plates, bands or the like are inserted in or attached to
the sides of the cover or tyre preferably leaving the sides of the tyre or cover
free to move longitudinally and the movement may be assisted by lubricating
material such as French chalk, grease-proof paper, graphite, or the like material
not injurious to india-rubber. The plates or bands may be secured so as to
maintain their relative positions to each other. The ends of each plate or band
are corrugated transversely or otherwise have depressions and projections in
or on them. The plates or bands may also have longitudinal corrugations, or
they may press upon air tight compartments or like yielding material. The
plates, when in place on the rim, may not, in some cases, meet longitudinally
end to end, but a space may be left between them, or a projection from one plate
may pass into a sleeve in the next. When the tyre is inflated the air pressure
forces the plates tightly to the rim. I bridge over the places where the plates
abut on each other in the following manner:-I have corrugated cover plates
similar to the corrugations in the ends of the other plates. These plates may
have pins or the like fitted with screw-threads or the like passing from them
through holes in the rim. These cover plates, being kept apart from the other
plates during inflation, do not interfere with the movement of the latter when
being pressed to the rim, but when the main plates are in place I screw down
or otherwise mechanically fix the cover plates over the ends of the main plates
so that by the two corrugations interlocking, the tyre or cover is firmly clamped
to the rim without unsupported gaps in such a manner as to be readily removed
or opened, and yet not to come loose in case of puncture or by a longitudinal
strain on the tyre caused by a gripping material such as shark-skin on the
tread.
When using a tyre in two parts, as described with reference to Figures 10,
11, 12 and 13 of my Patent No. 9697 of 1897, I secure one part of the tyre
to the other by means of pieces or bands of metal or the like, the radial projec-
tion in one part fitting into a radial depression in the other. I may, as addi-
tional security, use other methods of fastening in combination with the above
method.
1045
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Rims and Inflatable Tyres for
the Wheels of Cycles and other Vehicles.
I, ANTHONY PULBROOK, formerly of No. 8 Unwin Mansions, Queen's Club
Gardens, West Kensington, but now of No. 5, Greyhound Road Mansions,
Hammersmith, London, Solicitor, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:
This invention consists in improved methods of constructing securing and
arranging inflatable tyres in certain forms of rims.

page_text: I use transverse levers to secure inflatable tyres to the rim, the fulcrum upon
which each lever works being either a part of the rim which may extend
radially beyond the lever or a fulcrum secured to the rim in such manner that
the lever bears upon it radially from the rim.
In some instances the fulcra may allow the lever to bear upon them both
radially outwards and inwards.
There are various methods of carrying out my invention one is to pass each
lever through a hole or slot in the rim so that the rim forms a fulcrum or I
may otherwise fasten or secure the fulcrum to the rim so that the lever bears
upon it by passing through under or over the rim or I otherwise combine with
or attach or secure the lever to the rim as a fulcrum in any suitable manner
for instance I may have a circular or endless wire chain or band of inexten-
sible material circumferentially inside the rim,, and pass the levers between this
wire, chain, or band, or part thereof, and the rim, or secure or attach the levers
to the wire, chain or band whereby the wire chain or band will act as a fulcrum
for all the levers or I may have pins or projections in one lever passing into
sleeves, slots or depressions in an adjoining lever or I may fix fulcra inside the
rim by means of pins or the like passing through the rim, and screwed or other-
wise fastened on the other side, or I may make the fulcra part of the rim or
secure the fulcra in any other suitable manner for the levers to bear upon as
before described.
One arm of each lever stands transversely inside the rim preferably in such
manner that it can be forced inwards radially against the rim by the air pres-
sure. The cover or tyre which may be arched, saddle-shaped, or of other form,
is secured to the other arm of the lever which is preferably not at all or only
slightly subjected to the radial inward pressure of the air, and may be so arranged
as to be drawn outward radially by the air pressure or the lever or levers may
be secured by mechanical means to one or both sides of the saddle or arched-
shape tyre or cover or to a wire, plate, or band attached or secured to the cover
or tyre or the sides thereof or the lever may be secured in the manner herein
provided on one side only, of the tyre or cover the other side of the tyre or
cover being cemented, clamped, or otherwise secured to the rim in any suitable
manner, or the levers may be so arranged as to secure both sides to the rim in
manner herein provided. For convenience I may make the levers in two parts.
The part of the lever, which stands transversely inside the rim and is pressed
inwards radially by the pressure of the compressed air, may take more or less
the form of the inside of the rim and may have a projection or projections
passing into a depression or depressions in the rim or vice versa.
Another method of using transverse levers is to arrange them as double levers
forming clamps or pincers which, by inflation of the air tube or by mechanical
means, or both, engage with projections on or holes in the rim. The rims may
be thickened or strengthened at or about the parts where the levers bear or
the fulcra occur.
The tyre or cover may have wires or other inextensible material inserted
therein or attached thereto, to which the levers may be attached.
Another method of securing a pneumatic tyre or cover to the rim is as fol-
lows: Inextensible plates, bands or the like are inserted in or attached to the
sides or edges of the cover or tyre preferably leaving the sides of the tyre or
cover free to move or extend longitudinally independently of the plates or
some part or parts thereof and the movement may be assisted by lubricating
material such as French chalk, grease-proof paper, graphite, or the like material
not injurious to indiarubber. The plates or bands may be secured so as to
maintain their relative positions to each other. The ends of each plate
or band
are corrugated transversely or otherwise have depressions and projections in or
on them. The plates or bands may also have longitudinal corrugations or they
may press upon air-tight compartments or like yielding material especially when
not using an inner tube. The plates when in place on the rim, may not, in

page_text: some cases meet longitudinally end to end but a space may be left between
them, or a projection from one plate may pass into a sleeve in the next. When
the tyre is inflated the air pressure forces the plates tightly to the rim. I
sometimes bridge over the places or gaps where the plates abut on each other
in the following manner:-I have corrugated cover plate or plates with depres-
sions or projections similar to the corrugations or depressions and projections
in the ends of the other plates. These plates may have pins or the like fitted
with screw-threads or the like passing from them through holes or slots in the
rim. These cover plates being kept apart from the other. plates during infla-
tion, do not interfere with the movement of the latter when being pressed
to the rim, but when the main plates are in place I screw down or otherwise
mechanically fix the cover plates over the ends of the main plates so that by
the two corrugations or depressions and projections interlocking the tyre or
cover is firmly clamped to the rim without unsupported gaps in such a manner
as to be readily removed or opened, and yet not to come loose in case of punc-
ture or by a longitudinal strain on the tyre caused by a gripping material such
as shark skin on the road.
And in order that the said invention may be fully understood I will now pro-
ceed to describe the same with the aid of the accompanying three sheets of
drawings. Figure 1 is a longitudinal, and Figure 2 a transverse section of the
rim and tyre cover of a cycle-wheel showing the cover attached to levers pass-
ing through holes or slots in the rim so that the latter forms the fulcra for the
levers. P is the rim, S are the holes or slots therein, L are the levers passing
through the holes or slots, C is the cover, I the inner or pneumatic tube, Da
depression or bend in the lever L adapted to work on the fulcrum formed by
the rim. The cover C may be fastened in any suitable manner at each side to
one end of a lever L, as shown in Figure 2, or one side may be fastened to a
lever and the other side to the rim direct, without the intervention of a lever.
The end of the lever to which the edge of the cover C is fastened may be the
same width as the part of the lever extending inwards towards the centre and
bottom of the rim, or it may be narrower, but preferably it may be broader as
shown in Figure so as to extend a certain distance round the outer periphery
of the rim. The levers are placed at regular distances apart round the rim
with the parts to which the cover is attached as close together as convenient
so as to afford as continuous a fixing for the edges of the cover as possible..
It will now be understood that when it is desired to attach the cover to the
rim the inner ends of the levers L are passed through the slots S either before
or after the cover C has been attached to the outer ends, the pneumatic tube I
having been of course previously inserted; then on the tube I being inflated
the air pressure acts upon the inner ends of the levers forcing them radially
towards the bottom of the rim and the outer ends inwards in opposition to the
outward pressure of the compressed air, and the cover is thereby held firmly in
place on the rim.
Figure 3 is a cross section, and Figure 4 a longitudinal section of a rim and
tyre-cover of a cycle-wheel with the levers arranged in a somewhat different
manner, that is to say, with pins secured to the rim to serve as fulcra for the
levers. P is the rim, L the levers, C the cover, and I the pneumatic tube as
before. L' are headed pins secured to the rim and serving as fulcra for the
levers L. Each lever is made in two parts with the fulcrum pin L' placed
between them, the head of the said pin preventing movement of the parts
inwards away from the side of the rim. The tyre or cover is attached to the
outer ends of the two parts of the lever in such manner that the said two parts
are free to pivot on the pin L¹. When the pneumatic tube is inflated the inner
ends of the two parts of the lever are pressed towards each other by reason of
the periphery of the rim, where they occur, being smaller than that where
the outer ends are fixed to the tyre or cover, and the tyre or cover is thereby
securely held on the rim.

page_text: In the Figures 1 and 4 the rim and cover are shown as if straightened out they
are of course in practice curved to the arc of a circle as in Figure 6,for example.
Figure 5 is a cross section of a rim P cover C and pneumatic tube I with the
levers L L overlapping one another at the bottom of the rim and so shaped as
to take into recesses P at the sides of the rin under the pressure of the com-
pressed air in the tube I whereby the levers and therefore the cover are held
still more securely to the rim.
Figures 6 and 7 are respectively a longitudinal vertical section and a sectional
plan, of part of a rim and tyre cover showing a method of securing a tyre or
cover C to a rim P by means of inextensible plates bands or the like Q inserted
in or attached to the side or sides of the cover C, a projection Q2 on one plate
passing into a socket or slee Q3 on the other, whereby the plates are left free
to separate to a sufficient extent to enable the cover to be got on to the rim
over the largest periphery thereof but to be kept properly in line with one
another. The cover C has preferably a hem at the edge into which the plates Q
are inserted. These latter are attached to the cover at or about the centre of
their lengths, or at other suitable point thereby allowing the cover or tyre to
extend and permit the plates to separate between any two points of attach-
ment. T is a wedge shaped projection secured to the inside of the rim P, and
the ends of the plates Q are preferably shaped to fit the bevil of this wedge as
shown in Figure 6. Any suitable number of these plates and wedge shaped
projections may be placed round the rim.
It will now be understood that when the edge of the cover C is passed over
the greatest, that is to say the outside periphery of the rim (the cover or tyre
extending for the purpose between the points of attachment of the plates Q
thereto, and the said plates separating at their ends) the internal pressure,
when the tyre is inflated,, will press the inextensible plates Q radially outwards
and against the sides of the rim, the ends of the said plates bearing against the
sides of the wedge shaped projection T, and the cover or tyre will be thereby
secured to the rim.
Elastic material may sometimes be used to connect the ends of the
plates, or may sometimes be attached or secured to the tyre or cover so that
when the latter is placed over the greatest periphery of the rim (whereby an
extension of the elastic material is caused) the said elastic material will re-act when
it reaches a smaller periphery of the rim and draw the plates together.
Instead of making the wedge piece T taper as shown in Figure 6 I sometimes
make it with steps or projections and recesses, and the ends of the plates Q
to correspond as shown in Figure 8.
I sometimes make the wedge or other shaped projection T with a channel or
groove T at each side as shown in Figures 9 and 10. The portions of the plates
intended to engage with the wedge may pass through slits in the cover the
plates being slit at Q to enable that to be done, the pin Q2 in the one plate and
the socket or sleeve Q3 in the other into which the said pin Q3 takes remain-
ing enclosed in the hem of the cover.
Figures 11 and 12 are respectively a sectional elevation and a. sectional plan
showing how the ends of the plates Q may be held together by a cover-plate U
having projections and depressions corresponding to similar depressions and
corrugations at the ends of the plates Q and, if desired to similar projections
and depressions on the inside of the rim as shown at U in Figure 12. The
cover-plate U is held in position by a bolt U2 passing through a hole or slot in
the side of the rim and secured by a nut U³ or otherwise.
In Figure 13 U are wires of inextensible material lying circumferentially
round the rim P and forming fulcra for the levers L.
Figure 14 shews the adjacent ends of two levers L one of which is furnished
with a pin or projection V passing into a sleeve or depression in the adjoining
lever.
Figures 15 and 16 shew in transverse and longitudinal section respectively

page_text: levers L secured to endless wires W attached to or enclosed in hems X in an
arch-shaped cover C.
Figure 17 shews tyre in a transverse section in which the saddle-shaped
cover C is secured to the rim at one edge by the action of the lever L attached
to the cover (as in Figures 15 and 16 for example) turning in the fulcrum U
(as in Figure 13 for example) and preferably following the internal contour of
the rim P as shewn; the other edge of the cover C being secured to the rim by
the inextensible wire W in the well known manner. The lever L is first placed
in position in the rim P under the endless wire U and the other edge of the
cover C is placed therein afterwards and for removal of the cover the proceed-
ings are reversed.
Figure 18 shews in transverse section a tyre or cover C secured to the rim P
by double levers, forming clamps or pincers turning on a centre Z, their inner ends
being suitably secured to the rim P by bolts and nuts a as shewn or otherwise. To
insert the tyre the bolts and nuts a are unscrewed, the levers L are opened,
the inner tube and cover with its endless wires are inserted, the levers are closed
and fastened and the tyre inflated.
I am aware that it has been proposed to secure tyres to the rims by the
lever like action of the pressure of the air on one arm of the lever causing the
other arm to engage with an incurved rim and I desire to have it understood
that I make no claim to any such arrangement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
First. The method of securing a pneumatic tyre or cover to the rim which
consists of a series of levers disposed round the rim, connected with the tyre
or cover and acted upon by the pressure of the compressed air in the tyre, sub-
stantially as described.
Second. The method of securing a pneumatic tyre or cover to the rim which
consists in the employment of a series of plates, bands or the like disposed
round the rim, connected with the tyre or cover, and having their ends in engage-
ment with a wedge shaped or stepped projection on the inside of the rim, the
said plates bands or the like being pressed outwards radially and laterally by
the pressure of the compressed air in the tyre, substantially as described.
Third. The method of securing a pneumatic tyre or cover to the rim which
consists in the employment of a series of plates, bands, or the like disposed
round the rim, connected with the tyre or cover, and having more or less radial
corrugations or projections and depressions adapted to take into corresponding
corrugations or depressions and projections on a cover plate or on the interior
of the rim, substantially as described.
Fourth. In a fastening for a pneumatic tyre or cover in which a series of
plates, bands or the like is employed in accordance with the second and third
claiming clauses hereof, securing the ends of such plates, bands or the like to
each other by means of a projection on one passing into a socket or sleeve on
the other, substantially as described.
Dated this 16th day of October 1899