Improvements in Bicycle and like Pneumatic Tyres.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 28th July, 1896-Accepted, 10th Oct., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Bicycle and like Pneumatic Tyres.
We, HENRY BINGHAM, of 365 Mount Alexander Road, Ascot Vale, in the Colony
of Victoria, Australia, Dentist, and JOHN ALSTON WALLACE, of Ludstone Chambers,
Collins Street, Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria aforesaid, a member of the
Legislative Council of Victoria, 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 :-
It is the aim of this invention to provide tyres for rims of bicycle and other
wheels, which shall possess not only the leading advantages of the ordinary pneumatic
tyres, but also other advantages which the latter do not possess. To attain this
object several parts of, and incidental to the ordinary pneumatic tyres as now
generally used are dispensed with, and thereby weight, expense and time are saved,
and frequent inconvenience is avoided.
It has been proved by experiment that the tyre shown in the drawings herewith,
which illustrate this invention, is exceedingly durable, is practically non-puncturable
and is light; and, further, is resilient and well adapted for the attainment of the
highest speed.
In using this invention no inflator need be carried as the tyre has no inflating
valve, and no detachable collapsible inner tube. The cover is not put under strong
tension, and is not secured to recesses in the wood or metal rim by internal pressure;
it is a fixture for its ordinary lifetime, and may be stripped off to be replaced by a
new one when worn out.
Referring to the aforesaid drawings in which like reference characters indicate like
parts in all the figures,
Figure 1 represents a cross section through a wheel rim where it rests upon the
ground.
Figures 2 and 3 are cross sections of details in the constructions, and -
Figure 4 shows the same parts as in Figure 1, but in the position assumed when
an obstruction in the road, or a heavy weight in the saddle, causes the tyre to yield.
In the drawing, 5 shows the wheel rim or felloe which may be of any suitable
material and contour.
Any known mode of connecting the spokes to the felloe may be used, which allows
the spokes to be renewed when required without removing any part of the tyre; no
particular kind of connection being shown as such forms no part of this invention.
All around the rim 5 there is permanently united to it by cement a slightly elastic
foundation 6, 7 having a central concave are 8. As only slight elasticity is required,
it is found convenient to use layers of cork, which are united and also made
waterproof by india rubber solution or a like cement.
9 represents a tube of india rubber which is covered exteriorly with a coating 10
of elastic cementing material such as india rubber solution, and is drawn into a
tube 11 composed of a flexible but inextensible material, woven silk, cotton, or other
textile hose being suitable.
The two tubes are then permanently united together by any suitable pressure, the
tube 9 being expanded and the pressure on coating 10 forcing part of it into the
substance of tube 11, closing the pores of the latter, the remainder of said coating
on solidifying causing a perfect union of the tubes. The exterior of the tube 11 is
luted or closed against the passage of air, by a flexible coating 12 of any well known
suitable material. The parts 9 to 12 thus form a single tube, impermeable to air yet
.

page_text: nexible, the india rubber being thick enough to cause the tube to regain its norma
shape whenever distortion has occurred and the cause of distortion has been removed
or passed.
In practice I take the compound tube 9-12 in a length sufficient for a tyre and
after temporarily closing one end within a vice or otherwise, attach the other end to
an air or gas pump and force into the tube enough air or gas to give a sufficiently
bigh pressure, which is in practice as high as, and even may be much higher than,
the highest pressure ordinarily used in pneumatic tyres. The onds of the length of
tubing are then united together to form a circular tube, methods of so doing being
well known to those versed in the art of making tyres. It is not however essential
to inflate under the said high pressure prior to making the tube endless or circular,
as the latter step might be taken first and the inflation be done through a small
aperture which could then be permanently closed.
The inflated compound tube, now forming a circle, is then sprung on to the
foundation aforesaid, and is cemented firmly to the concavity 8. When the said tube
is in place, it will remain a perfectly tight fixture upon its foundation the are of
contact being purposely made small, say 45 degrees, or preferably even less.
Around the outer edge of the tube 9-12 is then laid a 'concavo-convex puncture
shield, which is cemented on, and is composed of a slightly elastic material, layers of
cork 13, 15, being found convenient, united and waterproofed as by rubber cement,
and having a concavity 14 and a convexity 16 both exactly central. The arc of the
concavity is restricted so as to extend over an angle 'of 45 degrees or less for reasons
hereafter stated. The thickness of the shield 13-15 will vary according to the
class of track or road intended to be travelled 'on. 17 is an outer 'flexible cover of
india rubber, or, rubber and 'canvas, or 'the like, 'having two lips 18 one near each
edge where it is to be connected to 'the foundation 6, 7, and also two lips 19 one to
fit against each side of the puncture shield. There is a recess provided-as shown
in drawing in the foundation and in the puncture shield for each of these lips to
abut against or fit into. The cover is cemented on to the parts 6, 7, 13, 15, 16, and
need 'never be removed until worh out. It is not attached in any way to tube 9-12,
and whilst when there is no weight on the saddle, or only a slight weight, it may
touch that tube, with any considerable pressure it will not touch at all, owing to its
flexibility, as Figure 3 shows. The lips 18 and 19 'serve 'to keep the cover firmly in
place, and prevent the lateral movements of parts of said cover from loosening parts
which are cemented down. The spaces between the cover 17 and the tube 9-12 are
indicated by the figure 20 and contain air which is not under pressure.
to
In using this invention it will be obvious that whilst the tread of 'the tyre (or the
lowest part of it pressing the ground) will remain virtually the same in cross
sections whether the tyre travels övér a Sinooth or a
the 'convexity of 'said tread or lowest part, and to the freedom of 'the 'tube 9-12 to
bumpy 'track, vet that owing
yield to pressure, combined with the smallness of the arcs 8 and 14 (which render a
comparatively small pressure effective) the tyre will respond to shocks and con-
cussions, by 'becoming flattened or oval in situ, as shown in Figure 3, the comfort of
the rider being thereby maintained. The reason for making the arcs 8 and 14 small
is 'to leave as 'inuch as possible of the tube 9-12 completely unattached to any other
part of the tyre.
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
claim is :-
1. A 'bicycle or other like tyre having the flexible tabe 9-12 impermeable to
air, and inflated under high pressure, in combination with the foundation 6, 7 and
the puncture shield 13-15, the said foundation and puncture shield being cemented
to said tyre along the 'respective arcs 8, 14 and the remainder of the tube being
unattached, substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.
4
2. In a bicycle or other 'like tyre the cover, 17 having the lips 18 and 19 in
conibination with the foundation 6-7 and the puncture shield 13-15, said

page_text: foundation and puncture shield each having recesses with which said lips engage
substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.
3. The general arrangement and combination of parts of the bicycle or other like
tyre substantially as described and illustrated and for the purposes set forth.
Dated this 28th day of July 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.