Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Tires.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 25th May, 1897-Accepted, 31st July,
1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by MARK LUKE DEERING, of Brooklyn, in the
County of Kings and State of New York, United States of America,
Mechanical Engineer.]
Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Tires.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex 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 improvements in pneumatic tires which comprise an
cuter, endless inflatable tube, an inner inflatable tube, and means whereby each
tube may be separately inflated, and the invention consists of a tire whose outer
tube is provided with an aperture, and whose inner tube is adapted to be drawn
by one end out of and into the outer tube, and a part of whose structure consists
of a mechanical fastening whereby the aperture in the outer tube is hermetically
closed, the parts of the tire being constructed, or constructed and combined with
each other, as is herein particularly described and claimed.
On the accompanying sheet of drawings, Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of a
fragment of a tire; Fig. 2, a plan of that fragment inverted; Fig. 3, a cross-
section in the plane a, a, Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a cross-section in the plane y, y, Fig. 2:
Fig. 5, a side view and section of another fragment of this tire, showing the
valve-post of the outer tube: Fig. 6, a section of a piece of the outer tube of this
tire; Fig. 7, a face-view of the piece shown in Fig. 6, and of a metal stay engaged
therewith: Fig. 8, a cross-section of the stay; Fig. 9, a longitudinal section of a
fragment of another tire; Fig. 10, a plan of that fragment inverted Fig. 11, a
cross-section of the same; Fig. 12, a fragment of the outer tube of this tire;
Fig. 13, a view in section of the several pieces which compose a méchanical
fastening and Fig. 14, a plan of one of those pieces.
;
Similar reference-numerals designate like parts in different views.
The general object of this invention is to facilitate the repair of an inner tube,
by so constructing and combining the parts of the tire that the inner tube may
be easily removed from and re-inserted in the outer tube, and that the aperture in
the outer tube, through which the inner tube is passed, may be hermetically and
firmly closed in a few seconds, even by a person who is not skilled in the con-
struction or repair of tires. The outer tube is preferably a complete single-tube-
tire by itself, and the inner tube is not expected to perform its main function,
nor even to be inflated, unless the outer tube, or the single-tube-tire, is injured.
1 that tire is punctured, for instance, then the inner tube, on being inflated, and
the punctured outer tube form together another perfect tire.
But the invention applies also to those tires of which the type is a tire
comprising two thin tubes, one of them being endless and inclosing the other,
and an uninflatable case inclosing the thin tubes, as will appear from the
following description and claim.
The outer tube, which is represented in the drawings as a complete tire by

page_text: itself, may be either the tire 1, which is shown in Figs. 1 et seq. to 4 inclusive, or
the tire 1, which is shown in Figs. 9 et seq. to 12 inclusive. The tire 1 differs
in construction from an ordinary single-tube-tire only in respect to the short
portion which is illustrated in Figs. and 2, the wall of this portion being
composed of two parts 10 and 2. The outer part 10 is a continuation of the wall
proper of the tire, and in this part an opening which affords access to the inner
part 2, and which is large enough to allow an inner tube and its valve-post to be
freely passed through the part 10. A suitable opening is that indicated in the
Crawings, it being a round hole adapted to receive the valve-post of the inner
tube, with slits 11 extending from this hole towards the ends of the part 10.
On each side of the slits 11 are holes 12, in which is a lace 13. If an opening
of another form is made, means should be provided whereby the opening may be
closed except where the valve-post is to pass through the part 10.
The other or inner part 2 consists of a diaphram, which intersects the past 10
in a line surrounding the opening therein, and any other perforation made n
that part, and which is hermetically joined to the part 10 at all points of its
intersection therewith, and which has in it the aperture through which the inner
tube is inserted in and withdrawn from the tire 1. The intersection of the
diaphram with the other parts of the tire is shown in Figs. 1 and 3, and indicated
by the dotted lines 20 and 21 on Fig. 2. This diaphram and the other parts of
the tire are preferably formed and vulcanized together. The diaphram may be
composed wholly or partly of a single thickness of rubber, or of layers of rubber
united, or of a layer or layers of rubber and a layer of fabric united, and the term
diaphram 2 is intended to designate it whichever of these formations it may
have. It is considered best to construct it of a layer or layers of rubber 22, and
a layer of loosely woven fabric 23 which will allow the rubber to stretch freely,
the fabric constituting the outer surface of the diaphram. The fabric 23, which
is represented in Fig. 3 by the heavy line, is folded along the lines where it meets
the sides of the part 10, and portions 24 of the fabric are secured to the inner
surface of that part, as appears by Fig. 3. The diaphram and part 10 are
unattached to one another, except at their intersection as above described. The
aperture 25 which is shown in the diaphram, as appears by Figs. 1 and 6, is
naturally round, and is bounded by a rubber ring 26, which is thicker than the
main part of the diaphram.
The arrangement of the inner tube 3 within the tire 1, the tube 3 being
uninflated, is illustrated by Figs. 1, 3 and 5. The inner tube is made of thin
rubber and is naturally straight, its ends 30 and 31 being hermetically sealed,
and it has secured to it, near the end 30, a valve-post which fills the aperture in the
diaphram 2. The valve-post shown comprises the rubber post 4 and the metal
tube 40. The post 4 is vulcanized on the tube 3 and has in it a cylindrical
recess 41, and an air-passage 42 extending from the recess 41 to the interior of the
tube 3. The metal tube 40 has a flange 43 at its base, and is threaded both
internally and externally, and is screwed tightly on the rubber post, the flange 43
being in contact with the wall of the tube 3. The interior of the metal tube
might be smooth and the rubber post might be vulcanized in the tube. In that
face of the flange 43 which is next to the diaphram 2 is an annular groove, and
on the tube 40 are a nut 44 and a washer 45, the washer also having in it an
annular groove facing that in the flange 43. The ring 26, on the diaphram 2,
is clamped by the nut 44 between the washer 45 and the flange 43 and pressel
tightly into the groove in the flange, and around the valve-post close to the flange.
A cylindrical, threaded valve-case 46, tightly screwed into the recess 41 in the
rubber post, renders air-tight the contact of the tube 40 with the exterior of the
post 4 as well as that of the valve-case with the interior of the post. Thus the
aperture is hermetically closed, so that air cannot escape from the tire 1 around
the valve-post of the tube 3. A band 32, secured to the tube 3 at the end 31 of
the tube, extends therefrom to and around the valve-post, holding the tube 3
close to that part of the wall of the tire 1 which rests against the rim of the wheel.

page_text: This valve-post extends through the round hole which forms part of the opening
in the part 10 of the tire 1, the rest of that opening being closed and the sections
of the part 10 being secured together by the lacing, or other means provided
therefor, and when the tire is affixed to a wheel this valve-post and the
valve-post 14 of the tire 1 extend through hores diametrically opposite to each
other in the rim of the wheel.
The tube 3, being secured in the tire as described, may be removed from and
re-inserted in the tire 1 through the aperture 25, and the aperture may then be
hermetically re-closed. The tire being off the rim of the wheel, and deflated, the
sections of the part 10 are released from their fastenings and separated, and the
nut 44 and washer 45 are removed from the valve-post. Then the aperture 25 is
converted into a passage for the tube 3, by distending its margin and engaging
therewith a contrivance, such for example as is the stay 5. This is a rigid,
flattened ring, having a peripheral groove 50 therein, and it engages the distended
margin of the aperture 25 in the groove 50), as appears by Fig. 7, and renders the
aperture large enough to form a passage for the tube 3. Through this enlarged
aperture the tube 3 is readily withdrawn from and replaced in the tire 1. When
the tube 3 is again within the tire 1, the end 31 of the tube is connected with the
valve-post by the band 32, which is provided with an eye through which the post
passes, the stay 5 is disengaged from the margin of the aperture 25, whereupon
the aperture is contracted, the margin of the aperture is then clamped around the
valve post as above explained, and finally the sections of the part 10 are fastened
together covering the diaphram. The part 10, it will be seen, is adapted to
-inforce the diaphram 2 when either the tire 1 or the tube 3 is inflated.
The thickened margin of the aperture 25 is useful not only to help render tight
the connection of the diaphram to the valve-post of the inner tube, but also to
help prevent the diaphram being torn when the aperture is expanded, and the
reason why the aperture is preferably formed of layers of rubber and fabric
together is that the fabric helps to prevent the diaphram from being torn or
ruptured, and renders the union of the diaphram and part 10 secure even when
the sections of the part 10 are spread widely apart, and protects the rubber of the
diaphram from injury by the lace 13, or whatever fastening may be used to hold
the sections of the part 10 close together.
The tire is the same as an ordinary single-tube-tire except that it is provided
with an aperture 15, the wall of this tube or tire being composed of outer and inner
layers of rubber and intermediate layers of fabric. The shape of the aperture 15
is preferably that which is shown plainly in Fig. 12, the width of the aperture being
equal to the diameter of a common valve-post, and its length being great enough
to enable the inner tube to be drawn freely through the aperture.
Within the tire 11 is an inner tube 3 like that above described. It is provided
with a valve-post, which may be either that shown in Fig. 1, or the valve-post 5
shown in Figs. 9, 11 and 13. This inner tube contains a non-elastic tape 33,
which extends from the valve-post to the farther end 31 of the tube, the tape
being attached to the tube at the base of the valve-post and at the end 31 of the
tube, but not elsewhere. It is placed in the tube during the manufacture thereof,
and is fastened to the tube, at the places mentioned, by the vulcanization of the
rubber. By means of this tape and the band 32 the tube 3'is bound against that
part of the tire 11 which is next to the rim of the wheel. The valve-post 6 has at
its base a flange 60, which may be covered by the wall of the tube or by a piece or
pieces of rubber vulcanized on the tube. On the valve-post 6, between the
tubes 1 and 3, are a metal washer 61 next to the tube 3, a flat rubber ring 62 next
to the washer, and a plate i. This plate is essentially an oblong nut or collar,
the hole 70 through which the valve-post passes being located near one of its
ends. That part 1 of its inner face which surrounds the hole 70 is corrugated,
and on that face near its other end is a low projection 72. On its outer face are
corrugations 73, as shown in Fig. 14, and in that face is a screw-threaded hole 74,
which is closed at the bottom by the projection 72. This plate is screwed on the

page_text: valve-post 6 against the rubber ring 62, the rubber ring being tightly pinched
between the plate and the washer 61, and the washer being in tight contact with
the rubber ring and the wall of the tube 3. The outer face of the plate 7 rests in
contact with the wall of the tire 1¹ around the aperture 15. On the post outside
of the tube 1' is a plate 75, whose outline is the same as that of the plate 7, and
in this plate are holes 76 and 77, which are arranged to register with the
holes 70 and 74 in the other plate. The margin of the aperture 15 in the tube 11
is tightly clamped between these plates by means of the nut 78 on the post, and
the screw 79 which passes through the hole 77 in the plate 75 and through the
aperture 15 and into the hole 74 in the plate 7. The outer end of the valve-post
is covered by an ordinary screw-cap 63.
The aperture 15 in the tube 1 is thus hermetically closed, while the margin of
the aperture is held firmly between the plates by the corrugations on the outer
face of the plate 7, when the tire is inflated.
The washer 61 and the rubber ring 62 afford protection to the wall of the tube 3
around the valve-post, the rubber ring making an air-tight packing between the
washer and the plate 7, and the contact between the washer and the tube 3, and
that between the washer and the rubber ring, being air-tight since the wall of
the tube is supported under the washer by the flange 60 of the valve-post. The
washer 61 and rubber ring 62 might be dispensed with, but should they be then
the plate 7 would need to be screwed tightly against the wall of the tube 3, and
the tube would thus be liable to be torn or otherwise injured. If the tube 3 is
provided with a valve-post like that shown in Fig. 1, instead of the valve-post 6,
then a rubber ring is placed on the post, between the flange 43 and the plate i,
which ring prevents the escape of air from the tube 1' between the plate 7 and
the valve-post.
The outer tube 11 is provided with a separate valve, which is so located that
when the tire is affixed to a wheel the valve-posts of the inner tube 3 and outer
tube extend through holes diametrically opposite to each other in the rim of
the wheel.
The tube 3 is removed from and re-inserted in the outer tube 11 through the
aperture 15. The tire being off the rim of the wheel, and deflated, the nut 78 is
loosened, the screw 79 is removed, the plate 7 is taken out of the outer tube through
the aperture 15, the band 32 is detached from the valve-post, and then the inner
tube is drawn through the aperture 15 out of the outer tube, the washer 61, the
rabber ring 62, and the plate 7 remaining on the valve-post, and the plate 7
remaining in its proper position with respect to the tube 3. The tube 3 is drawa
back into the outer tube by the end 31, then the band 32 is passed over the
valve-post, and between the plate 7 and the tube 3, and the plate 7 is pushed
through the aperture 15 and properly adjusted, and finally the margin of the
aperture is clamped between the plates 7 and 75 by means of the nut 78 and
screw 79.
The plate 7, being screwed on the valve-post, is commonly maintained in its
proper position with respect to the inner tube. It might however loosely surround
and be adapted to slide on the valve-post. It would then be forced againt the
rubber ring 62, or the wall of the tube 3, by the nut 78.
The main function of the tape 33 is to help to so hold the inner tube when it is
deflated, as to render it not liable to be thrown outward under any circumstances
by centrifugal force. This tape being within the tube, it is not necessary that it
should be attached to the tube, except at the base of the valve-post and the end 31
of the tube. It being unattached elsewhere to the tube, it does not restrict
materially the expansion of the tube either laterally or longitudinally, and does
not render it difficult to repair a puncture in any part of the tube. It is feasible
to use an uncommonly small tube, provided with such a tape.
Obviously an aperture 15 might be made in the diaphram 2 of the tire 1, instead
of an expansible aperture like the aperture 25, and on the valve-post passing

page_text: through the diaphram might be placed the fastening device shown on sheet 2 of
the drawings.
If the outer tube, or the tire 1 or 1, is punctured, the tube 3 is then inflated,
whereupon the punctured outer tube or tire is utilized, until it is repaired, merely
as a sheath in which the inflated inner tube is inclosed.
It is to be observed that the tire or would be servicable without the tube 8,
to the same extent as is an ordinary single-tube-tire, provided the aperture therein
was closed either by one of the closing devices above described, or by a similar
closing device. For example, the aperture 25 might be closed by a solid post
having a flange at its base and a nut and washer upon it, and the aperture 15
might be closed by a device such as would be formed by a plate, the same as the
plate 7 would be if the hole 70 therein was closed as is the hole 74, and by a
plate 75, and two screws like the screw 79. Hence if the tire 1 or 1 is provided
with an independent closing device, adapted to hermetically close the aperture
therein, it may be used either alone or with the tube 3 inserted in it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is:
1. A pneumatic tire comprising: an outer, endless, inflatable tube having in
the wall thereof an aperture adapted to form a passage for an inner tube; an inner
inflatable tube 3, which is adapted to be drawn by one end out of and into said
outer tube; a post fixed to the tube 3 and extending from it through the wall of
the endless tube; and means of connecting the post and the wall of the endless
tube together, said means consisting of a mechanical, air-tight fastening,
substantially as described.
2. A pneumatic tire comprising: an endless, inflatable tube, having in it an
expansible aperture, through which, when it is expanded, an inner tube may be
inserted in, and withdrawn from the endless tube; and means of closing that
aperture, said means consisting of a mechanical, air-tight fastening adapted to
engage the margin of the aperture, when it is contracted, substantially as
described.
3.A pneumatic tire comprising: an endless, inflatable tube provided with a
diaphram 2, and an outer part 10, the diaphram being hermetically joined at all
points of its margin to the wall of the tire and having in it an aperture, and the
part 10 being unattached to the diaphram except along their margins and having
in it an onening; and means of closing the aperture in the diaphram, said means
consisting of a mechanical, air-tight fastening, substantially as described.
4. An inner tube 3 of a pneumatic tire, provided with a fastening device
comprising: a valve-post fixed to the tube; an inner oblong plate 7 on the post
outside of and close to the tube, said plate having corrugations 73 on its outer
face; an outer oblong plate 75 on the post; and means of rigidly connecting these
plates together at separate points near their ends, substantially as described.
-5. An inner tube 3 of a pneumatic tire, provided with a valve-post near one
end, and with a tape 33 inclosed in the tube, and attached to it at the base of the
valve-post and at the end 31 of the tube, and unattached to it Between those parts,
substantially as described.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.