Improvements in Elastic Wheel-tyres.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 12th June, 1893
**Complete Specification Left, 12th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 14th Ap
1894
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Elastic Wheel-tyres.
We,
WILLIAM BOWDEN of Barlow Range, Chorlton-cum-Hardy in the
County of Lancaster, Managing Director, and RIDLEY JAMES URQUHART of
5, Clayton Square, Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, Consulting Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to pneumatic or inflatable elastic wheel-tyres consisting
of an air-tight tube or chamber made wholly or partly of indiarubber or the
like substance, and of an outer protective covering or envelope of indiarubber
strengthened with canvas or of similar suitable materials, the internal chamber
being provided with a non-return valve. But more especially, this invention
relates to such tyres, in which the envelope is a tubular one and provided with
transverse slits or openings in its under side and which is secured to the felloe
wholly or partly by the inflation of the tyre, the slits or openings being for the
double purpose, first to enable the air chamber to be inserted, and withdrawn
or partly so, when necessary for repairs, and secondly to enable the bottom of
the envelope to expand and thereby pass readily over the edge of the felloe when
attaching or detaching the tyre.
Now the object of this invention is to improve the construction of the tyre so
that longer transverse slits or wider openings may be used in order to facilitate the
insertion and withdrawal of the air chamber, and a firmer grip of the felloe be
made.
For the purpose of this invention we form with the envelope on each side
thereof a continuous flap, which flaps cover or partly cover the under side of the
envelope and the slits or openings contained therein. The flaps or 'the edges
thereof are rendered unstretchable by canvas backing, insertion or other suitable
means, or by specially vulcanising the substance of the flap; the circumferential
length of the edge of the flap being previously determined by the depth of the
felloe to which the particular size of tyre is to be attached.
By the use of these flaps the transverse slits or openings in the envelope may
extend above the edges of the felloe underneath the said flaps and these obviate
any tendency of the air chamber to protrude through the openings in the
envelope.
Dated this 10th day of June 1893.
R. J. URQUHART.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Elastic Wheel-tyres.
We, WILLIAM BOWDEN of Barlow Range, Chorlton-cum-Hardy in the
County of Lancaster, Managing Director, and RIDLEY JAMES URQUHART of
5 Clayton Square, Liverpool in the County of Lancaster, Consulting Engineer,
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 or inflatable elastic wheel tyres 'constructed
so that atyre consists of an air-tight tube or chamber made wholly or partly of
indiarubber or the 'like substance and an outer protective envelope or jacket of:

page_text: indiarubber strengthened with canvas, or of similar suitable materials, the internal
chamber being provided with a non-return valve for inflating purposes.
But more
especially, this invention relates to such tyres according to the construction of
which the envelope or jacket is a tubular one and is provided with transverse slits
or elongated openings in its under side or part next the felloe or rim and is secured
to the felloe or rim wholly or partly by the inflation of the tyre, the slits or
openings being for the double purpose of enabling the air chamber to be readily
inserted, and withdrawn for repairs, and of permitting the bottom or seat of the
envelope to expand and thereby readily pass over the edge of the felloe or rim
when attaching or detaching the tyre.
Now the object of this invention is to improve the construction of the tyre so
that longer transverse slits, or wider openings may be used in order to facilitate
the insertion and withdrawal of the air-chamber, and a firmer grip of the felloe be
made, a tyre constructed according to this invention is applicable to rims or felloes
either channelled or grooved or plain cylindrical or approximately so upon their
external circumference, whereas hitherto tyres having tubular envelopes to be
secured to the felloes by the pressure of air contained therein were not applicable
to cylindrical or plain rims or felloes.
In order that our invention may be readily understood we have attached hereunto
a sheet of drawings to which we will now refer.
In the said drawings
Figure 1 shews the manner of formation and attachment of a tyre made according
to our invention to a felloe of channel-form.
Figure 2 shews the application of our improved tyre to a felloe and rim of
ordinary construction such as of a wheel of a common road-vehicle.
In the figures similar letters of reference indicate like parts. A represents the
jacket or envelope B the felloe or rim, C the air-chamber or tube and D shews
the position in plan of the valve.
Referring to Figure 1 the jacket A consists of a tube having longitudinal flaps a
one on each side. The jacket is preferably formed of indiarubber and canvas
according to the usual practice, the canvas forming the backing being indicated by
the letter a. The flaps a may also be backed with canvas, or the latter inserted
into the substance of the flaps to render them inelastic, though in some cases to
enable the edges to enlarge in circumference we may cut the canvas backing or
insertion through at intervals. This would be to enable the edges of the flaps to
pass more readily over the edges of the felloe and fit the bottom thereof when
shallow felloes are employed. The bottom part a² of the jacket or envelope contains
transverse slits a3 at regular intervals which extend up the sides to line a, ..
These slits by gaping allow the bottom a² of the jacket which is formed otherwise
unstretchable and to fit approximately the bottom of the felloe, to expand and pass
over the edge thereof. Upon the inflation of the air chamber in the jacket the
latter fills out and the slits close up and the flaps are forced against the sides of
the felloe. The air-chamber C consists of a tube of india rubber or like substance
having capped or closed ends. This is pushed into and round the jacket by means
of the slits, and the ends brought together and preferably secured by a button and
tab or other means. The valve D is securely fixed to the air chamber C and is
passed through holes in the jacket and felloe and secured underneath the latter by
a nut in the usual way.
Referring now to Figure 2 the tyre is shewn applied to a rim B and felloe b of
common form such as are employed for common road vehicles. The flaps a of the
jacket are rendered practically inelastic at the edges; this may be done in any
suitable manner, by inserting metal wire or cord into the substance at the edges, or
otherwise.
The air chamber may be enclosed in a woven fabric-pocket or bag to restrict
its expansion.
The slits are shewn at short intervals apart in the drawings for convenience;
any number may be used according to the depth of the channel in the felloe in

page_text: some cases. In tyres made according to our invention for application to rims and
felloes as illustrated in Fig. 2 one slit or opening only may be required.
In some cases we may dispense with a separate or loose air-tube and make the
envelopes airtight and attach a valve thereto, leaving the part between the flaps
sufficiently elastic by cutting the outer skin or otherwise to permit of the tyre
being readily passed over the edge of the felloe or rim when not inflated with
reference especially to Figure 2.
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 :
First. The improvements in pneumatic tyres substantially as and for the purposes
herein set forth and illustrated in and by the accompanying drawings.
Second. A tyre consisting of a tubular envelope or jacket having longitudinal
flaps and slits in the jacket between the flaps, and separate air-tube substantially as
described and illustrated and for the purposes specified.
Third. A tyre consisting of a tubular envelope or jacket having longitudinal
flaps and a slit or opening between the flaps and a separate air-tube substantially
as described and illustrated.
Fourth. A tyre consisting of a tubular envelope having longitudinal flaps with
stiffened or unstretchable edges arranged and secured to the felloe substantially
as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 2 of the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 10th day of March 1894
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, and 5, Clayton Square, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.