Improvements in and relating to the Construction of Pneumatic Tyres, and in the Manufacture of the Rims of Wheels for Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes and Vehicles, and in the Mode of Connecting the Tyres to the Rims.
Year: 1896

page_text: Complete Specification Left, 16th Jan., 1897-Accepted, 3rd Apr., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to the Construction of Pneumatic
Tyres, and in the Manufacture of the Rims of Wheels for
Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes and Vehicles, and in
the Mode of Connecting the Tyres to the Rims.
We THOMAS COLLS, Gentleman, and CLARA COLLS of Beacon wood Barnt
Green in the County of Worcester do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
This invention relates to arrangements for preventing or minimising any liability
of the tyre being punctured and in the event of a puncture to a simple method for
repairing the tyre, and also to an arrangement for connecting the said tyre or
sections composing the same, to the rim of the wheel.
The formation of the tyre consists in the use of a series of hollow india rubber or
other balls, blocks or sections of other shapes forming air chambers arranged
consecutively around the rim and touching or nearly touching one another, these
balls, blocks, or sections obtain their seatings in the concave or other formation of
the rim and are retained in position by the aid of an auxiliary rim of wire or any
suitable metal suitably formed to hold the balls or air chambers in place, said
auxiliary rim is connected to the main rim of the wheel by suitably formed
metallic sections or supporting pieces at say a distance of every third ball, or
more as desired. Wherefore it will be seen that the balls, blocks, or sections, are
securely retained and whilst obtaining a seating in the main rim cannot fall out of
place by reason of the auxiliary rim as described.
In addition to the above we propose to entirely enclose the balls, blocks, or
sections in a casing of leather or other suitable material forming an outer tyre if
found necessary which may be attached to the main rim by means of studs arranged
round the same upon either or both sides and laced or otherwise fastened to the
studs, or laced or fastened entirely over the said main rim.
By the above means the chances of puncturing are greatly reduced but should
either of the balls be punctured it becomes a simple matter to unfasten the cuter
leather tyre or covering, remove the damaged ball or section and insert a fresh one,
a supply of which may be readily carried by the rider.
Dated this 19th day of May 1896.
EDWD. J. PAYNE & SON,
Warwick Chambers, 104, Colmore Row, Birmingham,
Patent Agents for the Applicants.

page_text: Improvements in and relating to the Construction of Pneumatic
Tyres, and in the Manufacture of the Rims of Wheels for
Bicycles, Tricycles, and other Velocipedes and Vehicles, and in
the Mode of Connecting the Tyres to the Rims.
We THOMAS COLLS and CLARA COLLS of Beaconswood Barnt Green in the:
County of Worcester 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 :-
The objects of our invention are firstly to so construct the tyres as to prevent or
minimise liability of the same being punctured or in the event of a puncture to a
simple method of repairing the tyres and also to an arrangement or arrangements for
attaching the said tyres or sections composing the same to the rims of the wheels.
Secondly, to the particular construction of the said rims which are made of a
skeleton form for this purpose, and whereby the weight is reduced to a minimum
whilst retaining maximum strength.
Referring to the drawings which form a part of this specification in which similar
letters upon the figures indicate similar parts.
Fig. 1. represents a part side elevation of a skeleton rim construct ed according
to one of the methods of our improvements with a ball tyre for cycles and the
like.
Fig. 2 represents a transverse sectional elevation of the skeleton rim and a ball.
Figs. 3. & 4. represent in section and elevation one of the balls.
Fig. 5. is a part side elevation of a modification of skeleton rim according to our
invention shewing a flanged ball tyre.
Fig. 6. is a plan view of Fig. 5.
Fig. 7. represents a transverse sectional elevation of the skeleton rim.
Fig. 8. shews partly in section and elevation views of a single ball with a square
or nearly square shaped flange thereon.
Fig. 9. represents an elevation of a ball shewing the flange of same as seen from
a side view, as Fig. 5.
Fig. 10. is a transverse part sectional view of our improved wheel rim and the
position the balls will assume.
The formation and construction of the tread or tyre consists in the employment
of a series of hollow rubber or other bails A. or blocks or sections of other shapes
that may be suitable but preferably balls forming air chambers by their natural or
other inflation arranged consecutively around a special construction of rim, and
touching or nearly touching one another in order to provide combined support for.
the column of the tyre. Said balls A. obtain their seating in the concave or other
formation of the circumferential main rim B. and are securely retained in position
by the aid of auxiliary skeleton rims formed by circumferential wires or rails C.
or of other metal or material, said rails C. are or may be attached to each side of
the main rim B. by metallic or other connecting and supporting bars D. brazed
riveted or otherwise attached which also support occasional divisional wires or bars
or of other metal sections or material D' or the circumferential rails or auxiliary
rims C. may be formed out of the main rin B. and integral therewith in which case
the divisional sections D' may be dispensed with, or not, as preferred, when
employed they are arranged crossways of the main rim B. at a given distance
apart say every third ball more or less as required, and intervening between same.
It will be seen in Figs. 1. and 2. that the mode of attaching the balls A. consists
in placing them in the skeleton rim formed by the aforesaid main rin B. and the

page_text: auxiliary rim formed by the wires or rails C. the latter being so constructed and
connected by the intermediate bars D to said main rim B that they will
impinge the balls A past their centres whereby they are retained in position and
cannot fall out.
By referring to Figs. 5. 6. and 10 the mode of attaching the balls A consists in
passing the square or nearly square solid rubber or other flanges F with square or
rounded or bevelled sides which are formed integral with the balls between the
edges B' of the rim B beneath the circumferential wires or rails C forming the
auxiliary rim which in this case come much closer to the main rim than as previously
described but in other respects are of similar formation and are or may be attached
to said main rim B by side pieces D and occasional divisional wires D₁ or the
circumferential wires or rails C may he formed integral with main rim B as
previously described, said wires or rails C impinge and hear upon the projecting
flanges F, which project in cross section Fig. 9. beyond the circumferential sides of
the balls only sufficiently to allow said flanges to touch and so give combined
support to one another.
The main rim 13 is preferably made of a shallow section therefore the solid
flanges F upon the balls are preferably (though not necessarily) situated nearer to
the inner part or crown of same than to the road surface so that the greater part of
the balls is available for the part forming the tread of the tyre thus giving great
resiliency whilst the remaining portion and flange forms the hearing within the
main rim and auxiliary rim and is securely retained in position as already
described.
The flanges may be formed upon the balls nearer to or at the centres of same
the main rim being constructed of a deeper transverse section to correspond.
The advantage of these square or nearly square flanges is that it becomes quite
impossible for a ball to work round or get displaced in wear, though with or
without flanges they are held perfectly firm in the skeleton rims constructed as in
each of the methods herein set forth and can be readily attached or detached.
Moreover the essential features of pneumatic or elastic tyres are fully maintained.
As an addition if preferred the balls or sections composing the tyre may be
covered with leather or other outer casings attached to the skeleton rims in any
convenient way by lacing or otherwise. Furthermore the said skeleton rims as
described may be suitably adapted for other kinds of tyres whether incontinuous or
continuous i.e. not ball tyres if so required, in the latter case it may be expedient
to omit the divisional cross bars or else to adapt the same to the configuration
of the rim.
By the above described means the chances of puncture are greatly reduced in so
far as regards damaging the whole tyre, by reason of the same be composed of
sections. Should either of the balls be punctured the rider can still proceed,
moreover it becomes a simple matter to remove the damaged ball or section either,
when or when not enclosed in a cover of any material and insert a fresh one, a
supply of which may be readily carried by the rider.
We are aware that balls or sections have been employed for tyres in various
forms as to their methods of attachment wherefore we do not broadly claim their
application, except in connection with our particular arrangements and in com-
bination with our improved wheel rims.
And although we have described the said improved wheel rims in connection
with cycle and other vehicle wheels we would have it understood that we do not
confine ourselves to these particular wheels as our improved combination and
construction of rims or felloes may be applicable to other descriptions of wheels for
other purposes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the object and nature of our
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that
what we claim is :-
Firstly. Constructing the wheels of cycles and other velocipedes and vehicles by

page_text: forming the circumferential rims thereof of metal wood or other material, or a
combination of same, in combination with the auxiliary circumferential skeleton
rims of wire or other material and with or without occasional divisional crosspieces
of wire or other material supported from or integral with said main rims as and for
the purpose described and illustrated.
Secondly. Constructing the tyres or treads of cycles and other vehicles of a
series of hollow balls blocks or sections in combination with the particular formation
of wheel rims and secured therein in manner described and illustrated in Figs. 1
and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
Thirdly. In pneumatic ball tyres or tyres composed of other sections the
arrangement of a series of hollow balls blocks or sections having solid square or
nearly square flanges around same and integral therewith said rubber flanges,
engaging the main rims and auxiliary rims and retained and fixed therein in manner
described, and illustrated in Figs. 5 to 10 of the accompanying drawings.
Fourthly. The skeleton rims as described alone or in combination with ball or
other tyres and for the purpose specified.
Fifthly. In combination with the skeleton rims enclosing the balls or sections in
an outer cover (or covers) if required and attached to the skeleton rims by lacing
or other suitable manner as set forth.
Sixthly. Forming the circunferential rims or felloes of wheels of all kinds
substantially in manner herein described.
Dated this 14th day of January 1897
EDWD. J. PAYNE & SON,
Warwick Chambers, 104 Colmore Row, Birmingham,
Patent Agents for the Applicants.