Improvements in Puncture Proof Pneumatic Tyres.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Feb., 1897-Accepted, 22nd May, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Puncture Proof Pneumatic Tyres.
I, LEE HOFFMAN STODDER, of 58 Warren Street, New York, in the County
and State of New York, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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.:-
My invention relates to improvements in pneumatic tires, with the object in view
of rendering them puncture proof and my invention consists in a pneumatic tire
composed of several layers of material, one of said layers being of a flexible fabric
suitably treated to render it puncture proof and at the same time cause it to retain
its pliability.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a cross section of a tire showing the manner of using my improved
puncture proof material and
Figure 2 is a similar view showing a slightly different method of using said
material.
A represents a treated woven fabric forming one layer of the tire. Its body
may consist of what is known in the art as duck cloth, cotton cloth or other closely
woven fabric and it is rendered puncture proof in one of the two following ways:
The first treatment for rendering the fabric puncture proof is as follows:-The
fabric is treated with a resinous gum such for example as resin dissolved in alcohol
and mixed with borax. The treatment is carried out as follows:-I dissolve the
resin in alcohol using equal proportions of each as for example, 45% alcohol and
45% resin and I add thereto about 2% of powdered borax and about 8% of
turpentine. The turpentine being itself of a resinous nature, may be dispensed
with if so desired. The fabric is submerged in the mixture of gum, alcohol and
borax and allowed to soak until it is thoroughly impregnated with the solution and
then it is removed and thoroughly dried.
The effect of the borax is to render the treated fabric flexible and pliable thereby
obviating the danger of the material flaking or cracking when in use.
When it is desired to render the tire fabric water proof, as well as puncture
proof, I treat the same in the following manner :-I first submit the fabric to a
bath consisting of a mixture of water and unslacked lime and after thoroughly
drying it I pass it through a bath of alcohol and a resinous gum such for example
ns gum sandarac. The proportions which I use to carry out this treatment are as
follows: Supposing that about 50 yards of tire material are to be treated. I first
make a solution consisting of 5 gallons of water and two pounds of unslacked lime
and when the lime is thoroughly mixed and incorporated in the water I immerse
the tire material therein and allow it to remain in the alkaline solution for about
five hours more or less. I then remove the material from the solution and
thoroughly dry the fabric, either by atmospheric exposure or by any other suitable
drying process.
When the tire fabric bas been completely dried I take a solution of 5 gallons of
alcohol and 2 pounds of gum sandarac and pass the tire fabric quickly through it
and then dry the fabric. After the fabric is dry it is ready for use in connection
with the rubber layer or layers to form the tire. The alkaline treatment referred
to above, thoroughly saturates the fabric and fills the meshes thereof making it
[D71

page_text: less liable to puncture and at the same time serving to prevent the absorption of
the sandarac solution.
In the first treatment referred to the borax serves to render the fabric pliable
and in the second treatment the lime serves the same purpose.
The treated fabric A presents such an obstacle to pointed articles, such for
example as pins, tacks and sharp pieces of glass, shells and pottery, as to turn
their points or recede under pressure without becoming punctured or to any
considerable extent injured.
After the puncture proof fabric A has become thoroughly dried I face it upon
one or both sides with a layer or layers of rubber and vulcanize the whole together
to form a tire.
In Figure 1 there is shown an outer layer B and an inner layer C of rubber.
The puncture proof material may be used in a single layer or in several
superposed layers. I prefer in practice to place several layers of the puncture
proof material opposite the tread of the tire so as to increase its resistance to sharp
articles.
In Figure 2 I have shown the puncture proof material located at the inside of
the outer layer of rubber, omitting the inner layer of rubber. Instead of
vulcanizing layers of rubber to one or both surfaces of the layer of puncture
proof material I may locate the puncture proof material loosely between the tubes
of rubber but I prefer uniting them by vulcanization.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. A pneumatic tire comprising one or more layers of fabric treated with a
mixture of alcohol, resin and borax, and one or more layers of rubber, substantially
as set forth.
2. A pneumatic tire comprising one or more layers of fabric treated with a
mixture of alcohol, resin, borax and turpentine, and one or more layers of rubber,
substantially as set forth.
3. A pneumatic tire comprising one or more layers of fabric treated first with
an alkaline solution and then with a mixture of alcohol and resin, and one or more
layers of rubber, substantially as set forth.
4. A pneumatic tire comprising one or more layers of fabric which has been
treated first by immersing it in a solution of water and lime and after it has been
dried passing it through a solution of alcohol and gum sandarac and after it has
been again dried incorporating therewith one or more layers of rubber, substantially
as set forth.
Dated this 22nd day of February 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.