Improvements in and in connection with Pneumatic Tyres for the Wheels of Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 13th May, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 9th June, 1893-Accepted, 15th July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in connection with Pneumatic Tyres for the
Wheels of Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
I, PERCY ALBERT CRAVEN, of 9 Kings Road, Wimbledon, in the County of
Surrey, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The improvements in and in connection with pneumatic tyres for the wheels of
bicycles, tricycles and other vehicles, consises of the employment of a strip or strips
of metal or other substance, or metal and other substances placed between, and
longitudinally, transversally or diagonally with, the gas or air bag and the outer
cover or wearing surface, and is designed to attain the following objects.-First-
To prevent puncture of the air bag through the tyre coming in contact with sharp
edged substances, notwithstanding that such contact may be sufficient to entirely
cut through or gash the outer or wearing surface. Second-To maintain or assist
in maintaining the lateral rigidity of the tyre as a preventative to side slip or
distortion of the tyre when describing sharp curves. Third-Its adaptation to, and
use in connection with, any and every known form of pneumatic tyre in present use,
irrespective of the manner of connecting the outer wearing surface thereto, and
Fourth-To attain these advantages without in the slightest degree reducing the
elasticity of the tyre.
In Carrying my invention into effect I provide two ribbons or strips of rubber,
rubber composition, canvas or other fabric of a length and width approximating to
the length and width of the exposed surface of the gas bag above the rim of the
wheel, when fully inflated, and between the said ribbons or strips I place
transversally or diagonally, strips of very thin metal or other unpuncturable
material, but preferably tempered steel, which I may or may not have previously
coated with copper, by the means of electrolysis or otherwise, and between these,
alternately, I place similar but wider and longer strips of rubber, rubber composition,
canvas, cloth or other fabric, (which may or may not have been previously coated
with rubber solution) in such a manner, that, while the said metallic strips overlap
each other for about half their widths, each of these is entirely enclosed by the
said alternate strips of rubber, fabric or the like, by which the said metallic strips
are protected from atmospheric influence and consequent oxidization, and prevented
from destroying themselves by the friction that must necessarily ensue during the
rotation of the wheel, if these were in rubbing contact with each other. The entire
enclosure of the metallic strips by the alternate strips of fabric or the like, and the
long lengths of ribbon before mentioned, I may carry into effect by a suitable
arrangement of stitching, or by the use of rubber solution.
Or I may construct an unpuncturable length by the employment of two ribbons
or strips of rubber or rubber composition, canvas or other fabric, upon one of which
I place, transversally or diagonally, the strips of metal or other unpuncturable
material before mentioned, in such a manner that these do not overlap each other,

page_text: but are a slight distance apart, and upon these I place the second ribbon or long
strip, and retain the metallic strips there between by the means of transverse or
diagonal rows of stitching passing through both ribbons and between the metallic
strips, by which the latter are kept from actual rubbing contact with each other;
an exactly similarly prepared length would be placed flatwise upon the first length
in such a manner, that the metallic portions of the second length, are immediately
over the junctions or divisions between those in the first length, when both lengths
may be stitched together at their edges, and the unpunturable length is complete.
Or when the said ribbons are of pure rubber the metallic plates may be placed
between the first and second ribbon in the manner stated, and the second layer of
metallic plates be placed upon the second ribbon over the junctions of those beneath,
and the third ribbon placed over these and the whole subjected to a process of
vulcanization and the whole incorporated as one mass.
In either of these methods of construction the unpunturable strip thus formed
would be placed lengthwise between the gas bag and the outer cover or wearing
surface, which, as the latter was fastened in position, and the gas bag inflated, would
readily conform to the sectional shape of these, and be retained in position thereby.
Or I may form an unpunturable strip by the use of a suitable length of very thin
metal, preferably steel, which I cause to assume a more or less semicircular shape
in cross section, and in this I form by swaging, pressing or other suitable means,
transverse or diagonal corrugations, undulations, serrations, flutings or channels,
which may be varied in depth and width to any extent desired, to suit the vehicle
wheel upon which it is to be placed, and when so formed and properly tempered
the said strip may be placed between the air bag, and the outer cover or wearing
surface and be retained in position by the fixing of the latter, and as the air bag
was inflated, the outer surface of this and the inner surface of the cover would
accommodate themselves to the undulations or the like of the intermediate metallic
strip, which would become as firmly and closely connected with both, as if incor-
porated with either.
As a modification of the foregoing methods, I may employ the use of one or more
continuous strips of pure rubber, or rubber composition of such a nature as to be
self closing after being punctured, and which may or may not be solutioned or
otherwise connected together at their edges, or to the outer surface of the gas bag,
or the inner surface of the cover, or interposed between these without being
connected to either. The functions of the said strip or strip being, not to prevent
puncture of the gas bag as in the previous methods, but to prevent the escape of
air or gas therefrom if so punctured, by reason of the tenacious properties of the
rubber inducing the closing of the puncture, when the cause of this was withdrawn.
Dated this 13th day of May 1893.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in connection with Pneumatic Tyres for the
Wheels of Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
I, PERCY ALBERT CRAVEN, of 9 Kings Road, Wimbledon, in the County of
Surrey, Gentleman, 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 improvements in, and in connection with pneumatic tyres for the wheels of
bicycles, tricycles and other vehicles constituting my invention, consists of the
employment of a strip or strips of metal or other substances, or metal and other
substances, placed between, and longitudinally, transversally or diagonally with,

page_text: the gas or air bag and the outer cover or wearing surface, or moulded or otherwise
incorporated with the latter, the objects of which were fully and clearly set forth
in my Provisional Specification.
With a desire to make my invention and the manner of its application well
understood and perfectly clear, I have appended hereunto two sheets of drawings
in which,
Figs. 1. 2. 4. 5 and 6 Sheet 1, illustrate one method of constructing a combination
unpuncturable strip according to my invention, and hereinafter fully explained.
Fig. 3 is a plan and edge views of the steel or other unpuncturable plates
employed by me, and which may be either flat or curved as shown.
Fig. 9 Sheet 2 is a perspective view illustrating a second method of constructing
a combination unpuncturable strip, Fig. 10 being a longitudinal section of same,
while Fig. 11 is a like section illustrating the duplication thereof.
Fig. 12 is a similar section to Fig. 11 illustrating an alternative method of
constructing a compound unpuncturable strip by the employment of partly different
materials.
Fig. 13 is a section similar to Fig. 12 in which the same or like materials are
used, but by a different manner of combination.
Fig. 14 is a cross section of an air bag and wearing surface illustrating the
position occupied there between by one or the other of the unpuncturable strips
constructed by me.
Similar letters of reference are used when referring to the same or like parts.
In so far as regards the method illustrated by Figs. 1. 2. 4. 5 and 6, to carry my
invention into effect I employ two strips A and B, which may be of rubber, rubber
composition, canvas or other suitable material or fabric, and of a length and breadth
approximating to that of the length and breadth of the exposed surface of the gas
bag, above the rim of the wheel, when fully inflated. These figures illustrate the
employment of canvas or other textile fabric (which may or may not have been
previously rendered waterproof) and plates of very thin metal, preferably steel, in
the construction of this form of unpuncturable strip, in which the textile portions
are sewn or stitched together, but wish it understood that I may employ rubber
or rubber composition in lieu of the said textile fabric, in which case the parts that
are described and shown as stitched together, would be held connected to each
other by rubber solution, wherever the sewing or stitching occurs in any of the
methods hereinafter explained.
Referring again to Figs. 1. 2. 4. 5 and 6 to the strip of canvas or the like A, I
stitch, at suitable intervals of its length, transversally or diagonally, flaps or
louvres C, which may be of the same or other material, and sufficient in number to
occupy the entire length of A, in the nanner shown by Fig. 1, the length of said
flaps or louvres being, preferably, slightly less than the width of A or B. The
said strip A is then placed upon the strip B, with the flaps C downwards, and the
exposed or free edge of the first flap C would then be sewn or stitched to B, so as
to form a partition in the space between A and B. Whatever may be the number
of strips or partitions C employed, a like number of plates D, of very thin metal
(preferably tempered steel) or other unpuncturable material, would be used, slightly
less in length and width than C, and which may or may not have been previously
coated with copper by electrolysis or otherwise, as a preventative to oxidation, and
to provide a surface possessing a greater affinity for rubber when this may be
employed. A plan and two edge views of said plate D is shown at Fig. 3, by
which I wish it understood that I may employ these either perfectly flat as at D',
or curved or crescented to any extent desired, as at D", preferably the latter, and
oue of said plates would now be placed flatwise against the partition C previously
mentioned, when the next or following flap C on A may be stitched in like manuer
to B and another plate D placed against this, and so on, in the same order, until
the whole of the flaps C on A are connected to B in the manner stated, with a
plate D between each and its neighbour as at Fig. 2. in which the said plates are
shown abnormally thick in order to distinguish them in the drawings from the

page_text: partitions C, but in actual practice the said plates would be, preferably, as thin if
not thinner than C.
When all the said partitions C and plates D were fixed in position, the strips A
and B would be brought as near together as the intervening portions C and D
would permit, when the plates D would overlap each other for about half their
widths, alternated, and insulated from each other, by the partitions of soft
material C. Fig. 4 is intended to more clearly illustrate this and if due regard
be paid to the before mentioned thinness of the plates D it will be easily under-
stood, that in practice, A and B would be much closer together than that shewn by
the exaggerated view in question, and further that if the plates be curved as at Di
Fig. 3 that A and B would assume a like curve in cross section as at Figs. 5 and 6
when brought close together as stated. The outer edges of A and B may now be
stitched together as at C¹ Fig. 5 previous to which the whole may or may not have
been passed through a waterproofing solution, and by this means the metallic or
other plates D would each be perfectly enclosed, insulated from, and prevented from
rubbing against its neighbour during the rotation of the wheel.
In the foregoing description of this method of constructing an unpuncturable
strip, the portions D and C are shown at Fig. 5 disposed at right angles to the
strips A and B, but I may arrange these diagonally as at Fig. 6, but do not confine
myself to the angle therein shown but may arrange these at any angle desired,
which may be at right angles to that shown at Fig. 5.
I am aware that an unpuncturable strip, for the same purpose, has hitherto been
made and used by the employment of transversally disposed plates of thin metal
overlapping each other, but these were in actual touch and rubbing contact with
each other, and by reason of the great friction set up between these during the
rotation of the wheel, it has been found in practice that the said plates quickly
reduced each other to minute particles, which getting edgewise punctured the air
bag, thereby operating in direct contravention of the specific purpose for which
they were intended, but I am not aware that the said overlapping plates have
hitherto been employed in combination with a method and means for entirely
enclosing each plate, and insulating it from its neighbour and protecting it from
atmospheric influence, in the manner described and shown by me, and I therefore
claim that I have invented.new and useful improvements upon the method of
construction hitherto adopted.
As a modification of or improvement upon the foregoing method I may form an
In
unpuncturable strip in the mauner illustrated by Figs. 9. 10 and 11 Sheet 2.
this arrangement I employ strips or ribbons of rubber, rubber composition, canvas
or other fabric or material, waterproofed or otherwise, similar to A B in the
previous method, and in like manner may employ stitching or solution or both for
connecting together the parts hereinafter described as connected, according to the
nature of the material employed.
Referring to Fig. 91 employ a strip of canvas, or other fabric. A upon which I
may or may not place, lengthwise, with or without being fastened thereto, two or
more strips of canvas, rubber, or other material E and F, and upon these I place
transversally, diagonally or otherwise, the same or like plates of metal or other
unpuncturable material D, preferably curved as at D" Fig. 3, and in such a manner
that while parallel with each other, they do not overlap each other, as in the previous
method, but are a slight distance apart, and upon these I place the second strip or
ribbon B, and retain the said plates in position by the means of transverse or
diagonal rows of stitching passing through A and B, between the plates D, as
shown in Fig. 9, by which the said plates are insulated from each other. The
compound strip thus formed I use in duplicate, and place the second strip
(constructed in precisely the same way) flatvise upon the first, in such a manner,
that the plates D of the second strip alternate with those in the first, or in other
words, so that those of the one strip are over the divisions in the other, as shewn at
Fig. 11, this being a duplication of Fig. 10 which is a longitudinal section of Fig. 9
taken through E or F. The pair of combination strips may now be stitched
.

page_text: together at their edges, as at C in the previous method, after being passed, if
desired, through a suitable bath of waterproofing solution.
When I employ pure rubber as the material for A and B, I may place the flat
or curved plates D between the first and second ribbons A. B, with or without using
the strips E F, and the second layer of plates D, upon the second ribbon B,
(preferably stouter than A), over the divisions of the plates beneath, with or
without strips E F, and upon these I place the third ribbon A, as at Fig. 12, aud
then subject the whole to a process of vulcanization, by which means both layers
of plates D become in like manner entirely enclosed, insulated from each other,
and immovable from the position in which they are placed.
Or I may by any of the well known systems of moulding arrange the flat or
curved plates D, that these are placed, in the same order, within, and incorporated
as one mass with pure rubber G, as at Fig. 13, with or without the use of strips E
and F of rubber, canvas or other material.
In either of the foregoing methods of construction the unpuncturable strip would
be placed lengthwise between the gas or air bag H, and the outer cover or wearing
surface J, as at Fig. 14, in which the unpuncturable strip is denoted by the
reference letter K. Or the said unpuncturable strip may be moulded in, or other-
wise incorporated with J, as shown by the dotted outline in the same figure, and
whichever arrangement of K may be adopted, the air bag H would be first placed
in position upon the rim of the wheel, and the unpuncturable strip placed next
thereto, and the outer cover J fastened in position by any of the well known
methods, and as H was inflated in the usual way, K would readily conform to the
sectional shape of these and be retained in position thereby, and by reason of the
unpuncturable portion of K, being of a width equal to, or in excess of, the exposed
portion of H above the rim of the wheel, when fully inflated, puncturing of H
becomes next to impossible by any reasonable wear and tear, notwithstanding
that J may be cut completely through.
Whichever of the foregoing methods I may employ, a strip of thin rubber or
other soft material of the same length and width as the said unpuncturable strip,
may be interposed between this and the gas bag to avoid possible rupture of the
latter, by friction with the barder material of the former.
By either of the herein described methods of constructing an unpuncturable
strip I am enabled to prevent puncture of the air bag without adding to the weight
of the machine, as the added weight arising from the application of said strip, may.
be more than counterbalanced by the lesser substance necessary in the outer cover
or wearing surface J.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1st. In improvements for the prevention of puncture occurring to the air bags
of pneumatic tyres as used upon bicycles, tricycles and similar and other road
vehicles, the employment of the several methods of constructing an unpuncturable
strip or strips herein described and shown, and the application of same in con-
bination with any form of pneumatic tyre substantially as and for the purposes
herein set forth.
2nd. In combination with any form of pneumatic tyre, for the prevention of
puncture occurring to the gas bag thereof during wear, the construction and use of
an unpuncturable surface, by the employment of strips or ribbons A B of rubber,
rubber composition, canvas, cloth or other fabric, between which are placed trans-
versally, diagonally or otherwise, plates of thin flat or curved metal D (with or
without being coated with copper), or other unpuncturable material, arranged t.)
overlap each other breadthwise, alternating with, and enclosed and insulated from
each other by, flaps louvres or partitions C, stitched or connected by any suitable
means to A and B, the further enclosing and insulation of the plates D, by the use
of strips E F, and the stitching or otherwise connecting together of the edges of A

page_text: and B as at C¹, and the manner of placing said unpuncturable strip K between the
gas bag H and the outer cover J, or moulded or otherwise incorporated with the
latter, and retained in position by the fixation thereof, substantially as and for
the purposes herein described and shown by Figs. 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6 and 14 of the
appended drawings.
3rd. In connection with any form of pneumatic tyre for the prevention of
puncture of the gas bag thereof, the combination therewith of an unpuncturable
surface composed of ribbons or strips A B of rubber, rubber composition, canvas
or other fabric, provided with strips of like or other material E, F, with intervening,
transversally or diagonally disposed metallic or other plates D, insulated from each
other by rows of stitching connecting A and B as at Figs. 9 and 10, or by that of
solution when this is used for connecting A and B. The manner of duplicating the
strip thus formed by the means of solution or stitching so that the plates D of the
first strip, occur over the divisions between the plates D of the second strip as at
Fig. 11, and the employment of the said duplex unpuncturable strip placed between
the air bag H, and the outer cover J, as shown by K in Fig. 14, or moulded or
otherwise incorporated with J, substantially as and for the purposes herein set
forth and shown by Figs. 9. 10. 11 and 14 of the accompanying drawings.
4th. The construction and use of an unpuncturable strip, composed of ribbons of
pure rubber or rubber composition A B, with or without strips E F, with inter-
vening transversally or diagonally disposed alternating metallic or other plates D,
the whole subjected to a process of vulcanization and placed between the air bag H
ánd the outer cover J or incorporated with the latter, substantially as and for the
purposes herein described and shown by Figs. 12 and 14 of the drawings.
5th. The construction and use of an unpuncturable strip, composed of alternating
plates D, moulded in and incorporated diagonally or transversally with a mass of
rubber G, in ribbon form, with or without strips E F in combination with and
placed between H and J, or incorporated with the latter, substantially as and for
the purposes described and shown by Figs. 13 and 14 of the drawings.
с Dated this 8th day of June 1893.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.