Improvements in Tyres of Wheels for Cycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 4th July, 1893-Accepted, 12th Aug., 1893.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tyres of Wheels for Cycles and other Vehicles.
I WILLIAM ERSKINE BARTLETT, of 21 Buckingham Terrace, Edinburgh,
India Rubber Manufacturer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
These improvements relate to what are known as pneumatic tyres, which usually
consist of three elements of construction, namely, (1) an air tube with air pump for
filling it, (2) a cover therefor, shaped and alapted to be held or attached to (3) a
metal rim suitably formed to receive and hold said tube and cover. The tube and
cover are generally constructed of india-rubber, or of the same in combination with
suitable fabrics, or of leather, or of any similarly flexible material respectively,
suitable for the construction of an air tube or cover. Such materials are, and will
obviously be, such as may be more or less easily pierced by nails, pins, thorns,
sharp stones, and such like articles met with on roads. A puncture of the cover of
the air tube may take place without destroying the utility of the tyre, but a
puncture of the air tube is generally fatal thereto till it is repaired. The prevention
of such punctures is therefore of much importance, and the object of my present
invention is to prevent or largely reduce the risk of such accidents. This I effect
by the use of a layer or cushion of flannel, felt, leather, sponge rubber, rubber
with studs or projections on its surface, perforated rubber and similar materials and
combinations thereof placed between the air tube and its cover so as to form a space
between them whereby short sharp articles though puncturing the cover will not
reach the air tube, and whereby longer sharp articles will be less likely to pierce
the air tube than when it lies close to its cover.
Dated this 24th day of October 1892.
CARPMAEL & CO.,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tyres of Wheels for Cycles and other Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM ERSKINE BARTLETT, of 21 Buckingham Terrace, Edinburgh,
India-rubber 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:-
This invention relates to pneumatic tyres for wheels of cycles and other vehicles
and has for its object to reduce the danger of puncturing to which such tyres are
liable.
Pneumatic tyres usually comprise an air-tube, provided with means to admit of
filling the same with air under pressure, and a cover therefor.
The said air-tube and cover are generally constructed of india-rubber in com-
bination with suitable fabrics, or of leather or similar flexible material, and are
therefore liable to be pierced when in use by nails, pins, thorns and such like sharp
articles frequently met with on roads. A hole or slit in the cover of the tyre is
not in general of much importance, but if the air-tube is pierced the tyre is rendered
useless till the puncture is repaired.
According to my invention I reduce the liability of the air tube to puncture by
interposing between it and the outer cover of the tyre a pad or cushion of india-
rubber so that short sharp articles though piercing the cover will not reach
the air-tube, while longer sharp articles will be less likely to puncture the

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air-tube than when the same lies close to the cover. I am aware that pads have
heretofore been used for this purpose but not such as are hereinafter described.
employ a pad or cushion which is suitably perforated or has studs or projections on
its surface.
In the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is a transverse section of a tyre having one of my improved pads
interposed between the air-tube and cover.
Figure 2 is a plan of a portion of the pad shewn in Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line a, y Figure 2.
Figures 4 to 12 are views similar to Figures 1, 2 and 3 shewing three modified
forms of my improved pad.
Like letters denote similar parts in all the figures.
The tyre shewn is of the pattern known as "the clincher" but it is evident that
any other tyre having a separate air-tube and cover therefor may be fitted with a
pad according to my invention.
A is the air-tube, B the cover therefor, and C the rim of the wheel.
In Figures 1, 2 and 3 a pad is shewn consisting of a canvas or other suitable
foundation D with a number of projecting pieces D₁ preferably of india-rubber
⚫cemented or otherwise secured thereon. The projections are shewn of a cylindrical
form in these figures but they may obviously be conical or pyramidal or of any
other suitable shape.
In Figures 4, 5 and 6 a pad is shewn formed of a piece of india-rubber D'
perforated as shewn at D³ and furnished with a backing D of canvas or other
material. I sometimes dispense with the backing and use the india-rubber alone.
Referring now to Figures 7 to 12 the pad is composed of a number of parallel
strips D¹.
In Figures 7, 8 and 9 the strips are short and are placed across the tread
- portion of the tyre, but in Figures 10, 11 and 12 the strips are equal in length to
the largest circumference of the air-tube of the tyre and extend longitudinally
round the same. The width of the strips and the distance apart of the same will
obviously be varied to suit different forms or sizes of tyre.
The pads shewn in the drawings are furnished with backings of canvas or other
similar material and I sometimes use an india-rubber backing in which case the pad
may be made in one piece.
Although I have herein described my improved pad as being made of india-
rubber with or without canvas or the like it is obvious that there are many other
materials which I may use for the purpose of carrying, out. my invention. Lalso
reserve the right of varying the shape and size of the projections or perforations.
I sometimes make the said projections hollow in order to decrease the weight of
the pad.
Tyres fitted with my puncture-preventing device are not much heavier than, and
Moreover the
are quite as resilient as, tyres constructed in the ordinary manner.
danger of puncturing. the air-tube and thus disabling the tyre is very greatly
diminished.
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
The combination, with a pneumatic tyre for a wheel, of a pad furnished with
perforations, or solid or hollow projections, and placed between the air-tube of the
tyre and the cover thereof, substantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
.45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.