Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Tyres.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 14th Sept., 1899-Accepted, 18th Nov., 1899
Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Tyres.
I, FRANCISCO TONI, of 158A, New Kings Road, Fulham, in the County of
Middlesex, Tyre Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:
This invention relates to pneumatic tyres and it consists of an improved device
for attaching the covers thereof to wheel rims, and it has for its object dis-
pensing both with wheel rims having inturned edges and also with inextensible
bands or their equivalents in the edges of the tyre covers.
According to this invention I form in the edges of the cover of the tyre
pockets which are preferably formed in or out of the canvas or fabric with
which the cover is reinforced. In each of these pockets is placed two or more
strips or flat bands of steel or other suitable metal, the edges of which overlap
one another some four or five inches, so that the band formed by the strips is
inextensible. Each of these strips at or about the centre of its length is fixed
in any convenient manner to the pocket so that it has no independent move-
ment thereof at that point.
As the extensibility of the bands formed by these strips is only limited by the
fabric of which the pockets are formed, the edges of the cover of the tyre will
easily pass over the edges of the wheel rim.
On inflation the strips forming the band in each pocket of the cover of the
tyre are caused to close in by the pressure of the air tube acting on them, where-
by they are caused to securely grip the rim and so secure the tyre to the wheel
rim.
Improvements in and relating to Pneumatic Tyres.
I, FRANCISCO TONI, of 158A, New Kings Road, Fulham, in the County of
Middlesex, Tyre 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 and it consists of an improved device

page_text: for attaching the covers thereof to wheel rims, and it has for its object dis-
pensing both with wheel rims having inturned edges and also with inextensible
bands or their equivalents in the edge of the tyre covers, so that a pneumatic
tyre constructed according to this invention will on inflation of the air tube
seat itself on and become securely attached to the wheel rim without any
mechanical aid and within certain limits irrespective of the size or shape of
the groove in the rim.
According to this invention I form in the edges of the cover of the tyre
pockets which are preferably formed in or out of the canvas or fabric with
which the cover is reinforced. In each of these pockets is placed two or more
strips or flat bands of steel or other suitable metal, the ends of which overlap
one another some four or five inches, so that the band formed by the strips is
extensible. Each of these strips at or about the centre of its length is fixed
in any convenient manner to the pocket so that it has no independent move.
ment thereof at that point.
As the extensibility of the bands formed by these strips is only limited by the
fabric of which the pockets are formed, the edges of the cover of the tyre will
easily pass over the edges of the wheel rim.
On inflation the strips forming the band in each pocket of the cover of the
tyre are caused to close in by the pressure of the air tube acting on them, where-
by they are caused to securely grip the rim and so secure the tyre to the wheel
rim.
I will now more particularly describe my invention making reference to the
accompanying drawing in which :-
Figure 1 is a view in transverse section of my tyre mounted on a rim of the
"Clincher" type, and
Figure 2 is a broken view in plan thereof.
Figure 3 is a view in transverse section showing my improved tyre mounted
on a rim of the "Welch-Dunlop" type.
Figure 4 is a view in transverse section of the foundation of the tyre before
the application of the rubber tread.
Figure 5 is a diagramatic view showing the construction of the bands.
In carrying out my invention as herein shown I make the foundation A of the
outer cover of the tyre of canvas or other suitable fabric made or cut on the
cross or bias. At the edges of this foundation are formed pockets a, a, each
adapted to receive a flat band B, which is made up of two or more pieces, the
lengths of which are approximately the same, and such that when in position
their ends overlap to the extent of three or four inches. The pieces forming
the bands B may be made of ribbon steel or other suitable metal or material.
Each of the pieces forming the band B is fixed at or about the centre of its
length by sewing or otherwise to the pocket containing it so as to prevent it
having any circumferential movement as a whole in the said pocket. The pieces
forming the band in the one pocket are so arranged with reference to those
forming the band in the other pocket that the overlapping ends of one band do
not coincide with the overlapping ends of the other band.
As the bands B may when the tyre is mounted in some forms of wheel rim
overlap one another, they and the pockets containing them are cut away or
recessed to provide a passage for the stem of the inflation valve as shown by
Figure 2.
The fabric foundation A is shaped and stretched on a mandrel or former so
that it is caused to assume its normal shape when inflated before the rubber
tread A¹ is fixed to it, whereby it naturally tends to resume its shape after
distortion such as is produced by mounting a tyre on a wheel rim.
It will be understood that each band B is extensible which is only limited
by the capacity of the fabric of which the foundation is made for extension.
On inflation of the air tube D after the tyre is mounted in the wheel rim E
the
pressure acting on the bands B tends to force and keep the edges of the

page_text: cover down against the bottom of the groove in the rim, at the same time that
the contractile action of the fabric foundation of the cover tends to contract
its circumferential length. These two forces acting in unison firmly secure
the tyre in the wheel rim.
I am aware of the Specification of Letters Patent No. 9647 of 1893 granted to
Edmund Hill and I make no claim to anything therein described or claimed
but 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) In a pneumatic tyre, consisting of an expansible tube capable of being
inflated with air, an outer cover comprising a fabric foundation in the form of
an annular ring split circumferentially along its inner side and having pockets
at its edges and a rubber sheath or tread, and two extensible bands one in each
of the pockets of the foundation of the cover constructing each of the said bands
of two or more pieces each made fast to the pocket at or about the centre of
its length and each overlapping the end of the next piece, as and for the pur-
pose set forth.
(2) In a pneumatic tyre, consisting of an expansible tube capable of being
inflated with air, an outer cover comprising a fabric foundation in the form of
an annular ring split circumferentially along its inner side and having pockets
at its edges and a rubber sheath or tread, and two extensible bands located in
the pockets at the edges of the foundation of the cover, constructing each of the
said bands of two or more pieces so that their ends overlap, and arranging the
pieces of the bands so that the overlapping ends of the pieces of one band do
not coincide with the overlapping ends of the pieces of the other band, as set
forth.
(3) In a pneumatic tyre, the combination with an expansible tube capable of
being inflated with air, of an outer cover comprising a fabric foundation in the
form of an annular ring split circumferentially along its inner side and having
pockets at its edges and a rubber sheath or tread, and of two extensible bands
located in the pockets at the edges of the foundation of the cover and made fast
thereto at or about the centres of their lengths each of the said bands being com-
posed of two or more pieces the ends of which overlap the overlapping ends of
the pieces of one band not coinciding with the overlapping ends of the pieces
of the other band, as set forth.
(4) In a pneumatic tyre, the combination with an expansible tube capable of
being inflated with air, of an outer cover comprising a fabric foundation in the
form of an annular ring split circumferentially along its inner side and having
pockets at its edges and a rubber sheath or tread, the said fabric foundation
being shaped and stretched on a mandrel or former before the rubber sheath or
tread is fixed to it. and of two extensible bands located in the pockets at the
edges of the foundation of the cover and made fast thereto at or about the
centres of their lengths, each of the said bands being composed of two or more
pieces the ends of which overlap the overlapping ends of the nieces of one band
not coinciding with the overlapping ends of the pieces of the other band, as
set forth.
ted this 14th day of September 1899.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS. Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Chartered Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.