Improvements in Pneumatic Tires for Bicycle and other Wheels.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th July, 1896-Accepted, 12th Sept., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tires for Bicycle and other Wheels.
We HENRY AUGUSTUS VEAZIE, Medical Doctor, of 840 Canal Street, and
ROBERT GEORGE MEMORY, Merchant, of 117 South Derbigny Street both of
New Orleans, Louisiana, U.S.A. do hereby declare the nature of this invention
aud 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 for bicycle and other
wheels; and it will be fully understood from the following description and claims
when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which;
Figure 1, is a detail section showing a portion of a wheel rim or felloe, a portion
of a tire cover and a portion of my improved tire.
Figure 2, is a similar view showing the manner in which the air is prevented
from passing into a punctured compartment.
Figure 3, is a section on line x, x, of Figure 2.
Figure 4, is a detail view of a modified form of union.
Figures 5, and 6, are detail views of a modified coupling.
Figure 7, is a perspective sectional view of a portion of a wheel embodying a
modification of my invention.
Figure 8, is a side elevation, partly in section of the same.
Figure 9, is a detail view showing a modified form of a cover, and;
Figure 10, is a section on line x, x, of Figure 8.
Referring by letter to said drawing and more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3,
thereof:
a, indicates the rim or felloe of a wheel; B, indicates the tire cover which may
be of any construction and material (preferably rubber) and may be detachably
connected with the rim in any suitable manner that will permit of access being
gained to the tire, and C, indicates the improved tire. This tire is inade up of
a number of separate inflatable compartments D, which may be of rubber or other
suitable material and of any suitable form and construction; and these compart-
ments are connected with each other so as to enable an air pump connected with
one of the unions (presently described) to inflate all the compartments. Said
compartments are also detachably connected together in any suitable mnauner so
that when one is punctured it may be readily disconnected and replaced by a new
compartment. I prefer to provide the compartments D, at their ends with
nipples b, which have flanges c, at their ends and are designed for the engagement
of unions E, and thimbles F, which I prefer to employ for detachably connecting
the compartments together and establishing communication between the same.
The unions E, lave portions d, which extend into the nipples b, and enlarged
and threaded portions e, designed for the engagement of the threaded thimbles F,
which have flanges f, designed to bear against the nipple flanges c, and in
conjunction with the unions and the interposed washers f, effect air tight
connections between the compartments D.
When one of the compartments D, is punctured and it is desired to repair the
tire, it is simply necessary to open or disconnect, from the wheel rim, the portion
of the cover B, which covers said compartment. Such compartment may then be
disconnected from the two contiguous compartments and a new compartment may
then be placed in position and connected to the other compartments in the manner
described. The tire may then be reinflated, and for this purpose one of the
unions E, of the tire is provided with a valved or other suitable nipple f³.

page_text: When it is desired to prevent the escape of compressed air from and the collapse
of all the compartments D, when one is punctured, I provide said compartments
with tubes F, of thin rubber or other thin collapsible material. These thin
rubber tubes extend the full length of the compartments and into the nipples b, in
which they are secured by cement or other suitable means, and they are preferably
of slightly greater length than the compartments so as not to be affected by
stretching or crowding of the same, and are provided within the compartments
with openings g, which are preferably of the form shown, so as to permit air to
pass from the tubes into the compartments but prevent its return from the
compartments to the tubes. When all of the tubes F, of the tire are under equal
pressure, the tubes are expanded as shown in Figure 1. Now when one of the
compartments is punctured, the compressed air in said compartment escapes
through the puncture, and the compressed air in the tube F', of said punctured
compartment and also in the tubes F, of the compartments on opposite sides of
the punctured compartment escapes into said punctured compartment and out
through the puncture. This removes the pressure inside of the said tubes in the
compartments on opposite sides of the punctured compartment and enables the
pressure in the said compartments to press and close the tubes as shown in
Figure 2, and prevent the escape of air through the tubes into the tube of the
punctured compartment. In consequence of this, when a compartment is
punctured, only the compressed air in said compartment will escape, and while the
rider will be apprised of the puncture, he may, if necessary, ride a considerable
distance before removing the punctured compartment and replacing it with a new
one. When however the punctured section or compartment is removed and
replaced by a new one, it is simply necessary, in order to restore the "hardness"
of the tire, to pump air into the tire until the pressure in the tubes F1, is greater
than the pressure in the compartments D, on opposite sides of the new compart-
ment, when the tubes in said compartments D, will open and the compressed air
will pass through said tubes and the tube of the new compartment into said new
compartment and inflate the same.
When one compartment is punctured, the unpunctured compartments expand
or stretch a little and crowd the punctured compartment, and for this reason the
tubes F, are preferably made slightly longer than the compartments as before
described.
When desired, the tubes F¹, may he dispensed with, and the unions E, may be
provided with cocks f, as shown in Figure 4. With this construction when a
puncture occurs in a compartment, all the compartments will collapse by reason of
the air therein escaping. Connection may then be closed between the punctured
compartment and the unpunctured compartments by closing the cocks at the
opposite ends of the. punctured compartment after which the unpunctured
compartments may be reinflated.
The modified construction of coupling illustrated in Figures 5 and 6, comprises
a union E', which has a collar flange e, and the plates F, of slightly resilient
material, which receives the nipples b, of the compartments D, as illustrated.
These plates F2, are provided at opposite points with angular branches f, f, and
one of these branches has a hook at its end while the other branch has an
eye, as shown.
J
In using the modified form of coupling the reduced portions of the union E', are
inserted in the nipples b, of the sections or compartments D, the plates F2, having
previously been placed on said nipples b, as shown. The book of each plate is
then sprung into the eye of the other plate as illustrated, when the plates will be
tightly connected together and the ends of the nipples will be pressed and held
against the collar flange of the union E¹, so as to prevent the escape of air
therefrom.
In Figures 7, 8, and 10, I have shown a modified form of cover B', and a modified
form of compartments D¹. In this construction the compartments D', which are
separate and distinct from each other are arranged end to end upon the felloe a¹,

page_text: and are each provided with an inflation tube F', which extend through apertures
in the felloe.
The inflation tubes F', extend well into the compartments D', and their portions
within said compartments are formed of thin rubber or other compressible material.
The portions of the tubes without the compartments D', may be formed of any
suitable material and they preferably have their outer ends normally closed by.
caps W, to exclude dust.
Within the compartments D', the tubes F', are provided with apertures E³.
These apertures are preferably of the form shown in Figure 10; their walls
converging toward the outer sides of the tubes where they meet so as to permit
the passage of air from the tubes into the compartments but check a return passage
of the air.
The compartments D', are inflated separately through the medium of an air
compressing device which is connected with the tubes F', in the ordinary manner.
When such device is actuated the air will enter the tube with which it is connected,
and the inner end of the tube being closed, such air will pass through aperture E,
and into the compartment to inflate the same. When the compressing device is
disconnected from the tube the pressure of air in said tube is removed and con-
sequently the pressure within the compartment D', acting against the outside of the
tube will collapse and close the tube between the aperture E³, and the wall of
the compartment, and the escape of air from the compartment through the tube.
will be effectually prevented.
The cover B, which encloses the compartments D', may be of any suitable
construction. I prefer however for the sake of strength and durability to have it
comprise the inner layer G¹, of canvas or other textile and the outer layer H', of
rubber which is connected to the layer G', by cement or other suitable means.
The rubber layer H, which is increased in thickness at the tread, need only cover
the canvas layer G', at such tread. I prefer however to have the reduced portions
of the rubber layer extend almost to the edges of the canvas layer as better shown
in Figure 7.
The cover B', laps over the inner side of the felloc a', and it is secured to said
felloe by the cord I, which is laced to and fro on the hooks J, with which the
cover B¹, is provided.
For the purpose of affording easy access to the compartments D', I prefer to slit
the cover B', transversely on one side of the tire at points at or adjacent to the
ends of the compartments to form flaps K, as shown in Figure 8. In virtue of this,
it will be seen that when a compartment is punctured, all that is necessary is to
disconnect the lace or cord I, from the hooks on the flaps K, opposite the punctured
compartment, and then raise said flap as shown in Figure 8, when the punctured
compartment may be removed and replaced by a new compartment without
disturbing the other compartments or the connection of the remainder of the cover.
In Figure 9, I have illustrated a modified cover B, which may be secured to the
felloe by cement or the like. This cover B2, is slitted longitudinally throughout its
length at a point adjacent to the felloe a', and the edges of the slits are provided
with books J', connected by a lace I', as shown, whereby it will be seen that access
may be readily had to any compartment D', that may be punctured. When desired
the cover may be slitted on both sides, in which case the outer portion of the cover
may be replaced, when worn, by a new outer portion without disturbing the cover
portion which is connected to the felloe.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :
1. A wheel tire comprising a plurality of inflatable compartments, an inflation
tube, and a conduit, having collapsible portions of thin rubber or other collapsible
material, connected with the inflation tube and extending through the compartments
and having apertures for connecting the interior of the conduit with the interior of

page_text: the compartments; the said apertures being arranged at intermediate points in the
length of the compartments.
2. A wheel tire comprising a plurality of separate inflatable compartments
having nipples at their ends provided with flanges, a union interposed between the
nipples of the compartments and having portions inserted in said nipples, and plates
mounted on the nipples and connected, substantially as specified.
3. A wheel tire comprising a plurality of separate inflatable compartments
having nipples at their ends provided with flanges, tubular unions having reduced
portions inserted in the nipples of the inflatable compartments and also having
exteriorly threaded portions, and interiorly threaded thimbles engaging the threaded
portions of the unions and having flanges engaging the flanges of the nipples at
the ends of the inflatable compartments, substantially as specified.
4. A wheel tire comprising a plurality of separate compartments detachably
connected together, an inflation tube, and a conduit for connecting the inflation
tube, with the interior of the compartments; the said conduit comprising collapsible
tubes of thin rubber or other collapsible material arranged in the compartments
and having apertures at an intermediate point of their length, substantially as
specified.
5. As an improved article of manufacture, an inflatable tire compartment con-
taining a collapsible tube of thin rubber or other collapsible material; the said
tube being provided with an aperture at an intermediate point of its length and
being connected to the ends of the compartments, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
6. A wheel comprising a felloe having apertures at intervals in its length, a tire
having a plurality of separate and distinct compartments arranged end to end upon
the felloc, inflation tubes extending through the felloe and connected with the
compartments, a cover arranged over the compartments and lapped over the inner
side of the felloe and provided with hooks and also divided by transverse slits into
flaps K, corresponding in length to the compartments, and a lace engaging the
hooks of the cover and connecting the edges of said cover and securing the same
upon the felloe, substantially as specified.
7. The combination of an inflatable device and an inflation tube of suitable thin
material as rubber, occupying a position within the inflatable device and having its
inner end closed and also having the aperture E³, at an intermediate point of its
length for connecting its interior with the interior of the inflatable device; the
walls of said aperture E³, converging toward the outside of the tube, substantially
as specified.
Dated this 14th day of July 1896.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.