Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres.
I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of 18 Queen's Gate Place, in the County of
Middlesex, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention has for its chief object to so construct a tyre that the force exerted
by the inflated air-tube will retain the said tyre to the wheel without the assistance
of a specially shaped rim for the edges of the outer cover to engage with.
According to my invention I provide a series of clips or similar devices which
are so constructed and arranged that they will serve to connect together the edges
of the outer cover and lie between the air-tube and the wheel-rim. The formation
of these clips is such that when the air-tube is inflated they will diminish somewhat
in length under the pressure exerted on them by the inflated air-tube and will
exert sufficient strain on the aforesaid edges.of the outer cover to firmly hold the
latter in position.
In order that these clips may operate in the manner above stated they are
preferably formed of metallic strips or plates which are made thicker at their ends
than at their middle portion so that the ends will be rigid but the middle portion
flexible. One of the said ends of each strip or plate is formed with prongs or
teeth and is bent into approximately cylindrical shape so as to form a kind of
hinge connection when these prongs.or.teeth are inserted into one of the edges of
the outer cover. The other end of each strip is formed with teeth or serrations
that are capable of engaging with the. other edge of the outer cover after the air-
tube has been inserted in place, and these serrations are so formed: that they will
readily enter or leave the said.edge. of the outer cover according as the tyre is to
be attached to or detached from the rim.
The edges of thecouter cover, are formed. in any suitable manner: to render them
appropriate for use with the clips.or.devices.of the kind I have set forth.
The said clips are preferably each provided with a lateral fin which is adapted
to pass under or otherwise engage with.the adjoining clip so that the air-tube iis
prevented from getting between the said clips.
Dated this 22nd day of May 1896.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres.
I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of .18 Queen's Gate Place, in the County of
Middlesex, Mechanical Engineer, 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 has for its chief object to so construct a pneumatic tyre that the

page_text: expansive force exerted by the inflated air-tube will retain the said tyre on the
wheel-rim without the assistance of a specially shaped rim for the edges of
the outer cover to engage with.
According to my invention I provide a series of clips or similar devices which
are so constructed and arranged that they will serve to detachably connect together
the edges of the outer cover and lie between the air-tube and the wheel-rim. The
formation of these clips is such that their intermediate parts are flexible so that
when the air-tube is inflated the said clips will diminish somewhat in length by
bending under the pressure exerted on them by the inflated air-tube whereby they
exert sufficient pull on the aforesaid edges of the outer cover, to firmly hold the
latter in position around the air tube and retain the tyre on the rim.
In order that my said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which :-
Figure 1 is a transverse section of my tyre as it appears when inflated and in
place on a wheel rim.
Figures 2 and 3 are respectively a transverse section and a plan of one of the
clips employed with this tyre.
Figure 4 is a transverse section of a slightly modified construction of my tyre
and wheel rim.
Figure 5 is a transverse section of another slightly modified construction and
Figures 6 and 7 are respectively a transverse section and a plan of the clips
employed in the tyre last illustrated.
Like letters of reference indicate similar parts in all the figures.
A is the outer cover of the tyre having embedded therein canvas or other
suitable fabric B the edges of which are strengthened by tape or strips of strong
fabric bb sewn or otherwise connected thereto in any appropriate manner. C is
the air-tube; D the wheel-rim; and EE are the clips which detachably connect
together the edges of the outer cover A.
These clips are preferably formed of short strips or plates of steel or hard
spring metal, which are made thicker near their ends than their middle parts e so
that the ends will be comparatively rigid but the middle part flexible. One of the
said ends of each strip or plate is formed with prongs or teeth e which are bent
into approximately cylindrical shape (Figure 2) so as to form a kind of hinge
connection when these prongs or teeth are inserted into one of the edges of the
outer cover in the manner illustrated in the drawings.
The other end of each strip is formed with serrations at e² that are capable of
engaging with the opposite edge of the outer cover after the air-tube has been
enclosed by the cover A. The edges of the cover are preferably moulded or
otherwise formed with enlargements a al and the edge af is also provided with
roughened portions or serrations for the aforesaid teeth or serrations on the clips
to engage with and obtain a firm hold thereof. The teeth or serrations on the clips
are so formed that they will readily enter or leave the serratious in the edge of
the cover according as the tyre is to be attached to or detached from the
wheel-rim.
Each clip is preferably provided with a lateral fin (see Figures 3 and 7) which
is adapted to pass under the adjacent clip, as shewn in Figure 7, so that the air-
tube cannot enter the spaces that would otherwise exist between the contiguous
clips.
I also prefer to provide the cover with a flap A as illustrated in the drawings;
if desired this flap may be rivetted or otherwise connected to the clips as shown in
Figures 1, 2 and 3.
In some cases it will be found advantageous to cement on to the interior surface
of the wheel-rim, a strip of indiarubber or other suitable material for the clips to
rest on.
When the tyre is in place on the wheel-rim and the air tube is inflated by means
of an air pump in the ordinary manner, the clips E, owing to their flexibility, are

page_text: caused to assume a curved or bent form as shewn in Figures 1, 4 and 5, whereby
their length is contracted and the edges of the outer cover are drawn towards each
other by the contracting clips; thus the tyre is firmly held in place on the wheel-
rim without the intervention of any specially formed flanges to resist the outward
movement of the edges of the cover under the action of the air pressure within
the tyre.
Instead of making the parts e of the aforesaid clips plain, as shewn in the
drawings may form such parts with transverse slits or incisions in order to
increase their flexibility.
If desired the said cover A may be provided with means for preventing the
outer circumference thereof from increasing during inflation of the air-tube as set
forth in the Complete Specifications of my prior applications for Patent No. 95799€
and No. 9666º
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 :-
1. A pneumatic tyre in which the edges of the outer cover are detachably
connected together by clips or similar devices which, on inflation of the air-tube,
will diminish in length by bending for the purpose specified.
2. A pneumatic tyre constructed substantially as described with reference to one
or other of the examples illustrated in the accompanying drawings for the purpose
specified.
Dated this 22nd day of February 1897.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.