Improvements in Tubeless Pneumatic Tyres.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd Dec., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tubeless Pneumatic Tyres.
I, HENRY JAMES FISHER, of 102, Shooter's Hill Road, Blackheath, in the
County of Kent, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
My invention relates to tubeless pneumatic tyres for cycle wheels and the like,
such for example as the "Fleuss" tyre. In that tyre there is a continuous in-
ternal flap fixed to one edge of the cover and overlying internally the junction
of the two adjacent and abutting edges so that when inflated an air tight joint is
formed. It has been found however that for fixing purposes and for efficiency
such internal flap must be made of rubber of considerable thickness, and hence
the air-tight joint is liable to imperfections.
The object of my invention is to provide a perfect air-tight joint and a simple
and more efficient means for securely holding and fixing within the rim the two
edges of the tyre and to prevent tendency to rolling transversely in use.
To these ends I employ for the tyre a shaped strip, its edges being swelled and
so that when curved round they will fit into a corresponding rim but not abut
against dach other (as in the "Fleuss" tyre). Within this tyre I fit without fixing
a continuous rubber flap having on its outer side a continuous flexible wedge-like
projection or tongue extending centrally all around same, and adapted on infla-
tion to pass in between and force asunder the two adjacent but not abutting
edges of the cover. The depth of the wedge-like projection or tongue is such
preferably that when forced into position by the air pressure its apex will abut
against the rim. Thus when the tyre is inflated the air pressure forces the two
sides of the flap firmly against the inner walls of the tyre and also presses the
wedge between the edges so as to secure same strongly into the rim cavities and
form a most efficient air tight joint; moreover even when deflated the wedge-like
tongue remains in position and hence the cover cannot be detached until the
wedge has been removed. To effect this I pierce the rim centrally and at con-
venient distances apart with holes or slots adapted to admit of the insertion of a
blunt instrument by which the wedge may be pushed inwardly out of position,
and the cover is then free to be removed, or equivalently curved metal sections
may be fitted within the rim below the wedge by which it can be when required.
The above forms an efficient tyre but in order to enable the use of thinner
rubber for the inner flap above referred to and also to prevent inward folding of
its outer edges during fixing of the tyre and generally to facilitate that process
further according to my improvements in some cases I connect together the two
outer edges of the said thin rubber internal flap by thin rubber or flexible con-
nections at suitable intervals apart so that not only is the whole strengthened
but thinner material can be used which will conform itself more easily to any
irregularity of inner surface caused by dust, grit, or otherwise.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1896.
J. C. CHAPMAN
Agent.

page_text: 4:
Improvements in faveless Pneumatic Tyres.
I, HENRY JAMES FISHER, of 102, Shooter's Hill Road, Blackheath, in the
County of Kent, 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 relates to tubeless pneumatic tyres for cycle wheels and the like,
such for example as the "Fleuss" tyre. In that tyre there is a continuous in-
ternal flap fixed to one edge of the cover and overlying internally the junction
of the two adjacent and abutting edges so that when inflated an air-tight joint
is formed. It has been found however that for fixing purposes and for efficiency
such internal flap must be made of rubber of considerablo thickness, and hence
the air-tight joint is liable to imperfections.
The object of my invention is to provide and maintain a perfect air-tight joint,
to prevent tendency to rolling transversely in use, and to facilitate detachment
.when, required.
I will fully describe my invention in reference to the accompanying drawings,
in which Fig. 1 is a transverse section through a tubeless tyre and rim showng
my improvement; and Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same illustrating the tyre
deflated and the method of detaching same from the rim. Fig. 2 is a section
through a modified construction of wedge and adjacent parts. Fig. 3 is a view
of part of internal flap and wedge-ring withdrawn from the cover, and Fig. 4
is a cross-section showing raising plate in a single rim hereinafter referred to.
I employ for the tyre a cover consisting of a shaped strip T with its edges
swelled as at it so that when curved round and inserted in the rim the outer parts
will fit into correspondingly formed recesses rr in the rim R. The two inner
faces do not abut against each other but have a wedge shaped gap of suitable
width between them. Within such a cover I fit, without fixing, a continuous rubber
Hap f having on its outer side a continuous flexible wedge-like projection or
tongue extending centrally all around same and adapted on inflation of the cover
to pass in between and force asunder for an efficient distance the two adjacent
and similarly inclined but not abutting edges of the cover. The depth of the
wedge-like projection or flaptongue may be such that when forced into position
by the air pressure its under side will abut or nearly abut against the upper and
inner surface of the rim, or it may be of the modified form shown in Fig. 2 or
even a mere beading may be employed. The flap f fits well within the cover T
and extends at each side for a considerable distance up the inner walls thereof,
preferably over about half the internal circumference of the tyre as shown in
Fig 1 more than half the internal circumferential length being employed in some
cases; the thickness of the rubber of the flap is reduced by tapering it away
from its junction with the wedge-ring to practically a feather-edge at its free
edges. This almost entirely prevents transverse rolling of the tyre in use.
provide against inward folding or buckling of these thin feather edges of the
flap during fixing of the tyre and to facilitate that process, further, according to
"my improvements I may connect together the outer edges of the said thin rubber
material of the side flaps by thin rubber or other flexible transverse connections
such as are well illustrated at bb, Fig. 3, where the flap is shown as bent reversely
to better show, them. These are arranged at suitable intervals apart so that not
only is the whole strengthened, but thinner material can be used for the flap
which has the advantage of conforming itself more easily to any irregularity of the
inner surface of the cover caused by dust, grit, or otherwise. When the tyre is
To

page_text: inflated the air pressure forces the two sides of the flap firmly against the inner
walls of the cover, and also presses the wedge between the inner edges and since
the movement of the shaped ends of the cover T is limited by the cavities formed
in the rim, the wedge ring is forced more firmly against the inside of the cover T
and between its inclined faces as the air is pumped into the tyre, and so an
efficient air tight joint is secured. I may also if necessary cover the surface of
the flap with some suitable semi-fluid matter, such as a mucilage, to render the
air-seal more perfect.
With this combination, even when deflated the wedge-like tongue remains in
position and hence the cover cannot be detached until the wedge has been removed
To effect this, when the rim used is of single metal, I pierce the latter centrally
around the centre circumferential line and at convenient distances apart with
holes or slots s Fig. 4 adapted to admit of the insertion of a blunt instrument
as shown, by which the wedge and flap may be pushed inwardly out of position.
This is more easily accomplished when the tyre has been deflated, the cover is then
free to be removed, or in addition I may employ internal metallic sections such as u
curved in both directions to fit accurately within the rim below the wedge ring by
which longer portions of the wedge ring can be displaced when required to remove
them.
With double metal rims as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in some cases I do not find
such holes necessary, for on application of hand pressure in the direction of the
arrow in Fig. 2 the inner flap and wedge are raised and one side of the cover is
released; with this method of detachment it is preferable to make the wedge with
more obtuse angles or even rounded, at the lower extremity. The wedge may,
in some cases, for example as shown in Fig. 2 be very small, or merely a bead
of sufficient size to cause the flap f to automatically occupy its central position
within the tyre.
I would state that I am aware that in pneumatic tyres the mere securing of
the edges of the outer cover to the rim of a wheel by means of a wedge-shaped
ring combined with and operated by an inner air tube has been suggested, and
therefore I lay no broad claim to that means or principle of action, 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 tubeless pneumatic tyre the use and arrangement in combination with
an outer cover having its edges shaped on their outward sides to fit into corres-
ponding recesses within the rim and the inner faces not abutting but presenting a
wedge shaped interval, of an internal continuous rubber flap with a central ex-
ternal wedge-like projecting tongue, the two sides of said flap being each tapered
(in cross-section) from the base of the wedge to their free margins and extending
for a suitable distance upwards at each side within the cover and preferably
connected together at intervals by transverse flexible connections, the whole being
adapted for use substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinabove
set forth.
2. The combination with the improved tubeless pneumatic tyre referred to in
the preceding claim of a rim pierced with a series of centrally disposed upertures
and with or without internal sectional metallic lifting plates for facilitating
detachment, substantially as set forth.
WAYAS
Dated the 2nd day of October
For the Applicant.
J. C. CHAPMAN.
70 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.