Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres for the Wheels of Cycles and Common Road Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres for the Wheels of Cycles and
Common Road Vehicles.
I, JAMES SIMEON EDGE, of Coleshill Street, in the City of Birmingham,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to tubeless pneumatic tyres for the wheels of cycles and
common road vehicles, and has for its object, a pneumatic attachment effected by
supplementary inflatable hollow edges, which are or may be inflated independent of
the tyre itself, so that should the tyre become punctured it is still held onto the rim
through the medium of its pneumatic or inflated edges, which run along the
foundation and serve to keep the divisional joint formed by the joint between the
meeting parts of the said edges sound.
The tyre, which is fitted to or removed from off the rim instantly; consists of a
flat endless strip of ordinary canvas-plied rubber, with each edge carrying one of the
hollow inflatable halves of the foundation, whose undersides embed upon the middle
of the rim, outer selvages engage under its hooked or partly inwardly-rolled edges,
and inner faces abut and trap the air forced into the body of the tyre.
As the hollow edges admit of being independently inflated, the tyre can be thereby
affixed to the rim preparatory to the primary inflation. Small punctures can be detected
either by placing the wheel in water or by the use of a smoke pump, and may be
easily repaired from the interior by detaching one side of the tyre.
To detach the tyre, first deflate the primary air chamber at the same time as, or
prior to, the deflation of the supplementary hollow edges or halves of the foundation,
all of which parts may be fitted with independent valves, when the abutting inner
faces or joints part or separate, thus admitting of one or both sites being removed
from the rim.
To secure the tyre to the rim by means of pneumatic attachment, place the edges
on the bed of the rim, with their outer selvage parts lying under the curled edges
thereof, and with their inwardly presented butt edges coming together. Now inflate
these supplementary hollow edges, either before or at the same time as the body is
inflated, when the coinpressed air exerts itself upon the inner walls of the tyre
distends or expands both the base and body of the tyre and at the same time entrapз
the air in the said body by the meeting faces of the inflated edges mutually pressing
against each other.
Dated this 13th day of October 1896

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres for the Wheels of Cycles and
Common Road Vehicles.
I, JAMES SIMEON EDGE of Coleshill Street, in the City of Birmingham, 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 tubeless pneumatic tyres for the wheels of cycles and
common road vehicles, and has for its object to provide a pneumatic attachment
capable of being effected by supplementary inflatable hollow edges, which are or
may be inflated independently of the tyre itselt, so that should the tyre become
punctured it is still held upon the rim through the medium of its pneumatic or
inflated edges, which run along the sides of the foundation or base of the tyre, and
serve to keep the divisional joint formed by the meeting parts of the said edges
perfectly air-tight and sound.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in vertical section, a tubeless
pneumatic tyre provided with hollow and inflatable edges for effecting its
attachment to the wheel rim, the same being constructed and arranged according to
my invention. The said view shows the tyre removed from the rim and its
attachment edges deflated.
Figure 2 is a like vertical section as Figure 1, but with the tyre applied to the
rim, and with the body of the said tyre and the hollow edges in the feet or foundation
parts of the same fully inflated.
Figure 3 is an underside plan of the base of the tyre, removed from the rim,
showing the joint running along the middle of the same.
Figure 4 is a topside plan of the rim.
Figure 5 is a like underside plan as Figure 3, of that part of the base of the tyre
at which the valve is fitted, the said valve being removed.
Figure 6 is a like section as Figure 1, but taken upon the dotted line x, Figure 5
through that part of the tyre at which the valve is fitted.
Figure 7 is a complete vertical section of the tyre, rim and valve.
The same letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures
of the drawing.
The tyre a, which can be fitted to or removed from off the rim instantly, consists
of a body part al, formed from a flat endless strip of ordinary canvas-plied rubber,
with each edge a² carrying one of the hollow or tubular inflatable parts or halves a³
of the foundation a, whose undersides a", embed themselves upon the middle of
the rim b, whilst their outer selvages or parts a, engage under the hooked or partly
inwardly-rolled edges b', of the said rim, and inner or opposed faces , as abutt or
interlock with one another, and trap the air forced into the body of the tyre.
The said hollow edges admit of being inflated independently of and prior to che
body of the tyre itself and therefore the tyre can be thereby securely affixed to the
rim preparatory to the primary inflation, and should the body of the tyre be deflated,
the said inflated edges still retain the tyre upon the rim until they themselves are
deflated. Small punctures can be detected by placing the wheel in water or by the
use of a smoke pump, and may be easily repaired from the interior by detaching
one side of the tyre.
To detach the tyre, first deflate the primary air chamber either at the same time
as, or previous to, the deflation of the supplementary hollow edges or halves of the
foundation, when the abutting or interlocking inner faces or joints part or separate,
thus adm itting of one or both sides being removed from the rim.

page_text: To secure the tyre to the rim by means of pneumatic attachment, first place the
edges on the bed of the rim, with their outer selvage parts lying under the curled
edges thereof, and with their inwardly presented butt or interlocking faces coming
together.
Now force air under pressure through the valve into the continuous channels of
the hollow edges, when the outward pressure of the air distends the walls of the same
and brings the abutting face into mutual close contact and also forces or bulges the
selvages outwards into the undercuts of the rim, thereby securing the base or
foundation of the tyre to the rim independent altogether of the inflation of the body
part. The inflation of the body of the valve is proceeded with after the complete
inflation of the attachment edges.
The valve c, may consist, as shown in Figure 7, of a body part c', secured to the
rim b, by a washer c2 and nut c³, taking upon the outside screwed tail end of the
same. This body part lies within and between the recessed parts alo, all, formed in
the meeting edges of the tyre and has opposite openings c, in communication
respectively with the passages a12 leading to the continuous hollow parts of inflating
attachment edges. Seatings c, c, are provided, one above the other, upon which the
valves c, c', respectively controlling the admission of air to the hollow edges and the
body of the tyre, seat themselves, the latter c³, being kept down by a strong spring
or elastic band cio, or the like and is carried by a separate stem c", whose lower end
takes into and has a certain amount of vertical play within the hole c¹², formed in
the stalk c³, carrying the valve c', controlling the adinission and escape of air to and
from the hollow edges.
The operation of the valve is as follows:-Assuming the tyre to be deflated, the
first air forced into the valve from the pump, passes up the space c¹, between the
stalk cls, and the inside of the body, raises the valve c, and passes into the hollow
edges and first fully inflates them. Then when the air pressure is sufficient to
overcome the spring co the upper valve c³, is raised by making a sliding movement
independent of the valve c', and the body of the tyre is inflated to the required
extent, and on the pump being removed both valves are closed down upon their
seatings. To deflate the edgings and tyre an inward or upward movement is given
to the stalk by a suitable instrument, which first raises the valve c', and then, (when
the bottom of the hole c2, comes against the stem c¹) the valve c³.
If necessary the body of the tyre may be inflated and deflated by one valve and the
edges through another or other separate and entirely independent valves, in which
case the valves may be of any ordinary construction.
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 :-
First. In tubeless pneumatic tyres, or tyres having no inner air tube, effecting
the attachment of the same to the wheel rims by supplementary inflatable hollow
edges, which are or may be inflated independently of the tyre itself.
Secondly. The improvements in pneumatic tyres, substantially as described and
set forth.
Thirdly. The combination with a tubeless pneumatic tyre secured to a rim by
nflatable hollow edges, of a valve constructed and arranged substantially as described
nd set forth.