Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd June, 1897-Accepted, 9th Oct., 1897
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres.
We, GEORGE HUNTINGTON CHURCH, Lumber Dealer, and OwILLE JAMES MILLER,
Machinist, both of Bergen, County of Genesee, State of New York, U.S.A., 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:
In the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a part sectional plan of a fragment of a
pneumatic tyre of this invention and Fig. 2 a cross section of the tyre when the
tread is free from pressure. Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views with the tread flattened
as in supporting a load. Fig. 5 a back view of a fragment of the protective strip
like tyre covering, with a portion of the backing canvas broken away, when said
covering is in the circular form or unloaded and Fig. 6 a similar view in the same
in the loaded or flattened position, and Figs. 7 and 8 are cross section's of the same,
in the two positions, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 9 an enlarged detail view of a
fragment of the strip in plan looking at the front or tread. Fig. 10 a perspective
view of one of the outer tread plates or scales and Fig. 11 a similar view of one of
the inner tread plates or scales.
A is an ordinary wrapper of a pneumatic tyre in this instance represented as a
laced tubular envelope glued or otherwise secured to the rim 1 said wrapper being
shewn as comprising an exterior tube a of india rubber or other rather thick elastic
material, an internal tubular layer of canvas b adhering thereto, and then an extra
thick semitubular layer of canvas c or other suitable material arranged to leave an
open space & along the tread portion. A¹ is a flexible metallic protective strip or
band seated in the spaces and extending continuously round the tyre and of a width
preferably somewhat wider than that of the tread portion of the wrapper A. This
protective strip consists of a series of metallic plates or scales backed by a retaining
layer of canvas or other fabric. is an internal tubular layer of canvas covering
smoothly the semitubular layer of canvas c and the back of the mail like protective
strip A' and which is thoroughly secured by adhesive means.
B is the customary
inflatable air tube of light india rubber or other suitable material and extending
continuously through the wrapper.
The flexible protective strip A¹ comprises essentially an inner and an outer layer
of conjointly connected plates or scales 3, 4, respectively, so hinged to one another as
to permit of the segmental or curvilinear like bending of the strip of aggregated
scales transversely throughout its annular extent as well as of the substantially flat
shape of the strip simultaneously with the flattening of the tread of the other portions
of the wrapper A whilst the connection of the series of plates 3, 4, is such as to afford
an infinitesmal play of the same longitudinally of the strip. The inner plates or
scales 3 all slightly overlap in one longitudinal direction as at o (Figs. 5, 6,) whilst
the outer plates 4 also slightly overlap in one direction as at p.
:
Normally, that is, when there is no compression of the wrapper A so that the
protective metallic strip is of a rounded contour transversely, small interstices e exist
at the point of forward and rearward hinging of the aggregated plates 3, 4, but such
interstices close as the wrapper is flattened in supporting a load.
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page_text: The contour of the outer plates 4 is oval and each of said plates has two prongs f
and one g and an interstice e such as already referred to. The prong g of each plate 4
is inserted through the aperture e of the companion plate and then bent over at the
back into a hook shape thus giving a loose joint, the aperture in the several plates
being transverse to the plate's length and sufficiently large to permit the requisite
play, the respective interstices at e being practically closed when the metallic protective
strip A¹ is contracted by a load.
The inner plates 3 are also of an oval contour and each provided with a central
orifice slightly elongated in the direction of the plate's length. The outer plates
or scales 4 are connected with the underlying plates 3 by means of the prongs f
passing through side by side an orifice h of the inner plate 3 and bent over the back
thereof in opposite directions and so on through the series the plates 3 lying inter-
mediately of the plates 4. The plates or scales, preferably struck out by suitable dies
from sheet metal, are disposed in parallel rows both longitudinally and transversely
and the several plates may be clinched together in flexible connection by means of any
suitable tools or machinery.
The backing i for the plates 3, 4, forming the mail like strip preferably consists of
a layer of canvas of the same width as the metallic portion and continuous therewith
and held thereto by the prongs f of the plates 4 said prongs being bent round over
the edges of the backing and clinched.
Whilst the additional weight given to a customary twenty eight inch tyre by using
the protective strip will be about fourteen ounces, prevention of the puncturing of the air
tube is attained while insuring to the tyre all requisite resiliency and increasing its
durability, consequently the additional weight cannot be of consequence.
Whether a single or double tube tyre be employed, the applicability of the mail
like puncture preventing strip is the same, the essential matter being, such an
arrangement thereof as will prevent the penetration of tacks or other sharp objects
into the air chamber of the tyre.
Obviously the employment of the flexible mail strip as a barrier against penetration
of the air tube admits of the use of a much thinner and lighter air tube by reason of
the same not being exposed to perforation.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A pneumatic tyre provided, peripherally around its air chamber and within its
tread surface, with a flexible mail like strip of laminated scale like formation
continuous with the portion it covers, and consisting of upper and lower strata or
rows of scales running both longitudinally and transversely parallel, the outer face
scales slightly overlapping each other in one direction and non lapping in the other,
and flexibly connected, and respectively connected to the inner lying scales in a
manner to allow flexibility of parts, and a flexible non metallic backing strip secured
to and covering the inner series of plates, all combined and operating substantially
as described and shewn.
2. A pneumatic tyre provided internally of its tread portion with an annular mail
like strip comprising a series of metallic scales, an outer and an inner layer, the outer
scales being movably connected one to the other longitudinally, and the inner scales
alternately disposed between the outer scales and yieldingly connected therewith,
said mail like strip being capable of slight expansion or contraction longitudinally,
and flexible both longitudinally and transversely, the outer scales being arranged in
parallel rows, and the inner scales being disposed is parallel rows located inter-
mediately of the outer rows, for the purpose specified, substantially as described and
shewn.
3. The combination with the tread portion of the air tube or wrapper of a
pneumatic tyre, of a flexible metallic strip of annular shape seated within the elastic
material of the tube or wrapper, the said strip comprising double layers of laminæ of 5
conjointly connected plates or scales the outer or external plates being respectively

page_text: provided with bent prongs or hooks at their opposite edges, similar bent prongs or
hooks forwardly, and perforations at their opposite extremities, the forward prongs
passing into and hookingly retained in the perforation of the contiguous plate, and so
on through the rows of the series, the inner or backing plates having central orifices
longitudinally elongated, and side prongs or hooks of the external plates passing
through said orifices and flexibly retaining the outer and inner plates in juxtaposition,
said flexible metallic strip being capable of play longitudinally and of curvature both
longitudinally and transversely, all arranged and operating substantially as described
and shewn.
Dated this 22rd day of June 1907
THOMAS R. SHILLITO,
89 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.