Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres.
I, GEORGE HOOкHAм, of 7 and 8, New Bartholomew Street, Birmingham, Manu-
facturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of my improvements is to render pneumatic tyres puncture-proof by
means of metallic wires fixed round the circumference of the tyre, the metallic
wires lying, by preference, between the cover and the inner tube, where an inner
tube is used. The wires may be straight or plain wires, and in that case in order
to enable them to adhere to the india-rubber I may cover them with cotton like
wires used in electric construction or I may use helical wires lying side by side in
such a way that the helices fit into one another; these may be bound together
with fine wire or they may be woven together in long lengths, the spring of the
helices enabling them to adapt themselves to the varying diameter of the tyre,
when they are formed into an endless band. The helices are small and fit into
one another so that a thorn or nail cannot pass between them. If fine helical
wires are used they need not necessarily lie along the circumference of the tyre
that is, in a plane at right angles to the axis of the wheel, but may lie across the
tyre i.e., in planes parallel to the said axis, the helices being, preferably, wound
one into the other. The wires may lie diagonally across the tyre. Waved, flat
strips may be used instead of plain wires.
100
I, GEORGE HOOкHAM, Engineer, of 7, New Bartholomew Street, in the City of
Birmingham, 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 puncture preventing methods and appliances, and has
for its object the providing of a puncture proof device, which can be applied to
any form of pneumatic tyre.
My invention consists in embedding a series of wires, preferably spiral, and

page_text: interlocking in a rubber or rubber and canvas strip, which can be placed between
the cover and the inner tube of any ordinary type of pneumatic tyre at the tread.
It may
be formed integral with the outer cover or tyre body if preferred, as in
applying it to a tubeless tyre. I may cover the wires with cotton to make them
adhere better to the strip.
In carrying my invention into effect according to one modification, as illus-
trated in the accompanying sheet of drawings. -
Figure 1 is a perspective view, showing a rubber and canvas strip ready to have
the wires embedded in it.
Figure 2 shows a guide block C through which the spiral wires d are drawn to
place them in correct relationship to one another. It also shows the composite
strip in the position to receive the spiral wires.
Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a mould box e and cover f suitable for
pressing the wires into position on the composite strip a b, and incorporating
them with it.
Figure 4 shows a plan and elevation of the finished armour strip.
Figures 5 and 6 show an elevation and side sectional elevation of another
apparatus for forming my armour strip by means of rollers.
I provide a number of spiral wires d, and place them side by side as shown in
Figure 2. I then fasten them together at one end and draw them through a guide
block such as C thus causing them to interlock to a greater or less extent as
required.
The width of the guide block C is so proportioned with regard to the number
and diameter of the helical wires d that these wires cannot pass through the slot
in C without each helix being forced into engagement with that next to it. The
spirals in passing through a guide C of suitably proportioned width thus become
interlocked, each with its neighbour. After leaving the guide C the whole strip
is embedded in rubber and the spirals thus kept in engagement with each other.
As the spirals are drawn through the guide bar I cause them to be placed on a
composite strip of rubber as 6 with a backing of canvas as a. The spirals and
strip are placed together into a mould box e and a cover f is put on; then sufficient
pressure is applied to cause the wires to become embedded in the soft rubber.
rubber may then be vulcanised the whole forming an armour strip, as illustrated
in Figure 4, suitable for application to a pneumatic tyre at the tread between the
inner tube and the outer cover. This armour strip may be attached in any
suitable manner to the tyre cover. For example, the canvas backing might be
allowed to project at each side of the strip all along forming flaps.
These flaps
might then be cemented to the outer cover.
The
According to another modification, I provide in place of the box a flanged
roller and in place of the cover a plain roller h, which can pass between the
flanges of the flanged roller, as shown in Figures 5 and 6. The plain roller is
caused by springs or other means to press down on the spirals and strip, so that
when they are drawn through between the rollers they become incorporated with
one another. The strip may then be vulcanised. The spiral wires may be flattened
to a greater or less extent in the process of bedding them in the rubber layer.
Various modifications might be made, without departing from my invention.
This form of interlocking spiral wire armour has the great advantage of
enabling the outer edge wires to adapt themselves to their position when the strip
is placed on the tyre.
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, A pneumatic tyre armour strip formed of spiral wires embedded in rubber
with or without a canvas backing as described.
2, The formation of a pneumatic tyre armour strip by drawing spiral wires
through a guide block, and then embedding them in rubber as described.

page_text: 3. The formation of a pneumatic tyre armour strip by passing spiral wires and
rubber or rubber and canvas strips between suitable rollers as described.
Dated this 7th day of April 1898.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents.