Improvements in Tyres,
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 14th Oct., 1899
Improvements in Tyres,
I, THEODOR SEEHAUSEN, Foreman, of Helsingborg, Sweden, 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:-
The subject of the present invention is a built-up tyre comprising a central
part or core, consisting of a rubber air-tube, a filling of spongy elastic material
surrounding the same and an outer rubber covering of ordinary construction.
By the peculiar arrangement of the parts and the nature of the spongy com-
pound, a tyre is obtained combining all the advantages, as regards weight, elasti-
city and stability, of both pneumatic and solid rubber tyres and the like as at
present manufactured. Such a tyre will neither puncture nor leak like a pneu-
matic or air tyre; nor like solid rubber tyres, entail extra work on the part of
the rider by reason of its weight.
The accompanying drawing shows a transverse section of the improved tyre.
a is an air-tube of ordinary india rubber, serving as elastic core for the tyre.
This core is surrounded by the spongy elastic compound b, whilst under a suit-
able pressure; and it is afforded resistance by the rod or core necessary for its
manufacture.
3 kilo-
The filling may consist of any suitable elastic material, but I prefer to use
for the purpose a compound composed of loofah, vulcanised floating and ground
rubber waste, cleaned patent waste, resin oil, solar oil, turpentine, sulphur,
ammonia, soda and ground acetate of lead, mixed together as follows:
grammes of light floating ground vulcanised rubber, which may be ordinary
rubber waste are mixed with 0.6 kilogrammes of resin oil and the mixture heated
in a boiler for about two hours at a pressure of about 45 lbs. per square inch.
To this mixture is added a second mixture consisting of 1 kilogramme of
ground vulcanised patent rubber, i.e. rubber waste of patented india rubber
articles such as children's suckers, and the like, which patent waste rubber has
been first washed in water and then dried; 0.5 kilogramme of loofah or similar
fibres, 0.7 kilogramme of solar oil and 0.75 kilogramme of turpentine.
To this mass is then added a mixture of 1 kilogramme of india-rubber, 0.15
kilogramme of sulphur, 0.35 kilogramme of ammonia, 0.6 kilogramme of soda
and 0.15 kilogramme of neutral acetate of lead. This compound is drawn on
a calender into sheets and is then wrapped round the central air-tube a until
the required thickness of tyre is obtained.
In thus wrapping the compound on to the air-tube, more material should be
laid on the outer or tread side of the tyre, than on the inner side which comes
next the rim. The surface of the sheet 6 should be smeared over with a coating
of suitable adhesive material, so that when tightly wrapped round the air-tube a
a solid mass or filling is formed.
The use of loofah in the manufacture of the spongy compound imparts a
high degree of lightness to the tyre and at the same time great stability.
When the compound has thus been wrapped round the air-tube a, one or

page_text: more layers of canvas or linen c is laid over it, so that the meeting edges come
to lie on the tread side of the tyre and thus impart stability.
On removing the rod from the centre of the air-tube a there is thus a body
consisting of an air-tube a wrapped round with a filling b coated with adhesive
material and covered by a layer of canvas or linen c. The ends of this body are
now joined together to form a tyre, and an outer covering of rubber d placed
over.
Before joining up the ends of the tube, ammonia powder is sprinkled in the
air-tube, about 25 grammes being inserted in each tyre which together with
the enclosed air produces inflation of the air-tube.
By the application of heat, the tyre is then provided with ribs, corrugations
or the like on the tread in known manner and vulcanised ready for use.
The tyre is made of smaller diameter than the wheel, so that it may be sprung
over the rim of the latter and lie firmly in it without having to be cemented.
Wheels with any suitable felloe or rim may be used.
By means of the compressed air in the tube a a complete substitute is obtained
for the elasticity ordinarily secured by the use of pneumatic tyres and the
employment of an air-pump is wholly obviated.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said in-
vention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is―
A stable, elastic and light tyre combining all the advantages of the usual
pneumatic tyres and solid rubber tyres, comprising an internal tube a contain-
ing air, surrounded by a spongy elastic filling 6 composed of suitable materials
mixed with loofah or the like, enclosed by a rubber covering of ordinary con-
struction, all substantially as and for the purposes herein before set forth.
Dated this 13th dar of April 1899
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.