Improvements in or Additions to Pneumatic or Inflating Cycle-tyres, Foot-balls, Seats, Saddles, Air-beds, Pillows, and the like.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 30th July, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 30th May, 1893-Accepted, 15th July, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICA ITUN.
Improvements in or Additions to Pneumatic or Inflating Cycle-tyres,
Foot-balls, Seats, Saddles, Air-beds, Pillows, and the like.
I, PATRICK ALPHONSUS MARTIN of Granville Street, in the City of
Birmingham Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention pertains to improvements in, or additions to pneumatic or inflating
cycle tyres, footballs, saddles and the like, such for example as seats, pillows,
cushions, and air beds, and the object of my said invention is to make the said
articles self-inflating, or automatically filling, by and during their employment
or use.
By such means, a constant inflating pressure is maintained, without interruptions.
In other words the means of inflation, or blowing up, or the maintaining of a
constant pressure within the said articles, is self contained.
In carrying out one form of my invention, in connection with a pneumatic cycle
tyre, take an ordinary tyre, fitted with sack and other auxilliaries, and I enclose
within the interior of the same, one, two, or more inflating chambers, having inlet
and discharge valves.
Each of these said chambers, which are supplementary ones, consists of a small
sack or elastic bag, which when distended, is of a size equal to the inside cross
section of the tyre, so that as the tyre is flattened, by the weight of the machine and
rider, upon that part which comes upon the ground, the said inflating chamber is
also flattened to a like extent, and the air within it compressed proportionately.
The air compressed within the said chamber, is of greater pressure than the
surrounding air, within the tyre, in consequence of which, the valve proceeding
from the said chamber to the tyre is opened, and the inlet valve from the outside
atmosphere to the chamber is closed, so that as the pressure of the air within the
chamber is increased by the diminution of the chamber's capacity, so that the air
thus compressed, is forced into, and retained within, the interior of the tyre, by the
intermittent pressure applied to that part of the tyre containing the self-inflating
means.
On pressure being releived from that part of the tyre as aforesaid, by the
progression of the machine, the chamber resumes its normal proportions, with the
pressure of the air within the inside becoming diminished, consequently the exit
valve is closed, and the inlet valve is opened to the atmosphere, hence the rushing
in of fresh air, which is entrapped until the wheel comes round again to the inflating
chamber, when the same becomes again compressed, and so on, thereby maintaining
a constant pressure in the tyre proper.
Should the pressure in the tyre proper be considerable, or above that which can
be worked up in the inflating chamber, then an additional or air-entrapping chamber
or chambers may be employed, whose restoring air is sucked or drawn in by the
change of the inside capacities. It is quite understood that a very small amount of
air will be required to replace that which is lost by leakage or insinuation, but I
wish it be understood that the tyre may be primarily inflated, or otherwise kept up
to its normal inflation by first storing up replenishing air, and then forcing the same
into the tyre.
The entrapping chamber is preferably made of considerable area, but shallow, so
that as the impingement of the wheel comes contiguous to it, the same is nearly
collapsed, with the air contained within it compressed to any number of desired
atmospheres according to its canecity

page_text: Thus as the catch chamber is compressed, the air being forced into one part is of
a considerable pressure, and overcomes and passes through an inlet check valve to
the second chamber, and as the second chamber contains air at an enhanced
pressure, which was formerly at the same pressure as that within the tyre proper,
the same becomes transferred to the interior of the said tyre, on the diminution of
its cubical capacity, consequent upon the pressure as aforesaid.
Excess pressure may be got rid of by releif valves, or by arranging the pressure
areas, to neutralize or counterbalance each other, to prevent undue inflation..
The valves I prefer to employ, consists of short caps, having passages directed
partly up the middle and through one side of them, and with an elastic sleeve or
covering passing over the said side hole, so that air passes through the body of the
valve or plug, and lifts the rubber covering, hence the inward passage of air, while
the pressure of the air within is prevented, from escaping by the rubber covering
heing closed over the hole.
As a further form of my invention, I keep the tyre constantly fully inflated by
mechanical means, such as an air pump carried by the wheel, and with the piston
rod worked from off a fixed excentric plate (with strap) carried by the fixed
framing. As the pump and wheel rotate, the strap which is at the outer end of
the piston is made to work or be pulled round the fixed cam plate, and by so
changing the distance between the centre of motion of the wheel and the piston, the
latter is reciprocated within a cylinder, so that on each rotation of the wheel, a
short stroke of the piston is made, by means of which air is forced into the tyre.
I prefer that the piston should be of the trunk type, so that the rod, besides
reciprocating, is made to oscillate.
Or instead of a piston, I may make the pump in the form of a ball-inflator, with
a neck leading to the tyre, whilst pressure is applied to the ball by mechanical
means, such as the impact of a slide worked from off a crank or an excentric plate.
Or as a still further form of my invention, I may bed a ball inflator within a
recess in the outer periphery of the tyre, which on being compressed forces a part
of the air contained within it into the tyre, which has a check valve.
In this last arrangement the same is self filling, consequent upon the shell or
walls, resuming their normal figure.
Communication may be made from either wheel to the other where one only is
provided with self inflation means, through the intervention of a cranked coupling
rod, having swivelling air tight joints.
Air may also be transmitted to the seat of the saddle, and may be adapted, if
necessary, to supply the seat of a rider with a constant stream of cold air.
As a further form of mechanical inflating means, 1 provide the tyre with an
attachment, consisting of a double headed plunger, whose one head or lower end
comes about flush with the circumference or tread of the wheel, whilst the other
and inner end works within a cylinder, having one of the legs of an inverted V-shaped
tube directed from it.
The end of the other leg is connected to the tyre, and a check valve prevents the
return of compressed air.
In use, the flattening of the tyre, at that part approximate the plunger and
cylinder, allows the outer end of the plunger to impinge upon the ground as the
wheel travels, by which means the piston at the other end compresses the air within
the cylinder, which is from thence conveyed through the double leg tube to the
tyre.
As a further form, the appliance may be filled transversely within the tyre, so
that the plunger is worked through the flattening of the periphery of the tyre by
the weight of the machine, hence the working of the pump or pumps.
I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to what force is used for
working the mechanical means, by which the air is supplied.
The application of my invention to footballs, seats, saddles, air-beds, and the like
differs in no essential respect from its application to a cycle tyre as described in the
first part of my invention, as in each and every case, the said articles contain their

page_text: own means of inflation, brought into operation by the compression of a portion or
part of them, either by their own weight, impact or applied pressure.
Dated this 29th day of July 1892.
PATRICK ALPHONSUS MARTIN,
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or Additions to Pneumatic or Inflating Cycle-tyres,
Footballs, Seats, Saddles, Air-beds, Pillows, and the like.
I, PATRICK ALPHONSUS MARTIN, of Great Charles 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 ascer-
tained in and by the following statement :-
This invention pertains to improvements in, or additions to pneumatic or inflating
cycle-tyres, footballs, saddles and the like, such for example, as seats, pillows,
cushions, and air-beds, and the object of my said invention is to make the said
articles self-inflating, or automatically filling, by and during their employment
or use.
By such means, a constant inflating pressure is maintained, without interruptions.
In other words, the means of inflation, or blowing up, or the maintaining of a
constant pressure within the said articles, is self-contained.
In carrying out one form of my invention, in connection with a pneumatic cycle
tyre, I take an ordinary tyre, fitted with sack and other auxiliaries, and 1 enclose
within the interior of the same, one, two or more inflating chambers, having inlet
and discharge valves.
Each of these said chambers, which are supplementary ones, consists of a small
sack or elastic bag, which, when distended, is of a size equal to the inside cross
section of the tyre, so that as the tyre is flattened, by the weight of the machine
and rider, upon that part which comes upon the ground, the said inflating chamber
is also flattened to a like extent, and the air within it compressed proportionately.
The air compressed within the said chamber, is of greater pressure than the
surrounding air within the tyre, in consequence of which, the valve proceeding
from the said chamber to the tyre is opened, and the inlet valve from the outside
atmosphere to the chamber is closed, so that as the pressure of the air within the
chamber is increased by the diminution of the chamber's capacity, so the air thus
compressed, is forced into, and retained within, the interior of the tyre, by the
intermittent pressure applied to that part of the tyre containing the self-inflating
means.
On pressure being relieved from that part of the tyre as aforesaid, by the
progression of the machine, the chamber resumes its normal proportions, with the
pressure of the air within the inside becoming diminished, consequently the exit
valve is closed, and the inlet valve is opened to the atmosphere, hence the rushing
in of fresh air, which is entrapped until the wheel comes round again, to the inflating
chamber, when the same becomes again compressed, and so on, thereby maintaining
a constant pressure in the tyre proper.
Should the pressure in the tyre proper be considerable, or above that which can
be worked up in the inflating chamber, then an additional or air-entrapping chamber
or chambers may be employed, whose restoring air is sucked or drawn in by the
change of the inside capacities. It is quite understood that only a very small
amount of air will be required to replace that which is lost by leakage or insinuation,
but I wish it to be understood that the tyre may be primarily inflated, or otherwise
kept up to its normal inflation, by first storing up replenishing air, and then forcing
the same into the tyre.
The entrapping chamber may preferably be made of considerable area but

page_text: shallow, so that as the impingement of the wheel comes contiguous to it, the same
is nearly collapsed, with the air contained within it compressed to any number of
desired atmospheres, according to its capacity.
Thus, as the catch chamber is compressed, the air being forced into one part is of
a considerable pressure, and overcomes and passes through an inlet check valve to
the second chamber, and as the second chamber contains, air at an enhanced
pressure, which was formerly at the same pressure to that within the tyre proper,
the same becomes transferred to the interior of the said tyre, on the diminution of
its cubical capacity, consequent upon the pressure as aforesaid.
Excess pressure may be got rid of by relief valves, or by arranging the pressure
areas to neutralize or counterbalance each other, to prevent undue inflation.
The valves prefer to employ, consist of short caps, having passages directed
partly up the middle and through one side of them, and with an elastic sleeve or
covering passing over the said side hole, so that air passes through the body of the
valve or plug, and lifts the rubber covering, hence the inward passage of air, while
the pressure of the air within is prevented from escaping by the rubber covering
being closed over the hole.
As a further form of my invention I keep the tyre constantly fully inflated by
mechanical means, such as an air pump carried by the wheel, and with the piston
rod worked from off a fixed excentric plate (with strap) carried by the fixed
framing. As the pump and wheel rotate, the strap which is at the outer end of
the piston is made to work or be pulled round the fixed ram plate, and by so
changing the distance between the centre of motion of the wheel, and the piston,
the latter is reciprocated within a cylinder, so that on each rotation of the wheel,
a short stroke of the piston is made, by means of which air is forced into
the tyre.
I prefer that the piston should be of the trunk type, so that the rod, beside
reciprocating, is made to oscillate.
Or instead of a piston, I may make the pump in the form of a ball-inflator, with
a neck leading to the tyre, whilst pressure is applied to the ball by mechanical
means, such as the impact of a slide worked from off a crank or an excentric
plate.
Or as a still further form of my invention, I may bed a ball inflator within a
recess in the outer periphery of the tyre, which on being compressed forces a part
of the air contained within it into the tyre, which has a check valve.
In this last arrangement, the same is self filling, consequent upon the shell or
walls resuming their normal figure.
Communication may be made from either wheel to the other, where only one is
provided with self-inflation means, through the intervention of a cranked coupling
rod, having swivelling air-tight. joints.
Air may also be transmitted to the seat of the saddle, and may be adapted, if
necessary, to supply the seat of the rider with a constant stream of cold air.
As a further form of mechanical inflating means, I provide the tyre with an
attachment consisting of a double-headed plunger, whose one head or lower end
comes about flush with the circumference or tread of the wheel, whilst the other
and inner end works within a cylinder, having one of the legs of an inverted
V-shaped tube directed from it.
The end of the other leg is connected to the tyre, and a check valve prevents the
return of compressed air.
In use, the flattening of the tyre at that part approximate to the plunger and
cylinder allows the outer end of the plunger to impinge upon the ground as the
wheel travels, by which means the piston at the other end compresses the air
within the cylinder, which is from thence conveyed through the double leg tube to
the tyre.
As a further form, the appliance may be fitted transversely within the tyre so
that the plunger is worked through the flattening of the periphery of the tyre by
the weight of the machine, hence the working of the pump or pumps.

page_text: I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to what force is used for
working the mechanical means by which the air is supplied.
The application of my invention to footballs, seats, saddles, air beds and the like,
differs in no essential respect from its application to a cycle tyre, as described in
the first part of my said invention as in each and every case the said articles
contain their own means of inflation, brought into operation by the compression
of a part or portion of them, either by their own weight, impact or applied
pressure.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawing represents a tyre, or a self inflating tyre,
provided with improvements and accessory parts made according to one of the
series of the arrangements hereinbefore described, and constructed according to my
invention.
Figure 2 represents an enlarged sectional view of a portion of the same, repre-
senting the inflating appliance, with its cognate parts, and a pressure relief valve,
for relieving the said tyre of redundant pressure consequent upon over-inflation, by
the inflating mechanism or device, or consequent upon undue expansion of the
enclosed air by the same becoming heated, thus preventing rupture, by bursting, of
the tyre.
Figure 3 represents one form of relief valve constructed according to my
invention.
Figure 4 represents a split steel ring, which is employed instead of the rubber
ring as in Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a like form of ring, but split differently.
Figure 6 is a split coiled ring, and Figure 7 represents a further form of valve
constructed according to my invention.
Figure 8 represents a further form of air pumping contrivance.
ment the air is pumped direct from the chamber into the tyre.
"1
In this arrange-
In the inflating arrangement Figures 1 and 2, a is a tyre, and a², ³, are the outer
walls of the same, is a rim for the support of the said tyre.
The tyre may or may not be provided with a restraining cover c.
dis an inflating chamber, pump or their equivalent, consisting of an enclosed
chamber, with flexible and gussetted sides, although the sides may be not gussetted,
but only made pliable, or the chamber may be made up of telescopic closing tubes,
working one within the other.
This said inflating or pumping chamber is mounted upon a stationary bracket e,
fitted to the inside periphery a', of the tyre a, or to the rim b, by any suitable
means, and leading from the said inflating chamber is a passage d, having within
it, a check valve ³, leading to a second chamber e², which has a feed passage e³,
through it, leading to the interior of the tyre to be inflated automatically, and
which passage has a check valve f
Feed air to the inflating chamber passes through a small tube g, from the side of
the tyre, whilst the inlet g', of it, is fitted with a flap or check valve h, which opens
inwardly, and entraps the air passed into the chamber by the distension of the walls
of the same.
The hole leading to the tube and piercing the side walls of the tyre
is marked .
This position is desirable, as it is out of the way from contact with the ground,
although it may be placed at the inner periphery.
Assuming the wheel to be rotating, the compression occasioned by the outer
periphery of the same compresses the inflating chamber, and so forces air from the
inflating chamber through the check valve d³, into the second chamber e², and from
thence through the passage e³, and valve f, to the inside of the tyre.
In Figure 8, a is the tyre, bis the inflating chamber, fitted with check and other
valves. e is a fixed carrying bracket, and d, e, are passages leading to the interior
of the tyre, and d³ and are check valves.
The relief valve as shown in Figure 3, consists of a body part 2, having a
passage, up its middle, to near its outer end, which then branches off into an
outlet passage ³, with a concaved annular seating, covered by a thin rubber

page_text: cap, with a supplementary yielding pressure ring, coming opposite the outlet 3.
This ring, which may be of rubber, encircles the rubber cap preferably around that
part immediately facing the outlet, and is adapted to act with such force as to
effectually oppose the inside pressure of the air within the sack of the tyre up to
a certain point, before the same will yield, and allow any redundance of pressure
to escape.
Thus, the said ring, with the cap, entraps, or prevents the escape of, air within
the inflated sack or enclosure of the tyre, up to a determinate pressure, beyond
which, the restraining contrivance yields, and allows air to escape, hence the
prevention of bursting by undue inflation, or by expansion consequent upon increase
of temperature.
Instead of the ring being of rubber, it may be of metal, and split, (see Figures 4
and 5) or the same may consist of two or more coils of wire (see Figure 6).
Instead of employing as a cap, the said cap may consist of a very thick tube
of rubber, or the said parts i, 26, may be combined, either as a tube or as a cap.
Figure 7 represents a further form of relief valve. is a body part,
passage, 2 is a valve, and is a spring, disposed at the back of the valve, whilst
is the clearance.
the
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
:-
First In pneumatic tyres for cycles and the wheels of wheeled vehicles,
providing the same with a self-contained inflating or air pumping device, self-
acting, or automatically worked or operated by the tread of the tyre being
compressed, on the same rolling upon its road of traction, as set forth.
Secondly-In footballs, air pillows, and other inflating articles not included by
the preceeding claim, providing the same with a self-inflating device, operated by
impact or pressure upon a part or parts of the same, as set forth.
Thirdly-In an automatically-operated inflating or air-pumping device for the
pneumatic tyres of cycles and the wheels of wheeled vehicles, consisting of an
inflating means, arranged, combined and fitted, substantially as and for the
as set forth in Figures 1 and 2.
:
purpose
Fourthly In an automatically-operated inflating or air-pumping device for the
pneumatic tyres of cycles and the wheels of wheeled vehicles, consisting of an
inflating means, arranged, combined and fitted substantially as and for the purpose
as set forth in Figure 8.
Fifthly In pneumatic tyres, fitting the same with air excess or over-plus relief
valves, substantially as described and set forth.
Sixthly In pneumatic tyres and other inflating articles, the combination with
the same, of a relief or air over-plus valve, of the construction and arrangement
substantially as described and set forth in. Figure 3, and comprehended by the
modifications 4, 5 and 6.
:―
Seventhly In pneumatic tyres and other inflating articles, the combination with
the same, of a relief valve of the construction and arrangement substantially as
described and set forth in Figure 7.
Dated this 29th day of May 1893.
PATRICK ALPHONSUS MARTIN,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.
PATRICK ALPHONSUS MARTIN,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.