Improvements in Rubber Pneumatic Tires.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 9th Jan., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rubber Pneumatic Tires.
I, FREDERICK NEWELL WOODWARD, residing on Woodward Street, in the
City of Newton, County of Middlesex, State of Massachusetts, United States of
America, Superintendent, 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 pneumatic tires for wheeled vehicles, particularly
bicycles, and consists in improvements in that type of tire termed double tube tires,
wherein the air reservoir or inner air tube is made separable from the outer one
known as the sheath or cover. Thus in case of a puncture the inner tube may be
readily removed for examination and the repairs easily made.
The object of my invention is to so construct a double tube tire that it is
adapted to be attached to a rim of any style or construction. In clincher tires,
so-called, it is very difficult to secure a tire to the rim because of the thrust or
pressure brought to bear about and along the edges of the rim of the wheel. In
my invention, however, I secure all the advantages of a double tube tire with all
the benefits which accrue from the use of a hose pipe tire; that is an endless tube
in which the air reservoir is a part of the tire, and wherein however great the
pressure of the confined air, no thrust or tension is brought to bear upon the rim
of the wheel.
Briefly described my invention is embodied in a tire which comprises an inner
air tube and a separable outer cover or sheath. This latter element is longi-
tudinally divided, and the adjacent edges are to overlap and be separably united
in order that access may be had to the inner tube at any point about the circum-
ference of the wheel. Furthermore my method of construction is such that the
tire when complete presents the appearance of any ordinary hose pipe tire, while it
is secured to the rim after the manner of hose pipe tires in general, that by any
good adhesive compound or cement.
The drawings represent in Fig. 1 a vertical transverse section of a rim and tire
embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing a portion of the
separable edge of the cover detached in readiness for repairs upon the inner tube,
access to which may be readily had.
In the accompanying drawings 2 represents a rim of the usual cross section,
while the tire is shown as consisting of an inner air tube 3, with the usual valve
for discharge or supply of air therein, and an outer cover or tread 4. Frequently
heretofore in double tube tires a special form of wheel rim is requisite in order to
secure the sheath or cover to the rim and at the same time enable it to be detached
that access may be had to the inner tube.
The purpose and object of my invention is to produce a double tube tire and
still adapt it for any form or style of wheel rim, thereby obviating the disadvan-
tages of some special form of rim in cross section, while at the same time I obtain
all the strength of a hose pipe tire. That is in this class of tire the internal air
pressure is supported by the walls of tire and not by the edges of the rim, as
occurs in some instances. My tire further presents externally the usual form of a
hose. pipe tire, and thus may be applied to any form of crescent rim.
To carry out my invention I form the sheath or cover, preferably of rubber and
canvas, as an endless band of a width sufficient to produce the proper diameter to

page_text: enclose the air tube. One edge 5 of this band is to be inseparably and firmly
attached, preferably by cement indicated in the heavy line at 6 in Fig. 1, circum-
ferentially to the rim. Prior to its attachment a row of flat cup shaped pieces 7
of metal are secured along said edge 5. These pieces 7 are in the present
illustration the socket members of a ball and socket fastening of which the stud
members 7¹ are affixed to the opposite corresponding edge 5'. However, I do not
limit myself to any particular form or style of fastening but preferably one of
such construction that a flat union is made, or one without a prominence or
projection, in order to produce a smooth periphery to the tire.
Thus from the above construction it will be understood that a lap joint is made,
the edge 5 being made fast to the rim while the corresponding edge 5¹ overlaps
its corresponding member. Hence when the two edges are secured together a hose
pipe tire is to all intents and purposes the result; because the pressure of the
confined air is distributed throughout the walls of the sheath or cover, and none
occurs upon the rim. Furthermore I have so constructed the tire and arrange]
the parts that the fastening devices are positioned circumferentially an1 centra:ly
of the rim. In this way the general appearance of the tire is the same as that of
an ordinary hose pipe tire but with all the attendant advantages which obtain from
the use of a double tube tire.
In the application of a tire under my invention to a wheel rim, I proceed as
follows: The outer cover or sheath is previously prepared, 'that is vulcanized and
equipped along its edges with the fastening devices, preferably of a ball and
socket type or some spring fastener. One edge, in the present instance 5, is now
cemented or inseparably united to the rim, and the socket members thereupon are
positioned in the median line of said rim. The air tube is now slipped into place.
Subsequently the edge 5 is brought over about and beneath the air tube. Each
stud member is aligned above and then pressed into the socket member designed to
receive it until all are in engagement. The air tube is then inflated and the
confined air under pressure serves to force the edge 5 against the rim and produce
firm adhesion of these two contiguons parts.
In case of repairs the tire is deflated after the point of puncture is ascertained,
the sheath or cover raised up at this particular spot and disengagement of the
fastening elements takes place when the inner tube is exposed, after which repairs
ean easily be made.
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 :-
1st. The combination with a wheel rim, of an air tube circumferentially thereof,
and an outer cover comprising an endless band, having overlapping edges, the
overlapped edge being cemented to the rim, the overlapping edge being separably
united with the opposite edge by fastening devices, substantially as specified.
2nd. The combination with a wheel rim, of a double tube tire, the same
comprising an inner air tube, and an outer cover or endless band, said band having
circumferential lapped edges, and fastening devices to form a smooth outer
periphery for the tire, said devices to be arranged in a median line circum-
ferentially of the rim, substantially as described.
3rd: In combination with a wheel rim, an endless band having overlapping edges
circumferentially and centrally about said rim, the outer edge being inseparably
affixed to the rim, fastening devices in part in the outer edge, in part in the inner
edge, and an air tube for enclosure within the band, substantially as explained.
Dated this Second day of October 1896.
FREDERICK NEWELL WOODWARD.