Improvements in and relating to Tyres for Cycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application; 29th Sept., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 29th June, 1894-Accepted, 29th Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Tyres for Cycles and other
Vehicles.
I, JOHN PARR JOHNSTON of 8, Rosemount Road, North Circular Road,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to an improved tyre for cycles and other vehicles, intended
to provide a tyre which will be resilient and fast in riding.
The tyre is formed with an outer cover as in the ordinary pneumatic tyres, but
instead of employing an inner tube filled with compressed air, a row of balls or
chambers is used in a peculiar manner forming the subject of this invention.
This row of balls or chambers extends fully around the wheel, and the cover is
formed or moulded with depressions or recesses in which the balls will lie, the
depressions being of cup shape and fitting the balls closely. The balls may also
be solutioned to the cover so that they will form one piece, and can be removed or
put in place in a convenient manner. The rim of the wheel is formed hollow,
or with a chamber around its periphery, and each ball is furnished with a small
tube projecting from it for a short distance into the said chamber. The aperture
so formed in each ball is very small, so that when compressed the air would
not escape rapidly. Thus in riding the cycle owing to the rapid motion, the
balls on which it is supported will not be under compression long enough to
cause them to collapse much, and immediately they have passed the bearing part,
they will expand and return to their usual form. A small piece of leather may be
fixed inside the ball over the aperture, forming a valve, to prevent the balls being
too much collapsed by the weight of the rider and machine. The chamber into
which the tubes enter is mainly for the purpose of keeping dust or dirt from
entering the balls, and has preferably two small perforations opening to the
atmosphere.
Dated thie 29th day of September 1893.
.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in and relating to Tyres for Cycles and other
Vehicles.
1 JOHN PARR JOHNSTON of 6 Rosemount Road, North Circular Road,
Dublin, Gentleman, 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 an in:proved tyre for cycles and other vehicles, intended
to provide a tyre which will be resilient and fast in riding, and not liable to
injury.
The tyre is formed with an outer cover as in the ordinary pneumatic tyres, but
instead of employing an inner tube filled with compressed air, a row of balls or
chambers is used in a peculiar manner forming the subject of this invention.
This row of balls or chambers extends fully around the wheel, and the cover is
formed or moulded with depressions or recesses in which the balls will lie, the

page_text: depressions being of cup or V-shape and fitting the balls closely. I may also allow
the outer cover to completely encircle the balls or chambers, and the tubes or
valves projecting from the balls or chambers may pass through the bottom of said
cover. The balls may also be solutioned to the cover so that they will form
The
one piece, and can be removed or put in place in a convenient manner.
rim of the wheel is formed hollow, or with an annular chamber, and each ball
is furnished with a small tube or valve projecting from it for a short distance
into the said chamber. The aperture so formed in each ball is very small, so
that when compressed, the air would not escape rapidly. Thus in riding the
cycle, owing to the rapid motion, the balls on which it is supported will not be
under compression long enough to cause them to collapse much, and immediately
they have passed the bearing part, they will expand and return to their usual
form. A small piece of leather or rubber may be fixed inside the ball over the
aperture, forming a valve, to prevent the halls being too much collapsed by the
weight of the rider and machine. The chamber into which the tubes enter is
mainly for the purpose of keeping dust or dirt from entering the balls, and has
preferably small perforations opening to the atmosphere.
In order that the invention may be more clearly understood, reference is had
to the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is a cross section of a tyre, Fig. 2 a longitudinal section of the same,
Fig. 3 a cross section of a slightly modified arrangement, and
Fig. 4 a longitudinal section of a modified form of cover.
A is the rim of the wheel, constructed to retain the outer cover B in any ordinary
manner, by solutioning, wiring or otherwise. The cover B is of peculiar form
internally having a series of cup shaped depressions b, as shown in Fig. 2, or of
V-shaped depressions b₁ as in Fig. 4. The balls C are placed in the rim and the
cover B fits over them the balls lying in the recesses b or b' thus ensuring a smooth
and even exterior to the cover instead of the irregular form which would other-
wise be given by the balls, the projecting portions of the cover filling the space
between the balls.
Each ball is formed with a small nipple or tube c with a very narrow bore, which
projects through a hole a in the rim and into the annular chamber D.
This chamber or channel is formed in the rim at the inner side, and is of any
suitable dimensions.
The ends of the nipples are thus protected from the dust while air is admitted
through a small hole d at any part of the rim, or a number of perforations may be
made.
On the inner side of the ball a small flap c may be fixed, covering the hole of
the nipple and forming a valve which will allow of the admission of air but will
prevent the ball collapsing too much.
In the arrangement shown in Fig. 3 the cover B completely encircles the balls,
the nipples of which pass through the inner side of the cover.
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 :-
(1.) An improved tyre for cycle and other wheels, consisting of a series of hollow
rubber balls arranged around the rim, each having a nipple permitting of the
passage of air from the atmosphere, projecting through the rim, and a cover
enclosing the said balls, substantially as and for the purposes specified.
(2.) An improved tyre for cycle and other wheels consisting of a series of hollow
flexible balls arranged around the rim, each having a nipple with a small bore,
projecting into an annular chamber formed in the rim, substantially as described
and for the purposes specified.
•
(3.) In a tyre for cycle and other wheels, the combination of a set of hollow
rubber balls, each formed with a nipple having a small bore, and projecting into an
annular chamber in the rim, with a cover having recesses or depressions inside, to

page_text: receive the balls, substantially as described and shown and for the purposes
specified.
(4.) In a tyre for cycle and other wheels, the combination with a rim having an
annular chamber and a cover formed with internal depressions of a series of hollow
collapsable balls fitting into the recesses, each having a nipple with a small bore
projecting into the annular chamber, and a small dap covering the bore inside and
forming a valve substantially as described and shown in the accompanying drawings
and for the purposes specified.
Dated this 29th day of June 1894.
GEO. H. RAYNER,
37, Chancery Lane, London, Agent for the Applicant.