Improvements in Pneumatio Tyres.
Year: 1894

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 11 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883) as required by
the decision of the Comptroller General of the 29th day of November 1895.
Date of Application, 16th June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 13th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 24th May, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatio Tyres.
We, FREDERICK WESTWOOD, of 1 Lombard Street, in the City of Birmingham
Cycle Fittings Manufacturer, and DUGALD CLERK, of Driffold Villa, Sutton
Coldfield, in the County of Warwick, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of
this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to pneumatic tyres, having an inner inflatable tube, and
an outer removable cover, divided along the inner circumference, and its object is
to produce a cover of which the edges are caused to grip the rim firmly by
contracting upon the said rim whenever the air pressure causes the said cover to
be strained or put in tension.
In one mode of carrying our invention into effect we arrange an endless wire in
the form of a double loop, but in forming the double loop we cause the wire of
the outer loop to cross the wire of the inner loop several times in the circumference
of the circle. We place the inner loop within a selvedge or hem of the cover,
ard we pass the successive portions of the outer loop between the crossing places
through parts of the cover at the sides or over the said cover. We arrange such
a wire double loop in each edge of the said cover.
When the cover is loose the two edges are easily pulled out so as to expand
sufficiently in circumference to permit the wire to be slipped into place over the
edges of the rim, and the inflatable tube placed within the cover. When the inner
tube is inflated the surface of the cover is put into a state of tension, and the
outer loop is pulled out by its attachment to the sides or outside of the cover.
The inner loop is then powerfully contracted on the rim so that the more the tyre
is pumped up the harder the wire edge grips upon the rim.
To prevent the wire chafing at the crossing places we form short metal or other
tubes or sleeves through which we pass the inner loop, and then pass the outer
loop also through them. The expansion of the diameter of the pneumatic tyre
then causes the outer loop to be pulled tight, sliding through the said sleeves and
diminishing the circumference of the inner or gripping loop, so that it firmly grips.
the wheel rim.
Similar metal sleeves or tubes may be applied to permit the sliding of the wire
where it is attached to the outer cover.
The wire may be replaced by cords or strands when desired.
The sleeves may be replaced by eyelets let into the canvas or rubber and canvas
More than one double loop may be used and the outer wire may
cross the inner wire as often round the circle as desired,
outer cover.

page_text: Treble or multiple loops may be used, but it is essential to this part of the
invention that a continuous length of wire must be used to form such double,
treble or multiple circles.
In another mode of carrying the invention into effect we dispense with loops,
and arrange to obtain the grip by wires or cords made in separate rings. One ring
is arranged with one edge within the hem or edge of the cover, while the other
edge is attached to a part of the side of the cover preferably keeping clear of the
tread. The ring is thus placed eccentrically to the circle of the cover when
inflated. Several of such rings are arranged round the circle, and when the tyre
is inflated each ring is pulled hard against the metal rim for a portion of its
circumference, and so the edge of the cover is compressed against the rim and held
tight on the rim.
In another modification complete rings are dispensed with and short pieces of
wire or cord sewed or attached at their ends to the cover at the sides or tread.
These pieces are pulled taut when the tyre is inflated, and collectively firmly
grip the rim. We obtain the contractible or gripping action of the edge of the
cover on the rim in other ways, such as by arranging a series of loops round the
circle in the hem and drawing these loops together by cords or wires placed in
the circumference and crossing so that the expansion by inflation causes each cord
to pull the loops together.
We also obtain the same effect by using a cord net as the cover, having cords or
wires of fixed circumference at the sides of the tyre, which are blown up. to a
fixed position. This cord or wire circle on each side may be caused to pull at the
ends of wires laid in the edge of the cover by means of linkage within the wheel
rim, and so the edge may be caused to grip.
Dated this 15th day of June 1894
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicants.
We, FREDERICK WESTWOOD, of 1, Lombard Street, in the City of Birmingham,
Cycle Fittings Manufacturer, and DUGALD CLERK, of Driffold Villa, Sutton
Coldfield, in the County of Warwick, Engineer, 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 :—
Our invention relates to pneumatic tyres having an inner inflatable tube, and an
outer removable cover, divided along the inner circumference, and its object is to
produce a cover of which the edges are caused to grip the rim firmly by
contracting upon the said rim whenever the air pressure causes the said cover to
be strained or put in tension.
Referring to the two accompanying sheets of drawings which illustrate the
application of our invention.―
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation showing the arrangement of a continuous wire
to form two circles one of which loops over the other.
Fig. 2 is a similar elevation to Fig. 1, showing a modified connecting device.
Fig. 5 shows a method of acting on a continuous wire to cause contraction.
Fig. 6 shows a method of operating levers to contract on the rim.
In one mode of carrying our invention into effect as shown in Fig. 1, we arrange
an endless wire in the form of a double loop, but in forming the double loop we
cause the wire of the outer loop 6 to cross the wire a of the inner loop several

page_text: times in the circumference of 'the circle. We thus form a series of small loops
in sections b attached to the cover A at a series of points c, and crossing at the
points d. We place the inner loop a within a selvedge or hem of the cover A, and
we pass the successive portions of the outer loop between the crossing places d
through parts of the cover at the sides or over the said cover. We arrange such
a wire double loop in each edge of the said cover A.
When the cover is loose the two edges a are easily pulled out so as to expand
sufficiently in circumference to permit the wire to be placed over the edges of the
rim and the inflatable tube placed within the cover. When the inner tube is.
inflated the surface of the cover A is put into a state of tension, and the outer
loop with its series of small loops b, is pulled out by its attachment c to the sides
or outside of the cover. The inner loop a is then powerfully contracted on the rim
BO that the more the tyre is pumped up the harder the wire edge grips upon
the rim.
To prevent the chafing at the crossing places d, we form short metal or other
tubes or sleeves, e, Fig. 2, through which we pass the inner loop and then pass the
outer loop also through them.. The expansion of the diameter of the pneumatic
tyre cover A then causes the outer loop to be pulled tight, sliding through the said
Bleeve e, and diminishing the circumference of the inner or gripping loop, so that it
firmly grips the wheel rim.
Similar metal sleeves or tubes may be applied to permit the sliding of the wire
where it is attached to the outer cover at the points c.
The wire may be replaced by cords or strands when desired.
The sleeves may be replaced by eyelets let into the canvas, or rubber and canvas
outer cover. More than one double loop may be used and the outer wire may
cross the inner wire as often round the circle as desired.
Treble or multiple loops may be used but it is essential to this part of the
invention that a continuous length of wire must be used to form such double,
treble or multiple circles.
Another modification is shown in Fig. 5, where bands & extend over the tyre
cover A, and these bands are attached to a wire or cord which remains circular
or loose, when the bands k are not in tension, but when the bands are put in
tension, the cord is strained at four points, in the instance shown in the drawings
the wire grips the rim as shown in the dotted lines.
We also obtain the same effect by using a cord net, B Fig. 6, as the cover,
having cords or wires, r, of fixed circumference at the sides of the tyre which are
blown up to a fixed position. This cord or wire circle on each side may be caused
to pull at the ends of wires a laid in the edge of the cover A, by means of linkage
within the wheel rim and so the edge may be caused to grip.
Such a linkage is shown at Fig. 6, where the levers s pivot at t and are
attached at the points nn to the wires r, so that when the cover is inflated, the
levers rise, and pull together the ends of the wire a, which ends are attached to
the levers at op. By this arrangement the wire a is strained round the rim and
holds on the cover A.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that we are
aware of Nicholson's Specification No. 22000 of 1893 and do not claim anything
described and claimed therein but what we claim is
(1.) A pneumatic tyre having a divided cover in which the edges of the cover
are caused to contract on the rim upon inflation by means of a continuous wire in
each edge forming outer and inner circles, the outer circle being attached to the
cover at a number of points and passed under the inner circle at a similar number
of points substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 1 of the
drawings.
(2.) A pneumatic tyre as claimed in the preceding claim, in which the crossing
or attachments of the wires occur through short metal tubes, rings, eyes or sleeves,

page_text: substantially as hereinbefore described, reference being made here to Fig. 2 of the
drawings.
(4.) A pneumatic tyre having a divided cover in which the edges of the cover
are caused to contract on the rim on inflation by means of a continuous wire or
other rings pulled tight by bands or saddles passed over the tyre substantially as
hereinbefore described with reference to Fig. 5 of the drawings.
(5.) A pneumatic tyre having a divided cover in which the edges of the cover
are caused to contract on the rim upon inflation by means of links or levers
attached to an expanding portion of the cover, the said links or levers being
arranged to strain the wire or wires to fasten the cover to the rim, substantially as
herein before described, with reference to Fig. 6 of the drawings.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicants.