Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres for Cycling Machines and Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Dec., 1896-Accepted, 13th Mar., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres for Cycling Machines and
Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM EVANS BODY, of Collins Street, Melbourne, in the Colony of
Victoria, Draper, 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 object of this invention is to provide improvements to form a non-
puncturable pneumatic tyre for bicycles and other cycling machines or vehicles to
which pneumatic tyres are applicable so as to obviate the tyres being punctured
by ordinary causes such as sharp stones fragments of metal &c. In my improve-
ments the resilience of the tyre is maintained. The tyre is rendered puncture
proof by the employment of thin strips of flexible steel or other non-puncturable
flexible material applied diagonally to the tyre.
In order to make the invention clear I shall now refer to the accompanying
drawing in which-
Figure 1 is a plan shewing a portion of a pneumatic tyre whilst
Figure 2 is a section of a single tube tyre with my improvement.
Figure 3 is a section through a detachable tyre.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal section of Fig. 1.
Figure 5 is a plan of the non-puncturable strip.
Figure 6 is a plan of a tyre with the outer rubber skin removed shewing the
metal strips and with the addition of a central band.
Figure 7 is a side view of a portion of a tyre with the outer skin removed
shewing the addition of bands along the ends of the diagonal strips.
In these drawings "A, A" represent thin strips of non-puncturable material
preferably of steel about thirteen inches long and about half an inch wide which
are set or solutioned within the rubber "H" of a tyre (Fig. 2) diagonally and
arranged to overlap slightly at the sides. The ends of the strips are carried to
the required distance round the tyre and may, if desired, meet the rim "B" of
the wheel but preferably stop at the line of the horizontal diameter through the
tyre. The diagonal strips may be arranged to overlap as shewn on Figs. 2 and 4
that is with one edge over and the other edge under its adjacent strips or as
illustrated on Fig. 3 the strips may be arranged with both edges above and both
beneath alternately. When applied to detachable cover tyres the strips are
secured by a rubber solution or otherwise made fast to or intimate with the inside
of a cover "C" in lieu of or in addition to the usual lining, or the said strips may
be secured together by a medium, such as linen, and be inserted loosely between
the inside tube "D" and the cover "C" (see Fig. 3). In some cases I bind the
diagonal strips together by means of a central band "E" and secure the strips
to such band by small rivets "F" passing through the strips or I may bind the
diagonal strips together at their ends (as at "G," Fig. 7) by a band at each side
secured in a similar manner cr both the central and side bands may be employed.
In practice I prefer to place the diagonal strips (after having dressed them with
rubber solution) upon the tyre with a slight overlap and stop the ends as aforesaid
about the line of the horizontal diameter of the tyre and to secure same in place
simply by an outer coat, strip, or skin of rubber which with the solution employed
in binding same will be found to be sufficient to maintain the strips in their

page_text: position. As the tyre thus formed is puncture-proof I prefer to construct it on
the non-detachable principle that is substantially as illustrated on Figure 2. so as
to minimise its weight and cost of construction.
I do not arbitrarily confine myself to any particular material for the construction
of the strips, nor to the size nor arrangement of lap of same nor to the manner of
securing or connecting same to a tyre.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that what I
claim is
1. In pneumatic tyres-strips of flexible metal or other flexible non-puncturable
material arranged to overlap at the edges and set diagonally within or upon the
tyre substantially as and for the purposes set forch.
2. In pneumatic tyres--strips of flexible metal or other flexible non-puncturable
material set diagonally within or upon a tyre and having an overlap and bound
together by or connected with a central band as "E" substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
3. In pneumatic tyres-strips of flexible metal or other flexible non-puncturable
material set diagonally within or upon a tyre and having an overlap and bound
together by or connected with side bands as "G" substantially as and for the
purposes set forth.
Dind this Corond day of November 1896