Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres, and Rims therefor, applicable the Wheels of Bicycles and other Velocipedes and Road Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th June, 1896
Complete Specification Left, 17th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 5th June 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres, and Rims therefor, applicable
the Wheels of Bicycles and other Velocipedes and Road
Vehicles.
to
I, PERCY WIGLEY, of Saint Bernards Road, Olton, in the County of Warwick,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has reference to pneumatic tyres of that kind which consist of a
flexible band bent so as to form an inflatable ring of tubular cross section secured
round the metal or other wheel rim and provided with a division or opening all
round its inner circumference to enable the tube to be opened and turned inside out
when removed from the wheel rim so that any punctures may be repaired on the
inside. The meeting or overlapping edges or margins of the said flexible band or
of a strip secured to the same are so arranged as to form an air tight joint all
round the wheel rim and retain the compressed air in the tyre without the use of a
separate air tube. This invention consists of the hereindescribed improved
construction and arrangement of the said inflatable tubular ring and parts
connected therewith so that the air is more perfectly enclosed in the tyre and
prevented from escaping therefrom and also the said tyre can more readily be
removed from the wheel rim for repairs and replaced thereon.
In one form of pneumatic tyre constructed according to this invention, the edges
of the flexible .band forming the air tube are thickened on the outside as in some
other tyres so as to engage with the turned in edges of the trough section wheel
rim. The edges or margins of this band do not meet but between them there
is secured and stretched round the wheel rim an elastic band which I will call the
jointing band made somewhat wider than the wheel rim and arranged to bear and
be pressed against the inside of the flexible band by the pressure of the air
therein and by means of an inner metal band made in one two or more parts and
arranged to bear on and around the said jointing band and provided with screwed
studs or other suitable means projecting through holes in the wheel rim by which
the metal band or sections can be tightened round the jointing band so as to
press the same tightly against the inner parts or sides of the tubular tyre and
thus make a perfect air tight joint and prevent the air escaping therefrom.
To remove the tyre from the wheel rim the said bolts or other fastenings
securing the metal jointing band or band sections on the inside of the tyre have
first to be slackened which will then enable one or both edges of the tubular tyre
to be removed from the wheel rim. In replacing the said tubular tyre on the
wheel rim one edge has first to be inserted in position round the wheel rim
between the upwardly turned edge of the wheel rim and the jointing band over-
lapping the same, and when this has been done the other side of the tyre is
inserted between the other side of the jointing band and the wheel rim and then
the metal band or sections are tightened up and when the tyre is inflated the
pressure of the air will press the margins of the jointing band against the inside
of the tubular tyre and thus with the metal band or sections will make a perfect
joint.
In a modification of this form of my invention the inner metallic band or
sections of the same bearing on the rubber jointing band is or are dispensed with,

page_text: the pressure of the air on the said flaps of the jointing band being sufficient to
make an air tight joint.
In another modification of this part of my invention the said jointing band is
stretched and secured to one of the inner edges of the band forming the tubular
tyre and overlaps the other edge as described in Fleuss's Specification No. 20145
of A.D. 1895, but instead of there being a narrow space left between the two
edges of the tyre and the wheel rim to be covered by the jointing band, my edges
meet close together but there are at intervals small holes formed partly in one
edge and partly in the other edge so as to allow the air to escape from the back of
the jointing band and thus make a more perfect joint than if these holes were
not used.
In another arrangement of my invention what I have described as the jointing
band is made somewhat of a wedge section that is to say it has inclined sides
which bear against the inclined edges of the tubular band and forces the same
more firmly into the trough of the wheel rim and also make a more perfect air
tight joint."
In another arrangement of my invention the rim is formed with two troughs or
channels in which the thickened edges of the tubular band respectively fit and on
the other part of the rim between these two channels there is fixed the jointing
band the edges of which extend beyond the sides of the wheel rim to make the air
tight joint as in the arrangement first above described.
In another arrangement of my invention the flexible hand has the stretched.
elastic band secured to one side of the same for covering the joint between the
meeting or approximately meeting edges of the tubular tyre, but in addition and
so as to make a more perfect joint there is first stretched round the wheel rim an
indiarubber or like band forming a bed on which the feet or margins of the flexible
tubular band rest thus forming as it were a double joint as the air if it escapes has
not only to escape between the surface of the jointing band and the inner surface
of the tubular tyre but has also to pass between one or both of the feet or margins
of the tubular tyre and the indiarubber bed of the wheel rim thus making a more
effective joint than heretofore.
According to another arrangement of this invention the wheel rim is made of
trough section with inwardly turned edges and has a hollow inclined rib standing
up all round the rim about midway between the inwardly turned edges of the
same, the sides of this rib being inclined towards the edges of the rim. The
meeting edges of the band forming the tubular tyre are made of soft or Hexible
rubber and of such a width that when the edges of the tubular band are inserted
in the wheel rim and pressed towards each other they rise up the inclined rib on
the rim and ultimately meet forming two flanges all round the wheel rim at about
the centre of the tyre which two flanges are pressed together by the pressure
of the air in the tyre and thus form the air tight joint. This form of tyre has the
advantage that when the tyre is partly deflated and the wheel is turning a corner
or running slightly on one side which would cause a portion of the tyre to be moved
over to one side of the rim, this does not affect the joint which thus remains air
tight under all circumstances.
The said inclined rib round the rim of the wheel may if desired be dispensel
with, and instead thereof the feet or margins or edges of the tubular outer
covering may be made with the inclines on them and on these inclined surfaces
may be fixed two flexible rubber bands which when the tyre is being placed in
position on the rim meet together and curl up towards the centre of the tube an
form the air tight joint as stated above.
According to another arrangement of my invention the wheel rim is made of a
trough section but instead of being made in one piece as usual one side or portion
of the trough is made removable from the main portion in which the spokes are
fixed, both portions of the rim being made with an inner flange which flanges are
secured together by bolts or screws or by other means so as to make the complete
wheel rim. The edges of the flexible band for forming 'the pneumatic tyre are

page_text: worked round and gripped between the two flanges of the rim so as to be held
thereto. In order to make a perfectly air tight joint there is within the tubular
tyre a rubber jointing ring stretched all round the inside of the tyre and secured
to that part of the tyre which corresponds with the part of the rim which is fixed
to the spokes the other part of the jointing ring overlapping the other side of the
tyre and covering the joint so that when the tyre is inflated the compressed air will
force the flap of the jointing ring against the inside of the tyre and make an air
tight joint. The inside of the tyre can readily be inspected and punctures repaired
by removing that side or part of that side of the wheel rim to which the spokes
are not fixed. If desired one side of the tubular tyre may be permanently fixed
by indiarubber solution or by other means to the part of the metal rim to which
the spokes are fixed.
Instead of what I call the removable part of the wheel rim being made as a
complete ring this may be made in two or more segments each secured to the other
part of the rim by bolts or other suitable fastenings so as to enable any portion
of the tyre to be opened and inspected without removing the other part of the
same.
בד
1000
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres, and Rims therefor, applicable
to the Wheels of Bicycles and other Velocipedes and Road
Vehicles.
I, PERCY WIGLEY, of Saint Bernards Road, Olton, 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:-
This invention has reference to pneumatic tyres of that kind which consist of a
flexible band bent so as to form an inflatable ring of tubular cross section secured
round the metal or other wheel rim and provided with a division or opening all
round its inner circumference to enable the tube to be opened and turned inside
out when removed from the wheel rim so that any punctures may be repaired on
the inside. The meeting or overlapping edges or margins of the said flexible band
or of a strip secured to the same are so arranged as to form an air tight joint all
round the wheel rim and retain the compressed air in the tyre without the use of a
separate air tube. This invention consists of the hereindescribed improved
construction and arrangement of the said inflatable tubular ring and parts
connected therewith so that the air is more perfectly enclosed in the tyre and
prevented from escaping there from and also the said tyre can more readily be.
removed from the wheel rim for repairs and replaced thereon.
In carrying out my invention the wheel rim is made of a trough section but
instead of being made in one piece as usual one side or portion of the trough is
made removable from the main portion in which the spokes are fixed, both portions
of the rim being made with an inner flange which flanges are secured together by
bolts or screws or by other means so as to make the complete wheel rim. The edges
of the flexible band for forming the pneumatic tyre are worked round and gripped
between the two flanges of the rim so as to be held thereto. In order to make a
perfectly air tight joint there is within the tubular tyre a rubber jointing ring

page_text: stretched all round the inside of the tyre and secured to that part of the tyre
which corresponds with the part of the rim which is fixed to the spokes the other
part of the jointing ring overlapping the other side of the tyre and covering the
joint so that when the tyre is inflated the compressed air will force the flap of the
jointing ring against the inside of the tyre and make an air tight joint. The inside
of the tyre can readily be inspected and punctures repaired by removing that sile
or part of that side of the wheel rim to which the spokes are not fixed. If desired
one side of the tubular tyre may be permanently fixed by in:liarubber solution or
by other means to the part of the metal rim to which the spokes are fixed.
Instead of what I call the removable part of the wheel rim being made as a
complete ring this may be made in two or more segments each secure.l to the other
part of the rim by bolts or other suitable fastenings so as to enable any portion of
the tyre to be opened and inspected without removing the other part of the
same.
My invention is illustrated by the accompanying drawing on which
Fig. 1 is a cross section of a wheel rim and pneumatic tyre constructed according
to my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the same on line X X of Fig. 1 but
with the flap removed;
Fig. 3 is a cross section of the said tyre and main portion of the wheel rim
shewing the tyre open and
Fig. 4 shews a cross section of the other part of the wheel rim;
Fig. 5 is a cross section of a slightly modified form of my invention;
Fig. 6 shews one part of the wheel rim of Fig. 1 separately and
Fig. 7 is a cross section of the wheel rim of the form of my invention shewn by
Fig. 5.
The same letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding parts is all the
figures.
Referring firstly more particularly to Figs. 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 the trough section
wheel rim is marked A', A', the one side A¹ of the same being removable from
the other side A to which latter the spokes B are fixed. a' is the inner Hange of
the part A', and a² is the inner flange of the other part A2 the latter being by
preference made of a hollow section for strength. These two flanged parts of
the rim are made to fit together and to be removably secured as by the cross
bolts C or by other means so as to form the complete wheel rim. D is the flexible
band of the pneumatic tyre made of indiarubber and canvas and lined with india-
rubber in a way well known in the construction of other so called "tubeless"
pneumatic tyres. The edges or sides d' d of this flexible band D are made flat
so as to meet together at about the centre line of the tyre where they are gripped
between the two flanges al a² of the wheel rim which latter are as aforesaid
removably secured together by bolts or pins or other suitable means arranged at
intervals round the wheel rim. The edges of the flexible tyre D are or may be
thickened at their exteriors d³ d' aud the flanges of the rim are then set in at a³ a
just beyond where the exterior edges d d of the tyre fit so as the better to prevent
the part of the tyre which is gripped between tie flanges being palled out by the
expansive force of the contained air. E is the indiarubber jointing ring or flap
which is stretched round the inside of the tyre and solutioned or otherwise properly
fixed to that side of the tyre (as shewn in Figs. 1 and 3) which corresponds with
the part A of the rim, the jointing ring E overlapping the joint between the
meeting surfaces da of the tyre D and forming an overhanging flap, which
covers the joint and lies upon the other side of the Hexible band B when the tyre
is closed as shewn in Fig. 1 thus making an air tight joint.
When the two sides A A' of the rim are securely fixed together as aforesaid,
gripping the edges d' d of the flexible band D between them, and the tyre is
inflated, as in Figs. 1 and 5, the surfaces d' d meeting together and being
covered by the flap E make the joint air tight and effectually retain the air in the
tyre.
It is to be understood that the tyre is fitted with an ordinary valve for inflation

page_text: which can readily be arranged as for instance on the dotted line W W Figs. 1,3
and 5.
By first removing the side A' the tyre can as shewn by Fig. 3 be opened and
punctures repaired. The part d' d of the flexible band of the tyre D which is
gripped between the flanges of the rim may instead of being made with the-
thickened exterior edges d d' as in Figs. 1 and 5, he made with Hat surfaces as in
Fig. 8 the grip of the flanges and the bolts passing through the flanges being-
sufficient to hold the tyre to the rim.
When the flexible hand D is made with the thickened edges o d' as aforesaid
the parts may either be so narrow that the bolts C will not pass through them.
(as in Figs. 1 and 3) or these parts d d of the flexible band D may be made
wider as in Fig. 5 so that the fixing bolts C will pass through them. The meeting
edges d d of the flexible band D are by preference made with small nicks or
holes fat intervals as shewn in Fig. 2 communicating from the air space g
extending all round the tyre under the band E formed by bevelling off the edges
of the parts d d so that there will be a free escape of air from this passage g
through the holes to allow of the escape of air from the back of the jointing
band E and thus make a more perfect joint than if the holes were not used.
It is to be understood that the removable half or part A¹ of the wheel rim may
be made in either a complete ring or in segments such for instance as shewn by
Fig. 6 each segment being secured to the part A' of the rim by holts or other
suitable fastenings so that one or more of these segments can be removed to enable
any part of the pneumatic tyre to be opened and inspected without opening the
whole of it.
It will be seen that by constructing a pneumatic tyre in accordance with my
invention the tyre is absolutely secure on the wheel rim and cannot possibly
become detached therefrom when the tyre is deflated or partly so which is a defect
in some other pneumatic tyres. Moreover, it will be seen that the attachment of
the pneumatic tyre to the wheel rim is altogether independent of the air pressure
in the tyre and is effected as above described by the elamping or gripping of the
pneumatic tyre between the flanges of the divided wheel rim.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of any said inven
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination of a pneumatic tyre consisting of a divided flexible tubular
indiarubber or like ring made with its internal edges meeting together in the plane-
of the wheel and witi solid external projections to engage with flanges of the
wheel rim, a divided trough section wheel rim made with internal flanges in the
plane of the wheel to grip together the sides of the said flexible ring and close
the division of the same, means for securing the flanges of the divided wheel rim.
together and a stretched elastic band within the tubular ring secured to one side.
of the same and extending over the division and bearing on the other side of the
ring so as to prevent the air from escaping from the tyre all substantially as.
bereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
2. The combination of a pneumatic tyre consisting of a divided flexible tubular
inflatable indiarubber or like ring made with its internal edges meeting together
in the plane of the wheel between flanges of the wheel rim, a divided trough
section wheel rim made with internal flanges in the plane of the wheel to grip.
together the sides of the said flexible ring and close the division of the saine,.
means for securing the flanges of the divided wheel rim together and a stretched
elastic band within the tubular ring secured to one side of the same and extending
over the division and bearing on the other side of the ring so as to prevent the
escape of air from the tyre all substantially as hereinbefore described.
3. The combination of a pneumatic tyre consisting of a divided flexible tubular-
inflatable indiarubber or like ring made with its internal edges meeting together in
the plane of the wheel and with or without solid external projections to engage

page_text: with the flanges of the wheel rim, a divided trough section wheel rim made with
internal flanges in the plane of the wheel to grip together the sides of the said
flexible ring and close the division of the same, means for securing the flanges of
the divided wheel rim together, a stretched elastic band within the tubular ring
secured to one side of the same and extending over the division and bearing on the
other side of the ring and holes or notches in the meeting edges of the inflatable
ring connected to a narrow air space under the stretched elastic band, all
substantially as hereinbefore described.
4. The improved construction of pneumatic tyre substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawing.
5. The improved construction of pneumatic tyre substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by Fig. 5 of the accompanying drawing.
6. The improved construction of puneumatic tyre substantially as herein before
described with reference to Fig. 8 of the accompanying drawing.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.