Improvements in and relating to Means for the Automatic Inflation of Pneumatic Tyres.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th Nov., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 16th Aug., 1897-Accepted, 30th Oct., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Means for the Automatic Inflation
of Pneumatic Tyres.
NATHAN KARMEL 28 Goldswong Terrace, Cranmer Street Nottingham, Cycle
Manufacturer and WILLIAM BLANCHARD 21 Meredith Street Nottingham
Mechanic do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of means by which
a pneumatic tyre may be inflated or kept inflated, when ridden, by means con-
tained within the tyre itself, the object of the present invention being the
provision of means that, will act with certainty, and cannot be rendered useless
by the pressure of air in the air tube.
According to one arrangement of. carrying out this invention, the air tube is
fitted with a flexible ball of a suitable shape and size which is so cemented or
fastened to the tube that the air cannot pass the same. The ball is fitted with
an air inlet arrangement which may have a sliding rubber valve, and means are
provided for keeping the inlet free from dust and other objectionable matter.
The ball is also fitted with one or more outlet valves which allow of the air tube
in the ball being forced into the air, but prevent the return of the same.
In a modification of the above the ball is formed with the air tube during
the manufacture of the same and is fitted with valves as in the previous arrange-
ment.
The air tube. may be fitted with one or more inflating balls and with a separate
inlet valve for use with a pump, and any ordinary cover suitably modified may
be used in connection with this invention..
Dated this 13th day of November 1896
W. H. POTTER, Wh. Sc.,
Nottingham, Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Means for the Automatic Inflation
2: of Pneumatic Tyres.
NATHAN KARMEL of 28 Goldswong Terrace, Cranmer Street Nottingham Cycle
Manufacturer and WILLIAM BLANCHARD of 21 Meredith Street Nottingham
Mechanic 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:-
دارا
This invention relates to improvements in means for the automatic inflation of
[Price 1

page_text: pneumatic tyres for cycles and the like, such means being contained within the
air tube of the tyre.
Now the present invention has for its object the construction of means that
will act with certainty and will not be rendered useless by the pressure of the
air in the air tube.
According to this invention the inside of the air tube is fitted with a flexible
ball of suitable shape and size and this ball is so fastened to the air tube that
air cannot circulate round the latter. The ball is fitted with an air inlet valve
and with a second valve opening into the air tube. There may also be a third
valve opening from the air tube into the ball.
This invention is illustrated by the accompanying sheet of drawings showing
in section the inflator as applied to an air tube.
In this drawing the air tube a which is of the usual kind, may be fastened to
the ball by any of the well known means used for connecting rubber, and
the ends of the tube may be joined at the centre of the ball or they may wrap
over the ends of the ball for a short distance only. The ball b is made with an
external ring at each end for strengthening it, and it is of such a thickness
that the material of the ball together with the end rings prevent the space in
the ball being reduced by the outside pressure of the air in the air tube.
In the arrangement shown the ball is fitted with an air inlet valve at d. This
valve consists of a casing e which is fastened to the ball by a nut and washer f
and has a loose valve g which is made with a rubber end h. The end of the
valve casing may be left open, or be covered by a dust protector, but by pre-
ference it is coupled to a tube k which is carried to the hub of the wheel. The
ball is also fitted with a second valve which may be similar in construction to
the valve d and is used to prevent the air in the tube a returning to the
inside of the ball There may also be a third valve m as shown. This valve is
kept closed by a spring n and is provided for enabling the air in the air tube
to enter the ball when the pressure is high enough to overcome the spring n,
this arrangement preventing the air in the ball being at a less pressure than the
air in the fully inflated tyre.
The tube may be provided with any ordinary valve for deflating the tyre, and
such valve may be used for inflating the tyre by means of an ordinary pump.
The air tube may be fitted with one or more inflators, and all the balls used
are firmly fastened to the inside of the air tube for the reason herein set forth.
When a wheel fitted with the herein described inflator is in action the ball a
is compressed when the pressure of the rider comes upon it. This forces the
air in the ball into the air tube and the action is repeated at every revolution
of the wheel. When the air in the air tube is compressed sufficiently to open
the valve m air passes to the inside of the ball which is then as hard as any
other part of the tyre.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that
what we claim is:-
1. The combination with the air tube of a pneumatic tyre, of one or more
flexible balls firmly joined to the inside of the air tube, an air inlet valve, and
an air outlet valve to each flexible ball, constructed, arranged and operating,
substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
2. The combination with the air tube of a pneumatic tyre of one or more
flexible balls firmly joined to the inside of the air tube, each ball being provided
with an air inlet valve, an air outlet valve, and a valve opening from the tube
to the ball when the air in the tube reaches a given pressure constructed,
arranged and operating substantially as herein described with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
3. An automatic inflator for the air tubes of pneumatic tyres, constructed

page_text: arranged and operating as herein described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
L: 14 day of Anost 1897
W. H. POTTER,
Nottingham, Patent Agent.