Improvements in and connected with Pneumatic Tyres.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Mar., 1897-Accepted, 12th June, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Pneumatic Tyres.
I, ALFRED EDWARD WILLIAMS, Mining Engineer's Pupil, 65, Station Street,
Nottingham, 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 :-
My invention relates to pneumatic tyres, and the objects are to provide great
resiliency with a narrow tread, and comparative freedom from skidding.
In carrying my invention into effect, 1 proceed in or in about the following
manner, making reference to the accompanying sheet of drawings, in which,
Figs. 1. 2. 3. and 4. shew cross sections of various typical modifications of my
improved tyre, and the rims most suitable for use therewith.
The essential feature of the invention is the placing concentrically to the centre
of the wheel of two or more endless india-rubber tubes or hollow rings, which are
retained in relative position as regards themselves and the rim by a suitably shaped
casing or cover.
In the accompanying drawings the same letters indicate the same parts wherever
they occur.
The endless tubes may be of equal cross sectional diameter as at a b Fig. 1. or
the extreme outer one may be of less diameter than the other or others as shewn at
Figs. 2 and 3, and at c of Fig. 4. These endless tubes may be connected to one
another by ducts or passages of any suitable kind and material and preferably of a
bard nature. These ducts may be placed at intervals round the tyre so that the
inflation of all the tubes may go on simultaneously. Ducts of suitable form are
shewn at d in the accompanying drawings, or they may be of any other suitable
kind. Besides providing communication between the interiors of the tubes, the
ducts also serve to keep the tubes in their relative positions, and they may be
solutioned round if necessary to insure air-tightness. The tubes forming the tyre
are protected by a casing or cover shaped so as to adapt itself to the number and
diameter of the tubes employed. Such casings or covers are shown ate and may
be provided with inwardly clipping projecting parts as at f to catch under the air
tubes. The said projecting parts may either be formed as part of the casings, or
made separately and attached thereto."
These casings or covers may be made of india-rubber and canvas, or of any other
Buitable material or materials. The canvas is indicated by the broken line g in the
drawings, and may be cut on the cross and made to run parallel or nearly so with
the outer surface of the casing. The casing must necessarily be made of sufficient
pliancy to allow of it being sprung into the rim when the tyre is deflated. The
tread of the casing may be plain or undulated, in a longitudinal direction so as to
prevent skidding, and to reduce the longitudinal tread of the tyre. The tread of
the casing may also be thickened and shaped in any other manner than that above
mentioned. In connection with these tyres, I prefer to use rims having the cross
sections shewn in the accompanying drawings. The projecting part of the rims
shewn in Figs. 2 and 4, may enter channels or grooves i provided for their reception
at the edges of the casing. In Fig. 3. the rim is flat on top and the edge of the
casing is retained in the groove or channel i of the rim by the part k. This part k
is normally at right angles to the surface of the cover, and is pressed back and
inserted in i, and in its endeavours to spring out to its normal position, it becomes

page_text: held by the outer edge of the channel i. The projections of the casing may be
reduced if desired or shaped of any material, and in any manner found to best
attain the objects of the invention and lighten the tyre. Cavities or annular
spaces may be made in the under part of the casing to accommodate the nuts of the
spokes of the wheel and I prefer to fix the spokes m away from the centre of the
rim, and they may be placed either exactly opposite each other or alternately with
one another. A suitable valve as at n is of course. provided for inflating the tyre.
If desired the outermost of the air tubes may be inflated separately by a tube
passing up the side of the casing or through the inner ring or rings and I sometimes
replace this outer tube by a solid tyre so as to reduce liability to puncture. When
a brake is used it is intended to apply it to the sides of the tyre. It is essential
that the projecting parts f of the casing be moulded or attached accurately so as to
ensure perfect alignment to the tread. Further the projections of the rims shewn
in Figs. 2 and 4. may be angular or of any shape found most suitable to combine
firmness of attachment with ease of detachment.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my Baid
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that. what I
claim is :-
CLAIMS.
1. The improved construction of pneumatic tyres, whereby for the objects herein-
before mentioned two or more air tubes are placed one above the other outwardly
from the centre of the wheel, the outer or outermost of them, being preferably the
smaller or smallest in cross sectional diameter, the said tubes being inflated together
or separately and held in position by a suitably formed casing or covering, which in
turn is attached to the rim of the wheel, the whole substantially as described in the
above specification, and exemplified in the accompanying drawings.
2. In pneumatio tyres constructed in accordance with the above Claim 1, the
substitution of a solid outer tyre for the tubular outer one, substantially as described.
in the above specification.
3. Constructing pneumatic tyres, and covers and rims for the same substantially
in the manuers described in the above specification with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3,
and 4, of the accompanying drawings.
4. In pueumatic tyres attaching the covers to the rims substantially in the
manner described in the above specification with reference to Fig. 3, of the accom-
panying drawings.
Dated this.22nd day of March 1897.
HUGHES & YOUNG,.
23, Coleman Street, Loudon, E.C., Agents for Applicant..