Improvements in or connected with Tyres.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th May, 1896-Accepted, 1st Aug., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Tyres.
We, JAMES MURRAY, of Great Waltham, in the County of Essex, Insurance
Agent, and CHARLES RICHARD ALEXANDER, of 3 Fairfield, Chelmsford, in the
County of Essex, Superintendent of Insurance Agents, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to he performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention, by means of which certain advantages are obtained, relates to
improvements in tyres, the said improvements being specially applicable to those
of the so-called pneumatic type.
A drawback which exists in pneumatic tyres of the ordinary type lies in the
fact that they are easily perforated by thorns, sharp stones and the like so that
the air by means of which they are inflated readily escapes. Several methods
have been adopted for the purpose of overcoming this drawback amongst which
may be specially mentioned the enclosing of the pneumatic tyre within a so-called
puncture-proof sheathing. The drawback to this is that there is no absolutely
puncture-proof sheathing convenient and suitable for the purpose so that at the
best the drawback is merely mitigated and not overcome.
In carrying our invention into effect we protect the air tube of the tyre not
necessarily by means of a puncture-proof sheathing but by means of a
protecting sheathing which even if it is punctured does not appreciably damage
the tyre.
In the accompanying drawings in which similar letters of reference indicate
similar or equivalent parts,
Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of a complete tyre constituting
oue form of our invention the parts being shown of very large size in proportion
to the diameter of the complete tyre for purposes of illustration.
Figure 2 is an end elevation of the same showing part of the outer surface
removed in order to illustrate the partitions more clearly.
Figure 3 is a cross section of the form of our invention shown in Figures 1
and 2, and
Figure 4 is a cross section of another form thereof.
Referring now to Figure 1, it will be seen that the tyre 1, which is made of
soft rubber, consists of two main parts which for purposes of distinction we shall
hereinafter refer to as the "air tube " and "cell ring" respectively. The said air
tube 2 consists of an annular tube of semicircular, or other convenient form in
cross section whilst the cell ring 3, which is also composed of soft rubber, consists
of a ring of separate air cells 4, separated by thin partitions 5. The air cells 4
do not communicate with one another but are entirely separated from each
other by the partitions 5 and also from the air tube 2 by the annular partition 6.
The said cell ring, as will be seen in Figure 1, surrounds the air tube and is
concentric therewith. The form of the partition is more clearly shown in Figure 2
and an inspection of the cross section in Fig. 3 will, with an inspection of the
previous figures, render the construction of this form of our invention clear and
intelligible.
Figure 4 is a cross section of a modified form of our invention. In this form
the air tube is seen to be of circular shape in cross section whilst the cell ring is
of crescent shape in cross section. In this form the air tube is more thoroughly
protected than in the form previously described in which the air tube and the cell
ring are of D shape in cross section.

page_text: We have hereinbefore referred to our tyre as though the air tube and the cell
ring were integral with one another but when desired we may have the air tube
and cell ring separate from one another. Thus let us assume that in the form
illustrated in Figure 4 the rubber is cut through at the part 7 and fitted with any
convenient known means for attachment to the rim of a wheel it will be seen that
our cell ring constitutes a very efficient protecting covering for an ordinary
inflatable tyre tube. In this case the said inflatable tube would occupy the space
of the air tube 2 and the cell ring would then surround it in the same manner as is
adopted in the case of the well known protecting sheathings.
In an alternate type of our invention instead of employing our cell ring in
conjunction with an air tube we may employ it in conjunction with a solid tyre.
In such case the said solid tyre may be of much smaller dimensions than would
otherwise be necessary. In this case the cell ring is employed not for purposes of
protection but to obtain lightness.
We prefer to make the integral form of our invention when we employ an air
tube, of the form shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3 and when the air tube and cell ring
are separate from one another we prefer to make them of the form shown in cross
section in Figure 4. The same holds good when we employ instead of an air tube
a solid tyre or ring except that when constructing a complete tyre of the form
shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 we make the cell ring of much larger relative size as
seen in section so as to make the complete tyre as light as possible.
It will be seen that should our tyre be punctured only a single cell would be
affected. This would make little or no appreciable difference in the efficiency of
the tyle.
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 what we
claim is :-
1. The method of protecting an inflatable tyre or air tube of a tyre which
consists in surrounding it by an annular series of non-communicating air enclosing
rubber cells substantially as set forth.
2. In a tyre, a cell ring substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
3. In a tyre, the combination of an air tube and a cell ring substantially as set
forth.
4. In a tyre, the combination of a solid rubber tyre or ring and a cell ring
substantially as set forth.
Dated this 16th day of May 1896.