Improvements in and in connection with the Covers of Pneumatic Tyres.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Sept., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 4th June, 1895-Accepted, 27th July, 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in connection with the Covers of Pneumatic
Tyres.
We, WILLIAM HOWARD, Boot Manufacturer, and JOHN FREDERICK SADLER,
Cycle Dealer, both of No. 268 Strand, in the County of Middlesex, and WILLIAM
HENRY DALLIMORE, of No. 64 Lynette Avenue, Clapham Common, in the
County of Surrey, Accountant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in and in connection with the covers of
pneumatic tyres and consists of improvements in the construction of the cover and
in the means for holding it to the wheel rim.
In carrying the invention into effect, we provide an are shaped shaping block.
The raw material of the cover is pieces of, preferably, textile fabric, as long as the
width of the cover and having pointed ends in addition to such length. These
pieces are widest in the centre, that is to say, across the back. They are steeped
in rubber solution, or its equivalent, and stretched transversely across the shaping
block, the are of which is adjusted to that of the cover to be made. The pieces
are laid down on and to the block so as to overlap each other, and their pointed
ends turned up and secured down on each side over a piping.
Lines of stitching may be run round the cover.
Leather tabs are sewn at equal distances apart to the edges of the cover and
project beyond them. The tabs themselves may be tapered. The tabs are opposite
to, or intermediate of each other and, passing under the pneumatic tube, have the
effect of reducing friction in hill climbing as well as of preventing, what is so well
known as " creep.'
"
A leather tab may also be provided on one edge of the cover to overlap a second
one on the opposite edge, both being perforated to facilitate the inflation of the
tyre.
Dated this 3rd day of September 1894.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in connection with the Covers of Pneumatic
Tyres.
We, WILLIAM HOWARD, Boot Manufacturer, and JOHN FREDERICK SADLER,
Cycle Dealer, both of No. 268 Strand, in the County of Middlesex, and WILLIAM
HENRY DALLIMORE of No. 64, Lynette Avenue, Clapham Common, in the
County of Surrey, Accountant, 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 :-
Our invention relates to improvements in the covers of pneumatic tyres, and
consists in a cover built up by the aggregation, along their side edges, of pieces of

page_text: suitable material, the lines of junction between the several pieces being are shaped
according to the radius of the tyre from the axis of the wheel to the tread. The
main or basic feature of the invention is the arcual direction of the junctions in
combination, as a matter of course, with the series of pieces, for if the invention
did not require a series of pieces, it is clear that there would be no junctions
at all.
The junctions themselves may be, as such, effected by any suitable agency, such
as cement or sewing-the invention is not restricted in respect of how the junction
is effected. It only requires there to be a junction between each two adjoining
pieces and in a given direction.
The material of the pieces in question is not a part of the invention-we prefer
to use shoe webbing or material of a similar texture.
The direction in which the pieces lie in the improved cover is of importance-
they are all transverse as distinguished from being parallel with the rotation of the
cover. Consequently, as there is no gathering or taking up along the margins of
our improved cover to provide for the smaller or internal diameter, and no stretch
along or near the larger or external diameter, there is maintained an equal degree
of tension throughout it after the tyre has been inflated.
We prefer that the junctions above mentioned should be overlapping junctions
instead of butt, or edge-to-edge joints, for the reason that the overlapping
produces a stepped periphery or tread and that stepping prevents slip.
Referring to the accompanying figures which are to be taken as part of this
Specification and read therewith. Figures 1 to 7 illustrate one modification of the
invention, Figure 8, another.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shaping block and the pieces for half a cover
aggregated thereupon.
Figure 2 is a section taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.
Figure 3 is an outside plan of a portion of a tyre cover.
Figure 4 is an outside plan of the portion of a tyre cover illustrated in Figure 3,
advanced another stage in the process of manufacture.
Figure 5 is a transverse section through a cover made according to the process
illustrated in the preceding figures.
Figure 6 is a side elevation and Figure 7 a section on the line 7-7 thereof, of
a wheel and pneumatic tyre having a tyre cover made according to the process
illustrated in the preceding figures.
Figure 8 is a plan of a portion of a tyre cover made according to a modified
form of the process illustrated in Figures 1 to 7.
a, a are the pieces above referred to. a, al are also the pieces above referred to.
The former, a, have the contour of a fish's belly; that is they have two convex
sides both sides equally so. The latter, a', are rectangular. Pieces of the fish-
belly contour belong to one modification of the present invention: rectangular
pieces belong to another one. Both these modifications have the above defined
main or basic feature of the invention, in common.
We will first describe (a) the fish bellied modification of the present invention:
next, (b) the rectangular modification of it; and lastly, (c) the completion of the
tyre cover by the addition thereto of some obvious addenda.
(a.) b is a shaping block. It is shewn as a complete circle but it may be only
an arc of one. The diameter of the block is rather less than that of the tyre in
question. In cross section it is, elliptical, the excess diameter being in the direction
of the plane of the wheel's rotation.
All the pieces a, a are of the same shape and size. Each is, preferably, longer
thau the guth of the pneumatic tyre c by the pointed ends d, d, which are described
more fully further on. The figures indicate that the pieces a, a are joined to each
other by a cement such as rubber solution. This may be applied in any suitable
way. Each junction is arcual to a line from end to end of a piece--it is, when the
piece is in position in the tyre cover, arcual to a line at right angles with the plane

page_text: of rotation. As the said pieces are laid down upon the shaping block, edge over
edge, in the manner illustrated in Figure 1, they fit to the block for about three-
quarters of its girth (see Figures 1 and 2), each part of each piece undergoing no
tension to speak of-only, a slight flexure. The aggregation of the pieces continued
even up to the point when one side of the last piece a is in position on the block b
to be overlapped by the relative side of the first piece a, does not impose any
tension beyond that above mentioned, upon the several pieces or upon their fibres.
Any fibre or portion of the improved tyre cover is, as a consequence of the arc
shaped junctions and the aggregation of pieces, normally free from tension, and
will, therefore, be under the same degree of tension throughout, after the tyre has
been inflated.
After the junction of the said last and first pieces has been effected, each side
edge or margin of the tyre cover is piped by turning the ends d, d over a piping
consisting of cords f, f, enclosed in wraps g, h. The number of wraps is increased
or decreased according to the probable strains upon the side edges of the cover.
The pipings in question are laid upon the outside face of the cover, and ends d, d,
are cemented down over them and upon the said face, as indicated by the
contrast between the dotted lines and the full lines of the relative parts in
Figure 3.
(b.)-a, a are the rectangular pieces. They are all of the same size, the proper
length being about three quarters the girth of the pneumatic tyre. The best
width for a rectangular piece is illustrated in Figure 8. Assuming that the piece a¹
on the left hand of Figure 8 is the first of the series of rectangular pieces to be
aggregated into a tyre cover, the second piece is made fast to it, side to side. The
junction is arcual, to the same degree as explained in the case of the (a) modifica-
tion of the present invention. It is effected by pulling the second piece in
towards an imaginary centre somewhere in front of the operative. The junctions
in the (a) modification have been described as effected by some kind of
cement. Those in the (6) modification are illustrated as effected by lines of
sewing h, h.
The side edges of the (b) modification are also piped, to the extent that may be
necessary, as indicated by the dotted lines h¹, h¹ in Figure 8.
(c.) The obvious addenda mentioned above are, a strip i, i on each side of, and a
band along the tread of, the tyre cover. The function of the former is to, by
receiving hooks and eyes or their equivalent, provide for the fastening of the two
free side edges of the tyre cover inside the tyre, and of the latter, to prevent the
tread of the cover stretching. This band j may be either on the outer or the inner
face of the tyre cover-compare Figures 3 and 4 with Figure 8. The strips i, i
and the band may be of any otherwise suitable material, provided that it will not
stretch.
It must be explained here that the function of the pipings above described is to
prevent the side edges of the tyre cover stretching. If, however, the material of
the strips i,, is sufficiently non-extensible, to provide this prevention along each
side edge of the cover, it is obvious that the pipings might then be dispensed
with.
Further, a perforation k is formed in each strip i, the two perforations being
opposite to each other, so as to coincide when the cover is fastened up round the
tyre. The function of the single hole produced by such coincidence is to surround
and fit up to the inflating tube, thereby obviating "creep."
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 of arcual junctions with a series of pieces, as set forth.
2. A tyre cover being the aggregation of fish bellied pieces by arcual junctions,

page_text: 3. A tyre cover being the aggregation of rectangular pieces by arcual junctions,
as set forth.
Dated this 4th day of June 1895.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.