Improvements in Pneumatic Tires for Bicycle and other Wheels.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Oct., 1893-Accepted, 30th Dec., 1893
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tires for Bicycle and other Wheels.
I, FREDERICK DENISON OWEN, of 1104 12th Street, Washington, D.C., U.S.A.,
Artist, 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 certain new and useful improvements in wheels for
cycles and more particularly to improvements in the construction of cycle tires of
the pneumatic type and in the means for inflating such tires and releasably securing
them to the cycle rim.
The characteristic feature in the manufacture of my improved tire consists in
constructing the same from a length of rubber or the like provided along its
opposite edges with longitudinal inflatable chambers or compartments, which, when
the tire is assembled within the rim, shall lie side by side, abatting against each
other, and when inflated locking the tire within the rim or rim groove.
In the
accompanying drawings I have illustrated a variety of different forms or
modifications of tires embodying this generic feature of construction, and I have
also shown valve mechanism peculiarly adapted for furnishing the edge chambers,
and in some cases the main chamber also, with a supply of air under uniform
pressure from a single supply reservoir readily accessible for the attachment of the
air compressing pump.
In the drawings,
Fig. 1 represents, partly broken away, a cross section of one form of blank
suitable to the practice of my invention, and illustrates two different ways of
constructing the edge chambers;
Fig. 2 represents a like view of a modification thereof;
Figs. 3 to 11 represent cross sectional views of various forms of tires embodying
my invention and illustrate the manner in which they are adapted to be locked in
the cycle rim or rim groove;
Fig. 12 represents in full lines a cross sectional view of the tire blank employed
in the construction shown in Fig. 11 and illustrates in dotted lines the
manipulations necessary to fold said blank into form required in said construction ;
Fig. 13 represents in side elevation a skeleton view of a bicycle frame whose
wheels are provided with tires constructed in accordance with my invention and
provided with central air supply reservoirs ;
Fig. 14 represents a partial elevation and section illustrating more fully the
construction of the air supply reservoir of the rear wheel of the bicycle shown
in Fig. 13;
Fig. 15 represents in longitudinal section the means employed for providing with
air the front wheel of the bicycle shown in Fig. 13; and
Figs. 16 and 17 represent, partly in section and partly in elevation, the
intercommunicating branched supply tubing for maintaining equality of pressure
between the several pneumatic chambers.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

page_text: Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 12, it will be noted
that the main body portion of the tire is formed of a strip a of rubber or other
suitable material familiar to the art, of a length sufficient to encircle the cycle
wheel rim or rim groove. Along the opposite edges of this main body portion I
locate edge inflation chambers. In the form shown in Fig. 1 I have illustrated two
different ways of constructing these end chambers, to wit, by turning the edge back
and vulcanizing it to the main body portion so as to form the integral chamber b,
or by cementing, sewing or otherwise securing to the edge of the main body portion
a supplemental inflation chamber ¹. In the form shown in Fig. 2, like chambers b
are illustrated, together with an auxiliary flap c whose function will be hereinafter
described in connection with the form of tire shown in Fig. 8.
In Fig. 3, I have illustrated the employment of the tire strip as an outer
jacket as provided with the supplemental inflatable end chambers b' which are
nested side by side abutting against each other within the annular groove f of the
cycle wheel rim or felly, the flaps of the chambers 6' extending somewhat beyond
the outer edges of the rim to present an additional thickness of rubber at said
edges, as a cushioning safeguard against abrasion. Tubes d serve as means for
inflating the chambers ', and an additional tube d¹ serves as means for inflating a
central pneumatic tube e. The expansion of the chambers & when inflated causes
them to exert an effective pressure against each other and to expand into close
contact with the walls of the locking groove, thereby securely locking the tire
in place.
A similar construction is illustrated in Fig. 5, wherein the tire strip a³ is provided
with the integral inflatable chambers b, which in like manner are caused to hold
the central tire e in place by expanding into the grooved rim of the cycle wheel.
It will, of course, be understood that any other character of tire than the pneumatic
tire e (such as a solid rubber tire or a cushion tire) may be locked to the cycle rim
by means of the tire strip in either of these instances, or that, if desired, the
central tire may be omitted altogether and its place occupied by a loose filling of
wool or the like. Or, as shown in Fig. 3, the tire strip itself may be inflated in
addition to the edge chambers, and in this instance the tube d' for supplying the
air to the interior may be located just outside of the tubes d, so that the flap c may
cover the line of contact of the chambers and extend over the entrance aperture of
the tube d¹ to form a flap valve therefor.
In Fig. 4, the tire strip at is shown in its adaptation to the rim f2 having the
downwardly and inwardly inclined flanges ƒ³. In this case also the inflatable
chambers rest within the groove afforded beneath the rim surface and abut
against each other, their expansion locking the strip a' in place together with the
pneumatic tire e or its equivalent.
To secure a more intimate locking contact between the abutting walls of the
edge chambers, I may provide said walls with serrations or interlocking ridges, as
indicated for instance in Fig. 7. Fig. 7 also illustrates an expedient for dispensing
with separate inflating tubes for the filling tires e¹ of Fig. 9. Thus it will be noted
that the tire strip of Fig. 7 is provided with flaps e extending to the wall or strip
and vulcanized thereto thereby forming two enclosed pneumatic chambers g which
are inflated by air which reached their interior through apertures n from the edge
chambers h. Should one of these chambers or compartments become deflated or
partly deflated the other is adapted to expand correspondingly, as shown in
dotted lines.
In the form shown in Fig. 6, I have greatly enlarged the dimensions of the edge
chambers so as to adapt them to encircle a central filling tire es, in the manner
indicated. Cushioning strips m of rubber or the like cemented to the tire strip a
lessen liability of abrasion, and may be secured together by lacing as shown; or a
circumferential tape e² may be cemented on.
Another instance of the enlarged end chambers is shown in Fig. 12 wherein is
also shown in dotted lines the manner of folding the blank to form the tire shown
in Figs. 11 and 17. As thus constructed the enlarged edge chambers & are adapted

page_text: not only to lock the tire in place but by their larger expansion to form or constitute
the elastic pneumatic filling of the tire. If desired, an additional filling may be
provided, as, for instance, a filling of wool p, as shown in Fig. 11, or a pneumatic
tire e as shown in Fig. 10.
The tire shown in Fig. 9 is formed by enclosing within a jacket a of the kind
shown in Fig. 5, an inflatable tire of the kind shown in Fig. 12, but inverted
as indicated, and the inflatable compartments e' practically filling the jacket.
A patch 2 of rubber or canvas may be cemented across the two compartments if
desired.
I prefer to supply the compressed air to the pneumatic edge chambers and inner
pneumatic filling tube in the various forms of my invention from a central source
of supply. As shown in Fig. 15, this central source of supply may be the cycle
axle h made hollow for the purpose and provided at one or both of its ends with
means for the attachment of the usual tire-inflating air pump. These means may
consist of a check valve r of smaller diameter than the valve chamber r' in which it is
located and normally seated by a spring against the inlet opening which is closed
by the screw plug ³. By removing the screw plug and attaching the air pump in
place thereof, compressed air may be forced into the hollow axle and passes thence
through the supply tube s communicating with the interior of the axle and leading
into the pneumatic compartments.
The supply tube s is branched at its upper ends and the branches are severally
connected with the nipples dd. It is of special importance that the abutting
edge chambers be thus connected to a supply pipe common to both as it enables
them to be inflated simultaneously and establishes and maintains equality of pressure
in the two edge chambers, a condition particularly desirable in order to develop and
utilize their locking function to the best advantage. A valve or cock x may
be provided in the branch leading to the inner pneumatic tube, as indicated
in Fig. 16, if desired, to shut off communication between said inner tube and the
edge chambers or compartments; but, I may if desirable, dispense with all valves
or cocks in the nipples when coupled together in the manner shown in Figs. 16
and 17.
Instead of taking in the compressed air through a hollow axle, I may, as shown
in Fig. 14, surround the axle with an air-tight casing t thereby forming a central
air supply chamber having a nipple t¹ for connecting the air pump. In this instance,
there is constantly stored up within the central chamber a supply of compressed
air which may, if desired, be of higher pressure than the volume of air contained
in the pneumatic compartments. I effect this result by shutting off a valve v in
the supply tubes as soon as the pressure in charging the compartments has reached
the desired limit, and then continuing the charging of the central chamber until
such excess of pressure is secured therein as may be suitable. If now, while on the
road, the pressure in the pneumatic compartments should drop, I may bring it up to
the standard required by admitting a suitable supply from the high pressure chamber
through the valve v.
1 do not, however, confine myself to the employment of a valve v or its
equivalent, as certain advantages are incident to utilizing the central supply
chamber as part of a constant cross communication between various parts of the
interior of the tire. Thus, as shown in Fig. 13, a number of supply tubes may
radiate to different parts of the tire from the supply chamber as a center, with the
advantage not only of inflating the compartments more uniformly and evenly, but
also of affording what might be termed a short cut for the transmission of the
compressions due to the impact of the advancing tire with the ground from one
part of the tire to another. This feature is of advantage as well when the tire
supplied is the usual single-pneumatic tire as illustrated in Fig. 14, and I desire
therefore to be understood as claiming it broadly.
It will be noted that in Fig. 16 I have shown the branches of the supply pipe
leading to the edge compartments as provided with valves whereby the edge
compartments can be shut off from communication with each other or with the main

page_text: compartment, so that either compartment may remain inflated during repairs of
the other or others. The same shut-off valves ' are also present in the construction
shown in Fig. 17 and for a like purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would have it understood
that I am aware of the Specification of Letters Patent No. 14172 of 1892 granted
to Robert Edward Phillips, and also that of Letters Patent No. 6197 of 1891
granted to Edward Henry Seddon, and I do not claim anything comprised
therein, but I declare that what I claim is :-
1. A tire strip provided at its edges with inflatable compartments or chambers
and having a flap extending beyond one of said compartments; substantially
as described.
2. A tire strip provided at its edges with inflatable compartments or chambers
and having a flap extending beyond one of said compartments, said flap being
re-united to the strip to form a second inflatable compartment; substantially as
described.
3. A tire strip provided at its edges with inflatable compartments or chambers
and having a flap extending beyond one of said compartments, said flap being
re-united to the strip to form a second inflatable compartment communicating with
the adjacent edge compartment; substantially as described.
4. A. tire strip provided at its edges with inflatable compartments, the abutting
walls of said compartments having interlocking projections; substantially as
described.
5. A tire strip provided at its edges with inflatable compartments and having its
intermediate portion of a length to form with the compartments a tire of sub-
stantially circular contour when the compartments are folded inwardly upon said
middle portion and inflated; substantially as described.
6. A tire having inflatable edge compartments serving as a partial filling for the
tire and a supplemental filling between the folds of the compartments and the main
wall of the tire; substantially as described.
7. A tire having inflatable edge compartments serving as a partial filling for the
tire and supplemental filling between the folds of the compartiments and the main
wall of the tire, said supplemental filling consisting of a pneumatic tube;
substantially as described.
8. An inflatable tire provided with cross tubes extending from one part of its
interior to another across the space bounded by the tire; substantially as
described.
9. An inflatable tire provided with a central source of air supply at the
wheel hub and tubes radiating from said source of supply to various points of
the tire interior across the space bounded by the tire; substantially as
described.
10. An inflatable tire, provided with an air supply reservoir for storing air under
pressure, a supply tube communicating with the tires interior, and a valve for
establishing or cutting off communication between the tire and supply reservoir;
substantially as described.
11. In combination with a tire having inflatable abutting compartments the use or
arrangement of an air supply pipe having branches leading to said compartments,
so as to inflate them simultaneously; substantially as described.
12. A tire having inflatable abutting compartments and means for inflating the
same, said compartments communicating with each other so as to be under equal
pressure; substantially as described.
13. A tire having intercommunicating inflatable locking compartments; sub-
stantially as described.
14. A tire having inflatable edge compartments and a branched supply pipe for
inflating said compartments simultaneously; substantially as described.
15. A tire having inflatable edge compartments and an inflatable pueumatic

page_text: filling tube, in combination with a branched supply pipe for filling the compartments.
and tube simultaneously; substantially as described.
16. A tire having inflatable edge compartments and a branched supply pipe for
inflating said compartments simultaneously, the branches of the supply pipe having
each a shut-off valve; substantially as described.
17. A tire having inflatable edge compartments and an inflatable pneumatic
filling tube, in combination with a branched supply pipe for filling the compartments
and the tube simultaneously, the brauches of the supply pipe having each a shut--
off valve; substantially as described.
Dated this 17th day of October 1893.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C. Agents.