Improvements in Wheels, the Tyres of which are Inflatable.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 25th Feb.. 1896-Accepted, 23rd May, 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wheels, the Tyres of which are Inflatable.
I, HENRY ALBERT FLEUSS, of 5 Bamptou Terrace, Heathfield South,
Twickenham, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Many ways have before been suggested for making an inflatable tyre of a ring
(tubular in cross section) passing around the exterior of the metallic or other rim
of the wheel and having a division all around its inner circumference so that the
tube may be opened or turned inside out and access so gained to its interior so that
any cuts or perforations may be repaired on the inside.
Hitherto no satisfactory way has been found of making an air tight joint around
this division. Usually the side edges of the curved strip forming the tubular
ring have been made to overlap one another but no satisfactory joint can be
obtained in this way, and in practice when the exterior of an inflated tyre has been
formed of a divided tubular ring an inner inflated thin air tight tubular ring has
always been used within it.
According to my invention I form an air tight joint all around the division by
making the division as a straight narrow radial slit and by closing over this narrow
division with an elastic rubber band which not only extends all around the wheel
on the inside of the tyre and bears by its elasticity against it but is also of such a
width as to project out beyond one side of the rim for the purpose hereinafter
explained.
One side of the band may be permanently cemented on to the inside of the tyre
on one side of the radial division and this side edge of the tyre may itselt be
cemented into its place around the rim of the wheel. The other side of the band
is the one which projects beyond the side of the rim and before the side edge of
the tyre not cemented to the rim is passed into its place between the rim and the
band it bears down by its elasticity upon the edge of the rim. As this edge of the
band projects out beyond the side of the rim it can readily be pressed outwards
somewhat away from the rim and the side edge of the tyre inserted into its place
between them.
The rim I make as heretofore usual with a trough groove extending all around
If it forms the
it, the trough being either the whole width of the rim or narrower.
whole width of the rim I make it flat at the bottom or of a curvature less than
that of the tubular tyre.
The edges of the tyre are made with projections on their exterior to fit into the
trough so that only a narrow radial space is left between the edges. The tyre I
make of layers of rubber and canvas in a similar way to that in which the
protective outer coverings for inflated tubular tyres are now commonly formed
except that I make the inside of smooth rubber the canvas being in the form of
insertion (that is, coated with rubber on both sides).
Preferably I first form the tyre as a complete undivided tubular ring afterwards
with a sharp cutter a radial division is made in the tube all around the inner
circumference of the ring-this leaves sharp edges on the inside of the tube on
both sides of the division. In some cases I form the tyre with an inner impervious
lining only cemented or cured to the tyre along the edges on either side of the
radial division.

page_text: The elastic rubber band I form preferably of a flat ring of rubber-the outer
circumference of this ring I cement to the inside of one edge of the tyre. When
this edge is put into place around one side of the metal rim the inner circum-
ference of the flat ring becomes extended and bears against the other side of the
metal rim so that the flat ring is extended on the inner circumference until the
ring assumes a cylindrical form.
The band might however be made of a cylindrical ring considerably smaller in
diameter than the rim and be stretched so that it shall bear with sufficient pressure
against the inside of the tyre.
The band might be in one piece with and extending from one side edge of the
tyre. Preferably I make the band with corrugations or ridges passing transversely
across its outer surface so that without being too heavy it may be stiff enough to
keep its form and not double up at the time when the edge of the tyre is being
passed between it and the rim.
In order to facilitate the pressing the second edge of the tyre into its place
around the rim and between the rim and the band I first moisten this portion of
the tyre on its interior with soft soap or it might be with a solution of soap and
water or with glycerine or like lubricant. This renders it easy to insert the edge
of the tyre into its place. I prefer to use soft soap.
The air valve tube may be made to pass through a hole in the rim and through
the band and thickened portion of the one edge of the tyre which lies in and is
cemented to the rim-on its inner end it may be formed with a flange to bear
against the band-its outer end may have a screw thread cut upon it to receive a
nut which can be made to bear against the back or inner circumference of the rim.
Any suitable valve can be used.
Provision is made in all cases for the free passage of air from the narrow space
between the two edges of the tyre.
In place of bringing the two edges of the tyre close together so that a narrow
gap only is left between them-the gap may be wider and be occupied or nearly
filled in by an outwardly extending projection around the central portion of the
rim. In this case the air tight joint would be made by a flap or band crossing a
narrow gap between this projection and the edge of the tyre.
Dated this 25th day of October 1895.
Improvements in Wheels, the Tyres of which are Inflatable.
I, HENRY ALBERT FLEUSs, of 5 Bampton Terrace, Heathfield South,
Twickenham, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, 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 :-
Many ways have before been suggested for making an inflatable tyre of a ring
(tubular in cross section) passing around the exterior of the metallic or other rim
of the wheel and having a division all around its inner circumference so that the
tube may be opened or turned inside out and access so gained to its interior so that
any cuts or perforations may be repaired on the inside.
Hitherto no satisfactory way has been found of making an air tight joint around
this division. Usually the side edges of the curved strip forming the tubular ring
have been made to overlap one another but no satisfactory joint can be obtained in
this way, and in practice when the exterior of an inflated tyre has been formed of
a divided tubular ring an inner inflated thin air tight tubular ring has always been
used within it.
According to this invention I form an air tight joint all around the division by

page_text: making the division as a straight narrow radial slit and by closing over this
Barrow division with a stretched elastic rubber band which not only extends all
around the wheel on the inside of the tubular ring and bears by its elasticity
against it but is also of such a width as to project out beyond one side of the rim
for the purpose hereinafter explained.
One side of the band may be permanently cemented on to the inside of the
tubular ring on one side of the radial division and this side edge of the tubular
ring may itself be cemented into its place around the rim of the wheel. The other
side of the band is the one which projects beyond the side of the rim and before
the side edge of the tubular ring not cemented to the rim is passed into its place
between the rim and the band it bears down by its elasticity upon the edge of the
rim. As this edge of the band projects out beyond the side of the rim it can
readily be pressed outwards somewhat away from the rim and the side edge of the
tubular ring inserted into its place between them.
The rim I make as heretofore usual with a trough groove extending all around
it, the trough being either the whole width of the rim or narrower. If it forms
the whole width of the rim I make it flat at the bottom or of a curvature less than
that of the tubular tyre.
The edges of the tubular ring are made with projections on their exterior to fit
into the trough so that only a narrow radial space is left between the edges. In
some cases the narrow gap between the edges is made to come near to one side
of the rim and not centrally for the reason hereinafter explained. The tubular
ring I make of layers of rubber and canvas in a similar way to that in which
the protective outer coverings for inflated tubular tyres are now commonly formed
except that I make the inside of smooth rubber the canvas being in the form of
insertion (that is, coated with rubber on both sides).
Preferably I first form the tubular ring as a complete undivided tubular ring
afterwards with a sharp cutter a radial division is made in the tube all around the
inner circumference of the tubular ring-this leaves sharp edges on the inside of
the tube on both sides of the division.
The elastic rubber band I form preferably of a flat ring of rubber-the outer
circumference of this ring I cement to the inside of one edge of the tubular ring.
When this edge is put into place around one side of the metal rim the inner
circumference of the flat ring becomes extended and bears against the other side of
the metal rim-so that the flat ring is extended on the inner circumference until
the ring assumes a cylindrical form.
The band might however be made of a cylindrical ring considerably smaller in
diameter than the rim and be stretched so that it shall bear with sufficient pressure
against the inside of the tubular ring.
In some cases I make the band with corrugations or ridges passing transversely
across its outer surface so that without being too heavy it may be stiff enough to
keep its form and not double up at the time when the edge of the tubular ring
is being passed between it and the rim.
Provision is made in all cases for the free passage of air from the narrow space
between the two edges of the tubular ring.
In place of bringing the two edges of the tubular ring close together so that a
narrow gap only is left between them-the gap may be wider and be occupied or
nearly filled in by an outwardly extending projection around the central portion of
the rim.
In this case the air tight joint would be made by a flap or band crossing
a narrow gap between this projection and the edges of the tyre.
In the drawings annexed
Figure 1 is a side view partly in section of the rim of a wheel having around it
an inflatable tubular ring tyre formed as above described-the section being taken
in a plane at right angles to the axis of the wheel.
Figure 2 is a cross section through one part of the tubular ring and rim in a
plane parallel with the axis. In this figure the rim is shewn to be made
hollow.

page_text: Figure 3 is a similar section through the tubular ring and a solid metal rim.
Figure 4 is a similar section through the tubular ring and a wooden rim.
Figure 5 shews a rim and tubular ring similar to that shewn at Figure 3 but
with the division in the ring not centrally within the rim but near to one
side of it.
Figure 6 shews a rim and tubular ring similar to that shown in Figure 3 but
opened and turned inside out so that any defect in it may be repaired.
Figure 7 is a similar view to Figure 6 but showing the free edge of the divided
tubular ring just being pushed back into its place.
Figure 8 shews separately a section of a divided flexible tubular ring tyre having
the outer edge of a flat flexible ring cemented to the inside of the ring tyre on one
side of the division.
Figure 8x is a longitudinal section of part of a cylindrical rubber band for
covering over the division in the tyre.
Figure 9 is a transverse section through the band on the line a b Figure 8* and
Figure 10 is a section on the line c d.
Figure 11 shews part of the band with a short elastic tube extending from it and
carrying an air valve of any suitable construction.
Figure 12 shews a metal tube having a washer secured to it by which it may be
attached to the band and having within it an air valve which may be of any suitable
construction.
Figure 13 shews the valve tube made to pass through one of the thickened edges
of the ring tyre and through the rim and secured by a nut screwed on to it.
Figure 14 is a section showing each edge of the tyre held in a separate groove
in the rim.
A is the rim of the wheel with its side flanges A¹. B the flexible tyre formed
of a divided tubular ring. C the stretched elastic band forming a flap valve for
covering over the division in the tubular ring. On one side of the division it is
cemented to the interior of the tubular ring and on the other side lies over its
interior. B'B' are the projections on the exterior of the ring one at each side of
the division to fit into the rim of the wheel. D is a tube extending outwards from
the tubular ring through which the tyre can be inflated. It is fitted with an air
valve of any suitable construction. The tube whether it be of metal as in
Figure 12 or of rubber as in Figure 11 may be secured to the flap and carried
through a hole in the rim. If the tube is a metal one the exterior of the tube and
the hole may be made square to prevent the tube from turning or the tube
especially if it be a flexible tube may pass out from the tyre at one side close to
the rim, its free end being then bent round and secured to one of the spokes in the
wheel.
The flexible tubular ring tyre I make with a smooth rubber surface on the
inside, the canvas used for strengthening it and preventing it from stretching being
in the form of an insertion that is it is covered both on the exterior and interior
with rubber. Preferably I first form the tubular ring tyre as a complete undivided
tubular ring afterwards with a sharp cutter a radial division is made in the tube
all around the inner circumference of the ring-this leaves sharp edges on the
inside of the tube on both sides of the division." One side of an elastic band C is
then made to embrace a portion of the slit tubular ring on one side of the division
and is cemented to it. The other side of the elastic band is left projecting to lie
over the portion of the slit tubular ring on the other side of the division.
As before stated the band may be a portion of a cylinder but preferably it is
made from a flat ring which only becomes a cylinder when its inner edge is
stretched.
The band is also made of thin rubber to allow it readily to expand or contract
in diameter and in some cases is formed with transverse ridges C₁ on its exterior,
these act as springs and when bent out of a straight line tend always to return to it
but do not interfere with the band being stretched to enlarge its diameter.
Preferably I make the division between the two edges of the tubular ring to

page_text: A
come nearer to one side of the rim than the other as shewn at Figure 5.
narrower band C can thus be used so that it need not be made so stiff as would
otherwise be necessary.
The portion of the divided tubular ring which has one side of the band C
cemented to it and has the projection B2 on its exterior is made to embrace one
side of the rim of the wheel and may be cemented to it-the projection B2 being
made to fit closely to the side flange. The free side of the band C then extends
over the other side flange and lies against its outer edge as seen in Figure 6.
The second edge B₁ of the divided tubular ring B is now inserted as seen in
Figure 7 between this edge of the flange and the band C and is pushed into its
place in the rim. This is done little by little first inserting a portion at one point
and then more and more working continuously all around the wheel. The ridges C¹
on the exterior of the band C become bent out of the straight as the edge of the
divided tubular ring is pushed beneath the band and they therefore press the
interior of the band on to the portion of the ring which has been inserted between
it and the rim and hold the free edge of the band closely against the interior of the
tubular ring. The tyre can now be inflated through the tube D with a small air
pump such as ordinarily used for inflating tyres.
In order to facilitate the pressing the second edge of the tubular ring into its
place around the rim and between the rim and the band C, I first moisten this
portion of the tubular ring on its interior with soft soap or it might be with a
solution of soap and water, or with glycerine or like lubricant. This renders it
easy to insert the edge of the tube into its place. I prefer to use soft soap.
Small holes may be formed at intervals into or through the rims of the wheels
so that the exterior of the elastic tyres may be pressed more or less into them and
the tyres so kept from gradually turning or creeping around the rims if the tyres
are not cemented to them. Small holes are also formed through the rim to
provide for the free escape of air from the space between the two edges of
the tyre.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A pneumatic tyre composed of a rigid wheel rim having a trough or hollow
groove around it-a tubular flexible ring surrounding the rim having a radial
division around its inner circumference and solid external projections on each side
of the division to fit to the trough or groove when a narrow space is left between
the two projections-a free escape for air from this space and a stretched elastic
band not only covering over the division on the inside of the tubular ring and
bearing by its elasticity against the inside of this ring but also extending beyond
one side of the rigid rim, substantially as described.
2. A pneumatic tyre composed of a rigid wheel rim having a trough or hollow
groove around it a tubular flexible ring surrounding the rim and having a radial
division around its inner circumference and solid external projections ou each side
of the division to fit to the trough or groove when a narrow space is left between
the two projections-a free escape for air from this space and a stretched elastic
band covering over the division on the inside of the tubular ring and cemented to
the ring on one side of the division and extending beyond the side of the rigid rim
on the opposite side of the division substantially as described.
3. A pneumatic tyre composed of a rigid wheel rim a tubular flexible ring
surrounding the rim having a radial division around its inner circumference and
cemented on one side of the division to one side of the rim and on the other side of
the division having an external projection upon it to fit into a groove around
the rim and a stretched elastic band covering over the division on the inside of the
tubular ring and cemented to the tubular ring on that side of the division where
the tubular ring is cemented to the rim and on the opposite side of the division
extending beyond the side of the rigid rim substantially as described.

page_text: 4. In pneumatic tyres such as are herein described providing a free escape for
air from the space or spaces which are covered over on the inside of the tubular
ring by the stretched elastic band substantially as described.
5. In pneumatic tyres such as are herein described forming the stretched elastic
band used for covering over the space between the edges of the divided tubular
flexible ring tyre with transverse ribs or corrugations on its exterior, substantially
as described.
6. In pneumatic tyres such as are herein described forming the stretched elastic
band used for covering over the space between the edges of the divided tubular
flexible ring tyre from a flat elastic band substantially as described.
7. The construction of pneumatic tyres substantially as herein before described
and illustrated in Figures 1 to 13 of the drawings annexed.
8. The construction of pneumatic tyres substantially as herein before described
and illustrated in Figure 14 of the drawings annexed.
Dated this 24th day of February 1896.
HENRY A. FLEUSS.