OP
Year: 1896

page_text: The decision of the Comptroller-General, of the 23rd day of December,
1897, allowed the application to be amended by the insertion of the
name of
THE ELECTRICAL DEVELOPMENT AND FINANCE CORPORATION, LIMITED,
of Albany Buildings, 39, Victoria Street, Westminster, in the County of
Middlesex, as co-applicants.
The Printed Specification will therefore read in accordance with this
amendment; and, in addition, the personal pronouns "I" and "my
throughout the text will read "we" and "our," respectively, to further
agree with the original.

page_text: This Print is in accordance with the Original Specification as it stands after
Amendment (under Section 11 of the Patents, &c. Act, 1883) as required by
the decision of the Comptroller General of the 21st day of March 1898.
Date of Application, 12th Nov., 1896
Complete Specification Left 12th Aug 1897-Accented 12th Nov
1807
Date
prication, 12th Nov., 1896
Complete Specification Left 12th Aug 1897-Accented 12th Nov 1807°
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres, in Inflating Nipples for Pneu-
matic Tyres, and in Nozzles for Inflating Pumps for use with
Pneumatic Tyres....
I, WILLIAM BLAIR, of Portland Chambers, Longton in the County of Stafford
Engraver, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to pneumatic tyres of the so-called tubeless type, to in-
flating nipples specially though not exclusively adapted for use with my pneumatic
tyres and to nozzles resembling the said nipples but adapted for attachment to
inflating pumps.
In order that the nature of my invention may be readily understood I shall
proceed briefly to describe one contemplated form of each part thereof.
One contemplated form of the first part of my invention, that is to say of my
pneumatic tyre, consists of an annular tube of suitable material, such for example
as rubber with canvas insertion, divided by an annular slit along its inner part,
that is to say the part which is in contact with the rim of the wheel when mounted
in position thereon and preferably at such part as is opposite the centre of the said
rim. At the said slit the tube is provided with lips which are preferably long
and tapered and of soft elastic rubber which when the tyre is in position and in-
flated lie close up against one another and side by side but not overlapping. The
tube is also provided. with two annular retaining flanges of the type now well
known in the art and whose function is to nest into annular recesses in the rim of
the wheel for the purpose of retaining the tyre in position on the said rim.
I may employ other retaining devices.
Or
When the tyre. is placed in position upon the rim with the lips abutting against
one another as aforesaid and with. their tapered edges projecting towards the
centre of the tube they press against each other with a force depending upon
the amount of inflation given to the tyre, and any external pressure only makes the
tyre more tight.
In the event of punctures or the like taking place the tyre is easily repaired by
first deflating the tube and then turning it inside out so as to expose the injured
part for repairing manipulation.
One contemplated form of the second part of my invention consists of an in-
Hating nipple designed to be carried by the rim of the wheel. The point of the
said nipple consists of a tapered piece of the form, in cross section, of a flat ellipse
and having an air passage whose orifice is situated at the side of the point and near
its extremity. The nipple is screwed either directly to the rim at a part opposite
to the slit or to a bracket or other attached part borne by the rim. The shank
of the nipple projects inwards from the rim in the usual way and is preferably

page_text: threaded and provided with a binding nut so as to enable the point to be thrust
into the centre of the tyre or be withdrawn therefrom.
When it is desired to inflate my tyre by means of my nipple the shank is put in
connection with an inflating pump in any of the usual well known ways and the
point of the ipple is then thrust say by screwing well into the central space of
the tyre as afo.esaid and the pump operated.
To deflate the tyre all that is necessary to be done is to screw the nipple up
until the point is well within the central space of the tube so that the air can
escape through the air passage.
In its normal position the point of the nipple is withdrawn to a sufficient extent
to prevent the orifice in the point of the nozzle being exposed within the tyre.
In the third part of my invention instead of having a nipple adapted for attach-
ment to the rim of the wheel as aforesaid, I provide an inflating pump of any of
the usual forms with a nozzle similar to the point of the nipple hereinbefore
mentioned. In this case when it is desired to inflate the tyre all that has to be
done is to thrust the point of the nozzle through an orifice, made for the purpose
in the rim and up between the lips into the central space of the tyre. When by
operating the pump the tyre is sufficiently inflated the nozzle is now pulled
out when the lips close up and retain the air as before mentioned.
I desire it to be understood that the hereinbefore mentioned contemplated forms
are specified merely as types or examples of what is embraced within the scope
of my invention.
For the Applicant,
J. G. LORRAIN, M.I.E.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Norfolk House, Victoria Embankment, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.
Improvements in Pneumatic Tyres, in Inflating Nipples for Pneu-
matic Tyres, and in Nozzles for Inflating Pumps for use with
Pneumatic Tyres.
I, WILLIAM BLAIR, of Portland Chambers, Longton in the County of Stafford
Engraver, 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 of the so-called tubeless type, to in-
flating nipples specially though not exclusively adapted for use with my pneumatic
tyres and to nozzles resembling the said nipples but adapted for attachment to
inflating pumps.
In order that my invention may be readily understood I shall proceed to describe
it with reference to the accompanying drawings in which
Figure I shows partly in section and partly in elevation a severed portion of a
tyre constructed under my invention placed in operative position upon a wheel rim.
Figure II illustrates a part of my tyre opened out into its flat or band-like
position and showing the form of the tapered lash 2.
Figure III represents an inflating nipple in its withdrawn position.
Figure IIIa is a cross section of the point of the said nipple, the said section
being made near the base of the point of the nipple or close to the shank.
Figure IV shows the same parts as are illustrated in Figure III but with the

page_text: nipple in its protruding position, that is to say the position that it occupies during
inflation.
Figure V is a side elevation of another form of inflating nipple.
Figure Va is a cross section of the shank shown in Figure V.
Figure VI. is an end elevation of the form of inflating nipple shown in Figure V..
Figure VII is a plan view of a portion of a rim with an orifice therein adapted
for the passage of the point of an inflating nipple or the nozzle of an inflating
pump.
Figures VIII and IX are respectively an end elevation and a side elevation of
an inflating nozzle constructed under my invention for attachment to an in-
flating pump
Figure X is an underneath plan view of cup and frame of Figures V and VI.
In these figures similar letters of reference indicate similar or equivalent parts.
My tyre when placed in operative position, as shown in Figure I, consists of an
annular tube 1 of rubber (with or without canvas insertion) or of other material
used for the manufacture of such tyres. When straightened out into the form of
a band the edges are seen (see Figure II) to consist of a tapering lash 2 coming
to a fine edge at the border 3 and thickening to the heel 4. When bent into
operative position, as shown in Figure I, the lashes meet together contact taking.
place between the edges of the said lashes along the annular line 5 and extending
for some distance over the contiguous surfaces of the lashes, whilst the heels 4
nest in the recesses 6 of the rim 7. It will be seen that when the tyre is inflated"
the lips or lashes 2 are pressed tightly against one another, so that the greater.
the air pressure the tighter do the lips press against one another and the more
efficient is the seal obtained. At the same time the air pressure forces the heels 4
tightly into the recesses 6 of the rim so as to maintain the tyre in position on the
wheel. I prefer to have the lashes or lips of soft elastic rubber so as to ensure
good contact.
I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the use of the heels
engaging in recesses as other means of attaching the tyres to the rims may be
employed. It is however of the essence of my invention that the lips or lashes
should taper to a more or less fine edge and that the lips should press against one
another instead of overlapping and further that they should meet not by simple.
abutment as in certain forms of tube but by what I may term pressure of deflec-
tion that is to say, when placed in operative position they should be deflected out
of their normal position or curved so that there is a constant strain thrown upon
them to keep them in contact irrespective of the contact pressure exerted by the
air pressure due to inflation and irrespective of the forcing together of the lips
by inserting them between confining edges 8 of the rim or an equivalent (such as
inextensible wires fulfilling the same function as the edges 8) device, in other
words the lips must be prolongations of the edges of the tyre in straight lines
substantially in the manner shown in Figure 2.
In the event of punctures or the like taking place the tyre is easily repaired by
first deflating the tube and then turning it inside out so as to expose the injured
part for repairing manipulation.
The second part of my invention relates to an inflating nipple designed to be
carried or supported by the rim of the wheel. This is illustrated in
Figures III, IIIa, IV, V, Va, and VI, the form illustrated in Figures V, and VI
being different from that in Figures III and IV.
Referring now to Figures III, IIIa, and IV, 9 is a cup attached in any con-
venient manner to the rim 7, the said cup being designed for the support of the
inflating nipple. The said nipple consists in part of a shank 10 having a male
thread cut thereon, the said thread being designed, in so far as the part at the free
extremity of the shank is concerned, for engagement with the female thread of an
ordinary inflating pump, the remainder of the said male thread being adapted for
engagement with the nut 12 hereinafter to be described. At the other end of the
said shank is the "point" 13 consisting of a tapered piece having an air
passage 14

page_text: whose orifice 15 is situated at or hear the extremity of the point." The said
point, as will be seen from the drawings, is flattened so as to present in cross
section the form of a flattish ellipse, as shown in Figure IIIa. At the part where
the shank joins the "point" is the shoulder 16 which is designed to prevent the
inflating nozzle dropping out of the cup 9. The milled nut 12 is designed to retain
the inflating nipple in its withdrawn position when the pump is no longer being
used.
The action of this part of my invention is as follows. Let us assume that the
parts are in the position shown in Figure III and that it is desired to inflate
the tyre. The milled nut 12 is turned in the loosening direction and thereafter the
inflating nipple is pushed upwards so that the point 13 is forced between the lips 2
into the position shown in Figure IV. The orifice 15 is now within the air space
of the tyre and the latter can be inflated by means of the pump. As soon as
sufficient pressure has been obtained within the tyre, the milled nut 12, which is
now in the position shown in Figure IV, is turned in its tightening direction,
the effect of which is to withdraw the point from the air space of the tyre and
bring the parts back to the position shown in Figure III the lips 2 closing up in
an air tight manner. I prefer to have the orifice 15 at the side of the point so
that as soon as the said nozzle has been sufficiently withdrawn, the said orifice is
closed up by the rubber of one of the lips 2 and the air will no longer escape.
The orifice may however be placed with efficiency at the extremity of the "point."
It will be seen from what has preceded that the inflating nipple does not in
itself constitute an inflating valve. The tyre itself constitutes a part of the valve
or to be perhaps moré accurate a part of the said tyre constitutes the movable part
or flap so as to speak of the said valve, the point constituting the seating of the said
valve.
In Figures V, Va, and VII show a modification of the said form of inflating
nipple. In this form 9 is the eup as before and 16 is a rectangular frame or
bracket designed to retain the milled nut 12 in position. In this case the shank 10
has flats 17 cut upon it (see Figure Va) and instead of passing through an annular
orifice in the frame 16* it passes through a rectangular orifice 18. The reason why
the orifice 18 is not circular and the shank flattened is to prevent the nipple
turning when the milled nut 12 is rotated, it being important that the major axis
of the point should be parallel or approximately parallel with the contact line 5
(see Figure 1) so as to prevent escape of air when the nipple is protruded towards
or into the tyre. In this form of my invention, that is to say in the form illus-
trated in Figures V, Va and VI, the nipple is both protruded and withdrawn by
turning the milled nut in an, annular direction, in the loosening direction when it
is desired to inflate and in' the tightening direction when it is desired to remove
the point from the tyre after inflation.
In Figure VII, I illustrate in plan the orifice in the rim through which the
point may be thrust or withdrawn.
When it is desired to deflate the tyre, for the purpose of removing it from the
rim, or otherwise, all that is necessary to be done is to protrude the nipple into the
air space of the tyre until the orifice 15 is no longer closed by the lips 2 when
the air will escape readily through the air passage.
In the third part of my invention, instead of having a nipple adapted for per-
manent attachment to the rim of the wheel as aforesaid, I provide an inflating
pump of any of the usual forms with a nozzle similar to the point of the nipple
hereinbefore mentioned.
This is illustrated in Figures VIII and IX where it will be seen that the nozzle
is similar to the point shown in Figures III, IIIa, IV, V, and VI. This nozzle
however instead of being integral with or attached to a shank 10 is attached to
an inflating pump in any convenient manner. In Figures VIII and IX I show a
thread on the portion 19 adapted for attachment to the inflating pump. But
any other means of attachment may be employed if preferred. In this case when
it is desired to inflate the tyre all that has to be done is to thrust the point

page_text: of the nozzle through an orifice, made for the purpose, in the rim and lup between
the lips into the central space of the tyre. When by operating the pump the
tyre is sufficiently inflated the nozzle is now pulled out when the lips close up
and retain the air as before mentioned.
I desire it to be understood that for the purposes of my claims I employ the term
valve in the generic sense which I believe to be common amongst Mechanical
Engineers and meaning the combination of a fixed part and a movable part, the
fixed part being typified by the seating of an ordinary valve and the movable
part by the flap of an ordinary valve.
The orifice in the rim shown in Figure VII may be closed or covered over in
any convenient desired manner for the purpose of excluding dirt or grit from the
tyre.
I have herein before specified the inflating nipple as being supported by a cup 9.
Instead of such a cup a mere bracket or frame might be employed but I prefer to
use a cup for the purpose of excluding dirt and grit.
I desire it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the particular forms
(nipple, nozzle or point) of inflating device set forth. Any form adapted for pro-
trusion into the air space of a tyre for inflating purposes, and for withdrawal
therefrom after inflation, the said inflating device serving as one of the elements
of a valve, and fulfilling the functions of the seating thereof, will answer my
purpose.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A pneumatic tyre of the so-called tubeless type substantially as described
with reference to Figures I and II and as illustrated in the said Figures.
2. The combination of an inflating device and a tyre in such manner that
they together constitute a valve, the tyre or a part thereof corresponding with or
fulfilling the functions of the flap or movable part of the valve and the inflating
device corresponding with or fulfilling the functions of the seating or fixed part of
the valve.
3. The employment of an inflating device substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
4. The employment of a tyre or part of a tyre to constitute one of the elements
of a valve and fulfilling the functions of the flap or equivalent part thereof, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. The combination of point, shank (either integral with or connected to the
said point), cup or bracket and milled nut or its equivalent, substantially as set
forth with reference to Figures III to VI inclusive.
6. The combination of a nozzle substantially as set forth with reference to
Figures VIII and IX with an inflating pump substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
7. The arrangement and combination of parts substantially as set forth with
reference to Figures III and IV.
8. The arrangement and combination of parts substantially as set forth with
reference to Figures V and VI.
9. The combination with a tyre of the form set forth of a rim having an orifice
for the passage of an inflating device substantially as set forth.
Dated this 12th day of August 1897.
For the Applicant,
J. G. LORRAIN, M.I.E.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Norfolk House, Victoria Embankment, London, W.C.,
Chartered Patent Agent.