US621971A

US621971A - Pneumatic tire

Info

Publication number: US621971A
Authority: US
Publication date: 1899-03-28
Anticipated expiration: 1916-03-28

Description

Patented Mar. 28, I899. 0 G PAGE PNEUMATIC TIRE.

' a at 2 N 2l,97|. Patented Mar. 28, l899.. C. G. PAGE.

PNEUMATIC TIRE.

(Application filed. Oct. 22, 1897.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2,

(No Model.)

UNirnn STATES PATENT .GFFICEt CHARLES Gr. PAGE, OF OAK PARK, ILLINOIS.

PN EU MATIC TIRE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters mete No. 621,971, dated March 28, 1899.

Application filed October 22, 1897. Serial No. 656,020. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may Curl/087%:

Beit known that I, CHARLES G. PAGE, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oak Park, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Pneumatic Tires, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to mechanically-fastened pneumatic tires of that class in which the tire comprises an inner inflatable air-tube and an adj ustably-wired open sheath or casing-that is to say, a casing which is separated longitudinally along its inner circumference, so that access can be had to its interior, and provided along the edge portions, which are formed as a result of such longitudinal separation, with non-continuous ring-shaped Wire or analogous bands, having their free terminals arranged for connection with adj ustable wire-tightening devices, whereby the wires can be adjustably contracted or drawn taut for the purpose of securing the casing upon a wheel-rim and also expanded or allowed to slacken, so as to permit the casing to be removed from the wheel-rim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents in side elevation a portion of a pneumatic tire and wheel-rim to which my invention is understood to be applied. Fig. 2 is a sect-ion taken centrally and longitudinally through Fig. 1, the wire-tightening device being adjusted so as to permit the wire to slacken. Fig. 3 illustrates in perspective the wire connected with the pivoted levers of myimproved Wire-tightening device. Fig. 4 is a view corresponding with Fig. 2, but showing the wire-tightening device adjusted soas to tighten the Wire; Fig. 5 is a section taken transversely through the tire and wheel-rim on line as x in Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a like section 011 line y g in Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a sectional plan view, the section being on line .2 a in Fig. 4c.

Theannular sheath or casing A, of which a portion only is shown, contains an inflatable air-tube B and is divided or open along its base or inner circumference, so as to permit access to be had both to the inner tube and to the inner wall of the casing for purposes of repair when the casing is detached from the wheelrim. The longitudinal edge portions of the casing at opposite sides of its the tightening device is adjusted to draw the terminals of the adjustable securing-wire toward one another for the purpose of causing it to firmly bind the casing upon the'wheel-' rim.

The wheel-rim D is provided with an opening (Z, arranged between its edge portions and adapted to provide a socket for the adjustable tightening device, and the opening thus formed is preferably hushed by a sleeve or thimble E, which is fitted within the opening and provided with an end flange 6, arranged to fit against the inner circumferential portion of the wheel-rim. When the tire is properly on the wheel-rim, the gap between the terminals of the non-continuous wire rings will be opposite the opening (I in the wheelrim, whereby the wires can be drawn by the adjustable tightening device toward such opening for the purpose of fastening on the tire.

The adjustable tightening device comprises a couple of vibratory levers F, having their corresponding inner or lower ends, as they may be conveniently designated, pivotally connected with an adjustable retractor by any suitable hinge or equivalent joint or joints and having their opposite outer or upper ends pivotally or flexibly connected with the terminal portions of the adjustable wire or wires in any suitable way. The retractor may consist of any suitable construction and arrangement of nut and screw movement adapted and applied for drawing the levers F within the opening or socket d in the wheelrim, so as to tighten up the wire bands, and for causing such levers to emerge from said socket and enter the casing for the purpose of loosening up the wire hands, a simple and preferred arrangement, however, being an externally-threaded stem G, which is adjusted longitudinally by a nut H and arranged to slide within the opening or socket (Z, but held against rotation in anysuitable way -as, for

example, one side or opposite sides of the stem can be flattened, as at g, and the hollow bushing E can be correspondingly formed. By thus providing a single longitudinallymovable and non-rotatable stem G and pivoting or hinging the levers F to one end thereof the opening through the wheel-rim can be made so small that it will not materially weaken the wheel-rim, and by pivoting the levers to one end of the stem the levers can be relatively contracted or swung together and drawn within such comparatively small opening, as illustrated in Fig. 4.

The levers F are preferably bent or curved in opposite directions, so as to avoid raising the end portions of the wires during the operation of drawing the levers from their relatively-expanded condition within the casing, Fig. 2, to their relatively-contracted condition within the socket (I, Fig. 4, it being observed that in eifeet the upper end portions of the levers which connect with the wires are bent downwardly, and that thus considered their lower end portions could be made more or less straight. I prefer, however, to curve the lovers substantially as illustrated,whereby they will not project upwardly within the casing to an extent to interfere with or in any wise endanger the inner tube. By operating the nut which bears against flange 6 of the thimble, so as to bring the levers into the relative condition shown in Fig. 2, the wire bands will be loosened or slackened to an extent to permit the removal of the tire, and by further turning the nut II it will be freed from the stem G of the retractor, and thereby allow such stem to be withdrawn from the socket along with the tire when the latter' is removed from the wheel-rim. In order to again secure the tire upon the wheel-rim, it can be placed thereon and the stem G can be again introduced within the socket (Z, after which the nut can be applied to the stem and tightened up, so as to draw the levers within the socket, as in Fig. 4-, wherein the ends of the wire are shown drawn together to a suitable extent. An important feature of this arrangement is the increase of leverage as the resistance to the tightening up of the wires increases. Thus while the levers are relatively contracting or swinging together and entering the socket they will bear and slide upon fulcral bearings at opposite sides of the socketfor example, upon the upper end of the thimble. In this way when the levers are within the socket to an extent to take up the slack in the wires and cause their initial binding action upon the portions of the tire-casing between the wires and the wheel-rim the portions of the levers between the aforesaid f ulcral bearings at one end of the socket and the connections between the levers and the retractor will formtheir long arms, which latter will increase in length proportionally to the extent to which the retractor is adjusted to further draw the levers within the socket. Regardless, therefore, of the character of the wheelrim and the size and stiffness of wire employed the wires can be contracted upon the casing to an extent to firmly bind the casing upon the wheel-rim and prevent side slip on yiously be employed in conjunction with the levers F, which during the operation of ti ghtening up the wire exert a direct pull upon the wire, while at the same time, being fulcrumed at opposite sides of the socket, an increasing leverage is attained, as hereinbefore set forth.

Broadly considered, the wires can be connected with the tire-casing in any known or approved way, and the tire-casing can be variously constructed and seated upon a wheelrim. As matters of further improvement, however, I propose employing a crescent rim, or a rim having an annular transverselyconcave peripherally-arranged seat (1', and providing a tubular tire-casin g which is split along its base and provided with longitudinally-arranged internal ribs a, which extend along opposite sides of the line of split. \Vith such arrangement the ribs may and preferably do abut the one against the other, as illustrated; but, if desired, they may bear wholly or in part upon a narrow intervening rib on the wheel-rim, the effect in either case being that the ribs or edge portions of the casing meet or proximately meet along the middle line of the rim-seat and are braced against side slip. Thus, as best illustrated by Fig. 5, each edge portion of the tire along the line of split forms an abutment for the opposite edge portion, and since the wire bands when contracted and locked by the retractor cannot shift toward the edges of the wheel-rim such abutments will be eifectively held in position. If desired, however, side slip can be further guarded against by providing the wheel-rim with a small centrallyarranged rib (1 In either case, however, the tire is in effect temporarily closed along its divided base, whereby water will be excluded from entering the casing.

The ribs or preferably terminate short of the point at which the levers work through the tire-casing, (see Fi 7,) by which arrange ment the two wires can have their terminals connected by loops 0 or like cross connee tions either integral with and forming a part of the wires or made separate therefrom'and secured thereto in any suitable mechanical way. This arrangement of ribs leaves ample room for the movement or adjustment of the wire terminals and levers F, and, further,

' be further maintained in connection with the WVhen the tire-casing is in place upon the vided base.

wheel-rim and the wires are suitably tightened, the contraction in diameter of the ringshaped non-continuous wire bands will not only bind the edge portions of the tire-casing upon the concave seat in the wheel-rim, but also tend to draw such edge portions together. The wires will also engage the ribs, and this considered'the wires will have a positive engagement both with the ribs and with portions of the casing adjacent to such ribs, and thereby prevent lateral slip and expansion of the casing-that is to say, prevent the part of the tire-casing which is thus engaged by the Wires from laterally spreading apart along its di- The wires can also bind upon the base portion of the tire between the ends of the ribs but in order to compensate for the absence of ribs at such point I adapt the casing to positively resist lateral expansion for the portion of its length which is not thus provided with ribs or with means for causing positive engagement-between the casing and the wires. To such endthe base portion-of the casing could be split continuously and then laced or otherwise mechanically fastened together along the edge portions over which the terminal portions of the wires and levers are arranged to move, or as a simple and preferred way the split a can terminate at or near the ends of the ribs. In this way the portion of the casing. which is not provided with ribs will be undivided, and hence will resist undue expansion when inflated.

The end portions of the wires andthelevers can be covered with a flap or layer 1-, Fig.5, of fabric or other suitable material, so as to prevent injury to the inner inflatable air-tube. This flap or layer could be attached to the inner wall of the casing by one edge only;

but as a preferred arrangement I cement or otherwise secure its opposite longitudinal edge portions to the inner wall of the casing, as at i t', and by employing a suitable stout fabric it will also prevent undue lateral expansion or opening of the inflated tire along the portion which is not positively held by the wires when the tire is inflated.

In order to conceal the stem G, a cap it can be arranged over the exposed end portion thereof and preferably formed with or se= cured to the nut I-I. Obviously the stem could be provided with two pairs of levers F, one pair being employed for each non-continuous wire ring; but as such arrangement would necessitate enlarging the opening in the Wheel-rim I prefer to employ but one pair for both wires.

\Vith further reference to the feature of a tubular pneumatic-tire casing split along its base and provided with normally-adjacent or contiguous ribs (1 and adjustable non-continuous wire rings extending alongside and engaging such ribs and having connected corresponding terminals extending beyond the ends of the ribs it is understood that I may in connection with such arrangement employ various known adjustable tightening devices, and hence that I desire to broadly claim said arrangement in conjunction with any known or suitable adjustable tightening device. I also desire to broadly cover the feature of a tubular pneumatic tire casing split along its base and having internal ribs arranged along its separable edges formed by such split and abutting the one against the other when the casing is seated and secured in an annular transversely-concave seat in a wheel rim,with the wires made as non-continuous rings connected with any suitable known or preferred adjusting device and arranged when con tracted in diameter to bind the casing upon the wheel-rim and to bind. the ribs together.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The combination with an adj ustablywired pneumatic-tire casing adapted to open along its base, and a wheel-rim, of an adjustable tightening device comprising vibratory levers which are connected with the terminals of the adjustable wires and which relatively contract or swing together and slide within an opening in the wheel-rim so as to tighten up the wires, and also emerge from such opening and relatively expand or swing apart so as to loosen the wires, and an adjustable retractor by which the levers are drawn within and projected from the opening in the wheel-- rim, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination with an adjustablywired pneumatic-tire casing, adapted to open along its base, and a wheel-rim, of an adj ustable tightening device comprising oppositelycurved vibratory levers which are connected with the terminals of the adjustable wires and which relatively contract or swing together and slide within an opening in the wheel-rim so as to tighten up the wires, and also emerge from such opening and relatively expand or swing apart so as to loosen the wires, and an adjustable retractor by which.

able tightening device comprising a pair of vibratory levers which connect respectively with one and the other of said loops and which relatively contract or swing together and slide within an opening in the wheel-rim to tighten up the wires, and emerge from such opening and relatively expand orswing apart to loosen the wires, and an adjustable retractor to which said levers are pivotally attached, substantially as described.

at. The combination of an adj ustably-wired pneumatic-tire casing adapted to open along its base; a wheel-rim; a pair of vibratory levers F, F, which are respectively connected with opposite terminal portions of the adjustable wires of the tire-casing and which relatively contract and slide within an opening in the wheel-rim as a means for tightening up the wires, and emerge from such opening and relatively expand to slacken up the wires; a longitudinally adjustable non rotatable threaded stem to which the levers are pivoted, and a nut engaging said stem, substantially as described.

5. The combination of a wheel-rim having an annular, transversely-concave seat for a tubular pneumatic-tire casing; a tubular, adjustably-wired pneumatic-tire casing,divided longitudinally along its base and having n'oncontinuous internallyarranged ribs along which the adjustable wires are arranged, said wires having theirterminal portions extended beyond the ends of the ribs; and an adjustable tightening device connected with the terminal portions of the wires, substantially as set forth.

(3. The combination of a wheel-rim; a pneumatic-tire casing separably divided along its base but having a portion thereof non-separable or held against separation when the tire is inflated; adjustable fastening-wires which engage and hold the separable edge portions of the casing against lateral spread when the tire is inflated and which have their terminal portions extending over the non-separable portion of the tire; and an adjustable tightening device connected with the wire terminals and arranged to work through the tirecasing at a point between the separable portions off the latter, substantially as set forth.

7. The combination of a tubular pneumatictire casing having a longitudinally-divided base and provided with internally-arranged non-continuous ribs a; Wires C, O, engaging said ribs and having their terminals connected by loops 0, 0, arranged beyond the terminals of the ribs; a wheel-rim; and an adjustable tightening device connected with said loops and arranged to work through an opening in the wheel-rim, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination ofapneumatic-tire casing having a longitudinally-divided base; wires 0, C, engaging the base of the tire at opposite sides of its line of division; an adjustable tightening device connected with the wires and arranged to work through the easin g; and a covering layer arranged over the adjustable tightening device and secured at its opposite longitudinal edge portions to the inner wall of the casing, substantially as set forth.

9. The combination of a tubular pneumat ic tire casing A, split along its base and having non-continuous ribs a along the line of split, the portion of the casing between the terminals of the ribs being non-separable; wires C, C, engaging the ribs and having their terminals extended beyond the ends of the ribs and connected by loops 0, c, and a tightening device comprising a pair of pivotally-connected levers engaging the loops 0, c, and means for operating said levers for the purpose of tightening and loosening the wires.

10. The combination with a wheel-rim having an annular, transversely-coneave seat for a tubular pneumatic-tire casing, of an adjustably-wired tubular pneumatic-tire casing split longitudinally along its base and provided with internally-arranged ribs extending along the separable edges formed by the longitudinal split through its base portion and abutting the one against the other when the casing is seated and secured upon the wheelrim; the adjustable wires being in the form of non-continuous rings connected with suitable adjusting means for contracting and expanding their diameters,and arranged to bind the casing upon the seat in the wheel-rim and to bind together the ribs of the casin g, when contracted in diameter for such purpose, substantially as set forth.

CHARLES G. PAGE.

\Vitnesses:

MARGARET M. WAGNER, A. F. DURAND.