Improvements in Tension or Suspension Wheels.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Jan., 1895-Accepted, 2nd Feb., 1895
Date of Application, 2nd Mar., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 2nd Jan., 1895-Accepted, 2nd Feb., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Tension or Suspension Wheels.
I, CHARLES KINGSTON WELCH, of The Hollies, Eaton Road, Coventry, in
the County of Warwick, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to tension or suspension wheels and has for its object to
provide an improved device for securing the spokes of such a wheel to the rim
thereof.
My improved device is intended for use with the rims known as hollow rims
which are tubular in form and have two thicknesses or sections of metal between
the tyre and the hub of the wheel.
It is customary to secure the spokes to such a rim by either forming a head on
the end of the spoke which is then passed through a hole made in that part of the
rim which is nearest the hub, or by a nipple which bears on either the outer or
inner part of the rim. I have found however that when the rim is made of thin
material that the head of the spoke or the nipple is often pulled through the hole in
the rim. In order to obviate this inconvenience the bottom or inner part of the rim
nearest the hub has been very often made thicker than the outer part remote from
the hub. When this is done the rim is unequally strong and if a pneumatic tyre is
placed thereon and pumped hard the outer portion of the rim is drawn away from
the inner part thereby distorting the rim to a considerable extent.
According to my invention I provide for securing the spokes to the outer as well
as to the inner part of the rim, thereby obviating both the inconveniences above
referred to.
In carrying out my invention I construct a nipple adapted to be secured to the
spoke by screwing or other suitable means. Said nipple is provided with two
shoulders or bearing surfaces one of which bears against the inner part and the other
against the outer part of the rim. When the spoke is put in tension it pulls on the
nipple which bears equally against both parts of the rim hence each said part only
requires to bear half the stress and the nipple is not likely to be pulled through the
Moreover since the spoke is pulling on the outer part of the rim, distortion
cannot be produced by the inflation of the tyre and the two portions of the rim are
always the same distance apart.
rim.
In some cases the upper part of the nipple takes the form of a cup having a
flange at its edge which bears on the outer portion of the rim. The lower part of
the nipple may or may not project through the inner portion of the rim towards the
hub but in any case the lower part of the cupped portion of the nipple is formed to
bear against the said inner part of the rim.
When said lower part of the nipple is dispensed with the upper part forms a cup
to which the spoke may be secured by an ordinary head.

page_text: I make the nipple of any suitable shape outwardly; hexagonal for example so
that the same may be screwed on the spoke; or the nipple may have a saw-cut in
its end for a similar purpose. In the case of the cupped nipples hereinabove
mentioned the inside of the cup is preferably of hexagonal form so that a key may
be inserted for screwing the nipple on the spoke.
When the rim has been spoked the recess in each nipple may be filled with cork
or other filling so as to prevent the air tube being forced thereinto when inflated.
Such cupped nipples may be produced by stamping if desired.
Dated this 2nd day of March 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Tension or Suspension Wheels.
I, CHARLES KINGSTON WELCH, of The Hollies, Eaton Road, Coventry, in
the County of Warwick, 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 :-
My invention relates to tension or suspension wheels and has for its object to
provide improved devices for securing the spokes to the rim.
My improved devices are intended for use with hollow rims, that is to say, rims
that are tubular in form.
It is customary to secure the spokes to such a rim by forming a head on the end
of the spoke and passing the spoke through a hole made in that part of the rim
nearest the hub, or by means of a nipple that bears on either the outer or the inner
part of the rim but not on both. I have found that when the rim is made of thin
material the head of the spoke or the nipple is often pulled through the hole in the
rim. In order to obviate this defect or inconvenience the bottom or inner part of
the rim nearest the hub has been very often made thicker than the outer part
remote from the hub. Such a method of construction is objectionable in that it
produces a rim unequally strong in its different parts and if a pneumatic tyre is
placed thereon and pumped hard the rim spreads and is distorted, the outer portion
thereof being drawn away from the inner portion.
According to my invention I provide for securing the spokes to the outer as
well as to the inner part of the rim, thereby obviating both the defects above
referred to.
In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention,
Figure 1 is a transverse section of a hollow rim with a nipple inserted therein to
which the spoke is screwed.
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the nipple detached.
Figure 3 is an underside plan thereof.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of a modified form of nipple.
Figure 5 is a plan thereof.
Figure 6 is a fongitudinal section of the nipple shown in Figure 4, inserted in a
rim shown in transverse section.
Figure 7 is a longitudinal section of a stamped nipple.
Figure 8 is a transverse section of a rim with a cup inserted therein for receiving
and forming a seat for the head of a spoke.
Figure illustrates in longitudinal section a modified form of cup, and showing
a filling therein.
Figure 10 is a side elevation of a metallic filling for the cup.

page_text: Figures 11 and 12 are side elevations looking in directions at right angles to each
other of the stamped metal cup shown in Figure 9.
Figure 13 is a central section of a solid metal washer constructed according to
my invention inserted in a rim.
Like letters denote corresponding parts in all the figures.
A is the rim ; B is the nipple; C is the cup.
Referring to Figures 1 to 7 the nipples B are shown provided with two
shoulders b,. The shoulder takes a bearing on the part a of the rim, and the
shoulder bears on the part a¹ of the rim when inserted therein. The nipple is
screw-threaded internally and the spoke D is screwed thereinto in the usual manner.
When the spoke is screwed up tight the nipple is thereby caused to press on both
parts of the rim and thus obtains a very secure bearing and prevents the distortion
hereinabove referred to and also the liability to draw through the rim. The
part 2 of the nipple shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is made hexagonal to facilitate
the turning of the nipple by a screw key or other suitable tool. The nipple may
be furnished with a slit or nick at its upper end to engage with a screw-driver.
The nipple shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6 is hollowed out hexagonally as shown
at 63 or otherwise to allow of being readily turned by a suitable instrument made to
fit therein. Figure 7 shows a similar nipple to that shown in Figures 4 to 6 but is
larger and is stamped out of thin metal.
Referring now to Figures 8 to 12, the cup C takes the place of the nipple above
described. Its external form is similar to that of the nipple in that it is shaped
to bear on the two parts a a¹ of the rim. In Figure 8 the cup projects through the
part a of the rim and forms a very strong shoulder for the head of the spoko D or
of the nipple when such is used in lieu of a head. In Figure 9 the cup, shown
more clearly in the side elevations Figures 11 and 12, does not project through the
part a of the rim but rests thereon. I have shown the spoke D secured to an
ordinary nipple E resting in the cup C. F is a filling of cork or other light
material to prevent the entrance of the air tube of the tyre into the cup when the
tyre is inflated. Figure 10 shows a light stamped metal filling to serve the same
purpose as the cork.
Figure 13 shows a modified cup or washer G made solid and drilled and
countersunk to receive either a spoke head or nipple. It is flanged and bears on
both parts a, a¹ of the rim as do the cups and nipples above described. These
washers are preferably made of aluminium for the purpose of ensuring lightness.
In some forms the washer may be made with a lug at each side instead of a
continuous flange as shown. The cups may be variously modified to suit different
patterns of rims.
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 I am aware that
it has been previously proposed to use nipples for the attachment of spokes to wheel
rims so that the pull of the spokes is divided between the inner and outer members of
the said rim and I do not claim generally such nipples; and further I wish it to be
understood that I am aware of the application of John Vernon Pugh, No. 22118
A.D. 1892 and I do not claim anything which may be held to be patented upon the
said application, but what I claim is :-
1. A detachable cup or nipple constructed to bear on the two parts of a hollow
or tubular rim, substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
2. The combination with such a detachable cup of a filling of cork or other light
material or of stamped metal, substantially as described and for the purpose
specified.
3. A stamped or pressed nipple shaped externally to bear on the two parts of the
rim, and having a hexagonal or similarly shaped interior, substantially as described
and for the purpose specified.
4. A nipple, cup or washer constructed substantially as described with reference

page_text: to either or any of the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, for the
purpose specified.
Dated this 2nd day of January 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.