Improvements in Wire Spoke Tighteners for Cycles and other Wheels.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Nov., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Aug., 1893-Accepted, 30th Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wire Spoke Tighteners for Cycles and other
Wheels.
I CHARLES HIDE of No. 2 Highton Terrace St. Elizabeth Road Worthing in
the County of Sussex Architect and Surveyor do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
It consists in being an instrument or tool specially designed so as to automatically
and powerfully grip the spoke it is intended to grasp and provided a certain
condition has been attended to before griping the difficulty of overcoming the grip
to the same is easily effected by means of a screw arrangment without the aid of
any other tool.
In order to describe this invention I have prepared a drawing which I will now
explain.
Fig. 1 shews front elevation of the spoke fastener complete with the upper jaw
or clam in position as it should be before applying it to the spoke it is intended to
grasp.
Fig. 2 shews the same as above described but with the upper jaw or clam removed
so as to shew the construction of the framework of the vice.
Fig. 3 shews the back elevation of the same as previously described.
Fig. 4 shews the side elevation of the same.
Fig. 5 shews vertical section through centre of same, by this the wedge action
of the lower jaw or clam against the upper one can be seen, when the spoke is
When once the
placed between and the tool is revolved in the proper direction.
surfaces meet and the tool is revolved in the desired direction to grasp, the greater
the strength exerted in turning it the greater is the bite or grip it has upon the
spoke. To release the spoke all that is necessary is to unscrew the top screw and
the upper jaw or clam releases the spoke and it is easily removed without clinking
or otherwise injuring the spoke.
N.B. The dotted circle shews the area the tool takes to work in.
Fig. 6 shews view of upper jaw of vice with two screws to attach it to the
framework of same and enable it to slide up and down as desired, by the top screw
apparatus.
Fig. 7 shews section through framework of vice (view looking upwards towards
the top screw).
EXPLANATION OF PARTS.
A represents the top screw by which the top jaw or clam is held in position.
B represents the framework of the vice.
B' represents the upper butt end through which the upper screw is fitted to
resist the pressure on the upper jaw.
B2 represents the hinged ends on which the spiral disk revolves.
C represents the 2 slots through the frame work, through which the upper jaw
or clam is connected with the screw heads at back of frame work.
D represents the upper jaw or clam.
E represents the lower jaw or clam.
F represents the back screws screwed into the upper jaw or clam from the back,
intended to hold the upper jaw in position when used.
In order to work the tool as designed the upper jaw should be screwed down a
sufficient distance so as to leave ample space for withdrawing the upper jaw or
.clam when it is desired to remove the instrument. Then place it on the wire spoke
desired to be altered so that the spoke bears on the hollow grove in the top jaw

page_text: then revolve the spiral disk or clam which forms the lower jaw till it presses the
spoke against the upper jaw. Then revolve the tool in the direction you wish the
spoke to turn till you have accomplished what you want done. To remove same
from the spoke, unscrew the top screw and it is released immediately.
Dated this 22nd day of November 1892.
CHARLES HIDE,
2, Highton Terrace, Worthing, Sussex, Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wire Spoke Tighteners for Cycles and other
Wheels.
I, CHARLES HIDE of No. 2 Highton Terrace St. Elizabeth Road Worthing in
the County of Sussex Architect and Surveyor 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 :-
It consists in being an instrument or tool specially designed to facilitate the
operation of tightening up or vice versa untightening the wire spokes fitted to tyres
of wheels of cycles and other vehicles.
This special invention will be found to possess great advantages over those at
present in use by the trade and public generally, and as such may be briefly
enumerated thus
"
Firstly. For its ease of either application to or removal from the spoke needing
adjustment.
Secondly. Because of the ease by which a perfect and powerful grip can be
obtained on the spoke.
Thirdly. Because when the tool is properly set and applied to the spoke it
automatically adjusts itself for the work proposed to be done, by simply revolving
it round the spoke in the direction desired either to tighten or untighten the
same.
Fourthly. Because by the use of this tool a great saving of time and trouble is
made, not only in the first instance to obtain a proper & sufficient grip but when
the work is done the ease by which a release is effected of the part grasped by this
tool.
Fifthly. Because while using this tool, no other tool is needed to be used to
assist in the attachment or detachment of the same.
Sixthly. There need be no stripping of screws in consequence of the tight
wrenching of parts in order to make the tool grip properly.
Seventhly. Because by the use of this tool it is impossible to damage the spoke
by clinking, as a proper special protection is made to safe guard against these
defects so generally found in the other kind of spoke tighteners now in use.
Eighthly. Because this tool can be revolved in a radius smaller than most of the
others now in use in the trade.
In order to describe and explain this invention I propose to use the drawing
already attached to the Provisional Specification of this self same invention (dated
25th Novr. 1892 No. 21479) which see.
Fig. No. 1 represents a front view of the spoke tightener complete the upper
jaw or clam marked D is adjusted to the position it should occupy before it is
applied to the spoke.
Fig. No. 2. This represents the same view as above described except that the
upper jaw or clam is removed so that I may shew the construction of the frame
work of the vice upon which it slides upwards or downwards by means of the screw
marked A.
Fig. No. 3. This represents the back view of the same as previously described.
Fig. No. 4. This shews a side view of same in its complete form.

page_text: Fig. No. 5. This represents a vertical section made through the middle of same.
By this may be seen the method adopted so as to make the upper and lower jaws
of the tool securely clasp the wire spoke between them when brought to bear upon
it and revolved in the proper direction. When this is done the pressure necessary
to revolve the tool round the spoke causes the lower jaw to tighten and consequently
the grasp of the tool on the spoke automatically increases as the pressure increases.
As soon as the spoke is sufficiently tightened the method of releasing the spoke
from the grasp of the tool is performed thus. Unscrew the top screw marked A
and the top jaw releases its hold on the spoke and the tool is removed without any
difficulty.
The extension of the upper jaw of same on both sides of the lower clam gives a
wider bearing on the spoke and renders it impossible for the operator to clink the
same as is frequently done with those of narrow bearings.
The dotted line shews the radius described by the tool when used.
Fig. No. 6. This shews a view of the upper jaw of the tool as seen from above
detached from the body of the same with its two back screws for steadying the
same.
Fig. No. 7. This shews a section of the said tool as cut through the middle of
the backing or frame work of same looking upwards towards the screw marked A.
AN EXPLANATION OF PARTS AS SHEWN ON THE DRAWING PREVIOUSLY
REFERRED TO.
A represents the top screw by means of which the top jaw or clam is held in a
proper position while the tool is being operated and by means of which the lower
jaw is released from its grasp of the spoke when desired by being unscrewed.
B represents the frame work of the tool.
B¹ do. the upper part of the same through which the screw marked A
passes and which operates on the upper jaw marked D.
B2 represents the lower ends of the same on which the lower clam or jaw is
pivoted so as to operate against the upper one when required.
C represents two slots made in the frame work of tool through which the back
screws of upper jaw work.
D represents the upper jaw or clam operated by the top screw A. backwards or
forwards as desired.
E represents the lower jaw or clam pivoted on bottom portion of tool marked B2
and operated thus First place the spoke between the upper and lower jaws then
revolve the lower clam so as to press the spoke against the upper jaw then revolve
the tool in the direction needed and the clam will automatically grasp the spoke
and effect the same as desired.
F represents the two back screws intended to hold the upper jaw or clam in
proper position when used.
The tool being constructed according to the drawing as shewn is operated thus
The upper jaw is screwed down by means of the screw marked A to such a
distance from the top as to allow a sufficient rebate for the releasing of the respective
jaws or clams marked D & E, the back screws marked F are adjusted, then place
the tool on the spoke and operate it as mentioned above see under note to
letter E.
To detach the tool from the spoke all that is needed to do is to unscrew the top
screw marked A and it can be removed easily.
I also propose to make this tool in three other ways each of which I will now
briefly specify.
Firstly. I propose to make a strongly made frame work very simular to that one
above mentioned with spiral cam or jaw pivoted to lower part of same as above
described. The upper jaw will be attached to the upper portion of the frame work
by means of a hinge which is attached to the back part of the frame work at the
top this uper cam is operated as in the preceeding case both upwards or downwards

page_text: by means of a hand screw by this arrangment the back screws attached to the
upper jaw are dispensed with.
Secondly. I propose to make a strongly made frame work somewhat simular to
that shewn on the drawings herein alluded to. The upper jaw and fittings are also
simular, but the lower cam or jaw is made of a segmental shaped piece of steel
pivoted to the lower portion of the frame work (much the same as shewn on
drawings) the centre of the pivot as regards the sweep of segment is slightly
eccentric this when revolved will make the tool grip automatically.
Thirdly, I propose to make a tool in all respects (except that as described for
the lower jaw or cam) like that described under the description of Section No. 1
of these supplementary, proposals.
The lower jaw or cam designed for this particular pattern is precisely the same
in all particulars as that just above mentioned under the heading of supplementary
proposal Section No. 2.
All of these tools are operated exactly the same as described in the first above
mentioned.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
Firstly. For a tool or instrument for tightening or untightening the spokes
fitted to tyres of cycles and other vehicles the specific parts of which comprise a
strongly made framework of a discription simular to that as shewn on drawing
and marked thereon by the letters B B & B in combination with a spiral shaped
clam or jaw marked by the letter E on drawing pivoted to part of frame work
marked B2 and a fitting for the purposes of this invention called the upper jaw or
clam as shewn on drawing and marked thereon by the letter D with its screw
attachments marked F, F which fitting is operated either forwards or backwards
as regards the bottom spiral cam marked E by means of the hand screw passing
through the upper projection of frame work marked B' and so pressing upon the
upper surface of same thereby regulating the working distances between the two
jaws or clams, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Secondly. The combination of a strongly made frame work with spiral cam or
jaw pivoted to lower part of same as above described, the upper jaw attached to
the upper portion of frame work by means of a hinge operated as above mentioned
upwards or downwards by means of a hand screw substantially as and for the
purposes specified.
Thirdly. The combination of a strongly made frame work somewhat simular to
that shewn on the drawings herein alluded to. The upper jaw and fittings are
also simular but the lower cam or jaw is made of a segmental shaped piece pivoted
to the lower portion of the frame work more particularly described under the head
of Section No. 2 of the supplementary proposals (which see) substantially as and
for the purposes specified.
Fourthly. The combination of parts to form the particular class of instrument
or tool specially and distinctly set forth in Section No. 3 of the supplemental
proposals herebefore mentioned (which see) substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
Dated this 10th d...
1000
CHARLES HIDE,
2, Highton Terrace, St. Elizabeth Road, Worthing, Applicant.