Improvements in Metallic Suspension Wheels for Cycles and other Road Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Sept., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 7th Dec., 1896-Accepted. 27th Mar., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metallic Suspension Wheels for Cycles and other
Road Vehicles.
We, WILLIAM GEORGE CROSSLEY, Dentist, and ELIZA ANNE CROSSLEY,
Spinster, both of Symonds Street, Auckland, New Zealand, do hereby declare the
nature of our invention to be as follows:-
This invention is for an improved construction of wheel for cycles and road
vehicles, and more particularly to the construction of light, elastic, metallic wheels
which shall also combine strength and durability and the power of absorbing the
effect of shocks or concussions.
In carrying out our invention in a cycle wheel for example we propose to use a
rin of thin steel preferably, or of other suitable metal, slightly concaved upon its
outer surface and fluted longitudinally.
Against and following round the inner face of the rin we place a broad circular
waved spring of flat steel, and against or upon this we place two narrow waved
springs side by side, the waves of these being twice the length of those on the first
named spring.
They are so arranged that the waves of one spring are opposite the depressions
of the other springs while the waves of both lie in those of the first named broad
spring. They are fluted longitudinally, and are secured to the rim by rivets or
by clips with corresponding flutes, which prevents any lateral play or movement.
We construct the spokes of steel wire, the first or outer half being straight or
thereabouts and the inner half being curved or bowed and this part we harden and
temper so as to form a spring. The outer ends of the spokes are screwthreaded
and engage with correspondingly screwed nipples which are passed through the
beforementioned narrow springs, and by turning these nipples the required degree
of tension may be put upon the spokes.
The inner ends of the spokes are headed and are connected with the hub of the
wheel by threading them through prepared holes in the usual manner. Each
alternate spoke is curved in the opposite direction, and they therefore cross one
another near their centres, and at this point to prevent wear by friction, we form a
pin joint attaching one half to one spoke and the other half to the other spoke.
We may also use a similar pin joint to the spokes where they cross with other
spokes if desirable.
By longitudinal fluting the various springs we are enabled to use much thinner
material than we otherwise should and the several parts are more firmly bound or
held together.
The rim may be covered with leather or other material to deaden the sound.
The spaces in the waves are filled with cork dust and rubber solution or its
equivalent.
Dated the 2nd day of September 1896.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicants.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metallic Suspension Wheels for Cycles and other
Road Vehicles.
We WILLIAM GEORGE CROSSLEY, Dentist, and ELIZA ANNE CROSSLEY,
Spinster both of Symonds Street, Auckland, New Zealand do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same has to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
Our invention is for an improved construction of wheel for cycles, and other
road vehicles, light artillery and for other purposes requiring a very light, elastic
and durable wheel, having the power of absorbing the effect of shocks and blows to
which such wheels are liable.
A cycle wheel constructed according to our invention is illustrated in the annexed
sheets of drawings in which similar letters of reference indicate similar parts in any
of the various figures in which they may occur.
Fig. 1, represents the wheel in elevation.
Fig. 2, a double or twin spoke with tension nipples.
Fig. 3, a twin spoke with central pin-joint.
Fig. 4, portion of wheel rim showing the component parts.
Fig. 5, section of rim through 1, 2.
Fig. 6, section of rim through 3, 4.
Fig. 7, plan and edge views of waved rings to which the spokes are attached.
Fig. 8, side view of annular spring with section of same through x, .
In carrying out our invention in the construction of a cycle wheel for example
and which is illustrated in the drawings annexed, and which may be broadly
described as consisting of an outer tyre of leather or other suitable material T,
a metal rim A, an annular convoluted spring B, two annular waved spoke rings C,
and D, two series of twin spokes E, and F, and the hub G.
The rim A, is made of thin metal preferably steel, and fluted or corrugated
circumferentially as shown in Figs. 5 & 6, the depression being in the centre.
The spring B, is made with regular convolutions or waves as shown in Figs. 4 & 8,
and is also fluted or corrugated to match the rin, either continuously, or across
the top and bottom of each convolution only, as seen in Fig. 8, as may be
preferred.
Each spoke ring C, D, Fig. 7, is half the width of the spring B, and has only
half the number of waves which are also fluted or curved so as to correspond with
and fit closely into the fluted configuration of the waves of the spring B alternately.
The said rings are arranged side by side as shown in Fig. 7, so that their waves
enter those of the spring B, alternately, thus every wave of the spring.receives a
wave of one or the other of the spoke rings.
In each of the spaces between the waves of C, and D, a hole is made to receive
the tension nipples N, into which screwthreaded ends of the spokes are screwed.
The several parts described, namely the rim A, the spring B, and spoke
rings C, D, fit closely together where they are in contact, and are permanently
secured either by means of rivets, clips H, or equivalent devices, and if strips of
metal are used for this purpose their ends may be utilized as auxiliary means to
retain the leather tyre, but this forms no part of the invention.
The spokes E, & F, are made of rods or wire and preferably steel, and in a
double or twin combination of two rods or lengths of wire, as shown in Figs. 2 & 3.
The outer ends from the centre or junction are straight or thereabouts, and
screwthreaded at the ends, and the inner ends are curved in opposite directions and
terminate with the usual beads.

page_text: They are hardened and tempered so as to make them elastic to form a spring;
in Fig. 2, the dotted lines indicate the curve when at rest, and the full lines show
the reduced curve when under tension in the finished wheel.
The nipples N, by which tension is put upon the spokes, are round under the
head to enable them to turn readily in the holes C, and D³, and to enable this to
be accomplished with ease we leave the body of the nipple square or the like, so as
to be readily gripped.
The hub G, of the wheel.is provided with a circle of holes through which the
spokes are threaded in the usual manner.
Where the spokes cross each other near their centres we secure them together.
either by a clip J, as in Fig. 2, or by a pin joint K, Fig. 3, or such like device,
which forms a point of resistance from which the curved parts of the spokes act as-
a spring.
If found desirable we may connect the spoke wires where they cross other spoke
wires at. L, but this is not essential.
The rim A, is provided with a covering or tyre of leather or rubber T, to
protect the rim A, and to deaden any ringing or metallic sound, the central groove
in the rim, in addition to any other means employed will prevent any lateral
displacement of the tyre.
We fill in the interstices or open spaces of the spring B, and adjacent parts with
a composition of cork dust and solution of rubber or gutta percha R, which is elastic
and prevents the entrance and accumulation of dirt and the like.
A wheel so constructed and with the spokes under tension, is elastic to a sufficient.
degree, without any torsional weakness, and will absorb the effect of concussions
to which such wheels are liable upon rough roads without affecting the stability of
the structural parts.
It will be understood that there are two series of spokes, and that they are
facsimile, of each other.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven--
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. An elastic metallic wheel, constructed as hereinbefore described and set
forth.
2. A double or twin spoke for the wheels of cycles and for other purposes,.
consisting of two rods or wires crossed and connected near their centres, the upper
portions being straight or nearly so, and their lower portions being bowed, as
hereinbefore described and set forth.
3. In a metallic wheel for cycles, and for other purposes, the combination with a
series of twin spokes as herein before described, of a rim consisting of an outer
rim A, fluted or corrugated circumferentially, a fluted convoluted spring B, and
two waved spoke rings C & D, constructed, arranged, and held together as.
herein before described, and set forth.
Dated the 27th day of October 1896.
ROBT. F. DRURY, C.P.A.,
Bank Buildings, George Street, Sheffield, Agent for Applicants..