A New or Improved Wheel for Cycles and other Light Vehicles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Oct., 1889
"Complete Specification Left. 3rd July, 1890-Accepted, 23rd Aug., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Wheel for Cycles and other Light Vehicles.'
[,. JOHN ANNAN BRYCE, of The Oxford and Cambridge University Club, l'all
Mall, London, S.W., Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:--
.
My invention is designed to secure the greatest possible lighiness in wheels for
cycles and other light vehicles without sacrifice of strength and rigidity, or, stated
otherwise, to obtain the greatest strength and rigidity consistent with a given weight.
As at present constructed the spokes or supports of cycle wheels are either radial
or tangential, that is to say they pass from the hub or nave to the rim in a direction
which is either radial or tangential to the said hub or naye.
In my invention I employ supports which are not connected with the hub or nave
but which pass from one part of the rim to another part thereof in such manner aз to
lie in the direction of chords joining the extremities of arcs of the said rim.
In conjunction with these "chord" supports I employ ordinary radial or tangential
supports for the purpose of attaching the rim to the hub or nave.
J. G. LORRAIN, M. Inst. M.E., M. Inst. E.E.,
Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
A New or Improved Wheel for Cycles and other Light Vehicles.
I, JOHN ANNAN BRYCE, of The Oxford and Cambridge University Club, Pall Mall,
London, S.W., Gentleman, 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 is designed to secure the greatest possible lightness in wheels for
cycles and other light vehicles without sacrifice of strength and rigidity, or,
stated otherwise, to obtain the greatest strength and rigidity consistent with a given
weight.
As at present constructed the spokes or supports of cycle wheels are either radial
or tangential, that is to say they pass from the hub or nave to the rim in a direction
which is either radial or tangential to the said hub or nave.
In my invention I employ supports, which are not necessarily connected with the
hub or nave but which pass from one part of the rim to another part thereof in such
manner as to lie in the direction of chords joining the extremities of arcs of the
said rim.
In conjunction with these "chord" supports I employ ordinary radial or tangential
supports for the purpose of attaching the rim to the hub or nave.
Having thus, described the nature of my invention in general terms I. shall now
proceed to show how I carry it into effect; and for that purpose I shall refer to
the accompanying drawings, in which similar letters of reference apply to similar
parts.
Figure 1 is a diagram designed to illustrate the principle of my invention.
A is the rim, B the nave and C, C, C, three pairs of radial spokes. D, D, D, are
three supports, which term chord supports, they occupying the position of
geometric, chords to, the arcs mn, no and o m. In this Figure it will be seen
that the chord supports are attached to the rim at the same points as the radial
spokes. This position, as will be readily understood, is preferable in practice; but

page_text: .
:
an advantage may still be obtained by attaching the chord supports to other parts
of the rim, such for example as shown by the dotted lines E, E, E.
Figure 1 is a vertical section of the hypothetical wheel shown in Figure 1. I term
this wheel a hypothetical one, as it illustrates an extreme case, namely one in which
there are only three ordinary spokes.
Figure 2 illustrates a more practical form of wheel in which there are seven
ordinary radial spokes, or pairs of spokes, and seven chord supports.
Figure 2 is a vertical section of the wheel shown in Figure 2.
"
Figure 3 is a diagram designed to illustrate not only chord supports, such as those
which have already been described and which I shall term for the sake of distinction
primary chord supports, but also another type of chord supports D' which for
distinction I shall terin secondary" chord supports; and each of which secondary
supports forms with two primary chord supports a triangle, as will be seen from
the figure.
Figure 4 is a diagram showing the employment not only of primary and
secondary chord supports, but also the employment of what I call tertiary "chord
supports D that is to say chord supports each of which forms a triangle with two
secondary chord supports.
In extreme cases quarternary" chord supports (that is to say chord supports
each of which forms a triangle with two tertiary chord supports) might be employed;
but as a rule it is seldom advantageous to go beyond the employment of secondary
chord supports.
Figures 5 and 5ª show in elevation and vertical section respectively an actual
wheel constructed in accordance with my invention; and in which both primary
and secondary chord supports are employed.
Figure 6 is a diagram illustrating a wheel in which there are 7 primary and
7 secondary chord supports. Other combinations of chord supports will readily
suggest themselves.
It will be seen that where ordinary spokes are employed in pairs, as is the general
custom in cycle wheels, the chord supports do not touch them where they cross.
Where, however, ordinary supports are employed singly, then they are in contract
with the chord supports at the point of crossing. At this point of contact I prefer to
attach the ordinary and the chord support together either by a binding wire or by
any other convenient device.
It will be seen by every one conversant with the principles of mechanical con-
struction that an enormous gain is obtained by means of my invention. For a given
weight and given amount of material a greatly increased strength and rigidity is
obtained or in other words to obtain a given strength a great economy of material,
entailing economy of labour, is effected.
In the accompanying figures I have shown only wheels with radial spokes but it
will be understood that my invention is equally applicable to wheels in which
tangential spokes are employed.
·
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what I
claim is :
1. The new or improved wheel for cycles or other light vehicles substantially as
set forth, that is to say, in which chord supports as well as ordinary supports are
employed.
2. In wheels for cycles or other light vehicles the employment of chord supports
substantially as set forth.
Cour day of buy loU.
J. G. LORRAIN, M.I.M.E., M.I.E.E.,
Norfolk House, Norfolk Street, Strand, London, Agent for Applicant.