Improvements in Wheels for Cycles and other Vehicles."
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 29th June, 1897
Complete Specification Left, 17th Nov., 1897-Accepted, 18th Dec., 1897
"Improvements in Wheels for Cycles and other Vehicles."
I, DAVID MORGAN of 70 Elizabeth Street, Launceston in Tasmania, Sculptor
and Monumental Mason, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide an improved wheel, which, as will be
seen, is simple and inexpensive in its construction, yet effective and economical
in its operation and one that is nearer perfect in shape than the present wheel by
reason of the true mechanical method of tightening all the spokes at the same
time, which necessarily insures the same pressure or tension, as the case may be,
on every spoke, and therefore lessons the labour on the present method of building
and makes the perfect shape and even strength of the wheel under this improve-
ment absolutely under the control of the workman who simultaneously can put
every spoke in its required position instead of trusting to use and habit as in the
present method.
I will describe the invention by reference to the accompanying drawings
wherein,―
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of the hub of a wheel constructed according to
this invention.
Figure 2 is a section through Figure 1 longitudinally showing the internal con-
struction of hub.
Figure 3 is a cross section through Figure 1 or 2 showing end elevation of
flanges and section through axle and tube or pipe. The revolving pipe or tube A
is the central part of the hub of wheel covering the axle B. The lubricator C is
fixed on revolving tube or pipe A at equal distances from either end. The tube
or pipe A, as will be seen, has a right and left thread on the outer face running
right and left from the centre or lubricator C. At each end of the hub looking
from the centre or lubricator C are the flanged ends D which are perforated
through to the required size, as shown on Figure 2, with a right and loft thread
formed in each case in perforation to fit the screw thread on revolv-
ing pipe or tube A. The spokes E, when cut to the proper lengths, will
be fitted with two suitable heads of unequal size, the smaller head would then bo
passed through the outside of rim of wheel and carried down and placed in seats
prepared to receive them in circular flanges D', when all spokes in wheel are in
position the tube or pipe is revolved or turned (the flanges previously being placed
or screwed to the centre of tube) forcing the two flanges outwards simultaneously
right and left from centre towards the ends until the spokes are sufficiently.
strained. When this is accomplished the flanges and tube are locked by means
of a key fitting into a groove or grooves F, as will be shown. In the circular
evolving pipe or tube A in positions shewn on Figure 3 at E, one or more semi-
circular grooves are formed running through the screw, threaded perforation of
LD 077

page_text: the two end flanges D. One or more semi-circular grooves are also formed in the
outer screw threaded face of the pipe or tube of hub in positions shewn on Figure 3
at F. When these two semi-circular grooves join and form a circle, then, a round
pin, of the required size and the whole length of tube, is inserted and thus a 'key
is formed to lock the flanges and tube together so that the flanges are then fixed
to the screw threaded tube and both are revolving together. The above arranged
hub can be applied to all classes of wheels with spokes either on the tension or
compression principles. When building or repairing a wheel on the tension spoke
principle, the two flanges D are preliminarily placed as near the centre of tube A
(against lubricator C) as possible, when the-spokes are placed in loosely and the
flanges are then sent to the ends by nicans of the right and left screw, and thereby
the spokes are tightened up as necessary, in, the, way before described. To build
or repair a wheel on the compression spoke principle, the opposite arrangement to
the above would be used. The flanged ends would be placed at ends of hub at
equal distances from centre and when spokes are all loosely placed in position, the
flanges would be drawn to the centre, by means of the screw threaded tube and
tightened up into rim of wheel. When the spokes. are sufficiently compressed
the flanges and tube are locked as before described. This method will apply to
either the direct or tangent principles and is mechanically suited to all classes of
wheels. If preferred, to facilitate the tightening of spokes, each flange hub I)
may be divided longitudinally in two parts and termed the outer flange D and
inner flange D, the inner flanges revolving round the scrow faced tube as, before,
and the outer flanges on which spokes are fixed revolving round inner flanges on a
plain face or screw thread. When the spokes are placed in position from rim to
outer flange D, both outer flanges D₁ would be revolved sufficiently in opposite
directions to tighten spokes, then these outer and inner flanges would be locked
together by the same method used for locking the screw threaded flanges and screw
threaded pipe as before described. The screw threaded tube A would then be
revolved moving the end flanges outwards in opposite directions as before described.
Dated this 28th. day of June 1897...
}
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant,
Improvements in Wheels for Cycles and other Vehicles.”
I, DAVID MORGAN formerly of 70 Elizabeth Street, Launceston in the Colony of
Tasmania, but now of 153 George Street, Launceston aforesaid, Sculptor and
Monumental Mason, 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:-
This invention has been devised in order to provide a wheel principally adapted
for bicycles. and other road vehicles which is simple and inexpensive in its con-
struction, and one moreover which is more perfect in shape than those at present
in use.
This result is effected by reason of my true mechanical method of building.and
tightening all the spokes simultaneously, thus ensuring the same pressure or
tension (as the case may be) on every spoke..
i
This invention lessens the labor involved in the building of wheels and enables
the worknien to tighten the whole of the spokes simultaneously after they have
been placed in nosition.

page_text: Aly invention, we readily, understood by reference to the accompanying
drawings in which,
Figure 1, is a vertical central section of the hub of a wheel constructed according
to this invention.
LJ ..
Figure 2, is a side elevation thereof.
!.
Figure 3 is a view, showing á hálf end elevation and a half central section
of said liub
The same letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding parts in all the
Figures.
1
A represents the barrel or body of the hub of a wheel working upon an axle B and
fitted with ball bearings in the ordinary way for bicycles and other light road vehicles.
According to this invention the barrel A has a right and left hand screw thread
cut upon its outer surface and extending from about the centre of its length to
cach end. A pair of flanges CC¹ are fitted upon this barrel A and are likewise
formed with right and left hand screw threads corresponding with those on the
surface of the barrel. These flanges CC are formed with notches or grooves or
seats prepared to receive the inner ends of the spokes D which are made the
required length, said recesses being slightly counter-sunk on the under side to
retain said spokes in position. The heads on the outer ends of these spokes are
larger than those on the inner ends in order that said inner ends may be passed
through holes in the rim of the wheel and be placed in engagement with the
recess C in the flanges CC, or the inner ends of the spokes may be secured in any
other convenient manner, as for instanco by lacing them, especially in the case
of tangent spokes, through holes provided for the purpose in the flanges.
In building up a wheel constructed according to this invention the two
flanges.CC are brouglit close together by rotating the barrel A. when the spokes D
must be first passed through holes in the rim of the wheel and the inner ends placed
in engagement with said flanges; the barrel A is then rotated in the opposite
direction so as to force said flanges apart, again the effect being to tighten up all
the spokes simultaneously and thus bring the wheel to the proper shape, with an
equal tension on all the spokes. Or instead of rotating the barrel and holding the
flanges, said barrel can be held securely against rotation and the rim spokes and
flanges rotated to produce the desired effect.
To retain said spokes in position a key or keys E may be passed through a
grove or grooves cut partly in the surface of the barrel A and partly in the
flanges CC whereby the latter will be prevented from rotating upon the former
and thus the proper adjustment will be preserved, whilst at the same time the
strain will be taken off the threads.
i
In lieu of the above described arrangement (which operates upon what is known
as the tension principle) rigid spokes may be used and may be fitted in recesses
in the rim at one end and in the flanges at the other end, said flanges in the first
instance being at the furthest distance apart so that by rotating the barrel or
hub or nut in the required direction they will be drawn closer together and thus
the spokes will be forced' against the rim and the whole wheel will be locked
together.
It will be readily understood that this invention is applicablo to wheels con-
structed with tangent spokes equally as well as to those constructed with direct
spokes either on the tension or compression principle.
i
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
:-
In a wheel principally applicable for bicycles and other road vehicles a right
and left hand screw threaded barrel or hul body (such as A) in combination with
correspondingly threaded flanges (such as CC) with which the inner ends of the
spokes of the wheel engage, the outer ends of said spokes being in engagement

page_text: .
with the rim substantially as and for the purposes herein described and explained
and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this sixteenth day of November One thousand eight hundred and
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.