Improvements in Machinery for Drilling the Spoke Holes in the Rims of Wheels, particularly applicable to the Wheels of Velocipedes, Perambulators, and the like.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Aug., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 26th May, 1892-Accepted, 16th July, 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Drilling the Spoke Holes in the
Rims of Wheels, particularly applicable to the Wheels of
Velocipedes, Perambulators, and the like.
I, ALFRED EDWARD HERBERT, of The Butts, Coventry, in the County of
Warwick, Engineer and Machine Tool Maker do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in machines for drilling the spoke holes
in the rims or felloes of wheels, particularly applicable to the wheels of velocipedes
perambulators and the like, whereby the work can be done in less time and with
greater accuracy than heretofore.
The machine is provided with a bed or base-plate, for the purpose of carrying
the chuck, drill heads and dividing apparatus, hereafter described.
The chuck consists of a disc shaped plate, having radial slots in which are fitted
arms, worked by screws and bevel wheels, or other suitable mechanism, so that
they all advance towards or recede from the centre at an equal rate, for the
purpose of holding the rim concentric with the chuck; the outer ends of the arms
are provided with V shaped jaws for the purpose of gripping truly and securely
rims of varying width and section. In operating on large or light rims I prefer to
make each arm with two jaws placed at a suitable distance apart, thus increasing
the number of points in which the rims are supported. The chuck and dividing
apparatus are capable of movement in a line to or from the drills, to accommodate
rims of different diameters, and are also capable of a rotary motion, so as to enable
the drills to operate on any portion of the rim.
The drilling is accomplished by means of spindles, carried in suitable frames or
heads, which frames are capable of adjustment in every direction, to suit rims of
any section and diameter, and to drill any required number of holes at any desired
pitch and angle. Any number of drilling spindles may be employed, and they may
be fed either automatically or by hand. The drilling spindles are rotated by belts
or gearing, arranged o permit of the necessary adjustments.
The dividing apparatus consists of a disc or plate, connected to and turning with
the chuck. This disc has holes or notches arranged round its circumference, and
into these holes or notches a stop engages. The stop is held in gear with one of
the holes or notches by means of a spring while the drill or drills are operating on
the rim, and is withdrawn by a cord chain, or lever, when it is desired to turn the
chuck through a portion of a revolution so as to bring the rim into position for
having the next hole or set of holes drilled. The number of holes or notches in
the dividing disc is determined by dividing the number of holes required to be
drilled in the rim by the number of drills employed. One dividing disc may be
readily removed and another substituted, so that rims with any required number of
holes may be drilled.
Dated this Twenty-fifth day of August 1891.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machinery for Drilling the Spoke Holes in the
Rims of Wheels, particularly applicable to the Wheels of
Velocipedes, Perambulators, and the like.
I, ALFRED EDWARD HERBERT, of The Butts, Coventry, in the County of
Warwick, Engineer, & Machine Tool Maker, 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, reference being made
to the accompanying drawings & to the figures & letters marked thereon :-
The invention relates to improvements in machinery for drilling the spoke holes,
in the rims, or felloes, of wheels, particularly applicable to the wheels of velocipedes,
perambulators, and the like, whereby the work can be done in less time, & with
greater accuracy, than heretofore ;-In the accompanying drawings :-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a machine, provided with these improvements, and
arranged with two drilling spindles.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation.
Fig. 3 is a part plan of the self-centring chuck.
Fig. 4 is an inverted plan, showing the means employed for rotating the chuck.
All to be hereafter described.
In all the figures like parts are indicated by similar letters.
The machine is provided with a self-centring chuck C, having arms D, moved
radially to or from its centre by screws E, operating in the said jaws D, &
supported by bearings F, fixed to the body of the chuck. Each screw has a bevel
toothed-wheel, or pinion, attached, which is in gear with a larger bevel toothed-
wheel G, which can be rotated by the handle H. I make the screws all of the
same pitch, & the pinions having the same number of teeth, so that as the wheel G
is rotated by the handle H the jaws D all move equal distances to or from the
centre thus any rim, or felloe, within the capacity of the machine can be held
truly in the jaws. Any number of jaws can be used on the chuck. I make each
jaw with two branches, as shewn, to provide more points of support for
:
the rim.
A centre pin, or axis, is rigidly attached to the chuck, & passes through the
bearing I in which it is free to revolve. The bearing I can be moved along the
bed to bring rims of varying diameters within range of the drills, & clamped in
the position required. The centre-pin projects below the bearing, & has attached
to it the dividing plate J, preferably made in the form of a disc, with notches or
holes formed round the periphery.
The mechanism for dividing or moving the rim through the desired portion of a
revolution, for the purpose of drilling a fresh set of holes, is shewn in Figures 1 & 4,
& consists of a dividing catch K, pivotted at Y, & a rotating catch L, the latter
pivotted on a lever, which has the same centre of rotation as the centre pin of the
chuck before mentioned. Both catches are furnished with springs, or other suitable
appliances, tending to force them into the notches or holes in the periphery of the
dividing plate. A chain or cord is attached to the lever of the rotating catch L,
at the outer end, & a short chain or cord is also attached to the outer end of the
dividing catch K, the other end of this chain being connected with the first
mentioned chain by an adjustable connection. The longer chain is connected
preferably to a treadle, as shewn, but any other convenient means may be adopted.
When the treadle is depressed the chain draws the revolving catch together with
its lever, until it falls into one of the notches or holes in the dividing plate (if not
already in this position), &, the pressure being continued, it then commences to turn
the dividing plate, forcing the dividing catch out of its notch or hole. This is
continued until the next notch in the dividing plate comes opposite the dividing

page_text: catch. Up to this point, the short chain has been hanging loosely, but its length
is so adjusted, that it now transfers the pressure to the dividing catch, forcing it
into its notch & instantly bringing the dividing plate to rest.
When the pressure
is released, the revolving catch & lever are brought back to the original position
shewn on drawing by means of a counterweight, spring, or other suitable means,
ready for the next operation, & when the division plate is once brought to rest the
spring of the dividing catch is sufficiently strong to hold it stationary while the
drills are operating on the rim. It will be understood that the dividing plate is
rigidily connected with the chuck holding the rim or felloe, & that they all move
together, through the same fraction of a revolution.
When preferred the rotating catch & rotating lever may be omitted, one chain
only being required which is attached to the outer end of the dividing catch for the
purpose of drawing it from its notch. The chuck can then be rotated by hand,
until the notch has passed the catch, when the pressure on the chain is released,
the catch is pressed by means of the spring or other suitable means upon the
periphery of the dividing plate the rotating motion being continued, until the next
notch comes opposite the dividing catch, into which it falls, bringing the dividing
plate to rest.
The number of slots, or notches, in the dividing plate is found by dividing the
number of holes required to be drilled in each rim or felloe, by the number of
drilling spindles :--thus, in the machine illustrated, the number of notches is one
half of the holes required. Plates having different numbers of notches can readily
be attached as desired.
The drilling heads or frames M, have bearings for carrying the drilling spindles N,
& are adjustable in all directions, so that it is possible to drill the holes at any
angle, & through any required part of the rim. This is provided for in the
following manner :-
The frames, or heads, are supported by the forks P, having screwed shanks R
fitted with nuts, substantially as shewn; the forks P are fitted with pins, which
pass through holes in the drilling heads, so that the vertical angle of the drilling
spindles can be adjusted, & by means of nuts or cotters on the said pins the heads
can be locked firmly in position. All other adjustments are provided for by
means of the screwed shanks R working in the slot U formed in the bed-plate A &
the lock-nuts on the said shank :-thus to alter the height it is necessary to screw
the lock nuts up or down the said shanks R. The heads can be moved horizontally,
either nearer together or farther apart, & set at any angle horizontally, & locked
in position by means of the aforesaid lock-nuts:
The feed of drill spindles is most conveniently operated by levers O, when one or
two only are required, but when more than two spindles are used, it is effected by
connecting all or part of the spindles together by means of universal joints acting
at the centres W. The feed in the latter case can then be operated either
automatically by worm & worm-wheel, (the former preferably driven by an over-
head), or by one or two levers when a hand feed is desired. The spindles are
provided with suitable sockets, or chucks, for holding the drills Z which may be
parallel or combined with a countersink; or other forms may be adopted as
desired.
A convenient means of driving the drilling spindles is shewn in the drawings,
where T Fig. 1, represents a pulley, secured on a shaft, which is free to revolve in
bearings, secured to the standards of the machine, & driven from any convenient
source of power. An endless belt or cord is led over this pulley, to the carrying
pulleys S, & then round the pulley on the drilling spindle .c.
Where several drilling spindles are employed, it may be convenient to make the
pulley T, in the form of a drum, of sufficient width to contain all the belts, other-
wise one pulley is required for each spindle & one pair of carrying pulleys for each
spindle is always necessary. An ordinary overhead shaft driving direct on the
pulleys may be used instead of the above arrangement, but the method above
described is preferred because the belts are more out of the way.

page_text: In using the machine, the chuck is adjusted to bring the rim to be operated on
within range of the drills, & is then clamped: the drilling heads are adjusted both.
for horizontal & vertical angles, & also to cause the drills to act at the required
position on the rim. The spindle pulley a is connected with the countershaft
pulley, or the power taken direct, a suitable dividing plate is fixed, & the length of
the chains adjusted all as previously described, the operator then places the rim
or felloe to be drilled in the angular spaces, shewn outside the jaws or arms of the
chuck C, & by rotating the handle H causes the said jaws to move outwards, until
the rim is firmly gripped by the said jaws.
The machine can now be started & the operator presses the rotating drills
against the rim, by the lever O in the machine illustrated :-(when the machine is
made with automatic feed motion it may now he now be put into gear) until each
drill has penetrated the desired amount. The drill or drills are now withdrawn
clear of the rim, & the chuck is rotated as described, to bring a fresh part of the
rim into position for drilling the next hole, or set of holes:
This cycle of operations is continued, until the required number of holes have
been drilled in the rim.
If it be desired to use a machine having only one drilling spindle, & the holes in
the rim are required to be drilled in such a direction that the alternate holes only
are at the same angle, the rim must be removed from the chuck when half the holes
are drilled, & replaced in the correct position for drilling the remainder or the
drilling heads must be moved.
Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of my
invention, & in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1st. In a machine for the purpose as set forth, a self-centring chuck, having
jaws or arms, capable of being moved radially, substantially, & for the purpose as
described the said jaws or arms being made with two arms or branches, for the
purpose, & in the manner as described, & the said chuck being capable of move-
ment to or from the drilling spindles, for the purpose described.
2nd. In a machine for the purpose as set forth, a dividing catch, a rotating catch,
a rotating catch lever, with cords or chains operating on the division plate
substantially as & for the purpose as described.
3rd. In a machine for the purpose as set forth, the drilling head or frame,
capable of adjustment in all directions, & having the feed operated substantially, &
for the purpose as described.
4th. In a machine for the purpose as set forth, the combination of a self-centring
chuck, a dividing apparatus for operating the said chuck, & a drilling head or heads
all substantially & for the purpose as described.
Dated this 23rd day of May 1892.
ALFRED EDWARD HERBERT.