IMPROVEMENTS IN HUBS FOR THE WHEELS OF BICYCLES, TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES, AND IN THE METHOD OF FITTING THE SPOKES THEREIN to be as follows :-
Year: 1884

page_text: We ALFRED LILWALL, CHARLES BINKS, and WILLIAM JAMES, all of 28 Argyle
Street, Birkenhead, in the county of Chester, Bicycle Manufacturers do hereby
declare the nature of the said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN HUBS FOR THE
WHEELS OF BICYCLES, TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES, AND IN THE METHOD
OF FITTING THE SPOKES THEREIN to be as follows :-
"J
This invention consists in a new form of hub for use with what are known in
the cycle trade as "laced spokes," and its principal object is to avoid the necessity
which exists in the present system of twisting the spokes in order to pass thein
through the holes in the hub, an operation both difficult of execution and weakening
to the spokes.
In order the better to explain our improvements, we will first give a brief
outline of the present system of fixing laced spokes. The hubs, which are usually
thin discs of sheet steel, have a series of holes drilled through them at right angles
to the metal at equal distances round their circumference. Each spoke is secured
at one end to the rim, and the other end is carried down to the hub in a direction
a little inclined to the radial line. In order to pass the spoke through the hole in
the hub however, it must be twisted at right angles to the plane of the wheel and
twisted back again to that plane on its exit from the hub on the other side, whence
it passes on to another point on the rim usually about ninety degrees from its
starting point. In consequence of this twisting, the spokes require a great deal
of hammering to make them lie close to the hub, and difficulty is experienced in
soldering them together at the various points where they cross each other tight
enough to prevent them working loose and rattling.
Now our invention consists in adapting the hub to the spokes instead of the
spokes to the hub. We form the hub out of a circular disc (preferably of thin
sheet steel) as before, but instead of being plain it is corrugated or crimped all
round the circumference. There are as many of these corrugations as there are
holes required for the spokes and they extend radially inwards (or nearly so)
for about half an inch, depending on the size of the hub; the centre of the hub
may be flat or dish-shaped as preferred. Looked at edgeways, the hub has the

page_text: .
appearance of a series of regular zig-zags or rectilinear waves, the short sides (or
crests of the waves) being nearly.at right angles to the plane of the hub, and.
forming when looked at sideways, as it were a series of steps all round the
circumference. The holes for the spokes are made in these short sides or steps
and are consequently drilled in a direction parallel to instead of at right angles to
the plane of the hub. The spokes consequently can be passed from one point on
the rim to the other point on the rim direct through the holes without any twisting,
. and as they can be bent to the right angle before insertion, all strain either on the
spokes or the hub is avoided. No hammering is required and the soldering at the
various points of crossing is rendered much easier, as the spokes now lie naturally
close to the hub and to each other, so that a much neater job can be made than at
present. The spokes are stronger in consequence of having no twist at the hub
and keep tight longer.
We form the corrugations on the hubs preferably by pressing plain sheet metal
discs between two specially made dies, the holes for the spokes are drilled
afterwards.

page_text: We, ALFRED LILWALL, CHARLES BINKS and WILLIAM JAMES, all of. 28 Argyle
Street, Birkenhead, in the County of Chester, Bicycle Manufacturers do hereby
declare the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE HUBS FOR THE
WHEELS OF BICYCLES TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES, AND IN THE METHOD
OF FITTING THE SPOKES THEREIN and in what manner the same is to bo
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
The Invention consists of a new form of hub, with what are known in the cycle
trade as "Laced spokes" and its principal object is to avoid the necessity which
exists in the present system of twisting the spokes in order to pass them through
the boles in the hub, an operation both difficult of execution and weakening to the
spokes:
In order to better explain our improvement, we will give first a brief outline of
the present system of fixing laced spokes, The hubs which are usually thin discs
of sheet steel, have a series of holes drilled through them at right angles, at equal
distances right round the circumference Each spoke is secured at one end to the
rim, and the other end is carried down to the hub in a direction a little inclined to
the radial line. In order to pass the spoke through the hub, however it must be
twisted at right angles to the plane of the wheel, and twisted again to that plane
on its exit from the hub on the other side, whence it passes in to another point in
the rim usually about 90 degrees from its starting point. In consequence of this
twisting the spokes requiro a great deal of hammering to make them lie close to
the hub, and difficulty is experienced in soldering them together at the various
points where they cross each other, tightly enough to prevent them working loose
or rattling.
Now our invention consists in adapting the hubs to the spokes instead of the
spokes to the hub.
We form the hub out of a circular disc (preferably of thin sheet steel) as before,
but instead of being plain, it is corrugated or crimped all round the circumference.
There are as many of these corrugations as there are holes required for the
spokes and they extend radially inwards (or nearly so) for about half an inch
depending on the size of the hub.
The centre of the hub may be flat or of any convenient shape.
Looked at edgeways the hub has the appearance of a series of regular zig-zaga
or rectangular waves, the short sides (or crests of the waves) being nearly at right.
angles to the plane of the hub, and forming when looked at sideways, as it were
a series of steps all round the circumference.
The holes for the spokes are made in these short sides or steps, and are consequently
drilled in a direction parallel to, instead of at right angles to the plane of the hub.
The spokes consequently can be passed from one point in the rim direct to the
other point in the rim direct through the holes without any twisting and as they

page_text: can be bent to the required angle before insertion, all strain either on the spokes
or on the hub is avoided; no hammering is required and the soldering at the
various points of crossing is rendered much easier as the spokes now lie naturally
close to the hub and to each other, so that a much neater job can be made than at
present.
c
E'Opening for spindle, to which the hub is attached,
The spokes are stronger in consequence of having no twist at the hub, and keep
tight longer.
We form the Corrugations in the hubs preferably by pressing plain sheet metal
discs between two specially made dies, the holes for the spokes being drilled
afterwards.
:
In order to more fully illustrate our said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, we append herewith one sheet of drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is
1 The hub with corrugated or crimped edges as herein setforth.
2 Fitting the spokes therein with out twisting or hammering as herein setforth.
ALFRED LILWALL.
CHARLES BINKS.
WILLIAM JAMES.
Dated this 14th day of April 1885.
ALFRED LILWALL.
CHARLES BINKS.
WILLIAM JAMES.
Witness,
SIDNEY W. WOOD.