Improvements in the Wheels of Bioyoles, Tricyoles, and other Vehicles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Mar., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 6th Deo., 1893-Accepted, 10th Feb., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Wheels of Bioyoles, Tricyoles, and other
Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM Borthwick Smith, of 139 Cannon Street, in the City of London,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:—
My invention relates more especially to the wheels of bicycles and trioyoles but
it is also applicable to the wheels of carriages and other vehicles.
It has for its objects novel methods of constructing such wheels so that they are
very light, strong, resilient, and not liable to get out of order.
Supposing that my invention is to be applied to the wheels of bicycles or
tricycles, in which a metal tyre, with or without an external pneumatic or other
tyre, is connected with the centre or hub of the wheel by wiro spokes sufficiently
tightly stretched, the first part of my invention consists in connecting such wire
spokes to the tyre and hub by taking a sufficient length of suitable steel or other
wire and passing it round studs or hooks screwed into or otherwise attached to the
sides of the inner part of the metal tyre of the wheel the ends of the wire being
then brought to the hub of the wheel and passed (either from the inside or outside)
through holes made for the purpose through a dange formed upon the end of the
hub or boss, where they may be fastened in any convenient way,
Or, instead of being so fastened they may be passed through adjoining holes in
the flange and turned outward to the tyro and passed over the next studs or hooks
on the latter and then again brought back to the flange, and so on until a sufficient
number of spokes have been so formed. The same process is repeated upon both
sides of the wheel, sufficient tension being given to the wire, or the spokes formed
of wire as described may be afterwards tightened by the methods hereinafter
described.
Where the wheels of bioyoles or trioyoles are driven by means of what are
known as tension levers, consisting of one or more radial lovers fixed upon the
driving axle and connected to the inside of the metal tyre by tangential connecting
links or tension rods, I make such connecting links or rods with a certain amount
of longitudinal elasticity, either by making them in the form of helical or other
springs of elastic metal or other material, one end of the links being connected to
the inner side of the metal tyre, and the other end being formed with a regulating
Screw passing through the outer end of the lever and provided with a nut by which
the tension of the spring can be regulated more or less as desired. Or the
connecting link may consist of a rigid bar, a separate helical or other spring being
passed over it and compressed more or loss by the nut. Or the spring may bo
arranged between the end of the bar and the metal tyre. Or a combination of two
or more of these methods of arrangement may be used.
Where nuts are used, in my invention, I preferably use lock nuts to prevent
them from moving, or I make them of any of the well known forms of self-looking
nuts.
The radial levers may consist of solid bars, or may be made in a skeleton form of
two or more bars conuected together, so as to give sufficient strength with greater
lightness. Or the levers may themselves be sufficiently elastic so that they bend
more or less when the power is transmitted to the wheel through them.
In order to increase the resilience or elasticity of the wheels, the wire spokes
instead of being straight may be bent in a waved or undulating or other shape, so
As to give a certain amount of longitudinal elasticity.

page_text: In another modified form of the lever tension wheels I divide the hub or centre
of the wheel into two parts fitted end to end upon the axle to which one of such
parts is firmly and rigidly attached. The other part is loose upon the axle, and
both parts are connected with the metal tyre of the wheel by wire spokes which
may be either straight or undulated (as already described) and may be arranged
either in pairs or separately. Each of the two parts of the hub or centre is
provided with one or more radial levers, standing in their normal position (when
the spokes are at or approaching their proper state of tension) at an angle to each
other in aide view, but having their outer onds bent over so as to be opposite to
each other. These ends are connected together by a rod, provided with a screw
and nut, by which the lovers can be drawn together with greater or less force às
may be desired, the two parts of the hub of the wheel being also altered to a
corresponding extent in their relative angular position, sud the ends of the spokes
attached to them being drawn into a more or less tangential position in relation to
the centre of the wheel but in opposite directions upon the opposite sides of the
wheel, so that the spokes are all uniformly stretched and the necessary rigidity of
the wheel ensured.
The screwed rod described may be arranged so as to constitute a more or less
clastic connection between the levers (as in the arrangements previously described)
and the adjoining faces of the two parts of the hub may be provided with ratchet
shaped tooth, so that when turned round as described they are prevented from ·
moving back.
The wire spokes may be conveniently attached to the metal tyre and to the hub
of the wheel respectively, by passing the ends of a wire through holes in a flange
upon the outer side of the hub (ns previously described) and after drawing them
tight turning them up to points at the inside of the rim where they are suitably
attached in any of the usual well known ways.
In another modified method of stretching the wire spokes of the wheel, I separate
the parts of the hub to which the spokes are attached, by moving one or both of
them longitudinally upon the axle, instead of turning one of them angularly upon
the latter as just described.
I firmly fix upon the axle a collar having a flange to which the wire spokes upon
one side of the wheel aro attached in the method already described or in other
suitable way, and near the other end of the axlo I fit a somewhat similar collar
arranged upon a key or feather so that it can move longitudinally but cannot turn
round, and to a flange upon this collar the wire spokes upon the other side of the
wheel are attached. Between the fixed and sliding collars I fit freely upon the
shaft a third collar, one end of which abuts against the fixed collar whilst the other
end is formed into two or more angular notches having a helical shape and of
sufficient depth, which fit against corresponding helically shaped notches upon the
inner side of the sliding collar. If therefore the central collar be turned round in
the proper direction by a key or lever, the outer sliding collar is forced outward
along the axle and the whole of the wire spokes are stretched proportionally. In
order to prevent the sliding collar from returning back when pressure is withdrawn
from the key or lever, I provide the inclined helical surfaces upon the central
collar and the sliding collar with a number of small angular teeth engaging with
each other, so that whilst the central collar can be turned in one direction it is
prevented by these angular teeth from turning back.
The central collar may be provided with inclined helical surfaces upon both
sides, both the collars adjoining it being made to slide longitudinally and being.
provided with similar inclined surfaces, so that they are both moved from each
other when the central collar is turned.
It is sufficient however that the small angular teeth should be made upon one
side only of the central collar and upon the adjoining sliding collar. The central
collar may be fitted so that whilst it can turn round it cannot move end ways.
I sometimes make the wire spokes of wheels so that they can be tightened by
shortening them when desired,

page_text: For this purpose they may be divided at a suitable part of their length the
divided ends being screwed with right and left handed threads respectively, and a
coupling correspondingly threaded being scrowed upon them so that if turned in
one direction it draws the ends together, and if in the other direction it separates
them; or the coupling may be screwed upon the end of one of the wires only, the
other wire being provided with a head and turning freely in the coupling.
Or a helical spring may be used, or an india rubber or other suitable elastic
connection, the outer ends of the spokes being passed through flanges continuous or
interrupted formed for the purpose on the tyre, inside the rim, the elastic devices
described being fitted to the ends of the spokes outside the flanges.
The details of my invention may be varied more or less nccording to the varying
circumstances in which it is to be used.
•
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Wheels of Bioyoles, Tricyoles, and other
Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM Borthwick Smith, of 139, Cannon Street, in the City of
London, Engineer, 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 and accompanying drawing that is to say :—
My invention relates more especially to the wheels of bicycles and tricycles
but it is also applicable to the wheels of carriages and other vehicles.
It has for its objects novel methods of constructing such wheels so that they are
very light, strong, resilient, and not liable to get out of order.
The accompanying drawing is in illustration of my invention.
Supposing that my invention is to be applied to the wheels of bicycles or tricycles,
in which a metal tyre, with or without an external pneumatic or other tyre, is
connected with the centre or hub of the wheel by wire spokes sufficiently tightly
stretched, the first part of my invention consists in connecting such wire spokes to
the tyre and hub by taking a sufficient length of suitable steel or other wire (as
illustrated in Figure 8) and passing it round studs or hooks a screwed into or
otherwise attached to the sides of the inner part of the metal tyre of the wheel,
the ends of the wire being then brought to the hub of the wheel and passed (either
from the inside or the outside) through holes made for the purpose through a flange
formed upon the end of the hub or boss, where they may be fastened in any
convenient way.
8
Or, instead of being so fastened they may be passed through adjoining holes in
the flange and turned outward to the tyre and passed over the next studs or hooks
on the latter and then again brought back to the flange, and so on until a sufficient
number of spokes have been so formed. The same process is repeated upon both
sides of the wheel, sufficient tension being given to the wire, or the spokes formed
of wire as described may be afterwards tightened by the methods hereinafter
described for tightening them simultaneously.
Where the wheels of bicycles or tricycles are driven by means of what are known
as tension levers (as illustrated in Figure 4), consisting of one or more radial
levers a,
a' fixed upon the driving axle or hub b and connected to the inside of the
metal tyre e by tangential connecting links or tension rods d, d', I make such
connecting links or rods with a certain amount of longitudinal elasticity, either by
making them in the form of helical or other springs of elastic metal or other
material, as shewn at d, one end of the links being connected to the inner side of

page_text: the-metal tyre; and the other end being formed with a regulating screir passing
through the outer end of the lever a' and provided with a nute by which the
tension of the spring oan be regulated more or less as desired. Or the connecting
link or tension rod may consist of a rigid bar, as shewn in d', a separate helical or
other spring being passed over it and compressed more or less by the nut e. Or
the spring may be arranged between the ond of the bar and the metal tyrė:
Or a combination of two or more of these methods of arrangement niay be used.
Where nuts are used in my invention, I preferably use look nuts to prevent them
from moving, or I make them of any of the well known forms of self-locking nuts.
The radial levers. inay consist of solid bars, or may be made in a skeleton form
of two or more bars connected together, as shewn at a' so as to give sufficient
strength with greater lightness. Or the levers may themselves be sufficiently
elastic so that they bend more or less when the power is transmitted to the wheel
tyre through them.
In order to increase the resilience or elasticity of the wheels, the wire spokes
instead of being straight may be bent in a waved or undulating or other shape
as illustrated in Figure 4, so as to give a certain amount of longitudinal
elasticity.
In another modified form of the lever tension wheels (illustrated in Figures 1
and 2) divide the hub or centre of the wheel into two parts g, gl, fitted end to
end upon the axle to which one of anch parts is firmly aud rigidly attached. The
other part is loose upon the axle, and both parts are connected with the metal tyre
of the wheel by wire spokes which may be either straight or undulated (as already
described) aud may be arrauged either in pairs or separately. Each of the two
parts of the hub or centre is provided with one or more fixed or detachable radial
fevers, h, standing in their normal position (when the spokes are at or
approaching their proper state of tension) at an angle to each other in side view,
but having their outer ends bent over so as to be opposite to each other (as shown
in Figure 2). These ends are connected together by a rod i, provided with a screw
and nut, by which the levers h, A, can be drawn together with greater or less
force na may be desired, the two parts of the hub of the wheel 9, 9', being also
altered to a corresponding extent in their relative angular position, and the ends of
the spokes attached to them being drawn into a more or less tangential position in
relation to the centre of the wheel but in opposite directions upon the opposite
aides of the wheel so that the spokes are all uniformly stretched and the necessary
rigidity of the wheel ensured.
The screwed rod i described may be arranged so as to constitute a more or less
elastic connection between the levers (as in the arrangements previously described)
and as illustrated in Figure 3 and the adjoining faces of the two parts of the
hub g, g, may be provided with ratchet shaped teeth, so that when turned round as
described they are prevented from moving back and the tension levers and rods
(if made detachable) may then be removed. The wire spokes may be con-
veniently attached to the metal tyre and to the bub of the wheel respectively,
by passing the ends of a wire through holes in a flange upon the outer side of
the hub (as previously described), and after drawing them tight turning them up to
points at the inside of the rim where they are suitably attached in any of the usual
well known ways.
1
1. In another modified. method of stretching the wire spokes of the wheel, illustrated
in. Figures 5;-6, and 7, I separate the parts of the hub to which the spokes are
attached, by moving one or both of them longitudinally upon the axle, instead of
turning one of them angularly upon the latter as just described.
In Figure 5 is shown firmly fixed upon the axle a collar having a flange m to
which the wire spokes upon one side of the wheel are attached in the method
already described or in other suitable way, and near the other end of the axle I fit
a somewhat similar collar n arranged upon a key or feather o so that it can move
longitudinally but cannot turn round, and to a flange upon this sliding collar the
wire spokes upon the other side of the wheel are attached... Between the fixed and

page_text: the sliding collars and n I fit freely upon the alinft a third collar p, one end of
which abuts against the fixed collar whilst the other end is formed into two or
more angular notches and teeth having a helical shape and of sufficient depth,
which fit against corresponding helically shaped notches upon the inside of the
sliding collar n. If therefore the central collar p be turned round in the proper
direction by a key or levɗr, the outer sliding collar » is forced outward along the
axle and the whole of the wire spokes are stretched proportionately on both sides
of the wheel. In order to prevent the sliding collar from returning back when
pressure is withdrawn from the key or lever, I provide the inclined helical
surfaces upon the central collar p and the sliding collar n with a number of small
angular teeth as shown engaging with each other, so that whilst the central collar
can be turned in one direction it is prevented by theso angular teeth from turning
back.
The central collar p may be provided with inclined helical surfaces upon both
sides, as illustrated in Figure 7. Both the collars and n adjoining it being
capable of sliding longitudinally and being provided with similar inclined surfaces,
so that they are both moved from each other when the central collar is turned.
It is sufficient however in this arrangement that the small angular teeth should
be made upon one side only of the central collar p as shewn, and upon the adjoining
Bliding collar.
The central collar may be fitted so that whilst it can turn round it cannot move
and ways.
I sometimes make the wire spokes so that they can be separately tightened by
shortening them when desired.
For this purpose they may be divided at a suitable part of their length, the
divided ends being screwed with right and left handed threads respectively, and a
coupling correspondingly threaded being sorowed upon them so that if turned in
one direction it draws the ends together, and if in the other direction it separates
them; or the coupling may be screwed upon the end of one of the wires only, the
other wire being provided with a head and turning freely in the coupling.
Or, (as illustrated in Figure 9) a helical spring (shewn ) may be used, or an
india rubber or other suitable elastic connection (shewa at »), the outer ends of the
spokes being passed through flanges to continuous or interrupted, formed for the
purpose upon the tyre, inside the rim, the elastic devices described being fitted to
the ends of the spokes outside the flanges.
The details of my invention may be varied more or less according to the varying
circumstances in which it is to be used.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In wheels for velocipedes and other vehicles, the combination of one or more
tension levers, and elastic and adjustable connecting links or rods connecting the
tension levers with the rim of the wheel, substantially as and for the purpose
described and illustrated.
2. In wheels for velocipedes and other vehicles, the combination of one or more
tension levers, with adjustable non-elastic connecting links or rods and with wheel
spokes capable of a certain amount of longitudinal elasticity, substantially as and
for the purpose described and illustrated.
3. In wheels for velocipedes and other vehicles, for the purpose of simultaneously
tightening the spokes upon both sides of the wheel, a hub divided into two parts
the spokes upon one side of the wheel being attached more or less tangentially to
one part of the hub, and the spokes upon the other side of the wheel being similarly
attached more or less tangentially, but in the opposite direction to the other part
of the hub, and the two parts of the hub being capable of being turned tangentially
in relation to each other, substantially as and for the purposes described and
illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.

page_text: 4. In wheels for velocipedes and other vehicles, for the purpose of simultaneously
tightening the spokes upon both sides of the wheel, a hub divided into two parts
the spokes upon one side of the wheel being attached radially to one part of the
hub, and the spokes upon the other side of the wheel being attached radially to the
other part of the hub, and the two parts of the hub being capable of being made to
separate more or less from each other longitudinally but without altering their
angular relation, by means of angular teeth operated by a soparate collar turning
separately upon the axle, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described
and illustrated in Figures 6, 6, and 7.
5. In wheels for velocipedes and other vehioles the method of forming the spokes
upon each side or upon both sides of the wheel, from a single length of wire,
substantially as described.
Dated this 6th day of December 1898.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London, Agents for the Applicant,