Improvements in Wheels for Cycles and other Light Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Nov., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 11th Mar.. 1897-Accepted, 22nd May, 1897
Improvements in Wheels for Cycles and other Light Vehicles.
1, HANS PETER MADSEN, of Helmerhus 14, Copenhagen, in the Kingdom of
Denmark, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This inventien has for object the construction of wheels for cycles and other
light vehicles in such a manner that if at any time any of the spokes should break,
it will he ensy for the rider himself to replace them and, further, that the rider will
be able by means of a simple arrangement, to apply simultaneously to all the spokes
the tension or rigidity that he may desire.
To accomplish these objects the spokes themselves are made to templates exactly
of the same length and are provided with an enlargement at each end. The
enlargement on the lower end of each spoke ie, on the end that has to be fixed to
the boss-must be made of such a size that it will just pass through the corresponding
hole in the rim of the wheel. The enlargement on the other end of the spoke
i.e., on the end that has to be fixed to the rim of the wheel is made of such a size that
it will just fit its hole but is provided with a head of a somewhat larger diameter to
prevent the spoke from slipping through the rim.
After having passed a spoke through a bole in the rim until it is prevented
from going any further by the above-mentioned head, the lower end of the spoke
is placed iuto a suitable groove or slot made in the side of a projecting collar or
flange attached to or made in one piece with the corresponding wheel-boss. This
groove or slot being made only a trifle wider than the middle part of the spoke,
the enlargement on the corresponding end of the spoke will prevent it from sliding
through the said groove or slot. Instead of using direct or radial spokes, as
mentioned above, tangential spokes may of course be used, in which case the
grooves or slots are somewhat differently placed so as to prevent the spoke from
making too large an augle.
The bosses are arranged in such a manner, that they can be screwed onto the
ends of the hub, which for that purpose is at each end provided with a screw-
thread, which is right-handed on one end and left-handed on the other end.
In order to enable the spokes to be conveniently placed in their respectivo
grooves or slote, the bosses are screwed towards each other until the distance
between the under edge of the projecting collar or flange and the rim is less
than the distance between the heads or enlargements on the ends of the spokes.
The spokes having now been placed into position, the bosses simply by turning
the hub a few times round, are made to move laterally away from each other and
by this movement the spokes will be subjected to a strain, which will increase
with the increasing distance between the bosses. By turning the hub more or less
found the rider will have it in his power to give to the spokes the special degree
of rigidity that he may desire. The turning of the hub may be effected for
instance simply by means of a suitable tool whose point is inserted into a suitably
placed hole.g., the oil hole-in the periphery of the hub.
In order to give the bosses and hub a neat finish the wheel-caps may be made
so as to cover the grooves or slots on the sides of the projecting collars or flanges
on the bosses and the bosses may be provided on their inner sides where they move

page_text: along the hub, with overlapping flanges adapted to conceal the screw-thread from
view.
It is evident that it is not necessary to make both bosses movable on the hub,
but, if this should he preferred, only one boss might be made movable.
This invention renders the replacement of a broken spoke a very easy matter
and makes it possible to manufacture the wheel itself in considerably less time than
hitberto.
Another important advantage gained by this construction is the absolute certainty
that all the spokes will have the same tension or rigidity.
Dated this 18th day of November 1896.
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
ани боно
1, HANS PETER MADSEN, of Helmerhus 14, Copenhagen, in the Kingdom of
Denmark, Manufacturer, 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 relates to certain improvements in wheels for cycles and other
light vehicles, that make it possible quickly and easily to replace a broken spoke
by a new one and to apply simultaneously to all the spokes the tension or rigidity
that may be desired.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 shows part of a section of the hub of a wheel and spokes according
thereto,
Fig. 2 is a cross section of Fig. 1,
Fig. 3 shows a cross section of the rim of the wheel, and
Fig. 4 is a side view of a boss ;
Fig. 5 shows a section of a somewhat modified construction.
To accomplish the above mentioned objects, the spokes themselves are made
to templates of exactly the same length und are provided with an enlargement at
each end. The enlargement a on the inner end of each spoke-i.e., on the end that
has to be fixed to the boss-is made of such a size that it will just pass through
the corresponding hole in the rim of the wheel. The enlargement m on the other
or outer end of the spoke-i.e, on the end that has to be fixed to the rim of the
wheel is made of such a size that it will just fit its hole but is provided with a
head of a somewhat larger diameter to prevent the spoke from slipping through
the rim.
After having passed a spoke e through a hole in the rim until it is prevented
from going any further by the above mentioned head, the inner end a of the spoke
is placed into a movable piece, which, as shown in the drawings, may consist of a
boss b that is arranged on the hub g surrounding the wheel axle k. Two such
bosses are placed on the hub, one at each end.
In the example shown in Fig. 1, each of these bosses is for part of its length
provided with a screw thread and screwed on to one end of the hub g, which for
that purpose is at each end provided with a screw thread, right-handed on one end
and left banded on the other end. If the hub g be turned, the bosses will move
either nearer each other or further apart, according to the direction of rotation of
the hub.

page_text: One part of each boss b is not provided with any screw-thread and is of a some-
what larger inside diameter than the hub g so as to leave vacant between it and the
bub a space large enough to receive the inner enlargements a of the spokes. The
part of the boss that has no screw-thrend is provided with holes c (see Fig. 4) of
the shape that is commonly used in fastenings for ladies' corsets, for instance, one
portion of each hole being large enough to allow the enlargement a of a spoke to
pass through and the other portion, which is arranged nearer to the middle of the
hub, being adapted to accommodate the spoke itself but not to allow the enlargement a
to pass through. By means of this arrangement the spokes are kept firmly in the
bosses and consequently secured to the hub.
In order to place the spokes in the bosses, the hub g is turned round in such a
manner that the bosses move towards each other, whereby their distance from the
rim becomes somewhat smaller than the distance between the two enlargements of
the spokes. The spokes are then placed in position and by turning the hub round
in the opposite direction the bosses are moved further apart, whereby the spokes
are tightened on account of the increasing distance between the rim and the holes o
in the bosses b.
By turning the hub g round more.or less, any desirable tension or rigidity may
be imparted to the spokes. The turning of the hub g may be effected, for instance,
by means of a suitable tool whose point is inserted into a suitably placed hole--
e.g., the oil hole-in the periphery of the hub.
In order to give the bosses and bub a neat finish, wheel-caps h may be provided
that will cover the threads on the ends of the hub g.
It is, of course, not necessary to make both bosses b movable lengthways on the
hub; it is quite sufficient to make one boss movable lengthwise and the other simply
to turn on the hub. The movable bosses in which the spokes are fixed, may be
arranged in several ways, but the principal feature is that the bosses can be moved
nearer each other or further apart on the hub. The bosses 6 might, for instance,
be made in two pieces, independent of each other, one piece n (see Fig. 5) being
provided with a screw thread to work on the screw threaded part of the hub and
the other piece o into which the spokes are inserted, being mounted to move freely
on the hub g. In this case the piece n is placed on the side of the piece o that is
nearest to the middle of the hub. By turning the piece n or the hub y, the
piece o will be pushed ontward and cause a tightening of the spokes as already
explained.
Other mechanical means, for instance a cam, might of course also be employed
for moving the bosses on the hub; and instead of the above mentioned holes c, the
bosses may be provided with other means for receiving and holding the ends of
the spokes.
The principal advantages gained by the above described invention are, that the
insertion of a new spoke into a wheel is rendered considerably easier and can be
effected much more quickly than before and that the use of screw-cut spokes is
avoided. Another advantage is that a uniform tension or rigidity may be given to
all the spokes simultaneously.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. In a wheel for a cycle and similar light vehicle the arrangement on the bub
of two bosses (b) which are capable of being moved relatively to each other in a
lengthwise direction on the hub and in which the inner ends of the spokes are
inserted, whilst the outer ends of the spokes are suitably fixed to the rim of the
wheel, the arrangement being such that, by moving the two said bosses on the
hub nearer each other or further apart, the distance between the rim and the said
boss can be easily reduced or increased for the purpose of removing or uniformly
tightening all the spokes simultaneously.
2. A wheel of the kind referred to in the preceding claim in which the two
.

page_text: 'movable bosses are provided with right handed and left handed screw-threads
respectively and aro screwed upon the ends of the hub (g) so that they can be
moved either nearer each other or further apart by turning the hub (g).
3. A wheel of the kind referred to in Claim 1 on which only one of the bosses (b)
is made movable lengthwise on the hub, whilst the other is only made to turn on
the said hub.
4. Wheels for cycles or other light vehicles, constructed, arranged, and operating
:substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and shown in the drawings
annexed for the purposes specified.
Dated this 8th day of March 1897.
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.