Improvements in Cycle and other Wheels.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Aug., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 25th Jan., 1893-Accepted, 29th Apr., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Cycle and other Wheels.
1, JULES ROUSSAT of 15 Rue de Richelieu, Paris in the Republic of France,
Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved construction of wheels of cycles and other
vehicles in which the felloe is constructed with two iron cheeks or hoops having
hollow ribs or beads at their edges and held equidistant so as to fit and retain
between them the tyre either solid or hollow of H section.
The two hoops are held together by screw bolts arranged at suitable intervals
apart near the lower edge. These bolts serve to tightly hold the tyre which may
be formed of one or more parts or sections as required.
The screw-bolts are fitted at their ends with iuwardly screw-threaded heads or
caps screwed upon the ends of the said bolts and enabling the two cheeks or hoops
to be screwed closer together or farther apart to adjust or tighten the tyre. These
bolts at the same time serve for the reception of the ends of the wires forming the
spokes of the wheel, and also for stretching the said spokes more or less as may be
required. These spokes are secured at one end in holes provided for the purpose
in the bolts and at the other end upon pins or in perforations provided in the hub.
Dated this 31st day of August 1892.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements. in Cycle and other Wheels,
1, JULES ROUSSAT of 15 Rue Richelieu, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Builder 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 an improved construction of wheels for velocipedes or
other vehicles and mainly consists in combining the following parts:
(a) Two ribbed metal plates or rings equidistant throughout their circumference
permanently retained opposite each other by a series of rods, which keep them
apart and may be capable at the same time of serving as stretching, drums for the
purpose of imparting the required tension to the flexible spokes of the wheel, which
may be made of wire or as hereinafter described of cord, catgut or other material.
(b) A tyre in the shape of a double T (or an I) preferably constructed of a
number of sections tightly gripped between the ribbed plates just mentioned, under
the pressure of the rods; so that this band or tyre, whether of the cushion or
pneumatic type, may be permanently fixed to the metal rim without any cement, and
readily removed therefrom by simply loosening the whole or part of the rods
which keep apart and stiffen the plates.
(c) A series of metal spokes each formed of two parts connected together by a
right and left handed screwed nut, or of spokes composed of wire cord, cable or
the like, these being placed in tension by turning the last-named rods.
The invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings
in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one portion or section of the rim of a cycle-wheel
constructed in accordance with my invention.
Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the rim of the same wheel on line u v of Fig. 1.

page_text: Fig. 3 is a side elevation and a cross-section of a part or section of the improved
solid tyre; the tyre. may, however, be of the cushion or pneumatic type if
preferred.
The same letters of reference designate like parts in all figures.
The rim of this improved wheel consists of two metal plates a provided above
and below with turned-over edges b and c forming ribs. These plates are retained
in the proper relative position to each other and at a suitable distance,apart,
throughout the circumference of the wheel, by means of rods h" equidistantly
arranged in the perforations e provided in the two plates a which form the metal
rim of the wheel.
The tyre d, which may be either solid or hollow, is inserted between the two
plates a and accommodates the ribs by means of the groove d' and owing to its
double T shape. It is permanently retained in position by moving the plates
closer to each other, for which purpose the rods or nuts thereon may be tightened
Amore or less as required. It is preferably formed of sections ay of suitable length,
whereby repairs and substitution of new sections are facilitated.
:
The rods which keep the plates apart form part of a central cylindrical piece h
provided if necessary with two perforations and collars or rings . Outside of
these collars the cylindrical portions ggare screw threaded in opposite directions.
Upon the threaded parts gg, passing through the plates a which form the rim. of
the wheel, are screwed nuts and which press upon the rim outside of the
plates a.
The metal spokes of this wheel are each formed of a pair of cylindrical.or
prismatic metal rods. The rods are secured to the hub of the wheel in the
ordinary manner. The spokes thus formed are threaded at their opposite
end. A right and left handed threaded nuts connects the ends and which
are similarly threaded in opposite directions, by which connection each spoke of the
wheel is completed. By turning the nuts in the desired direction, the two ends "
or of the spokes may be moved closer together or further apart, and the
spokes thereby thoroughly and reliably tightened and secured in place or loosened.
In Fig. 2 it is assumed that the spokes consist of pieces of wire-rope or
cable of suitable resistance and flexibility, or of catgut or other cord, which pass
at one part through holes provided in the hub or are secured to suitable pins
projecting from said hub and at another part pass through holes & provided in the
rods. To stretch such cords it is only necessary to turn these rods within their
bearings e by means of a lever or other suitable implement inserted for the purpose
into a hole formed in each of the rods h. The employment of flexible wire, cords
or cables, or of cords of catgut or fibrous material are advantageous because in case
of their accidentally breaking, they may be immediately replaced by any ordinary
. cord or string.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manuer the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A wheel for velocipedes or other vehicles consisting of a metal rim formed
of two equidistantly ribbed metal plates a fitting a tyre such as tightly gripped
or compressed between the plates a by rods such as to each of which are con-
nected two spokes whose tension is controllable said spokes being formed of two
sections such as qr or g¹¹ connected together by a right and left handed screwed
nut or equivalent substantially as and for the purpose described and illustrated in
Figs. 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings.
2. In a wheel for velocipedes or other vehicles, consisting of a metal rim formed
of two equidistantly ribbed metal plates fitting an india-rubber tyre either solid or
hollow firmly retained in place by screw-threaded rods the employment in forming
the spokes of the said wheel, of cords or cables attached at one part to the hub
of the wheel and passing at another part through openings provided in the rods h
which being adapted to turn within their bearings e formed in the plates a serve as

page_text: stretching drums for the purpose of imparting the required tension to the said
spokes substantially as described and illustrated in Fig. 2 of the accompanying
drawings.
3. In a wheel for velocipedes or other vehicles the employment of a solid cushion
or pneumatic tyre double flanged or I shape in section substantially as described
and illustrated in Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.
4. In a wheel for velocipedes or other vehicles the employment as spokes of
metal rods connected by a right and left handed screwed sleeve or nut or wire-ropes
or cables or cords of fibrous or other material substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 25th day of January 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.