Improvements in Machines for Screwing up the Nipples of Cycle and other similar Tension Wheels.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 15th Dec., 1897
Complete Specification Left. 17th Oct. 1898 Accented 26th Nov
1808
Improvements in Machines for Screwing up the Nipples of Cycle
and other similar Tension Wheels.
I, SAMUEL SMILY, of No. 1, Dovecote Terrace, Wood Green, in the County of
Middlesex, Cycle Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to a simple and inexpensive machine whereby the nipples of
cycle and similar tension wheels may be quickly screwed up and the spokes brought
to a universal tension without the aid of skilled labour.
In carrying the invention into effect, each spoke nipple is formed to screw upon a
corresponding thread formed on the outer end of a spoke as heretofore, and the nipple
is loosely passed through a perforation in the rim or felloe, and is formed with a head
which takes an abutment upon the rim or felloe.
The thread hole of the nipple passes completely through the same and the head of
the nipple is formed with a transverse nick, slot or saw-cut similar to that of a screw
and which intersects the threaded hole.
The machine, to the construction of which this invention relates, consists of a
suitable frame carrying in bearings a spindle capable of rotary and endway move-
ment, this spindle has mounted thereon a bevelled toothed pinion, which by a stud
and groove or like contrivance, while imparting a rotary movement to the spindle
allows the free endway movement thereof through its bearings.
The bevelled pinion engages with a bevelled toothed wheel fixed upon one end of
a short shaft mounted at right angles to the last mentioned spindle, in a suitable
bearing, with capability of rotary movement only, upon the other end of this shaft
is fixed a crank handle, pulley or other device by which it may be rotated by hand
or other power, in order to give a rotary movement to the spindle.
At one end of the first mentioned spindle is fitted a screw chuck or other means
for holding a screw driver, which, by engaging with the nipple, will, when the
machine is rotated, screw up the nipple on the spoke until the spoke having passed
the pre-determined distance or length through the nipple, pushes the screw driver
out of engagement with the nipple and thereby automatically arrests the screwing
up of same, at the point previously determined, to give the desired tension to the
spoke.
To bring the screw driver into engagement with the nipples, a coiled or spiral
spring of suitable strength and which takes an abutment at one end against the
fraine and at the other end against a shoulder or collar on the first mentioned spindle,
is used, which spring forces the spindle and consequently the screw driver forward
and causes the latter to engage with the nipple with the necessary spring pressure
and at the same time allows the spoke to force back the screw driver at the pre-
determined point.
Or, any other suitable form of spring or an arrangement of weights might be
employed to effect this object.
The rear end of the spindle is fitted with a swivel or shackle, to which is connected
one end of a chain or the like which passes around suitable guide pulleys carried by

page_text: the frame, and thence to a treadle, so that the operator may, by pressing the treadle,
retract the screw driver at will.
Or, in lieu of the treadle, a lever may be suitably arranged for retracting the screw
driver.
In front of the screw driver and carried by the frame are arranged, parallel to each
other, two arms, the outer one of which is formed with a V-notch which terminates
in axial alignment with the screw driver, and the inner one of which is formed with
a shallower V-notch beyond which is a horizontal hole in axial alignment with the
screw driver made to receive the nipple inside the rim and communicating with the
V-notch by a narrower slot to allow of the passage of the spoke prior to the insertion
of the nipple into the said horizontal hole whilst the outer notch receives the spoke
and thus both rim and spoke are held steady during the screwing operation.
During this operation, the wheel is preferably mounted in a holder consisting of a
spring fork adapted to clip on to the hub at each side of the wheel, and this fork is
connected with one end of a chain, the other end of which passes up over a pulley
and is then brought down to a counter-balanced weight which is apertured to allow
of the passage of the other part of the chain and thus the wheel is adapted to
be held in any desired position whilst its weight is sustained by the counter-
balance.
In order to screw up a spoke nipple, the wheel is suspended by the counter
balanced holder, the spindle and screw driver are retracted by depressing the treadle,
the wheel is placed with the rim between the screw driver and the arms with the
nipple in the horizontal hole of the one arm, and the spoke in the V-notch of the
other.
The treadle is then released and the spindle which is carried forward by the spring
is rotated by means of the crank handle or otherwise, when the screw driver will
engage the nick or slot of the nipple and turn the same until the spoke is drawn
through the threaded hole of the nipple the distance previously arranged and forces
back the spring actuated screw driver out of engagement with the nipple head, when
the screw driver will cease to act thereon.
It will be obvious, that instead of forming the nipple head with a nick, slot or saw-
cut, it may be provided with a square or pyramidal hole or other arrangement pro-
vided that the screw driver is correspondingly formed to co-act therewith, or, the end
of the screw driver may be formed with a stud to project into the nipple whereby
the screw driver would be disengaged from the nipple before the end of the spoke
had passed therethrough, or, the nipple head may be formed square or of other suit-
able shape, and a corresponding key substituted for the screw driver.
By the means herein before described, the spokes of a wheel may be rapidly
tightened without risk of over-straining, as the screw driver will automatically cease
to act upon the nipple when the spoke has been tightened to the required extent.
Dated this 15th day of December 1897.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Machines for Screwing up the Nipples of Cycle
and other similar Tension Wheels.
I, SAMUEL SMILY, of No. 1, Dovecote Terrace, Wood Green, in the County of
Middlesex, Cycle 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:—
My said invention relates to a simple and inexpensive machine whereby the nipples

page_text: of cycle and similar tension wheels may be quickly screwed up and the spokes brought
to a universal tension without the aid of skilled labour.
The machine forming the subject of the present invention is applicable for use in
connection with tension wheels the rims and spoke nipples of which are constructed
and arranged in the usual manner.
The machine to the construction of which this invention relates consists of a
suitable frame carrying in bearings a spindle capable of rotary and endway move-
ment; this spindle has mounted thereon a bevelled toothed pinion, which, by a stud
and groove and like contrivance, while imparting a rotary movement to the spindle,
allows the free endway movement thereof through its bearings.
The bevelled pinion engages with a bevelled toothed wheel fixed upon one end of
a short shaft mounted at right angles to the last mentioned spindle, in a suitable
bearing, with capability of rotary movement only, upon the other end of this shaft is
fixed a crank handle, pulley or other device by which it may be rotated by hand or
other power in order to give a rotary movement to the spindle.
At one end of the first mentioned spindle is fitted a screw chuck or other means for
holding a screw driver which by engaging with the nipple will, when the machine is
rotated, screw up the nipple on the spoke, until the spoke, having passed the pre-
determined distance or length through the nipple, pushes the screw-driver out of
engagement with the nipple and thereby automatically arrests the screwing up of
same at the point previously determined to give the desired tension to the spoke.
To bring the screw-driver into engagement with the nipples, a coiled or spiral
spring of suitable strength and which takes an abutment at one end against the frame
and at the other end against a shoulder or collar on the first mentioned spindle is
used which spring forces the spindle, and, consequently, the screw-driver, forward,
and causes the latter to engage with the nipple with the necessary spring pressure
and at the same time allows the spoke to force back the screw driver at the pre-
determined point.
Or, any other suitable form of spring or an arrangement of weights might be
employed to effect this object.
The rear end of the spindle is fitted with a swivel or shackle to which is connected
one end of a chain or the like which passes around suitable guide pulleys carried by
the frame and thence to a treadle, so that the operator may, by depressing the treadle,
retract the screw driver at will.
Or, in lieu of the treadle, a lever may be suitably arranged for retracting the screw
driver.
In front of the screw driver and carried by the frame, are arranged, parallel to
each other, two arms, the outer one of which is formed with a V-notch which
terininates in axial alignment with the screw driver and the inner one of which is
formed with a shallower V notch beyond which is a horizontal hole in axial alignment
with the screw-driver made to receive the nipple inside the rim and communicating
with the V-notch by a narrower slot to allow of the passage of the spoke prior to the
insertion of the nipple into the said horizontal hole whilst the outer notch receives
the spoke and thus both rim and spoke are held steady during the screwing
operation.
And, in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed, aided by the accompanying drawings, more fully
to describe the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed according to the present
invention and showing part of a wheel in position thereon.
Figure 2 is a plan thereof.
Figure 3 is a longitudinal section of part of Figure 1, showing the screw-driver in
its advanced position and the nipple nearly screwed home.
Figure 4 is a similar view showing the screw-driver in its retracted position and
the nipple just entered upon the thread of the spoke, and,

page_text: Figure 5 is an end elevation of the upper part of the arms for supporting the
spoke.
In the several figures, in which like parts are indicated by similar letters of
reference, Figures 3 to 5 are drawn to an increased scale with respect to Figures 1
and 2:
a represents the rim or felloe of a velocipede or like wheel, a represents the
spokes which are threaded in the usual way, a² represents the nipples which are
loosely passed through perforatious in the rim or felloe a, and screwed upon the
thread of the spokes a¹, and the nipples a², are formed with heads which take au
abutment upon the rim or felloe a, through the intervention of washers a³.
The threaded hole of the nipple a² passes completely through the same and the
head of the nipple is formed with a transverse nick, slot or saw-cut a similar to
that of a screw and which intersects the threaded hole.
b represents the frame of the machine to the construction of which this invention
relates and supported in bearings 6* carried by the frame 6 and arranged longi-
tudinally thereof is a spindle c which is capable of rotary and endway movement in
in the bearings b* and upon this spindle c is mounted a bevelled toothed pinion c¹
which by a stud c² screwing through the boss of the wheel c¹ and engaging a groove c³
in the spindle c or it might be an equivalent contrivance, is fixed with the spindle c
in such manner that whilst capable of imparting a rotary movement thereto it yet
allows the free endway movement thereof in the bearings *.
The bevelled toothed pinion c¹ engages with a bevelled toothed wheel d' fixed upon
one end of a short shaft. d mounted at right angles to the shaft or spindle c in a
bearing 6 formed in a bracket b¹ on the frame b, with capability of rotary movement
only and upon the other end of this shaft d is fixed a crank handle d or it might be
a pulley or other device by the aid of which it may be rotated by hand or other
power in order to give a rotary motion to the spindle or shaft c.
At one end of the spindle or shaft c is fitted a chuck or holder c' 'in which is fixed
by means of a set screw a screw-driver c which by engaging with the nick (2* of
the nipple a will when the spindle c is rotated screw up the nipple a² on the spoke a¹
until the spoke having passed the pre-determined distance or length through the
nipple a pushes the screw-driver c out of engagement with the notch of the
nipple a and thereby automatically arrests the screwing up of the same at the point
previously determined as necessary to give the desired tension to the spoke."
In order to bring the screw-driver into engagement with the nipples a², a
coiled or spiral spring or it might be a spring of other suitable forin e of suitable
strength is mounted upon the spindle c and at one end takes an abutment against
that part of the frame carrying one of the bearings 6* and the other end acts
against a shoulder c* on the shaft or spindle c and this spring e forces the
spindle c and, consequently, the screw-driver c forward and causes the latter to
engage with the notch a of the nipple with the necessary spring pressure to
enable it to turn the same and at the same time allow the spoke a¹ to force back the
screw-driver c at the predetermined point, as herein before described.
It will be understood that in lieu of the springe any other well known contrivance
such as a weight and cord might be employed to carry forward the spindle c.
The rear end of the spindle c is fitted with a swivel or shackle c to which is
connected one end of a chain or the like f¹ which passes around guide pulleys b, b
carried by the frame b and at its other end is connected to a stirrup or treadle so
so that the operator may by depressing, the treadle or stirrup retract the screw-
- driver cat will.
In lieu of the stirrup or treadle f and chain connection f an arrangement of levers
may if desired be employed for retracting the spindle c and screw-driver c, as will be
readily understood by a competent mechanic.
In front of the screw-driver c and carried by a bracket from the frame bare
arranged parallel to each other, two arms g, h, the outer one h of which is formed
with a V notch, which terminates in a circular recess in axial alignment with the
screw driver c of about the diameter of the spoke a¹ whilst the inner arm gis

page_text: formed with a narrower V potch beyond which is a horizontal hole g¹ also in axial
alignment with the screw driver c6 and formed of such dimensions as to receive that
part of the nipple a² which projects through the rim a to the inside thereof and the
hole g¹ communicates with the V notch in the arm g by a narrower slot g² in order to
allow of the passage of the spoke a¹ prior to the insertion of the nipple a² in the
horizonal hole g₁ so that whilst the hole gl of the arm g receives the nipple the
recess h¹ of the arm h receives the spoke a¹ and thus both rim and spoke are held
steady during the screwing operation.
During the operation, the wheel, of which the rim and some other parts are
shown, may be mounted in a holder consisting of a spring fork adapted to clip on to
the hub at each side of the wheel and which fork is connected with one end of a
chain, the other end of which passes up over a pulley and is then brought down to a
counterbalance weight which is apertured to allow of the passage of the other part
of the chain, and thus the wheel is adapted to be held in any desired position with
its weight sustained by the counterbalance.
These means of suspending wheels for fitting purposes are well known, and form
no part of my present invention, and I have therefore not thought it necessary to
illustrate the same but I would have it understood that any suitable and convenient
means may be employed for securing the wheel during the screwing operation.
When in use, the machine may be clamped in a vice by means of its frame b or it
may be screwed to a bench or table for which purpose the frame b is provided with
an apertured flange b³.
In order to screw up the spoke nipple a¹, the wheel to be operated upon is mounted
in a suitable holder, as herein before described, the spindle c and screw-driver care
retracted by depressing the treadle or stirrup the wheel is placed with the rim a
between the screw-driver c and the inner supporting arm g with the spoke resting in
the recess h¹ of the arm and the nipple a¹, which has previously been passed
through the aperture of the rim and loosely screwed upon the spoke a¹, is moved
endwise until it enters the hole g¹ of the arm g.
The treadle or stirrup f is then released and the spindle c which is carried forward
by the spring e is rotated by means of the crank handle d² or other' means when the
screw-driver c will engage the nick or slot 2* of the nipple a² and turn the latter
until the spoke a¹ is drawn through the threaded hole of the nipple a² the distance
previously arranged, when it will force back the spring-actuated screw-driver c
out of engagement with the nick a* of the nipple a2 and the screw-driver co
will then cease to act.
If desired, the end of the screw-driver c may be formed with an axial stud adapted
to project into the hollow of the nipple a² whereby, the screw-driver will be disengaged
from the nipple before the end of the spoke has passed therethrough.
It will be obvious that instead of forming the nipple head with a nick, slot or
saw cut such as a2* it may be formed with a square or pyramidal hole or other
arrangement provided that the screw-driver is correspondingly formed to co-act
therewith.
Or, the head of the nipple a² may be formed square or of other suitable shape and
a corresponding key substituted for the screw-driver.
It will be obvious, that in lieu of employing a spring or weight to keep the screw-
driver or the like up to its work and a treadle or equivalent device to retract the screw-
driver, the reverse arrangement may be adopted, that is to say, the spring or weight
may be caused normally to retract the tool and a treadle or equivalent device may be
employed to bring it into action, but in such case it is desirable that the treadle or
the like be caused to act through the intervention of a spring or the like.
I have not, however, thought it necessary to illustrate this arrangement as the
same will be readily understood by a competent mechanic.
By the means herein before described, the spokes of a wheel may be rigidly
tightened without risk of overstraining as the screw-driver or other tool will automati-
cally cease to act upon the nipple when the spoke has been tightened to the required
extent.
•

page_text: 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. A machine for screwing up spoke nipples, comprising a holder for the spoke and
rim, a spindle mounted at right angles to the rim with capability of rotary and end-
way movement, a screw-driver or other instrument carried by the spindle and adapted
to engage a spoke nipple, a spring or the like for normally forcing the spindle forward
with the screw-driver or the like into engagement with the nipple, with capability of
being forced out of engagement therewith by the advancing spoke, means for rotating
the spindle and means such as a treadle or stirrup for retracting the spindle at the
times desired, substantially as herein shown and described.
2. A machine for screwing up spoke: nipples comprising a screw-driver or the like
adapted to engage the nipples and carried by a spindle capable of rotary and endway
movement, means for forcing the screw-driver into engagement with the nipple with
capability of being forced out of engagement therewith by the advancing spoke,
means for retracting the same and means for rotating the same at the times desired,
substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 15th day of Antahan 1900
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.