Improvements in the Manufacture of Cycle and other Wheels.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 11th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 11th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Cycle and other Wheels.
FREDERICK WESTWOOD, 324, Cheapside, Birmingham, Agent, WILLIAM
HENRY BUTLER, 1, Lombard Street, Birmingham, Machinist, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to an improved method in the manufacture of the wheels of
cycles, velocipedes carriages and other analogous purposes.
The kind of wheel to which we would specially refer is that known as the "spider
wheel" a wheel constructed with an india rubber or some flexible tyre, held by a
rim the section of which is V or U shaped (as usually known) and fitted with
metal spokes.
We will describe our invention as applied to a rear driving safety bicycle wheel.
Hitherto these spokes have been inserted in the centre of this rim so that the
concussion of the tyre with obstructions in travelling is transferred in a direct line
through the spokes to the hub and thence to the rider of the bicycle.
Our object is to minimise or destroy this bump or thud and accomplish other
improvements as will appear after our description.
We will describe our invention thus. The rim of the wheel as usually made with
direct spokes is drawn or rolled or otherwise constructed with a solid section
Vor U shape or the section instead of being solid is sometimes hollow (as in the
"climax" hollow rim) leaving a thin edge on the outside. Particularly is this the
case in the solid rim, thereby rendering it liable to be fractured.
By our invention we roll or otherwise form the rim V or U shape, but roll or
otherwise turn over on each edge a flange or border, turning it over in a spiral
form that is the edge of the V or Ų rim projects outwardly in a spiral, turned
round with any required number of spirals or coils, or we may make it with a flat
or any other suitable shaped flange as occasion may require. Through holes in
these flanges metal spokes are inserted and carried to the hub or centre of the
wheel to which they are attached. But in larger wheels owing to the spokes
crossing to the sides of the rim there may be a tendency of the spokes to buckle or
bend at the points of crossing which we shall overcome in the following manner.
We construct a second rim or tube smaller in diameter than the first, which first
one carries the tyre and is flanged on the edge. This second rim we place inside
the first one, so that when so placed before the spokes are inserted a distance is left
clear between the rims and they are fastened together by semi-circular or other
shaped pieces of metal. We then either fasten the spokes in this inner rim or pass
them through this inner rim and fasten them as before described.
The improvements which are secured by this construction of the wheels are as
follows.
(1) As before mentioned the blow upon the spokes by concussion is not direct
giving ease and speed to the rider. (2) The rim having a flange or edge, greatly
reduces its liability to fracture. (3) Owing to the flange, the rim may be made of
a much lighter material giving to it elasticity and lightness. (4) In the event of
the wheel slipping from its upright position as is often the case, especially with the
safety bicycle, the flange would be ready to catch the ground and help to prevent
the wheel from slipping entirely down. (5) The indiarubber or flexible tyre need
not be removed when adding new spokes. Lastly owing to this last fact mentioned
the tyre may be vulcanised in the rim and avoid the tyre coming off.
We would also add that we do not confine ourselves to the particular form of

page_text: wheel flange or rim as herein described but may alter or modify the same without
departing essentially from the principle of our said invention.
Dated this 10th day of February 1890.
FREDERICK WESTWOOD.
WILLIAM HENRY BUTLER.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Cycle and other Wheels.
We, FREDERICK WESTWOOD, 324, Cheapside, Birmingham, Agent, WILLIAM
HENRY BUTLER, 46, Newport Road, Moseley, Birmingham, Machinist, 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 :-
The object of our invention is to construct a cycle wheel, in which the concussions
on the tyre in travelling are not transferred in a direct line to the rider, in which
the spokes may be more easily adjusted, the felloe more securely attached, and that
it shall be lighter and more serviceable than the wheel now in use.
To effect these objects we construct the wheel in the following manner, we roll
or otherwise form the rim V or U shaped as now used, but roll or otherwise turn
over on each edge a flange or border, turning it over in a spiral form, i.e. the edge
of the V or U rim project outwards in a spiral, turned round with any required
number of spirals or coils, or we may make it with a flat or any other suitable
shaped flange as occasion may require. Through holes in these flanges metal
spokes are inserted and carried to the hub or centre of the wheel to which they are
attached.
But in larger wheels where the spokes may cross to the sides of the rim we
construct a second rim or tube smaller in diameter than the first which carries the
tyre and is flanged on the edge, so that when so placed before the spokes are
inserted, a distance is left between the rims, and they are fastened together by semi-
circular or other shaped pieces of metal. We then either fasten the spokes in this
inner rim, or pass them through this inner rim and fasten them as before described.
The tyre is then made or vulcanised upon the rim, being held in the centre so that
the sides may be pushed upon one side to insert the spokes when replacement takes
place as before described.
And in order that this our said invention may be more clearly understood, we
will now proceed to describe it by the aid of the sheet of drawings accompanying.
Fig. 1. shews the section of the ordinary U shaped rim.
Fig. 2. shews our improved form with round edge with holes at a a for spokes, no
special shape is here claimed and it may take the form of Fig. 3 if necessary.
Fig. 4 shews our construction for large wheels. c is the second or smaller rim
d are the flat circular pieces of metal.
Fig. 5. shews a section or plan of the double rim of Fig. 4 a. a. is the rim k is the
circular metallic plate a" a" is the inner rim shewing the entrance of the spokes m m
but they may take the form as shown by the dotted lines b.
Fig. 6. shews the vulcanised tyre g. upon the rim a. a. as at Fig. 2. The edges
from to are loose, and the tyre is fastened, or vulcanised in from z to z. This is
the special feature here claimed in vulcanising in, or fastening in, as we are aware
that tyres have already been vulcanised or fastened in upon the rim but not with
loose edges to admit of the spokes being inserted. o. shews the hole in centre of
the tyre. This tyre may also be applied as shewn by g at Fig. 3. with either a
round or an oval hole.
Fig. 7. shews a rim made up of two pieces the top a. a fitting into the bottom f.
These are all drawn full size except Fig. 4 which is drawn on a scale of one
sixteenth to an inch.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. The insertion of the spokes of the wheel on the outside of the felloe, so that
the centre of concussion is between the spokes (as herein shown).
2. The insertion of an inner rim joining the outer and inner rim together by flat
metallic circular springs.
3. The vulcanising of the tyre in this shaped rim i.e. in the centre, leaving the
edges loose as herein described.
4. The adjustment of spokes without removal of tyre.
5. The general combination and arrangement of parts, substantially for the
purpose as hereinbefore described, the whole forming improvements in the wheels.
of velocipedes and other vehicles.
Dated this 10th day of December 1900.
FREDERICK WESTWOOD.
WILLIAM HENRY BUTLER.