Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 11th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 5th Nov.. 1896-Accepted, 16th Jan., 1897
I, JOHN HENRY PLAYER, Tool Maker, 30 St. Michael's Hill, Bristol, do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The apparatus is primarily intended for building cycle, perambulator, and
similar wheels, and it insures great truth in the completed wheel, as well as,
absence of unequal tension in the spokes, and is therefore a considerable
improvement on the ordinary way of working.
The apparatus consists of a bed (somewhat like that of a lathe) supported on
standards in the usual manner. The bed has a "gap" at or at about the middle
of its length. There is a mandril and also a poppet head as in the ordinary
lathe.
To the mandril is attached a four jawed universal or other suitable chuck, to
which is also attached a small central chuck. The main chuck has four radiating
arms attached to its jaws, the outer ends of which are further away from the
plane of the face of the chuck than the lower ends. The extreme outer ends of
the arms are formed so as to lie parallel with the axis of the chuck. To each
outer end is attached rather less than the quarter of a circular ring of cross
section, the ends being attached to the vertical side of the angle shaped ring. All
round the segments of this ring are openings for inserting fresh spokes, if any of
them should be overturned in tightening up, or otherwise. To the poppet are also
attached four radiating arms, similar to those already described, the upper ends
being inclined towards those on the chuck arms. To the outer ends of these four
arms is attached a ring having on its outer face another and smaller ring, whose
outer diameter is not more than the inner diameter of the segmented ring
attached to the chuck arms. To the centre of the poppet is also attached a
smaller poppet immediately facing the small central chuck, above mentioned. The
machine is used as follows.
The wheel-man will provide himself with a wheel pin or spindle turned with a
flange to go into the small central chuck above mentioned, and another for the
centre of the small poppet to enter. The wheel pin is fitted inside the hub of the
wheel by the usual cones and balls and centred by the small chuck and poppet.
The spokes of the wheel are then loosely placed in the hub and rim. The jaws
of the main chuck are then drawn towards the centre of the chuck, carrying with
them the arms and the segments attached to them, and closing them round the rim
of the wheel. The other ring (attached to the poppet) is then run forward and
keeps the rim in the shaped recess of the segments and so trues the side of the
wheel. The spokes are then tightened up to the proper tension all round, and
the wheel will be completed and may be withdrawn.
There may be more than four jaws to the chuck and more than four arms, and
segments attached to them. The ring on the poppet arms may also be made in
several segments instead of continuous. The wheel maker may be used on an
ordinary lathe having a good gap.
HUGHES & YOUNG,
23 Coleman Street, London, E.C., Agents for Applicant.

page_text: An Improved Wheel Builder.
I, JOHN HENRY PLAYER, Tool Maker of 5 Wren Street, Coventry, in the
County of Warwick, late of 30 St. Michael's Hill, Bristol do hereby declare the
nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to
be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The apparatus is primarily intended for building cycle, perambulator, and
similar wheels and it insures great truth in the completed wheel as well as absence
of unequal tension in the spokes, and is therefor a considerable improvement on
the ordinary way of working.
The apparatus consists of a bed (somewhat like that of a lathe) supported on
standards in the usual manner. The bed has a gap at or at about the middle of
its length. There is a mandrel and also a poppet head as in an ordinary lathe.
To the mandrel is attached a four jawed universal or other suitable chuck to
which is also attached a small central chuck. The main chuck has four radiating.
arms attached to its jaws, the other ends of which are further. away from the plane
of the face of the chuck than the lower ends. The extreme outer ends of the
arms are formed so as to lie parallel with the axis of the chuck. To each outer
end is attached rather less than the quarter of a circular ring of cross section,
the ends being attached to the vertical side of the angle shaped ring. All round
the segments of this ring are openings for inserting fresh spokes if any of them
should be overturned in tightening up or otherwise. To the poppet are also
attached four radiating arms similar to those already described, the upper ends
being inclined towards those on the chuck arms. To the outer ends of these four
arms is attached a ring having on its outer face another and smaller ring whose
outer diameter is not more than the inner diameter of the segmented ring attached
to the chuck arms. To the centre of the poppet is also attached a smaller poppet
immediately facing the small central chuck, above mentioned. The machine is used
as follows:
The wheel-mau will provide himself with a wheel pin or spindle turned with a
flange to go into the small central chuck above mentioned and another for the
centre of the small poppet to enter. The wheel pin is fitted inside the hub of the
wheel by the usual cones and balls and centred by the small chuck and poppet.
The spokes of the wheel are then loosely placed in the hub and rim. The jaws of
the main chuck are then drawn towards the centre of the chuck, carrying with
them the arms and the segments attached to them, and closing them round the rim
of the wheel. The other ring (attached to the poppet) is then run forward and
keeps the rim in the shaped recess of the segments and so trues the side of the
wheel. The spokes are then tightened up to the proper tension all round and the
wheel will be completed and may be withdrawn.
There may be more than four jaws to the chuck and more than four arms and
segments attached to them. The ring on the poppet arms may also be made in
several segments instead of continuous. The wheel maker may be used on an
ordinary lathe having a good gap.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practical effect I have appended hereunto two double sized sheets of drawings
upon which I have illustrated my improved wheel builder.
Figure 1 is a front elevation of my wheel builder.
Figure 2 is a part sectional front elevation of the wheel builder removed from
its supports.
Figure 3 is a plan of the boss to which the arms are secured.
Figure 4 is an interior view of the universal chuck which carries the arms.

page_text: Figure 5 is a cross sectional elevation of the chuck.
Figure 6 is a front view of one of the arms or jaws.
Figure 7 is a part sectional side elevation of the arms or jaws and the arcs.
In carrying my invention into practice I mount the universal chuck C and the
poppet head P in the standards S which are attached to or form part of the bed B.
This chuck C carries four arms or jaws e¹ which can be opened or closed to suit
the different sized wheels as clearly shown at Figures 4 and 5. To the outer ends
of each of the arms c is attached the quarter of a circular ring of cross
section and a number of holes c³ are provided around the periphery of these rings.
Attached to the poppet P also by means of the boss pl which has four arms p² are
four radiating arms p³ similar to those on the chuck their upper ends being inclined
towards the ends of the arms on the chuck and to the outer ends of each of these
four arms is attached the quarter of a circular ring p of shaped cross section
whose outer diameter is not more than the inner diameter of the ring . Also
attached to the centre of the poppet is a smaller poppet p' immediately facing the
centre of the chuck C.
The machine is used as follows:-
The spindle h' is fitted into the hub H by the usual balls and cones and held
and centred before the small chuck c' and the small poppet p by the adjustable
pins and h. The spokes are then placed loosely in the rim R and the hub and
the jaws of the chuck C are then drawn towards the centre of the chuck
carrying with them the segments 2 thus closing them around the rim which firmly
holds it in position, the ring which bears against the edge of the rim and keeps
it from moving laterally and so trues the side of the wheel. The spokes are then
tightened up to the proper tension all round and the wheel will be completed and
may be withdrawn from the machine.
There may be more than four arms or jaws to the chuck and more than four
segments attached to them and the poppet may have more than four arms and
segments or instead of the segments on the poppet arms I may use a complete ring
or circle.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed declare that what I
claim is.
First. A machine for building wheels consisting essentially of the adjustable
arms or jaws such as c¹ with their segments such as c in combination with the
adjustable arms or jaws such as p' with their segments such as p or a ring as an
equivalent operated in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein before
described and shewn on the accompanying sheets of drawings.
Second. An improved wheel builder substantially as herein before described and
shewn on the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 4th day of November 1896.
GEORGE BARKER,
77 Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent.