Improvements in Wheels for Cycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 19th July, 1893
Complete Specification Left, 20th Mar., 1894-Accepted, 28th Apr., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wheels for Cycles and other Vehicles.
I, JOSEPH DAVID EVERETT of Dumbarton, Derryvolgie Avenue, Belfast, in
the County of Antrim, Ireland, Professor of Natural Philosophy, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows
My invention relates to an improved construction of spring wheel for cycles, and
other vehicles having wheels similar to bicycle wheels.
The spokes are each constructed of a length of wire, connected at one end by a
hook-and-eye joint to a spring which is preferably of helical form. The other ends
of the spoke wire and of the spring are attached respectively to the wheel rim and
hub by hooks and eyes or by hooks catching in holes or notches, forming freely
working joints. It is immaterial whether the spring ends of the spokes are
attached to the hub or to the rim, and for the purpose of this Specification I shall
describe them as attached to the hub.
By this construction it will be seen that between the points of attachment of the
spoke to the hub and rim of the wheel, there are three working joints of a kind
involving a minimum of friction so that the greatest freedom of movement is
obtained for the spokes in all directions.
The spokes are attached to the hub of the wheel by eyes or hooks screwed into
or otherwise attached thereto, or the hook which forms one end of the spoke may
catch in a hole or slot provided for the purpose in the flange of the hub.
The spokes are attached to the rim of the wheel by means of specially shaped
hooked nipples adapted to receive the threaded ends of the spoke-wires at one end,
and hooked at the other end to engage either with an eye attached to the rim, or
with one side of the rim itself, the shape of the nipple being such that the line of
the spoke-wire if continued passes as nearly as may be through the point at which
the hook rests upon its bearing.
As an alternative method of attaching the spokes to the wheel rims I place
headed eyes through holes in the rim and hook the ends of the spokes to the said
headed eyes.
The rim may be of the ordinary crescent shape, and may have notches of
rounded form cut in its edges to receive the hooks of the nipples and prevent them
from slipping or creeping, or it may have recurved edges pierced with holes to
receive the hooks of the nipples. As an alternative construction the rim may take
the form of a flat band, and the eye for engaging with the hook may be formed on
a wire passed round the rim and through notches at its edges.
To obtain the greatest possible resistance to lateral displacement, the spokes of
the wheel are preferably crossed, i.e., the spokes attached to the right flange of the
hub are connected to the left side of the rim, and rice versa. For the same reason
I prefer to use hubs of the greatest available width. In the construction of driving
wheels for chain-driven bicycles, I may extend the flange of the hub opposite to the
flange to which the driving chain wheel is fixed, as far as the width of the frame
will allow, thus splaying out the spokes of the wheel more on that side than the
other. In wheels intended to be used in pairs side by side, such for instance as
the driving wheels of a tricycle, 1 may extend the hubs on one side-the inside
when the pair are side by side-only.
As spring spokes constructed according to my invention are exempt from bending
stresses by the method of attachment employed, and from sudden jerks by the

page_text: action of the springs, they may be made of wire of much finer gauge than is used
for the spokes of the ordinary direct-spoke wheels.
Dated this 19th day of July 1893.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.J.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wheels for Cycles and other Vehicles.
I, JOSEPH DAVID EVERETT, of Dumbarton, Derryvolgie Avenue, Belfast, in
the County of Antrim, Ireland, Professor of Natural Philosophy, 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 elastic or spring wheel
suitable for cycles and other road vehicles, and has specific reference to my prior
Patent No. 23341 of 1892 for the construction of elastic or spring spokes having
separate and detachable springs, and it consists in attaching the elastic or spring
spokes to the hub and rim of the wheel by freely working joints consisting of hooks
and eyes or their equivalents, in crossing the spokes so that the point of attachment of
each to the wheel rim is on the opposite side of the wheel to its point of attachment
to the hub, and in obtaining in certain cases an increased width between the hub
flanges by setting the spokes at a greater angle with the plane of the wheel on one
side of the wheel than on the other, the object being to obtain a more perfect elastic
or spring wheel than is at present known.
I attain this end by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, in
which
Figure 1 Sheet No. 1 is a broken view in side elevation of a wheel embodying
my invention, and
Figure 2 Sheet No. 1 is a broken view in transverse section thereof.
Figures 3 and 4 Sheet No. 1 are views in transverse section showing an
alternative method of attaching the spokes to the wheel rim.
Figures 5, 6 and 7 Sheet No. 1 are views in transverse section showing methods
of attaching the spokes to special forms of rim.
Figure 8 Sheet No. 2 is a view showing an alternative method of attaching the
elastic spokes to the hub of the wheel.
Figures 9 and 10 Sheet No. 2 illustrate a method of attaching the elastic spokes
to the wheel rims of a flat band section.
Figure 11 Sheet No. 2 is a broken view in side elevation showing another form
my invention may assume.
Figures 12 and 13 Sheet No. 2 are views in transverse section and broken side
elevation respectively showing another method of attaching the elastic spokes to
the wheel rim.
Throughout the several views similar letters denote similar parts.
The spokes A of the wheel each have at any convenient part of their length a
spring B preferably of helical form. These springs B may be placed either at the
hub end of the spoke A, as shown by Figures 1, 2 and 8, at the rim end of the spoke
as shown by Figures 4, 12 and 13, or in its length as shown by Figure 11.
The ends of the springs B are attached to the spoke A and to the hub C or
rim D, as the case may be, by means of hooks and eyes as shown thus forming
freely working joints to give the spokes the greatest possible freedom of movement
and to avoid bending the spoke wires. The springs are preferably made with free
hooks at their ends and eyes a are formed on the ends of the spokes A. When

page_text: the springs are placed at the hub ends of the spokes the hooks 6 of the springs
engage either with eye studs c screwed into the flanges of the hub C as shown by
Figures 1 and 2, or with holes c formed transverely through the flanges of the
hub C as shown by Figure 8, the holes being made smooth at the edges and large
enough for the hooks to roll in them with perfect freedom. The other ends of the
spokes are threaded to screw in hook-shaped nipples E as shown by Figures 1, 2,
3, 5, 6, 7, and 11. The adjustment of the spokes is effected either by screwing
them in the said nipples or by screwing the eye studs c into the flanges of
the hub.
If the rim D is of the ordinary crescent section the nipples E may engage with
the edges of the rim D as shown by Figures 1, 2, 7 and 11 in which case round
bottomed notches d are cut or formed in the edges of the rim at spaced intervals.
If the rim D has recurved edges as shown by Figures 3 and 4, holes d are formed
in the recurved edges or sides of the rim to receive the hooks of the nipples, the
edges of the said holes being well rounded so as to obtain for the spokes the
greatest freedom of movement.
If the rim D is of a flat section as shown by Figures 9 and 10, eyes d' are formed
at one end of lengths of wire each of which is passed transversely round the rim, as
shown by Figure 9, notches d being cut or formed in the edges thereof as shown
by Figure 10 to locate and retain the eyes in position. When the springs are
placed at the rim ends of the spokes they may engage with the notches in the edges
of the rim if the rim is of the ordinary crescent section with holes in the edges of
the rim if the rim has recurved edges as shown by Figure 4, or with eyes carried
by the rim if the rim is of a flat section as shown by Figure 9. As an alternative
method headed eyes d may be passed through the rim as shown by Figures 12
and 13 either for the hooks 6 of the springs B or the hooked nipples E to engage
with.
To obtain the greatest possible amount of resistance to lateral displacement the
elastic spokes are crossed i.e. the one end of each is attached either directly or
indirectly to the rim of the wheel on the opposite side of the wheel to its point of
attachment to the hub, and for the same reason the bub of the wheel should be as
wide as possible. When there is room for the hub to project a long way beyond
the plane of the rim on one side and but little room available on the other side, as
for instance in the driving wheels of chain driven bicycles, the spokes may be set
at a larger angle with the plane of the rim (otherwise called the plane of the wheel)
on the former side than on the latter as shown by Figure 11; those spokes which
make the larger angle with the plane of the wheel being constructed with weaker
(i.e. more easily extended) springs than those on the other side and being also
adjusted to lower tension. The spokes may also run direct from the hub to the
wheel rim as shown by dotted lines in Figure 11 instead of being crossed. This
construction may also be applied to wheels having direct or inelastic spokes, and is
suitable to be employed with any of the three kinds of rubber tyre-pneumatic,
cushion and solid-at present in use.
As spring or elastic spokes constructed as herein before set forth are exempt from
bending stresses by the method of attachment employed, and from sudden jerks by
the action of the springs, they may be made of wire of a much finer or thinner
gauge than is used for ordinary direct spokes.
By this construction of elastic wheel great resilience is obtained for motion in
any direction with the least possible friction and a sufficient amount of lateral
resistance. The small amount of additional weight incurred by this construction
is fully compensated by the diminished necessity for weight in the frame and
saddle.
I wish it to be particularly understood that I do not limit myself to the precise
details of construction hereinbefore described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawing, but that I hold myself at liberty to make such changes and alterations
as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of my invention.
As stated in my prior Patent No. 23,341 of 1892 I am aware that prior to the

page_text: date of my invention wheels have been made with spring spokes, and I am also
aware that wheels have been made with crossed spokes, I do not therefore claim
either spring or crossed spokes broadly, but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what mauner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In an elastic or spring wheel, consisting of a hub and wheel rim, and elastic
spokes each of which consists of a wire spoke length and a separate and detachable
spring (preferably of helical form), connecting the said elastic spokes to the hub
and rim of the wheel by means of hooks and eyes or their equivalents forming
freely working joints, as and for the purpose set forth.
2. Spring spokes for wheels consisting of helical springs and wire spoke lengths
attached to each other and to the hub and rim of the wheel by hooks and eyes or
their equivalents, substantially as set forth.
3. An elastic or spring wheel, consisting of a hub and wheel rim, and elastic
spokes each of which consists of a wire spoke length and a separate and detachable
spring (preferably of helical form) the said wire spoke lengths and the said springs
being connected to each other and to the hub and rim by means of hooks and eyes
or their equivalents, the spokes being crossed so that their points of attachment to
the wheel rim are on the opposite side of the wheel to their points of attachment to
the hub, as and for the purpose set forth.
4. An elastic or spring wheel, consisting of a hub and wheel rim, and elastic
spokes each of which consists of a wire spoke length and a separate and detachable
spring (preferably of helical form) the said wire spoke lengths and the said springs
being connected to each other and to the hub and rim by means of hooks and eyes
or their equivalents, the spokes being crossed so that their points of attachment to
the wheel rim are on the opposite side of the wheel to their points of attachment
to the hub, those on one side of the wheel being longer than those on the other
side thereof so that the said spokes on one side of the wheel make a greater angle
with the plane of the wheel than the spokes on the other side thereof, as and for
the purpose set forth.
5. In a wheel, the combination with a hub having eye studs screwed into, or
transverse holes formed through, its flanges; of a rim having a series of notches
cut or formed in its edges; of spokes consisting of lengths of wire and helical
springs connected together by hooks and eyes or their equivalents, the one end of
each spoke being screwed into a hook-shaped nipple adapted to engage with one of
the notches in the edges of the wheel rim, and the other end of each spoke being
attached to the eye studs or holes in the flanges of the hub by means of hooks the
said spokes being alternately crossed between their points of attachment to the rim
and hub of the wheel, as set forth.
6. In a wheel the combination with a hub having eye studs screwed into, or
transverse holes formed through its flanges of a rim having recurved edges in which
are a series of holes; of spokes consisting of lengths of wire and helical springs
connected together by hooks and eyes or their equivalents, the one end of each
spoke being screwed into a hook-shaped nipple adapted to engage with holes in the
recurved edges of the wheel rim, and the other end of each spoke being attached
by a hook to the eye studs or holes in the flanges of the hub, the said spokes
heing alternately crossed between their points of attachment to the rim and hub of
the wheel, as set forth.
7. In a wheel the combination with a hub having eye studs screwed into, or
transverse holes formed through, its flanges; of a rim of a flat band section having
a series of wire eyes fixed to it; of spokes consisting of lengths of wire and helical
springs connected together by hooks and eyes or their equivalents, the one end of
each spoke being screwed into a hook-shaped nipple adapted to engage with one of
the wire eyes fixed to the wheel rim, and the other end of each spoke being attached
by a hook to the eye studs or holes in the flanges of the hub, the said spokes being

page_text: alternately crossed between their points of attachment to the rim aud hub of the
wheel, as set forth.
8. In a wheel, the combination with a hub having eye studs screwed into, or
transverse holes formed in, its flanges; of a rim having a series of holes adapted to
receive headed eyes; of spokes consisting of lengths of wire screwed into hooked
nipples and helical springs connected together by hooks and eyes or their equivalents,
the one end of each spoke being attached by a hook to one of the headed eyes in
the wheel rim, and the other end of each spoke being attached by a hook to the eye
studs or holes in the flanges of the hub, the said spokes alternately being crossed
between their points of attachment to the rim and hub of the wheel, as set forth.
9. In a wheel, the combination of a hub having either eye studs screwed into, or
transverse holes formed through its flanges; of a rim having a series either of
notches or of holes in its edges; of spokes consisting of lengths of wire and helical
springs connected together and to the wheel rim and hub by hook and eye joints,
the spokes on one side of the wheel being placed at a greater angle with the plane
of the wheel than those on the other side thereof, as set forth.
10. In a wheel, the combination with a hub having either eye studs screwed into,.
or transverse holes formed through its flanges; of a rim having a series of notches
or holes in its edges; of spokes consisting of lengths of wire and helical springs
connected to each other and to the wheel rim and hub by hook and eye joints, the
said spokes being alternately crossed between their points of attachment to the
wheel rim and hub, those on one side of the wheel being placed at a greater angle
with the plane of the wheel than those on the other side thereof, as set forth.
11. In a wheel, placing the spokes on one side of the wheel at a greater angle
with the plane of the wheel than those on the other side thereof, as and for the
purpose set forth.
12. In a wheel, placing the spokes on one side of the wheel at a greater angle.
with the plane of the wheel than those on the other side thereof and crossing the
said spokes between their points of attachment to the hub and rim of the wheel, as
and for the purpose set forth.
13. The respective combination of parts forming my improved elastic or spring
wheel, substantially as herein before described and illustrated by the accompanying
drawings.
WAINGO day of it.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.