IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHEELS
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Fry of Stephen Street Lisson Grove St. Marylebone
in the County of Middlesex for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF WHEELS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Fry at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th August 1882.
JAMES FRY of Stephen Street Lisson Grove St Marylebone in the County of
Middlesex " IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHEELS
"
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of metal wheels of
the character used for bicycles tricycles perambulators bath chairs and other
vehicles and consists of an improved method of fixing the spokes and forming the
hub of the wheel.
For this purpose the metal spokes having been fixed to the rim in the usual
manner the inner ends of alternate spokes (which are bent outwards at right
angles in opposite directions) are inserted into two metal rings half the alternate
spokes in one and half in the other ring. These rings with the ends of the spokes
within then slide on to the hollow axle box (previously bored true) and screwed
at one end and are adjusted thereon at a proper distance apart so as to give the
proper tension to the spokes. The axle box rings and the inner ends of the spokes
are then arranged in a suitable mould into which molten metal is run to form
the hub and secure the spokes previously prepared to unite with the metal to form
one solid mass.
The hub is then finished off a box screwed on the end and an india rubber or
other tire is applied to the rim and the wheel is complete
By this means wheels of various sizes can be readily and cheaply constructed.

page_text: THE DRAWINGD
Figure 1 shows a side view and Figure 2 a vertical section of a metal wheel
showing the parts combined and arranged in accordance with my invention
previous to being placed in the mould to form the hub and complete the wheel as
represented by Figure 3.
For this purpose the metal spokes a a formed with a head a' and shown
separately on a larger scale at Figure 4 are fixed to the rim b in the usual manner
the inner ends a² of the alternate spokes a (which are bent outwards at right
angles in opposite directions as shown) are inserted into two metal rings c c half
the alternate spokes a being arranged in one ring and half in the other ring c.
These rings c c with the ends of the spokes a a within them are forced on to the
hollow axle box d previously bored true and screwed at one end to receive a cap d'
the rings cc being adjusted thereon at a proper distance apart as hereinafter
described so as to give the proper tension to the spokes.
The axle box d with the rings c c holding the inner ends of the spokes a a are
then arranged in a suitable mould (shown separately by Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8)
into which molten metal is run to form the hub and secure the spokes previously
prepared to unite with the metal to form one solid mass. The axle box d shown
by Figure 9 may have grooves formed around its circumference to receive the bent
ends of the spokes which are thus firmly secured in position by the molten metal
when run in to form the hub.
The mould for forming the hub of the wheel consists of two parts e and f the
part f being fixed in position by screws at f* fx. The circumference of the parts e
and fare formed with deep slots the projections c¹ and f¹ fitting into the slots of
the opposite parts so as to form a cylindrical chamber when the two parts and f
are closed or inserted one into the other as shown in Figure 5.
The ends of the projections e and fand the bottom of each slot is formed with
a semicircular recess in which each spoke a fits when the parts are closed together,
g is a screw pin fixed on the plate g* and forming a central axis to the combined
mould e, f.
In order to cast a hub to the wheel represented by Figures 1 and 2 the upper
parte of the mould is removed from the lower part f and the tubular axle box d
is placed over the screw pin or axis g with one half of the spokes a resting in the
semicircular recesses formed on the ends of the projections f' of the lower part f
of the mould. The upper part e of the mould is then placed over the screw pin or
axis g with the semi-circular recesses on the ends of the projections e¹ fitting upon
the other half of the spokes a, a.

page_text: The screw nut g' formed with lever arms g² is then screwed on to the screw pin
or axis g by which means the two parts e and f forming the mould are closed
together the rings cc with the alternate spokes a a being forced apart upon the
axle box d thus putting great tension upon the spokes a a and rim b of the wheel
molten metal is then run into the mould through a suitable aperture to form and
complete the hub.
The hub is then finished off a cap screwed on the end and an india rubber or
other tire is applied to the rim and the wheel is complete.
By this means wheels of various sizes can be readily and cheaply constructed.
Having thus described the nature of my invention and the manner of carrying
the same into practice I would remark that I am aware that metal wheels have
been made by securing the spokes and forming the hub with molten metal in
moulds and I make no claim thereto nor to any of the parts separately which are
well known and in common use, But what I claim is ;
The improved construction of metal wheels by arranging and combining the
parts a b c and fixing them in a state of tension upon the axis & substantially in
the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described and represented in the
drawings hereto annexed.
In witness whereof I the said James Fry have hereunto set my hand and
seal this twenty first day of February in the year of our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
JAMES FRY (L.S.)