Improvements in Wire Spokes for Velocipede and like Wheels.
Year: 1897

page_text: PROVIDIONAL DIECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wire Spokes for Velocipede and like Wheels.
I, ALFRED BROWN, of 95, Two-Trees Lane, Denton, near Manchester, Wire
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
Wire spokes as at present made for the wheels of velocipedes and the like are
of round or oval cross-section and therefore afford very little resistance to side
strains when the wheel is turning a corner, and consequently tend to buckle and
weaken the general construction of the wheel.
To avoid such drawbacks and to produce a spoke which shall possess rigidity
in all directions, and therefore be good for driving as well as for resisting side
strains, I employ a spoke of diamond or square cross-section with two of its angles
parallel with the machine, and the other two at right-angles.
By so forming and mounting the spokes they effectually resist both driving
and lateral strains, and ensure of the proper structure of the wheel being main-
tained.
A smaller gauge of spoke can also be used, and thereby effect a saving of weight,
since by flattening out a smaller round gauge of wire it will be equal to the larger
gauge of round wire now in use.
The ends of the improved spokes are by preference round, or of the usual form
for connection to the wheel rim and hub respectively in the ordinary manner.
Dated this 6th day of December 1897.
ALFRED BROWN,
By John G. Wilson & Co.,
Agents.
I, ALFRED BROWN, of 95, Two-Trees Lane, Denton, near Manchester, Wire
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:
-
This invention consists of the herein described improvements in wire spokes
for velocipede and like wheels.
Wire spokes as at present made for the wheels of velocipedes and the like are
of round or oval cross section and therefore offer very little resistance to side
strains when the wheel is turning a corner, and consequently tend to buckle and
weaken the general construction of the wheel.

page_text: To avoid such drawbacks and to produce a spoke which shall possess rigidity
in all directions and therefore be good for driving as well as for resisting side
strains, employ a spoke of diamond or square cross-section with two of its angles
parallel with the machine and with the plane of the wheel, and the other two
angles at right angles thereto.
The ends of my improved spokes are by preference round or of the usual form
for connection to the wheel rim and hub respectively in the ordinary manner.
On the accompanying drawing Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a part of a wheel
provided with my improved square section spokes and Fig. 2 shews one of the said
spokes separately; Fig. 3 shews side views of one of my improved diamond section
spokes.
The same letters of reference indicate the same or corresponding parts in all
the figures.
The spokes are marked A and as will be seen by an examination of the drawing
they are, in Figs. 1 and 2, of square cross section each spoke having its two
opposite angles a parallel with the plane of the wheel and with the bicycle
or other velocipede in which the wheel is mounted, and the other two angles a as
at right angles thereto. This proper position of the spoke is assured by the headed
end (which engages in the hole in the wheel hub D in the usual way) being
bent outwardly at right angles to the two opposite angles a¹ a² of the spoke.
By so forming and mounting the spokes A they effectually resist both driving
and lateral strains and ensure of the proper structure of the wheel being main-
tained. A smaller gauge of spoke can also be used and thereby effect a saving
of weight because a round wire of small gauge can be rolled swaged or drawn
or otherwise flattened out into a square or diamond section which will be of equal
strength to a larger gauge of round wire. The end a of the improved spoke is
round and screw threaded as usual for connection to the nipples in the wheel
rim C and the other end a of the spoke is also by preference round where it is
cranked and headed at a' for connection to the flange of the hub D.
The diamond section spoke represented by Fig. 3 is so arranged in the wheel
that the longer diameter X X and two angles a a² of the spoke are parallel with
the plane of the wheel and with the machine whilst the shorter diameter Y Y and
the other two angles a³ a are at right angles thereto.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:
Wire spokes for velocipede and like wheels made of a square or diamond shape
in cross section and so arranged that two opposite angles of the spoke will be
parallel with the plane of the wheel while the other two angles of the spoke be
at right angles thereto substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 25th day of Avon 1808
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.