Improvements in Machines for Securing the Spokes in the Rims of Wheels.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Oct., 1896-Accepted, 2nd Jan., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Securing the Spokes in the Rims
of Wheels.
I, WILLIAM SANDERSON, of No. 205 Erie Street, in the City of Syracuse,
County of Onondaga, and State of New York, United States of America,
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:-
This invention relates to improvements in machines for assembling the parts of
wheels, and has for its object the production of a device for securing spoke-nipples
to rims and to spokes with great rapidity and efficiency, and for holding the rim
true during such operation; and to this end it consists, essentially, in the general
construction and arrangement of the component parts of said machine, all as herein-
after more particularly described and pointed out in the claims.
In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawing,
forming a part of this specification, in which like letters indicate corresponding
parts in all the viewe.
Figure 1 is a vertical section, partly in elevation, of this improved machine, a
portion of a wheel being shown as operatively engaged thereby, and only two of
the operating pieces being illustrated.
and
Figure 2 is a horizontal section, partly in elevation, taken on line 2-2, Figure 1 ;
Figures 3 and 4 are vertical sections, taken respectively on lines 3-3 and 4-4,
Figure 2.
A represents a supporting frame; B B clutch-dogs for engaging the rim c of
a vehicle-wheel; D operating pieces for simultaneously securing interiorly threaded
spoke-nipples within perforations in the rim c and to the threaded ends of
spokes ; and E guides for the nipples c; all of which parts may be of any
suitable form, size, and construction. The frame A is formed with a top plate a,
which supports the clutch-dogs B, and is provided with a spindle a' for entering
the wheel-hub c. The clutch-dogs B are usually provided with slots B2 extending
downwardly from their upper edges, and convex inner faces for engaging the outer
peripheral face of the rim c, and are preferably connected by any suitable
mechanism for moving them all simultaneously. The outer peripheral face of the
rim c is preferably formed concave in cross section and consequently, the convex
inner faces of the clutch-dogs hold said rim true edgewise, or in other words
prevent lateral deflection thereof. Said clutch-dogs are here shown as movable in
slots a² in the plate a and as engaged with screw-threaded rods b having their inner
ends provided with pinions 61, which mesh with a circular rack & movable in a
guide on the lower face of the plate a.
A vehicle-wheel is usually provided with upper and lower series of spokes
inclined towards each other from the hub to which their inner ends are secured,
and consequently, the operating pieces D for attaching nipples to said spokes
incline at an angle with each other in planes substantially coincident with the
planes of said spokes. The operating pieces D are reciprocally movable through
sleeves d to which they are suitably keyed as best seen at Figure 2, and are
revolved with said sleeves by any suitable mechanism for permitting one or more
of the operating pieces to cease revoluble movement when the corresponding nipples
are forced to the desired position.

page_text: The operating pieces D are preferably moved endwise independently by suitable
springs D¹, which are adapted to engage the adjacent faces of separated collars on
said operating pieces, and are secured to movable supports D' rocked to and fro
by pivoted levers D³. A suitable rocking ring or part D is connected to the
levers D and simultaneously operates the same for rocking the supports D.
The sleeves d are supported by brackets d' detachably mounted on the supporting
frame and are formed with separated bearings or sockets for receiving the opposite
ends of said sleeves; and wheels are interposed between said bearings or sockets
and are fixed to said sleeves for revolving the same and the operating pieces D.
A driving or friction wheel or disk d³ is arranged beneath the wheels d, and is
provided with circular engaging faces d', d' arranged out of alignment with each
other for frictionally engaging the wheels arranged on the separated series of the
operating pieces D. The wheel or disk d³ may be driven by any suitable meaus,
and is preferably provided with gear teeth on its under face engaged with a
pinion de mounted on a shaft d' to which power may be applied by any suitable
driving mechanism.
The friction between the wheels d and the wheel or disk d³ is insufficient to
rotate the operating pieces when the corresponding spoke-nipples are in the
desired position, and consequently, one or more of said operating pieces will cease
to revolve should the corresponding spoke-nipples be forced to the desired position
prior to the cessation of the operation of the remaining operating pieces. It is
frequently advisable to vary the friction between the wheels d2 and the wheel or
disk d³, and therefore one or more idlers ds are engaged with the teeth on the under
surface of the wheel or disk a³, and are journaled in movable supports d³ provided
with adjustable weights do.
The operating pieces D are movable through guides e, which are connected to
the guides E for feeding the spoke-nipples. The outer ends of the guides e are
arranged in sockets in the inner sides of the brackets d¹ and their opposite ends
are arranged in the slots B2 in the clutch-dogs B in alignment with the convex
faces of said clutch-dogs. The guides e are usually moved to and fro with said
clutch-dogs by connections B' having their inner ends secured to the clutch-dogs
and their outer ends secured to tie-pieces connecting each pair of the guides e. As
preferably constructed, the guides e are provided with spring jaws e' for receiving
and engaging the threaded ends of the spokes c³, and for aligning the spoke-
nipples with said guides. The jaws e¹ are formed with shoulders e projecting
from their inner or adjacent faces for engaging and holding the outer ends of the
spokes, and outwardly flaring end faces e at their extremities for guiding the outer
extremities of the spokes, and said jaws enclose chambers e which extend inwardly
from the shoulders, are formed of greater diameter than the outer extremities
of the spokes, and encircle said extremities for guiding the nipples c' thereto.
The guides E are connected to any suitable means for continuously feeding the
spoke-nipples, as a hopper E' provided with a suitable agitator E in its base
formed with cutouts for receiving the spoke-nipples and aligning the same with
the upper ends of the guides E. The agitator E is rocked to and fro by any
suitable means as a lever E³ connected to said agitator and to the shaft d'. The
hopper E, the agitator E, and the means for actuating said agitator have been
but briefly described, since their specific construction and arrangement form no
part of this invention and will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.
When the operating pieces are withdrawn from their normal position, the spoke-
nipples feed from the guides E into the guides e with their enlarged ends adjacent
to the inner ends of said operating pieces, which are suitably formed for entering
slots in the enlarged ends of said nipples. As the operating pieces are reciprocated
towards the wheel-rim, the spoke-nipples are suitably engaged thereby, and are
forced inwardly into alignment with the threaded ends of the spokes. The
revoluble movement of the operating pieces then secures the nipples upon the
spokes until they are sufficiently inserted within the apertures in the wheel-rim.
During the securement of the spoke-nipples, the spokes are held by suitable

page_text: clamps F, which preferably reciprocate along the plate a, and are provided with
upwardly projecting substantially parallel spring arms. The upper ends of said
spring arms are arranged on opposite sides of the outer ends of the spokes and
the outer faces of said ends of the spring arms are engaged with shoulders c
formed on the outer ends of the spokes. The clamps F operate to prevent bending
of the spokes, and preferably tension said spokes before the securement of the
spoke-nipples, and to effect this result are usually movable radially by any suitable
means, here illustrated as a rocking hand-ring f mounted on the plate a and
provided with cam slots f', engaged with shoulders fou the base of said
clamps.
In the operation of this invention, the wheel is mounted on the spindle a', and is
quickly engaged by the clutch-dogs B, which hold the same firm and true; the
spoke-nipples are fed into the guides e, and the operating pieces D are then moved
endwise and are frictionally revolved for securing the spoke-nipples in position.
It will be readily apparent, however, that this invention, instead of securing interiorly
threaded spoke-nipples simultaneously to a wheel-rim and to threaded spokes, may
be used for securing nipples to the outer ends of spokes before said spokes are
secured to a rim, or may be used for securing exteriorly threaded spoke-nipples to
a wheel-rim, or for boring holes in a rim, providing augers are used as operating
pieces instead of screw-drivers.
The operation of this invention will now be readily understood upon reference
to the foregoing description and the accompanying drawing.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a machine for assembling the parts of wheels, the combination of a
reciprocating operating piece D for securing the spoke-nipples in position, a
wheel d² for revolving the operating piece, a second wheel d³ for engaging and
driving the former wheel, and
rocking actuating part D for forcing the
operating piece endwise through said wheel into and out of operative position,
said rocking piece baving its axis arranged substantially coincident with the axis
of the second wheel, substantially as and for the purpose described.
a
2. In a machine for assembling the parts of wheels, the combination of a driving
wheel d³, an operating piece D reciprocating crosswise of the driving wheel and
arranged at an incline with the axis of said wheel, and means for revolving
and reciprocating the operating piece, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
3. In a machine for assembling the parts of wheels, the combination of operating
pieces for securing the spoke-nipples in position, means for simultaneously rotating
the operating pieces, and means for moving the operating pieces endwise
independently towards the spoke-nipples, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
4. In a machine for assembling the parts of wheels, the combination of a
substantially horizontal driving wheel, a series of operating pieces reciprocating
crosswise of the driving wheel, a second series of operating pieces reciprocating
crosswise of the driving wheel in a plane arranged at an angle with the plane in
which the former operating pieces are reciprocally movable, additional wheels
mounted on the operating pieces and simultaneously rotated by the driving wheel,
and means for independently reciprocating the operating pieces through the
additional wheels, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
5. In a machine for assembling the parts of wheels, the combination of a driving
wheel, operating pieces D, additional wheels frictionally engaged with the
driving wheel for independently revolving the operating pieces, a roller d³ for
adjustably forcing the driving wheel d³ towards the additional wheels, and means
for holding the roller in its adjusted position, substantially as and for the purpose
described.

page_text: 6. In a machine for assembling the parts of wheels, the combination of a guide e
for the spokes and the nipples, provided with inner projecting shoulders e for
engaging the outer extremities of the spokes, and a chamber e extending inwardly
from the shoulders e, said chamber being formed of greater diameter than the
outer extremities of the spokes, and encircling said extremities for guiding the
nipples thereto, an operating piece D for securing the nipples in position, and
means for revolving and reciprocating the operating piece, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
7. In a machine for assembling the parts of wheels, the combination of guides e
for the spokes and the nipples, provided with inner projecting shoulders e³ and end
faces for engaging the outer extremities of the spokes, and a chamber et
extending inwardly from the shoulders e, said chamber being formed of greater
diameter than the outer extremities of the spokes, and encircling said extremities
for guiding the nipples thereto, operating pieces D for securing the nipples to the
spokes, means for actuating the operating pieces and clamps F for engaging the
epokes and preventing bending thereof, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
8. In a machine for assembling the parts of wheels, the combination of movable
clutch-dogs B for engaging the rim and holding the same true, said clutch-dogs
being provided with slots B2 extending therethrough, means for actuating the
clutch-dogs, operating pieces D movable through the slots B³ for securing the
nipples to the rim, and means for independently actuating the operating pieces,
substantially as and for the purpose described.
9. In a machine for assembling the parts of wheels, a supporting frame A, a
supporting bracket d' detachably mounted on the frame and formed with separated
bearings or sockets, a driving wheel d³ supported by said frame, a sleeve d having
its opposite ends journaled in the bearings or sockets, and a wheel d arranged
between said bearings or sockets and fixed to the sleeve, said wheel being engaged
with the former wheel, and an operating piece D revoluble with said sleeve and
reciprocating therethrough, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
10. In a machine for assembling the parts of wheels, the combination of clutch-
dogs movable towards and away from the outer peripheral face of the rim for
holding said rim, guides for the nipples connected to said clutch-dogs and movable
simultaneously therewith, and operating pieces movable in the guides for securing
the nipples to the rim, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 29th day of September 1896.
WILLIAM SANDERSON.
D. Young & Co.,
11 and 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.