Improvements in and relating to Wheels for Velocipedes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 12th May, 1897-Accepted, 31st July, 1897
COBIT DEIL SIEVITICATION,
Improvements in and relating to Wheels for Velocipedes.
I, CARL ALBERT MAX SCHNABEL of 18, Langoreihestrasse, Kiel, Engineer, 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 a velocipede wheel which differs from the wheels
heretofore known in that in said wheel two or more spoke-wires fixed to the wheel
rim are brought together radially and are connected at their point of union by
means of a tangential or radial spoke with the hub of the wheel. An arrangement
of this kind has the advantage that only one half or one quarter of the number of
spokes ordinarily used need be employed, whilst the single spokes are considerably
shorter than those otherwise used.
In addition to these there are provided only the short radial spokes extending
towards the rim. By this means a considerable decrease in the weight of the wheel
is produced whilst the surface offered to the action of the wind is considerably
lessened by the reduction of the nave spokes proper. A further advantage of this
arrangement consists in the fact that the strength of a wheel of this kind is
considerably increased, as compared with the known arrangements, because as below
further described the extent of action of the pull of a pair of spokes extends, as
compared with the construction heretofore known, over the threefold length of a
piece of the rim. In the accompanying drawings a wheel constructed according to
this invention is shown in Figure 1 in elevation, and in Figure 2 in cross section.
Figure 3 shows another modification of the subject of this invention.
N is the hub, and M is the rim of the wheel.
In the arrangement shown in Figure 1, every two spoke wires e¹ e² are connected
to the rim of the wheel and are joined together at the point E. This point E is
connected with the hub N of the wheel by means of a radially or tangentially
directed spoke e.
For the sake of clearness and in order to show that there is
increased strength, the next pair of spokes that partially cross the pair of spokes e¹ e²
above described are designated by f¹ and f. This pair of spokes fi f² meet
together at the point F, and this point F is also connected by means of the spoke f
with the hub N of the wheel. Two other spokes g and h of old construction are
shown in dotted lines in Figure 1 of the drawing. The surface over which the
pull of these two spokes g and h extends, is clearly shown in the drawing from the
point a to the point b of the rim. But the surface of pull of the two spokes e and f
of the new construction extends on the contrary from point c to point d of the rim,
and thus extends directly over three times the length of the rim that is the case with
the old arrangement. As already stated, two or even more spoke wires may meet
together at the points E or F. Figure 3 shows an arrangement in which always
four of such wires e¹ e² e³ e¹ and f¹ f f f meet together at the point E and F
respectively. The whole wheel is then otherwise divided exactly as according to
Figure 1, but has on the whole only 8 spokes e and respectively, whereas in
Figure 1, 16 spokes are employed. It is quite clear that this arrangement
considerably increases the strength of the wheel and also that the surface of

page_text: resistance or wind area is considerably decreased by reason of the reduced number
of the spokes. A further advantage is also (as is above mentioned) the decrease in
weight which results from the above mentioned fact and which is of very great
importance in velocipede wheels.
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 :-
(1.) A velocipede wheel characterised by the fact that two or more spoke
wires el e²eet and f¹ f2 f³ fi fixed to the rim of the wheel are brought together
radially and are connected at their junction E and F by means of a tangential
or radial spoke e and f with the hub N of the wheel for the purpose of producing on
the one hand an increase in strength and on the other hand also a reduction in the
weight of the wheel as well as a reduction in the surface exposed to the wind.
(2.) A velocipede wheel constructed substantially as herein before described and
shown.
Dated this 12th day of May 1897.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Associate Agent for the Applicant.