Improvements in Wheels for Cycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: DIONAL
DIEVITICALION,
Improvements in Wheels for Cycles and other Vehicles.
I, JOIN HENRY STOPFORD, of Hyde Road, Denton, in the County of Chester,
Cycle Spoke Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention is designed to provide an improved spring hub for the wheels
of bicycles and other light vehicles.
To the centre or hub of the wheel I attach a number of short stiff spokes or
light bars, radiating therefrom at suitable intervals. Concentric with this I pro-
vide a
hoop or ring to which the inner ends of the spokes of the wheel are attached
in any ordinary way. In this hoop or ring are formed a number of holes through
which the short spokes or bars pass, and in which they are free to slide. These
holes are as far as possible a true fit for the bars, and may be bushed or otherwise
formed to act as guides therefor to prevent any lateral or oscillating movement.
Upon each of these bars or short spokes is placed a strong spiral or other spring,
preferably in compression. These springs may be placed either inside or outside
the concentric ring or hoop, but at present I prefer to place them outside with a
nut or lock nut upon the end of the spoke or bar to hold them in position with the
desired amount of compression.
The tension of these springs is regulated by the nuts to adjust them to the
weight of the rider.
1
1002
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
6, Bank Street, Manchester, Patent Agents.
Improvements in wheels for Cycles and owner
I, JOHN HENRY STOPFORD, of Hyde Road, Denton, in the County of Chester,
Cycle Spoke 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 is designed to provide an improved spring hub for the wheels
of bicycles and other light vehicles.
It consists essentially in suspending the hub in the interior of the wheel by
means of a number of springs attached or connected to radiating bars or short
spokes some of which are fitted to the hub and others to a hoop surrounding the
hub.

page_text: It will be fully described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Fig. 1. Side elevation of wheel partly in section.
Fig. 2. Transverse sectional elevation of wheel.
Fig. 3. Side elevation of wheel showing modified arrangement of the suspending
springs.
Fig. 4. Front elevation partly in section of same.
The hub or centre A of the wheel which revolves around the spindle B is con-
structed with a number of short bars or spokes C (preferably four) screwed into a
boss formed thereon and radiating therefrom at suitable intervals.
Around the hub A is placed a hoop or second hub D to which the inner ends of
the spokes E are tangentially attached in any ordinary or convenient way. In the
hoop or second hub D are formed a number of holes or slots & through which the
bars or spokes C are passed. These slots allow of a movement of the hub A
inside the hoop or hub D to one side or the other but laterally are as far as possible
a true fit for the bars or spokes C and act as a guide therefor as they slide to and
fro and prevent any lateral or oscillating movement. The slots d may be bushed
or otherwise formed to prevent friction.
To the periphery of the hoop or second hub I) I affix a number of bars or short
spokes G radiating therefrom and corresponding in number and length with the
bars C radiating from the hub A. Between the ends of the two sets of bars C
and G are stretched springs H which serve to suspend the inner hub A in the
interior of the hoop or second hub D.
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 1 and 2 in addition to the suspending
springs H to each of bars C I apply a spring K preferably in compression between
the second hub D and a nut c upon the end of the bar. Instead of being placed
outside the second hub D as shown such springs may be placed between the hubs A
and C. The tension of these springs is regulated by the nuts c to adjust them to
the weight of the rider.
In the arrangement shown in Figs. 3 and 4 the inner hub A is suspended by
the springs H stretched between the ends of the two sets of radial bars.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A wheel for cycles and other vehicles constructed with the hub suspended in
the interior of the wheel by means of a number of springs attached to radiating
bars substantially as described.
.
2. In a wheel for cycles and other vehicles the combination with a loose hub
provided with a number of radiating bars of a hoop or second hub surrounding
same through slots in which the radiating bans pass, a second set of radiating bars
affixed to the second hub and a number of springs attached to the radiating bars
substantially as and for the purpose described.
3. A wheel for cycles and other vehicles constructed and arranged substantially
as described and shown with reference to Figs. 1 and 2 or Figs. 3 and 4 of the
drawings.
Dated this 29th day of March 1898.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Manchester, Liverpool, and London, Patent Agents.