IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION PROVISIONALFIC
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Humber, Thomas Rushforth Marriott, and
Frederick Cooper, all of Beeston, in the County of Nottingham, Bicycle
Manufacturers, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Humber, Thomas
Rushforth Marriott, and Frederick Cooper at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents on the 2nd March 1881.
THOMAS HUMBER, THOMAS RUSHFORTH MARRIOTT, and FREDERICK COOPER,
'IMPROVE-
all of Beeston, in the County of Nottingham, Bicycle Manufacturers.
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHEELS FOR BICYCLES AND OTHER VEHICLES."
Our Invention consists of improvements in the construction of cellular wheel
rims for bicycles and other vehicles, and in attaching the spokes to such rims.
Cellular rims are usually constructed of one or two plates of thin metal put
together or formed into a single cell, and of various sectional forms. This mode
of construction may be described as the "single cell" principle.
Such rims although stronger and more rigid than ordinary rims as long as they
keep their shape, yet when they are subjected to sudden strains the shape of the
cellular rim may become altered and distorted from its original sectional form, such
alteration or distortion causing weakness, and moreover one of the plates or a
portion of the plate may also, in consequence of such distortion, split or break
away or become sheared from the other portion, the source of weakness and want
of rigidity being in consequence of and arising from the possibility of change of
shape of the single cell construction.
In addition to the foregoing remarks it may also be mentioned that by the usual
mode of attaching the spokes to the "single cell" rim, the tension of the spoke is
exerted in a manner which tends to cause rupture or breaking apart of the plate
or plates forming the single cell rim.
Now our said improvements consist, first, in so constructing and arranging the
several parts that the change of sectional form is prevented, and thereby

page_text: the strength and rigidity is greatly increased; and, secondly, in attaching the
spokes to the rims in such a manner that such attachment also adds to the strength
of the rim by forcibly drawing the plates together, and thus imparting an additional
security against bending or rupture of the rim.
We carry out the first part of our Invention by forming our cellular rims of
three plates of metal, two of such plates forming what we may term the shell of
the rim, and the third plate being suitably formed in various symmetrical ways
so as to abut against and suitably support the two outside plates of the rim. The
two outer plates are placed together, and the edges of one of such plates overlaps
the other of such plates, while the third plate is so confined between the two that
it acts as a strut and stay to prevent change of form, and thereby prevent any
alteration of sectional form of such rim when subjected to the strains which arise
in the ordinary working of bicycles.
It will thus be seen that we increase the number of cells, and by our multiple
cell system the rigidity and strength of the rim is greatly increased.
We carry out the second part of our Invention by attaching the spokes to that
part of the shell of the rim which is farthest from the axle (the spokes passing
through holes in the two other plates), and thereby causing the powerful tensional
strain of the spokes to act centripetally upon the rim. By this mode of construction
the ordinary tensional force of the spokes is utilised in forcibly holding the several
plates of the rim together, and thereby rendering the separation of the plates
forming the rim an impossibility.
The outer ends of the spokes may have rivet heads formed upon them, and
such rivet heads rest in countersunk holes in the plates farthest from the axle
so as to form an even, smooth, and regular groove for the india rubber tire of
bicycle wheels.
In applying our said improvements to wheels of other vehicles we either. provide
for an india rubber or other elastic tire or not, as may be required, and suitably
arrange the form according to such requirements, and the weight and character of
the vehicles to which our improved wheels may be applied.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Humber, Thomas Rushforth Marriott, and Frederick Cooper
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 2nd September 1881.
THOMAS HUMBER, THOMAS RUSHFORTH MARRIOTT, and FREDERICK COOPER,
all of Beeston, in the County of Nottingham, Bicycle Manufacturers. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHEELS FOR BICYCLES AND OTHER VEHICLES."
Our Invention consists of improvements in the construction of cellular wheel
rims for bicycles and other vehicles, and in attaching the spokes to such rims.
Cellular rims are usually constructed of one or two plates of thin metal put
together or formed into a single cell, and of various sectional forms. This mode of
construction may be described as the "single cell" principle. Such rims although
stronger and more rigid than ordinary rims as long as they keep their shape, yet
when they are subjected to sudden strains the shape of the cellular rim may become
altered and distorted from its original sectional form, such alteration or distortion
causing weakness, and moreover one of the plates or a portion of the plate may
also, in consequence of such distortion, split or break away or become sheared
from the other portion, the source of weakness and want of rigidity being in
consequence of and arising from the possibility of change of shape of the single cell
construction.
In addition to the foregoing remarks it may also be mentioned that by the usual
mode of attaching the spokes to the "single cell" rim the tension of the spoke is
exerted in a manner which tends to cause rupture or breaking apart of the plate
or plates forming the single cell rim.
Now our said improvements consist, first, in so constructing and arranging the
several parts that the change of sectional form and shape is prevented, and thereby
the strength and rigidity is greatly increased; and, secondly, in attaching the
spokes to the rims in such a manner that such attachment also adds to the strength
of the rim by forcibly drawing the plates together, and thus imparting an additional
security against bending or rupture of the rim.
We carry out the first part of our Invention by forming our cellular rims of
three plates of metal, two of such plates forming what we may term the shell
of the rim, and the third plate being suitably formed in various symmetrical
ways so as to abut against and suitably support the two outside plates of the
rim. The two outer plates are placed together, and the edges of one of such plates
overlaps the other of such plates, while the third plate is so confined between the
two that it acts as a strut and stay to prevent change of form, and thereby prevent
any
alteration of sectional form of such rim when subjected to the strains which
arise in the ordinary working of bicycles.
It will thus be seen that we increase the number of cells, and by our multiple
cell system the rigidity and strength of the rim is greatly increased.
We carry out the second part of our Invention by attaching the spokes to that
part of the shell of the rim which is farthest from the axle (the spokes passing
through holes in the two other plates), and thereby causing the powerful tensional
strain of the spokes to act centripetally upon the rim. By this mode of construction
the ordinary tensional force of the spokes is utilised in forcibly holding the several
plates of the rim together, and thereby rendering the separation of the plates
forming the rim an impossibility. The outer ends of the spokes may have rivet
heads formed upon them, and such rivet heads rest in countersunk holes in the
plates farthest from the axle so as to form an even, smooth, and regular groove
for the india rubber tire of bicycle wheels.
In applying our said improvements to wheels of other vehicles we either provide

page_text: for an india rubber or other elastic tire or not, as may be required, and suitably
arrange the form according to such requirements, and the weight and character of
the vehicles to which our improved wheels may be applied.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, we will describe more
particularly in what manner the same is to be performed, by the aid of the
accompanying Drawings.
Fig. 1 is a section of a cellular wheel rim constructed according to one arrange-
ment of our said Invention. a, a, represents one of the plates, and a' the other
of such plates, together forming the shell of the rim herein before mentioned. This
arrangement of 6 and the form shewn may be varied so as to effect the same
object without departing from the principle of our Invention, and we do not
confine ourselves precisely to the arrangement shewn. Steel plates are used by
preference.
Fig. 2 is a similar section to Fig. 1 except that our improved mode of attaching
the spokes is there shewn. c is the end of a spoke with a head formed thereto,
which head is countersunk in the outer plate a¹ (see Fig. 1), as shewn in Fig. 2,
and passes through a suitable hole in the inner portions of the two plates a and b.
Having described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be carried out, we hereby declare that what we claim and desire
to be secured to us by the herein before in part recited Letters Patent is,--
1st. The novel construction, combination, and arrangement of the several parts
forming together our improvements in cellular wheel rims for bicycles and other
vehicles, in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein before described
and shewn on the Drawings.
2ndly. The mode or arrangement whereby the centripetal strain of the spokes
is applied to that part of the shell of the rim which is farthest from the axle,
in the manner and for the purpose substantially as herein before described and
shewn on the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Humber, on behalf of myself and
the said Thomas Rushforth Marriott and Frederick Cooper, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this First day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
Signed, sealed, and delivered by
the said Thomas Humber, in
the presence of
SAM BRITTLE,
Solicitor,
Nottingham.
THOMAS HUMBER. (L.S.)