Improvements in Rims for Cycle Wheels.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 17th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 22nd Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Rims for Cycle Wheels.
We, ALBERT CONANT FAIRBANKS, Manager, of Tremont Street Boston in the
County of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, and
PETER JOSEPH BERLO Mechanic of Columbus Avenue Boston, in the County of
Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to the wheels of cycles and other like vehicles, and it is
the purpose of our invention to provide such improvements in the rims of wheels as
will render the same considerably lighter in weight, and stiffer in, and stronger of
construction than heretofore, besides possessing other important advantages.
To these ends our invention consists of a rim for a cycle wheel comprising in its
construction a series of sections or plies of wood, of varying course of direction of
grain, bent to proper circular form and cemented together, each section breaking
joint with each of the other sections, and either covered with a wrapper of canvas
or other suitable textile fabric or left uncovered, and the rim so formed having an
inner convex surface, and an outer concave surface, all as will hereinafter more
fully appear.
In carrying out our invention we take strips or plies of wood capable of being
bent, and of suitable strength and grain, and bend them over or around a suitable
former, one strip upon another, firmly and securely cementing the several strips
together, and in like manner joining the ends of each.
The wheel rim is preferably composed of five strips or plies, though a greater
or less number may be employed, as circumstances may suggest. In any case it
is desirable that the grain of each strip or ply shall vary, to some extent with
the adjacent strip or strips. The ends of the inner and outer plies may be
feathered, so that one feathered end may overlap the other, and the ends of the
others may be connected in like manner or be joined by square joints, the next
inner layer or ply breaking joint at say a quarter of the circle, the central layer at
say the half circle, the next layer say at the third quarter of the circle and the
outer layer at any suitable point. The order in which the several layers or sections
break joint may be varied from that above given, it being desirable only that no
two joints should fall in the same plane.
To complete the rim the inner surface is rounded or made of convex form, while
the outer surface is concaved so as to adapt it to have a tyre of any desired kind
applied thereto.
In constructing our improved rim for bicycle wheels we prefer to employ dry
seasoned wood, in order to avoid shrinkage incidental to the drying of steamed
wood, though we do not confine our invention to any particular mode of manufacture.
A cycle wheel constructed with a rim made in accordance with our invention, is
found to be much lighter, stiffer, and more durable than metallic rims as now
constructed for the same service.
Dated this 9th day of December 1893.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.

page_text: We, ALBERT CONANT FAIRBANKS, Manager, of Tremont Street, Boston, in the
County of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, and
PETER JOSEPH BERLO, Mechanic, of Columbus Avenue, Boston, in the County
of Suffolk, and State of Massachusetts, United States of America, 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 :-
י.
Our invention relates to the wheels of cycles and other like vehicles, and it is
the purpose of this invention to provide such improvements in the rims of wheels
as will render the same considerably lighter in weight, and stiffer in, and stronger
of construction than heretofore, besides possessing other important advantages.
To these ends our invention consists of a rim of a cycle wheel comprising in its
construction a series of sections or plies of wood, of varying course of direction of
grain, bent to proper circular form and cemented together, each section breaking
joint with each of the other sections, and either covered with a wrapper of canvas
or other suitable textile fabric, or left uncovered, the rim so formed having an
inner convex surface, and an outer concave surface, all as is hereinafter more fully
set forth.
Reference is to be had to the annexed drawings, and to the letters marked
thereon, forming a part of this Specification, the same letters designating the same
parts or features, as the case may be, wherever they occur.
In the drawings:
Figure 1 is a side view of a wheel constructed according to our invention.
Figure 2 is a central, circular sectional view of the same.
Figure 3 is a view in cross section of the same-on an enlarged scale.
Figures 4, 5 and 6 are views-on an enlarged scale-showing the manner in
which the wrapper or cover is applied.
Figure 7 is a view-on an enlarged scale-showing an alternative method of
securing the edges of the wrapper or cover, and
Figure 8 is a view-on an enlarged scale-showing the application of our
invention to a specific type of rim.
In carrying out our invention we take strips or plies of wood capable of being
bent, and of suitable strength and grain, and bend them over or around a suitable
former, one strip upon another, firmly and securely cementing the several strips
together, and in like manner joining the ends of each.
The wheel rim is preferably composed of five strips or plies, though a greater
or less number may be employed, as circumstances may suggest. In any case it is
desirable that the grain of each strip or ply shall vary, to some extent with the
adjacent strip or strips. The ends of the inner and outer plies may be feathered,
so that one feathered end may overlap the other, as indicated at a, and the ends
of the others may be connected in like manner or be joined by square joints, the
next inner layer or ply breaking joint (considered with respect to the joint a) at
say the quarter of the circle b, the central layer at say the half circle c, the next
layer say at the third quarter of the circle d and the outer layer at any suitable
point as for example at e. The order in which the several layers or sections
break joint may be varied from that above given, it being desirable only that no
two joints should fall in the same plane.
To complete the rim the inner surface f is rounded or made of a convex form,
while the outer surface 9 is given the required shape to adapt the rim to receive
the desired type of tyre.
After the rim is finished it is preferably coated with a waterproof varnish to

page_text: prevent the damp and moisture attacking the joints. The rim is then covered with
a wrapper or cover h-preferably applied in the form of a strip as shown. This
wrapper or cover may be made of canvas or any other suitable textile fabric
which is already made waterproof or which becomes waterproof by reason of the
cement or varnish used to make it adhere to the wheel rim. The edges of the
strip may either be arranged to overlap as shown by Figures 6 and 8, or they
may be turned down in suitably formed grooves j, j, in the outer face of the rim
as shown by Figure 7. The strip of fabric forming the wrapper or cover is
preferably cut on the cross or bias as indicated by Figure 5.
This wrapper or cover is also applicable to wheel rims constructed out of one
strip or piece of wood.
By the use of a wrapper or cover as herein before described in the construction
of wooden rims, such rims are rendered more durable and generally more perfect
as the wrapper or cover not only protects the rim from climatic influences, but
also strengthens it by tying it together and thus prevents all splintering and
cracking.
In constructing our improved rim for cycle wheels we prefer to employ dry
seasoned wood, in order to avoid shrinkage incidental to the drying of steamed
wood, though we do not confine our invention to any particular mode of manufacture.
A cycle wheel constructed with a rim made in accordance with our invention, is
found to be much lighter, stiffer, and more durable than metallic rims as now
constructed for the same service. Furthermore, the employment of a rim in cycle
wheels made in accordance with our invention, results in an action of buoyant
tendency, so very desirable in the use of cycles. Moreover, in case the user of a
cycle equipped with our invention should collide with or encounter or run against
any object of great stability there would be no liability of indenting or bending the
rim of the wheel, as is the case with metallic wheels as now commonly constructed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. A rim for cycle wheels composed of a series of sections or plies of wood of
varying course or direction of grain, cemented together, the ends of each section
breaking joint with the ends of adjacent sections, and covered with a wrapper or
cover of canvas or other suitable textile fabric, as and for, the purpose set forth.
2. The combination with a rim for cycle wheels composed of one or more strips
of wood, of a wrapper or cover of any suitable textile fabric, as and for the purpose
set forth.
3. The combination with a rim for cycle wheels composed of wood, of a wrapper
or cover of any suitable textile fabric laid on so that its edges overlap and reach in
close proximity to the edges of the rim, as and for the purpose set forth.
4. As an improved article of manufacture, a wooden rim for cycle wheels having
two circumferential slits in its outer concave face, and a wrapper or cover of
flexible material extending in a continuous sheet over the convex side of the rim
and over the edges formed by the meeting of the concave and convex sides on to
the concave side where its edges are inserted in the circumferential slits, as and
for the purpose set forth.
Dated this 17th day of August 1901
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicants.