Improvements in Wheels for Velocipedes and other Vehicles and in Tires therefor.
Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Oct., 1887
Specification Accepted, 11th Nov., 1887
[Communicated from abroad by FRANK HARRISON HARRIS, of Toledo, Ohio, United
States of America, Gentleman.]
Improvements in Wheels for Velocipedes and other Vehicles and
in Tires therefor.
I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 has special reference to that class of wheels formed entirely of
metal, the spokes being formed of wire and radiating in oblique directions from the
ends of the hub to the tire, such wheel being usually employed in the manufacture of
bicycles, tricycles, baby carriages and other light vehicles.
The invention consists in the peculiar construction of the hub, and the means pro-
vided for securing the spokes so as to secure durability, strength, lightness and
facilities for repairs, also in the peculiar means employed for securing a rubber tire to
the rim, and in the peculiar construction, arrangement and combinations of the
various parts, all as more fully hereinafter set forth.
In the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1, is a side elevation of a finished wheel provided with a rubber tire,
partially in section, showing the manner of securing the ends of the binding wires.
Figure 2, is a perspective view of one of the caps.
Figure 3 is a cross section of the hub.
Figure 4 is a longitudinal elevation of the hub.
Figure 5 is a central longitudinal section of the hub.
Figure 6, is a perspective view of the two parts of the hub.
Figure 7 is a central longitudinal section of the hub of modified construction.
Figure 8 is a cross section of the rim with the rubber tire secured in place.
Figure 9 is a cross section of the rubber tire.
Figure 10 is a section of the rim of the wheel.
Figure 11 shows one of the binding wires detached.

page_text: A is the metal rim or tire; B B' are the wire spokes; the spokes B radiate from
one end of the hub, and alternate with the spokes B', which radiate from the other
end. C is a hollow metal hub constructed as follows:-1. 2 each represents one half
of the hollow metal hub, which is of tapering form so as to constitute a hub tapering
from the middle towards the ends which latter are closed and provided with a central
Each
aperture through which the axle box D), projects, and is supported therein.
part of the hub is provided upon its outer end with a flange 3, which projects beyond
the end wall, and has notches 4, which radially correspond with the holes 5, in the
end wall of the shell of each part 1, 2. The notches 4 and corresponding holes 5 in
one end of the hub are not placed directly opposite those in the other end, but inter-
mediate between, so that the spokes which radiate from one end of the hub alternate
with the spokes radiating from the other end, said spokes being constructed in pairs,
that is, single pieces of wire of sufficient length are inserted longitudinally through
the holes in the ends of the hub and are then bent to form a pair of spokes opposi-
tively inclined to each other, and forming two contiguous spokes in the wheel, their
ends being rivetted fast to the rim of wheel. Thus each pair of spokes is connected
through the hub of the wheel by means of a horizontal portion which passes slightly
obliquely through the hub and bears against the axle box.
To hold the two parts of the hub in their proper relative positions to bring the
spoke notches and spoke openings of one end intermediate to those of the opposite
end, the meeting face of one part is provided with one or more lugs 6, and the
meeting face of the other with corresponding recesses 7, and register therewith,
and to firmly join the two parts their meeting faces are preferably provided with
overlapping flanges; other devices to accomplish the same end may be employed
however, as shown in the modification in Figure 7, wherein the axle box is provided
with radial lugs 8 which enter sockets 9 formed on the inside of the hub, partly on
one half and partly on the other half thereof.
E are metal caps centrally apertured to engage upon the projecting ends of the
axle box; they fit against the ends of the hub and conform to the general shape
thereof. The inner and outer faces of these caps are recessed so as to form circular
flanges 10, 11; the inner flange 10 of each of these caps is provided with notches 12,
which correspond with the notches 4 upon the ends of the hub, so as to confine the
spokes at the points from which they radiate from the hub.
The two caps are secured in place by means of the axle-box; this is done by
upsetting the ends of the axle box or otherwise securing the caps to those ends, or
to give a better finish to the outer ends of the caps, metal washers F, may be
employed, as shown in the drawings. These washers are centrally apertured to fit
over the outer ends of the axle box and rest within the recessed outer face of the
cap by rivet heading the projecting ends of the axle box, or by soldering, or other
known desirable means, the cap and washer are then secured in place upon the ends
of the hub, and the parts are thereby firmly bound together, while at the same time,
for purposes of repair in case of broken spokes, the caps can readily be removed, and
the broken spoke taken out and replaced without disturbing the wheel.
The axle box D has preferably shoulders 13 formed thereon to hold the axle box
firmly in place within the hub, and these shoulders also form additional bearings
for the inner ends of the spokes. Between these shoulders the axle box is then cut
away to permit the spokes to connect in a straight line obliquely through the hub,
and these connecting portions of the spokes also find a bearing on the axle box,
between the shoulders. By means of the construction described the wheel is
perfectly solid and strong, and at the same time rendered light and graceful in
appearance. It will be seen that these caps are used more for the sake of finish
than otherwise, and for a cheaper class of wheels may be omitted.
a, represents a rubber or elastic tire formed with a shoulder or crease b, upon each
side, as shown in cross section in Figure 10.
To secure this tire within the flanges of the rim A, such tire is sprung in, as in the
ordinary manner, and is bound in place by the binding wires c, which rest upon the
shoulders or creases b. These binding wires are preferably made of coppered wire

page_text: so as to be nearly the same color as the tire. The rim of the wheel has holes d,
for each binding wire and corresponding holes are provided for in the tire co-
incident with the holes d; one end of each binding wire is then inserted and hooked
through these holes, passed around the wheel and then inserted with its opposite end
through the same hole, when, by any proper means the wire is tightened and secured
by soldering the ends of the wire to the under face of the flange.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In a wheel, the combination with a metallic hub provided with longitudinal
spokes, passages through the hub and with spoke notches formed on the ends of the
hub, of spokes formed in pairs connected by a horizontal portion passing through the
hub, of an axle box secured in the hub and projecting through the ends of the hub,
and of two caps secured to the projecting ends of said axle box and provided with
spoke grooves corresponding with those upon the ends of the hub, substantially as
described.
Second. In a wheel, the combination with a hollow metallic hub made in tapering
halves provided with registering meeting faces, of spoke notches formed in the
tapering ends of the hub and of radially corresponding spoke apertures formed in the
end walls of the hub, all arranged substantially as described.
Third. In a wheel, the combination of a hollow metallic hub tapering from the
centre towards the ends and formed in halves provided with registering and lap
jointed meeting faces, of spoke notches formed in the tapering ends of the hub, of
spoke apertures formed through the end walls of the hub, and of spokes formed
in pairs connected by horizontal portion passing longitudinally through the hub,
substantially as described.
Fourth. The combination with a two part hollow metallic hub of spokes longi-
tudinally connected through the hub in pairs, and of means substantially as described
for detachably supporting the meeting ends of the hub in relative position to each
other, all substantially as described.
Fifth. In a wheel, the combination with the two part metallic hub having the
spokes secured thereto in pairs, substantially as described, the axle box D, having
the shoulders 13, as and for the purposes specified.
Sixth. In a wheel, the combination with the two part metallic hub having the
spokes secured thereto in pairs substantially as described, the axle box D provided
with shoulders 13, and having the portion between such shoulders reduced, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes described.
Seventh. In a wheel, the combination of the two part metallic hub, 1, 2 having
interlocking circular flanges, lug 6, and recess 7, the circular flanges 3, provided
with spoke notches 4, the spoke apertures 5, in the end walls of the hub, and the
spokes B, B, formed in pairs and passing longitudinally through the hub, substantially
as described.
Eighth. In a wheel, the combination with the two part hollow metallic hub 1, 2,
having interlocking meeting faces, of the circular flanges having spoke notches 4,
formed therein the spoke apertures 5 in the end walls of the hub, the spokes B, B',
made in pairs and connected longitudinally through the hub, the caps E, having
spoke notches 12, and the axle box D, concentrically supported in apertures in the
end walls of the hub and connecting the hub and caps together, substantially as
described.
Ninth. In a wheel, the combination of the two part hollow metallic hub having
interlocking central meeting faces, of central apertures formed in the end walls of
the hub, caps fitting against the ends of the hub and having corresponding central
apertures with the hub, and washers as described for tying the caps to the hub
through the medium of said axle box, substantially as specified.
Tenth. In a wheel of the character described, a hub provided with notched circular

page_text: flanges upon its ends and with circular apertures forming horizontal spoke passages
through the hub, substantially as described.
Eleventh. In a rubber tire wheel, a tire, grooved or creased upon its sides and
secured to the flanged rim of the wheel by binding wires, substantially as described.
Twelfth. In combination with the flanged rim A, of a wheel, an elastic tire a pro-
vided with the shoulders or recesses b, and secured in place within the flanges of the
rim A, by binding wires c substantially as described.
Thirteenth. An elastic tire a provided with the shoulders or recesses b substantially
as and for the purposes described.