Improvements in Metal Spokes for Wheels, and in the Machinery for the Manufacture of the same.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 26th Sept., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 20th Feb., 1891-Accepted, 18th Apr., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metal Spokes for Wheels, and in the Machinery
for the Manufacture of the same.
I, ROBERT ALPE, of 128, Fentham Road, Birchfields, Engineer, in the County
of Stafford, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object: Improvements in metal spokes for wheels and in
the machinery for the manufacture of the same; and has particular reference to
those spokes used in cycle and other such wheels by which I am enabled to form
the ends of such spokes of enlarged diameter in section thus giving additional
security at the joints and considerably strengthening their connection to the hub or
rim and this I effect without waste of material and very little increase in cost or
weight while the spoke itself is considerably strengthened in the course of manu-
facture.
By means of my machine a piece of wire of a larger gauge or diameter than that
required for the spoke is reduced to the proper size the ends only being left the
original size this being effected as follows:-A pair of dies, the bottom one of which
is stationary in the frame of the machine and the other sliding and being operated
by any suitable excentric motion but preferably by an arm eccentrically mounted
upon the driving shaft and connected to the upper die by means of a link and also
to an adjustable slide in the upper part of the frame by another link so that, at
every revolution of the shaft the arm is pushed backwards and forwards between
the bottom die and the top of the frame causing the top die to give a blow each
time the links are perpendicular which is twice in every revolution. The top slide
in the frame is made adjustable and is operated by a set screw which regulates the
grooves
amount of pressure given by the die below. The dies are provided with
circular in section and in the groove of the bottom die the wire travels, during the
process of being reduced by the pressure of the upper die. One end of the wire is
mounted in a travelling carriage which carries the wire backward and forward
through the dies and this carriage is mounted to slide upon a rod, or travel in any
other suitable manner and is operated, by means of a rod which is connected to a
lever or crank upon a shaft which is in turn operated by a tooth wheel engaging
with an endless screw but as the carriage has to travel farther on its return journey
by reason of the wire having been extended in length by the pressure of the die the
endless screw is so arranged as to be capable of being disengaged from the toothed
wheel so that the remaining travel of the wire, which is required, can be effected by
pushing over the lever by hand. The cranked lever is so weighted that when the
endless screw is disconnected it remains in a stationary position.
From a supplemental shaft by means of a catgut or other suitable band, a pulley
through which the wire passes is revolved thereby revolving the wire as it travels
backwards and forwards for the purpose of getting an even distribution of the pressure
all around the wire The set for adjusting the top die with regard to the bottom
die is provided with a disc for operating the same and this disc is marked with
indications showing the pressure of at various points; a set pin being provided for
securing it in the required positions.
The wires may have the enlargement at one or both ends, but if at both ends the
top die requires to be raised to allow the one enlarged end to be withdrawn this
being effected by springs between the dies which operate when the top die is
released by the loosening of the top disc and set pin.
I may vary the particular details of my machine as for instance I may operate
the travelling carriage by means of a cam instead of the crank lever in which case
the cam would be so shaped as to cause the carriage to have a quicker travel over

page_text: that distance caused by the lengthening of the wire or I may effect the travel of
the carriage by two endless screws one of which operates a pivotted block in one
direction and the other in the reverse direction when the block falls over on to
that screw.
Dated this 25th day of September 1890.
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Metal Spokes for Wheels, and in the Machinery
for the Manufacture of the same.
I, ROBERT ALPE, of 128, Fentham Road, Birchfield, in the County of Warwick,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my said invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
My invention has for its object: Improvements in metal spokes for wheels and
in the machinery for the manufacture of the same: and has particular reference to
those spokes used in cycles and other such wheels by which I am enabled to form
the ends of such spokes of enlarged diameter in section thus giving additional
security at their joints and considerably strengthening their connection to the hub
and rim and this I effect without waste of material and with very little increase in
cost or weight over the ordinary spoke while the spoke itself is considerably
strengthened in the course of manufacture.
By means of my machine, a piece of wire of a larger gauge or diameter than that
required for the spoke, is reduced to the proper size the ends only being left the
original size for connection to the hub and rim this being effected as follows:
A pair of dies, the bottom one of which is stationary in the frame of the machine
and the other sliding and being operated by any suitable eccentric motion but
preferably by an arm eccentrically mounted upon the driving shaft and connected
to the upper die by means of a link and also to an adjustable slide in the upper
part of the frame by another link so that at every revolution of the shaft, the arm
is pushed backwards & forwards between the bottom die and the top of the frame,
causing the top die to give a blow each time the links are perpendicular which is
twice in every revolution. The top slide in the frame is made adjustable and is
operated by a set screw which regulates the amount of pressure given by the die
below. The dies are provided with grooves circular in section and in the groove of
the bottom die the wire travels during the process of being reduced by the
of the upper die. One end of the wire is mounted in a travelling carriage which
carries the wire backwards or forwards through the dies and this carriage is
mounted to slide upon a rod or travel in any other suitable manner and is operated
by means of a rod which is connected to a lever or crank upon a shaft which is in
turn operated by a tooth wheel engaging with an endless screw, but, as the carriage
has to travel further on its return journey by reason of the wire having been
extended in length by the pressure of the die, the endless screw is so arranged as to
be capable of being disengaged from the toothed wheel, so that the remaining travel
of the wire which is required can be effected by pushing the lever over by hand.
The cranked lever is so weighted that when the endless screw is disconnected it
remains in a stationary position.
pressure
From a supplemental shaft by means of a catgut or other suitable band, a pulley
is revolved, thereby revolving the wire as it travels backwards and forwards for the
purpose of getting an even distribution of the pressure all round the wire. The set
pin for adjusting the top die with regard to the bottom die is provided with a disc
for operating the same and this disc is marked with indications shewing the pressure
at various points a set pin being provided for securing it in the required positions.
The wires may have the enlargements at one or both ends but if at both ends the

page_text: top die requires to be raised to allow the one enlarged end to be withdrawn this
being effected by springs between the dies which operate when the top die is
released by the loosening of the top disc and set pin.
I may vary the particular details of my machine, as for instance, I may operate
the travelling carriage by means of a cam instead of the crank lever in which case
the cam would be so shaped as to cause the carriage to have a quicker travel over
that distance caused by the lengthening of the wire, or I may effect the travel of
the carriage by two endless screws one of which operates a pivotted block in one
direction and the other in the reverse direction when the block falls over on to
that screw.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practice, I have appended hereunto three double sized sheets of drawings
upon which I have fully illustrated the nature and working of my machine togethe"
with several modifications of the mode of operating the feed arrangement.
Figure 1, is a side elevation of my machine.
Figure 2, is a sectional elevation of the machine from the front on line 1-2.
Figure 3, is a similar elevation to Figure 2, but taken on line 3-4.
Figure 4, is an enlarged plan of the disc E.
Figure 5, is an enlarged elevation of the guide plate F.
Figure 6, shews the application by which my machine may be made to operate
upon two, three, or four, spokes simultaneously.
Figure 7, is a part side elevation similar to Figure 1, but shewing a modified form
of feed.
Figure 8, is a cross section on the line 4-5 Figure 1, but shewing another
modification of the mode of operating the feed.
In carrying the invention into effect the pair of dies or anvil a and hammer a
are mounted in the main body of the machine A the anvil a' being stationary and
the hammer a² moving in the slide a³ and being operated by any suitable eccentric
motion but preferably by the arm at which is eccentrically mounted upon the
driving shaft B and is made to operate upon the upper die or hammer a² by means
of the link a and is also connected to the adjustable slide piece a by the link a
so that at every revolution of the shaft B, the arm a' is operated backwards and
forwards between the bottom anvil a¹ and top piece a thereby causing the top
die a² to give two blows to each revolution of the shaft B. The connecting pieces
are kept in position by the plate a¹³ which is secured to the end of the arm a
The dies a¹ and a² are provided with grooves circular in section and in the groove
of the bottom die or anvil a¹ the wire X travels during which it is reduced by the
operation of the top die or hammer a². For the even distribution of the pressure
upon the wire X when being reduced it is necessary that the wire X should be
simultaneously and regularly revolved and carried backwards and forwards in an
automatic manner to effect which the one end of the wire X is mounted in the
clutch which is mounted in the rod H this rod being in turn mounted in the
carriage H' which carriage slides upon one end of the rods K, and is operated
backwards and forwards by the connecting rod m³ from the lever M which is
operated by the thread wheel m² from the endless screw m³. The endless screw m³
is operated by the pulley m and is mounted in the bearings m' which are pivotted
at m' the endless screw m³ being kept up in gear with the thread wheel m² by the
trigger m'. Attached to the thread wheel is the lever m which is adjustable so
that as the thread wheel revolves the lever m8 comes in contact with the pin m³ on
the trigger m³ and thereby presses it over thus allowing the endless screw to fall
clear and become disengaged from the thread wheel m² which action is adjusted by
means of the lever m³ to take place when the wire has completed its return journey
when it is removed by the attendant a fresh wire inserted and the endless screw m³
raised into gear again by the handle m10 which is provided for the purpose. The
weight m is provided upon the lever M so that it remains balanced in a stationary
position when the endless screw is disengaged.
10
From the supplemental shaft N by means of the catgut or other suitable band n

page_text: the pulley h² is mounted to revolve in the bearing k³ which is supported by the
rods K and K' the pulley being provided with the key h³ which engages with
the keyway provided along the full length of the rod H so that the rod H is
revolved as it is carried backwards and forwards for the purpose of obtaining an
even pressure all round the wire.
The set pin e' for adjusting the top die a² with regard to the bottom die a³ is
provided with the disc E for operating the same and this disc E is divided out by
the slots e² to give adjustment of thousandths, and as the attendant has to release
the dies each time upon the withdrawal of those wires which are furnished with an
enlargement at each end, a loose disc e² is provided having one slot e* which slot is
arranged over the particular division in the lower plate which gives the proper
adjustment, the two discs being then secured together by the nut, and the spring
bolt or catch e is provided to engage with the slot so that after the wire has been
withdrawn the attendant has only to turn the disc until the bolt e³ enters the
slote which registers the adjustment which is desired.
To form a gauge by which the attendant may be able always to place the wire,
before starting the machine, in the same position, the rod P is provided and slides
in the bearings and p² so that the end may be extended to the position at
which the carriage H has to be placed when starting the machine. The rod
sockets are pivotted to the support at p so that it may be turned up out of the way
when the carriage is travelling.
The top die is raised after each blow and when the wire is being withdrawn by
means of suitable coiled or other springs a8 and a placed between them for the
purpose and to guide the wire straight and keep it in the groove, between the anvil
and hammer the guide plate F is provided.
Dies, for operation upon the wire may be also provided above the toggle arm a¹
as well as below at S and T as shewn at Figure 6, by which means a considerable
saving of power is effected and a similar set of dies may be arranged and operated
upon the reverse side of the machine as shewn at U and V the whole being worked
from the same eccentric motion by which means four wires could be worked simul-
taneously and requiring only the same arrangement for working the feed carriage
as shewn to the single machine as all four wires would in that case be carried by
four revolving clutches and rods working in one main carriage and support in a
similar manner to that shewn in the case of the single revolving clutch in
Figure 1.
I may modify the arrangement for operating the feed by using the cam S
Figure 7 in place of the lever M the grooves of which operates the studs upon
the sliding rod m³ which is connected with the carriage H¹ so as to operate it back-
wards and forwards. The cam S may be revolved by means of a worm and thread
wheel as in the case of the feed shewn in Figure 1 and is also stopped by being
thrown out of gear in a similar manner. In place of either of these arrangements
the carriage H may be caused to travel by the two revolving screw rods W one of
which engages with the block Y which is pivotted to the carriage H¹ until the
projection y', which is formed upon it, meets with an incline formed on the frame
which bumps the block over, on to the other side where it engages with the other
screw rod W and is then caused to travel the reverse way.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1st. The improved machine for the manufacture of metal spokes or other such
articles by which such spokes are automatically moved, revolved and reduced in
diameter at a portion or portions of their length: substantially as and for the purpose
herein set forth & shewn upon the accompanying drawings.
2nd. In machinery for the manufacture of metal spokes or other such articles,
the adjustable automatic feeding and stopping arrangement: substantially as and
for the purpose herein set forth and illustrated.

page_text: 3rd. In the machinery for the manufacture of metal spokes or other such articles
the divided disc E and disc e² with spring bolt e: substantially as and for the
purpose herein set forth & illustrated.
4th. In machinery for the manufacture of metal spokes or other such articles,
the guide plate F: substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and
illustrated.
Dated this 18th day of February 1891
GEORGE BARKER,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.