IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELS
Year: 1884

page_text: T, 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 my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELS" and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement :-
This invention relates to certain improvements in wheels, and has for its primary
object to dispense with fixed or rigid spokes, substituting therefor wiros, rods or
other suitable strips of flexible, tensile metal, extending from the rim of the wheel
to supports on the axle or shaft adapted to be adjusted relatively to the axle or
shaft and the rim, whereby the spokes may be subjected to tension, or the tension
released or diminished at will, thus enabling the user to distend the spokes to great
stiffness and rigidity, or to render them flexible and pliant, as may be desired.
The said invention consists essentially in producing the tension and securing the
spokes to the rim by the employment of a nut or nuts moving longitudinally upon
the axles.
In the accompanying drawings, the various figures of which are hereinafter
referred to, the rim is indicated by the letter A, the spokes by the letter, B, the
axle or shaft by the letter C, and the adjustable supports for the spokes on the axle
or shaft by the letters D, D':
Referring to Figure 1, which is a side elevation of one form of wheel embodying
my improvements, Figure 2 being a part section of the same, the rim A is provided
with a felly or flange A¹. The spokes B are formed of looped wire, and the axle
or shaft C is screw-threaded. The hub is composed of two discs D D¹, one of
which, say D¹, is preferably fast to the axle, while the other has a tapering or
conical opening larger than the axle. On the axle is a nut having a body V, of a
contour corresponding with that of the tapering opening in the disc D, and an
angular, square, polygonal or equivalent shaped portion V. The tapering body V
of the nut fits in the tapering opening in the disc D, while its angular portion
projects beyond said disc. The looped spokes extend through holes made in the
discs D, D, and the ends are made fast to the felly or flange A¹ of the rim A by

page_text: being. inserted through holes drilled through the flange or felly and hammered
down to form rivet heads on their projecting ends. Tension is applied to said
spokes by separating the discs more or less. This separation of the discs is effected
by turning the nut by means of a wrench applied to its head V. It is obvious
that by running the said nut on the axle from the disc D, it will carry with it the
disc D¹ thereby increasing the distance between the two discs and consequently
putting a tense strain upon the spokes. This strain may be increased or diminished
at pleasure.
It is obvious that the disc D' need not be fast to the axles, as it may be threaded
and screwed on to the axle, so that by holding the axle and rotating the wheel on
it, and at the same time moving the nut both discs may be moved toward or from
each other.
It is immaterial how the separation of the discs is effected so long as the looped
end of the spokes is enlarged in applying tension.
Figure 3 is a sectional view of a modified form of my invention. In this the only
difference from the form just described is that the adjustable spoke supports D, DI,
on the axle C are each formed out of one piece of metal, and consist of a central
cylindrical portion or barrel like body, the inner end of which is provided with a
flange at right angles thereto, and a nut-shaped outer end. The spokes B are
looped around the cylindrical portion and drawn to bear against the flange, and
their ends are inserted and made fast in the felly or flange A¹, of the rim A, in the
same manner as just described. Tension is produced and increased by separating
the parts D, D', and tension is reduced or diminished by rotating the parts D, D¹,
towards one another.
Figure 4 is a sectional view of part of a rim and a side view of a portion of a
few spokes, showing a modified method of attaching the spokes to the rim. In
this rim countersunk holes are made and the ends of the spokes B are inserted
through these holes from the underside and are then hammered down until they
form rivet heads filling the counter sunk portions of the holes and consequently
becoming too large to be drawn through the contracted portion when the spokes
are tightened.
Figure 5 is a part sectional view of a wheel particularly adapted for railway
vehicles In this wheel the rim A is provided with a flange A' and a side flange A²
The spokes B are fastened to the felly A¹ by rivetting their projecting ends to the
flange. The axle C is screw-threaded and is provided at one end with a spoke
support or disc D, of the same construction as the part D, of figure 3. The spokes
are looped over the same in like manner. Those spokes which extend to the other
end of the axle are looped around the axle and held by a sleeve D' which bears
against them from the inside. Tension is produced by separating the parts D, D',
and decreased by reverse movement of the same parts.
Figure 6 is a sectional view of a modification of the wheel shown in Figures 1
and 2. In this wheel the tension is produced by rotating the nuts V so that they
approach each other thus causing the discs D, D', to approach each other and
producing a strain on the spokes B, which is accelerated by the dish-shaped ends
of a sleeve E fixed to the axle or shaft C, by a screw F. Tension on the spokes is
decreased by rotating the nuts V so that they recede from each other. In this
view and in the next, Figure 7, the rim A is omitted, but the attachment of the
ends of the spokes to the said rim in each case may be obtained in either of the
ways described.
Figure 7 is a side view of part of a wheel showing the end of the axle C and
the nut V for operating the spoke disc D.
The spoke-disc has an outer rim a, which may be in one piece with it, or a
separate piece. The said rim a is provided with a series of notches or grooves b,
into which the spokes B fit and bear tightly. The other side of the wheel shown
by Figure 7, is precisely the same in construction having a nut V and disc D.
Tension is produced by separating the discs and decreased by diminishing the
distance between them.

page_text: The notches b in the rim a provide a firm seat or bearing for the spokes and
prevent sagging; this is particularly essential in the case of very light wheels
using thin light spokes.
Figure 8 is a side view of one of the spoke discs and part of the spokes the rim
being omitted.
In some cases the spoke discs each have an outer rim and a hub connected by
rigid arms, resembling a wheel. The hub of each disc is provided with a series of
recesses i in each of which is a pin j projecting outwardly. The spokes B are formed
of a continuous strip of wire attached by being passed through holes in the felly or
the rim, and then inserted in the recesses i, consecutively and bent around the
projections j, the two ends of the wire meeting at the finish and being suitably
joined. The wire extends from one disc through the rim or felly to the other disc,
and back again through the next hole to the next recess and pin on the first disc,
and so on until all the pins have been engaged. Tension is produced, increased or
diminished or entirely taken off by varying the space between the discs. This is
accomplished by rotating them on the axle C which is screw-threaded.
Figure 9 is a sectional view of a wheel and Figure 10 a side view of part of a
wheel embodying my improvements. The description of Figures 1 and 2 answers
equally well for these figures. In this modification I have shown a binding strip E
interwoven with the spoke-series. The object of this is to strengthen the spoke-
series and prevent sagging.
Figure 11 is a sectional view of part of a wheel embodying my improvements.
In this modification the disc D has an opening of sufficient size only to engage
with the axle C, while the disc D¹ has a tapering opening larger than the axle. On
the axle is a nut having a body V of a contour corresponding with that of the
tapering opening in the disc D¹, and an angular, square polygonal, or equivalent
shaped portion VI. The tapering body V of the nut fits in the tapering opening
in the disc D¹, while its angular portion projects beyond said disc. Separation of
the discs and consequent tension of the spokes is effected by running the nut
outwardly by means of a wrench in the same manner as hereinbefore described
with reference to Figures 1 and 2.
Figure 12 is a horizontal cross-section of a wheel and Figure 13, a side view of
part of a wheel embodying my improvements as applied to a fly-wheel. In 'this
modification the spokes B are flat or oval in form and of very tough, strong
material. They are securely bolted to the discs D, D¹, at one end and at the other
to lips cast or formed integral with the rim A. The spokes B all bear in different
planes so as to firmly brace the wheel at all points. The discs D, D¹, are fixed to
the shaft C, by an ordinary shaft key, which locks them in the position to which
they are moved. Tension is produced as follows:-The discs are connected by two
screw-bolts T, one of each side, having handle-heads or nuts T¹, and disposed with
respect to the discs to obtain the necessary leverage. These screw-bolts are
swivelled in one of the discs and engage screw-threaded holes in the other disc, so
that by rotating them one disc may be caused to approach to or recede from the
other to vary their distance apart, and consequently diminish or increase the
tension on the spokes by distending them less or more by the proximity of the said
discs carrying them. Increasing the tension on the spokes increases the stiffness
and 'augments the stability of the wheel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
First A wheel provided with spokes formed of wires, rods or other suitable strips
of flexible, tensile material extending from the rim of the wheel to supports on its
axle or shaft, and adapted to be subjected to tension, or to have the tension
released or diminished at will by the adjustment of the spoke-supports relatively
to each other and to the axle and rim, substantially in the manner and as herein
shown and described.

page_text: Second A wheel having a rim, a shaft or axle, and spokes of flexible, tensilo
material, said spokes being. looped around or otherwise made fast to spoke-supports
or discs on the shaft or axle, and means for tightening said spokes to great stiffness
and rigidity, and releasing this tension when desired, all as herein shown and
described.