Improvements relating to Wheels for Cycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Apr., 1897-Accepted, 17th July, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Wheels for Cycles and other Vehicles.
1, LUCIEN STEPHEN CRANDALL, of 62 Moor Street, in the City of Birmingham,
Engineer, 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 relates to wheels for cycles and other vehicles, my object being to
simplify and improve the construction of the spokes of such wheels and the means
by which they are secured to the hub and the rim.
In order that my invention may be the more readily understood I append here;
unto one sheet of explanatory drawings to be hereinafter referred to.
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a wheel having spokes fitted in
accordance with my invention, the rim of the wheel being represented by dotted
lines.
Figure 2 is a sectional end elevation of a portion of the wheel:
Figure 3 is a sectional end elevation of part of a wheel hub showing a modified
form of the wire attachments.
Figure 4 is an enlarged view of a portion of the wheel rim showing one of the
perforations for the spokes.
Figure 5 is a side elevation, and Figure 6 an end elevation of a portion of one of
the hub flanges, showing to a larger scale the form of wire or spoke attachment at
the hub, represented at Figure 2.
Instead of forming each spoke from a separate length of wire, I form the whole
of the spokes in any one wheel from one length of wire, one end of which 1 thread
or pass and repass between the rim and the hub in the manner illustrated at
Figure 1. Starting from A at the wheel rim I pass the wire through a hole or
perforation in the rim and draw it towards the hub in the direction indicated by the
arrow 1. After rassing the wire under a projection from the inner flange B on one
side of the hub I return it to the rim in the direction of the arrow 2, and after
passing through another hole or perforation in the rim and along a part of its inner
surface the wire is again returned to the hub in the direction of the arrow 3 where
it is carried under another projection from the inner flange B, subsequently passing
to and from the rim in the direction of the arrows 4 and 5 respectively and again
in the direction of arrows 6 and 7. After passing towards the hub in the direction 7
and under a projection from the inner flange B the wire returns to the rim in the
direction 8 and after passing on to its inner side and around a portion of the
circumference in the groove C (Figure 2), it is carried to the hub in the direction
of the arrow 9, but instead of passing to the inner flange B as formerly, it is now
conveyed to the inner flange B' on the opposite side of the hub, and is then returned
to the rim in the direction 10. The wire is subsequently passed to and from the
hub in the direction 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16, the odd numbers representing
the movements towards the hub and the even numbers the movements away from
the hub and towards the rim of the wheel.

page_text: After returning to the rim in the direction of the arrow 16, the wire is carried
towards the hub in the direction of the arrow 17, but it is now conveyed to the
outer flange D adjacent to the inner flange B, and after passing under a projection
from such flange, is returned to the rim in the direction of the arrow 18. The wire
is subsequently passed to and from the hub in the direction of the arrows 19, 20, 21, 5
22, 23 and 24, the odd numbers representing the movements towards the hub and
the even numbers the movements away from the hub and towards the rim of the
wheel.
After its return to the rim in the direction of the arrow 24, the wire is carried
through the adjacent hole or perforation in the rim and towards the hub in the 1
direction 25, but it is now conveyed to the outer flange D¹ on the opposite side of
the hub, and after passing under a projection from such flange is returned to the
rim in the direction of the arrow 26. The wire is subsequently passed to and
from the hub in the direction of the arrows 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, and 32, the odd
numbers representing the movements towards the hub and the even numbers the
movements away from the hub and towards the rim of the wheel.
After its return to the rim in the direction of the arrow 32, the end of the wire
is carried along on the inner side of the rim until reaching the starting point A
where it meets the opposite end of the wire. The two ends are then joined together
in any convenient manner.
In threading the wire between the rim and the hub of the wheel as hereinbefore
described to form the spokes, care is taken to apply sufficient tension to prevent
any kinking or twisting of the wire. The outer flanges D D are loose or can be
slightly rotated relatively to the inner and fixed flanges B B' of the hub, and upon
the completion of the threading of the wire and after the joining of the ends I
impose a uniform stress or tension throughout the whole of the spokes, or the
entire length of the wire, by slightly rotating simultaneously the flanges D D in
one direction and the fixed flanges B B with the hub in the opposite direction,
such movements being imparted by the aid of suitable spanners or tools. Studs cr
bolts as E E are provided upon each of the fixed flanges B B₁ with heads projecting
through the slots FF in the loose flanges D D¹. When the studs or bolts are loose
the adjustment of the tension of the spokes may be effected as described, but upon
tightening the studs or bolts the loose flanges are locked or secured to the hub.
In forming the wire holes or perforations in the wheel rim I stamp or press the
metal immediately surrounding each perforation to a socket or thimble form as
illustrated at Figure 4 to provide an easy bend and seating for the wire.
The lugs or projections from the hub flanges under which the wire is passed and
by which it is secured to the hub, are formed in one convenient manner by punching
or forcing out lip pieces such as G from the metal as illustrated at Figure 2, and
also by the detail views Figures 5 and 6.
Another form of hub attachments for the spokes is illustrated at Figure 3, and
consists of small discs or pulleys each with a semi-circular groove around its
periphery, mounted loosely upon studs screwed into the flanges.
Instead of forming the whole of the spokes of the wheel from one continuous
length of wire, threaded in the manner described, I sometimes employ two or more
lengths of wire, and I modify the form of the threading to suit the disposition of
spokes necessary to meet any particular service or requirement.
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 1
claim is:-
1. The improved method of forming and securing the spokes of a cycle or other
vehicle wheel, substantially as described.
2. The formation of the spokes of a cycle or other vehicle wheel by the threading
of a wire between the rim and the hub substantially as described.
3: The formation of the whole of the spokes of a cycle or other vehicle wheel
from one length of wire, substantially, as described.

page_text: 4. The means for imposing a uniform stress or tension upon the whole of the
spokes of a cycle or other vehicle wheel, substantially as described.
5. The improved wheel for a cycle or other vehicle having spokes constructed and
arranged substantially as described and as illustrated.
this 9th day of April 1897.
MARKS & CLERK,
18, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.