Improvements in Wheels for Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Mar.. 1891
Complete Specification Left, 26th Nov., 1891-Accepted, 2nd Jan, 1892
PROVIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wheels for Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
GEORGE WILLIAM DOUGLAS Agent 4 Moor View Newcastle-on-Tyne do
hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention obviates the use of spokes in the wheels of bicycles, tricycles or
other vehicles, requiring tension. In place of the ordinary spokes, I use two discs
of equal diameters, made preferably of thin sheet steel. The peripheries of these
discs I attach to the rim of the wheel, by rivetting or otherwise. Through holes
in the centre of both discs, the axle passes. On one part of the axle a right hand
screw is cut and on the other part a left hand screw is cut. On these screws work
the two hubs, which are tapped and engage therewith. To these hubs the two
discs are also fastened by rivets or otherwise. Tension is obtained, by turning the
axle, which has the effect of forcing the hubs and discs further apart.
Lock nuts,
working on the screwed axle, hold the hubs in position on the axle after the
requisite tension has been obtained.
The advantages I claun for my invention are, that wheels so constructed will
offer considerably less resistance to the air than a number of spokes do, will have
greater rigidity and strength and consequently that greater speed and comfort will
be obtained in their use.
Dated this Seventh day of March 1891.
G. W. DOUGLAS.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wheels for Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
I, GEORGE WILLIAM DOUGLAS, Agent, formerly of 4 Moor View, Newcastle-
on-Tyne, but now of Mill House, Morpeth, in the County of Northumberland, 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 improvements in wheels for velocipedes and other
vehicles.
In place of the ordinary spokes I use two discs of equal diameters made
preferably of thin sheet steel. The peripheries of these discs I attach to the rim
of the wheel by rivetting or otherwise.
Through holes in the centre of both discs the axle passes. On one part of the
axle a right hand screw and on another part a left hand screw is cut. On these
screws work the two hubs which are tapped and engage therewith. To these hubs
the two discs are also fastened by rivets or otherwise. Tension is obtained by
turning the axle which has the effect of forcing the hubs and discs further apart
or vice versa.
Lock nuts working on the screwed axle hold the hubs in position thereon after
the requisite tension has been obtained.
I will now fully describe my invention with reference to the accompanying
drawing which is a vertical section of a cycle wheel explanatory of my invention.
Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the following description.
Referring to the drawing, the hubs 2 of the wheel are shown tapped and mounted
on an axle 3 on which right and left handed screw threads are cut so that the
turning of the axle by means of a key applied at an end 4 thereof has the effect of
causing the bubs to approach or recede from one ancther at equal rates. Lock
nuts 5 working on the screwed axle serve to keep the hubs in any desired position.
1 Price G27

page_text: The external peripheral extension 6 of the hubs and the internal peripheral
extension 7 of the rim 8 are connected together by two equal sized discs 9 pre-
ferably of very thin sheet metal which may be rivetted or otherwise similarly
connected circumferentially to the hubs and to the rim.
Instead therefore of a series of spokes any one of which is apt to be in a state of
more or less tension than another involving inequality of rigidity as between the
hubs and the rim of the wheel, what is equivalent to a continuous spoke system
under one constant system of tension is employed, whereby important advantages
accrue. With the wheel in a state of rest the rider has only to turn the axle as
above described to simultaneously reduce or increase the tension of the discs or this
may be effected by turning the wheel on the axle in a state of rest similar results
obtaining in either case whereby a wheel of great strength and rigidity of parts is
obtained.
A wheel so constructed will reduce forward atmospheric resistance to a minimum
by its presenting to the air a knife-like form without any baffling on churning of the
air within the spoke system. I am aware that disc wheels have been used but no
method of adjusting the tension of the same has hitherto existed; I am aware also
that spoke wheels have been used with adjustable hubs but a disc wheel with
tension adjustment mechanism as herein described is, so far as I am aware, new and
forms a new and useful combination and therefore
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 -
1. In wheels for velocipedes and other vehicles connecting together the rims and
the hubs or bosses by means of discs preferably of thin metal the said discs being
rendered adjustable as to their state of tension by their being attached to tapped
hubs or bosses mounted on axles having thereon right and left handed screw
threads so that the turning of the wheel on the axle or the turning of the axle
causes the hubs or bosses to approach or recede from one another and to remain in
desired position substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
any
Dated this 24th day of November 1891.
A. CRAWHALL CHAPMAN,
3, St. Nicholas Buildings, Newcastle-on-Tyne, Patent Agent.