Improvements in the Construction of Wheels and Pulleys.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 20th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 20th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Wheels and Pulleys.
I, WILLIAM BLACK BAND, of North View, Newport, in the County of Salop,
Grocer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates principally to the manner in which I construct and arrange
wrought metal wheels and pulleys for use upon cycles, vehicles, shafting and other
purposes, whereby I am enabled to securely tighten up the arms and spokes of the
wheels, and expand the outer surface or hoop of the wheel, in order to prevent
rattling, and to secure any tyre which may be employed upon the wheel when used
upon cycles or ordinary vehicles.
In carrying my invention into effect when constructing my improved wheel for
use upon cycles, I make the rim in the form of two or more circles or hoops of
metal, or metal and wood, or other suitable material. One or more of such metal
hoops or bands I form as an inner rim capable of being slightly extended by the
tightening of the improved arms or spokes which I employ in constructing my
wheels. Between the inner rim or hoop of metal and the outer tyre-carrying rim
or hoop, I place several wedges or distance pieces, arranged in such a manner as to
fill the opening or space between the two rims, and thus connect the one to the
other. These wedges I form of wood, india-rubber, metal, or other suitable
material, and I also sometimes employ additional fastenings or connecting pieces by
placing screwed studs, pins or bolts, from one rim to the other.
The metal arms I arrange in the form of a number of wires or rods having one
end carried, or secured by the central boss or hub, and the other end secured
between or on to the inner or outer rims or tyre hoop. The central boss or hub I
form in such a manner that it is capable of forcing in or drawing out the connected
ends of the arms or spokes in order that the spokes may be brought nearer together,
or forced farther apart, according as it may be desired to loosen or tighten the
outer rim or tyre hoop. When the operation of drawing in of the arms at the
boss is accomplished the tension upon the inner hoop or band of my compound rim
is released, and it is then free to be withdrawn from the outer rim upon the removal
of the packing blocks or distance pieces.
The outer rim of my wheel I make of any desired section to suit the tyre which
is to be carried thereon, such tyre being in the form of a metal band, a pneumatic
tyre, an india-rubber tyre, or a band of wood or series of strips of wood, metal or
other suitable material secured to the outer rim in any ordinary manner.
The boss I make in various ways to ensure the elastic inner connection of the
arms or spokes. When constructing my improved boss in one convenient manner,
I connect the ends of the spokes or arms to a circular sleeve having a number of
semi-circular holes or serrations within it, to receive the bent over ends of the
circular arms or spokes, and I place a corresponding inner ring of elastic material
such as india-rubber to receive the arms on the opposite side; the holes being
formed within the elastic substance or left plain for the pressure to force the spokes
into the material to form their own bed or grooves. Between the inner ring or
rings securing the spokes, I place a metal band or ring to secure the spokes to the
boss of the wheel. Upon the sleeve carrying the arms or spokes, I cut a thread
or screw at one end to receive a nut, and upon the opposite end I form holes before
referred to, to receive the ends of the spokes. I place before the nut for engaging
with the sleeve thread, a washer with a number of holes similarly arranged to the
opposite end of the sleeve, so that the ends of the arms may fit therein; thus
when the nut is screwed along the sleeve the arms are pressed together, and made

page_text: to bear tightly against the pads or rings upon the inner sides of the arms to bear
upon grooves within the sleeve, and the nut upon the outer sides. When the arms
are secured together by the sleeve nut the outer ends which are attached to the rim
of the wheel are forced outwards and thus made to firmly press the rim outwards
so as to tighten up the tyre placed around the rim.
The outer ends of my wheel arms I form in various manners to suit the particular
shape of tyre which is to be carried, but in each case I arrange that the arms shall
be capable of forcing outwards the rim so as to tighten the tyre uniformly, when
the central boss fittings or nuts are manipulated. In one system of attachment
which I employ I form the outer ends of the arms as hooks, or bent claws, having
the extreme ends of the hook or claw made thicker than the other portion of the
rod these hooks I cause to pass over a rim or inner tyre ring, formed out of a
circular rod or out of a tube made into a ring, in such manner that the thick ends
of the hooks or spoke claws are reversed in direction when the pair of arms are
brought to their correct position upon the ring. Thus the claws being arranged
with their thickest portion on the outside in each case, when the nut is screwed
along the sleeve so as to tighten up the inner ends of the arms, then the thick ends
are raised or moved round the ring as upon a fulcrum, so as to expand and tighten
the hold of the outer rim to the boss.
The central boss sleeve I construct sometimes with three screws or independent
threads upon it; one thread being the inner one for permitting the arms or spokes
to be tightened up, another being upon one end to receive a gland nut cap for
securing the axle or spindle to the wheel boss, in a manner to permit of rigid
attachment being obtained in a ready manner. I prefer to employ axles having
collar arranged thereupon to form shoulders to prevent the movement of the wheels
along them; and I cause my sleeve glaud caps to pass over these shoulders, and to
be formed so as to press them against the ends of the sleeves when tightened up.
The extreme ends of the axles I further prevent from moving out of my sleeves by
placing split rings or washers over a grooved neck formed upon the axles, and then
passing my outer nut cap over the divided washer when screwing it on to the
sleeve. When it is desired to protect the nuts I place a casing or band of metal
or any suitable material around the nuts so as to enclose them in a neat
manner.
Another method of attaching the arms or spokes to ensure an expanding rim I
sometimes adopt by securing the ends of the arms to the ring or inner rim of the
wheel, and making the ends thus to be attached in the form of bosses having
projecting cam like ends or sides, so that when the arms are caused to move upon
the rim in the manner herein before described, these cams or projections force
outwards the rim, and thus tighten it and also the tyre. By a simpler arrangement
of sleeve I sometimes employ, I cause the arms to be expanded by means of nuts
which I place upon the threaded axle. On one side or edge of these nuts I form
a number of holes to receive the bent over ends of the wire like spokes or arms,
after these arms have been brought from the rim to pass partly round a central
sleeve like washer or ring which I place on one side of each nut. The ends of the
wires after being carried partly round the ring I bend in such a manner as to admit
of their passing along the top of the nut, and then to be turned down over the end
and made to fit into the holes provided therein for their reception. The companion
or those placed opposite to the wires connected to the nut I carry from the rim, to
which they are in common with the others attached, and cause them to pass partly
round a corresponding sleeve like ring as before described, and then to pass over
the nut to engage in similar holes formed upon the opposite edge or face of the
nut. Between the two sleeve like rings I place a distance ring, or a number of
distance pieces or guards, to keep the rings correctly apart, and to permit of the
wires being pulled when the nuts are turned upon the central screw of the axle.
The ends of the wires or spokes I connect to the rims in one manner by turning
or bending them into holes drilled within the rim after the ends have been partly
carried round the rin and I place these holes preferably to permit of one hole

page_text: being opposite to another within the rim. Or I adopt any ordinary method of
securing the rods or spokes to the rim.
The tyres I make of any suitable material and of any section while my inner,
tyre rim I form of solid or tubular metal to receive the spokes. Between the
two rims I place any desired number of pads or distance pieces, and I connect
the one to the other by means of studs or ordinary rivets arranged at intervals
around the rim.
I modify the method of expanding and contracting the arms or spokes to suit
any particular requirement, sometimes placing nuts to work into conical caps
which carry the ends of the wires so that when the nuts advance the wires are
tightened upon their connections. In another manner I secure the ends of the
wires to central nuts and by turning the screw or holding the axle screw and
turning the wheel I draw together or force apart the arms. I also vary the
method of tightening up the pads between the rims, arranging the ends of the
spokes so that they may be screwed up on the top of the inner rim to force out
the pads.
I
Similarly vary the shape and arrangement of the rims to suit the cycle or
vehicle to which the wheel is to be attached, making some wheels with double
outer hollow or solid tyres to work in conjunction with my compound arrange-
ment of tyres as before described; the space between the different rims and
tyres being filled up with elastic material or covered with any other road bearing
tyre or band.
I employ the same systems of construction herein set forth when making wheels
for any purpose other than the particular application to cycle wheels as herein-
before described, employing my improved system of expanding arms controlled
and operated from the central attachment with like advantage in the various
purposes to which such wheels may be applied.
Dated this 19th day of May 1892.
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Wheels and Pulleys.
I, WILLIAM BLACK BAND, of North View, Newport, in the County of Salop,
Grocer, 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 principally to the manner in which I construct and arrange
wrought metal wheels and pulleys for use upon cycles, vehicles, shafting and other
purposes, whereby I am enabled to securely tighten up the arms or spokes of the
wheels and to expand the outer surface or hoop of the wheel in order to prevent
rattling, and to secure any tyre which may be employed upon the wheel when used
upon cycles or ordinary vehicles.
In the three accompanying sheets of explanatory drawings Figures 1 to 21 illus-
trate the principal methods I adopt for carrying my invention into effect.
In carrying my invention into effect when constructing my improved wheel for
use upon cycles, I make the rim in the form of two or more circles or hooks of
metal A Cor metal and wood or other suitable material. One or more of such.
metal hoops or bands A (Figures 2, 24, 9, 11 12 and 21) I form as an inner rim
capable of being slightly tightened against the outer rim by the tightening of the
improved arms or spokes B which I employ in constructing my wheels. Between
the inner rim or rims, hoop or hoops of metal or wood A and the outer tyre
carrying rim or hoop C I place several wedges or distance pieces D arranged in

page_text: such a manner as to fill the opening or space between the two rims and thus connect
the one to the other. These wedges D I form of wood, india-rubber, metal, or
other suitable material, and I also sometimes employ additional fastenings or con-
necting pieces by placing screwed studs, pins or bolts E from one rim to the other
as shown in Figures 11 and 12.
The metal arms B I arrange in the form of a number of wires or rods having
one end carried or secured by the central boss or hub F and the other end secured
between or on to the inner or outer rims or tyre hoops. The central boss or hub F
I form in such a manner that it is capable of forcing in or drawing out the con-
nected ends of the arms or spokes B in order that the spokes may be brought
nearer together or forced farther apart according as it may be desired to loosen or
tighten the outer rim or tyre hoop. When the operation of drawing in of the arms
of the boss is accomplished the tension upon the inner hoop or baud A of my
compound rim is released and it is then free to be withdrawn from the outer rim Ċ
upon the removal of the packing blocks or distance pieces D.
The outer rim C of my wheel I make of any desired section to suit the tyre
which is to be carried thereon, such tyre being in the form of a metal band, a
pneumatic tyre, an india-rubber tyre, or a band of wood or a series of strips of
wood, metal or other suitable material secured to he outer rim in any ordinary
manner.
The boss FI make in various ways to ensure the elastic inner connection of the
arms or spokes.
When constructing my improved boss in one convenient manner I connect the
ends of the spokes or arms B to a circular sleeve G as shown in Figures 1 and 3,
having a number of semi-circular holes or serrations H within it to receive the
bent over ends of the circular arms or spokes, and 1 place a corresponding inner
ring of elastic material such as india-rubber to receive the arms on the opposite
side the holes being formed within the elastic substance or left plain for the
pressure to force the spokes into the material to form their own bed or grooves.
Between the inner ring or rings h securing the spokes I place a metal band or
ring F to secure the spokes to the bose of the wheel. Upon the sleeve carrying the
arms or spokes I sometimes cut a thread or screw at one end to receive a nut K;
and upon the opposite ends I form holes before referred to, to receive the ends of the
spokes. I place before the nut K for engaging with the sleeve thread a washer L
with a number of holes similarly arranged to the opposite end of the sleeve, so that
the ends of the arms may fit therein; thus when the nut K is screwed along the
sleeve G or the nut K' screwed along the spindle M (Figure 1) the arms or spokes B
are pressed together and made to bear tightly against the pads or rings h upon the
inner sides of the arms and to bear upon grooves within the sleeve and the nut upon
the outer sides.
Figures 6 and 8 show a similar arrangement in which the ends of the spokes or
arms B are arranged to book under a ledge like projection formed on the inner ends
of the screwed sleeves G. The ends of the spokes are kept in position in grooves
formed upon the sleeve or are imbedded in a bed of resilient material such as
india-rubber which is placed on the surface of the sleeve to receive them. The
spokes are secured in position against the sleeve by a metal band or ring such
as F (Figure 1) or by rings such as P (Figure 6) which are held in position by
distance pieces which I preferably arrange of semi-circular configuration and
secure together by a bolt such as P³ passing through the axle as set forth in
Figure 6.
Or I form ledge like projections on the outer ends of the screwed sleeves Gand
hook on to or under these, the ends of the opposite set of spokes, as set forth in
Figure 8.
Figure 5 illustrates a somewhat similar arrangement to that shown at Figures 1
and 3 in which recesses or serrations are made on the sleeves G to receive the
spokes B, which are kept in position on the sleeve by a screwed collar L.
Figure 19 (Sheet 3) illustrates another simple arrangement in which I cause the

page_text: ends b of the spokes to hook on the underside of collars of U section G³, which
I arrange on the wheel spindle M and I adjust the distance of these collars
and thereby tighten the spokes on the inner hoop by means of opposing
collars G G forced apart by means of a wedge M¹ working in a slot m¹ formed
in the spindle.
The outer ends of my wheel arms I form in various manners to suit the particular
shape of tyre which is to be carried, but in each case I generally arrange that the
arms shall be capable of forcing outwards the rim so as to tighten the tyre uniformly,
when the central boss fittings or nuts are manipulated.
In one system of attachment which I employ as illustrated in Figure 2, I form
the outer ends of the arms B as hooks or bent claws 62 having the extreme ends of
the hook or claw made thicker than the outer portion of the rod; these hooks I
cause to pass over a rim or inner tyre ring A formed out of a circular rod or out
of a tube made into a ring, in such a manner that the thick ends 6 of the hooks
or spoke claws are reversed in direction when the pair of arms are brought to their
correct position upon the ring. Thus the claws being arranged with their thickest
portion on the outside in each case, when the nut is screwed along the sleeve so as
to tighten up the inner ends of the arms then the thick ends are raised or moved
round the ring as upon a fulcrum so as to expand and tighten the hold of the outer
rim to the boss.
The central boss sleeve F 1 construct sometimes with two screws or independent
threads upon it as illustrated at Figure 7; one thread K³ being the inner one for
permitting the arms or spokes to be tightened up, another being upon one end K* to
receive a gland nut cap K' for securing the axle or spindle M to the wheel boss in a
manner to permit of rigid attachment being obtained in a ready manner. I prefer to
employ axles M having collars m arranged thereupon to form shoulders to prevent
the movement of the wheels along them; and I cause my sleeve gland caps K' to
pass over these shoulders to be formed so as to press them against the ends of the
sleeves G when tightened up. The extreme ends of the axles I further prevent
from moving out of my sleeves by placing split rings or washers m² over a grooved
neck formed upon the axles, and then passing my outer nut cap K' over the divided
washer or split pin when screwing it on to the sleeve. When it is desired to protect
the nuts place a casing or band of metal or any suitable material around the
nuts so as to enclose them in a neat manner as shown at K' (Fig. 7) and at K
(Fig. 10).
Figure 16 shows in sectional elevation a similar construction as applied to spokes
of tubular section in which I arrange grooves or recesses in the wheel boss G₁ for
the reception of the ends of the tubular spokes B as indicated. The ends of the
spokes are placed together against rings of india-rubber or other resilient material
interposed between them and against similar rings secured on each side of the
distance piece or pieces O; by the screwing up on the nut G' against the shoulder
or washer L. This construction may also be applied with spokes or arms of a
sectional configuration other than that indicated, and I preferably attach the ends
of these spokes to the tyre by screwing into the inner rim or in the case of wire
spokes as indicated in Figure 12.
Figure 10 shows another method of carrying my invention into effect in which
I cause the ends of the spokes B to be inserted into a semi-circular ring O¹
forming part of the distance piece, O, and I carry the spokes along the underside
of this distance piece to its opposite end and take up to the rim. I interpose a
layer of india-rubber or similar material as g for the purpose of affording an efficient
bearing surface when the nut G is screwed home.
Figure 20 (Sheet 3) illustrates another similar construction in which the ends of
the spokes instead of being inserted in the semi-circular rings as shown in Figure 10
are made to encircle a ring or rings 92 placed on the sleeve for this purpose, the
bent ends of the wires being slipped around the ring or rings O₁ before the nut
screw K³ and its india rubber pad are inserted; the portion of the wires shown in
dotted lines indicating the position taken by the spokes before being placed on the

page_text: ring and before being tightened up by the springing out of the inner pieces O¹
and their distance pieces O.
Figure 21 (Sheet 3) illustrates another arrangement in which I employ two
tubular hoops A A which I connect by suitable brackets to the outer rim C in
the manner indicated, and further adjust the tightness of the spokes on the inner
rims or hoops by means of adjustable distance pieces or studs such as O³ and O'
independently, (as shown) or in addition to the adjustment by meaus of the sleeves
such as G, G. (Figure 6).
Another method as shown in Figure 2ª of attaching the arms or spokes to ensure
an expanding rim I sometimes adopt by securing the ends of the arms to the ring
or inner rim A of the wheel and making the ends thus to be attached in the form
of bosses or cones such as B2, having projecting cam like ends or sides, so that
when the arms are caused to move upon the rim in the manner hereinbefore
described these cams or projections force outwards the rim and thus tighten it and
also the tyre.
Figure 15 illustrates an arrangement which I employ for tightening up the inner
against the outer rim when constructing my wheel hub as illustrated at Figure 10,
though I may employ this method in conjunction with other arrangements herein
described. It consists in providing caps A2 on the ends of the tubular inner rim
which are secured thereto by brazing or screwing in any well known manner; and
into the ends of these two caps I screw a right and left hand stud A³ with which
the circumference of the rim can be adjusted.
Figure 14 illustrates the method I usually employ for adjusting the circumference
of the outer rim, a slot or oval hole being left in the overlapping ends of the rim,
and a screw or screws fitted therein to tighten it up.
Figures 13, 17 and 18 illustrate sections of an ordinary wheel, having a wooden
felloe, in which I employ wedges a and oblong holes with bolts R. R' expanding
and adjusting the bearing of the wooden felloe against the iron rim; the rim I make
preferably of a sectional configuration as shown at Figure 17.
The ends of the wires or spokes B' I may connect to the rims in one manner by
turning or bending them into holes drilled within the rim as shown in Figure 4,
after the ends have been partly carried round the rim ; and I place these holes
preferably to permit of one hole being opposite to another within the rim. I may
also secure the ends of the spokes or arms to wedge pieces such as D' D' or D³
(Figure 9) which when the spokes are tightened force the inner and outer rims
apart. Or I may adopt any ordinary method of securing the rods or spokes to the
.rim.
The tyres I make of any suitable material and of any section, while my inner
tyre rim I form of solid or tubular metal to receive the spokes. Between the two
rims I place any desired number of pads or distance pieces D and I connect the one
to the other by means of studs or ordinary rivets arranged at intervals around the
rim as shown at Figure 12. Or I keep the pads or distance pieces at their proper
position between the inner and outer hoops by simply interposing strips of leather E¹
or other similar material as indicated.
I employ the same systems of construction herein set forth when making wheels
for any purpose other than the particular application to cycle wheels as hereinbefore
described, employing my improved system of expanding arms controlled and
operated from the central attachment with like advantage in the various purposes
to which such wheels may be applied.
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. The construction and arrangement of wrought iron wheels in which the outer
rim is expanded or stretched by means of adjustable arms having their inner ends
connected to the central sleeves or bosses of the wheels substantially as hereinbefore
described.

page_text: 2. The construction and arrangement of wrought iron wheels and pulleys having
central adjustable sleeves or bosses to receive the ends of the arms, so that when
the sleeves are tightened or screwed up, the arms may force out the outer rim of
the wheel.
3. In a wrought iron wheel or pulley, the combination and arrangement of adjust--
able sleeves, adjustable arms and distance pieces for keeping the sleeves or central
bosses extended, substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
4. The construction and arrangement of wrought iron wheels having double arms,
one an inner rim such as A to receive the ends of the arms, and the other an outer
rim such as C to receive the tyre, the two rims being kept apart by adjustable
packing or distance pieces such as D substantially as hereinbefore described, and as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. The combination and arrangement of a wrought iron wheel having a double
tubular inner rim such as A A with an outer tyre rim such as C and arms such
as B substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
6. Tightening the wires of wheels by forcing apart the ends at the boss by means
of rings placed within the opposing wires, which rings are forced apart by screws
or other means, substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figure 21 of
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 18th day of March 1893.
MARKS & CLERK,
13, Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicant..