Improvements in Wheels for Wheeled Vehicles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Oct., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 8th Mar., 1892-Accepted, 9th Apr., 1892
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wheels for Wheeled Vehicles.
I, SAMUEL WITHERS, of Park Works, West Bromwich, in the County of
Stafford, Safe Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to means for securing the outer ends of the spokes of
wheels to the felloes, constituting the circumference or circular rim of the same.
Heretofore, the said ends have been secured to the said felloes, by passing
shouldered ends of the spokes, into corresponding taper holes in them, and then
driving an off-side wedge, into a split end of the said spoke, hence the securing
means.
The driving home of the wedge oftentimes bursts the felloe, and further by
employing such means, the spokes, by change of temperature become loose, and
cannot be retightened, unless by the removal of the tyre.
In securing spokes according to my invention, I employ felloe sockets for each
spoke, so that the ends of the said spokes take into metal sockets, which takes off
all pressure of wedging-up from the felloes.
Thus, in carrying out my invention, I let within the felloes of the wheel circum-
ference, a series of open ended sockets to the number of the spokes to the wheel.
These sockets cross the felloes, and are slightly tapered on their outsides,
inwards at their outer ends.
The middles of them are considerably tapered from the outer end to the inner
end.
Within these sockets, the outer ends of the spokes are driven home, when by the
insertion of wedges into the split ends, the said ends are opened out, and take the
gradual expanding taper figure of the said insides of the sockets.
The inner ends of the sockets have flanges, which are let into the felloes, so as
to lie flush with the undersides of them, and they are there affixed by screws or
other means.
Felloe sockets constructed according to my invention, relieve all pressure from
the felloes, so that the wedges employed in the affixing of the spokes, can be driven
home to any extent, without in the least risking the bursting of the former.
The outsides of the sockets, may, if necessary be taper or parallel screwed,
and with the holes through them, tapering outwardly from the inner side.
The sockets may otherwise be made to constitute simple shoes for the ends of
the spokes, which may be affixed to the shoes, prior to the insertion of the said
shoes within the felloes.
Dated this 26th day of October 1891.
SAMUEL WITHERS,
By Henry Skerrett,
Agent for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wheels for Wheeled Vehicles.
I SAMUEL WITHERS of Park Works, West Bromwich in the County of
Stafford, Safe Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly describel
and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
This invention relates to improvements in, or appertaining to spoke felloe sockets,
or to spoke-terion felloe sockets or shoes, for wheels.

page_text: Usually the tenons, or the outer ends of spokes, are inserted naked within like
shaped holes, formed within, or bored transversely through the felloes, and on the
same being tightened up, or affixed, which is usually done by driving home wedges
into their ends, the said felloes are liable to be split, and further, the spoke at its
junction with its tenon, is liable to be broken, on any undue strain being put
upon the wheel.
By my invention, the end of the spoke and its tenon are fitted respectively
within sockets, made all in one piece, and fitted within and to the felloes.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, represents a wheel, provided or fitted
with spoke tenon-felloe sockets, constructed according to one form of my invention.
Figure 2 represents a segment of the same in section, exemplifying how the
tenon or terminal end of the spoke, takes within a metal socket, let or fitted trans-
versely within the felloe, and how the fore part of the same, which projects in
advance of the socket proper, encircles the extreme outer part of the spoke, and
breaks joint between the end of the spoke and its tenon.
Figure 3 is a cross section of the spoke and felloe, upon the dotted line A. B.
Figure 2, while
Figure 4 is a section on the dotted line C. D. and looking upwards towards the
inside of the felloe.
Figure 5 is an elevation of the said combined spoke and spoke tenon socket
separately, and
Figure 6 is a longitudinal and vertical section of the same.
a is a felloe, and 6 is a spoke, with the outer end b³, and tenon 6, taking or fitted
with a socket c, with the barrel part of smaller diameter, fitted within or taking
transversely through the felloe, and which may be secured in position by flanges
or eyes c³, at the inner end, wherethrough pins or bolts d pass, and are there
secured, by rivetting or otherwise; or instead of transverse pins or bolts as
described, ordinary wood screws may be employed.
Thus, the said socket consists of two parts, viz. :-a tenon part c', and a spoke
part e, made all in one piece.
The said tenon part tapers outwardly, for the expansion of the outer end 6, of
the tenon 63, on the wedge e, being driven home within a cross cut 6, made down
the middle of the said tenon.
The spoke part of the socket, is of a like diameter as the outer end of the
spoke, and has a shoulder c³, for the abutment of the end of the spoke, at its
junction with its tenon.
By thus extending inwardly the said socket part o³, beyond the tenon socket c¹,
the outer end of the spoke is supported and the breaking of the same at its
junction with the tenon part thereby prevented, while by employing the tenon
socket of metal let within the felloe, the said felloe is prevented from being
split by the driving home of the wedge on the affixing of the spoke.
Thus it is, by my invention, that the pressure created by the driving home
and expanding of the end of the tenon of a spoke, is confined, whilst the
outer end of the said spoke, at its junction with its tenon or extreme end is
protected or strengthened by breaking the joint by an encircling socket.
Additional connection of the socket to the spoke may be made by providing
the former with eyes or ears c, wherethrough a transversely directed pin
passes.
Figure 7 represents another form of spoke felloe socket, constructed according
to my invention.
The tenon socket end is shown closed, and with the abutment shoulder slightly
shaped.
Figure 8 represents the said socket when in use, while
Figure 9 is a section on the dotted lines E. F, looking upwards.
a is the felloe, 6 the spoke, c the socket, 6 the upper end of spoke, the tenon,
the spoke tenon portion of the socket, and the spoke outer end socket part, c³ is
the abutment shoulder.

page_text: Figure 10 represents a light wheel socket or junction shoe.
a is the felloe, b the spoke, b' its upper end, and 6, the tenon of upper end, which
takes within semi-socket c', while the end part &, takes within socket part c³.
Figure 11 represents a further form of my invention.
In this arrangement, the socket is affixed by the expanding outwardly of spikes
at its inner terminal boundary edging, on the same being driven home.
a is the felloe, 6 the spoke, 68 its tenon or upper end, e the socket, c¹ the tenon
part, of the spoke and the spoke proper part; care spikes, at the terminal
edging of c', and 9 is an expanding washer, which forms, as it were, an anvil or
an abutment, which turns outwardly the said spikes into the wood of the felloe, on
the socket being driven home.
Figure 12 represents another form of a socket, with a
fixing means consisting
of annular ratchets, formed upon the outer circumference of the tenon socket
part.
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;-
First-
-A spoke socket, or a combined spoke-tenon socket for wheel felloes or
wheel spokes, consisting of a metal socket, or double socket, which both takes the
outer end of a spoke, and the tenon of the same, and which sockets or double
socket is constructed, arranged and applied, substantially as described and set
forth.
Secondly In a spoke outer end socket, the combination with a felloe and the
outer end of a spoke, of an encircling double socket c', c³, with connection and
fastening means substantially as described and set forth.
this 5th day of
1000
DILGU BY UI NULCE 100T
SAMUEL WITHERS,
By Henry Skerrett,
6, Livery Street, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.