Improvements in and relating to Wheels of Velocipedes and other Vehioles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 2nd Oct., 1894
Complete-Specification Left, 27th June, 1895-Accepted, 10th Aug., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Wheels of Velocipedes and other
Vehioles.
İ, ALEXANDRE CHARLES LEBAUPIN, of Vernantes (Maine-et-Loire), in the
Republic of France, Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
My invention relates to wheels of velocipedes and other vehicles.
Up to the present time the spokes for whoels of velocipedes have with difficulty
been replaced on the road. Moreover, the fixing of these spokes requires screw
threading which in time gives way.
These inconveniences are obviated by my aforesaid invention.
In principle my improved spoke consists of wires forming a certain number of
strands which are twisted like a cable for giving to the spoke all the required
tension by means of a special device.
My invention will be properly understood from the following desoription by
referring to the annexed specimen drawing in which:
Figure 1 represents a front view of part of a wheel provided with my spokes.
Figure 2 shows part of the hub of the same wheel.
Figure 3 represents, as seen from the front, the device which enables the metallic
strands which compose my spokes to be twisted.
Figure 4 shows the same device in plan.
Figure 5 also represents the same device as seen from the side.
Figure 6 shows a small special key designed for turning the spokes.
As shown in this drawing, I provide on the hub a of the wheel a number of
open
holes b, which correspond to the number of spokes c, and these holes are in two
discs d separated by an open space as represented in Figure 2.
Into appropriate holes in the rim e of the wheel I introduce the devices
represented in Figures 3, 4 and 5.
These devices are composed of a head f, a round neck gaud a flat part h; they
have morcover a slot in their entire length for receiving a spring designed to form
a stop in the hole of the rim.
My device is also pierced with a hole j for the passage of the metallic wires and
has a slit in its head for mounting the spokes in the works when the tyre has not
yet been put on.
With this system it is sufficient to secure one, two or three double wires of steel
for example in the holes of the hub, then pass these wires through the hole j of
the device mounted upon the rim. By the aid of the key represented in Figure 6
I then take the flat part of the stretcher and it is only necessary to turn
the latter in order to effect the whole twisting and thus obtain all the desirable-
tension.

page_text: It will therefore be seen that it is sufficient for a cyclist to have only a
certain length of wire in his pocket for enabling him to repair instantly a wheel
on the road.
The small spring of the stretcher prevents the latter from turning. For this
purpose the holes in the rim are provided with a certain number of notches in
which the spring will be placed automatically.
It is understood that the parts for securing my wires especially to the hub may
be varied without at all changing the nature of my invention.
Dated this 2nd day of October 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in and relating to Wheels of Velocipedes and other
Vehicles,
I, ALEXANDRE CHARLES LEBAUPIN, of Vernantes (Maine-et-Loire) in the
Republic of France, Merchant, 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:-
My invention relates to wheels of velocipedes and other vehicles.
Up to the present time the spokes for wheels of velocipedes have with difficulty
heen replaced on the road. Moreover, the fixing of these spokes requires screw
threading which in time gives way.
These inconveniences are obviated by my aforesaid invention.
In principle my improved spoke consists of wires forming a certain number of
strands which are twisted like a cable for giving to the spoke all the required
tension by means of a special device.
My invention will be properly understood from the following description with
reference to the drawing left with my Provisional Specification and the drawing
filed herewith in which:
1
Figure represents a front view of part of a wheel provided with my spokes.
Figure 2 shows part of the hub of the same wheel.
Figure 3 represents, as seen from the front, the device which enables the
metallic strands which compose iny spokes to be twisted.
Figure 4 shows the same device in plan.
Figure 5 also represents the same device as seen from the side.
Figure 6 shows a small key designed for turning the spoke.
Figure 7 represents a front view of part of a wheel provided with a modified
form of my said invention.
Figure 8 is a side view showing the manner of securing the ends of the spokes
to the hub.
Figures 9, 10 and 11 is a front, side and sectional view respectively showing the
arrangement for securing the spokes to the felly, by which arrangement I also
obtain the requisite tension and
Figure 12 is an horizontal section on the line 1. 2 of Figure 9.
As shown in the drawings, I provide in the hub a.o the wheel a number of
open holes or slots b, which correspond to the number of spokes c, and these
holes are formed in two discs à separated by an open space as represented in
Figure 2.
Into appropriate holes in the rim e of the wheel I introduce the stretching
devices represented in Figures 3, 4 and 5.

page_text: These devices are composed of a head, a round neck y and a flat parth; they
have moreover a slot in their entire length for receiving a spring i designed to form
a stop in the hole of the rim..
The device is also provided with a hole j for the passage of the metallio wires
and has a slit in its head for mounting the spokes before the tyre is put on.
With this system it is sufficient to secure one, two or three double wires of steel
for example in the holes of the hub, then pass these wires through the holej of
the device mounted upon the rim. By the aid of the key represented in Figure 6
I then take the flat part of the stretcher and it is only necessary to turn the
latter in order to effect the whole twisting and thus obtain the desirable tension.
It will therefore be seen that it is sufficient for a cyclist to have only a certain
length of wire in his pocket for enabling him to repair instantly a wheel on
the road.
The small spring i of the stretcher prevents the latter from turning. For this
purpose the holes in the rim are provided with a certain number of notches in
which the spring will engage automatically.
Referring to Figures 9 to 12 the spokes c, consisting as above mentioned of a
certain number of metallic strands are arranged at the side of the hub a and may
be soldered or otherwise secured to a head c passing at right angles to the vertical
plane of the wheel.
For fixing the spokes sideways of the centre of the wheel, the heads c¹ engage
into boles or slots b provided in the hub, in the manner shown in Figure 7 of the
drawings.
The advantage of this arrangement is, that any spoke can be replaced without
the necessity of detaching the chain wheel which is arranged in front thereof.
For securing the ends of the spokes to the felly e I provide stretching devices
each consisting of a head a cylindrical neck or body portion having a groove
into which the strands of wire constituting the spoke passes.
The end of the said body portion of the stretching device is provided with a
hole the axis of which is at right angles to the groove and through which and the
eye formed by the wire strands of the spoke is passed a pin g' by the aid of which
the wire strands can be turned in order to impart to the spoke the necessary
tension.
When the required degree of tension is reached the said pin is cut off and
formed into a rivet.
In order to prevent the spoke from becoming released and distorted I arrange in
the groove of the body part g of the stretching device a spring of essentially
triangular form which by a lateral displacement becomes engaged with notches e
provided for this purpose in the felly e. Instead of using a pin for twisting the
wire strands constituting the spokes, I may make use of a key which is adapted to
engage with the flat parts & provided for this purpose upon the cylindrical part g
of the stretching device.
It will be seen, that the device is simply and easily put in place so that the driver
or cyclist is always enabled to personally replace any spoke that may have become
broken.
It is evident that the hereinbefore described invention may be varied as regards
its form and the details of construction without in any way departing from the
principle of the invention.
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:-
1st. The hereindescribed spoke for the wheels of velocipedes or other vehicles
consisting of wires twisted together after being put in place.
2nd. The hereindescribed stretching device for twisting together the wires
forming the snakes.

page_text: 3rd. A wheel for velocipedes and other vehicles consisting of the parts
constructed and combined substantially as herein before described with reference
to the drawings.
Dated this 27th day of June 1895.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.