Improvements in Wheel-rims for Bicycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 14th July, 1896-Accepted, 22nd Aug., 1896
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wheel-rims for Bicycles and other Vehicles.
1, REGINALD HADDAN, of the Firm of Herbert Haddan and Co., of 18, Buckingham
Street. Strand, W.C. London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention, a communication to me from abroad by Theodor Kundtz, Manufacturer, of
Cleveland, State of Ohio, in the United States of America, 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 wooden wheel-rims, and more especially.
to wooden wheel-rims that are used in the construction of bicycle-wheels, the object
being to construct a wheel-rim that is not liable to warp or bend out of shape, and
that will not, in use, split at the spokes.
With this object in view, the invention consists in certain features of construction,.
and combinations of parts; hereinafter described and pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a wheel-rim embodying the
invention.
Fig. 2 is an enlarged view in perspective of a portion of the pieces composing the
rim, and shows the manner of making the rim.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the wheel-rim, and shows also a cross-section of a
tire applied to the rim.
The improved wheel-rim is, preferably, concavo-convex in cross-section, as shown
in Fig. 3. The inner periphery of the rim is convex in cross-section, and the outer-
periphery, that forms the seat for the tire C (see Fig. 3) of the wheel, is concave in
cross-section. The inner convex peripheral surface of the wheel-rim is formed upon a.
circular bar or strip A, and the outer portions a of the outer peripheral surface of the
rim are also preferably formed upon said strip or bar A. Bar or strip A, at its outer
periphery and central portion, is grooved or recessed annularly and circumferentially
as at A'. The recess or groove A¹ is deep and wide enough to receive a wooden
reinforcing ring B. The reinforcing ring comprises, preferably, in addition to a thin
wooden cross-grained piece or layer b glued or cemented to the walls of recess or
groove A', a wooden strip b' bent annularly around layer b and preferably glued or
cemented to and instrumental in holding said layer 6 in place. The walls of groove A¹
are preferably shaped to form a curve or curves in the cross-section of the rim, as
shown in Fig. 3. The inner and outer bars or strips A and b₁ have their grain.
running longitudinally thereof, or circumferentially of the wheel-rim, but the
intermediate or interior layer has its grain running crosswise thereof and con-
sequently crosswise of the wheel-rim or crosswise of the walls of groove A¹. Layer b.
lines the walls of groove A', and is bent crosswise of its grain, as shown in Fig. 2, to.
conform to and fit said walls. The inner peripheral surface of the outer strip b¹ is
convex in cross-section to fit the outer concave surface of the cross grained layer, and
the outer peripheral surface of said outer strip is suitably shaped to receive the tire C,
as shown in Fig. 3.
It will be observed that a wheel-rim constructed according to the invention will
not warp and cannot possibly split at the spokes in the construction of the wheel, and
it will also be observed that the improved rim, when the tire is applied, (see Fig. 3).
has not the joints between its different layers or pieces exposed to the weather.
The construction shown, wherein the cross-grained wooden piece or layer b extends
from near one side-extremity of piece A at one side of groove A¹ to near the other
side extremity of said piece A at the opposite side of said groove, is exceedingly well.

page_text: adapted for wheel-rims whose body-portion's outer and side extremities (adjacent
surfaces a, a,) require reinforcement.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is ;-
1. A wheel-rim consisting of a wooden ring having an annular groove cut in its
periphery circumferentially of the rim, and a wooden reinforcing ring fitting and
suitably secured within said groove.
2. A wheel-rim consisting of a wooden ring having an external annular groove
extending circumferentially of the rim, and a wooden reinforcing ring secured within
said groove and comprising a cross-grained wooden layer having its grain running
crosswise of the rim.
3. A wheel-rim consisting of a wooden bar or strip A that forms the inner portion
of the rim, which strip or bar has an external annular recess or groove whose walls
form a curve or curves in the cross-section of the rim, a cross-grained wooden layer b
lining the walls of and bent into said groove or recess with its grain running crosswise
of said walls, and an outer wooden bar or strip b¹ extending annularly and
circumferentially of said cross-grained layer, substantially as shown, for the purpose
specified.
1000