Improvements in Wheels for Cycles and other similar Vehicles.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Dec., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 20th July, 1893-Accepted, 9th Sept., 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wheels for Cycles and other similar Vehicles.
I JOSEPH DAVID EVERETT of Belfast in the County of Antrim in Ireland
Professor of Natural Philosophy in Queens College Belfast do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to bicycles and other vehicles having wheels similar to
bicycle wheels and consists in the use of spokes which will temporarily lengthen to
a sensible extent with increase of tension.
For this purpose I employ spokes having a portion formed or fitted with a spring
preferably of a helical form which will be in moderate tension when the wheels are
not in use and will undergo variations of tension when the wheels are running with
a load, especially over an uneven road, whereby jolts will be absorbed before.
reaching the hubs and frame of the machine.
In place of springs formed or fitted on the spokes I may employ other elastic
connections between the opposite ends of the spokes or between spokes attached to
the rim and hub respectively.
Dated this 17th day of December 1892
HYNDMAN & DICKSON,
6, Chichester Street, Belfast, Agents for Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wheels for Cycles and other similar Vehicles.
I, JOSEPH DAVID EVERETT of Belfast, in the County of Antrim Ireland,
Professor of Natural Philosophy in Queens College Belfast, 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 the wheels of cycles and other vehicles having wheels
similar to cycle wheels, and it consists in the use of elastic spokes which will
temporarily lengthen to a sensible extent with increase of tension, the objects being
to increase the smoothness of the motion and to provide for the easy replacement of
the controlling springs.
I attain these objects by the construction shown in the accompanying drawing,
in which :-
--
Figure 1 is a broken view in side elevation of a wheel embodying my invention.
The spokes A of the wheel are rendered elastic by forming them in two lengths
or parts, the one part attached to the rim of the wheel and the other part to the
hub thereof. The free or opposite ends of the two parts of each spoke are formed
as eyes or hooks a, and they are connected together by a spring B preferably of
helical form as shown. The springs are provided with hooks or eyes
to engage
with the eyes or hooks a on the ends of the parts or lengths of the spokes so that
they are readily attached and detached in case the necessity arises for removing or
replacing them.
One or other, or both parts, of each spoke is adjustably connected to the wheel
rim and hub by any of the known methods, so that the tension of the spokes can be
adjusted, the screw threads of the adjustable parts being made of a longer range
than is usual in rigid wheels in order to provide for the adjustment of the tension of
the springs.

page_text: By this construction of elastic wheel the following advantages are obtained:-
First. It permits of the spring being of different temper, material, and thickness,
from the rest of the spoke, thereby facilitating the construction of the spoke with
due allocation of strength and weight to different parts. .
Secondly. It facilitates repair in case of a spring breaking. A broken spring
can be replaced by the roadside in two or three minutes, and the materials for such
repair can be carried in the waistcoat pocket, and
Thirdly. It facilitates the attainment of the right degree of extensibility in the
spokes; a matter essential for practical success and respecting which little has
hitherto been known.
I am aware that prior to the date of my invention wheels have been made with
spring spokes, and I therefore do not broadly claim the use of spring spokes, but
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 improved form of spring spoke, substantially as hereinbefore described
and illustrated by the accompanying drawing.
2. In a wheel for cycles and other similar vehicles the use of spring spokes each
consisting of two parts or lengths connected together by a spring-preferably of
helical form capable of being readily attached and detached, as set forth.
3. In a spring spoke, the combination of a length of wire forming one part of the
spoke connected to the wheel rim at one end and having a hook or eye at its other
end; of a length of wire forming the other part of the spoke connected to the hub
of the wheel at one end and having a hook or eye at its other end; and of a spring-
preferably of helical form-having hooks or eyes formed on or attached to each
end to form connections by which it can be attached or connected to the two parts
of the spoke, as set forth.
Dated this 19th day of July 1892
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.