Improvements in or relating to Machinery Employed in the Con- struction of Tension Wheels for Velocipedes and the like.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Machinery Employed in the Con-
struction of Tension Wheels for Velocipedes and the like.
We, ALEXANDER CRAIG, of 3, Clifton Villas, Ford Street, Coventry, in the
County of Warwick, Engineer, and CHARLES THOMAS AUSTEN, of 4, Craythorn
Street, Lewisham, in the County of Kent, Cycle Manufacturer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to machinery employed in the construction of tension
wheels for velocipedes and the like and consists in the hereinafter described
improved apparatus for rotating the nipples by which the spokes are secured to the
rim of the wheel, when the various parts are in position.
In carrying out our invention we provide a suitable base plate with a standard
near each end and in these standards we form bearings in which is mounted a
spindle. On this spindle, near one end thereof, we fix a disc one face of which is
grooved radially. Next to the disc we mount a belt pulley or its equivalent on the
spindle. The pulley may be recessed to receive the disc and carries a spring
impelled ball which is adapted to engage with the radial grooves in the disc and
thus constitute a friction-drive connection between the belt pulley and the spindle.
The other side of the pulley is provided with a concentric rack or ring of clutch
teeth. Adjacent to the pulley, we mount a sleeve which is free to slide but not
rotate on the spindle. This sleeve has one end provided with teeth adapted to
engage with those on the pulley when the sleeve is slid in the direction of the
pulley against the resistance of a spring. This spring may consist of a spiral sur-
rounding the spindle within the clutch, one end of the spring bearing against a
collar on the spindle and the other bearing against the back of the hollow or recess
of the clutch part of the sleeve. The sleeve is prevented from moving more than
a certain distance from the pulley, by a suitable stop. The other end of the sleeve
is provided with an annular groove. Still further along, and near the other end
of the spindle a toothed wheel is fixed to the said spindle.
The base plate is provided with a third standard about the middle of one side.
This third standard is bored lengthwise parallel to the spindle and is slotted through
to the hole lengthwise. A plunger is adapted to slide lengthwise in the third
standard and project away from the belt pulley. A stud projects from
the plunger through the slot in the third standard and on this stud
is pivotted a lever. The longer end of the lever may conveniently be formed
into a handle; the shorter end carries a peg adapted to work in the groove
of the sleeve on the spindle. Part of the side or edge of the lever nearest the belt
pulley is formed into two curves of different radii both radii being struck from the
centre of the pivot stud, and the curve with shorter radius being nearer to the short

page_text: end of the lever. The junction of the two curves forms a stop. The plunger is
hollow and within the same is a shaft; one end of the shaft is adapted to lie
normally approximately flush with the face of the plunger; the other end of the
shaft projects through the back end of the plunger and carries a bracket which pro-
jects through the slot in the standard. The bracket on the shaft forms or is pro-
vided with a catch impelled to engage with the stop on the lever by a suitable
spring.
In another standard, or in a bracket carried by the standard adjacent to the
toothed wheel of the spindle, is mounted a short hollow spindle coaxial with the
above mentioned plunger. On the end nearer the plunger, the hollow spindle
carries a (second) toothed wheel and a detachable die; the hole through the spindle
is considerably flared towards the other end. The toothed wheel on the hollow
spindle meshes with the toothed wheel on the first spindle. The detachable die is
shaped internally to the external form of the nipples used in the wheel. The die,
the second toothed wheel, the hollow spindle and the bracket or standard, are all
slotted through from the central aperture to the circumference, the width of the
slot being sufficient to admit any spoke of not much more than ordinary thickness.
The two toothed wheels herein before referred to are equal in diameter and number
of teeth; and the stop hereinbefore referred to as limiting the sliding movement of
the sleeve is provided with a projection adapted to enter a recess in the end of the
sleeve and so stop the rotation of the sleeve. The stoppage of the sleeve, involves
the stoppage of the spindle and toothed wheels. The recess is arranged at such a
point in the circumference of the sleeve, that the slotted toothed wheel when
stopped will have its slot in line with the slot in the bracket or standard. The die
is inserted in position so that its slot registers with that of the toothed wheel.
A tension wheel to be operated on is made up so far as screwing each nipple on to
its spoke enough to attach it thereto. The wheel is then applied to the apparatus,
one spoke being passed down the slots and drawn along until the nipple enters the
recess in the die; the rim lies between the die and the plunger, and the wheel is
held so that the spoke and nipple are co-axial with the plunger. The handle is
then pushed towards the centre of the wheel, moving as a lever with the fulcrum
at the peg in the sleeve, but guided by the slot in the third standard. This action
projects the plunger against the head of the nipple. Further pressure on the
handle in the same direction causes the lever to turn on the stud in the plunger as a
fulcrum and the sleeve is forced by the peg engaging in the groove in the direction
of the belt pulley. When the stop has disengaged from the sleeve and the clutch
comes into operation, the handle is moved so far that the catch-bracket on the shaft
is able to spring under the stop on the double curved edge of the lever and hold
the lever in position. On the clutch coming into operation, the spindle is driven
positively, the toothed wheels, the die and the nipple are rotated and the spoke
tightened. Soon the end of the spoke begins to project through the head of the
nipple as it does so it bears on the end of the shaft contained in the plunger and
proceeds to press the shaft back. The catch-bracket is carried back with the shaft
until it disengages from the stop on the lever. The spring on the spindle is then
left free to disengage the clutch and slide the sleeve back towards the stop. The
spindle continues to be driven, (but by the friction device instead of the positive
device), and the sleeve is carried round until the projection on the stop enters the
recess in the sleeve. This stops the rotation of the sleeve, the spindle, the toothed
wheels and the die and brings the slotted parts in line so that the spoke may be
withdrawn and another introduced and the same operations repeated.
We do not confine ourselves to the form of friction drive or other details described
as these may be varied without exceeding the scope of our invention.
Dated this 4th day of March 1697.
G. DOUGLAS LEECHMAN,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry, 75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., and
49, Middle Abbey Street, Dublin, Patent Agent for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Machinery Employed in the Con-
struction of Tension Wheels for Velocipedes and the like.
We, ALEXANDER CRAIG, of 3, Clifton Villas, Ford Street, Coventry, in the
County of Warwick, Engineer, and CHARLES THOMAS AUSTEN, of 4, Craythorn
Street, Lewisham, in the County of Kent, Cycle Manufacturer, 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:
.
Our invention relates to machinery employed in the construction of tension wheels
for velocipedes and the like and comprises the improved apparatus hereinafter
described for rotating and screwing up the nipples by which the spokes are
secured to the rim of the wheel when the various parts are in position. Our
present improvement consists, further, in the provision of means whereby the
machinery is caused to be put into operation, such operation to be arrested at the
desired moment, and the parts left in such a position as to be in readiness for
operating on the next nipple, by one manipulation of a lever.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a plan,
Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal section on the line x, x Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line y, y, Figures 1 and 2, looking to the
right, and
Figure 4 is a transverse section on the same line y, y, Figures 1 and 2, looking
to the left, showing our improved machine.
Figure 5 is a detail view hereinafter more particularly referred to.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the bed or base plate, and B, B1 B2 are standards or brackets either mounted
or formed thereon.
The standards B, B' are located at or near the ends of the bed or base plate A
and serve to support a shaft or spindle a which is rotatably mounted in suitable
bearings therein. Near one end of the spindle a, we fix, by means of a pin b¹, or
otherwise, a disc b one face of which is provided with a suitable number of radial
grooves 62.
c is a belt pulley or its equivalent loosely mounted upon the spindle a in close
proximity to the radially-grooved face of the disc b, or the said pulley c may be
recessed, as shown in Figure 2, to receive the disc b. d represents a ball or sphere
located in each of the holes or recesses c¹ in the pulley c, which balls are so acted
upon by springs e, e and pistons e¹, el, as to cause them to engage with the radial
grooves 62 in the disc b and thus constitute a friction-drive or clutch connection
between the belt pulley c and the spindle a. c2 is a suitable oil-way for admitting
of the lubrication of the pulley c. f is a concentric rack or ring of ratchet teeth
formed on, or firmly secured to, the boss of the wheel or pulley c. g is a sleeve
so mounted upon the spindle a as to be free to slide or move longitudinally but not
rotate thereon. The sleeve 9 has one end provided with a corresponding con-
centric rack or ring of teeth g¹ adapted to engage with the teeth f on the pulley c,
when the said sleeve g is slid or moved in the direction of the pulley, and against
the resistance of a spring, which latter preferably consists of a spiral spring h
surrounding the spindle a and located in recesses in the two parts of the clutch,
one end of the said spring bearing against a collar a' on the spindle a and the
other bearing against the back of the hollow or recess in the sleeve g. To prevent
the sleeve g from rotating independently of the spindle a, and to limit its lateral
or longitudinal movement thereon we provide a suitable stop which may consist

page_text: of a pin i passing through, and secured in, a hole in the said spindle a, and work-
ing in suitable longitudinal slots g2 formed in the sleeve, as shewn in dotted lines
in Figures 1 and 2. g³ is an annular or circumferential groove formed in the
sleeve 9 wherein works a pin, stud, or projection j¹, upon the short arm of a shift-
ing lever j hereinafter described. is a toothed wheel, fixed, by means of a pin k¹
or otherwise, to the spindle a, at or near the opposite end thereof from the pulley c.
The third standard B2, which is located at or about the middle of one side of
the base or bed plate A, is bored out lengthwise parallel to the spindle a, so as to
form a hole 6*, and is provided with a longitudinal slot B3 extending through to
the said hole. is a rod, spindle, or plunger adapted to slide freely lengthwise in
the said hole in the standard B2, and provided with a stud projecting from the
said plunger through the slot B³, upon which stud is pivoted the hereinbefore
mentioned lever j. The spindle or plunger 1 forms a nipple-supporting device
and acts as hereinafter described. The longer arm of the lever ), which is shown
broken off for convenience in the drawing, may conveniently be formed into a
handle, and the shorter arm thereof, as already mentioned, is provided with a pin,
stud, or projection 1 adapted to work in the annular groove g³ of the sleeve g.
That portion of the side or edge of the lever nearest the belt pulley c is formed
into two curves of different radii, both of which are struck from the centre of the
pivot stud, the curve with shorter radius being situated nearest to the short end
of the lever, and the junction of these two curves forms a stop j³. To render the
position of this stop adjustable, we may in some instances, as shown in
Figure 5, shape the curved part of the lever j without a stop
and mount upon it. an independent quadrant piece provided with
stop as shown.
The quadrant piece is rotatably mounted at the point 1
and adjustment is effected by a nut and bolt the latter passing through the slot
and hole . The spindle or plunger is formed hollow or bored out as shown
at (Figure 2) and within the said hollow portion is fitted another shaft or
spindle m, one end of which is adapted to lie normally flush, or approximately so,
with the front face or projecting end of the said plunger, and the other end of
which projects through the back end of the said plunger, and carries an arm n
which extends through the slot B³ in the standard B². This arm n forms, or is
provided with, a catch which is impelled to engage with the stop 12 on the lever j.
02 is a spring which is fitted in the recess 12 and engages with, or bears against, a
flange or stop m¹ in the latter, and a collar 13 on the shaft or spindle m, and which
spring serves to maintain the said spindle in its normal or forward position. A
spring and plunger o¹ serve to retain the spindle in the position shewn and
against the thrust of the spring o² until the arm n is released from the stop j².
a
? is a short spindle or bearing-piece having a central hole p', formed flaring or
bell-mouthed as shown at p³, and rotatably mounted in a bracket B* bolted or
otherwise secured to the standard B', which spindle p carries a toothed or spur
wheel adapted to mesh or gear with the toothed or spur wheel k, and is so
mounted in the said bracket as to be co-axial with the above mentioned plunger 7.
is a detachable key secured by screws 1 (Figures 2 and 3) or otherwise, at that
end of the short spindle p adjacent to the projecting extremity of the plunger 7.
This detachable key r is provided with a square recess, as shown more clearly in
Figure 3, or is otherwise so shaped internally as to correspond to the external form
of the nipples used in the wheel, and the said key r, the toothed wheel g, the hollow
spindle and the bracket 14 are all slotted through from the central aperture to
the circumference, as indicated at 135, the width of the slots being sufficient to
admit (when the said slots are brought to coincide) any spoke of the required
thickness, and the mouth of the slot in the bracket B being formed flaring as
shown at B6 to facilitate the entrance of the said spoke. The key r is fixed so that
its slot coincides with that of the toothed wheel g.
I'
The toothed wheels k and q are shewn as equal in diameter and number of teeth.
s is a stop secured to the standard B and provided with a tooth or projection s¹.
adapted to engage with a catch s² in the end of the sleeve 9 when the latter is out

page_text: of gear, and stop the rotation thereof, and consequently also that of the spindle a
and toothed wheels k and q, short spindle p and key r. The above mentioned
catch is arranged at such a point in the circumference of the end of the sleeve g
that the slotted toothed wheel 7 and key r will, when stopped, have their slots in
line with the slot in the bracket or standard B¹.
l
The operation of the apparatus is as follows: A cycle or other wheel is first
made up so far as screwing each nipple on its spoke sufficiently to attach it thereto.
The wheel is then applied to the apparatus, and on a spoke being passed down the
slots 135 and drawn along until the nipple enters the recess in the key r, the rim
of the said wheel will lie between the key r and the plunger or nipple-supporting
device l, and the said wheel will be held so that the spoke and nipple are co-axial
with the said plunger. The handle on the long arm of the lever should be then
pushed towards the centre of the wheel, moving with its fulcrum at the stud, or
pin engaging in the annular or circumferential groove g³ in the sleeve and
guided by the slot 133 in the standard B?. This action first causes the plunger to
project or bear against the head of the nipple, after which further pressure on the
said handle in the same direction will cause the lever j to turn on the stud or
pin in the plunger as a fulcrum and the sleeve is forced by the short arm of
the said lever j and the stud, or pin j¹ engaging in the annular or circumferential
groove g³ therein, in the direction of the belt pulley c. When (during this move-
ment) the tooth or projection s on the stop s has become disengaged from the
catch in the sleeve g, and the teeth g¹ and f of the positive clutch are thrown in
gear, the handle will have been moved so far as to admit of the catch on the arm n
engaging with the stop on the double curved edge of the lever j and holding the
said lever in that position. On the positive clutch g, f being brought into opera-
tion, the spindle a will be driven positively together with the toothed
wheels and g and the key r, and the nipple engaged with the latter will he
rotated so as to screw up the said nipple upon the spoke. Directly the nipple has
been screwed up to the predetermined amount the end of the spoke will bear
against the end of the shaft or spindle m and force it backwards or into the outer
hollow or recessed spindle or plunger 7, and consequently also move in the same
direction the arm n disengaging its catch from the stop on the lever j. The
spring on the spindle a will be then left free to disengage the positive clutch g,
f by sliding the sleeve g back towards the stop s.
The spindle a will be now rotated by the friction device comprising the radially
grooved disc b and spring-actuated balls d, and the sleeve will be carried round
thereby until the projections on the stop s again enters the catch 2 in the said
sleeve g. This arrests the rotation of the sleeve g, the spindle a, the toothed
wheels and g, and the key r, and once more brings the slotted parts in line so
that the spoke that has been operated upon may be withdrawn and another intro-
duced, and the same operation repeated ad infinitum. The driving pulley
tinues to rotate during the engagement of the stop s with the sleeve g the spring-
actuated balls leaving the radial grooves in the face of the disc b.
c con-
The point at which the projecting extremity of the spoke will engage with the
shaft or spindle m to operate the disengagement of the catch on the arm n may be
regulated by adjusting the position of the arm n upon the screw-threaded portion.
of the said shaft or spindle m.
Although we find the hereinbefore described form of friction clutch or driving
device advantageous and we prefer to employ the same, we do not confine ourselves
thereto or to the other details precisely as described, as these may be somewhat
varied without exceeding the scope of our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is: -
1. In a machine for building up tension wheels for velocipedes and the like,
the combination, with a pinion a detachable key a bearing-piece fast thereto and

page_text: a bracket each having a radial slot adapted to receive a spoke and its nipple and
tighten up the same, of means, substantially as set forth, for imparting rotary
motion to such pinion, and for arresting such motion when the said tightening up
has been effected, and for resetting the machine for the ensuing operation, by one
manipulation of a lever.
2. In a machine for building up tension wheels for velocipedes and the like,
the combination of a driving shaft or spindle a, a driving or belt pulley c, a
friction clutch and a positive clutch connecting said spindle with said pulley, a
toothed or spur wheel k mounted on said spindle, a radially slotted toothed or spur
wheel secured to a rotatably mounted hollow spindle p and key and gearing
with said toothed wheel k, a hollow plunger or nipple-supporting device l, an inner
spindle m carried thereby, an operating lever j, and means for releasing said lever
and arresting the rotation of the mechanism.
3. In a machine for building up tension wheels for velocipedes and the like,
the combination with a rotatably mounted shaft or spindle a, a driving or belt
pulley and a fastening clutch and a positive clutch connecting said spindle with
said pulley, of means for effecting the automatic release of the said positive clutch
comprising the hollow spindle plunger or nipple supporting device 1, shaft or
spindle m, arm n carrying a catch, a stop, pivoted lever 1, and spring h.
4. In a machine for building up tension wheels for velocipedes and the like, the
combination, with a radially slotted bracket B4, toothed wheel q and key r, of
means for automatically bringing the slots in the said toothed wheel 9 and key r
opposite or in line with that in the bracket B comprising the pulley c, radially
grooved disc b, balls or spheres d, holes or recesses c¹ containing said balls,
pistons e, springs e, and stop s¹, s².
5. In a machine for building up tension wheels for velocipedes and the like, the
combination, with a rotatably mounted shaft or spindle a capable of being con-
nected with a driving pulley c through a friction clutch, device or drive b, d, e¹, c,
or through a positive clutch f, g¹, g, of means for throwing the said positive clutch
into gear, and bringing the supporting device against the nipple to be operated
upon or screwed up by one movement of a lever, comprising the bracket or bear-
ing B2, slot B³, sliding hollow spindle, plunger or nipple supporting device 7, inner
shaft or spindle m, pin or stud 1, lever j, pin or stud ¹, and circumferential
groove g³.
6. In a machine for building up tension wheels for velocipedes and the like, the
combination of a shaft or spindle a rotatably mounted in suitable bearings in
standards B, B upon a bed or base plate A, a driving pulley c, friction clutch,
device, or drive, b, d, e¹, e positive clutch f, g¹, g, g³, i, h, g², toothed or spur
wheel k, slotted toothed or spur wheel q, key r, bracket B, standard B³, sliding
hollow spindle plunger or nipple-supporting device l, inner shaft or spindle m,
spring o², stud or pin l, slot B³, stud or pin ¹, stops s, 53, 12 spring o and arm n
carrying a catch.
7. The construction arrangement and combination of parts constituting our
improved apparatus for the construction of tension wheels for velocipedes and the
like substantially as set forth and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 4th day of December 1897.
A. F. SPOONER,
323, High Holborn, London, Agent for the Applicants.