Improvements in the Means of connecting Tension Spokes with the Wheel Hubs of Road Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 5th Dec., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 29th Aug., 1899-Accepted, 14th Oct.,
1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Means of connecting Tension Spokes with the
Wheel Hubs of Road Vehicles.
We, EDWARD PAGET HEADLY, of the Firm of Vipan and Headly, of Church
Gate Implement Works, Leicester, Agricultural Implement Manufacturers, and
ALFRED LAW, of the same address, Foreman in the employment of the said Firm,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to the wheels of road vehicles which are formed with
tension spokes; and has for its object improved means of connecting the spokes
with the wheel hubs, to facilitate the removal of a broken spoke and its replace-
ment with a new one, or, if desired, the removal of a worn hub and its replace-
ment with a new one.
The above object is accomplished, according to this invention, by forming
the inner end of each spoke with a head, and forming the hub of each wheel
with two flanges therearound each of which is formed with an outward rim
running therearound and having notches in its edge at equal intervals apart,
such notches corresponding in position with the intended positions of the spokes;
and by passing the inner ends of the spokes sideways into the notches with the
heads thereof inside the rims, and then closing in the outer ends of the notches
by means of rings or annular plates which surround the hub and fit up against
the outer edges of the rims, and fixing the rings to the flanges by screws or
bolts,
The outer ends of the spokes are fixed to the rim by means of nipples which
have flanges at their upper ends which rest against the inside of the wheel
rim, or within countersunk holes formed therein, in a manner heretofore fre-
quently practised, the ends of the spokes being screwed into the nipples; or
the outer ends of the spokes may be connected with the wheel rim in any con--
venient manner, but preferably in a manner, such as above described, which
enables the connection to be made without the removal of a rubber tyre, when
such is used.
The above described means of connecting the spokes with the hub render it
extremely easy to remove a broken spoke and replace it with a new one, as for
this purpose it is necessary simply to unfasten and draw back the corresponding
ring or annular plate, to pull the inner end of the broken spoke sideways out of
its notch, and to put in the fresh spoke and refix the ring or plate, the outer end
of the spoke being, of course, screwed within the nipple or part by means of
which it is connected with the rim. These operations may be readily performed
by an unskilled person. The hub itself may also be readily removed from the
inner ends of the spokes, by unfastening the rings or annular plates thereof,
and be readily replaced with a new one.
1
1000

page_text: Improvements in the Means of connecting Tension Spokes with the
Wheel Hubs of Road Vehicles.
We, EDWARD PAGET HEADLY, of the Firm of Vipan and Headly, of Church
Gate Implement Works, Leicester, Agricultural Implement Manufacturers, and
ALFRED LAW, of the same address, Foreman in the employment of the said Firm,
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:-
This invention relates to the wheels of road vehicles which are formed with
tension spokes; and has for its object improved means of connecting the spokes
with the wheel hubs, to facilitate the removal of a broken spoke and its replace-
ment with a new one, or, if desired, the removal of a worn hub and its replace-
ment with a new one.
The above object is accomplished, according to this invention, by forming
the inner end of each spoke with a head, and forming the hub of each wheel
with two flanges therearound each of which is formed with an outward rim
running therearound and having notches in its edge at equal intervals apart,
such notches corresponding, in position with the intended positions of the spokes;
and by passing the inner ends of the spokes sideways into the notches with the
heads thereof inside the rims, and then closing in the outer ends of the notches
by means of rings or annular plates which surround the hub and fit up against
the outer edges of the rims, and fixing the rings to the flanges by screws or
bolts.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, we have illustrated
the same upon the accompanying sheet of drawing, by a figure which represents
in longitudinal section the inner half of a wheel hub to which our invention is
applied, and in longitudinal elevation the outer half of the same hub. The inner
ends of two of the spokes are shewn connected with the hub.
A. is the barrel of the hub. B are flanges therearound, and C are rims
around the flanges at the faces thereof which are towards the ends, respectively, of
the hub. Notches a are formed in the edges of the rims C, at equal intervals apart
to receive the inner ends of the spokes, and the notches of one of the rims C
are interspaced with the notches of the other rim when, as is usual with wheels
having tension spokes, the spokes at one side of the hub are required to be
interspaced with those at the other. Heads such as b are formed on the inner
ends of the spokes d, and the inner ends of the spokes are passed sideways into
the notches a with the heads thereof inside the rims, after which the spokes
are tightened up to the required tension. To prevent a spoke becoming acci-
dentally detached from the hub, in case it should become slack, and also to
give a neat appearance, annular plates D which surround the barrel of the hub
are secured against the outer faces of the rims C by means of bolts or screws c,
as shewn, and close the outer ends of the notches. Two of these bolts will
usually suffice for each plate, but more may be used, if desired. It is preferred
to form the outer edges of the rims C bevelled, as shewn, and to correspond-
ingly form the portions of the plates D which fit thereagainst, and this chiefly
for the sake of appearance as it enables. the corners of the plates to be bevelled
off as shewn.
The outer ends of the spokes are fixed to the rim by means of nipples which
have flanges at their upper ends which rest against the inside of the wheel
rim, or within countersunk holes formed therein, in a manner heretofore fre-

page_text: quently practised, the ends of the spokes being screwed into the nipples. This
being a common method of fixing spokes, will be readily understood without
need for illustration. The outer ends of the spokes may, however, be connected
with the wheel rim in any convenient manner, and preferably in a manner, such
as above described, which enables the connection to be made without the removal
of a rubber tyre, when such is used.
The above described means of connecting the spokes with the hub render it
extremely easy to remove a broken spoke and replace it with a new one, as for this
purpose it is necessary simply to unfasten and draw back the corresponding ring
or annular plate, to pull the inner end of the broken spoke sideways out of its
notch, and to put in the fresh spoke and refix the ring or plate, the outer end
of the spoke being, of course, screwed within the nipple or part by means of
which it is connected with the rim. These operations may be readily performed
by an unskilled person. The hub itself may also be readily removed from the
inner ends of the spokes, by unfastening the rings or annular plates thereof,
and be readily replaced with a new one.
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. The improved means of connecting tension spokes with the wheel hub of
a road vehicle, which comprise sideway notches formed in portions of the
hub into which the inner and headed ends of the spokes are passed sideways,
substantially as described.
2. The improved means of connecting tension spokes with the wheel hub of
a road vehicle, which comprise flanges around the barrel, rims around the flanges,
and notches formed in the edges of the rims into which the inner ends of the
spokes are passed sideways, substantially as described.
3. The improved means of connecting tension spokes with the wheel hub of
a road vehicle, which comprise flanges around the barrel, rims around the flanges,
notches formed in the edges of the rims into which the inner ends of the spokes
are passed sideways, and annular plates which close the outer ends of the
notches, substantially as described.
.
4. The improved means of connecting tension spokes with the wheel hubs of
road vehicles, substantially as described and shewn by the drawing herewith.
Dated this 28th day of August 1899.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicants.