US1496058A - Method of and apparatus for assembling wire wheels - Google Patents

Description

June, 3. 1924. 7 1,496,058

H. M. KUNIHOLM ETHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING WIRE WHEELS d Oct. 27. 1923 Filg 2 Sheets-Sheet I -f ll! H F I za Patented June 3, 1924.

UNITED stares HUGO M. K'UNII-IOLM, or GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS, Assmnoit TO HEYwooD-wAKn' FIELD COMPANY, or GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS, a ooaronnriolv or MASSA- CHUSETTS.

PATENT- OFFICE.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR ASSEMBLING- WIRE WHEELS.

Application filed October 27, 1923. Serial No. 671,184.

sertion of the ends of the wire spokes intoj perforations through the metal rim and the swaging of the outer ends of the spokes so as to hold them in that position. The threading of the spokes into the rim is done by hand at the present time and is a very 7 slow process. Each wheel comprises a previously formed metal rim having equally spaced perforations for the spokes. A central hub is provided with circular fiangesat its ends spaced apart and two sets of spokes.

Half the spokes are connected with one of the circular flanges and the other half with the other and the two sets of spokes are so arranged that they are out of registration with each other. For example, if there are four spokes on each side as indicated in the drawings, each spoke makes an angle of 15 with the two adjacent spokes of the other set.

This invention relates to the production of practically the same wheel, no changes being made in the wheel itself except that the spokes are nail pointed before they are assembled and swaged over at the ends. The object of the invention of course is to facilitate the operation of assembling or hanging the wheel and to save greatly in labor cost and secure accurate and uniform results.

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a diametrical sectional view of a set of dies for hanging a wheel in accordance with this invention showing the parts of the wheel located therein and the dies separated;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the dies brought together so that the wheel is completely assembled;

Figi' 3 is a plan of the bottom die with the parts in the position shown in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a diametrical sectionalview on the line 4-4 of Fig. '3 to illustrate the upper set of spokes in position with the dies open.

Referring firsttoFig. 1, it will be seen that I have shown two main dies 10 and-11. Each of these dies has a oentralperforation in which is a centering pin 12 fixedly located. The dies also have spoke guides 13 and 14 respectively. of any form but I have shown them as bifurcated and having vertical radial pas-v sages in them fitting the spokes S and guiding them in a vertical direction, that is, keeplng them from moving around the.

wheel inany way. The ends of the guides are slanted at the desired angle of the spokes in the completed wheel.

These features constitute the main ele, ments of the two diesbut around each die: I have provided a ledge 15 for positively-1 limiting the motion of an annular ring 16. This annular ring on the lower die is supported by a series of springs 17 equally spaced apart and a corresponding series of springs. are located .on the upper die to hold the upper ring down with a yielding pressure. When the dies come together these rings are pressed back on the ledges 15 against'the force of the springs and therefore they are registered properly with re spect to the main dies as shown in Fig. 2. These rings are also provided with guide studs or screws '18 having heads recipro cable, in passages 19 in theback side of each of the respective dies. This limits the motion of the rings away from the dies, caused by the springs,-and this limitation is accurate so that when the dies are open the.

rings are always projected the same distance. I

Each ring is provided with a groovei20 in-the face. These two grooves register with into a spoke hole in the wheel rim R held therein. The workwhichgis to be put in these :dies

These guides may be comprises as stated, a central hub H preferably of sheet metal and having been formed in cylindrical shape with a pair of beads near the ends which are open. Around this hub at one end is a circular sheet metal flange F previously centered on the bead and secured thereto. It is flanged over at its edge to provide inwardly projecting flanges having spaces between them. These flanges 'extend over and pinch a piece of Wire extending circumferentially and forming a part of two adjacent spokes S as is usual in this industry. It will be seen therefore that every alternate one of these flanges has secured under it this portion of wire so as to hold the two adjacent spokes which constitute the ends of this piece of wire and project from it radially and also at a uniform inclination, as indicated in Fig. 1. The spokes are bent or dished farther out of the plane of the flange than they will be when the wheel is finished. The ends of these spokes are nail pointed.

In the lower groove 20 I locate the previously formed rim B. This rim is shaped up outside of thisvmachine and provided with eight perforations if there are eight spokes, these perforations being equally spaced. The groove is of a size and shape to support this rim accurately in position and the rings 20 are either beveled off or transversely grooved so that the ends of the spokes can rest as shown in Fig. 1 in position to register with the holes in the rim and enter them when the two dies are pressed together.

In this description I have ignored the upper die 11. That is not in place while the parts above described are being located. The upper set of spokes S, attached to a circular flange F but entirely separate from the hub, is now placed in position. The nail pointed ends of the spokes are placed in depressions in the rim 16. This is all that is necessary to properly locate this upper set of spokes. These spokes, it will be understood, alternate with the lower spokes so that if there are eight spokes in the wheel there are four in each set and those of each set make an angle of 45 with the adjacent ones of the other set. This principle is maintained if the number of spokes is larger.

The parts are so arranged that the guides 13 and 14 accurately maintain the spokes in these relative positions and when the die 11 is brought down and forced toward the die 10 against the action of the several springs the two sets of spokes will be flattened out to some extent that is, until they come against the bottoms of the guides in the grooves 13 and 14 which bottoms are slanted as clearly shown. This also causes the two rings 16 to be seated finally back on the ledges 15 where positive pressure is applied to them from that point. At the same time the pointed ends of all the spokes project through their respective perforations in the rim. The force applied in performing this action results in flattening out the two sets of spokes to an equal extent so that they are still dished just the amount required for the complete wheel. The upper flange is forced on the upper head of the hub by the same motion and both ends of" the hub are flared outwardly at the ends on account of the tapering shoulders 32 on the pins 12. This operation can be performed separately if desired. At the same time one spoke pushes out the pin 24 which is tapered on the end to a near point so, when the wheel is ejected, it will slide way out. 7

This provides a p urely mechanical method of hanging the wheel as it is not even necessary to adjust theends of the spokes to the holes in the rim. They simply have to be inserted in the guides and the rim also has to be placed in proper position with respect to the pin 24. This registers all the parts so that they will come into proper position when the pressure is applied. When the pressure is removed and the upper die lifted the springs force the lower ring 16 upwardly to the position shown in Fig. l and take with it the whole wheel which is supported thereby. The movement is far enough to free the hub from the lower pin 12 and eject the wheel. The ends of the spokes are swedged over afterwards. As everything is done in dies all the wheels come through in uniform shape and the labor cost is very greatly re duced.

Although I have illustrated and described only a single form of the invention I am aware of the fact that modifications can be made therein by any person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as expressed in the claims.

Therefore I do not wish to be limited to all the details of construction herein shown and described but what I do claim is 1. In a wheel assembling device, the combination of a pair of dies having means for registering and guiding the spokes, with a ring connected with one die and surrounding it and provided with means for receiving and holding in proper position the rim of the wheel, and means whereby when the dies are forced together the spokes will be forced into holes in the rim and pushed through the same.

2. In a wheel assembling device, the combination with a die. having a radial set of guides for guiding the spokes of a wheel, of means for supporting a rim previously perforated, said parts being so arranged that when pressure is applied the, several spokes will enter the perforations in the rim.

3. In a wheel assembling device, the combination with a pair of dies, each having radial sets of guides for guiding half the spokes of a wheel, of means at the edges of said die s'for supporting a rim previously,

perforated, said parts being so arranged that when the dies are forced together the several being rigidly arranged and having rearsur facesarranged at equal angles to the central plane of the wheel, whereby when the spokes are forced outwardly at their ends they will come to a uniform angle to the plane of the wheel. 7

4. In a wheel assembling device, the combination of a pair of dies, each having means for registering and guiding one set of spokes, and a central pin for centering part of the hub of the wheel and thereby centering the spokes connected therewith, with a ring con nected with each die and surrounding itand provided with means for receiving and holding in proper position the rim of the wheel, and means whereby when the dies are forced together the spokes held by them will be forced into holes in the rim and pushed through the same.

5. In a wheel assembling device, the combination of a pair of dies, each having means for registering and guiding one set of spokes, with a ring connected with each die and surrounding it and provided with means for receiving and holding in proper position the rim of the wheel, yielding means for supporting said rings from their respective dies, each die having a ledge against which its ring is adapted to be forced when the dies are forced together to form a positive seat and locate the rim at a definite elevation when the assembling operation is finished, and means whereby when the dies are forced together the spokes held by them will be forced into 'holes in the rim and pushed through the same.

6. In a wheel assembling device, the combination of a pair of dies, each having means for registering and guiding one set of spokes, with a ring connected with each die and surrounding it and provided with means for receiving and holding in proper position the rim of the wheel, yielding means for supporting said rings from their respective dies, each die having a ledge against which its ring is adapted to be forced when the dies are forced together to form a positive seat and locate the rim at a definite elevation when the assembling operation is finished, means whereby when the dies are forced together the spokes held by them will be forced into holes in the 'rim and pushed through the same, and an opposite series of guide pin studs having means for limiting the movement of the rings away from the dies by the action of its springs.

7. In a wheel assembling device, the com bination with a lower and an upper die each having radial sets of guides for guiding half the spokes of a wheel, means at the edges of said dies for supporting-a rim previously perforated, one of, said rings being provided with a block mounted thereon and a pin supported by, said block andadjustable into a positiontoregister theperforations of the wheel rim to receive the ends of the spokes. 8. The method of assembling wire wheels which consists in mounting a tubular hub having a circular flange,supporting half of the wire spokes of the wheel on a center, centering the other half of the spokes in registration therewith, locating a rim pre-i viously perforated for the reception of the spokes at a po-int adjacent to the ends of the spokes and then forcing the two sets of spokes toward each other to cause them to enter the perforations in the rim, and the two centers to come closer together.

9. The method of assembling a wire wheel which consists in mounting a flange on one end of a tubular hub, said flange having one set of spokes mounted thereon, dishing will have in the completed wheel, centering the other set of spokes mounted on a similar flange at a point opposite the first spokes, providing the spokes with nail points, locating a previously formed rim having perforations at regular intervals in such position that each perforation registers with the pointed end of one of the spokes and is closely adjacent thereto, forcing the two sets of spokes toward each other, and guiding the ends of the spokes into their respective perforations, whereby the two sets of spokes are flattened out partly but left in a properly dished condition.

10. The method of assembling a wire wheel which consists in mounting a flange on one end of a tubular hub, said flange having one set of spokes mounted thereon, dishing these spokes at a sharper angle than they will have in the completed wheel, centering the other set of spokes mounted on a similar flange having a central perforation at a point opposite the hub, providing the spokes with nail points, locating a previously formed rim having perforations at regular intervals in such position that each perforation registers with the pointed end of one of the spokes and is closely adjacent thereto, forcing the two sets of spokes toward each other and guiding the ends of the spokes into their respective perforations, whereby the two sets of spokes are flattened out partly but left in a properly dished condition, and the second flange is forced over and fixed to the other end of the hub.

11. The method of assembling wire wheels which consists in mounting a tubular hub supporting half of the wire spokes of the wheel on a center, centering the other half of the spokes in registration therewith, loeating a rim previously perforated for the reception of the spoke-s -at a point "adjacent-:

wvardly lthe open ends of the hub.

125-111 a Wheel; assembling -dev'i.ce,the combination of a pairof dies, each having meansfor regist eriin-g; andguiding one setof spokes, and a central pin for centering-Iw part o f-the- 'hubof the wheel tand thereby--l centering- {the spekes -conneoted 3 therewith, ,1

nwmossb swedgingr.out the end of *the 'ihuhiwith a;

wring eonneeted'with'each die Qndsurnound? ing: it and I provided :With means, forflreceiv- --ing and'holdin'gdn propel-'5 position the rim 0f the WhGQlf'flHd means wherebyflwhen the dies are forced together :the, :spokes held; by

them will be forceduinto vholes in the-rim and pushed through thesame-w I In testimony wheieof I haveahel eunto t,

Vaffixed my, signature.

HUGO? M. KUIQIHOL-Mf 't

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