US657517A - Method of making vehicle-wheels. - Google Patents

Description

N0. 657,5!7. Patented Sept. H, I900. H. F. CONDUN.

METHOD OF MAKING VEHICLE WHEELS.

(Application filud Jan. 17, 1800.) (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

Patented Sept. ll, I900.

- Io. es-7,517.

H.'F. 'CONDON. METHOD OF MAKING VEHICLE WHEELS.

(Application filed Jan. 17I 1900.) n Model.) 2 sheets-shat 2.

Wm 11M z W aw M g0 wa cums PETERS 0a.. Pumuu mu. wgsnmu UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY F. OONDON, OF DE KALB, ILLINOIS.

METHOD OF MAKING VEHICLE-WHEELS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 657,517, dated September 11, 1900. Application filed January 17, 1900. fierial No. 1,735. N0 model- To all whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY .F. CONDON, of De Kalb,in the county of De Kalb and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Making Vehicle-Wheels, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a method of making vehicle-Wheels and refers more specifically to an improved method of tensioning the spokes of wheels of the suspension type or those in which the hub is suspended from the rim by spokes under tension.

The object of this invention is to provide a simple, economical, and accurate method of securing a proper tension between the structural parts of the wheel; and the invention consists in the matter hereinafter described, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The invention will be readily understood from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is an elevation of a complete wheel of the type to which my invention is applicable. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a single pair of spokes attached at their outer ends to a fragmentary portion of the wheel-rim and showing the manner in which the inner ends of each pair are united. Fig. 3 is an axial sectional View taken through the hub and one side of the rim, showing a heating ring applied to the hub and the electrical connections therewith represented diagrammatic:

ally. Fig. L is a detail side view of the hub,

one end being shown in axial section, showing also a sectional View of a heating-ring in position thereon. Fig. 5 is an end viewof the hub, showing the inner ends of one pair of spokes attached thereto. Fig. 6 is aperspective View of a heat-applying ring adapted for carrying out one step of the invention; andFig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing two contact-rings applied to the hub and the electrical connections therewith.

Before describing my improved method specifically it is to be noted that the invention is especially applicable to that class of wheels in which the hub, or at least a portion of the body thereof, is of metal and the spokes arranged in two sets, which are connected with the hub at points more or less remote from each other, and in which the spokes when the hub is completed are more or less tangential as distinguished from a direct orradial arrangement thereof.

It is to be further noted that the use of the invention is not limited to any particular construction of wheel or arrangement of structural parts thereof, provided the construction embodies the above-mentioned characteristics.

Inthe wheel shown in the drawings in connection with which I have chosen to describe my invention 1 designates the hub, which is of metal and made of tubular or shell form and provided adjacent to each end with an annularenlargement or thickened portion 2, which may be either formed integrally with the body of the shell or cast thereon and within which enlargements are rigidly seated radial flanges 3, it being essential to the carrying out of the invention that the parts to which the spokes are united at their inner ends shall be rigid. lhe periphery of each of the flanges 3 is provided with a series of integral hooks 4, and the spokes 5 are made in integral pairs united at their inner ends by U-shaped bends to form loops 6, which are engaged with the hooks 4, asindicated clearly in the drawings. The outer ends of the spokes are shown as engaged with the rim 7 by means of hooks 8, formed upon said outer ends, which are engaged with apertures 9, formed through a radially inward-extending flange 10 uponthe interior of the rim.

In assembling the wheel the pairs of spokes are so engaged with the rim and books of the hub-flanges as to each extend tangentially from its point of attachment with the hub to the rim, and the spokes of each side of the wheel are all arranged with their tangency in the same direction and oppositely with relation to the direction of tangency of the opposite side of the wheel, as indicated clearly in the several figures of the drawings.

In carrying out my method of tensioning a wheel after the wheel has been assembled I heat the body of the hub at a point between the spoke-supporting portions thereof sufficiently to enable the metal to be twisted or re-formed to a certain extent without materially injuring the molecular structure thereof and then while in its heated condition twist or rotate one end of the hub relatively to the other, twisting the opposite ends in the proper direction to decrease the angle between each spoke and a radial line passing through its point of attachment with the hub, or, in other words, in such direction as to increase the tension upon the spokes. After having thus twisted the hub sufficiently to bring the proper degree of tension upon the two sets of spokes I hold the parts in this position and permit the metal to cool until it takes a permanent set, which will cause it to retain the tension by reason of its ownrigidity.

In the preferred manner of heating the hub in order to soften it before re-forming I encircle'the hub with a resistance-ring, as 11, through which I pass a heating-current of electricity, which may be derived from any suitable source. In the drawings I have shown a divided carbon ring adapted to encircle the hub, having overlapping ends 12, which are conveniently held together to form a closed circuit surrounding the hub by means of clamps 13, suitable binding-posts 14 being provided upon the ring-sections for connection with the opposite leads of the conductors leading to the source of electricity and as shown diagrammatically. In the present instance the source of electricity will be a dynamo, as indicated at 15. After the hub has been sufficiently heated the current is interrupted and the hub twisted in the manner described by means of any suitable mechanism, as by applying suitably-shaped spanners to the opposite ends of the hub and applying force manually or mechanically to twist the hub in the proper directions and to the required degree.

In Fig. 7 I have shown an alternative means of heating the hub by an electric current, in which case I employ a pair of contact-rings connected with the opposite terminals of the source of electricity and seated in direct electrical connection with the body of the hub parallel to each other and at a short distance apart. With this arrangement when the current is turned on the heating of the hub is accomplished by the passage of the current directly through the portion of the hub itself intervening between the contact-ri ngs,whereas the heating in the formcrinstance results from the contact of the heated ring with the body of the hub.

It will be seen from the foregoing that by means of my improved method wheels can be tensioned rapidly and cheaply and without destroying the adjustment of any of the structural parts after the wheel has once been assembled, this method of tensioning reducing to a minimum the distortion or throwing out of true of the wheel incident to tensioning as usually accomplished, and that it is entirely feasible to tension each wheel of a series to any required degree and with substantial uniformity.

While I have described a preferred manner of accomplishing the heating of the part to be re-formed, yet it is to be understood that the method is not limited in its broad sense to heating by electricity, but that it may be otherwise accomplished without departing from the invention.

I claim as my invention- 1. The method of tensioning suspensionwheels of the general character described, Which consists in first assembling the hub, rim and spokes of the wheel and thereafter twistinga part of the hub connected with one set of spokes bodily with relation to the part of the hub connected with the other set of spokes in such direction as to increase the tension of the spokes and in such manner as to impart a permanent distortion or re-forming and set to the metal which is re-formcd.

2. The method of tensioning suspensionwheels of the general character described, which consists in first assembling the spokes, hub and rim next heating a part of the hub intervening between the spoke-support of one side and the spoke-support of the other side of the wheel and thereafter twisting said heated portion bodily and holding it in tenwhich consists in first assembling the hub,'

rim and spokes, next heating an annular section of the hub intervening between the spokesupporting portions thereof and finally twisting said heated portion from opposite ends and in opposite directions and holding it in tensioned position until the metal acquires a permanent set.

4. The method of tensioning suspensionwheels of the general character described, which consists in first assembling the hub, rim and spokes of the Wheel, next subjecting a part of the hub intervening between the spoke-supporting portions thereof to an electrical heating-current and finally twisting said heated portion bodily in such manner as toincrease the tension of the spokes and holding the reformed hub in tensioned position until the metal is cooled and regains its rigidity.

HENRY F. CONDON.

Witnesses:

L. F. MCCREA, ALBERT H. GRAvEs.

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