WO1995003184A1

WO1995003184A1 - Wheel-lacing apparatus for mounting spokes between the hub and the rim of a spoke wheel, and method of using same

Info

Publication number: WO1995003184A1
Application number: PCT/NL1994/000169
Authority: WO
Inventors: Cornelis Christiaan Damman
Original assignee: Machibo B.V.
Priority date: 1993-07-20
Filing date: 1994-07-19
Publication date: 1995-02-02
Also published as: AU7547494A; NL9301275A

Abstract

A wheel-lacing apparatus for mounting spokes (1) between a hub (6) and a rim (3) and, if desired, simultaneously tensioning the spokes (1) of a spoke wheel, which apparatus comprises a hub fixture (5) for rotatably supporting the hub (6), adjustable supports (8) for supporting the rim (3) concentrically around the hub (6), drive means for rotating the rim (3) around the axis of the spoke wheel, a nipple feed device (2) and an adjustable nipple tightener (9). Above the hub fixture (5) an automatic spoke feed device (10) is arranged, provided with a supply holder (11) which delivers one spoke (1) at a time and a spoke-inserting device (12) aligned therewith.

Description

Title: Wheel-lacing apparatus for mounting spokes between the hub and the rim of a spoke wheel, and method of using same.

The invention relates to a wheel-lacing apparatus for mounting spokes between a hub and a rim and, if desired, simultaneously tensioning the spokes of a spoke wheel, which apparatus comprises a hub fixture for rotatably supporting the hub, adjustable supports for supporting the rim concentrically around the hub, drive means for rotating the rim around the axis of the spoke wheel, a nipple feed device and an adjustable nipple tightener.

Such a wheel-lacing apparatus is disclosed in Dutch patent specification 154.161. In this patent specification, a hub, priorly provided with manually inserted, loosely dependent spokes, is positioned in the hub fixture. From this bundle of spokes the proper spoke should be selected by an operator and'the free end of this spoke is moved in front of a nipple hole in the rim and retained until the wheel-lacing apparatus has put a nipple through a nipple hole in the rim and onto the spoke and tightened the nipple.

Priorly inserting the spokes into a hub by hand takes up time and further, an intermediate stock of hubs provided with spokes is required, which hubs should be temporarily stored and subsequently transported to the wheel-lacing apparatus.

The transport of these hubs is time-consuming and positioning a hub with spokes in the hub fixture is troublesome.

The object of the invention is to overcome these drawbacks and to provide an apparatus of the above-described type which is of quicker operation and partly automated.

To this end, the wheel-lacing apparatus according to the invention is characterized in that above the hub fixture an automatic spoke feed device is arranged, provided with a supply holder which delivers one spoke at a time, and with a spoke-inserting device aligned therewith.

In this manner, half of the total number of spokes required can be automatically guided, one by one, from above into the proper holes in the flanges of a clamped hub. The rest of the spokes should still be guided into the flanges of the hub by hand, from below, which at least in the top flange can take place more easily because the next open flange hole can be chosen therefor. Now, the production of an intermediate supply of hubs provided with spokes has become unnecessary, as a result of which the production costs are reduced. Because only a hub, and not a hub filled with spokes, is placed into the wheel-lacing apparatus, disentangling the proper spoke from the loosely dependent bundel is dispensed with.

As only the proper spoke can be selected and inserting the spokes into the wheel-lacing apparatus takes place automatically for half the spokes, a considerable saving of time can be realized.

Preferably, the spoke-inserting device is designed with two adjustable funnels, capable of being aligned, in the operating position, with a hole in the bottom flange or with a hole in the top flange of a clamped hub. The spokes are released one by one from the supply holder for the spokes, which is slewably arranged above the two funnels. Because after a spoke has been mounted, the rim is rotated over a fixed number of nipple holes, the hub is likewise rotated through a fixed distance via the spokes already mounted. The funnels remain in a position aligned with a next hole in the top or bottom flange respectively.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the wheellacing apparatus according to the invention is provided by arranging, in or under each funnel of the spoke-inserting device, directing means for directing a spoke to a hole in a flange of the hub. These directing means are designed such that the head of a spoke is capable of passing a directing means without hindrance.

To improve the alignment of the spokes relative to the nipple hole, the nipple feed device and the nipple tightener, a swivelling spoke clamp is present, capable of being aligned, in the operating position within the rim, directly in front of a nipple hole, with the nipple tightener. The operator places the free end of a spoke, inserted into the hub, into the spoke clamp and subsequently, aligning and mounting a nipple on the spoke take place automatically. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the spoke clamp, a spoke can be inserted into the spoke clamp both from above and from below. As a result, the path to be travelled by the free end of the spoke is as short as possible, both for a spoke which is inserted into the hub from below and for a spoke which is inserted into the hub from above, and subsequently brought into the spoke clamp.

A method of lacing a spoke wheel by means of a wheellacing apparatus according to the invention, wherein the rim is automatically rotated over a fixed number of holes each time after a nipple has been aligned and tightened on a spoke mounted, is characterized by: - manually inserting from below, one by one, a first group of spokes into the holes of the bottom flange of a clamped hub, one hole in the flange being skipped each time and the free end of a spoke being placed, from above, into the spoke clamp; - automatically feeding, one by one, a second group of spokes from the supply holder for the spokes to the funnel of the spoke-inserting device, aligned with a hole in the top flange of a clamped hub, while the spokes are manually placed, from below, into the spoke clamp;

; - automatically feeding, one by one, a third group of spokes from the supply holder for spokes to the funnel of the spokeinserting device, aligned with a hole in the bottom flange of a clamped hub, while the spokes are manually placed, from below, into the spoke clamp; - manually inserting from below, one by one, a fourth group of spokes into the remaining holes of the top flange of a clamped hub, and placing the free end of a spoke, from above, into the spoke clamp.

In this manner, half of the spokes are automatically introduced into the hub, which yields a gain in time. The particular aspect about this sequence of mounting the groups of spokes is that the first and the second group of spokes are enclosed toward the central plane of the spoke wheel and, after being mounted, the spokes of these two groups mutually extend substantially parallel and do not cross each other.

This renders this lacing method possible. In any other lacing method, the hub must first be (partly) provided with spokes before lacing can be started. An additional advantage is that the tension of the spokes crossing each other in the top flange hardly differs from that of the spokes in the bottom flange. As a consequence, the finished spoke wheel is already practically aligned or balanced.

An improvement of the above-described method in respect of the time gain is further realized if: - the spokes of the "third" group are already supplied, one by one, during the tightening operation of a nipple on a spoke of the first group; - after the third and fourth groups of spokes have been mounted, the spokes of the "third" group, dependent in the hub along the hub fixture, are manually placed, one by one, into the spoke clamp from below.

It is observed that European patent application C 052 364 discloses an apparatus for mounting spokes in a clamped hub.

For this purpose, a hub is clamped at an angle relative to the vertical, and from a supply holder one spoke is supplied each time. By means of tubes, this spoke is carried to an opening in the bottom or top flange of the hub. This known apparatus is not a wheel-lacing apparatus, in which the spokes are also mounted in the rim. For this reason, in this spoke-inserting device, the lead-in tubes can continue to directly above the openings in the bottom flange of the clamped hub.

One embodiment of a wheel-lacing apparatus and the method according to the invention will be further explained hereinafter with reference to the exemplary embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings. In these drawings:
Fig. 1 is a schematic view of the most important part of the wheel-lacing apparatus, with a rim and a hub arranged in the wheel-lacing apparatus;
Fig. 2 is a schematic front view of the spoke-inserting device;
Fig. 3 is a top plan view of a funnel as shown in Fig. 4;
Fig. 4 is a view at a larger scale of a funnel of the spoke-inserting device, the directing means being depicted in a 900 tilted position relative to the plane of the drawing; and
Fig. 5 is a schematic front view at a larger scale of the most important parts of the spoke clamp.

Fig. 1 schematically shows the top part of a wheel-lacing apparatus according to the invention, containing a rim 3 in section and a hub 6. The rim 3 is rotatably clamped by a series of supports 8. Two of these supports 8 have been drawn, one in the form of a guide plate and the other in the form of a support roller. By means of one or more drive rollers 7, the rim 3 can be rotated along the supports 8 around the axis of the spoke wheel. The hub 6 is supported by a hub fixture 5 and is clamped in the hub fixture 5 so as to be rotatable, with friction, around its axis. In order that spoke wheels of a different diameter can also be laced by means of the wheellacing apparatus, the supports 8 and the nipple tightener 9 have been adjustably mounted on the machine frame, not shown.

The automatic feed device 10 for spokes 1 is provided with a supply holder 11 which delivers one spoke at a time, and with a spoke-inserting device 12 aligned with the supply holder. The control of the wheel-lacing apparatus provides that one spoke 1 is released by the supply holder 11 at a tie. The supply holder 11 is automatically replenished from a magazine (not shown).

Arranged under the supply holder 11 is a spoke-inserting device 12, which catches the spoke 1 released by the supply holder 11 and leads it to a hole 17 in one of the flanges 15,16 of the hub 6. To enable easy insertion of a rim 3 and a hub 6 into the wheel-lacing apparatus and removal of the finished spoke wheel, the spoke-inserting device 12 is displacable in vertical direction. The spoke-inserting device 12 is provided with two funnels 13,14, which in the operating position can be aligned with, respectively, a hole 17 in the top flange 16 and a hole 17 in the bottom flange 15 of a clamped hub 6. To improve the alignment of the funnels 13,14 with the holes 17 in the flanges 15,16, the spoke-inserting device 12 can in the operating position be supported by the clamped hub 6.

The supply holder 11 in the operating position is slewably arranged above the two funnels 13,14 (see also
Fig. 2). After the desired number of spokes 1 have been released from the supply holder 11, the supply holder 11 is swivelled from a position above one funnel 13,14 to above the other funnel 14,13.

As is shown in Figs 3 and 4, directing means 18 are arranged within or under each funnel 13,14. In Fig. 4, the directing means 18 are depicted in a position tilted 900 relative to the plane of the drawing. Through these directing means 18, a spoke 1 is aligned with a hole 17 in a flange 15,16 of the clamped hub 6, the head of a spoke 1 capable of passing a directing means 18 without hindrance.

To enable determining whether the insertion of a spoke 1 into a hole 17 of a flange 15,16 has succeeded, a sensor 19 is arranged under each funnel 19 (see Fig. 2), capable of detecting a spoke 1. In the case where a bent spoke 1 is being fed to one of the funnels 13,14, the chance occurs that it will be retained en route. In that case, the sensor 19 produces an error signal and the wheel-lacing apparatus is blocked until an operator has helped the spoke through the proper hole in the hub.

Apart from the usual nipple feed device 2 and the nipple tightener 9, Fig. 1 schematically shows a spoke clamp 21. This spoke clamp 21 is of a swivelling construction to enable insertion of a rim 3 and removal of a finished spoke wheel.

The wheel-lacing apparatus automatically aligns the nipple tightener 9, a nipple hole 4 and the spoke clamp 21. An apparatus adapted to automatically align the nipple tightener 9, a nipple hole 4 and the spoke clamp 21 is known per se.

After an operator has inserted a spoke 1 into the spoke clamp 21, a nipple is automatically supplied and tightened on the spoke 1. To prevent the spokes 1 from bending when they are being inserted into the spoke clamp 21, but in particular for the sake of easy operation, the spoke clamp 21 is constructed such that the spoke 1 can be inserted into the spoke clamp 21 both from above and from below.

Fig. 5 is a schematic front view at a larger scale of a spoke clamp. The spoke clamp 21 comprises a catch device operable by the wheel-lacing apparatus. Through the catch 22 the spoke clamp 21 itself can be opened completely. After a nipple has been tightened on a spoke 1, the spoke clamp 21 can be released from the spoke 1 and swivelled outside the rim 3.

Subsequently, the rim can be rotated over a fixed number of holes.

To allow detection whether a spoke 1 is present in the spoke clamp 21, a sensor 24 with a sensor arm 23 is provided.

If the sensor arm 23 is depressed, the spoke 1 is caught by the clamp 25 due to activation of the drive cylinder 26.

Subsequently, a nipple is automatically supplied and mounted on the clamped spoke.

The method of lacing the spokes 1 in a spoke wheel by means of this wheel-lacing apparatus comprises the following steps. A hub 6 and a rim 3 are arranged within the wheellacing apparatus, the valve hole being positioned in front of the nipple tightener 9. Now, the wheel-lacing apparatus searches the first nipple hole 4 next to the valve hole and automatically aligns the nipple tightener 9, the nipple feed device 2 and the spoke clamp 21 with the first nipple hole 4.

Subsequently: - from below, a first group of spokes 1 are manually inserted, one by one, into the holes 17 of the bottom flange 15 of a clamped hub 6, one hole 17 in the flange 5 being skipped each time and the free end of a spoke 1 being placed, from above, into the spoke clamp 21;

every time a nipple has been automatically supplied and tightened on a spoke 1, the drive rollers 7 displace the rim 3 over a fixed number of nipple holes 4, while the hub 6 is carried along over a fixed distance by the spoke or spokes already mounted; - a second group of spokes 1 are automatically fed, one by one, from the supply holder 11 for spokes 1 to the funnel 13 of the spoke-inserting device 12, aligned with a hole 17 in the top flange 16 of a clamped hub 6, while the spokes 1 are manually placed, from below, into the spoke clamp 21, the spokes of the second group extending more or less parallel to the spokes of the first group;

; - a third group of spokes 1 are automatically fed, one by one, from the supply holder 11 for spokes to the funnel 14 of the spoke-inserting device 12, aligned with a hole 17 in the bottom flange 15 of a clamped hub 6, while the spokes 1 are manually placed, from below, into the spoke clamp 21; - from below, a fourth group of spokes 1 are manually inserted, one by one, into the remaining holes 17 of the top flange 16 of a clamped hub 6, and the free end of a spoke 1 is placed, from above, into the spoke clamp 21.

A spoke wheel manufactured in this manner is practically aligned or balanced, because the spokes 1 are not bent during lacing. The spokes 1 mounted have an approximately equal length and hence an approximately equal tension as well.

An improvement of the above-described method of lacing the spokes 1 in a spoke wheel can be realized by: - automatically feeding the spokes of the "third" group, one by one, already during the tightening operation of a nipple on a spoke of the first group; - manually placing, one by one, the spokes of the "third" group, dependent in the hub along the hub fixture, into the spoke clamp from below, after the spokes of the second and fourth groups have been mounted.

As a result, the lacing of the spokes in a spoke wheel may take place even more quickly.

Claims

1. A wheel-lacing apparatus for mounting spokes between a hub and a rim and, if desired, simultaneously tensioning the spokes of a spoke wheel, said apparatus comprising a hub fixture for rotatably supporting the hub, adjustable supports for supporting the rim concentrically around the hub, drive means for rotating the rim around the axis of the spoke wheel, a nipple feed device and an adjustable nipple tightener, characterized in that above the hub fixture (5) an automatic spoke feed device (10) is arranged, provided with a supply holder (11) which delivers one spoke (1) at a time, and with a spoke-inserting device (12) aligned therewith, said spokeinserting device (12) being provided with two adjustable funnels (13,14) capable of being aligned, in the operating position above a clamped hub (6),

with a hole (17) in the top (16) and bottom flange (15) respectively of the clamped hub (6).

2. A wheel-lacing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that in or under each funnel (13,14) of the spoke-inserting device (12), directing means (18) are provided for directing a spoke (1) to a hole (17) in a flange (15,16) of the clamped hub (6), the head of the spoke (1) being capable of passing said directing means without hindrance.

3. A wheel-lacing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that under each funnel (13,14) of the spokeinserting device (12) a sensor (19) is arranged.

4. A wheel-lacing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the spoke-inserting device (12) is adjustable for height and is in the operating position supported by the top end of a clamped hub (6).

5. A wheel-lacing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a hub (6) can be clamped and rotated under friction in the hub fixture (5).

6. A wheel-lacing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a slewable spoke clamp (21) is present, capable of being aligned, in the operating position within the rim (3), directly in front of a nipple hole (4), with the nipple tightener (7).

7. A wheel-lacing apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that a spoke (1) can be inserted into the spoke clamp (21) both from the above and from below.

8. A method of lacing a spoke wheel by means of a wheellacing apparatus according to any one of the preceding claims, the rim being automatically rotated over a fixed number of holes each time after a nipple has been aligned and tightened on a spoke mounted, characterized by - manually inserting from below, one by one, a first group of spokes (1) into the holes (17) of the bottom flange (15) of a clamped hub (6), one hole (17) in the flange (15) being skipped each time and the free end of a spoke (1) being placed, from above, into the spoke clamp (21);

; - automatically feeding, one by one, a second group of spokes (1) from the supply holder (11) for spokes (1) to the funnel (13) of the spoke-inserting device (12), aligned with a hole (17) in the top flange (16) of a clamped hub (6), while the spokes (1) are manually placed, from below, into the spoke clamp (21), the spokes of the second group extending more or less parallel to the spokes of the first group; - automatically feeding, one by one, a third group of spokes (1) from the supply holder (11) for spokes to the funnel (14) of the spoke-inserting device (12), aligned with a hole (17) in the bottom flange (15) of a clamped hub (6), while the spokes (1) are manually placed, from below, into the spoke clamp (21);

; - manually inserting from below, one by one, a fourth group of spokes (1) into the remaining holes (17) of the top flange (16) of a clamped hub (6), and placing the free end of a spoke (1), from above, into the spoke clamp (21).

9. A method of lacing a spoke wheel by means of a wheellacing apparatus according to claim 8, characterized by: - automatically feeding the spokes of the "third" group, one by one, already during the tightening operation of a nipple on a spoke of the first group; - manually placing, one by one, the spokes of the "third" group, dependent in the hub along the hub fixture, into the spoke clamp from below, after the spokes of the second and fourth groups have been mounted.