New-York tribune., 1918-09-29
Spring Wheels for
Trucks No Hun
Success

Interesting data come from the 3.
L. Goodrich Rubber Company concern
ing the metcods employed by tac Ger
nan government 10 equip motor trans
ports with devices aimed to take I'D the
shock and vibration that ensue when
has virtually no rubber. and ell that it
can garner by capture or by surrep-
tltipus imports must be given to bal
loon, &irplane and medical divisions
Consequently what inventive genius
that can be spared from the conjuring
Of new gases and devilish war devices
must be concentrated on q substitute.
The German has hit upon the spring
wheel as the solution OF MS tire trou-
bles.
All engineering skill is contributed
in perfecting this type, and that thus
far the spring wheel has not been al
together satisfactory is borne out by
recent captures of transports and driv-
ers. According to information received
by Goodrich officials, the spring wheel
Is satisfactory only when a moderate
speed is employed and where the roads
other emergency that calls tor excess
sive speed the wheel is almost useless,
as the springs easily become displaced
and the truck crippled
For the benefit Of motor truck en-
gineers and those interested generally
in motor truck DEVELOPMENT, Goodrich.
gives the following classification Of the
wheels now used by the Germans, as
described by Fritz himself:
Group
(a) The spring wheel uses spiral
springs wound from square steel and
mounted radially in one or two rows
between cups secured to the inner
and outer wheels. There is q risk Of
the springs being displaced when run
nlng over obstacles or around cor
ners, particularly at more than mod
crate speed.
(b) The Moll wheel is of similar
construction, except that side plates
are used to protect the springs from
dirt. and telescope tubes are used
inside the springs TO prevent lateral
displacement. These tubes are ex-
tended as spherical end caps, which
give> the requisite degree of trans
verse f1exibility.
(c) The truth wheel uses series
OF oval springs placed on their sides
in troughs attached to the outer and
inner rims Bolts through the
troughs pass through the overlapping
loops of consecutive springs. The
wheel is rather less flexible radially,
since the springs are compressed in
the plane of their winding instead of
axially. One Of the troughs slides in
the other, and so takes up transverse
forces. The construction provides
foc i,1 a.,
celebrating and braking forces. The
whole can be mounted as a unit in
place of q rubber tire.
(d) The Sievert wheel retains rub
Der or similar material for elasticity
and uses a wood road rim. A rub
Der ring is held on each side of the
felloes by through bolts, which also
secure steel side rings carrying the
outer wood rim clear of the inner
wheel. All wear comes on the wood
RIM, and the only connection between
TINS and the inner wheel is through
the rubber side rings. These are
rather flexible and liable to side
slip.
(a) The Siemens and Haiske wheel
uses radlally mounted spiral springs
(lmper1ectly protected against dirt
ana transverse forces) and tiexi-
bic outer rim. The outer rim is built
up from strip steel wound to form a
hoop.
(b) The Flohr wheel is similar,
save that the outer rim has steel
links resembling link beltng), the
pins of which serve also to carry
cups for the radial spiral springs.
The timpins are exposed to dirt and
moisture.
As will be noted, every type is open
to German criticism, and there is little
likelihood of any being retained when
peace gives the Hun rubber supply.
One Is Plenty