IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELS AND AXLES FOR CONVEYANCES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Robert Wadsworth, of Halifax, in the County of York,
Wheelwright, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELS AND AXLES
FOR CONVEYANCES.”
Sealed the 16th July 1878, and dated the 18th January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Robert Wadsworth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th January 1878.
"IM-
ROBERT WADSWORTH, of Halifax, in the County of York, Wheelwright.
PROVEMENTS IN WHEELS AND AXLES FOR CONVEYANCES."
The object of this Invention is,―
Firstly. To do away with the ordinary wood stock or nave, such as is now
commonly used in the construction of wheels, and to introduce a better and more
durable substitute, possessing great strength with lightness, and to provide better
means for securing the ends of the spokes thereto.
To have those for the superior class of carriages free from all bolts, nuts, and
squares, externally, so that the outward appearance may bo neat, and resemble as
nearly as possible the ordinary wood stock. To this end I form the nave of two
plates of wrought or malleable iron or other suitable material, and on the inside of
one or both of which plates are formed projections, between which the spokes are
fitted, causing the spokes to be in the form of dovetails, instead of being simply
wedge-shaped. One of these plates is immoveably fixed to a wrought-iron bush,
after which the spokes are inserted laterally between the projections, and are
then secured in their places by the other plate which is forced against them by a
screw nut.
"
"
For carts and wagons, I prefer to fix the outside plate to the iron bush above
referred to, and on the outside of the inner plate I form, what is commonly known
as a break fret," namely, a round iron hoop, around which the brake "rubbers
clasp. The screw nut, which screws against the plate inside the hoop or "fret," is
so shaped in the inside as to form the back oil chamber for the axle arm

page_text: For the superior class of carriages I may fix the iron plate to either end of the
bush if the inner plate is fixed. I should form on the outside thereof the back oil
chamber for the axle, and for the purpose of securing the wheels to what is called
a "mail" axle, I form a screw thread on the outside of the said oil chamber over
which is screwed a cap, which is prevented from leaving the axle by means of the
collar formed thereon. The cap is screwed on by means of a screw key, having pins
or fingers which enter holes in the end of the cap, this method of screwing being
applicable to other caps. When the inner plate is fixed the outer one is forced
against it by means of an ornamental nut having a portion of one end squared for
a screw key; after being screwed up, the squared portion is concealed by a round
cap which is screwed on to the bush in manner above described.
Secondly. The object of my Invention is to construct the rims of wheels, so as to
prevent the concussion or vibration to which they are subject, from causing the
joints of the felloes to yield or give way as they now do in large wheels, and to
obviate the straining of the spokes in applying the felloes to smaller wheels; also
to better secure and combine the spokes and felloes together. For this purpose I
locate the joints of the felloes over the central lines of the spokes, and for securing
them together I use an iron plate or shoe, which is sunk or recessed in the middle
about half an inch, or in proportion to the strength of the wheel. In the middle of
the said recess is formed a pin which takes into a hole bored in the end of the
spoke; or instead of this pin a coach screw may be screwed into the end of the
spoke, and thereby secure the plate to the spoke, after which the plate is let in
flush with the insides of the felloes, and rivets passed through each end and into
the wheel tyre.
My improvements relate next to the means of securing bushes to their axles, and
consists in placing a box or lock or lock nut over the ordinary nut used in carriage
axles, the outer end of said lock nut is so fitted to the axle as to prevent it from
slipping around, and is prevented from coming off the axle by means of a small pin
or cotter. By this method better security is obtained, and the troublesome left-
handed threaded nut is dispensed with.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Robert Wadsworth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 18th
July 1878.
ROBERT WADSWORTH, of Halifax, in the County of York, Wheelwright.
PROVEMENTS IN WHEELS AND AXLES FOR CONVEYANCES."
This Invention consists,―
" IM-
Firstly. In dispensing with the ordinary wood stock or nave, which is now gene-
rally used in the construction of wheels, and to introduce a better and more durable
substitute, possessing great strength with lightness, and to provide better means for
securing the ends of the spokes thereto.
To have those for the superior class of carriages free from all bolts, nuts, and
squares externally, so that the outward appearance may be neat, and resemble as
nearly as possible the ordinary wood stock.
In the accompanying Sheets of Drawings, I have illustrated several methods of
carrying out this part of my Invention, all of which are similar in principle, but
vary in construction according to the use for which the wheel is designed.
Fig. 1 shews the manner of constructing the centre part or nave of a cart or
waggon wheel.
B is a wrought-iron bush case-hardened in the inside and at both ends, and having
screw threads outside each end; C is a malleable iron or other suitable metal plate,
having projections a formed thereon, so shaped as to allow the tyre when contracted
to bind the spoke ends all together, and form a solid bearing around the bush, as
shewn in Figs. 2 and 4. The plate C is screwed on to the end of the bush B, and
cemented fast, after which the spoke ends, shaped according to the kind of pro-
jection a, above referred to, are inserted laterally between the said projections, and
are there secured by the plate D, which is furnished like the plate C with pro-
jections a, and is forced and held against the spokes by the screw nut E, which is
so shaped at its outer end c as to form the back oil chamber for the axle arm A.
On the plate D may be formed, when required, the "brake fret" d, or round iron
hoop, which is clasped by the brake rubbers. An ornamental cap F is screwed on
and covers up the outward end of the bush, and serves as the front oil chamber for
the axle arm.
The cap is screwed on by a key, Fig. 7, made for the purpose, so
that the usual squares are not required.
Fig. 3 shews the manner in which I construct the centre part or nave of a waggon
or cart wheel of cast metal with the projections a formed hollow, as shewn in Fig. 3.
These projections are cast on the plate D, which is in one piece with the bush and
back oil chamber, the plate C in this case being made to slide on the bush
and secured by bolts G, after which an ornamental cap F is screwed on as in
Fig. 1.
Fig. 5 is the centre part or nave of a carriage or dog cart wheel with spokes
fitted as in Figs. 1 and 3: This Figure shews my mode of securing the wheel to
what is called a "mail" axle, and also shews the method I adopt to avoid shewing
any nut or squares externally.
B is a wrought-iron bush, fitted and ground to the axle A; C is the inner plate;
on the outside thereof is formed the back oil chamber for the axle.
This plate is
screwed on to the bush B, and cemented fast, and for the purpose of securing the
wheels to the axle A, I form a screw thread on the outside of the said oil chamber,
over which is screwed a cap G, which is prevented from leaving the axle A by
means of the collar d formed thereon. The cap G is screwed on by means of a screw
key, Fig. 8, having pins or fingers e, which enter holes in the end of the cap, and
thus secures the wheel to the axle. To prevent the cap from unscrewing when the
wheel is in motion, I insert a small set screw H through the cap and into the oil
chamber, and when necessary the axle can be oiled through the said screw hole.
The outer plate D is made to slide on to the bush B, and is forced and held against

page_text: the spokes by means of an ornamental nut E, a portion of the outer end of which is
squared for a screw key; after being screwed up the squared portion is concealed
by a round cap F, which is screwed on to the bush B by an ordinary cap key, and
forms the nose plate of the wheel and the front oil chamber for the axle A, besides
acting as a lock nut against the ornamental one.
Fig. 6 represents centre part or nave of a carriage or dog cart wheel, and is
similar in most respects to Fig. 5, except that the outer plate D is cemented fast to
the bush B, and the inner plate C made to slide on to the bush B, and is forced
against the spokes by means of a screw nut I, the said nut acting also as back oil
chamber for the axle. To prevent the nut I from being unscrewed by the axle cap
G, I insert a small set screw 8 into the back of the inner plate C, which is covered
up by the axle cap G.
Fig. 9 also represents the centre part or nave of a carriage or dog cart wheel,
and is like Fig. 6, in every respect except that the back part G is formed hollow
and to fit against the shoulder collar N of what is commonly known as a Collinge
axle.
Fig. 10 is the centre part or nave of an invalid carriage or perambulator
wheel.
B is the bush and outer plate, all formed in one piece, the spokes being applied
as in Fig. 1; C is the inner plate which is forced against the spokes by the nut D;
F is the axle cap for securing the wheel to the axle, and covering the nut D up as
previously explained.
Fig. 11 shews my improved mode of applying the felloes to the spokes of
wheels.
The felloes F, after being cut to their proper length, are bored through the centre
and driven on to the "tongues" C of the spokes. The tongues C are formed on
alternate spokes only, the other spokes having a hole bored in the ends thereof,
over which the ends of the felloes meet. For the purpose of securing the joints of
the felloes F and the spoke ends together, I use an iron plate or shoe G, which is
recessed on the inside to fit or receive the end of the spoke. In the middle of the
recess is a pin d which takes into the hole bored in the end of the spoke; or instead
of this pin a coach screw e may be screwed through the plate and into the end of
the spoke, and thereby secure the plate to the spoke and prevent it from working
loose. The plate is let in "flush" with the insides of the felloes and rivets passed
through each end and into the wheel tyre.
My improvements in carriage axles are shewn in Figs. 12 and 13 and accompany-
ing details, and consist in placing a box or lock nut J over the ordinary nut K, used
in carriage axles for securing the wheel and bush to the axle. The outer end of the
said box or lock nut is so shaped as to prevent it slipping round on the axle (see
details), and is prevented from coming off the axle (by means of a pin or cotter,
a, which is passed through the box nut and the axle end. By this method the
taking up of the end play, as the axle is worn is greatly facilitated, and the use
of the troublesome left-hand screw threaded nut is avoided.
Figs. 12 and 13 are alike, except in the formation of the ordinary nut K. In
Fig. 12, the ordinary nut K and "collet" L are formed separate from each other,
and in Fig. 13 they ar formed together in one piece, as will be readily seen on
comparison of the figures and details shewn opposite each.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be or may be performed, I would have it understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise details of construction herein shewn and described,
as the same may be varied without departing from the main features thereof,
but what I claim as my Invention and consider to be new is,-
Firstly. The method herein shewn and described of constructing the naves of
wheels, and fixing the spokes therein, or any mere modification thereof.
Secondly. The cap G having set screw H therein, as and for the purpose herein
shewn and described in Fig. 5 and other Figures.

page_text: Thirdly. The ornamental nut E and cap F, shewn in Fig. 5 and other Figures, as
and for the purpose herein shewn and described.
Fourthly. The method herein shewn and described of applying and fixing the
felloes to the spokes of wheels.
Fifthly. The employment of the box or lock nut J, referred to in Figs. 12 and
13, as and for the purpose herein shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Robert Wadsworth, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
ROBERT WADSWORTH
(87)
ROBERT WADSWORTH