Improvements in and in connection with Vehicle Wheels and Axles therefor.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Sept., 1892-Accepted, 5th Nov., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in connection with Vehicle Wheels and Axles
therefor.
We, WILLIAM THOMAS SMITH, and ROBERT SMITH, trading together as
Smith Brothers, at St. Mary Street, Southampton, Drapers, and HENRY
PATTERSON BOYD, of Brunswick Villa, Bittern, also in Southampton, in the
County of Hampshire, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
Our invention relates to improvements in the construction of the naves or boxes
of wheels as used for heavy and light vehicular traffic, and in the construction of
wheels for tramcars and railway carriages, and in the construction and formation of
the hubs of bicycle, tricycle and other velocipede wheels, and in the construction
of axles therefor, and has for its object the reduction of friction and consequently
of the motive power needed to propel the vehicle, as compared with the manner of
constructing the wheels and axles of such vehicles hitherto adopted.
In order that our invention may be clearly understood reference may be made to
the accompanying two sheets of drawings, in which,
Fig. 1 Sheet 1 is a section of an ordinary cart or carriage wheel and axle
constructed according to our invention.
Fig. 2 Sheet is a cross section of same taken upon the line A. B Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 Sheet 1 is a section of a railway carriage or tramcar wheel and axle,
constructed according to our invention.
Fig. 4 Sheet 2 is a section of the hub and axle of part of an undriven wheel of a
bicycle or tricycle constructed according to our invention.
Figs. 5 and 6 are perspective sectional views of the two parts forming the hub of
Fig. 4.
Similar letters of reference are used to indicate the same or like parts throughout
the drawings.
In carrying our invention into effect in so far as regards the construction of the
naves of wheels and axles therefor suitable for road vehicles, we provide of the usual
kind of wood a nave A, which may be, with the exception of a few unimportant
details, of the same shape externally as those in general use, varying of course in
size according to the kind of vehicle the wheel is intended to carry. In lieu of the
ordinary bore usually made in the centre for the reception of the axle box, we
provide a much larger bore, preferably, about one half of the circumferential
diameter of the nave or thereabouts, and extending from the back towards the front
for a distance slightly in excess of half the dimensions of the nave in that direction,
into which we force, and wedge or otherwise fix a metallic chamber or box B,
preferably cast from chilled iron or steel, and which may be circular or polygonal
externally, but perfectly circular internally, and having upon its inner periphery an
annular, and preferably, semicircular projection C, cast or otherwise formed
The axle D has
integrally therewith and turned and polished perfectly true.
formed upon each end thereof a swelling or nosing E, the periphery of which is,
preferably, semicircular in cross section, similar to C, and turned and polished
perfectly true like thereunto, the circumferential diameter of E being such as to fit
easily inside the projection C, and is retained impinging thereupon by the end of
the axle D abutting against the end of the chamber B. The axle D during its
manufacture is provided with two pairs of circular plates or washers F and G, one
of each being employed in connection with each wheel, the former of which F is of
such diameter as to fit inside the chamber B and close up to E. One or two

page_text: wooden plates H, each of which may be in two parts if needed, is then pushed (and
wedged if required) inside B close up to F, their united widths being such as to fill
up, and may be, slightly exceed the space left in B. The second plate G, the
diameter of which is greater than that of B, is now placed abutting against II, and
held in position by a sufficient number of bolts J, passing through A and G, each
of which is provided with a nut or nuts K, the screwing home of which compresses
the wooden plates H and holds the whole firmly together. Or in lieu of the
through bolts J, screw bolts may be used either passing through holes in G and
screwing into A, or passing through A and screwing into the holes in G.
We e may provide any suitable means for lubricating the frictional parts of the
nave, but we prefer to use a cap L, which would be inserted within the nave A
previous to the insertion of B, provision being made during the internal boring of A
for the reception thereof. The tube L' of the cap L extends through the front face
of A, and may be provided with a dust proof cap or its equivalent M, screwed or
otherwise fixed to and upon L'. The oil or other lubricant placed in L passes
through holes a in the end of B, in order that the space in B left vacant by the
formation of C and E may be always flooded with the lubricant, so that heating of
the frictional parts would not be possible, and at the same time a film of lubricant
would always be present between the points of contact of C and E.
The nave is provided externally with the usual recesses for the reception of the
heels of the spokes N, the fellocs and tyre being fixed thereon in the usual way.
In the employment of our invention in the construction of railway and tramway
carriage wheels, we arrange the parts as shewn in Fig. 3, in which the wheel A. is
bored or otherwise provided with a large central aperture for the reception of the
chamber B, which in this case, is provided with a flange b, so that the bolts or
screws J may pass through holes therein and the substance of A, and engage with
the plate. G in the same manner as at Figs. 1 and 2, or by that of the alternative
methods described.
In this case we dispense with the cup and tube L and L', and in lieu thereof we.
may form an opening e in B, and provide radial grooves or slots d in the side of E, so
that the lubricant may be passed through c and down d until the chamber B is
flooded as described in the previous method. A sliding plate or other contrivance e
may be fitted to cover c to keep out dust and dirt and prevent the return of the
lubricant.
The axle D being according to our invention always a fixture may in this case be
rigidly connected to the bearing of a horn plate situated at the inner side of the
wheel, or the ends of D may be extended beyond E so as to pass through a hole
provided in lieu of and be rigidly connected to a bearing, sliding vertically in a
horn plate in the usual way.
In carrying our invention into effect in connection with the undriven wheels of
velocipedes which may be the front or hind wheels of tricycles, or the front fork
wheel of safety bicycles, where the driven wheel or wheels is or are a fixture upon
the back axle, and rotated by a chain or the like operated by and from the bottom
bracket, we arrange the parts as at Fig. 4. In this method we mount upon the
axle D, or form integrally therewith an annular extension or wheel E, the periphery
of which is turned and polished perfectly true, and semicircular in cross section, or
approximately so, as in the previous methods. The hub of the wheel is formed in
two parts, and O, the particular formation of which, although shewn in section
at Fig. 4, will be more clearly understood by reference to the perspective sectional
views Figs. 5 and 6, each of which has an annular extension formed thereon
internally, which in cross section would be a quarter of a circle or thereabouts so
that when and O' are placed together face to face as at Fig. 4, the said extensions
collectively form a semicircular (or thereabouts) projection C, and impinge upon
the periphery of E as shewn at Fig. 4. The half hubs O and O' are held rigidly
together by the means of bolts and nuts, or screws f, passing through holes g in the
flanges of O. O. The fork or other equivalent part of the machine P, carrying the
wheel, would be rigidly fixed to the axle D, and for this purpose, that part of D may

page_text: be square, hexagon, or otherwise polygonal in cross section for the reception of P,
the remainder of D to the ends thereof being threaded to receive lock nuts R in the
usual way.
Lubricating holes may be provided as at hand ', or, and as at ", in order that
the interior of O and O may be flooded, so that a film of lubricant may be always
present between the contacts of E and C as in the previous methods.
Or we may construct O and O₁ in such a manner that in lieu of the dual
projection C, we may form a dual semicircular groove therein as shewn by the
dotted half circles at C in Fig. 4, so that a series of metallic balls placed therein
may impinge upon the periphery of E, in the same manner as that of C in the
previous method, which would have the effect of still further reducing friction.
Or as a second alternative method, we may in lieu of the said semicircular
groove and the balls therein, provide a rectangular dual groove in O O¹, and
place therein a series of rollers, the circumferential diameter of each of which
would be equal to the diameter of the aforesaid balls, and serve a like purpose.
In Figs. 4,
and 6 we have shewn our invention in connection with velocipedes
adapted for use upon the undriven wheels only, for the reason that the axle must
necessarily be a fixture, but it is obvious in so far as regards safety bicycles,
that, if the back chain wheel be fixed to either O or O' (and O or O' could be
easily constructed with a flange suitable therefor) our invention may be readily
adapted for use in connection with the driven wheel, while the undriven wheel
may be arranged as described.
By the foregoing description of our invention and the accompanying drawings,
it will be understood that in the application thereof in the construction of wheels
and axles therefor as used upon road vehicles perambulators railway carriages
and tramcars, or velocipedes, that the only frictional parts are the points of contact
between C or its equivalents, and E, the contact between the shaft D and the
parts surrounding same being only such as would be sufficient to keep the wheel
steady when in use, and by the flooding system of lubricating the wearing parts
a perfect film of lubricant is always present.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is
1st. The employment of the several devices herein described and shewn in the
construction of wheels and axles for road vehicles perambulators railway carriages,
tramcars, velocipedes and the like, or any combination of the said devices, and the
method and means employed for lubricating the same, connected and operating
substantially as herein set forth and for the object stated.
2nd. For improvements in the wheels of road vehicles and perambulators and
axles therefor, the combination of a nave A constructed to receive a metallic box
or chamber B, having an internal annular projection C, surrounding and enclosing
a nosing or annular extension E, formed upon or with the ends of an axle D, held
in position therein by the means of metal plates or washers F and G, and wood disc
or discs H, and bolts or screws J, with or without nuts K, and provided with a
lubricating device L, or its equivalent, by means of which the lubricant employed
is permitted to pass through holes a in B so as to flood the lowest half of E in B,
the whole connected, combined and operating substantially as described and shewn
by Figs. 1 and 2 of the appended drawings.
3rd. For improvements in the track wheels of railway carriages, tramcars and
similar vehicles and axles therefor the combination of a wheel A bored or
otherwise constructed centrally to receive and hold a metallic box or chamber B,
having a flange b, and internal annular projection C, for receiving the nosing or
annular extension E, of the axle D, held in position by the plates F, G and H, and
bolts and nuts J and K, and provided with a lubricating aperture c, and radial
grooves or their equivalents d formed in the side of E or end of D, for permitting
the lubricant to flood the lower half of E in B, with cap or cover or its

page_text: equivalent e for enclosing, the whole connected and operating substantially as
herein set forth and shewn Fig. 3 of the accompanying drawings.
4th. For improvements in the wheels of bicycles, tricycles and similar velocipedes,
and axles therefor, the construction and use of an axle D, having fixed centrally
thereto or formed integrally therewith, an annular extension or wheel E, enclosed
by a hub consisting of two parts O and O', held together by bolts and nuts, or
screws, passing through holes g, and each having formed thereon internally a pro-
jection which collectively form a semicircular annular projection C impinging upon
the periphery of E, or in lieu of the projection C an annular semicircular or
rectangular groove, in which we place metallic balls or rollers, impinging upon, and
in like manner forming a bearing for, E, as the wheel is rotated upon the axle D,
when this is held rigidly by the fork or its equivalent P, in combination with the
usual rods and rim for forming an ordinary spider wheel, with or without having a
chain wheel connected thereto, enabling the same to be used as a driven or undriven
wheel, and having lubricating holes by which the wearing parts may be
flooded as set forth in the preceding claims, the whole connected and operating
substantially as herein described and shewn by Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the drawings
hereunto annexed.
Dated this 23rd day of September 1892.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicants.