Improvement in Hubs of Wheels of Carriages for Road Traffic and Motor Cars and the like, and Improvement in their Axles
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 22nd July, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 24th Apr., 1899-Accepted, 8th July, 1899
Improvement in Hubs of Wheels of Carriages for Road Traffic and
Motor Cars and the like, and Improvement in their Axles.
ROBERT WILLIAM MACCULLOCH, 13, Albert Road, West Kirby, Cheshire,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:--
a
screw
on
on
Improvement in the hubs of carriage wheels & their axles for road traffic, the
hub to which the spokes are attached is made of iron or other material & is
hollowed out in circular form inside of this hollow space in hub, I put a pneumatic
tube (inflated) there is an aperture in centre of said tube through which is put the
bush for the axle on the one end of this bush is a fixed disc on the other is a disc
fixed by means of a screw or other fixture to permit of the pnewmatic tube being
taken off & put on as required each end of the bush is groved out to form a
bearing to which are fitted at proper distance cones screwed on to the axle thus
keeping the bush & pneumatic tube in their proper places, between the cones, &
groves, in ends of bush may be placed balls or other anti-friction substance; on
the outside of the hub at the side which is nearest to the centre
of the axle, is screwed a sleeve or disc having a rim or flange, the
flange has
to the outside of the
the inside & is fitted
hub as aforesaid, the dise or face of this sleeve has an aperture in the centre to
allow the axle to move freely up & down with the action of the weight on the
pnewmatic tube in centre of the hub, on the side of this sleeve nearest to
the end of the axle is a disc fixed to the axle by a screw or other means, & on the
side of said sleeve nearest to the centre of axle is a fixed disc on axle, on these discs
may be fitted balls or other anti-friction substance as a bearing for the sleeve as it
moves between these discs, the wheel is kept on the axle by this sleeve, as by its
dise it is kept perpendicular between the two discs attached to the axle on either
side, & by its flange or rim screwed on to side of hub, is made fast, & yet the
aperture in centre admits of freedom for movement of axle, & the two discs prevent
lateral movement in the wheel, the hub may be fitted with wood, iron, or other
spokes, & the pnewmatic tube, may be made of rubber or other material and in one
or more pieces. I claim that by this improvement in hub & axles of carriage
wheels the vibration of road traffic will be greatly reduced & riding made more
comfortable.
Dotad this 21st day of July 1898

page_text: Improvement in Hubs of Wheels of Carriages for Road Traffic and
Motor Cars and the like, and Improvement in their Axles.
I, ROBERT WILLIAM MACCULLOCH, of 13, Albert Road, West Kirby, in the
County of Chester, 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:-
This invention has for its object to form a carriage or other road vehicle wheel
in such a manner that its hub shall in great measure absorb shocks and vibration
resulting from the movement of the venicle on a road.
In carrying my invention into effect, I form the hubs of the wheels of annular
shape and inside these annular hubs I provide an inflated cushion or annular-tube
which surrounds the sleeve or collar on the axle. The result is that in riding the
vibration of the wheel is in large measure absorbed by the pneumatic cushion before
being communicated to the body of the vehicle.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a pneumatic hub for a wheel;
Figure 2, a vertical cross section:
Figure 3, a section showing a modification.
Referring to Figures 1 and 2, A is the metallic hub to which the spokes are
attached. Inside this annular hub I place an inflated pneumatic cushion B also
annular, and through the aperture in said annular cushion I place a bush C for the
axle D. This bush C which is made square on the outside as shewn, or corrugated
or with any suitable number of flats on the outside, and the hole in the air cushion
similarly formed, so as to lock the bush to the air cushion and prevent the latter
rotating separately from the bush, is provided at one end with a fixed disc E and
on the other is a disc F screwed to the bush so that it can be removed to permit the
cushion being taken off or put on as required. Each end of this bush is chamfered
out at G so as to abut against the cones H which are screwed on to the axle, and
thus prevent lateral play and enable the bearing to be tightened up to allow for
wear. Instead of providing these coues however, ball bearings can be provided, or
other anti-friction arrangement. On the outside of the hub A is screwed a sleeve I
having a rim or flange 1. This sleeve is screwed on the inside so that it can be
screwed on the outside of the hub. The flange I' has an aperture in the centre
to allow the axle to move freely up and down due to the resilient nature of the
hub or air cushion. J and K are a pair of discs on the axle, one being a fixture
thereon, the other being screwed thereon so as to be adjustable. These discs
act to prevent lateral play of the hub on the axle due to the resilient nature of the
pneumatic cushion. Ball bearings may be arranged between the discs and the
Hange I to reduce friction if desired. The hub A may be provided with wood,
iron or other spokes and the pneumatic tube may be of rubber or other material.
L is a dust-proof cap, screwed on end of bush. In Figure 3 the arrangement is the
same with this exception, that the pneumatic cushion B is not rounded transversely
on the outside. Furthermore the cone H at one end is dispensed with, and a
conical shoulder formed on the axle which acts the same as the cone. In other
respects the arrangement is similar.
In thus describing my invention, it is obvious that instead of providing the
axle D with the discs J & K and the sleeve I with the rim or flange 1, the arrange-
ment may be reversed; the axle D in such case being provided with a single disc
and the sleeve I of the hub with a pair of flanges one on each side of the single
disc. This arrangement is of course a mere mechanical equivalent of the other.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention. and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is: -
1. In road vehicle wheels that are provided at the hub with a pneumatic ring or
cushion for taking off or deadening from the vehicle body strains or shocks, caused
by irregularities in the road; the arrangement for resisting lateral play of the
cushion, which consists in providing the metallic part, within which the resilient
cushion is arranged, with a sleeve having an inwardly projecting rim or flange, and
the axle with a pair of discs, one at each side of and in close proximity to the
flange aforesaid and embracing the edges thereof, whereby the discs act as guides
for the flange and prevent lateral play of the cushion, substantially as described,
or any mere mechanical equivalent such as providing the axle with a single dise
and the hub with a pair of flanges one on each side.
2. In pneumatic hubbed vehicle wheels that rotate on stationary axles, chamfer-
ing or hollowing out the hub at each end, and in providing cones adapted to fit and
abut against these chamfered or hollowed portions, the said cones being screwed or
otherwise fitted to said axle in such manner that they can be tightened up against
the hub and so prevent side play, substantially as described.
3. The general combined arrangement and construction of parts forming my
improved resilient hub for road vehicle wheels, substantially as set forth.
Datod thiɑ 92nd day of Anril 1899
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Of 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, Agents for the Applicant.