Vehicles.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 18th July, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 17th Apr., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 8th June, 1889
145
Vehicles.
I, JOHN BRIGHAM, of 34 Main St., Tweedmouth Berwick-on-Tweed, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my invention to be as follows:-
My Invention comprises certain improvements in the construction of wheels, and
especially in their naves and bushes and also of their rims or tyres and making of
these in a portable form, specially adapted for carriages, cabs, cars, carts, lorries and
other vehicles for running on streets or roadways, or on tramways or for agricultural
or other vehicles; which would have the advantage of giving greater strength and
durability with lightness to these wheels, than with wheels as heretofore constructed..
The nature and novelty of the improvements consist all as follows:-The improve-
ments in the construction of the naves and its bushes of these wheels consist in
making the whole of metal, the bush being preferably made of a strong tube of gun
metal bored out parallelly or tapered, to work loose on the turned outer end of the
axle with a screw cap on the outer end, which may be made to contain oil or other
lubricant. By one arrangement this bush would be made separate from and form
the axis of the nave or hub proper for the spokes and wheel, and the eye of the nave
would be bored and fitted close and tight on the centre part of the bush, secured by a
key or otherwise, and also hard up against an inner fixed collar either formed or cast on⚫
the bush or otherwise secured as by shrinking it on, and having an outer collar bored and
fitted on the bush close up to the eye of the nave and secured to the bush by a screw
or screws. The inner end of the bush would have a strong metal flange cast on it, or
it might be secured on it by a shrunk on eye, or otherwise, recessed to fit the inner
collar of the axle and have bolts in the outer rim of the flange to secure it to the
ordinary split washer or "wash" on the back of the axle collar to secure the bush and
nave on the axle while revolving. The improved hub or nave proper which by this
arrangement is made separate from the bush and secured to it as described, would.
be formed of cast malleable iron or steel or other metal of a ring form, a little wider
than the width of the spokes and have the radial mortices formed therein of such ..

page_text: a shape and dimensions as to allow of the entire body of the lower ends and shoulders
of the spokes to be embedded therein without diminution for half the depth of their
mortices, the inner ends or tenon parts only being reduced and inserted to the bottom
of the mortices near the eye of the hub which is formed as it were by an inner
circle or web eye; or in other words, the entire nave is made so as to receive the
spokes in the strongest possible manner with the metal as light as practicable. Thus
the said inner tenon ends of the spokes being so encased there is no chance of oil
getting or finding its way in to the mortices to loosen the spokes. The outside cap of
ish may be made of such a shape as to act as a collar oil, chamber, and cap combined
in one, by making its inner edge abut against the eye of the nave or hub instead of
the front removable collar described and made tight by means of an india-rubber
washer or other equivalent inserted in end of said cap and which would be pressed
tight when the bush is screwed up, in this way, any desired length of bush may be
fitted in the improved nave. In some cases it would be preferred to have a hollow
ring oil chamber shrunk or otherwise secured on the circumference of the bush either
inside or outside of the nave so as to lubricate the wheel axle while running. And
in some cases the said naves for receiving the spokes might be cast in one with the
bush instead of in two parts as described which when made in malleable cast iron or
steel might have a gun-metal bush cast or fitted in it.
The improvements in the construction of the rims and tyres of said wheels consist
in forming them of a tubular or other hollow construction of round, oval, or of a
semi-circular, U, or crescent, or other equivalent section; and preferably with the
outer rolling surface slightly curved, and stronger for wear on the roads. The inner
surface of the rings might in some cases, when broad wheels were desired, be made
nearly flat; and in any case drawn or rolled into the particular tubular, hollow, or
other section, out of sheet steel, or other malleable metal, either with welded or
unwelded butt or lap joints, or flanged joints preferably in one piece; or drawn
or rolled in the solid or welded manner as the hollow tubular light strong frames are
now made for cycles, in long lengths, and then cut into the proper circumferential
lengths and afterwards rolled, or bent into the proper ring shape and size, and welded
or otherwise jointed at the ends to form a hollow metal tyre for these wheels and
vehicles, to be secured to the ends of the spokes in a new or improved manner without
the use of wood tyre or felloes.
These new or improved tubular or hollow tyres so formed are afterwards heated
and shrunk direct on to, or forced on to recesses in metal end flanged bearing sockets,
driven or otherwise secured on the ends of the usual hardwood spokes, and preferably
have the tyres secured to flanges on these sockets by nails, rivets or screws to and
through the socket pieces or down into the spokes, and either with or without curved
or other wedges one one side between the rims and the socket bearing pieces. These
tubular or hollow tyres may be filled with any non-heat conducting material; and
the socket ends on which the tyres are shrunk or secured, would preferably be shaped
with recesses of a shape suitable to receive and hold or grip the inner surface or
circumference of the tubular tyres, either with small flanges on both sides or with a
deeper flange on one side, or lateral flanges on the inner side, to which the tyres could
be secured by screws or rivets; and the flanged socket pieces might be secured to
the ends of the spokes by screws or otherwise. And an india-rubber seating may be
put within or under these end sockets, over the ends of the spokes, or otherwise
between the sockets and the tubular tyre as for light wheels. And although only one
tubular ring has been described as forming the tyre secured to the outer ends of the
spokes, two or more tyres might be so secured on to the end sockets of the spokes
when broad wheels and tyres of this improved construction were desired.
plates for forming these tubular tyres might be first rolled flat or nearly so, and
afterwards rolled into their desired tubular or other hollow sectional shape which
would enable them to be rolled with thicker parts for forming the outer wearing
rolling surface of the tyre. When india-rubber tyres are desired to be secured in the
rolling circumference of these hollow metal tyres, then these would be formed with a
groove or recess on their outer circumference to receive and tightly hold the spring
The

page_text: on rubber tyres. Although these improvements have only been described as applied
to wheels with ordinary shaped wood spokes, it will be evident that they are also
applicable to light metal spokes and that the ends of these spokes might be screwed
or otherwise secured to the naves and to the socket pieces at their outer ends, and
when screwed might have jam-nuts to tighten the spokes in lengthening or shortening
them, as by right and left handed screws, to tighten the socket pieces out against
the rims.
The improvements in the naves and bushes of these wheels when made in two
parts enable either the bushes or the naves to be renewed separately, and to be made
lighter than usual with equal strength. And the improvements in the tubular or hollow
tyres or rims enable these to dispense with wooden felloe tyres altogether, and the
wheels made much lighter than heretofore with the advantage of being more suitable
for the removal of worn tyres and refitting of new ones.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Wheels for Roadway and other
Vehicles.
I, JOHN BRIGHAM, of 34 Main Street, Tweedinouth, Berwick-on-Tweed, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of my said invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement in writing reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings
and to the reference letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :—
My said Invention comprises certain improvements in the construction of wheels,
and especially in their naves and bushes, and also of their rims or tyres and the
making of these in a portable form, specially adapted for carriage, cabs, cars, carts,
lorries and other vehicles for running on streets or roadways, or on tramways, or for
agricultural or other vehicles; which would have the advantage of giving greater
strength and durability with lightness to these wheels, than with wheels as heretofore
constructed.
And in order that my invention, and the manner of performing or carrying the
same into effect or practice may be properly understood, I have hereunto appended
an explanatory Sheet of Drawings, in which the same reference letters are used to
indicate corresponding parts in all the Figures where shown. Figures 1 and 2 are
side and end sectional elevations respectively showing the nave and bush parts B, A,
of a wheel, with some of the spokes C broken away inserted in the mortises B2 in the
uave B, all as constructed in accordance with the improvements of my invention.
Figure 2 being taken on the line 1 - - - 1 of Figure 1. Figures 3 and 4 are an edge
sectional elevation and an end elevation respectively of the outer part of a spoke C
as fitted with a tyre D and socket E, in accordance with one modification of my
improvements. Figure 5 is an end sectional view of the tyre D and Figure 6 a
corresponding view showing it placed on the socket E, with wedges e² for securing it
to the spokes C. Figures 7, 8, and 9 are edge sectional elevations of different forms
of hollow tyres D, and their retaining sockets E as fitted on the ends of wheel spokes C.
Figures 10 to 13 show different sections of tyre and mode of forming and securing
the same. Figures 14 and 15 are an edge sectional elevation and a side view
respectively showing the outer end of a wheel spoke C as fitted with an improved
tyre D, secured in the retaining socket E, said tyre being suitable for and having an
outer india-rubber cylindrical rim F, fitted on it; and Figure 16 is a view corre-
sponding to Figure 14, but showing a semi-circular or D form of india-rubber outer
rim tyre F. Figure 17 is a transverse section showing one form of the bar in
dotted lines, as first rolled for making the tyre D, shown in Figure 16.
Referring to these Drawings, the nature and novelty of the improvements consist all as
follows: The improvements in the construction of the naves and bushes of these
wheels as shown in Figures 1 and 2 consist in making the whole of metal, the bush A
being preferably made of a strong tube of gun n:etal or steel, bored out parallelly or

page_text: The
tapered, to work loose on the turned outer end Z' of the axle Z, with a screw cap A'
on the outer end, which may be made to contain oil or other lubricant. By one
arrangement this bush A is made separate from and forms the axis of the nave or
hub B proper for the spokes C and wheel, and the eye B' of the nave B is bored and
fitted close and tight on the centre part of the bush A, secured by a key B¹¹ or other-
wise, and also hard up against an inner fixed collar or shoulder a of the bush A,
either formed or cast on the bush A or otherwise secured as by shrinking it on, and
having an outer securing ring collar a¹ bored and fitted on the bush A, close up to
the eye B of the nave B, and secured to the bush A by a screw or screws.
inner end of the bush A has a strong metal flange a cast on it, or it might be secured
on it by a shrunk-on eye, or otherwise, recessed to fit the inner collar Z2 of the axle Z,
and have bolts a³ in the outer rim of the flange a³, to secure it to the ordinary split
washer or "wash" all on the back of the axle collar Z to secure the bush A and
nave B with its wheel on the axle while revolving. The improved hub or nave B B¹
proper, which by this arrangement is made separate from the bush A, and secured to
it as described, is formed preferably of cast malleable iron or steel or other metal of a
ring form for lightness and strength, a little wider than the width of the spokes C,
and has the radial mortises B formed therein of such a shape and dimensions as to
allow of the entire body of the lower ends and shoulders of the spokes C to be
embedded therein, without diminution for a large proportion as a third or a half of
the depth of their mortises B2, the inner ends or tenon parts C' only being reduced
and inserted to the bottom of the mortises B' near the eye B¹ of the hub B, which
is formed as it were by an inner circle or web eye B¹ or in other words, the entire
nave B, is made so as to receive the spoke C in the strongest possible manner with
the metal as light as practicable. Thus the said inner tenon ends of the spokes C
being so encased, there is no chance of oil getting or finding its way into the
mortises B to loosen the spokes C. In some cases it is preferable to have a hollow
ring oil chamber b shrunk or otherwise secured on the circumference of the bush A
either inside the nave B as shown in Figure 1, or it might be outside of it, and be
used instead of the removable securing collar a¹ by making its inner edge abut
against the nave B and so as to lubricate the working surface of the wheel axle Z¹
and bush A, while running. In this way any desired length of bush A, may be
fitted in the improved nave B B¹.
And in some cases the said naves B B', for
receiving the spokes (C, might be cast in one with the bush A instead of in two
parts as described, which when made in malleable cast iron or steel might have a
gun-metal bush cast or fitted in it.
The improvements in the construction of the rims or tyres D of said wheels as
shown in Figures 3 to 17 consist in forming them of a tubular or other hollow
construction of round or oval shape as shown in Figures 3 to 6 and 9 to 13 or of a
semi-circular or D shape as shown in Figures 7, 8, and 13 or of an inverted D or
crescent shape when used with outer running india-rubber tyres as shown in
Figures 14 to 16, or of other equivalent section; and preferably with the outer
rolling surface, curved and slightly stronger for wear on the roads as indicated at d,
in Figures 3 to 6, and 11 to 13. The inner surface of the rings might in some cases,
when broad wheels were desired, be made nearly flat as indicated in Figures 7, 8,
and 13; and in any of these cases preferably drawn or rolled into the particular tubular,
hollow, or other section, out of sheet steel or other malleable metal, either with welded
or unwelded butt or lap joints, or flanged joints, preferably out of one previously rolled
bar, as indicated by the dotted lines in Figures 5, 11, 12 and 13; or drawn or rolled in
the solid or welded manner as the hollow tubular light strong frames are now made
for cycles, in long lengths, and then cut into the proper circumferential lengths and
afterwards rolled, or bent into the proper ring shape and size as indicated by the
various sections in Figures 3 to 13, and welded or otherwise jointed at the ends to
form a hollow metal tyre for these wheels and vehicles, to be secured to the outer
ends C of the spokes by the sockets E, in a new or improved manner, without the
use of wood tyres or felloes as hereinafter described. 1n Figures 3 to 6 the outer
running tyre D is shown as formed round, or it might be oval, out of a single plain

page_text: plate, as shown in dotted lines at D¹, and then rolled into the round or oval tubular
form, as shown in Figure 5, either with the ends butt jointed at D1, without welding,
or welded either with butt or lap joints as in making ordinary tube bars, such as used
for making cycle frames, and as shown in Figure 9. When the sections of these
hollow tyres are made of a D shape, as shown in Figures 7 and 8, they might be
rolled in a channel form, as dotted in at D' in Figure 8, and be afterwards bent
and welded on the outer running surface at d before being rolled and cut into the
wheel tyre shape.
Referring to Figures 3 to 8, these new or improved tubular or hollow tyres D so
formed of various hollow sections as described, are afterwards heated and shrunk
over the low projecting parts e direct on to the central bearing recesses up against
the high projections on the other side e¹ as indicated in Figures 3 and 8, in new or
improved metal end flanged bearing sockets E, preferably made of light cast malleable
iron or steel previously fitted and driven or otherwise secured on the ends C of the
usual hardwood spokes C, the bearing recesses on the outer ends of these sockets E,
preferably corresponding to the shape of the inner surface of the tyre D, and of equal
radial length from the axis of the wheel to give a secure concentric bearing surface to
the tyre D. The tyres D) may be further secured to flanges on these sockets E by
nails, rivets or screws d', to and through the socket pieces E down into the spokes C,
as seen in Figure 3; or it might be by side flanges and screw pins, as indicated in
dotted lines at d¹¹ in Figure 4; or otherwise these tyres D may be forced on over the
projections e while cold and be fitted with curved or other wedges e² on one side
between the rims D and the socket bearing pieces E as shown at e³ in Figure 6,
which wedge arrangement is especially suitable for tightening the rims to the spokes
should they become slack. But when tyres D are shrunk on hot and tight on the
sockets E the nails d¹ can generally be dispensed with. When desired these tubular
or hollow tyres D may be filled with any non-heat conducting material: An india-
rubber seating & may be put within or under these end sockets E over the ends C² of
the spokes C, as seen in Figure 9 and have the tyre D forced over the short
projection e and then be secured by a rivet d' or other equivalent through the tyre D,
and the projecting part e¹ of the sockets E; or otherwise the block of india-rubber d
may be fitted between the outer end of the sockets E and the tubular tyre D, as for
light wheels. Figure 7 shows an example of the projections on the ends of the
sockets E for securing the tyre D laterally in the centre at e", with flanges d¹¹ on the
inner outer edges of the tyre D for taking on to these, instead of the outside
projections e, e, in the other Figures 3, 4, 8 and 9; but the projections ell on the
ends of the sockets E, might be made round and have holes bored in the inner web
of the tyre D, for taking on to the projections on the sockets E, as dotted in at el,
instead of using the flanges d on the inner circumference of the tyre D. Although
only one tubular ring has been described as forming the tyre D, secured to the
sockets E, on the outer ends of the spokes C, two or more tyres D might be so secured
on to the end sockets E of the spokes when broad wheels and tyres of this improved
construction were desired. The plates for forming these tubular tyres D might be
first rolled flat or nearly so in the form of a bar, and afterwards rolled into their desired
tubular or other hollow sectional shape which would enable them to be rolled with
thicker parts d, d², for forming the outer wearing rolling surface of the tyre.
Figure 10 shows a section of the tyre D, so rolled out of bars of a flat shape, into
two semi-circular parts with flanges D₁, rivetted together, either before or after being
rolled into the circular tyre shape, and then secured to sockets E on the ends of the
spokes C, by lateral flanges E¹¹, by screws or rivets. Figure 11 shows a circular
section of tyre D, with a central rolling ridge or flange D³, and rolled out of a single
bar, as indicated in dotted lines at D, and shrunk or otherwise secured on to the
sockets E of the spokes C and suitable for tramway vehicles for running in the
grooves of the rails. Figure 12 shows a section of the circular form of tyre D, with
a central flange D1 on the inner circumference, as rolled out of a single shallow
channel plate, as indicated in dotted lines at D', and shrunk or otherwise secured on
to the sockets E, on the ends of the spokes C, and either secured by rivets d¹ or not
.

page_text: as des red, or the sockets E may be made in two parts and rivetted together.
Figure 13 shows a section of a D or elliptical shaped tyre D, as rolled out of a flat
plate D¹, and shrunk or otherwise secured on to the sockets E of the spokes C, as
described in reference to Figures 3 to 9. The arrangements of tyres and their
securing sockets shown in these Figures 10 to 13, are specially suitable for the lighter
class of wheels and vehicles. When outer bearing or rolling india-rubber tyres F F¹,
are desired to be secured in the rolling circumference of these hollow metal tyres D,
then these would as shown in Figures 14 to 16 be formed with a groove or recess D*
on their outer circumference to receive and tightly hold the sprung on roller tyres F
or F¹. That is semi-circular for a round tyre F, as indicated in Figures 14 and 15
or with a channel shaped bearing groove on the outer circumference 1³ for a D shaped
india-rubber tyre F₁, as shown in Figure 16, the tyre F or F¹ being sprung into the
groove D³, after the wheel is otherwise finished. The hollow metal tyres D, in these
Figures 1 to 16, with india-rubber outer rolling tyres are shown shrunk on or
otherwise secured to the sockets E on the outer ends C of the spokes by nails d' or
otherwise substantially the same as described in reference to Figures 3 and 4. And
the crescent shaped hollow tyre D shown in Figures 14 and 15 might as shown in
Figures 14A and 14B be first rolled out of a hollow tubular bar with a flat side, as
shown in Figure 144, and then rolled to the crescent shape, as indicated in
Figure 14B, before being formed into the circular tyre shape. The inverted
D shaped section of tyre D shown in Figure 16 might be rolled out of a channel
shaped tyre, as indicated in dotted and sharp lines in Figure 17, while in the bar
shape before being formed into the ring tyre shape. Although these improvements
have only been described as applied to wheels with ordinary shaped wood spokes C,
it will be evident that they are also applicable to light metal spokes, and that the
inner ends of these spokes might be screwed or otherwise secured to the naves or
hubs B, and to the socket pieces E, at their outer ends; and when screwed might
have jam-nuts to tighten the spokes C in lengthening or shortening them, as by right
and left handed screws to tighten the socket pieces E, out against the rims. D.
The improvements in the naves B and bushes A of these wheels when made in two
parts as shown in Figures 1 and 2 enable either the bushes or the naves to be renewed
separately and to be made lighter than usual with equal strength. And the improve-
ments in the tubular or hollow tyres or rims D enable these to dispense with wooden
felloe tyres altogether, and the wheels made much lighter than heretofore with the
advantage of being more suitable for the removal of worn tyres and refitting of
new ones.
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 :-
First. The construction, or general arrangement and combination of the naves and
bushes, and rims or tyres of wheels built and put together in parts for roadway and
other vehicles, substantially as herein described, in reference to and shown in the
accompanying Drawings.
Second. The constructing of the hub or nave and bush parts of wheels for roadway
and other vehicles of metal, said naves being formed with radial mortises in which the
inner tenon ends and whole shoulders of the spokes are fitted, substantially as herein
described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Third. The constructing of wheels for roadway and other vehicles with the bush in
a separate piece from the mortise nave or hub, both of metal, substantially as herein
described in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Fourth. The constructing of wheels for roadway and other vehicles with metallic
tubular or hollow tyres of any desired section or shape, substantially as herein
described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying Drawings.
Fifth. The constructing of wheels for roadway and other vehicles with metallic
tubular or hollow tyres, which are heated and shrunk direct on to, or forced on to
recesses in metal end flanged bearing sockets, driven or secured on the ends of the

page_text: wheel spokes, substantially as herein described, in reference to and shown in the
accompanying Drawings.
Sixth. In wheels for roadway and other vehicles, the combination of metallic
tubular or hollow tyres with metallic bearing sockets on the ends of the wheel spokes,
substantially as herein described, in reference to and shown in the accompanying
Drawings.
Seventh. In wheels for roadway and other vehicles, the forming of metallic tubular
or hollow tyres with a groove or recess in their rolling circumference to receive
and retain an outer. indiarubber tyre, substantially as herein described, in reference
to Figures 14 to 16 of the accompanying Drawings.