VY HOID and Pulleys.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 16th D.c., 1896-Accepted, 13th Mar., 1897
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Other
VY HOID
and Pulleys.
I WILLIAM GRIFFITHS, of Weston-under-Lizard, near Shifnal, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in the construction of vehicle wheels,
shafting pulleys, and fly wheels, said improvements being applicable also to other
wheels and pulleys.
According to my invention, the wheel, whether in the form of a vehicle wheel,
shafting pulley, fly wheel, or other wheel or pulley, comprises in each case a
circular rail or track within which is disposed a frame of suitable construction
carrying rollers or balls which run upon the inner periphery of said circular track.
The said circular rail or track may be so formed or constructed as to constitute
also the rim or tyre of the wheel, and may be adapted for the reception of a
pneumatic or other desired tyre, or a separate rim or tyre, or rim and tyre, may be
disposed concentrically around the said circular rail or track and suitably
connected therewith. In some cases I may, when a separate rim or tyre, or rim
and tyre, is employed, connect the same with the circular rail or track by means
of metal or rubber springs or air cushions. In the case of vehicle wheels this
arrangement will lessen vibration, and in the case of belt pulleys will serve to
take up slack belting.
When using a wheel constructed according to my invention as a vehicle wheel,
the axle of the vehicle will be supported upon the rollers or balls and frame so as
to keep the main or outer wheel in place.
In the case of a shafting pulley constructed according to my invention, I provide
or form the circular rail with a rack which meshes with a pinion wheel fixed upon
the shaft which the pulley is intended to rotate, said shaft revolving in bearings in
the frame of the wheel. The rollers or balls will in this case cither run upon a
plain portion or portions left upon the circular rail on one or both sides of the
rack, or they may run upon a separate circular rail or rails.
When my invention is applied to a fly wheel, the arrangement last described is
employed, with this difference that the wheel will be driven from the shaft in lieu
of the shaft from the wheel. In the case of a fly wheel also friction gear may be
substituted for the rack and pinion wheel.
E. P. ALEXANDER & SON,
Chartered Patent Agents,
19 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.

page_text: Improvements in the Construction of Vehicle Wheels, Shafting
Pulleys, and Fly Wheels, applicable also to other Wheels
and Pulleys.
I, WILLIAM GRIFFITHS, of Weston-under-Lizard, near Shifnal, 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 relates to improvements in the construction of vehicle wheels,
shafting pulleys, and fly wheels, said improvements being applicable also to other
wheels and pulleys.
According to my invention, the wheel, whether in the form of a vehicle wheel,
shafting pulley, fly wheel, or other wheel or pulley, comprises in each case a
circular rail or track, a central portion or frame of suitable construction, and a
roller or ball bearing interposed between the latter and the circular rail or track.
The said circular rail or track may be so formed or constructed that its outer
circumference constitutes the rim or tyre of the wheel, and may be adapted for the
reception of a pneumatic or other tyre, or a separate rim or tyre, or rim and tyre,
may be disposed concentrically around the said circular rail or track and suitably
connected therewith. In some cases I may, when a separate rim or tyre, or rim
and tyre, is employed, connect the same with the circular rail or track by means
of metal or rubber springs or air cushions. In the case of vehicle wheels this
arrangement will lessen vibration, and in the case of belt pulleys will serve to take
up slack belting.
When using a wheel constructed according to my invention as a vehicle wheel,
the axle of the vehicle will be connected with the central portion or frame some
distance beneath the wheel centre, the centre of gravity of the vehicle is thus kept
low without necessitating the use of a cranked axle. Strength and rigidity is thus
gained, and wheels constructed as above described will be found especially
suitable for use on trolleys and other vehicles required to carry heavy loads.
In order to adapt a wheel constructed in accordance with my invention for use
as a shafting pulley, I form around or connect with the inner circumference of the
rim a circular rack which meshes with a pinion fixed upon the shaft which the
pulley is intended to rotate, said shaft passing through and revolving in bearings
provided in the central portion or frame. In this case I prefer to employ a pair
of circular rails or tracks disposed one on either side of the circular rack. Since
the rim of a wheel constructed according to my invention is eccentric as regards
the shaft or axle, shafting driven by my improved pulley can be placed close to a
wall, thereby economizing space.
When my invention is to be used as a fly wheel or driving wheel the arrangement
last described is employed, but the wheel is driven from the shaft in lieu of the
shaft from the wheel. In this case however the central portion or frame must be
fixed in some suitable manner so as to prevent it from rotating.
If desired a friction wheel and friction ring may in some cases be substituted for
the pinion and circular rack above described.
In the accompanying drawings in which similar letters refer to like parts in all
the figures:-
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a wheel constructed according to my invention, and
suitable for application to vehicles.
Fig. 2 is an edge view of a pair of these wheels connected by an axle one of the
wheels being shewn in part section on line 1-2 Fig. 1.

page_text: Fig. 3 is a pari sectional side elevation of a modified arrangement of wheel
suitable for use as a shafting pulley, driving wheel, or fly wheel.
Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 3-4 Fig. 3 and
Fig. 5 illustrates the application of a spring rim and tyre to a wheel constructed
according to my invention.
Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a is the rim of the wheel here represented as adapted
for the reception of a rubber tyre b, and e is a circular rail or track formed around
the inner circumference of the rim a. The central portion consists of two frames d
connected together by bolts e which serve as the axes for the rollers f, the latter
travelling upon the circular rail c. g is the axle of the vehicle which is secured to
the lower part of the frame d and is thus some considerable distance below the
wheel centie.
Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, which shew a modified construction of the wheel
applicable for use as a shafting pulley, driving wheel or fly wheel, it will be seen
that the inner circumference of the rim a has a pair of circular rails or tracks c cl
between which a circular rack or internal teeth his or are provided or formel.
are the rollers mounted between the frames d and running upon the rails e e
respectively. g are hearings provided in the frames d in which revolves a shaft g
having keyed thereon a pinion i which meshes with the circular rack or internal
teeth h. In the drawings this shaft g' is represented as taking the place of one of
the bolts e, one pair of rollers ff being disposed so as to rotate freely thereon on
either side of the pinion i. If the rim a be rotated by the driving beltk (shewn in
dotted lines) it will obviously, by means of the internal teeth 4 and pinion i, revolve
the shaft g' and thus act as a shafting pulley. On the other haul, if the frame d
be fixed in any suitable manner, the rim a may be driven from the shaft y' in lieu
of driving it and will then act as a fly wheel, or may be used as a driving wheel for
mutor cars and other mechanically propelled vehicles and the like.
In Fig. 5 the circular track c is represented as surrounded by an outer rim or
rim and tyre connected therewith by suitable springs l. In the case of a vehicle
wheel this arrangement will lessen vibration, and when the wheel is used as a
shafting pulley will take up slack belting. I prefer however to employ blade
springs in place of the helical springs represented in the drawings so as to avoid
lateral play of the springs.
In conclusion I would observe that I do not confine or limit myself to the precise
details of construction illustrated in the drawings, since for example it is obvious
that if desired a ball bearing might be substituted for the rollers e, the circular
track or tracks in this case being so shaped as to form a ball race or races and a
corresponding ball race or races being provided or formed around the central
portion or frame.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A wheel for vehicles and the like comprising a circular rail or track formed
around or connected with the inner circumference of a rim or tyre, a central
portion or frame, and a roller or ball bearing interposed between the latter and the
said rail or track, the axle of the vehicle being connected with the said central
portion or frame below the wheel centre substantially as described.
2. A modification of the wheel set forth in the preceding claim consisting in
providing the central portion or frame with a bearing or bearings in which
revolves a shaft carrying a pinion or friction wheel which meshes or engages with
a circular rack or friction ring formed around or connected with the inner
circumference of the rim of the wheel so that the latter may either drive the shaft
or may be driven therefrom, substantially as described and for the purposes set
forth.
3. A wheel for vehicles and the like constructed and arranged substantially as
described with reference to and illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.

page_text: 4. For the purposes set forth, a wheel constructed and arranged substantially as
described with reference to and illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawings.
5. The general combination and arrangement of parts constituting improve-
mnents in wheels and shafting pulleys, substantially as described and illustrated in
the annexed drawings.
Dated this 16th day of December 1806
E. P. ALEXANDER & SON,
Chartered Patent Agents,
19, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.