Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 9th Sept., 1887.
Specification Accepted, 11th Oct., 1887.
We JOSEPH HENRY SAMS of 7 Edith Villas West Kensington London Mechanical
Engineer and LA MAROUS ADNA THOMPSON of 914 Walnut Street Philadelphia Pa.,
United States of America at present residing at 40 Talgarth Road West Kensington
London Manufacturer 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 wheels for cars which run upon metal
rails and the object is to render such wheels as noiseless as possible.
To overcome the noise we have devised a wheel in which a comparatively yielding
substance is interposed between the metal rail and the metallic or other portion or
hub of the car wheel which sustains the weight of the car which yielding substance
serves as a cushion or spring to neutralize inequalities of the rail and absorb the
vibration.
A convenient way of constructing the wheel is illustrated in the accompanying
drawings in which Figure 1 represents a section of the wheel and Figure 2 a front
elevation thereof. We form in the first place a metal wheel or wheel frame A similar
in appearance to an ordinary car wheel but having a deeper flange B and with its
edge turned slightly over and inwards towards the periphery of the wheel. Around
the circumference of the wheel frame is placed a ring of wood C such ring being
preferably built up in sections so that the grain of the wood is in the direction of the
radius of the wheel thereby throwing the tread of the wheel on the end of the grain.
The turned over rim of the flange 6 enters a groove formed in the wearing ring C
thereby preventing the same from parting or if the ring is in section they are
securely bound together thereby. The ring C is kept in position laterally by a flange
or ring D of suitable material and of larger diameter which is fastened by bolts d
passing through the ring of wood and through the opposite flange B. The projecting
edge of the binding ring D forms the guiding flange of the wheel when placed on the
metals.
The rolling contact surface of a wheel constructed as above described will be
compressible to a certain extent and will therefore not be so sensitive to inequalities
in the material of the track as a metal surface would be and also less capable of
transmitting vibrations whereby the sound is deadened. It is obvious that other
substances possessing similar qualities might be used instead of wood and also that
the manner of combining them might be varied.

page_text: The fact of the flange D being of metal and running occasionally in contact with
the rails is immaterial as the noise resulting therefrom is so trifling that it may be left
out of consideration.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what
we claim is
"
1. A "noiseless car wheel with non metallic tread.
2. The combination with the metallic or other centre of a car wheel of segments or
pieces of wood so secured upon or about its periphery that the contact between the
wood and the rails and between the wood and the centre is upon the end of the grain 1
of the wood substantially as specified.