CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN CASTORS FOR FURNITURE
Year: 1843

page_text: CHARLTON, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Factor, send greeting.
WHEREAS I did, by Petition, humbly represent unto Her present most
Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, that I had invented "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN CASTORS FOR FURNITURE," and Her said Majesty being willing to give
encouragement to all arts and inventions which may be for the public good,
was graciously pleased, by Her Royal Letters Patent under the Great Scal
of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at West-
minster, the Seventeenth day of August (One thousand eight hundred and
forty-three), in the seventh year of Her reign, for Herself, Her heirs and
successors, to give and grant unto me, the said John Charlton, my exors,
admors, and assigns, Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and
authority, that I or they, by myself or themselves, or by my or their deputies,
servants, or agents, or such others as I or they should agree with (and no
others) during the term of fourteen years from the date of the said Letters
Patent, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise. and vend my said
Invention within that part of Her said Majesty's Dominions called England,
Her Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, in such manner
as to me, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, shall seem meet, and as that I or
they shall enjoy the whole profit and advantage arising by the reason of the
said Invention during the said term of fourteen years, and for that end Her
said Majesty requires and strictly commands all Her subjects whatsoever,
within England, Wales, and Berwick-upon-Tweed, aforesaid, that they shall
not, neither directly or indirectly, make, use, or put in practice my said Inven-
tion, or any part thereof, nor in anywise counterfeit, imitate, or resenible tho

page_text: same, nor make any addition thereto or subtraction therefrom, whereby to
pretend himself or themselves to be the inventor or inventors thereof; and
whereas the said Letters Patent contain a proviso obliging me, the said John
Charlton, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of my said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, and to cause the same to be inrolled in Her
Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and
immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent, as in and by the same
(reference being thereunto had) will more fully and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Charlton, do hereby declare that my said Invention is described and
ascertained in manner following, and by the aid of the two Sheets of Drawings
hereunto annexed (that is to say) :-
I will first describe the construction of several castors for furniture con-
structed according to my improvements, and will then, at the conclusion of this
Specification, set forth the particular improvements which constitute the new
Invention in such castors.
Figures 1, 2, and 3, Sheet I. of the Drawings hereunto annexed, repre-
sent a castor suitable for being applied at the feet or lower ends of the
legs of tables, pianofortes, chairs, or other furniture having legs; the lower
end of the leg entering and fitting firmly into the hollow conical socket
A, A, which is made of cast iron, and which, after being cast in iron, may
be annealed or converted into malleable iron or into what are called
malleable iron castings by the ordinary and well-known process for so con-
verting small iron castings. The wooden leg of the table or other furniture
being fitted firmly into the interior of the hollow of the socket A, A, the
same is secured on the wood by two or more screws inserted laterally through
holes d, d, in the sides of the socket A, A, and screwed into the wood, the
heads of those screws being countersunk into the thickness of the metal of the
socket A, A, so as not to project beyond the exterior circumferential surface of
the socket A, A, but so as to be somewhat within that surface. The moveable
part B, B, D, D, of the castor is a hollow cup of cast brass, or other suitable
metal applied around the exterior circumference of the socket A, A; the pair
of horns D, D, which project outwards and downwards from one side of the ex-
terior of the said cup B, B, being cast in the same piece of metal therewith, and
the wheel or roller E of the castor is included between the said pair of horns
D, D, into and through which the two ends of the centre pin (i) of the wheel
or roller E are inserted and fastened. The roller E runs on the floor or
carpet to sustain the table, pianoforte, or other furniture to which such castors

page_text: are applied. The lower end of the socket A, A, is a bottom like a cup with a
central prominence a projecting downwards from the centre of the under part
of that bottom, which prominence a fits into and passes down through an
opening at the lower part of the hollow cup B, B, and a screw F with a large
round flat head is screwed upwards into a perpendicular hole in the centre of
the bottom of the prominence a of the socket A, A. The head of this screw
F being larger in diameter than the prominence a (or than the opening through
the lower part of the hollow cup B, B), the flat surface of that head applies
with a margin around its circumference to the border around the said opening
through the lower part of the hollow cup B, B, so as to retain that cup in
place around the socket A, A, in order to prevent the said cup B, B, coming
off from the socket A, A, in case of the table or other furniture being lifted
up; but, wherever the castor is bearing its share of the weight of the said
furniture, the hollow cup B, B, is pressed upon the socket A, A, by that
weight. The contact between the interior surface of the hollow cup B, B, and
the exterior surface of the socket A, A, takes place at the cylindrical circum-
ference of the prominence a, where that circumference fits into and passes
through the lower part of the cup B, B, and contact also takes place at the
upper part e, e, of the interior circumference of B. B, around the corresponding
upper part of the exterior circumference of A, A, and contact also takes place
at the lower convex end f, f, of the exterior surface of the socket A, A, around
the prominence a, where the said lower convex end fits into the concave
bottom of the hollow cup B, B, and it is by the last-mentioned contact f. f,
that the weight which the castor is to carry (or the force wherewith the socket
A, A, is pressed downwards by that weight into the cup B, B,) is sustained.
The lateral action of the cup B, B, upon the socket A, A, being at the same
time sustained by the other two contacts before mentioned, videlicit, around the
circumference of the prominence a, and around the upper parts e, e, of the cir-
cumferences of B, B, and A, A; but the conical exterior circumference of A, A,
below the said upper part e, e, where the contact takes place as aforesaid, may be
slightly reduced in diameter, so as not to be in actual contact with the interior
conical circumference of the cup B, B, except at e, e, in order to avoid unneces-
sary friction; and for the same reason there is no contact at the circular ring of
flat surface at the uppermost part of the cup B, B, between that flat surface and
the under edge of the prominent border n, n, around the upper part of the socket
A, A. That prominent border n, n, gives strength to the socket A, A; and so
much of the upper and exterior edge of the said border n, n, as will be visible
when the castor is in use, is covered with a thin hoop of brass, applied and
fastened on in place by rubbing the brass down over the said edge by action of a
9

page_text: suitable burnishing tool whilst the socket A, A, is revolving in a turning lathe.
The screw F is made to fit tight into the hole wherein it is tapped, and when
it is screwed therein as far as it can go, the flat surface of its head bearing
firmly against the flat surface at the lower end of the prominence a, the screw
f will be fast, so as to keep its place and avoid working loose. The border
around the lower end of the cup B, B, does not bear with any force against
the margin around the circumference of the flat surface of the head of the
screw F when the castor is in use, and, therefore, there is no tendency to
loosen the hold of the screw; but, if preferred, a flat metal washer may be
interposed between the head of the screw F and the lower end of the cup B, B.
The prominence a must in that case project downwards through the lower end
of the cup B, B, as much of the thickness of the said washer, which must be
fitted to and applied upon so much of the said lower end of the prominence a
as thus projects with a square or other shape, which will prevent the said
washer from turning round about the prominence a; and the screw F, bearing
with the flat surface of its head under such washer, will fasten the same in
place at the lower end of the prominence a, so that the flat surface of the
washer will apply with a margin around its circumference to the border around
the opening through the lower part of the cup B, B, in order to retain that
cup in place around the socket A, A, in the same manner as already explained
respecting the head of the screw F. When the screw F is withdrawn (and
the washer, if there is one, removed), then the cup B, B, can be taken off
from the socket A, A, and the screws before mentioned by which the latter is
fastened on the lower end of the leg of the table or other furniture, can be got
at; but when the cup B, B, is restored to its place, the heads of those screws
are concealed.
Figure 4 is another castor, differing from the foregoing only in the form of
the socket A, A, and cup B, B, each of which resembles one half of an egg.
The letters of reference marked upon the several parts of Figure 4 denote the
same parts as the same letters denote in Figures 1, 2, and 3, and in the fore-
going description thereof. The contacts between the socket A, A, and the cup
B, B, in Figure 4, are in like manner as already described, videlicit, around
the cylindrical circumference of the prominence a, and around the upper parts
e, e, of the socket A, A, and cup B, B, for sustaining the lateral action of the
cup B, B, upon the socket A, A, also at the lower part f, f, of the egg-shaped
socket A, A, and cup B, B, around the prominence a, for sustaining the
weight that the castor is to carry; but, excepting at the said parts e, e, and
ff, the egg-shaped exterior circumference of the socket A, A, may be reduced
in diameter so as not to be in actual contact with the interior egg-shaped

page_text: circumference of the cup B, B. The screw F retains the cup B, B, in place
around the socket A, A, as already explained; and a washer may be interposed,
if preferred, as before mentioned.
Figure 5 is a castor with the socket A, A, which is to receive the leg of the
table, chair, or other furniture, made of cast brass, and having a solid iron conc
A firmly fixed to the lower end of it by means of a central part h of the iron
which passes up through the flat bottom of the socket A, A, and is securely
rivitted withinside of that socket, so as that the iron A becomes a prolonga-
tion of the brass socket A, A. The hollow cup B, B, of the moveable part
B, B, D, D, of the castor, Figure 5, is applied upon and fitted to the solid
iron cone A, nearly in the same manner as already explained respecting the
hollow cone A, A, Figure 2. The contact in Figure 5 is around the cylin-
drical circumference of the prominence a, at the lower end of the solid iron
cone A, as before explained; and the contact at the upper part of the cup
B, B, is at e, e, around a perminent part of the solid iron cone A, near where
it joins to the bottom of the brass socket A, A, the said contact at e, e, being
suited for sustaining the weight which the caster is to carry (or the force where-
with the solid cone A is pressed downwards by that weight into the cup B, B,)
and also for sustaining (in concurrence with the other contact around the pro-
minence a) the lateral action of the cup B, B, upon the solid iron cone A;
and there is in such case no contact required around the exterior circumference
of the solid iron cone A, or only at the very uppermost part thereof near to
c. e, neither is any contact required at the flat surface of the lower end of the
solid iron cone A around the promenence a at f, f. But note, the contacts in
Figure 5 may be around the cylindrical circumference of the prominence a as
aforesaid, and around the upper prominent part of the solid irou cone A at e, e,
and around the exterior circumference of the solid iron cone A at the upper-
most part thereof near to e, e, and likewise contact at f. f, at the flat surface of
the lower end of the solid iron cone A around the prominence a, if it is
preferred that there should be such contact at f. f, and which may be or not,
according to the general strength of the castor and the weight it will (in
consequence of that strength) be qualified to carry. For carrying a heavy
weight the contact at f. f, may be useful.
Figure 6 is a castor with the socket A, A, of cast brass, and a solid iron
cone A a firmly fixed at the lower end of it in the same manner as already
described respecting Figure 5. The solid iron cone A a in Figure 6 is of a
larger size at the upper part A than at the lower part a, which latter is of
a somewhat conical form, the upper larger part A being more nearly
approaching to cylindrical, and the intervening part between the two sizes A

page_text: and a is a rounded shoulder of the form shewn at e, e. The hollow cup B, B,
of the moveable part B, B, D, D, of the castor, is fitted upon the exterior sur-
face of the solid iron cone A a, around the nearly cylindrical circumference of
the large upper part A, and around the conical circumference of the smaller
lower part a; and the interior of the cup B, B, is also fitted to the rounded
shoulder e, e, at f, f, which latter is the contact for sustaining the weight that
the castor is to carry. The screw F is screwed fast into the lower end of the
solid cone A a, and its large flat head being larger than the lower end of A a,
retains the cup B, B, in place upon the solid iron cone A a. And a washer may,
if preferred, be applied on the lower end of the cone A a, so as to become inter-
posed between the lower end of the cup B, B, and the head of the screw F, in
the manner already explained in reference to Figure 2.
part H, by means of a central
Figure 7 is a castor to be fastened beneath furniture, which will admit of
the part H passing up and fitting tightly into a round hole in the wood at the
lower part of such furniture, with the flat flange k, k, applying to the said
lower part (or that flange may be let into the wood), and fastened thereto by
two, three, or four screws screwed into the wood. The said flange k, k, may
be circular or square, or any other suitable form; and the part H is cast in
the same piece of brass with the flange k, k. A solid iron cone A is firmly
fixed to the brass of the flange h, k, and of the
pin h which belongs to the cone A, and passes up through the centre of H,
and may be secured by rivetting the upper end. The largest part at the
upper end of the cone A may be let into the brass which forms a circular rin
projecting down beneath the under surface of the flange k, k, and surrounding
the circumference of the said largest part at the upper end of the cone A, so
as to conceal that circumference. The cup B, B, of the moveable part B, B,
D, D, of the castor, is fitted to the solid iron cone A, with contact at e, e,
around the upper part thereof, and which contact around the cylindrical
circumference of the prominence a. Also with contact at f, f, at the flat
surface of the lower end of the solid cone A around the prominence a. The
said contact at f, f, sustains the weight that the castor is to carry, whilst the
other two contacts at e, e, and around the cylindrical circumference of a,
sustain the lateral action of the cup B, B, upon the solid iron cone A. The
cup B, B, is retained in place on the cone A by the screw F, and there may
be a washer if preferred, as already explained in reference to Figure 2. And
note, respecting the contact at f, f, in Figure 2, that contact may, if preferred,
be a flat surface at the lower end of the cone A, around the prominence a
thereof, similar to the contact at f, f, in Figure 7; or, on the other hand, the
contact at f, f, in Figure 7 may, if preferred, be a convex surface at the lower

page_text: end of the cone A, around the prominence a thereof, similar to the contact at
ff, Figure 2. And note, the flange k, k, and the part H in Figure 7 may, if
preferred, be one piece of cast iron with the solid cone A, instead of the flange
k, k, and the part H being one piece of cast brass, and the solid cone A a
piece of cast iron firmly united to that brass in manner already explained, so
as to be like one piece therewith.
The hollow cup
Figure 8 is a castor adapted for bedsteads or other heavy furniture, which
will, as already stated respecting Figure 7, admit of the part H, Figure 8,
being tightly inserted into a hole in the wood at the lower part of such furni-
ture, with the flat flange k, k, applying to (or let into) the said lower parts, and
fastened to the wood thereof by screws; the said flange k, k, being circular or
square. The solid cone A which projects downwards from the central part of
the flange k, k, (as if it were a continuation of the part H) is made in the
same piece of cast iron with the flange k, k, and the part H.
B, B, of the moveable part B, B, D, D, of the castor is fitted around the cone
A, so as to be in contact with the whole of the exterior conical surface thereof;
there is also contact around the cylindrical circumference of the prominence a
at the lower end of the cone A; and there is likewise contact at f. f, between
the circular ring of flat surface near the lowermost part of the interior of B, B,
and the corresponding ring of flat surface around the prominence a, at the
lower part of the cone A. The contact last mentioned concurs with the
contact aforesaid around the conical surface of the cone A, in sustaining the
weight which the castor has to carry; but there is no contact between the
uppermost part of B, B, and the under part of the flange k, k. The screw F
retains the cup B, B, in place upon the cone A, and a washer may (if preferred)
be applied in addition to the screw F.
Figure 9 is a castor, with a hollow socket A, A, of iron, adapted to be fitted
upon and fastened by screws to the leg of a table, chair, or other furniture, in
the same manner as already explained respecting Figures 1, 2, and 3, and
Figure 4. The cup B, B, of the moveable part B, B, D, of the castor, is
fitted around the exterior conical surface of the hollow iron socket A, A, with
contact around the whole of that exterior conical surface, and also with con-
tact between the circular ring of flat surface at the uppermost part of B, B,
and the corresponding ring of flat surface at the under side of the prominent
border n, n, around the upper part of the hollow socket A, A. The outer
edge or circumference of that prominent border n, n, is covered with brass in
the same manner as already explained respecting Figures 1, 2, and 3, and
Figure is the same in that respect. The cup B, B, in Figure 9, is retained
in its place on the socket A, A, by the screw F, with a brass washer I, I,

page_text: interposed between the head of the screw F and the under part of the socket
A, A. The said washer 1, 1, is shewn separately at 1. It is fitted upon a pro-
minence r, Figure 9, at the lower part of the socket A, A; which prominence r
may be of a circular form, but having one side cut away to a flat side, the
washer 7, 1, having a hole of corresponding form to fit around the prominencer;
or the prominencer may be a square or other polygonal shape, provided that
the hole in the washer 1, 1, is of a corresponding form to fit the prominence 7,
so that the washer 1, 1, cannot turn round about the prominence r. The head.
of the screw F being larger than said prominence 7, will bind the washer 1, 1,
fast against the flat surface at the lower end of the socket A; and the washer
1, 1, being as large in diameter as the lowest part of the cup B, B, the upper
flat surface of the washer 1, 1, will apply with a margin around its circum-
ference beneath the under flat surface of the border around the said lowest
part of the cup B, B, so as to retain that cup in its place on the socket A, A.
The aforesaid description of such washer will apply to any of the washers
herein-before mentioned. And note, when a washer is used the same may be
fastened in place without any screw F by a cross pin inserted horizontally into
a hole through the prominence whereon the washer is fitted, the said pro-
minence (or some suitable part or parts thereof) extending downwards far
enough through or below the washer to admit of the said hole, wherein the
said cross pin is to be inserted, being beneath the under surface of the washer,
so that the said cross pin, when inserted across through the hole, may retain
the washer in place, and answer the same purpose as the the screw F.
Figure 10, Sheet II., represents a castor, with the hollow socket A, A, cast
in brass or other suitable metal, and having a cone p rising up from the bottom
of it into the centre of its interior, that cone p being the same piece of metal
with the socket A, A, and hollow beneath and within to receive the upper end
of the upright spindle P, of iron or steel, on the lower end of which spindle
P the moveable part B, D, of the castor is fastened, so that the spindle is
firmly united to the horns D, to which the centre pin i, for the wheel or roller
F, is fixed. The weight which the castor is to carry is sustained by the upper
end of the spindle P, which is pointed, and fits upwards into the hollow cone p,
and the lateral action is sustained partly thereby, and by the spindle P being
fitted into a collar or round hole at the centre of a concave disk Q, Q, which
is firmly united to the lower end of the socket A, A, so as to be like one piece
therewith. The said collar fits close around the middle part of the length of
the spindle P, which is thereby retained in its intended upright position,
whilst the point at the upper end of the spindle P is retained in the hollow of
the cone p, but leaving the spindle P at liberty to turn round freely. The

page_text: spindle P has an enlargement upon it just above the said collar, which enlarge-
ment is formed of the same piece of metal as the spindle; and being included
within the concavity of the disk Q, Q, it prevents the spindle P from descend-
ing and getting out of place; but the said enlargement of the spindle P is
not in close contact with the interior of the disk Q, Q, whilst the castor is
sustaining the weight which it is to carry, and therefore does not occasion any
friction to impede the spindle turning round. The only contact is at the
pointed upper end of the spindle P, within the hollow cone p, and at the collar
part of the disk Q, Q, around the middle part of the length of the spindle I.
The disk Q, Q, which belongs to and is part of that collar, must be very firmly
fastened to the socket A, A, so as to become united as if it were in one piece
therewith. For this purpose the circular border edge of the upper and largest
part of the disk Q, Q, is lodged within and fastened into a circular rim which
projects downwards below the bottom of the socket A, A, all around the cir-
cumference thereof. The interior circumference of that rim, and the exterior
circumference of the said border edge of the largest part of the disk Q, Q, are
fitted correctly one to the other, by turning in a lathe; and after the border
edge of the disk Q. Q, is lodged in its intended place within the said rim, it is
fastened therein by rubbing down the metal of the rim all around the border
edge of the disk, so as to confine the same within the rim, which rubbing down
may be done, by means of a suitable burnishing tool, whilst the socket A, A,
is revolving (together with the disk Q, Q,) in a turning lathe. The spindle P
must be inserted through its collar (that is, the central hole of the disk Q, Q,);
and after that the part B, of the horns D, is applied on the lower end of the
spindle P, and made fast by rivetting the lowest end of the spindle. This
being done, the disk Q, Q, (which must have been previously turned true
around its border edge before mentioned,) is then ready for uniting to the
socket A, A, by fastening the border edge of the disk into the rim of that
socket in manner aforesaid. And note, to assist in keeping the spindle P in
place in its intended upright position, the enlargement of the spindle P which
is within the concavity of the disk Q. Q, as already mentioned, may be made,
as shewn at Figure 11, with a prominent circular border around the circum-
ference of its upper surface, the border being prominent above that surface.
That prominent border (which is truly turned concentric with and at right
angles to the central line of the spindle P) is fitted with a corresponding
around the bottom of the socket A, A, which groove is turned
truly concentric with and at right angles to the central line of the hollow conc
and of the rim around the bottom of the socket A, A. The said prominent
border (which is formed in the same piece of metal with the spindle and the
circular
P,
groove

page_text: enlargement thereof), by fitting into the said groove, will be an additional
contact to the contacts before described respecting Figure 10, (videlicit, con-
tact at the upper pointed end of the spindle P, within the cone p, and contact
at the mid length of the spindle P, within the collar of the disk Q, Q,) and
the said additional contact will concur in retaining the spindle P in its intended
upright position, and qualify the castor for carrying more weight. But note,
the hole at the centre of the disk Q, Q, may be larger than that part of the
spindle P which is within the said hole, so that it will not act as a collar, and
the whole lateral action of the castor will in that case be sustained by the con-
tact of spindle and its enlargement with the metal of the socket A, A.
Figure 12 is a castor nearly the same as Figure 10, excepting that the
hollow cone p is not made in the same piece of metal with the socket A, A;
but the hollow cone p, Figure 12, is a distinct piece of iron, having a small
circular flange projecting all around its lower part, which flange is fitted into
a corresponding recess around a central hole at the lower part of the bottom of
the brass socket A, A, through which central hole the upper part of the iron
cone p passes upwards into the centre of the hollow of the socket A, A. The
lower part of the iron cone p, and the border edge of its flange, being truly
fitted to the central hole and circular recess by turning in a lathe, the cone p
is lodged in place, as shewn in the Drawing, with its flange in the recess, and
the brass around the circumference of that recess is rubbed over the circum-
ference of the flange of the iron cone p, which may be done by means of a
suitable burnishing tool, whilst the socket A, A, together with the cone p, are
revolving in a turning lathe, and thereby the iron cone p becomes firmly
fastened to the brass socket A, A, as if it were one piece therewith; also in
Figure 12 the exterior circumference of the enlargement of the spindle P is
fitted into the hollow within the cone p at the lower part thereof and the
disk Q, Q, which retains the enlargement, so as to prevent the spindle from
descending and getting out of place, is less concave than in Figure 10, and
does not act as a collar to the spindle P, because the central hole through the
disk Q, Q, is larger than that part of the spindle which is within that hole, so
that there is no contact, and the whole lateral action of the castor, as well as
the weight it is to carry, is sustained by the fitting of the pointed upper end
of the spindle P, and of the enlargement of that spindle into the interior of
the iron cone p. And note, the castor, Figure 10, may, if preferred, be made
with the enlargement of the spindle P similar to that part of Figure 12, and
that enlargement fitted into the hollow of the cone p, Figure 10, which is cast
in the same piece of metal with the socket A, A; and also the disk Q, Q,
Figure 10, may in that case be similar to that part of Figure 12, with central

page_text: hole in the disk Q. Q, so much larger than the spindle as that there will be no
contact or collar.
Figure 13 is a castor nearly the same as Figure 10, except as to the form
of the enlarged part of the spindle P, which form is a spherical ball in
Figure 13, formed in the same piece of metal with the spindle P, and included
within the concavity of the disk Q. Q, so as to prevent the spindle descending
and getting out of place; but the said ball is not in close contact with the
interior of the disk Q, Q, when the castor is sustaining the weight it is to
carry; neither is the upper part of the ball intended to be in close contact
with the corresponding concavity at the under part of the bottom of the
socket A, A; but there may be close contact between the said upper part
of the ball and the said corresponding concavity at the bottom of A, A, if
preferred, in order to qualify the castor for carrying more weight.
Figure 14 is another castor differing from Figures 10 and 13 only in the
form of the enlarged part of the spindle P, which is lenticular or like a lense,
with a thick edge in Figure 14 formed in the same piece of metal with the
spindle P. The said lenticular enlargement is included within a circular
cavity at the bottom of the socket A, A, being retained within that cavity by
the flat circular disk Q, Q, which answers the purpose of the concave disk
before explained, for it has the collar at the centre of it for fitting to the
middle part of the length of the spindle P, in order to retain the same in its
intended upright position, and the circular border edge of the disk Q, Q, is
firmly united to the lower part of the socket A, A, in the manner already
described. The contacts may be merely at the upper pointed end of the
spindle P within the cone p, and at the middle part of the length of the
spindle P, in the collar of the disk Q, Q, in the same manner as already
explained in reference to the castors, Figures 10 and 13; but there may be
additional contact in Figure 14, between the upper surface of the lenticular
enlargement of the spindle P and the bottom of the socket A, A, in order to
qualify the castor for bearing more weight; and also contact between the
exterior cylindrical circumference or thick edge of the said lenticular enlarge-
ment and the interior cylindrical circumference of the circular cavity at the
bottom of the socket A, A, wherein the said enlargement is lodged, as
already mentioned. The last-mentioned contact will concur with the other
contacts in sustaining the lateral action of the castor which tends to incline
the spindle I' away from its intended vertical position.
Figure 15 is a castor in every respect the same as Figure 14, except in
having three or four small antifriction rollers or trucks applied around the
circumference of the enlargement of the spindle P to act within the circular

page_text: cavity at the bottom of the socket A, A. That enlargement has a deep groove
cut around it by turning in a lathe, so as to admit the said small rollers partly
within the enlargement, and their pivots or centre pins are lodged in suitablo
notches cut or holes made in the two circular edges of the enlargement, which
edges are left above and below the said groove around the enlargement. The
circumferences of the said small rollers apply against the interior circum-
ference of the circular cavity at the bottom of the socket A, A, so as to roll
round therein in a circular orbit, in order to retain the spindle firmly in the
centre of that cavity with very little friction, and thereby concur with the con-
tacts at the upper pointed end of the spindle P within the cone p, and at the
midlength of the spindle in the collar at the centre of the disk Q, Q, for
sustaining the lateral action of the castor which tends to incline the spindle P
from its intended vertical position. But note, the collar at the centre of the
disk Q, Q, may be larger than that part of the spindle P which is within the
said collar, so as not to be in contact, and the whole lateral action of the castor
will in that case be sustained by the antifriction rollers.
Figures 16, 17, 18, 19, and 20 are castors of the same nature as Figures
10, 11, 12, 13, 14, and 15, except as to the circumstance of the upright
spindle P being fixed fast into the socket A, A, so as to project downwards
therefrom, and be firmly united thereto, and the moveable part B, B, D, of
the castor turns round about the fixed upright spindle P, instead of that
spindle turning round and having the moveable part B, B, D, of the castor
fastened upon the lower end of the turning spindle, as already explained
respecting Figures 10 to 15. In Figure 16 the upright spindle P is firmly
fastened at its upper end into the bottom of the socket A, A, by passing
upwards through the centre of that bottom, and the uppermost end is
securely rivetted withinside of the socket A, A, whereby the spindle becomes
as firmly united to the said socket as if it were one piece therewith. The
middle part of the spindle P is an enlargement, and the lower part beneath
the enlargement is an inverted cone, the lower end and point of which cone
fits into a corresponding hollow cone within the part B of the moveable part
B, D, of the castor; and, by the contact at that fitting, the weight that the
castor is to carry is sustained, the lateral action of the castor being in part
sustained by that same contact, and in part by another contact of a collar
applied around the upper part of the spindle P above its enlargement, and
very near to where it joins to the bottom of the socket A, A, the said collar
being a hole at the centre of a concave disk Q, Q. the circular border edge
of which disk is firmly united to the upper part of B by the means herein-
before described in respect to Figure 10; videlicit, the lower and exterior

page_text: circumference of the said border edge of Q, Q, is fitted (by turning in a lathe)
to enter into a corresponding upper and interior circumference (also prepared
by turning) within a circular rim which projects upwards from the uppermost
part of B. The said collar at the centre of the disk Q, Q, must be applied in
its proper place around the spindle P, before the upper end of that spindle is
rivetted fast to the bottom of the socket A, A, and afterwards, when the
conical hollow in B is applied in due position around the cone at the lower
part of the spindle P, then the border edge of the disk Q, Q. (already pre-
pared as aforesaid) becomes lodged within the said circular rim at the upper
part of B, and the metal of the uppermost edge of that rim is rubbed in over
the border edge of Q. Q, all around the circumference, so as to unite the part B
and the disk Q, Q, firmly together. The said rubbing may be performed by
action of a suitable burnishing tool, whilst the part B, D, is revolving, toge-
ther with the disk Q, Q, in a turning lathe. The enlargement of the spindle
P is contained within the concavity of the disk Q. Q, but without touching
when the castor is in use and is bearing the weight it is to carry, and yet the
said enlargement will retain the moveable part B, D, of the castor in its place,
and prevent it coming off the spindle P. But note, the enlargement of the
spindle P may, if preferred, be fitted at its under surface, which is just above
the cone, to apply with contact at the upper part of the hollow cone in B, in
order, by such an additional surface of contact, to qualify the castor for carry-
ing more weight.
Figure 16 is similar to Figure 10, except as to the spindle P being immove-
able in Figure 16. Figure 17 is a castor which is similar to Figure 16 in
every respect, including the last-mentioned additional contact, which contact
takes place between a prominent circular border around the circumference of
the under part of the enlargement of the spindle P and a corresponding
circular groove around the upper part of the hollow cone in B. The said
border and groove being truly and concentrically turned and fitted one to the
other, their contact concurs with the other contacts at the lower and pointed
end of the spindle P in the hollow cone in B, and around the upper part of
the spindle in the collar at the centre of the concave disk Q, Q, for sustaining
the weight that the castor is to carry, and also for sustaining the lateral action
of the castor.
Figure 17 is similar to Figure 11, except as to the spindle P being immove-
able in Figure 17.
Figure 18 is a castor nearly the same as Figure 17, except as to the
enlargement of the spindle P, which is only a prominent rim around the
spindle P, the exterior circumference of which is fitted into the upper part of

page_text: the hollow in the part B, which receives the obtuse cone at the lower end
of the spindle P, and which part B, together with the horns D, may be cast
in gun metal, or a mixture of copper and tin, to resist wearing.
The disk Q, Q, is a flat circular plate, and its central hole is larger than that
part of the spindle which passes through the said hole, so that it does not act
as a collar, but the disk Q, Q, only serves to retain the part B in place on the
spindle, and all the lateral action of the castor is sustained by the contact of
the exterior edge of the enlargement of the spindle within the upper part
of B, concurrently with the contact of the lower part of the spindle in the lower
part of B, the last-mentioned contact sustaining the whole of the weight that
the castor is to carry. Figure 18 is similar to Figure 12, except as to the
spindle P being immoveable in Figure 18. Figure 19 is a castor nearly the
same as Figure 16, except as to the form of the enlargement of the spindle P
being a spherical ball, as already explained in reference to Figure 13, which
is similar to Figure 19, except as to the spindle P being immoveable in
Figure 19. Figure 20 is a castor nearly the same as Figure 18, except as
to the form of the enlargement of the spindle P, and the application thereto
of small antifriction rollers, in the same manner as already explained in refer-
ence to Figure 15, which is similar, except as to the spindle P being
immoveable in Figure 20, and the said antifriction rollers apply against the
interior circumference of a cylindrical enlargement at the uppermost part of
the conical hollow in B. The disk Q, Q, is almost a flat circular plate, which
is united to the upper part of B in the manner already explained in reference
to Figure 18; and the hole at the centre of Q, Q, in Figure 20, is larger than
that part of the spindle P which is within the said hole, so as not in be in
contact, and the whole lateral action of the castor sustained by the said anti-
friction rollers.
And note, respecting all the several castors, Figures 10 to 20, herein-before
described, the upright spindle P thereof may be of steel, and hardened and
tempered, or of iron, case hardened. And the disk Q, Q, may be made of hard
gun metal, or copper and tin melted together. The cone, which constitutes
one of the ends of the spindle P, may be a frustrum of a cone, that is, a cone
wanting a portion of its pointed end, so as to act with a small flat end, or a
hemispherical or an egg-shaped end instead of a point, for sustaining the weight
that the castor is to carry, the cone being more obtuse or less tapering than
appears in the Drawing. In case of so using a frustrum of the cone, and the
hollow into which the said flat, or hemispherical, or egg-shaped end of the
spindle P is fitted, may be made of gun metal or copper and tin, or may have a
small piece of hardened and tempered steel inserted into the end of such hollow,

page_text: so that the contact may take place between hard surfaces in order to diminish
friction and wearing away of the said surfaces; and so, in case of the spindle
being a cone pointed at the end, as is represented in the Drawings, a cylindrical
piece of steel may be inserted into the end of the hollow in the brass wherein
the spindle is to work, the said end of the hollow being bored out cylindrical,
of a proper size to receive the said steel, which is to have within it a conical
hollow fitted to receive the pointed end of the cone of the spindle P. Or the
horns D, together with the cup B, may be cast in gun metal, or a mixture of
copper and tin.
And note, the several castors, Figures 10 to 20, may, any
of them, be made without the socket A, A, but, in lieu thereof, with a flat
flange to apply and fasten by screws to the wood at the lower part of the furni-
ture to which such castor is applied, in the same manner as already explained
in respect to Figures 7 and 8, wherein such flange is marked k, k.
Figure 21 is a castor, whereof the upright spindle P is fixed fast at its
uppermost end into the bottom of the socket A, A, by that end passing
upwards through the centre of 'the said bottom; and the shoulder near the
upper end of the spindle being fitted into a circular recess turned out in the
bottom of the socket A, A, the uppermost end his rivitted withinside the
socket, and the spindle P thereby becomes as firmly united to the socket A, A,
as if it were one piece therewith, and for additional security of such union
the metal around the circumference of the said circular recess may be rubbed
in over the large part of the inverted cone e, at the upper part of the spindle P.
The cone which constitutes the lower part of the spindle P is fitted, at its lower
end and point, into a corresponding conical hole in a plug of hardened steel s.
which is driven down into the hollow in the part B of the moveable
part B, B, D, of the castor, and it is by the contact of the lower and pointed
end of the hardened steel cone of the spindle P, within the said piece of
hardened steels, that the weight which the castor is to carry is principally
sustained. The lateral action of the castor being in part sustained by the
aforesaid contact, and in part by a contact between the large inverted cone e
at the upper part of the spindle P, and the upper part of the hollow in B, which
upper part is enlarged, with a conical mouth fitted to the said cone e. The
exterior of the part B has a circular flange or rim v, v, projecting all around it,
which flange v, v, is turned true in a lathe, and serves for retaining the
part B, D, of the castor in place on the spindle P, in consequence of the said
flange v, v, being lodged within and surrounded (as shewn in the Drawing)
by a circular rim x, x, which is part of the metal of the socket A, A, and
which rim a, x, is rubbed down and turned inwards all around and beneath
the projecting flange v, v, of B, which is done after the part B has been fitted

page_text: and applied in its place on the spindle P, as in the Drawing, but without the
wheel E. The rubbing down and turning in of the said rim x, a, may be
performed by a burnishing tool whilst the socket A, A, is revolving, together
with the spindle P, in a turning lathe; but the part B, D, of the castor,
although in its place on the spindle P, will not partake of the revolving
motion. The said rim x, x, is, as already mentioned, a part of the metal of
the socket A, A, projecting downwards all around the circumference at the
bottom of the socket. The rim x, x, is prepared by turning it withinside
suitably for receiving the flange v, v, of the part B within the rim r, r, so as
that the rim will not touch the flange at any part when the part B is applied
in its intended place on the spindle P. The circular opening at the lower edge
of the rim x, x, in its original state being only just large enough to admit the
flange v, v, to pass into it in order to get the part B into its place on
the spindle P, and the rim a, a, in that original state projects farther down-
wards from the bottom of the socket A, A, than it is ultimately intended to do,
in order that there may be a sufficiency of metal in the rim x, x, for the subse-
quent rubbing down and turning inwards of its lower edge into the form
represented in section by the Drawing, which form is such as to include the
flange v, v, at the under side of its projecting edge, as well as all round
it, so as to retain the part B in place upon the spindle P, to prevent the part B
from coming off from the spindle in case of the furniture to which the castor
is applied being lifted up; but whenever the castor is in action, and bearing the
weight that it is to carry, then the flange v, v, of B will not actually touch the
rim x, a, at any part, although approaching very near thereto at all parts, as
shewn in the Drawing. The spindle P, with its large cone e, may be made
of one piece of steel, turned true in a lathe, and then hardened and afterwards
tempered, which may be done by seizing the uppermost end of the spindle
above the shoulder at the upper part of the cone e in a pair of red-hot tongs, the
heat whereof will soften the uppermost end h, and, by progressive communication
of the heat downwards, the large conc e, and the cone at the lower end of the
spindle, will become tempered, as may be observed by the steel changing color,
but by dipping the point and lower end of the spindle P into water when of a
light straw color the same may be left very hard, whilst the cone e is of a blue
colour, and the part h left soft enough for being afterwards rivitted withinside
of the socket A, A, as already mentioned. The part B, together with the
horns D, may be cast in one piece of gun metal, having the hollow therein
for the reception of the spindle. The piece of steel s being bored in a lathe,
with a conical hole exactly corresponding to the pointed end of the spindle P,
and then hardened, the said piece s is to be driven down into its place within

page_text: the hollow of B, as in the Drawing, the inside of which hollow may have been
prepared by boring out at the lower part with a tool of suitable size, so that
the piece of hardened steel s will fasten itself in the hollow by driving down
therein. The conical mouth at the upper part of the hollow in B may then be
made true and corresponding to the large cone e of the spindle by means of a
boring tool, having a cone with a pointed end exactly the same size as that
of the spindle P, and consequently corresponding to the hole in the piece of
steel s, so as to guide the boring tool when the pointed end thereof is inserted
into the said hole, and thereby cause the cutting part of the tool to bore out
the interior surface of the conical mouth truly in respect to the conical hole in
the piece of steels, as well of a proper size and form to fit the cone e,
so as the said cone e will bear lightly on the said conical mouth when the
printed end of the spindle is bearing with full force in the conical hole in the
steel s for sustaining the weight that the castor is to carry.
Figure 22 represents how the spindle P may be made of a stronger form,
and with an obtuse blunt point at its lower end, which may be fitted into a
corresponding hollow within the part B without any steel therein. In other
respects Figure 22 may be the same as Figure 21. And note, either
Figures 21 or 22 may be made without a socket A, A, but with a flat flange in
lieu thereof, similar to the flange marked k, k, in Figures 7 and 8, the
upright spindle Pbeing made fast to the metal of the said flange so as to be
like one piece therewith, in the same manner as already explained respecting
Figures 7 and 8, but the said flange having a circular rim projecting down-
wards from its under surface, in the same manner as the rim a, a, in Figure 21,
projects downwards from the lower part of the socket A, A, and for the same
purpose, videlicit, that the lower part of the said rim may be turned inwards
around and beneath the projecting flange v, v, at the upper part B of the
moveable part B, D, of the castor, in order to retain that part in its intended
place on the upright spindle P, as already explained. And note, instead of so
turning in the said rim, the same effect may be produced by means of two,
three, four, or more screws inserted laterally, and screwed tightly into holes
through the said rim at equal distances apart around the circumference thereof,
in a horizontal direction from the outside, pointing towards the centre thereof,
with their heads at the outside of the rim, or countersunk into the metal
thereof, so as that the extremities of the said screws may protrude within the
interior of the said rim, close beneath the under side of the prominent edge of
the flange v, v; and the said extrenuities of the said screws, being in the same
place as the lowest part of the said rim would occupy if it were turned inwards
as at a. r, in Figure 21, they will have the same effect of retaining the
B

page_text: moveable part B, D, of the castor in its proper intended place around the upright
spindle, in case of the furniture being lifted; but when the castor is in action,
and bearing the weight it is to carry, the said extremities of the said screws
(although approaching very near to) will not actually touch the flange v, v,
nor any part of B, in the same manner as already explained respecting the
turning in of the lower part of the rim x, x, in Figure 21. As the rim must
project lower down than it appears to do at x, x, in Figure 21, in order to
admit of the use of screws in manner aforesaid, there may be small ears
or parts of the rim projecting lower down than the rest of the rim, in order
to receive the said screws. Or otherwise, two, three, four, or more screws may
be applied to the said rim at equal distances apart around the circumference
thereof, but in a perpendicular (instead of a horizontal) direction, with flat
heads, which, when the screws are screwed into the rim, or into ears or promi-
nences thereof, as far as they can go, part of the circumferences of the said
heads will protrude so far within the interior circumference of the rim as to
come beneath the under side of the flange v, v, of the part B, in the same place
as the turning in of the lower part of the rim x, x, in Figure 21, and in a
suitable manner for retaining the part B in place around the spindle, but with-
out the said heads of the screws touching any part of B, so long as the castor
is bearing the weight it is to carry.
Figure 23 explains how a castor, similar in most respects to Figure 18, may
be made without any disk Q, Q, but, instead thereof, rubbing down and gather-
ing in the metal of the part B at x, x, so as to close the same around the
spindle P above the enlargement e thereof, and beneath the upper part h of
the spindle which is fixed into the socket A, A, so as to contract the mouth at
the upper part of the hollow in B, wherein the spindle P is fitted sufficiently
for retaining the part B in its proper place around the spindle P, in case of the
furniture to which the castor is applied being lifted; but, whenever the castor
is bearing the weight it is to carry, then the metal of B, which is so gathered in
at x, x, as aforesaid, will not touch the upper part of enlargement e of the
spindle, nor any other part of the spindle, thus avoiding unnecessary friction
or impediment to the turning of the part B, D, of the castor around the
upright spindle P thereof, when the furniture to which the castor is applied is
moved or wheeled about in different directions on the floor or carpet. The
above-mentioned rubbing down and gathering in of the metal may be performed
by means of a suitable burnishing tool whilst the said metal is revolving in a
turning lathe. And note, in like manner a castor similar to Figure 12 (except
that the cone p should be of the same piece of metal as the socket A, A), may
be made without any disk Q, Q, by rubbing down and gathering in the

page_text: metal of the under part of the lower circumference of a circular rim pro-
jecting downwards from the bottom of the socket A, A, around the mouth of
the hollow into which the upper part of the spindle P is fitted; the metal so
gathered in performing the same office as the disk Q, Q, by projecting inwards
all around the under side of the enlargement of the spindle, but without
touching that enlargement (or any other part of the spindle), so long as the
castor is bearing the weight it is intended to carry.
Having thus described the construction of several castors for furniture, I,
the said John Charlton, do hereby declare that what I claim as a new Inven-
tion in respect to such castors is as follows:-
First, in respect to the castors, Figures 1, 2, and 3, also Figures 4 and 9,
the new Invention consists in the improvements of making the moveable
part B, B, D, D, of the castor, which is termed the cup and horns, to fit around
the exterior circumference of the socket A, A, into which the leg of the furni-
ture is fastened, so as that the said exterior circumference will answer the
purpose of an upright axis to the castor, about which axis the moveable part
of the castor can turn freely whenever the furniture to which the castor is
applied is moved or wheeled about with varying directions on the floor or
carpet. And also in respect to the castors, Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4, in making
the bearing part for sustaining the weight that the castor is to carry at the
lower part ff, of the cup B and socket A around a prominence a, of a cylin.
drical form, which descends from the centre of the lower part of the socket A
through a central hole in the bottom of the cup B; the fitting of the said
central hole around the cylindrical circumference of the said prominence a
sustaining part of the lateral action of the castor, as herein-before explained;
and with a screw F, screwed into the centre of the lower part of the said pro-
minence a, for retaining the cup B in place around the socket A, with a
washer in addition to such screw, or without, as herein-before explained.
Second, in respect to the castors, Figures 5, 6, 7, and 8, the new Invention.
consists in the improvements of making the bearing part for sustaining the
weight that the castor is to carry at the lower part f, f, of the cup B around
the prominence a, which descends from the centre of the lower part of a solid
cone A that serves as an upright axis to the castor; and the fitting of the
cylindrical circumference of the said prominence a through the central hole in
the bottom of the cup B, sustaining part of the lateral action of the castor, as
herein-before described; and with a screw F (with or without a washer) for
retaining the cup B in its place around the cone A, as herein-before described.
Note, in Figure 6, although the bearing part f. f, is nearer to the middle part
than to the lower part of the cone A a, and cup B, nevertheless the action is the
same as if the said bearing were at the lower part.

page_text: Third, in respect to the castors, Figures 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18,
19, and 20, the new Invention consists in the improvements of applying the
disk Q, Q, in any of the different ways berein-before described for the purpose
of retaining the moveable part B, B, D, D, of the castor in its proper place
around the upright spindle P of the castor, whether the same is a turning
spindle or a fixed spindle. The said disk Q, Q, in some cases fitting as a collar
around the spindle for the purpose of sustaining part of the lateral action of
the castor in manner herein-before described; or, in other cases, the disk Q, Q,
being merely for the purpose of retaining the moveable part B, B, D, D, in
place as aforesaid.
Fourth, in respect to the castors, Figures 21, 22, and 23, the new Inven-
tion consists in the improvements of rubbing down and turning in the metal of
a circular rim which surrounds and which (after such rubbing down and turn-
ing in) encloses a projecting flange of the moveable part B, B, D, D, of the
castor in manner herein-before described, so as to retain that moveable part
in place around the upright spindle P of the castor; or, in the application for
that purpose of sceews, in manner herein-before described; or, in rubbing
down and turning in the metal of the moveable part B of the castor, in the
manner herein-before described in reference to Figure 23, so as to retain the
said moveable part in place around the spindle.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Charlton, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Seventeenth day of February, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-four.