Improvements in or connected with Wheels of Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th May, 1897-Accepted, 3rd July, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Wheels of Vehicles.
We, ALBERT GOVERS, (Wheelwright), residing at 429 E. 70th St., New York, in
the County and State of New York and JOHN AUGUST SWENSON (Machine Hand),
residing at 408 E. 78th Street, New York, in the County and State of New York,
both of the United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion, 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 carriages, wagons, trucks, and other vehicles, and
particularly to the axles, the bearings thereof, the wheels, and connected parts.
The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, of which the
accompanying drawing forms a part, in which:―.
Fig. 1, is a side view of a wheel made according to our invention;
Fig. 2, a plan view of one axle, showing also the hubs connected therewith, one
of said hubs being shown in section;
Fig. 3, a side view of a section of the hub which we employ ;
Fig. 4, a perspective view of a journal box which constitutes a part of the
bearing of the axle.
In the practice of our invention, we provide an axle 5, which is mounted in
suitable journal boxes, a part of one of which is shown at 6, said journal boxes
being preferably of the form shown in Fig. 4, and being provided with transverse
openings or passages 7, through which the axle passes, and being also provided
centrally with semi-circular cavities or recesses 8, which may be filled in with
brasses or other bearings, and the axle preferably provided with annular grooves 9,
within said journal boxes.
It will be understood that only half of the journal box is shown in Fig. 4, and
also in Fig. 2, and that these parts are duplicated, and the frame or truck of the
wagon or other vehicle is connected with these journal boxes or bearings, and the
shaft is free to revolve therein. The shaft is provided at each end with a spindle 10,
on which are mounted hubs 11, and said hubs are provided at their inner ends
with counter-sunk washers 12, which are placed adjacent to the journal boxes,
and the spindles 10, are screw threaded at their outer ends, and provided with
washers 13, and nuts 14, and the washers 13, are also counter-sunk in the outer
ends of the hubs, and said hubs are held in place on the spindles by the nuts 14,
and in practice, we prefer to key one of the hubs 11, to the spindle as shown at 15,
so that it will not revolve thereon. This construction, however, is not essential
or material, to our invention, as both of the hubs may be revolubly mounted on
the spindle if desired.
The hubs 11, are provided centrally with annular heads 16, in which the spokes
of the wheel are secured, and said hubs are transversely divided, or composed of
two parts, and a side or face view of one of said parts, is shown in Fig. 3.
The annular heads of the hubs are also provided with two rows of holes 17 in
which the spokes are inserted, and the holes are arranged alternately, as shown in
Fig. 2, and the division line between the separate parts of the hub, is arranged as
is also shown in said Fig. 1, the line of division extending through or into the

page_text: spoke holes, of each part, and as shown in Fig. 3, the spoke holes extend only part
way through the hub, and are arranged radially therein, and that part of the hub
or the separate parts thereof, between the inner ends of the spoke holes, and the
spindle opening is also corrugated or grooved, as shown at 18, and, when the
separate parts of the hub are placed together, they appear as shown in Fig. 2,
and the adjoining or abutting faces thereof, interlock.
The separate parts of the hub are bound together by bolts 19, and in practice,
we construct a wheel as shown in Fig. 1. The felloe of the wheel is preferably
composed of a number of parts, said parts being indicated at 19, and said felloe
is U shaped in cross section, as shown in Fig. 2, and the spokes 20, are preferably
composed of metal, and the outer ends thereof, are screw threaded, as shown at 21,
and passed through the felloe, and each is provided with a nut or burr 22, which
is mounted thereon, and by which the felloe or the sections thereof, may be forced
outwardly.
The inner ends of the spokes 20, are preferably provided with annular grooves
as shown at 23, and in practice, the spokes are connected with the felloe, the
tire 24, is applied thereto, and the parts of the hub are separated, and the inner
ends of the spokes are placed in spoke holes or openings 17, after which the
separate sections of the hub are securely bolted together.
The spoke holes 17, are also preferably provided with annular grooves or
recesses as shown in Fig. 3, and the annular grooves 23, formed on the inner ends
of the spoke correspond therewith, and when the separate parts of the hub are
clamped together as above described, the spokes are securely and firmly heldrin
place, and a strong, stable, and firm wheel is thus produced...
2
+
41000
The formation of the felloe, in sections is not essential to our invention, and said
felloe may be formed of one piece, if desired, and any suitable power may be
employed.
A wheel made as herein described, is much stronger than ordinary wheels, and
dbrez to
the tires thereon, may be set or tightened whenever desired, by simply operating
the nuts or burrs 22, which force the separate sections of the felloe downwardly,
and by means of our improved construction, the axles are free to revolve in their
bearings, and any suitable means may be provided for oiling or lubricating the
same within said bearings, or the journal boxes.
The washer 13, is so connected with the spindle 10, as to revolve therewith, the
central bore through said washer being flat at one side, and adapted to operate in
connection with a corresponding cavity or recesses formed in the spindle, and in
practice, the meeting surfaces of the two sections of the hub are joined by er filled
in with iron putty or other suitable material, so as to exclude water or moisture,
and prevent oxidization on the interior surfaces.
The washers 12, may be formed integrally with the axle if desired, or may be
rigidly connected therewith, and by suitably mounting the axles in suitable
journal boxes or bearings, as herein described, a wagon or other heavy vehicle may
be operated with less power than is usually necessary.
It will be understood, that the separate parts of the hub or hubs are cast in the
form described, and when so formed, they may be much more economically pro-
duced, and are far stronger than when made in the usual manner, but said hubs
may be composed of wood in certain cases, and the axles may also be composed of
either wood or metal.
=
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said in-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that we
claim is:
1. A wheel comprising a hub which is divided transversely, the separate parts
thereof, being provided with spoke holes, and being also adapted to interlock, and
a felloe through which the outer ends of the spokes pass, said outer ends of the
spokes being screw threaded, and provided with nuts or burrs, substantially as
shown and described.

page_text: 2. A wheel comprising a hub which is divided transversely, the separate parts
thereof, being provided with spoke holes, and being also adapted to interlock,
and a felloe through which the outer ends of the spokes pass, said outer ends of
the spokes being screw threaded, and provided with nuts or burrs, and said felloe
being U shaped in cross section, and composed of separate parts, substantially as
shown and described.
3. The herein described bearings or journal boxes, for a vehicle axle, said axle
being provided with the usual spindles, and with wheels mounted thereon, one of
said wheels being keyed to the axle, and the hubs of said wheels being divided
transversely, and the separate sections thereof, being provided with spoke holes,
in which the inner ends of the spokes are placed, before the separate parts of the
hub are bolted together, substantially as shown and described.
4. A wheel, comprising a hub, which is divided transversely, and the separate
parts of which are provided in their adjacent faces with spoke holes, said separate
parts being adapted to inter-lock, and the spoke holes being arranged alternately
on opposite sides of a central transverse line, and said separate parts being folded
together, and a felloe through which the outer ends of the spokes pass, said outer
ends of the spokes being screw threaded and provided with nuts or burrs,
substantially as shown and described.
5. The herein described journal box, for the axle of a vehicle, said axle being
provided with the usual spindles, and with wheels mounted thereon, said journal
boxes being arranged adjacent to the hubs of said wheels, and said axle being pro-
vided with washers adjacent to said journal boxes, and said hubs being provided
with rims within which said washers fit, substantially as shown and described.
Dated this 17th day of May 1897.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.