IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SPOKED WHEELS FOR RAILWAY AND OTHER VEHICLES
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edwin Dearden, of Darnall, Sheffield, in the County of
York, Engineer, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE
OF SPOKED WHEELS FOR RAILWAY AND OTHER VEHICLES."
J
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edwin Dearden at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th February 1883.
EDWIN DEARDEN, of Darnall, Sheffield, in the County of York, Engineer,
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SPOKED WHEELS FOR RAILWAY AND
OTHER VEHICLES"
-
My Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of spoked wheels for
Railway and other vehicles
In those wheels of which the peripheries or rims of the wheel body or centre are
broader than the spokes, or, what are commonly described as "broad backs."
The usual method of producing such broadback spokes is to roll them in bars of
the breadth of the required back part, and then to reduce the ends or spoke parts
to their proper section by hammering them, but this process entails much tedious
labor, which my improved methods in a great measure avoids.
To accomplish this I propose two methods, one of which is to roll them in bars
as before described, and instead of hammering the ends or spoke parts to the desired
section, I compress them by hydraulic pressure in tools provided with grooves of
the proper depth and width so that when brought together, the space formed by
the grooves will correspond to the required section, and I provide a stop at the
end of the said grooves, at the proper distance from the shoulder to prevent the
metal elongating.
In the other method of my Invention, for this purpose I prepare the spoke bars
also by rolling, but I produce them to the required breadth of the end or spoke
part, and with the middle or back part of extra thickness, and afterwards compress
and spread out the same in tools suitable to mould them to the required section
such tools being operated by hydraulic pressure, or otherwise.
Another part of my invention refers to a mechanical arrangement or machine for

page_text: bending the spokes to the proper form. In this machine I have a strong frame or
standard baving a vertical groove, in which a bracket or carrier slides carrying a
central block on which the spoke is to be bent. Also another groove horizontally
crossing the vertical groove; in each end of this horizontal groove I have a bracket
or carrier having the blocks thereon by which the arms of the spoke are to be
compressed in contact with the central block.
I arrange the position and distance of the side blocks in relation to the central
block, so that when the central block with the spoke bar laid upon it, commences
to move upwards, the shoulders of the spoke bar are brought to rub against the
projecting part of the side blocks, by which means the tendency to buckle or
otherwise deform the spoke is avoided; and it is most desirable that these parts
should be of proper and uniform shape, they having to form the junctions of the
rim of the wheel body or center
I operate the movements of the carriers and blocks by hydraulic rams, either
directly applied or through levers or other gearing in such a manner as enables me
to either effect the vertical and horizontal movements simultaneously or separately
to suit the conditions of the spoke.
In lieu of hydraulic rams I may use any available motive power.
Another part of my invention has reference to improved means of glutting or
welding up the spokes and rim at the junction of the same. This I propose to
-accomplish by using a stamp or tool suiting the circumference or periphery of the
wheel body or centre, and also appropriate tools or dies in which I enclose the
parts to be welded together, so that by applying considerable pressure to the stamp
I can effect a sound weld, and at the same time mould the part to a proper and
uniform section. I fix one of the dies to the frame or stand of the machine in a
position convenient for placing thereon the part of the wheel body or centre to be
glutted or welded, and I call this die the back-tool or die. The front tool or die, I
attach to a lever or double arm which projects or extends from a shaft or from
studs on which it is free to oscillate, the said shaft being capable (through a con-
nection with the moving parts of the machine) to travel backwards and forwards
thereby closing and opening the dies. The said lever or double arm being also free
to oscillate on the shaft, by this motion the front-tool or die is (after being opened)
also lifted up so as to permit the removal from and replacing of the wheel centre in
position on the back die
I propose to construct and arrange the dies so that when closing together and
embracing the junction or portion of the wheel centre, their motion is in a line
with the axis of the wheel centre.
With these tools in connection with the lover or double arm as described, the
operation of glutting or welding wheel centres of which the rims may be considerably
broader than the the spokes, can be performed with the same dispatch as ordinary
plain work.
I also use and include in this part of my invention the application of these tools
in connection with the lever or double arm for welding up, or what is commonly
called dabbing on single spokes

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Edwin Dearden in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
11th August 1883.
EDWIN DEARDEN of Darnall, Sheffield in the County of York, Engineer,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF SPOKED WHEELS FOR RAILWAY AND
OTHER VEHICLES."
This Invention relates to improvements in the manufacture of spoked wheels for
Railway and other vehicles, more especially in those wheels of which the peripheries
or rims of the wheel body or centre are broader than the spokes, or what are
commonly described as "broadbacka." The usual method of producing such broad-
back spokes, is to roll them in bars of the breadth of the required back part and
then to reduce the ends or spoke parts to their proper section by hammering them,
but this process entails much tedious labour which my improved methods in a
great measure avoid.
To accomplish this I propose two methods, one of which is to roll them in bars as
before described, see A Figure 1, and instead of hammering the ends or spoke parts
to the desired section I compress them by hydraulic pressure in tools provided with
grooves of the proper depth and width, so that when brought together, the space
formed by the grooves will correspond to the required section, and I provide stops
at the ends of the said grooves at the proper distance from the shoulders to prevent
the metal elongating beyond the required length.
In the other method of my Invention for this purpose I prepare the spoke bars
also by rolling, but I produce them to the required breadth of the end or spoke
part and with the middle or back part of extra thickness, as shown at B Figure 1,
and I afterwards compress and spread out the same in tools suitable to mould them
to the required section, as shewn at C Figure 1, such tools being operated by
hydraulic pressure or otherwise.
Another part of my invention refers to a mechanical arrangement or machine for
bending spokes to the proper form. In this machine, shewn in front elevation
Figure 2 Sheet 1 of the Drawing. I have a strong frame or standard A having a
vertical groove in which a bracket or carrier C slides, carrying the central block B
on which the spoke is to be bent, also another groove horizontally crossing the
vertical groove; in each end of this horizontal groove I have a bracket or carrier D
having the blocks thereon by which the arms of the spoke are to be compressed in
contact with the central block.
I arrange the position and distance of the side blocks in relation to the central
block so that when the central block with the spoke bar laid upon it, as shewn in
dotted lines, commences to move upwards, the shoulders of the spoke bar are
brought to rub against the projecting parts E of the side blocks, by which means
the tendency to buckle or otherwise deform the spoke is avoided, and it is most
desirable that these parts should be of proper and uniform shape, they having to
form the junctions of the wheel body or centre.
I operate the movements of the carriers and blocks by bydraulic rams either
directly applied or through levers and other gearing in such a manner as enables
me to either effect the vertical and horizontal movements simultaneously or
separately to suit the conditions of the spoke. The arrangement for operating the
side blocks is clearly shewn on the left hand side of Figure 2, where the elevation
is shown with the front portion of one side of the standard A removed. The
hydraulic piston or ram is connected to a toothed rack F working in connection
with a toothed wheel, or portion of a wheel G, this wheel being keyed on a shaft
passing through the standard, and at the opposite end of the same shaft is a lever H,

page_text: to the end of this lever is connected another lever I which is again connected to the
slide block D-As may be seen on the Drawing both side blocks are similarly
operated. In lieu of hydraulic rams I may use any available motive power. It
will readily be observed that with this mechanical arrangement I can ensure a
powerful and also equal compression on the spoke in both directions, even if the
thickness thereof should vary to some extent.
Another part of my invention has reference to improved means of glutting or
welding up the spokes and rim at the junction of the same.
This I propose to
accomplish by using a stamp or tool A as shewn at Figures 3, 4 and 5 Sheet 2.
suiting the circumference or periphery of the wheel body or centro.. And also
appropriate tools or dies A and B shown also on Figures 3 and 4 in which I
enclose the parts to be welded together, so that by applying considerable pressure,
to the stamp A I can effect a sound weld and at the same time mould the part to
proper and uniform section. I fix one of the said dies A' to the frame or stand of
the machine in a position convenient for placing thereon the part of the wheel
body or centre to be glutted or welded, and I call this die the back tool or die. The
front tool or die B I attach to a lever or double arm C as shewn in plan at Figure 6,
and in elevation at Figures 3 and 4; this lever or double arm I connect to studs
or cross shaft D as also shown, from which studs or shaft it projects or extends and
on which it is free to oscillate. The said shaft being capable (through a connection
with the moving parts E of the machine) to travel backwards and forwards
thereby closing and opening the dies. The said lever or double arm being also
free to oscillate on the said shaft D, by this motion the front tool or die B is (after
being opened) also lifted up as shown at Figure 3 by the stud F, which is fixed on
the moving slides E, as at Figure 3, so as to permit the removal from and the
replacing of the wheel centre in position on the back die as shown in Figures 3
and 5. I construct and arrange the dies so that when closing together and
embracing the junction of the wheel centre their motion is in a line with the
axis of the wheel centre.
With this kind of tools in connection with the lever or double arm as described,
the operation of glutting or welding up wheel centres of which the rims may
be considerably broader than the spokes can be performed with the same dispatch
as ordinary plain work. It will be readily perceived that after the wheel centre is
placed in position on the back tool or die; as shown in front elevation at Figure 5,
and in part section in part side elevation of machine at Figure 3, the commence-
ment of the downward motion of the hydraulic piston or ram, carrying the stamp
or tool A as shown at Figure 3, takes place the slides E also descending simul-
taneously therewith; these slides having the angular slots, through which slots, as
also through the lever or double arm as well as through the openings in the main
standards extends the shaft D. By this motion the front tool is first brought
down in line with the back tool, at which time the glutt or the piece of iron from
which the glutt has to be cut is placed across the space between the front and back
tools and immediately over the junction of the spokes, when by the further descent
of the stamp A the glutt is cleanly cut off the end of the bar and compressed to the
proper form and section, as shewn at Figure 4.
I also use and include in this part of my invention the application of these tools
in connection with the lever or double arm for welding up and for what is
commonly called dabbing on single spokes, that is, the welding of the spokes to
the inside of the rims of such wheel centres as are known as single spoke wheels.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention and the
manner in which the same is or may be performed, what I claim as secured to me
by the hereinbefore in part recited Letters Patent is :--
Firstly-The manufacture or production of spokes for metal wheels wherein the
rims are broader than the spokes, substantially in the manner described.
Secondly-The mechanical arrangement or machine for bending the spokes of
metal wheels, constructed and combined to operate substantially as described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.

page_text: Thirdly-The mechanical arrangement used for glutting or welding up the
junctions of the spokes and rims of metal wheels. The said arrangement consisting
of a stamp or tool, a back tool or die, and a front tool or die connected to a lever,
the said lever being constructed, arranged, and fitted in connection with the moving
parts of the machine so as to move backwards and forwards and also to oscillate,
by which movements and carrying the front tool or die the said front tool or die
is moved so as to permit the wheel centre or body to be placed on, and removed
from the back tool or die, substantially as described, and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawings.
Fourthly:-The said mechanical arrangement or machine, consisting of a stamp,
a back tool or die, and a front tool or die. carried by a lever or double arm,
arranged, fitted and operated as described, and illustrated, for the purpose of welding
or dabbing on single spokes
In Witness whereof I the said Edwin Dearden have hereunto set my hand and
seal this Ninth day of August in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty three.