IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELS SUITABLE FOR CARRIAGES AND VEHICLES."
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sir Joseph Whitworth, Baronet, of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELS SUITABLE
FOR CARRIAGES AND VEHICLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sir Joseph Whitworth at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th July 1876.
Sir JOSEPH WHITWORTH, Baronet, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELS SUITABLE FOR CARRIAGES AND VEHICLES."
My improvements in carriage wheels have for their object making the wheel so
elastic as to act practically as a spring between the road or rail and the body of the
carriage; the wheel, therefore, does not retain its original circular form, but yields
in proportion to the weight of load and the irregularities of the road.
The tire I make of spring steel, which I prefer being made from a cast hoop of
fluid compressed steel.
The nave and the elastic tire are connected by means of steel hoops or curved
springs.
In order to prevent any ring of the metal and to deaden the sound I interpose
between the parts in contact wood, leather, india-rubber, or other elastic substance.
In many cases the elastic wheel will enable the springs which are now in use to
be dispensed with,
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by.
the said Sir Joseph Whitworth in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
January 1877.
Sir JOSEPH WHITWORTH, Baronet, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELS SUITABLE FOR CARRIAGES AND VEHICLES."
My improvements relate to the manufacture of carriage wheels which are made,
in the manner herein-after described, so clastic as to act practically as a spring
between the road or rail and the carriage, while at the same time vibration, jar, and
noise are successfully prevented.
DC11

page_text: In order that the manner in which my Invention is performed may be fully
understood I will now describe the mode in which my improved wheels are made
by reference to the accompanying Drawings.
Sheet I., Figure 1, is a longitudinal section, and Figure is a transverse section
of a wheel constructed according to my Invention. a, a, is the rim of the wheel.
I make this rim of what is now commonly called "Whitworth's fluid pressed metal."
b, b, are curved spring spokes, which I make of the same material at their outer
ends; these spring spokes are secured to the rim in each case by a screw c and
nut c is the tyre; this also I make of fluid pressed steel. e is a strip of leather
or other material interposed between the rim of the wheel and the tyre to prevent
vibration, jar, and noise..
The tyre is turned rather smaller in diameter than the outside of the leather, and
being then expanded by heat is put quickly in its place and quenched in water.
The inaterial placed between the tyre and the rim is coated with plumbago or a
solution of alum to prevent injury by heat.
A holding pin to prevent the tyre from moving sideways may be made to pass
through the screw c into a hole made in the tyre; f is the axle,box. The nave is
composed of two discs and ½, having circular projections i, i, which take into
grooves cut in the edges of the spring spokes and so firmly secure them to the discs
g and h.
The disc g is screwed on to the axle box and the disc is secured to it
by the bolts k, k.
The filling pieces l, l, are of hard wood placed between the ends of the spring
spokes, and the bolts k, k, pass through them. m, m, are hard wood wedges driven
in between the blades of the spring spokes after the bolts k, k, have been screwed
up. The pieces 1, 1, and the wedges m, m, of hard wood fill up the vacant places
and prevent ring.
Figure 3 is an edge view of the nave showing the manner in which the spring
spokes pass between the discs g and h.
Figure 4 is a transverse section full size through the outer end of one of the
spring spokes, and also through the rim and tyre, as shewn in Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a modification of Figure 4, shewing corrugations n and n¹ formed on
the inner side of the tyre d and the outer side of the rim a to prevent the tyre
from moving sideways.
Figure 6 is a transverse section showing another mode of securing the outer ends
of the spring spokes to the rim. o is a lug formed upon the rim a where the spoke
is to be attached; b is the spring spoke, the outer end of which is forked and inade
to embrace the lug o. After having been made the proper size the forks are pressed
on to the lugs and secured in each case by a conical pin or rivet p. r is a thin strip
of lead, leather, paper, or such like material placed between the rim a and the tyre d.
The rim a in this arrangement is flanged.
On Sheet II., Figure 7, is a longitudinal section; Figure 8, a transverse section ;
and Figure 9, an edge view of the nave full size, the letters being the same as those
placed upon the scale Drawings, Figures 1, 2, and 3, Sheet I.
In making the tyres and rims of my improved wheels I proceed as follows:-I
cast the steel in form of a hollow cylinder and press it while in its fluid state
and then forge it by pressure under the bydraulic press. When making the rim of
the form shown in Figure 6 the parts which form the lugs are forged with the
cylinder.
Hoops of the size required to form respectively the tyres and rims are cut from
the cylinders and are turned and finished in the regular way. The spokes are made
of spring steel, and the wheel is put together in the way shown in Figures 1 and 2,
or the modifications shown respectively in Figures 5 and 6 may be employed.
I proceed in a similar way when making railway wheels, but I form the wheel
flanges partly or entirely by forging them on the cylinder, which is afterwards
parted into the several tyres. To prevent the flange from giving undue rigidity
to the tyre I make in it a fine cut opposite each spoke by a saw or by other means.
Having now doscribed the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of per-

page_text: forming the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the
exact details described, but I claim the manufacture of wheels, substantially as
herein described and in particular as shown in Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 of the annexed
Drawings, or the modification of parts of them shown in Figures 5 and 6.
In witness whereof, I, the said Sir Joseph Whitworth, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
JOSEPH WHIT ORTE (L.S.)