Improvements in and in connection with Wheels.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Feb., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 15th Dec., 1893-Accepted, 20th Jan., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in connection with Wheels.
We, GEORGE TURNER of 219 Ivydale Road, Engineer, and JAMES MALCOLM
HAMILTON VENOUR of 156 Ivydale Road, Nunhead, in the County of Surrey;
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The improvements in and in connection with wheels constituting our invention,
consists of a manner of constructing the hub, or accessories in connection with the
hub, when applied to bicycles, tricycles and similar manumotive machines, or in
the construction of the nave when applied to carts, carriages and other road
vehicles, or a suitable modification of either of the methods of construction thus
employed, or a combination of both, when applied or used in the construction of
railway or tramway wheels and the like, or in the construction of certain rotary
mechanical parts, wheels or pulleys, the object of our said invention being to
provide a maximum of elasticity to prevent vibration, without reducing the stability
of the wheel, as compared with the methods and means hitherto employed for that,
purpose.
A
In carrying our invention into effect in connection with bicycles and the like, we
may find it convenient to slightly modify the hub with which our improvements are
to be associated according to the type of machine to be dealt with, but taking
these generally, it is usual to connect the spokes of the wheel to the rims thereof,
but according to our invention we dispense with these connections and place upon
the inner side of the rims or flanges of the hub one or more washers made of
rubber, rubber composition, leather or other resilient substance, and abutting
against said washers we provide a pair of metallic discs, which may be of the same
diameter, or greater, or lesser, than that of the aforesaid resilient washers.
series of bolts, pins, or screws arranged in a circle, at a suitable distance apart,
are interposed between, and connected to the said metallic discs, and possibly,
through the before mentioned elastic washers, and the rims or flanges of the bub,
and upon cach of said bolts, pins or screws we place a cylindrical covering of
elastic material similar to that of the said washers, each of which may be enclosed
within a metallic case or tube, and surrounding the said encased bolts or the like,
collectively, we place a metallic covering or cylinder, which may or may not be
connected in any suitable manner to the said cases or tubes, and upon the outer
surface of said inetallic cylinder we provide, and connect thereto, or may be form
integrally therewith, two rims or flanges which may be similar to those upon the
hub, and to these we connect in any suitable and convenient manner the spokes of
the wheel.
The space that would exist between the said encased bolts, pins or screws and
the hub of the wheel, may, if desired, be filled with the same elastic material as
that before mentioned, and we may interpose between this and the casing of said
bolts or the like, a thin cylinder, made of any suitable clastic metal or other
material, and we may interpose between this cylinder and the casing of said bolts
or the like, a further layer or cylinder of resilient material. Or we may in lieu of
the elastic cylinder and metallic casing surrounding each of the said bolts, pins or
screws previously mentioned, employ blocks of the same material as that of the said
resilient cylinders, each of which in cross section may be a sector of a circle, the
inner and outer peripheries of which may abut against the inner and outer metallic
cylinders before referred to, and these may or may not be connected to each other
by radial metallic or other divisions or rods passing between the said resilient.
blocks.

page_text: By either of these methods of building the hub, or any desired combination
thereof, we are enabled to prevent vibration when the machine is passing over
obstructions or undulations in its path, and provide a perfect and graceful elasticity
without distressing the stability of the wheel, this being attained by the particular
cross sectional formation and disposition of the resilient parts and their surroundings,
which provides, that as one part is depressed or compressed radially when suspend-
ing the load, a corresponding expansion of the same occurs circumferentially,
which abuts against the neighbouring elastic substances or parts.
In arranging our invention in connection with cart or other like vehicle wheels,
we provide a wooden nave, which may be boxed in the usual way, and externally,
provided with an annular recess, in which either of the foregoing arrangements of
the elastic-parts may be seated, a suitable plate or plates being provided, if needed,
with which one or both ends of said bolts pins or screws may engage. In this
method the outer casing or spoke bearing flanged cylinder before mentioned
would be provided with suitable sockets in which the heels of the wooden spokes
would be seated, and the tyre be shrunk upon the felloes in the usual way. Or the
nave may be constructed in like manner to that of the aforesaid hub, and the outer
casing arranged to carry wooden spokes as stated, or wires or rods, if the wheel be
constructed in spider form, in which case we should arrange the axle of the vehicle
in such manner that suitable ball bearings may be employed to reduce friction.
We may employ any of these methods, or any combination thereof, or any
reasonable and suitable modification of same, in the construction of railway and
tramcar wheels, or pulleys or wheels or other rotary parts in connection with
mechanical motion to which the same would be adaptable.
Dated this 16th day of February 1893.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, Loudon E.C., Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and in connection with Wheels.
We, GEORGE TURNER, of 219, Ivydale Road, Engineer, and JAMES MALCOLM
HAMILTON VENOUR, of 156, Ivydale Road, Nunhead, in the County of Surrey,
Gentleman, 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:-
The improvements in and in connection with wheels constituting our invention,
consists of the manner in which we construct the hub, or the accessories we
employ in connection with the hub when applied to bicycles, tricycles, and similar
manumotive machines, or in the construction. of the nave, when applied to the
wheels of carts, carriages and other road vehicles, the object of our said invention
being in both cases to provide a maximum of elasticity to prevent vibration,
without reducing the general and necessary stability of the wheel, as compared
with the methods and means of constructing such wheels hitherto employed.
In order that our invention and the manner in which we carry the same into
effect may be clearly understood we have hereunto appended three sheets of
drawings in which :-
Fig. 1 Sheet 1 is a part elevation and part vertical section of the hub of a
bicycle, tricycle or similar machine wheel, constructed according to our invention.
Fig. 2 is a central vertical cross section of Fig. 1 as it would appear when
viewed from right to left..
Fig. 3 is a cross section similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating an alternative method
of construction.
Fig. 4 Sheet 2 is a part elevation and part vertical horizontal cross section of the
nave of a cart or road carriage wheel constructed according to our invention.

page_text: Fig. 6 is an external right band end view of one half of Fig. 4.
Fig. 7 Sheet 3 is a vertical cross section of a wheel nave similar to Fig. 4 but
illustrating an alternative method of construction.
Fig. 8 is a section. of same upon the line A B of Fig. 7 and from which the
elastic block has been removed.
Fig. 9 is an end view of one half of the block of rubber or other resilient
material employed in the construction of Fig. 7.
Similar letters of reference are used throughout the several views when referring
to the same or like parts.
In carrying our invention into effect in connection with bicycles, tricycles and
similar machines as illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, and 3, Sheet 1, we may find it
necessary to slightly modify the hub as generally constructed in order to render
this adaptable to receive the improvements for preventing vibration constituting
our invention, according to the type of machine to be dealt with, but taking these
generally, it is usual to connect the spokes of the wheel to the rim of said hub, but
according to our invention we dispense with this method of connecting the spokes,
and referring to the views on Sheet 1 we extend the diameter of the rims or
flanges B, B of the hub A, and place upon the inner surface of each a washer C,
made of rubber, rubber composition, leather or other resilient substance, and
abutting against these we provide a pair of metallic circular plates D, D¹,
preferably, of the same diameter as C and B B'. The plates D D are connected
together by any desired number of hollow metallic tubes a, preferably six, arranged
in a circle around, and, a suitable distance from, the hub A, and in both plates D
and D' a like number of holes would be formed of the same size as, and coinciding
with, the internal dimensions of the tubes a. Each of said tubes a would be filled
by and fitted with a block of rubber, rubber composition or other resilient
material b, and through the centre of each of said resilient blocks, a passage would
be formed for the reception of bolts c, extending entirely therethrough, and the
washers C, and the flanges B, B', of the hub A, these being threaded at each end
for receiving nuts d. The tubes a collectively, would be enclosed by, and con-
nected by any suitable means to, a metallic covering or cylinder E, provided at
each end with a rim or flange F, and to these would be connected the spokes G in
the usual way, when by tightening up the nuts d the whole may be clamped and
held firmly together.
The circular discs or plates D D' are each provided with a central or axial
opening e (shown more clearly in Fig. 2) which may be of any size larger than
the hub A, these being to permit the elastic play of the hub as hereinafter
explained.
The hub A may be mounted loosely upon the axle H, and provided with the usual
ball bearing fittings when the wheel is to be a driven wheel, carried by the front or
back forks in the usual way, as illustrated by Fig. 1, or the flanges B B', may
screw directly upon the axle H, or be otherwise firmly fixed thereto, when the
wheel is to be a driving wheel.
From the foregoing it will be understood that the relative positions of the
axle H, flanges B, B, and bolts c, would remain constant whatever may be the
weight of the load, and that such weight would be elastically suspended upon
the rubber or other cylinders b, thus. The upward thrust imparted to the
cylinder E when the wheel was upon the road, would impart the said thrust to the
lowest cylinder a, and by reason of all these being connected to the plates or
discs D and D', it follows, that the said upward thrust would be imparted to these,
and from these to the whole of the cylinders a, thus compressing the elastic
contents of each, and so dividing the load equally between them, and to permit
the upward movement of the discs D D', consequent upon the said compression of
the elastic cylinders b, is the use and purpose of the holes e in each of these. By
this means a perfect and graceful elasticity is ensured without the faintest feeling
of vibration on the part of the rider,. and possessing the further advantage of

page_text: enabling us if desired to dispense with the usual springs beneath the seat, by which
a constant distance between the seat and the pedals is maintained, thus obviating
the unpleasantness of grazed shins arising from a rider missing his pedals.
In machines constructed to carry heavy riders, we may interpose a cylinder of
rubber or other resilient substance, to occupy the vacant space that in the foregoing
arrangement exists between the cylinders a and the hub A.
In Fig. 3 we illustrate a slight modification of the foregoing. In this method
we dispense with the cylinders a and their contents b, and connect the discs D, D',
by a central cylinder J, the inner capacity of which would, preferably, coincide
with the holes e in D, D', and extending radially from J, we provide metallic
partitions, corresponding in number to, and placed between, the bolts c, and
surrounding each of the bolts c and occupying the space formed by E, J, and f, we
provide blocks of rubber, or other resilient substance g, each of said blocks being a
sector of a circle. The manner in which this arrangement operates will not need
any further explanation after that given when referring to Figs. 1 and 2.
с
In arranging our invention in connection with cart, carriage and other road
vehicle wheels, we may provide a narrow wooden nave, which may be boxed in the
usually way, and externally provided with an annular recess, in which may be
seated the blocks g as in Fig. 3, but we prefer to construct the nave of such
vehicles as illustrated by Figs. 4 5 and 6 Sheet 2.
1.
In this method we prefer to cast or otherwise provide the box K integrally with
the flange B, and arrange the flange B' to screw upon the opposite end of K. The
cylinder E, inner cylinder J, and radial partitions f, we prefer to cast or otherwise
provide in one piece, placing in between these, blocks of rubber or other resilient
material g, surrounding the bolts c, similar to the method shewn by Fig. 3, these
being in like manner passed through resilient washers C, placed upon the inner
surfaces of B and B', and connected to B B¹ by nuts d as therein described. The
cylinder E may be provided with rims or extensions F for receiving wire spokes G,
if the carriage wheel is to be a spider wheel, as at Fig. 1, but if the wheel is to
carry wooden spokes after the manner of carriage wheels generally, we fix upon, or
form integrally with the cylinder E, a collar L, in which are formed a sufficient
number of sockets M, tapered internally to receive the tapered ends of the
spokes N, and when these are placed in position, the felloes may be fitted thereto,
and the metallic tyre shrunk upon these in the usual way. The flange B, would
be provided with a lubricant retaining ridge and arranged to receive an axle
cap, and be finished with a fancy rim k after the manner of such wheels
generally.
In Figs. 7 and 8 Sheet 3 we show a modification of the construction illustrated
by Figs. 4, 5, and 6. In this method we cast or otherwise provide upon the box K,
four or more radial arms 0, 0, 0, 0, in the ends of which are formed passages m
through which eventually pass bolts c. Upon the inner periphery of the cylinder E,
we form or connect thereto, a like number of arms or projections n, all converging
towards the box K. In this method we prefer to cast the rubber or other resilient
material in one piece, half of which is shown at Fig. 9, in which apertures are
provided for the reception of 0, 0, 0, 0, on K and the projections on E.
In placing the nave together according to this arrangement, the elastic washer C,
would be first placed abutting against B, when the elastic block 7 (Fig. 9) would
be forced upon the extensions or arms 0, 0, 0, 0, on K, until this abutted
against C on B. The cylinder E would then be placed endwise with g, and its
arms forced through the apertures therein left for their reception, and when the
ends of these abut against the washer C, on B, the opposite washer C may be
placed in position and the flange B' be screwed upon K, and when this is home, and
the bolt holes therein coinciding with the apertures m, the bolts c would be passed
through these and receive the nuts d, as at Fig. 8. In this method also, Hanges F
may be formed upon E if the wheel is to be a spider wheel, or a collar L if to carry
wooden spokes N as shewn.
By either of these arrangements for building a cart or carriage wheel nave, the

page_text: box K, flanges B and B', and the bolts c remain always constant and firmly
connected together, the vehicle and its load being virtually suspended by the elastic
substance or substances g, the upward thrust imparted to E through the spokes N
from the tread of the wheel, and the downward thrust of the box K and its
attachments, occasioned by the weight of the vehicle and its contents, causing the
compression of the material y below K, and the expansion of same above K, such
expansion and compression of being continually alternating across the cross.
sectional diameter of the nave, during the rotation of the wheel.
We wish it understood that we may employ any of these methods, or any
combination thereof in the construction of wheels for road vehicles or bicycles,.
tricycles and similar manumotive machines without departing from the principle of
our invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-.
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
First. In an improved method of constructing wheels for road vehicles and
manumotive machines whereby the entire elasticity of the vehicle or machine and.
its load is concentrated within the nave or hub of the wheel, the employment of
auy of the means herein provided or any suitable combination thereof, connected
and operating substantially as herein described and shown.
Second. In an improved method of constructing spider wheels for bicycles,
tricycles, and similar machines, and light road vehicles, the construction and use of
a hub A with abnormally broad flanges or rims B, B¹, each faced internally with a
rubber or other resilient washer C, and within these a pair of circular discs or
plates D, D', connected by metallic cylinders a arranged in circular form, each
being filled by a resilient substance b, having a passage for bolts c connected by
nuts d to B, B. The cylinder E collectively surrounding, and connected by any
suitable means to, the cylinders a, and provided with flanges F for carrying the
spokes G, the whole connected, combined and operating substantially as and for the
purposes herein described and shewn by Figs. and 2 of the accompanying
drawings.
Third. In an improved method of constructing spider wheels for bicycles,
tricycles, and similar machines, and light road vehicles, the construction and use of
a hub A with flanges B, B', each faced internally with washer C, and within these:
a pair of circular discs or plates D, D', connected by a metallic cylinder J, with
radiating partitions f, connected to an outer cylinder E, with projecting flanges F
for carrying spokes G. The blocks of rubber or other resilient material 9, each
forming a sector of a circle, and having a passage for bolts c, connected by nuts d,.
to B, B', the whole connected, combined, and operating substantially as and for the
purposes herein described and shewn by Figs. 1 and 3, of the accompanying
drawings.
Fourth. In an improved method of constructing wheels for road vehicles, the
construction and use of an axle box K, cast or otherwise formed integrally with a.
flange B, provided with a lubricant saving ridge h, and cap j, the opposite end of K
having a flange B screwed thereon, both of said flanges being provided with an
elastic washer C, with intervening cylinder J, with radiating arms or partitions/
connected to an outer cylinder E, provided with rims F for carrying wire spokes G..
or a collar L, provided with sockets M for carrying wooden spokes N, provided
with felloes and tyre in the usual way, the whole connected, combined and
operating substantially as and for the purposes herein described and shewn by
Figs. 4, 5 and 6 of the accompanying drawings.
Fifth. In an improved wheel for road vehicles the construction and use of an
axle box K, with flanges B, B1, ridge h, cap j, and washer as set forth in the
preceding claim, with arms 0, 0, 0, 0, radiating from K, each provided with
a passage m for carrying bolts e engaging by nut d with B, B', with rim E having-
projecting internal arms n converging towards K, and externally, rims F carrying

page_text: wire spokes G, or a collar L, with sockets M for carrying wooden spokes N,
provided with felloes and tyre in the usual way. The block of resilient material g
occupying the whole of the space between E and K, less that necessary for the
presence of 0, 0, 0, 0" and n, the whole connected, combined and operating
substantially as and for the purposes herein described and shewn by Figs. 7, 8 and 9,
of the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 15th day of December 1893.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4. Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicants.