Year: 1886

page_text: I SAMUEL THOMPSON WILLIAMS of Red Bank, Monmouth County, State of
New Jersey, United States of America, Manufacturer, 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 object of my Invention is to construct a simple strong and durable wheel,
and this object I attain in the manner fully described hereinafter with reference
to the accompanying drawing whereon Figure 1 is a side view of a wheelbarrow
wheel embodying my invention and Figure 2 is a transverse section on the
line xx, Figure 1.
A is the rim of the wheel, which may be made of T iron the base forming the
tire, while the flange forms the means of securing the spokes thereto by passing
the said spokes through slots in the flange. These spokes B are make of flat strips
of metal, and they are perforated at their opposite ends to receive or pass over the
axle C, by which means the spokes are directly connected to the axle.
As shewn in figure 2 the ends of the spokes overlap each other on the axle, and
they are held in place by any suitable means. I have shown the spokes as held
at one end by a fixed nut D, which is secured to the axle by a pin or key e on the
axle, adapted to a corresponding recess in the nut. The opposite face of the nut
is preferably recessed for the reception of the first spoke end, as shown in figure 2.
The ends of the spokes on the other side of the wheel, I provide with a device for
increasing the tension thereof. For this purpose, I may make use of any suitable
tensioning device.
The tensioning device shown consists of a nut E, having steps of varying heights
interposed between the ends of the spokes and a pin or projection d on the axle,
80 that by turning the nut to bring the different thicknesses of the nut to bear on
pin d the tension of the spokes may be adjusted, I do not claim or limit myself to
this tensioning device however.
The construction above described constitutes a very simple wheel and one
which may be produced very economically, and without impairing its strength or
durability.
The wheel shewn in the drawing is intended for a wheelbarrow, but it will be
understood that my improvements may be applied to other constructions of wheels,

page_text: as for instance wheels having axle boxes instead of axles. Wherever therefore the
term "axle" is hereinbefore and hereinafter used, the term "axle box" is applicable
as an equivalent.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. The combination of the rim and axle of a wheel with spokes consisting
of flat strips of metal having openings at their ends for the reception of the axle,
substantially as set forth.
Second. A wheel having a rim and axle, and spokes connected directly to the
axle, and provided with a tension adjusting device, substantially as specified.
Third. The combination of the rim and the axle, with spokes having at their
opposite ends openings fitted directly over the axle, substantially as specified.
Fourth. A wheel having an axle and rim and spokes connected directly to the
axle, at one end to a fixed point and having at the other end a tension device, as
set forth.