Year: 1898

page_text: I, ROBERT ALBERT GARDNER, of 5 Copthall Buildings, in the City of London,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
-
My invention relates to improvements in wheels, which consists of a divided
hub with a collar, constructed of any metallic substance and into which the spokes
are fitted. The collar is formed on its outer periphery into a number of projec-,
tions that constitute sockets for the reception of the ends of the spokes. Each
spoke is constructed in two parts; in order to effect this, a number of pieces of
flat steel are first corrugated longitudinally, leaving a flange on each side of the
corrugation and are then bent round a template so as to form an isosceles triangle
with the corners rounded.
The hub is divided into two (or more) pieces, i.e. divided across the centre of the
sockets, so that the free ends of the spokes with wood plugs may be placed in one
half of the sockets and the other half of the hub with remainder half of the
sockets is forced home and rigidly bolted together. A wood lining and axle tree
box is fixed in the inside of the hub. It will thus be seen that two adjacent sides
of two adjacent segments will form one spoke, while the base of the isosceles
triangle will form a segmental portion of the rim of the wheel. The flanges
which are formed on each side of the longitudinal corrugations with the corru-
gated portion will constitute a cylindrical spoke with lateral ribs. The divided
sockets on the hub are slotted half their depth on each side so as to receive the
flanges and thus afford additional support and rigidity to the spokes. The ribbed
or flanged sides of the spokes may, if desired, be rivetted or otherwise secured
together so as to prevent them from separating. The flanges do not extend to the
extreme ends of the segments, and the opposing faces of the ends of the corruga-
tions are slightly bevelled so as to enable the adjacent segments to be forced
closely together at the bottom of the sockets. When the segments are in position
all their bases forming the periphery are surrounded by a corrugated rim to
receive an india-rubber tyre. The corrugated rim may be constructed in one
piece. Upon the inner surface of the rim is formed semi-circular projections or
beads which are intended to fit into the depression or corresponding corrugations
of the periphery of the combined segments. The rim is bent to the requisite
circular form and is then placed round the wheel so as to encircle the combined
segments, and compressing it into the peripheral depressions, its two ends are then
joined together in any suitable and practical manner. If necessary, the small
triangular spaces between the rounded corners of the segments and the rim may
be filled by small blocks of india-rubber or any other suitable material.
All the segments when placed together will form a rough circle the adjacent
sides of the segments forming tubular flanged spokes of the wheel. The ends of
the segments are then introduced into the divided sockets in the hub and bolted
D

page_text: The divided sockets of two halves of the hub may be bolted together by bolts
and nuts with countersunk heads or of any other suitable shape.
Dated this 6th day of April 1898.
J. P. BAYLY,
18, Fulham Place, London, W., Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Wheels.
I, ROBERT ALFRED GARDNER, late of No. 5 Copthall Buildings, but now of
4 Hercules Passage, Threadneedle Street, in the City of London, 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:
My invention relates to improvements in wheels which improvements consist
of a divided metallic hub secured by bolts or screw caps into which hub the
spokes of the wheel are fitted and the use in connection therewith of a corrugated
metallic spoke.
The object of my invention is to produce a wheel which can be constructed
entirely of steel or other metallic substance and which shall be strong light and
very rigid.
""
In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a wheel.
Fig. 2 is a lateral section of the hub shewing the ends of spokes fitted.
Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the hub and axle and end of spokes.
The hub consists essentially of two opposed side plates surrounded by a peri-
pheral collár all of steel or any other suitably strong metal. The peripheral collar
has formed upon it a number of sockets for the reception of the ends of the
spokes. The hub and collar are constructed in two pieces being divided across
the centres of the sockets, by which device the ends of the spokes can be easily
placed in the sockets.
Before bringing the two pieces of the hub together the spokes are placed in
the half sockets of one piece and the other piece of the hub is then brought into
position so as to completely socket the spokes. When the two pieces are firmly
bolted or otherwise fixed together, the spokes are thus firmly secured to the hub.
In Fig. 3bb are the opposed side plates. The fastening is effected by the
bolts which may be countersunk into the hub and kept in position by a screw
pin. An axle tree box is fitted inside the hub to receive the axle g and the outer
end is completed by the cap a which is screwed thereto or the two portions of the
hub may be fastened together in the following manner.
The axle tree box is constructed of greater strength and thickness and projects
beyond the outer portion of the hub à sufficient distance to receive two screw
threads, a right hand screw thread and a left hand screw thread. A ringed cap
with a right hand screw thread having sockets for the reception of the projecting
epds of the tool for tightening it up is then screwed home upon the projecting
portion of the axle tree box and a left screw cap is then screwed upon the axle
tree box home to the ringed cap.
The left screw cap may take the place of the cap a or an additional cap a may
he screwed thereon for convenience in oiling and inspection. The position of the
right and left screws and caps may be reversed, the feature of this method of
fastening being that two different screw threads are used.
Instead of screwing upon the axle tree box, the inner portion of the hub itself

page_text: may have a hollow projection passing through the outer half of the hub upon
the end of which the threads may be placed and the caps screwed on.
Each spoke d is constructed in two parts.
The process of construction is as follows:-Pieces of flat steel are first corru-
gated longtitudinally leaving a flange on each side of the corrugation and are then
bent lengthwise round a template so as to form an isosceles triangle with corners
rounded. The flanged portions are then fitted closely one within or to the other
and the two adjacent sides of the triangular segments then form one spoke and
the base of the triangle forms a portion of the rim of the wheel. The flanges do
not extend to the extreme ends of the segments and the faces of the ends of the
corrugations may be slightly bevelled so as to enable the adjacent segments to
be fitted closely together at the bottom of the sockets. When all the segments
are in position they will form a circle and the adjacent sides will form tubular
ribbed spokes of the wheel. A segment in position is shewn by the dotted line
in Fig. 1. The bases of the segments forming the periphery are surrounded by
a rim to receive an india rubber tyre. The rim is corrugated and is constructed
to fit into the projections and depressions of the segments. It is bent in a
circular form and is placed round the segments and compressed lightly thereon
and the ends are then fastened together. The spaces / between the rim and the
corner of the segments are fitted with hardened india rubber or are left open and
a plug of the same or other material inserted at the ends of the spokes.
The rim may be fitted with a felly of wood to receive a metallic tyre.
Instead of the spokes being constructed in segments as described, each spoke
may be constructed separately of a metallic substance corrugated longtitudinally
and forming a tubular ribbed spoke and the ends fitted to the rim in any practical
manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
--
1. In vehicle wheels a metallic hub constructed so as to be capable of being
divided for the purpose of inserting the ends of the spokes substantially as
described.
2. In vehicle wheels the combination of the divided metallic hub as described
with corrugated metallic spokes substantially as described.
Dated this Sixth day of February 1899
JAMES W. BROWNE,
13, King William Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.