IMPROVEMENTS IN SPRING WHEELS
Year: 1884

page_text: We CHARLES BURRELL Junior of Shrublands Thetford in the County of
Norfolk and THOMAS BURALL of St Nicholas House Thetford Norfolk aforesaid
Engineers do hereby declare the nature of our invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
SPRING WHEELS" to be as follows:-
The object of our invention is to manufacture a wheel which shall be elastic in
its action not only vertically but also sideways and also to so form such wheels
that they may readily accommodate themselves to varying irregularities of the
road. Wheels fulfilling these conditions are much required for traction and
portable engines thrashing machines and for wagons for heavy haulage and for such
vehicles.
The spokes of the wheel we make of elastic plates of metal set edgewise in a
direction at right angles to the axis of the wheel so that the wheel inay if required
be driven through the spokes so avoiding the complication and expense of driving
arms required in other spring wheels.
Sideway bends are formed in the spokes so that they may be elastic vertically
as well as sideways.
Preferably we form the spokes in such manner that a spoke starting from one
side of the boss of the wheel is bent to the opposite side of the wheel and then
bent back again so as to make it lie against the inner circumference of the tyre in
order that it may be rivetted thereto.
But in place of being so bent back again the spokes might be rivetted to flanges
projecting inwards from the interior circumference of the tyre.
The boss of the wheel is cast separate from the spokes and with flanges around
it for the inner ends of the spokes to be secured to-recesses are formed in the outer
side of each flange for the inner ends of the spokes to lie in. One half of the
spokes lie against the outer side of one flange of the boss and the other half against
the outer side of the other flange. The inner ends of the spokes are held to these
flanges by two rings encircling the boss on the outer side of the flanges and these
rings are held to the flanges by bolts.
The inner ends of the spokes are bent outwards so as to come between these
rings and the boss and thereby relieve the retaining bolts from strain.
In place of making the tyre flat as is usual we make it curved on its outer
circumference so that it may better adapt itself to irregularities of the road whereby
the wheel and axle are relieved of much of the strain that comes upon them if the
tyres are made flat.

page_text: When flat wheels are used much stronger and heavier wheels axles and brackets
are required this adds to the weight of the engine or vehicle which for road work
is most objectionable.
Also on either side of the rounded tyre we provide it with an inwardly projecting
flange to support and strengthen its edges and prevent the edges from being bent &
inwards if run against curbstones or projections on hard roads.

page_text: "
We CHARLES BURRELL Junior of Shrublands Thetford in the County of
Norfolk and THOMAS BURALL of St Nicholas House Thetford Norfolk aforesaid
Engineers do hereby declare the nature of our invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
SPRING WHEELS" 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 our invention is to manufacture a wheel which shall be elastic in
As action not only vertically but also sideways and also to so form such wheels
that they may readily accommodate themselves to varying irregularities of the
road. Wheels fulfilling these conditions are much required for traction and
portable engines, thrashing machines and for wagons for heavy haulage and for
such like vehicles.
The spokes of the wheel we make of elastic plates of metal set edgewise in a
direction at right angles to the axis of the wheel so that the wheel may if required
be driven through the spokes so avoiding the complication and expense of driving
arms required in other spring wheels.
Sideway bends are formed in the spokes so they may be elastic vertically as
well as sideways,
Preferably we form the spokes in such manner that a spoke starting from one
side of the boss of the wheel is bent to the opposite side of the wheel and then
bent back again so as to make it lie against the inner circumference of the tyre in
order that it may be rivetted thereto.
But in place of being so bent back again the spokes might be rivetted to flanges
projecting inwards from the interior circumference of the tyre.
The boss of the wheel is cast separate from the spokes and with flanges around
it for the inner ends of the spokes to be secured to; recesses are formed in the
outer side of each flange for the inner ends of the spokes to lie in. One half of
the spokes lie against the outer side of one flange of the boss and the other half
against the outer side of the other flange. The inner ends of the spokes are held
to these flanges by two rings encircling the boss on the outer side of the flanges
and these rings are held to the flanges by bolts or nuts.
The inner ends of the spokes are bent outwards so as to come between these
rings and the boss and thereby relieve the retaining bolts from strain.
In place of making the tyre flat as is usual we make it curved on its outer
circumference so that it may better adapt itself to irregularities of the road whereby
the wheel and axle are releived of much strain that comes upon them if the tyres
are made flat.
When flat wheels are used much stronger and heavier wheels axles and brackets
are required this adds to the weight of the engine or vehicle which for road work
is most objectionable.
Also on either side of the rounded tyre we provide it with an inwardly
projecting flange to support and strengthen its edges and prevent the edges from
being bent inwards if run against curb stones or projections on hard roads.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figures 1 and 2 are cross sections of two examples of spring wheels constructed
according to our invention. Figure 3 is a side elevation of the wheels.
In these Figures A is the boss of the wheel with flanges A¹ to which the inner
ends of the spokes are secured-B are the spokes of tempered steel.-their inner
ends lie in recesses in the sides of the flanges A¹ and are held in these recesses by

page_text: rings C which embrace the boss and which are held up to the flanges A¹ by bolts
and nuts D as shewn.
As above stated one half of the spokes are secured to one flange A¹ and the
other half to the other flange A¹-and the spokes are bent sidewise so that in
such manner that a'spoke starting from one side of the boss of the wheel is carried
towards the opposite side of the wheel. In Figure 1 the spokes are shown to be
then again bent back in the opposite direction to be rivetted to the interior of the
tyre E. The tyre is also shewn made convex on its outer circumference and with
a flange standing inwards around each of its side edges. In Figure 2 the spokes
in place of being so bent back and rivetted to the tyre are rivetted or secured to
flanges which project inwards from the interior of the tyre. The ends of the
spokes may be secured to the flanges by clips in the manner shewn at Figures 2. 3
or 4 or in any other suitable manner. In this case we preferably divide the tyre
longitudinally into two halves or divisions as shown, and across the outer
circumference of the wheel so formed secure cross plates to hold the two parts of
the wheel together as in other wheels which have before been made.
Having thus described the nature of our invention and the manner of performing
the same we would have it understood that we claim :-
First. The construction of spring wheels with the spokes formed of elastic plates
of metal set edgewise in a direction at right angles to the axis of the wheel and
bent sidewise so that they may be elastic vertically as well as sidewise substantially
as described.
Second. The construction of spring wheels with spokes formed of elastic plates
of metal set edgewise in a direction at right angles to the axis of the wheel and
secured at their inner ends to the boss of the wheel substantially in the manner
described.
Third. The construction of spring wheels with elastic spokes capable of yielding
sidewise as well as vertically and with a tyre of a rounded form in cross section
and having an inner fange around each edge of the tyre substantially as
described.
Fourth. The construction of spring wheels substantially as herein before
described and illustrated in the Drawings annexed.
CARPMAEL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.