IM- PROVEMENTS IN CONNECTING WHEELS, DRUMS, CYLINDERS, AND PULLEYS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Edward Hodges, of Southampton Row,
Russell Square, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN CONNECTING WHEELS, DRUMS, CYLINDERS, AND PULLEYS, WITH
ealed the 27th June 1854, and dated the 3rd April 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Edward Hodges
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd April 1854.
I, RICHARD EDWARD HODGES, of Southampton Row, Russell Square, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN CONNECTING WHEELS, DRUMS, CYLINDERS, AND PULLEYS, WITH
THEIR NAVES, AXES, AND THE PARTS THEREOF, ONE TO THE OTHER," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object means of obtaining elasticity between the
naves or axes of wheels, drums, cylinders, and pulleys, and also between other
parts thereof. For which purpose, a nave, or it may be an axis, according to
the intended application of a wheel, drum, cylinder, or pulley, is connected,
by means of a series of straps or lengths of vulcanized india-rubber in a state
of tension, with the outer periphery or circular portion of the wheel, drum,
cylinder, or pulley. In some cases a wheel, drum, cylinder, or pulley is made
up of more than one circular portion, in which case two or more circular
rings or parts are connected by means of india-rubber in a state of tension.

page_text: The object in all cases is to obtain elasticity between the nave or axes or
central portion of a wheel, drum, cylinder or pulley, and the outer part or
parts, also in some cases between the parts themselves; and the means of doing
so is by using vulcanized india-rubber in a state of tension to connect the
parts where elasticity is required.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Edward Hodges in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 3rd October 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
EDWARD HODGES, of Southampton Row, Russell Square, in the County of
Middlesex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Third day of April, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Richard Edward Hodges, Her special licence that I, the said
Richard Edward Hodges, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Richard Edward Hodges, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CONNECTING WHEELS, DRUMS, CYLINDERS, AND PULLEYS,
WITH THEIR NAVES, AXES, AND THE PARTS THEREOF, ONE TO THE OTHER," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Richard Edward Hodges, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Edward Hodges, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is
to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement thereof (that is to say):-
This Invention has for its object means of obtaining elasticity between
the naves or axes of wheels, drums, cylinders, and pulleys, and also between
other parts thercof. [For which purpose, a nave, or it may be an axis,

page_text: according to the intended application of a wheel, drum, cylinder, or pulley, is
connected, by means of a series of straps or lengths of vulcanized india-rubber
in a state of tension, with the outer periphery or circular portion of the wheel,
drum, cylinder or pulley. In some cases a wheel, drum, cylinder, or pulley is
made up of more than one circular portion, in which case two or more circular
rings or parts are connected by means of india-rubber in a state of tension.
The object in all cases is to obtain clasticity between the nave or axes or
central portion of a wheel, drum, cylinder, or pulley, and the outer part or
parts, also in some cases between the parts themselves; and the means of
doing so is by using vulcanized india-rubber in a state of tension to connect
the parts where elasticity is required.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed to
describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 shows a cylindrical wheel having my improvements applied thereto.
a is the nave or central portion of the wheel; b is the periphery, which is
arranged suitably for being used as a steering wheel, but the periphery or outer
cylindrical part may be made suitable for a drum or a pulley, for receiving
and communicating motion by straps or bands to parts of machinery, or it may
be made suitable for other uses; c, c, are a series of vulcanized india-rubber
straps or connections in a state of tension, by which the nave or central
portion a is connected to the exterior ring or portion b.
Figure 2 shows two views of another arrangement, wherein the connecting
lengths or straps of vulcanized india-rubber c, c, in place of being radial, are
arranged in a zigzag direction between the central portion a and the peri-
phery or cylindrical ring b; and I would state, that the cylindrical or outer
periphery of the structure may be of other forms, according to the use to
which the same may be intended to be applied.
Figure 3 shows another arrangement, wherein the straps or lengths of
vulcanized india-rubber are arranged radially between the nave or central
portion and the outer cylinder b; and I would state, that where the cylinder
is of considerable length, the arrangement of the parts c, c, c, may be
repeated lengthwise of the cylinder 6 and the central portion a, depending on
the use to which the combined apparatus is to be applied.
Figure 4 shows an arrangement of cylinders and springs, arranged and
combined according to my Invention, and suitable for being used as the
springs of carriages. b, b, are cylinders affixed to the under part a of a carriage.
These cylinders are fixed to naves or bosses a, a, in which the axle d can

page_text: freely rotate; or, if desired, the axle may be connected therewith. The
cylinders are connected to the bosses or naves a, a, by straps of vulcanized
india-rubber c, c, as shown.
Figure 5 shows another mode of combining the parts according to my
Invention. is a shaft or axle; a is a drum, cylinder, or pulley, which is
capable of turning freely on the shaft or axle d, and is only in connection with
the axle or shaft d by means of vulcanized india-rubber straps or bands c,
part of which are shewn. These straps c are at one end fixed to the bosses
e, e, which are fixed to the shaft or axle d, the other ends of the vulcanized
india-rubber straps being fixed to the cylinder a, as shown at a distance from
the centre, corresponding with the diameter of the bosses e; but this may be
varied; and in some cases it may be desirable that the straps c should be
longer, and be connected with the cylinder a, more near its outer circum-
ference. By this arrangement or combination of parts, it will be evident, that
when the axle or shaft d is in rotation, should any check be given thereto, the
cylinder a would still continue its rotation till brought up by the elasticity of
the straps c, c.
Figure 6 shows another arrangement or combination of parts. b, b, are two
cylindrical rings, connected to the naves or central parts a, a, by vulcanized
india-rubber straps c, c, there being eyes or openings at c¹, c¹, to receive the
bars or rods b, b', by which an open or framed drum may be produced as
shown between the two parts b, b; or the rods or bars may extend when
desired beyond the parts b. as indicated by the dotted lines.
Figure 7 shows side views of two arrangements of wheels, wherein the
radii or spokes are hinged or pin-jointed to the central portion a of the wheel,
and the spokes or radii are connected to each other by vulcanized india-
rubber straps c, c, in a state of tension, as shown.
Figure 8 shows a side view of another arrangement or combination of
parts in which a cylinder or drum is produced, the parts of the periphery or
circumference of which are in elastic connection with the central portions of
the combination. d is a shaft or axis to which the bosses e, e, are fixed; b, b,
are two parts of the periphery or circumference of the drum or cylinder, each
of which is carried by two radii or spokes f, f, which pass through and are
fixed in eyes formed in the straps c, c, which at their ends are fixed to the
bosses e, as shewn, and in this manner will any number of parts b, of which a
periphery of a drum or cylinder may be composed, be connected with the
central portions.
Figure 9 shows another arrangement, in which the several radii or spokes f
are connected with the bosses a, a. There are different modes of fixing the

page_text: ends of straps or lengths of vulcanized india-rubber now resorted to, but I
believe the best means of doing so are those described under former Patents
granted to me, and it is these which I prefer to use in fixing the ends of the
straps or lengths in carrying out my present Invention; and such means
consist of extending the end of a strap or length of vulcanized india-rubber,
and binding it closely round, so as to retain it to the smaller diameter to
which it has been brought by extending it, and then to use the end thus bound
round as the means of attaching it to an eye, as shown at Figure 10; or for
sewing it to leather or other substance, as shewn at Figure 11; or for passing
through an opening in a metal or other substance, as shewn at Figure 12.
But I do not confine myself to these modes of fastening the ends of straps
or lengths of vulcanized india-rubber in carrying out the present Invention.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself
to the details herein described, as the same may be varied without departing
from my Invention; but what I claim is, the application of straps or lengths
of vulcanized india-rubber between the naves or central parts and the
exterior or periphery or other parts of wheels, drums, cylinders, and pullies, as
herein described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Edward Hodges, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Third day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
Witness,
FRED HARRIS.
R. E. HODGES. (L.S.)