Improved Motor Wheels or Wheel Motors.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 17th Oct., 1896
Improved Motor Wheels or Wheel Motors.
I, WILLIAM SAMUEL STUCKENBERG, of No. 1410 Marquette Building,
Chicago, Cooke County, Illinois, United States of America, Merchant, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner the same is to bo performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :→
My invention relates to motor wheel devices, and has for its object to provide
certain new and useful improvements in motor wheels or wheel motors. The
essential features or characteristics of my invention are those whereby it is made
possible for a wheel to be, as it were, self-propelling, while at the same time
dispensing with the ordinary driving mechanism and devices about the hub.
My invention admits of considerable variation in its reduction to practice, and
I have in the accompanying drawings merely sought to illustrate its essential
features, Figures 1 and 2 showing a form of motor wheel embodying my invention,
and Figures 3 to 7 showing certain variations in details. It would be impracticable
to show herein all the variations or modifications which might be made without
departing from the scope of my invention; but what I have sought to do is to
sufficiently embody the invention in practical forms to make it clear what tho
nature of my invention is.
I will first fully describe the form shown in Figures 1 and 2 and then take up
the modifications shown in the other figures, using the same reference letters to
indicate the same parts throughout the several views.
Figure 1 is a side view of a wheel containing my invention.
Figure 2 is a cross-section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.
A is the axle having the internal aperture or passage B. C is the rim, DD the
hollow spokes extending from the rim to the hub E. F is a slot or opening
throngh the wall of the axle on one side. G is a partition dividing the internal
aperture of the axle into two compartments A' and A', and HH are holes on the
opposite side of the axle from the slot F. J is a flexible tire having the internal
flexible sections K K separated from each other and associated one with each spoke
and connected with such spoke by the nipple L. This connection may be made in
any desired manner, the point being that each section K should have an air tight
connection with one spoke D. The axle A is connected in any desired manner to
any suitable source or reservoir of power, the intention being to introduce such
power, as for example compressed air, through the hollow axle in the manner
hereinafter described. M is a hole through the end of the axle which connects
the compartment A' with the external air.
What I have here shown is one wheel and one end of an axle which when
prolonged and provided with a corresponding wheel at the other end might
constitute the principal driving wheels of a carriage. In such case there should
be associated therewith one or more supporting wheels for the carriage.
Now referring to Figure 1 it will be observed that the tire at the left is inflated
and much thicker in the line of the length of the spokes than is the tire at the
right. The slot F being placed a trifle to the left of the vertical line in ordinary
use, when a charge of compressed air is permitted to pass through the axle it will
escape from the slot F into the spoke which is just passing to the left from the
vertical and pass down through the spoke and inflate that particular section of the
tire which lies a little back of the vertical. This immediately lengthens the line

page_text: from the outer extremity of the tire to the hub, and, since the vertical line is
relatively short, causes the wheel to turn in the direction of the arrow. This
process is carried out by cach successive spoke and section as they pass under the
slot F. At the same time, as soon as the spoke has in the forward motion of the
wheel passed around to the other side, its interior is opened to the external air
through tho holes H H, compartment A' and hole M.
Referring now to the modified form shown in Figures 3, 4 and 5, which is a
construction particularly adapted to be used in connection with broad wheels such,
for example, as the traction wheel of a threshing machine
Figure 3 is a side view of part of the outer portion of the wheel.
Figure 4 is a sectional view through the hub and a portion of the wheel along
the line 4-4 of Figure 3 extended.
Figure 5 is a section through the hub in the plane of the spoke, with parts
omitted.
The rim C of the wheel may have an even outer surface, or as shown in the
drawing may be provided with a series of hollows or indentations. Each of these
hollows or indentations is provided with a hollow flexible tube or bulb N which is
permanently fastened to the bottom thereof in any convenient manner, as by being
cemented thereto. The bulbs or tubes N N may be shaped as shown and they
extend across the rim of the wheel, each bulb being connected with the internal
aperture of one of the spokes by means of the nipple as shown, and through such
hollow spoke with the hub E. The hollow axle A is divided by the partition G
into two compartments: the admission compartment A', connected in any desired
manuer with a source of fluid supply; and the exhaust compartment A' connected
with the external air. The admission compartment is provided with the slot or
opening F adapted to successively register with the internal apertures of the
spokes. Tho exhaust compartment A' is provided with a series of holes O O with
which the internal apertures of the spokes are adapted to successively register as
the wheel is rotated. The axle is provided at its end with the plug or cap A
A movable controlling plate P is located in the compartment A' and is associated
with the holes OO so that it may be moved to vary their size. This plate is
provided with an arm R which projects through an opening in the cap A
A lever S is connected with said arm and is pivotally connected to the projec-
tions TT connected with the cap A'. By means of this lever the position of the
plate P may be changed so as to vary the size of the exhaust openings 00, or so
as to completely close them if desired. Connected to the axle A is a lover U, the
axle boing movable so that its position may be varied by the movement of said
lever. The lever is connected to the axle in any desired manner, as, for example,
by the set screw V, so that its position with relation to said axle may be varied.
The ordinary operation of this device, it will be seon, is similar to that of the
first described form. The direction in which the wheel is rotated will depend upon
the position of the slot F through which the power is admitted to the spokes and
thence to the bulbs. If this slot is on one side of the perpendicular from the hub
to the ground, the wheel will move in a certain direction; and if it is upon the
other side of such line, the wheel will movo in the opposite direction. The
position of this slot and hence the direction of rotation of the wheel is governed by
the lever U.
By providing the exhaust compartment with a series of holes, and with a
controlling device whereby the size of the holes may be regulated, I obtain an
arrangement by which the exhaust will be gradual; that is, the fluid from any one
bulb will be partially exhausted when the internal passage way of the spoke with
which it is connected registers with the first exbaust opening, the desired exhaustion
only occurring after it has successively registered with a number of said openings.
A practically noiseless exhaust may thus be obtained, which might not be the case
if the bulbs were to be completely exhausted when first put into communication
with the exhaust compartment. The exhausting device may be so regulated that
the bulbs will not be completely exhausted but will contain some fluid after they

page_text: have passed all of the openings, and hence when they come into contact with the
roadbed they will act as a cushioned tire or spring.
I have thus a motor wheel provided on its periphery with a series of flexible
bulbs or hollow flexible sections independent of each other, such bulbs acting at
once as a cushioned tire and to propel the wheel.
Figures 6 and 7 are details illustrating still another form of flexible bulbs
which might in some instances be desirable, the bulbs being in this case spherical
in form.
As shown in Figure 7 the rim of the wheel is provided with projections N*,
the bulbs N fitting over such projections and being held in place by the bands No.
I have shown and described the sections and bulbs as being connected with the
hub and axle through the hollow spokes, this being a compact and desirable
arrangement; but it is evident that the spokes might be made solid if desired and
separate passages be provided for connecting the sections or bulbs with the hub
and axle.
It is also evident that the tire or cover J shown in Figure 1 might be omitted if
desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to bo performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In a motor the combination of a wheel like body with a flexible tire, and
means for successively expanding and contracting the tire in sections so as to vary
the distance of the periphery of said tire from the centre of said wheel, substantially
as shown and for the purpose specified.
2. A motor device comprising a wheel with a tire consisting of a series of hollow
unconnected flexible sections, a source of fluid supply, a connection from said
source of fluid supply to said wheel, said connection so constructed that the flexible
sections of the tire may be successively charged with fluid from said source of
fluid supply, and means of exhausting the fluid from such flexible sections at a
predetermined point, substantially as shown and for the purpose described.
3. A motor wheel device constructed substantially as shown and for the purpose
described.
Dated this 24th day of August 1806
DAY, DAVIES & HUNT,
Chartered Patent Agents,
321, High Holhorn, London, W.C., Ageuts for the Applicant.