IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARRIAGE WHEELS
Year: 1885

page_text: WILLIAM OWEN AVES, 46 Barbican, London, Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
CARRIAGE WHEELS" to be as follows:-
To have for its object an improved construction of wheel having self-contained
springs, intended to reduce vibration and prevent that excessive wear and tear
which quick travelling creates both in the wheels and body of the vehicle..
The details of my invention herein described relate more particularly to the
wheels of road vehicles drawn by horses, such as Broughams, Cabs, Carts or
Omnibuses, but the same principles of construction apply equally to Railway and
Tramway Carriages, Bath Chairs, Velocipedes &c, the details only differing to meet
the various points of weight, strength, and speed required.
Before describing in detail the various parts I may shortly explain its con-
struction as being a wheel having three distinct tyres, two composed of metal, and
an intermediate one of Rubber, which forms the spring. The outer tyre which
runs upon the ground is of a box or channel shape, of suitable thickness in the
centre to allow for. ordinary road wear, and having a flange upon either side to
give it the rigidity of a true circle essential to a travelling wheel, and at the same
time to form a case or shield for the reception of the Rubber band or springs.
For ordinary carriages I prefer to use a continuous Rubber band which in section
somewhat resembles the letter H By this means a direct spring is afforded at any
point of contact with road inequalities, and further as the Rubber band is under
slight compression within the channel ring, I render the wheel quiet even upon
stone paved roads, by depriving the outer tyre of that metallic sound which in fast
travelling, or by contact with the inner spoke tyre, it would otherwise give out.
This continuous rubber tyre being merely placed in the channel ring, the under
side lying upon the inside of the outer wearing tyre, and the top side having the
spoke tyre bearing upon it, requires no attachment to keep it in its place, but with
Bath chair wheels, which meet with no concussion from fast travelling, or with
Cart wheels in which quietness is not of first importance, it is not necessary to
make the Rubber band continuous, but I attach by means of rivets or small bolts
and nuts upon the inner metal tyre a separate buffer or cushion of Rubber at the
head of each spoke of the wheel.
The inner tyre is also recessed into the channel ring and like the outer tyre is
in itself perfectly rigid, keeping in position in its complete circle, and with each
revolution of the wheel bearing upon the Rubber band tyre upon which it is placed.
•

page_text: This inner metal tyre I make of special shape with two projecting lugs or ridges
formed upon it, which combine lightness and great strength, the better to sustain
in action the Rubber band more particularly at the points equidistant from the
spokes where it receives somewhat less direct support. This tyre which I term
the spoke tyre is in the same manner as with common wheels having wood felloes,
drilled to receive the tangs of the spokes, and when placed in position upon the
shoulders of the spokes, derives its support direct from the stock of the wheel, at
the same time retaining the spokes in their right position. The tangs of the spokes
are strengthened and protected from friction or contact with the tyre by ferrules or
short lengths of steel tube fitting closely over them.
The Rubber band is moulded in such a manner that it fits upon the outer sides
of the lugs or ridges of this inner tyre. The inner side of the lugs or ridges
I leave clear of the Rubber Band and afford an open space for the tangs of the
spokes. To facilitate.the building up or taking apart of the wheel, I do not make
this tyre into a solid ring by welding or brazing the two ends together, but prefer
to hold and maintain it in position by means of an adjusting screw or preferably
a bolt, and washer secured by nuts, and in the end of the tyre nearest to the
Rubber band I make a square hole to receive the Bolt shoulder. In the other end
of the tyre through which the bolt also passes I make the slot of greater length
parallel with the tyre itself, but of same width as the other end. This lengthened
slot along which the Bolt is free to pass affords a means of adjustment and of
keeping in compression the inner portion of the wheel, i.e. the spokes and stock.
To effect this I make upon the sides of the slot three or more pairs of grooves,
and in either of these when the spokes of the wheel have been sufficiently
tightened by means of a tool provided for the purpose, I place a washer having
two lips, which fit into either pair of the grooves aforesaid to prevent the bolt
slipping. I then secure the washer by means of locking nuts.

page_text: WILLIAM OWEN AVES 46, Barbican, London Middlesex Engineer 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 outer
This Invention relates to that class of Carriage Wheels in which India rubber
or equivalent elastic material is interposed between an outer metal tyre and an
inner tyre or felloe, for the purpose of producing a silent elastic wheel.
tyre I make trough shaped in cross section, the sides of the trough being by
preference deep enough to cover both the India rubber tyre or elastic filling and
the spoke tyre, or I may make the trough of the outer tyre more shallow, and flange
the edges of the spoke tyre slightly, in which case the india rubber tyre will bed
in both tyres, and be partially exposed to view.-Hitherto, in the construction of
wheels of this class, great difficulty has been experienced in securing the parts
together, and at the same time ensuring the elasticity of the wheel.
By my Invention, however, I am enabled to produce a strong, light, and elastic
wheel, with a jointless outer tyre, and without employing bolts and nuts, or equi-
valent means, for holding the outer tyre in place on the wheel. I first form the
outer tyre in one piece from trough shaped bar iron or steel, bending the bar into
a hoop, and welding the ends together. Within this tyre, I apply the india rubber
tyre or elastic material, and within this, again, the spoke tyre, which consists of
hoop iron or steel bent to a hoop shape, and having lapped loose ends.
The hub of the wheel I secure in place by means of, say, one third of the full
number of the spokes required for the wheel, and I use the hub as a fulcrum from
which to apply an internal straining pressure to the spoke tyre, for the purpose of
inserting, one at a time, the remainder of the spokes.
The construction of the wheel is then completed by contracting the spoke tyre
upon the spokes, and firmly securing together the lapping ends of the tyre.
To render this mode of constructing elastic wheels more clear, I have shewn in
the accompanying drawings, views of the wheel in course of construction, and the
tools employed for expanding and contracting the spoke tyre. I have also shewn
several sections of wheel tyres which I propose to employ in carrying out my
Invention. I would, however, here remark that I do not limit myself to these
sectional forms, neither do I claim as new the several parts composing the sections
of the wheel.
Fig. 1 shews in partial side elevation an elastic wheel in course of construction,
a jack or straining tool being applied thereto according to my Invention, and
Fig. 2 is a similar view of the same wheel, with all the spokes in place, the spoke
tyre being contracted by means of a clamp employed for that purpose. Fig. 3 is
a cross section of the wheel, with the jack in place, and Fig. 4 is an enlarged section
of the compound tyre.
In these Figures, a is the external tyre, made with side flanges for embracing
the spoke tyre b and the interposed elastic tyre c. The tyre a is a channelled

page_text: .
endless metallic hoop, and the tyre b is an open hoop with lapped ends, as shewn
best at Figures 5 and 6, Fig. being a longitudinal section, and Fig. 6 a plan, of
the lapped ends of the hoop seen from the inside. These lapped ends are slotted,
the one to receive the squared overlapping head of a screw bolt 1, and the other,
which is made longer and is notched or indented at its sides, to receive a washer
formed with corresponding projections on its face. This washer 2 is shewn detached
at Figures 7, and through it is passed the screw 1, to receive the clamping nut 3,
after the tyre has been drawn tight upon the spokes, and the washer has been fitted
to its slot, to act as a retaining piece. The tyre b. is formed with two annular
ribs **, which serve to steady the rubber tyre c. when in place; they also give
strength to the spoke tyre.
By reference to figures 3 and 4, it will be seen that a space is left between the
spoke tyre and the rubber tyre in the plane of the spokes. This is to provide for
the tangs of the spokes projecting through their tyre, and thereby taking a good
hold of the same. In the spoke tyre, holes are drilled, at equal distances apart, for
the insertion of the spoke tangs, allowance being made for the contraction of the
tyre at the lap joint. When the parts of the wheel are put together, as above
. described, the ends of the spoke tyre are temporarily contracted to an undue degree,
to facilitate its insertion within the external tyre a; and to provide for the inser-
tion, in place, of the remainder of the spokes, the tyre b. is subjected to the strain
of the "jack," as shewn at figures 1 and 3. This jack consists of a standard A,
drilled out vertically to receive a sliding rod B, which is threaded at its upper end,
and terminates at its lower end in a foot or enlargement.-The standard is cast
with longitudinal lateral openings to receive a cam shaped hand lever C, which is
pivotted to the standard, and is intended to bear, at its cam shaped extremity, on
the foot of the rod B.
Fitting the screwed end of this rod is an elongated nut D, provided with a socket
to receive the stem of a bearing piece E.
When the jack is placed on the hub of the wheel, and the bearing piece E is
adjusted to embrace the spoke tyre, on the depression of the hand lever C, the
piece E will be raised, and caused to strain the spoke tyre out of shape, so as to
give room for the insertion of a spoke near to the point where the strain is applied.
On this being effected, the position of the jack is shifted to near another spoke
hole, and the like straining pressure is again applied, through the jack, to the spoke
tyre, with the object of facilitating the insertion of a spoke at this part of the
wheel.
In like manner, the straining pressure to the inner tyre is repeated, until the
insertion of the remainder of the spokes completed.
When all are in place, it is only necessary to put a strain on the spoke tyre in
an opposite direction, in order to bind it tightly upon the spokes.-This is done
by means of the screw clamp F, shewn at fig. 2, there being two holes drilled in
the tyre, near the lapping ends, to allow of the application of this tool to the tyre.
The clamp consists of two bars, from one of which a pair of screwed rods projects,
while the other is free to slide upon those rods. A stud projects from each bar,
and nuts fitted to the screwed ends of the rods bear upon the loose bar and serve
to propel it forward.
When, therefore, these studs are fitted into the holes made in the tyre to receive
them, and the loose bar is pressed forwards by the nuts, the spoke tyre will be
tightened up to any desired extent, and it may be retained in this state of strain
by inserting the washer 2 in place, and tightening up the screw 1 by means of the
clamping nut 3.
:
As my Invention applies to wheels for various kinds of vehicles, I have thought
it desirable to shew how the sections of the wheel may be modified to suit varying
circumstances. The section fig. 4 is suited for a light wheel, but where heavier
loads are required to be supported, the inner elastic tyre is advantageously made
solid. In Fig. 8, the outer periphery of the solid rubber tyre is moulded with an

page_text: annular channel to receive a central fillet projecting from the inner periphery of
the outer tyre.
In fig. 9, the outer tyre is shewn as provided with two such internal fillets, the
rubber being correspondingly channelled to receive them.
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
Constructing elastic wheels with a jointless outer tyre, and with a contracting
and expanding spoke tyre, by building them up in the manner above set forth.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.