Improvements in Vehicle Wheels.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Nov., 1889-Accepted, 21st Dec., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Vehicle Wheels.
A communication from abroad by JOHN BOYD LOTT, of Kittaning, in the County of
Armstrong, and State of Pennsylvania, United States of America, Merchant.
I, JOHN CORRY FELL, of the firm of Fell and Wilding, of 1 Queen Victoria Street,
in the City of London, Patent Agents, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and the manner in which the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has relation to improvements in vehicle wheels and more particularly
to the hub and sleeve, or box and the means of connecting the tire to the spoke and it
has for its object among others to provide a simple and cheap wheel, of few parts,
providing for increased elasticity of the parts; also to provide for the ready attach-
ment of the tire to the hollow spokes as well as to prevent bending of the felly.
The novelty resides in the peculiarities of construction, and the combinations,
arrangement and adaptation of parts, all as more fully hereinafter described, shown in
the drawings and then particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
The novel features will be more readily appreciated from the following description
when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which, with the letters
of reference marked thereon, form a part of this specification, and in which :
Fig. 1. is a longitudinal section through the hub and axle skein, showing also one
of the spokes in place, illustrating the manner of attaching the tire and felly.
Fig. 2. is a side elevation of the plug employed in Fig. 1 removed.
Fig. 3. is a sectional detail showing a modified form of attaching the tire and felly
to the spoke.
Fig. 4. is a side elevation of the plug employed in Fig. 3.
Fig. 5. is an enlarged perspective detail showing a portion of the felly and the
filling block used to prevent bending or collapsing of the felly.
Fig. 6. is an edge view of the spring employed.
Fig. 7. is a perspective detail of a portion of the tire.
Fig. 8. is a vertical section through a spoke showing one form of cap.
Fig. 9. is a vertical section through a felly and tire.
Fig. 10. is a perspective view of one form of cap.
Fig. 11. is a sectional view of the hub and of a spoke.
Like letters of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.
Refering to the details of the drawing by letter.
A. designates a portion of the axle provided with an annular flange A' and screw-
threaded end A³ to receive the nut A³ all of known construction. Surrounding the
end of the axle is the sleeve B. tapered to conform to the taper of the axle and formed
near each end with the annular flanges B1 B2 B3 and B as shown in Fig. 1.
This sleeve may be formed of a single piece as indicated by full lines in Fig. 1. in
which the flange B could be made detachable from the sleeve or it may be formed of
two or more parts adapted to be held together in any suitable manner, as for instance
by screw thread engagement as indicated by dotted lines in said Fig. 1.
The hub consists of a single casting of suitable exterior contour, formed near its
inner end with the annular interior shoulder C which serves to limit the outward
movement of the axle, a spiral spring D. preferably of steel being placed around the axle
and confined between the flanges A' on the axle and the flange B' on the sleeve.
E is a spring encircling the sleeve and located between the flanges B' B' thereof, the
hub at this point being formed upon its interior with an annular flange B* designed
to work between the flanges B' B2 of the sleeve and serving to compress said spring
when the said parts are brought in contact. The hub is also formed with the annular
flange against which the flange B² of the sleeve may impinge to prevent endwise

page_text: movement thereof. The flanges B' B2 and (2 are so proportioned with relation to
each other, as shown in Fig. I., that the flange C will not interfere with the removal
of the hub from, the axle when desired, and will serve to limitdendwise movement
in the opposite direction. Near its outer end the hub is formed interiorly with the
flange and with a thickened portion C to materially strengthen the same at this
point and to receive the set screws hereinafter:described. Confined within the
Hanges B³ B of the sleeve, and having impact, against the thickened portion (of
the hub is the elastic spring F preferably of rubber. The flange B³ is extended as
shown in Fig. 1 to forin sufficient substance for sockets which are screw-threaded to
receive the set screws hereinafter referred to. The outer end of the hub is screw-.
threaded as shown at C to receive the screw-threaded cap C7 which may be of any
ornamental material being provided with suitable apertures to receive a suitable
instrument for removing the nut, which, when removed will be retained in the pocket
at the end of the hub thus preventing loss or misplacement of the same.
Instead of forming the hub in a single piece it may be formed in two sections as.
indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, the two sections being secured together in any
preferred manner, as for instance by means of the bolts or rivets 4. as indicated in
said Fig. 1.
Between the flange B of the sleeve and the flange of the nut, is a spring Fi
preferably of steel, the preferred form being shown in Fig 6.
G are set screws passed through suitable screw-threaded openings in the thickened
portion C and into the screw-threaded sockets of the sleeve above referred to as seen
in Fig. 1; these serve to hold the parts in position and by simply loosening the
s'rews so as to disengage them from the sockets, the wheel is free to be withdrawn
from the axle.
The hub is formed substantially at its horizontal centre with the interior disc H
having spoke receiving sockets H in which are seated the inner ends of the spokes I.
This interior disc may be formed of one or more pieces as preferred. The spokes 1
emp'oy being preferably hollow or tubular as shown and are retained in their sockets.
by means of suitable bolts or rivets H2 which pass through suitable openings in the
spokes, the spokes shown in the upper portion of Fig. 1. being shown as provided
with an elongated slot H3 to allow a little play of the spoke, a suitable springu H
being provided between the inner end of the spoke and the inner periphery of the
disc as shown. The spoke at the lower portion of Fig. 1. is shown as .not. being
provided with this spring and I may sometimes choose to so arrange the parts, but
I prefer the use of the spring as it'affords considerable elasticity.
The hub ends of the spoke are preferably enlarged as indicated at 5. in Fig. 11.
Between the sleeve and the inner end of the spoke socket disc is a spring J..which
may be employed in connection with the spring H' at the inner edge of the. spoke.or
not, although preferably when I employ one the other is omitted.
4
Within the hub and arranged between the flange B and the corresponding
flange on the hub is an elastic ring or washer 6. When I employ. a solid hub,
that is a hub of a single piece preferably use the rubber ring or washer..7. at
the nut-end of the sleeve as indicated at the lower left hand portion of Fig..1.
:
The fellies that I preferably employ are substantially U-shaped as shown at K in
Fig. 5-provided with suitable apertures to receive the outer end of the spokes and to
prevent the bending of the felly I employ a filling piece as shown at. L in Fig. 5 formed
with a flat face and inwardly curved sides to conform to the curvature of the inner
walls of the felly. This filling piece is placed in the felly as indicated:in dotted lines
in Fig. 55and retained therein by means of the transverse. pin..or bolt. L' as clearly
shown in said figure. These filling pieces are employed between the spokes and may
be of suitable length. to occupy the whole or less than the whole of the space between
said spokes.
M is the tire, which, as shown in Figs. 3. and 7. upon its inner face is formed with
the shoulder M' forming a channel- which is designed to receive the outer edge of the
felly as shown more clearly in Fig. 3 to prevent pressing in thereof, the spokes in
this figurë being shown as having upturned ends 12 which have a bearing against

page_text: the inner wall of the felly with their outer edges bearing against the inner face
of the tire; a plug N being employed which fits within the split ends of the spoke,
the whole being retained in place by means of the transverse bolt or pin O, as
clearly shown in Figure 3, the screw O also being employed, which passes through
suitable hole in the tire into the plug N at right angles to the bolt 0.
a
This construction holds the bolts firmly together and prevents a spreading of
the felly.
In Figure & I have shown the felly as formed with right angled outer portions 8
which, when drawn together by the bolt fit over and rest upon the outer ends of
the spokes as indicated in Figure 8. A tire may be employed with this form or
not as found most desirable. In Figure 9 I have shown the tire as provided with
two parallel grooves 10 upon its under face into which the edges of the felly fit
snugly as indicated in said Figure 9.
In lieu of the filling piece L, shown in Figure 5, I sometimes employ a combined
cap and filling piece as indicated at 11 in Figure 10. This combined cap and filling
piece is provided with the end portions 12 which embrace the sides of the spoke
within the felly, the side portions 13 being provided with suitable holes 14
through which the transverse bolts pass and with an opening 15 in its outer face
through which passes the screw or other fastening means which holds the tire in
place. One of the form of spokes hereinbefore referred to should be employed with
this construction of cap.
Instead of employing the devices shown in Figures 3 and 4 I sometimes connect
the spokes, felly and tire as shown at the top of Figure 1 in which the end of the
spoke is passed through the felly and receives a plug Q of suitable material having a
flange O' providing a flat shoulder 02 which bears on the end of the spoke, the plug
fitting within the spoke and provided with a rounded bottom to conform to the
shape of the felly. In this form I employ a flat tire which rests firmly against the
end of the felly and is secured in place by means of a screw R passing through a
hole in the tire and engaging the screw-threads of the plug. A transverse bolt or
rivet S passes through the felly, spoke and plug and serves to retain the parts in
position. In this instance the flange Q' of the plug Q serves the same purpose as
the shoulders M of the form of tire employed in Figure and the construction
shown in Figure 1 serves to prevent effectually any play of the tire upon the felly
or spokes.
A vehicle wheel constructed as above described has been found from actual
practice to be far superior to all prior forms, providing elasticity at all parts where
necessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention as
communicated to ine from abroad and the manner in which the same is to be
performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
The herein described wheel constructed substantially as specified.
FELL & WILDING,
Agents for the Applicant.