IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELS FOR VEHICLES
Year: 1884

page_text: I WILLIAM ISAAC CHADWICK of the Princes Bridge Iron Works Manchester in
the County of Lancaster Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said
invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELS FOR VEHICLES to be as follows:-
My Invention relates principally to the wheels of tram cars and has for its
object to lessen their rigidity and thereby to reduce noise and other effects of
concussion. To this end I interpose one or more cushions of vulcanized caoutchouc
between the tyre and the hub and so construct the wheel as that there shall not
be any metallic connection between the two parts. I form the tyre or the ring on
which the tyre is fixed with a conical surface on each side and I also form a
conical surface upon each end of the hub. These surfaces may meet or nearly
meet in the centre of the hub or ring and are by preference turned. Within the
tyre or ring I place a ring of vulcanized caoutchouc which fits the double conical
surface, and the double conical surface of the hub is enveloped in a ring of
vulcanized caoutchouc. To make the connection between the tyre or ring and the
hub I employ two dished plates or discs having splayed flanges of a conical form
and having central holes with conically flanged margins to suit the formation of
the elastic rings. These discs are connected together by means of bolts which pass
through the two discs and draw them together so as to compress the elastic
cushions to a suitable extent. The said bolts may be tightened at any time when
by reason of wear or age the connections may have become slack or whenever it
may be considered advisable to adjust the parts. The said discs may be close or
be formed with openings or with arins and spaces I do not confine myself to the
conical formation of the surfaces and packings but I now consider such formation
to be the most suitable as the packings are readily and efficiently compressed by
tightening the bolts. I may substitute felt, paper, leather or other suitably elastic
material or composition for the vulcanized caoutchouc I may use sectional pieces
or parts to connect the tyre or ring with the boss instead of the complete discs and
I may dispense with the envelope or cushion on the hub. To regulate the degree
of compression of the elastic material I may interpose packings of wood, paper or
other substance between the disc and reduce the number or thickness of such.
packings when it is desirable to tighten the parts or I may form meeting surfaces
on the inner sides of the discs and turn down or reduce such meeting parts for the
same purpose My invention is also applicable in the construction of wheels for:
road carriages and other vehicles.
Dated this eighth day of January AD 1884
EDWARD K. DUTTON,
(Agent for the Applicant)..

page_text: I WILLIAM ISAAC CHADWICK of the Princes Bridge Iron Works Manchester in
the County of Lancaster Engineer do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELS FOR VEHICLES" and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement and accompanying drawings:-
My Invention relates principally to the wheels of tram cars and has for its
object to lessen their rigidity and thereby to reduce noise and other effects of
concussion. To this end 1 interpose one or more cushions of vulcanized caoutchouc
between the tyre and the hub and so construct the wheel as that there shall not be
any metallic connection between the two parts. I form the tyre or the ring on
which the tyre is fixed with a conical surface on each side and I also form a conical
surface on each side of the hub. These surfaces may meet or nearly meet in the
centre of the hub or ing and are by preference turned. Within the tyre or ring
1 place a ring of vulcanized caoutchouc which fits the double conical surface and
the double conical surface of the hub is enveloped in a ring of vulcanized
caoutchou. To make the connection between the tyre or ring and the hub I
employ two dished plates or discs having splayed flanges of a conical form and
having central holes with conically flanged margins to suit the formation of the
elastic rings. These discs are connected together by means of bolts which pass
through the two discs and draw them together so as to compress the elastic
cushions to a suitable extent.
:
In the drawings which accompany this Specification Fig: 1. represents a portion
of a tram wheel in section and Fig 2. illustrates a slight modification in the
construction. In Fig: 1. a is the axial line of the wheel, b. is the hub, and c is the
tyre The hub is turned into a double conoidal form and the inner surface of
the tyre is turned into the form of two hollow truncated cones meeting in the
centre of the tyre or thereabouts. The conoidal surface of the hub is enveloped in
a moulded cushion d. of vulcanized caoutchouc. An annular double conoidal
cushion e of the same material is made to fit upon the inner surface of the tyre.
The tyre is connected with the hub by means of two annular dished discs f, f, which
are formed to fit the two elastic cushions. Bolts g, g, pass through the two discs
and connect them together. By tightening these bolts and other similar bolts
arranged at intervals around the wheel axis the elastic cushions are compressed to
the required extent and the tyre is connected with the hub. It will be seen that
this connection is elastic to some extent and that as the effect of all shocks and
blows which the tyre may. receive must necessarily be transmitted through the two
elastic cushions the shocks will to a great extent be neutralised so that the
durability of the sustained vehicle and also of the tyre and the comfort of the
passengers will be increased. When applying only one cushion I prefer to apply
the cushion at 6. but I do not confine myself to this. In some cases I may extend
the edges of the discs beyond the cushions as indicated by the dotted lines at hand
if considered to be necessary each disc may extend past the cushion d. The bolts
may be tightened at any time when by reason of wear or age the connections may
have become slack or whenever it may be considered to be advisable to adjust the
parts. The said discs may be close or be formed with openings or with arms and
spaces. In Fig 2. a ring i is connected with or cast or formed upon the hub and
this ring is turned to a double conoidal form as in the case of the hub b. in Fig: 1.
Dished rings f³, act exactly as in the case of the discs f. This formation brings

page_text: the two cushions nearer together lessens the bulk of the discs or rings f. and
imparts greater steadiness to the tyre. I do not confine myself to the conical
formation of the surfaces and packings as I may employ a curved instead of a
conoidal formation but I now consider such conoidal formation to be the most
suitable as the packings are readily and efficiently compressed by tightening the
bolts, I may substitute felt, paper, leather or other suitably elastic material or
composition applied substantially in the manner indicated in the drawings for the
vulcanized caoutchouc. I may use sectional pieces or parts to connect the tyre
with the hub instead of the complete discs and I may dispense with the inner
envelope or cushion d. To regulate the degree of compression of the elastic
material I may interpose packings of wood, paper or other substance between the
two discs or rings f in Fig: 1, or f. in Fig: 2. and reduce the number or thickness
of such packings when it is desirable to tighten the parts or inay form meeting
surfaces on the inner sides of the discs or rings and turn down or reduce such
meeting parts for the same purpose My Invention is also applicable to the
construction of wheels for road carriages and other vehicles.
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:
1. The wheel constructed substantially as and for the purposes set forth and
indicated.
2. The interposition of conoidal elastic packings between the tyre of a wheel and
the hub and the employment of conically dished discs or of annular dishes to
establish a connection between the tyre and the hub or wheel body and to compress
the packings by the aid of bolts substantially as set forth and indicated.
Dated this 8th day of October 1884.