Improvements in the Construction of the Hubs of Wheels for Vehicles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Apr., 1894
Complete Specification Left. 3rd Jan.. 1895-Accepted, 16th Feb., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of the Hubs of Wheels for
Vehicles.
CHRISTOPHER BEAVEN MARKS, Gas Examiner, 44 Cambridge Road, Mile
End Road, in the County of London, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
My invention relates to and claims to be an improvement in the hubs of vehicles
in which elastic cushions are used to take up and prevent vibrations.
The object of my invention is to improve the construction of the wheels of vehicles
that vibration as much as possible may be prevented, and riding made more com-
fortable, as well as to prevent the unnecessary wear and tear of the vehicles. And
in the case of cycles or velocipedes to provide a substitute for the expensive
pneumatic tyres so liable to be deranged through puncture.
To attain this object my aim has been to provide a strong light hub containing
elastic cushions, with the pressure on them evenly and equally distributed, having
a vertical and when necessary a lateral yielding, whilst by the principle of its
construction, it will be impossible for its parts to become displaced, or for one part
to rotate without all the other parts.
My invention chiefly consists in making the interior of the hub to contain or to
be made of round, grooved, or otherwise shaped tubes, or regularly shaped sections,
firmly united and placed longitudinally between the shell and the axle box. These
tubes or sections may be made separately and then united, or with or without the
shell, they may be made altogether in one casting. In some cases a part of the
shell may be formed of parts of the outer tubes or sections. A partial partition
may be made in the centre of the tubes by metal disks or otherwise, or the ends of
the tubes may be partially closed, so as not to prevent the proper yielding.
The axle box which may be furrowed that it may grip the cushion, may also have
projections at the ends of its ridges, and it has a flange at each end either integral
or removable extending beyond the centre of the hub tubes. Both flanges have
holes opposite to each other corresponding to the number of tubes or sections
contained in the hub, and the number of projections on the ends of the axle box.
The axle box may also have two outer flanges grooved to receive the projections
on its ridges which pass through holes in the principal flanges. These outer
flanges may be screwed on or into the axle box thereby securely fastening the
other flanges to it. They may also be grooved to receive the ball bearings. And
on the rims when necessary cogs may be placed. To prevent them from becoming
loose a
screw or screws may be made to pass through the flanges simply or
through them into the axle box, either from the rims or the sides.
When lateral yielding is necessary the flanges must not be placed close to the
ends of the hub tubes. The parts of the flanges opposite to the centre of the tubes,
round the bolt holes may be depressed or sunk to enter the tubes, so as to allow
a longitudinal as well as a vertical movement, or iustead disks of metal or some
suitable material may be attached to the flanges.
A bolt or rod or another small tube passes through each of the hub tubes and is
screwed or fastened to the flanges. These bolts may be enlarged at the ends or
middle by metal disks or otherwise so as not to prevent their lateral and vertical
movement.
The space in the central tube, when one is used, if not, the space between the
tubes not taken up by the axle box, and the space in the hub tubes, and that

page_text: between the ends of the hub tubes, or sections and the flanges not occupied by the
bolts, may be filled by vulcanised rubber cushions, or pneumatic cushions, or
some other suitable elastic substance capable of deadening and preventing
vibration.
To obtain a lateral or longitudinal yielding the cushions may be made longer than
the hub tubes, and tapered at the outer ends. The same object may be obtained
in other ways as will be described.
The valves of the pneumatic cushions may be placed outside or inside the hub.
There may be twice as many separate cushions as the hub contains tubes,
besides the central or box cushion, and the cushions between the flanges and the
hub tubes, or the whole of the tube cushions may be united to the central one by
connections through openings in the tubes in part or from end to end; or the whole
of the cushions contained in the tubes, and the box cushion, may be joined to
one of the end cushions. In which also may be embedded the connecting tubes
when the cushions are pneumatic; or preferably half the tube cushions and the
box cushion may be joined to one of the side cushions, and the other half of the
tube cushions to the other side cushion. Thus interlocking the whole of them;
or the tube and box cushions may be divided in the middle, and a half joined to
each of the side cushions.
The divisions of this tubular hub I have described, being regular, the cushions
for them may be made from moulds.
A hub made in the compact way I have described may be light and strong, and
the pressure on the elastic cushions equally and evenly distributed all through it.
And it has a vertical and lateral yielding, whilst by the nature of its construction,
it is impossible for its parts to become displaced, or for one part to rotate without
the other parts.
The shell containing the tubes, the cushions, and the axle box with its flanges
and their appurtenances are all firmly united, and therefore must rotate
altogether.
Reference may be made to the accompanying drawings which are a part of this
Specification.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the hub of a cycle or velocipede wheel
illustrating my invention.
The section is taken on line 1-1 Figure 2.
Figure 2 is a transverse section on line 2-2 Figure 1.
Referring to both these figures.
The hub is mainly composed of tubes Cand in this hub a part of the outside or
shell D Figure 1 consists of parts of the united tubes.
Figure 1 has sections of both the rubber cushions A and
which meet in the
In this hub the
middle of the hub. Figure 2 has only sections of cushion A.
tube and box cushions are divided in the middle, and equally joined to the end or
side cushions, forming together two cushions A and B.
b
The axle box E Figures 1 and 2 is provided with deep furrows a Figure 2, to
enable it to grip the cushion. And each of its ridges has a projection 6 Figure 1.
Both ends of this axle box have an inner flange F and an outer flange G Figure 1
which are removable. A part of the outer flange d Figure 1 passes through the
inner flange and is screwed to the axle box.
The projections & Figure 1 on the ends of the ridges of the axle box pass through
the inner flange into the grooves e Figure 1 in the outer flange.
The inner and principal flanges in addition to the central holes for attachment
to the axle box have holes f Figure 1 opposite to each other at the centre of the
hub tubes.
In this hub instead of bolts light metal tubes Figure 1 pass through the
certre of the hub tube cushions to connect the principal flanges. These tubes
have sectional ends, and the holes in the flanges only allow these ends to pass
through them. And the heads of the screws Figure 1 which bind them are
ocessed to receive these sectional ends.

page_text: Figure 3 is a modification of Figure 2, and the references to Figure 2 relate to
both Figures 2 and 3 alike. The modification being only in the shape of the
tubes.
Dated this 3rd day of April 1894.
CHRISTOPHER BEAVEN MARKS.
Improvements in the Construction of the Hubs of Wheels for
Vehicles.
I. CHRISTOPHER BEAVEN MARKS of 44, Cambridge Road, Mile End Road,
in the County of London, Gas Examiner, 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 :-
My invention relates to and claims to be an improvement in the hubs of the
wheels of vehicles in which elastic cushions are used.
The object of my invention is therefore to improve the construction of the
wheels (ie. the elastic hubs of the wheels) of vehicles that vibrations and noise as
much as possible may be prevented and riding made more comfortable as well as to
prevent the unnecessary wear and tear of the vehicles and in the case of cycles or
velocipedes to provide a substitute for the expensive pneumatic tyres so liable to be
deranged through puncture.
To attain this object my aim has been to provide a strong light hub containing
elastic cushions (such as solid rubber or the like, pneumatic, or both in combination)
with the pressure on them evenly and equally distributed having a vertical and
when necessary a lateral yielding whilst by the principle of its construction it will
be impossible for its parts to easily become displaced and quite impossible for one
part to rotate without all the other parts.
My invention chiefly consists in making the interior of the hub to contain or to
be partly made of round grooved or otherwise shaped tubes or regularly formed
sections of tubes firmly united in one or more sets and placed longitudinally between
the shell or box and the axle box.
To be more particular (1) My invention chiefly consists in making the hub to
contain tubes or sections of tubes connected with the axle box or its flanges in such
a manner that elastic cushions may be p.aced in and pneumatic or other cushions
around them when they are arranged in sets.
(2) And also in placing around the inside of the rim of the box or shell
sections of tubes to contain pneumatic or other elastic cushions which are joined to
a pneumatic or other suitable cushion placed round the axle box for the purpose of
protecting and assisting in keeping it in its place.
And in order that all the parts of the hub may be made to rotate together these
tubes and sections of tubes are interlocked in the following manner :-
A set of sections of tubes attached to the shell or box is interlocked by passing
through them or partly through them a set of rods bolts or other but much smaller
tubes attached to the flanges of the axle box when these Hanges form part of the
shell or box and also when they are placed inside it; or the reverse a set of tubes
or sections of tubes connected with the axle box or its flanges is interlocked by
passing through them or partly through them a set of bolts rods or other but
smaller tubes connected with the sides of the shell or box or with a partition or
partitions in the shell. These tubes or sections of tubes may be made separately
and then united or with or without the shell or with or without the axle box each
set may be made altogether in one casting.
In some cases therefore a part of the shell may be formed of parts of the outer
sections of tubes. A partition may be made in the centre of the tubes by metal

page_text: disks or otherwise or the ends of the tubes may be partially closed so as not to
prevent the proper yielding.
The axle box which may be furrowed corrugated or otherwise suitably formed
that it may grip the cushions may also have projections at the ends of all its ridges
and it may have a flange at each end either integral or removable.
Both flanges may have holes opposite to each other corresponding in some cases
to the number of tubes or sections of tubes contained in the hub and the number
of projections on the ends of the axle box.
to it.
The axle box may also have two outer flanges grooved to receive the projections
on its ridges which pass through holes in the other flanges. These outer flanges
may be screwed on or into the axle box thereby securely fastening the other flanges
The ball race or bearing may also be integrally attached to it and on the
rims when necessary cogs may be placed integrally or otherwise and to prevent
them from becoming loose a screw or screws may be made to pass through the
flanges simply or through them into the axle box either from the rims or sides.
When lateral yielding is necessary the flanges must not be placed close to the
ends of the sections of tubes nor the ends of the tubes and sections of tubes to
the sides or partition or partitions of the box. The parts of the flanges opposite
to the centre of the tube sections round the bolt holes may be depressed or sunk
to enter said sections so as to allow a longitudinal as well as a vertical yielding or
instead disks of metal or some suitable material may be attached to the flanges.
Or, instead of the ridges of the axle box and the projections on them when used,
the ridges may consist of a number of small tubes and in cycle hubs the ball race
or bearing may be integrally attached to the axle box or to removable flanges.
Tubular or solid projections integrally or otherwise may be joined to the
flanges and made to fit into these tubes which by the aid of screws or a central nut
fitted on the ball race or bearing when it is integrally attached may be fixed to
the axle box. This tubular axle box may also have the larger set of tubes or
sections of tubes those which receive the cushions integrally attached to it or they
may be removable and made separately or in one or more sets and then put on
they may be integrally attached to flanges and then put on the axle box.
instead, in cycle hubs the axle box may be simply a tube provided with a screw
thread externally.
or
Or
The large tubes those holding and bearing the cushions are made in two sets in
some cases they do not meet in the middle a part of the cushion intervening.
Each set is attached to a flange which has also attached to it on the same side and
parallel with the large tubes and it may be half the length of the axle box a
central tube and on the other side of each of the flanges is placed the ball ra e or
bearing.
These two central tubes are made to interlock each other. Or instead these
central tubes may form the axle box by being joined outside. They may have
small parallel identical tubes attached to them fitted with bolts or screws for the
purpose.
A bolt or rod or another smaller tube may pass through or partly through each
of the large tubes or sections of tubes and may be screwed or fastened to the
These
flanges of the axle box or to the sides or partitions of the shell or box.
bolts may be enlarged at the ends or middle by metal disks or otherwise so as not
to prevent their lateral and vertical movement. Or for the same purpose instead
or as well projections tubular or otherwise may be integrally attached to the
flanges of the axle box or the sides, or partial partitions of the shell.
Or for the same purpose these projections may be attached to separate rings.
Generally the space in the hub not occupied by the axle box and the locked
tubes is occupied by some elastic substance or cushion.
To particularise-The space between the sections of tubes and the axle box when
the former are fixed to the shell or box and the space between the tubes or sections
and the shell when they are fixed to the axle box or to its flanges and the space in
the large tubes or sections of tubes and that between the en is of these tubes and

page_text: .
is the sprocket or chain driving wheel rigidly fixed by the bolts c to the
shell d.
z is the axle upon which the hub and wheel revolves.
Referring now to Figs. 3, 4 and 5-Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of a
hub having the large tubes a as sections of tubes and having a pneumatic cushion
placed between the axle box and these tube sections and connected with the tube
Cushions ex through the openings in the tubes.
The section is taken on line 5-5 Fig. 4.
Fig. 4 is a transverse section taken on line 6-6 Fig. 3.
Fig. 5 has otherwise shaped sections of tubes and box.
The large tubes a are formed continuously and integrally as shown in Fig. 4
on their outer periphery (which latter serves similarly to the corrugated flanges g
in Figs. 1 and 2 to receive a rim such as the rim shown in Figs. 1 and 2 to carry
the spokes) or such rims or the spoke sockets may be cast on this outer periphery
as also in the modification illustrated in Fig. 5.
The sides of these tubes towards the axle (i.e. nearest the centre) are cut away
or omitted thus forming what I term "sections of tubes
" a so that the rubber
cushions can be moulded as shown to fit the interior of these tubes and pass
through the said opening therein-see Figs. 4 and 5-towards the centre of
the hub.
k is air space to form the pneumatic cushion all round inside the hub.
is the filling tube or air passage to said air chamber k.
The other letters of reference used on these Figs. 3, 4 and 5 indicate corre-
sponding parts to those indicated thereby in Figs. 1 and 2.
Figs. 6 and 7 are sectional views of an elastic hub of somewhat different types-
Fig. 6 being a section on line 7-7 Fig. 7, and Fig. 7 being a section on
line 8-8 Fig. 6.
.
The large sections of tubes a are integrally connected with the axle box b and
have a chamber k to form a pneumatic cushion between the sections of tubes a and
the rim or side d of the box and connected with the tube cushions ex through
openings in the tubes from end to end.
Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view of a hub having the large tubes a in two
sets each having a flange a** attached thereto to fit against the axle box b and the
inner tubes attached to the sides d of the shell as shown.
The rim has cast or carries thereon the partition in the form of a disk m
which terminates at me and carries thereon the oppositely extending inside tubes n
which fit within the inner tubes and are there secured by the screws c.
Fig. 9 is a longitudinal sectional view on line 11 Fig. 10 and Fig. 10 is a
sectional view on line 12 Fig. 9 of a hub having two sets of large tubes a that are
attached to the flanges a** which have also smaller tubes a*** formed integrally
therewith and which latter overlap where they meet at their inner ends as shown
and through one of these the axle box * is passed and is screwed into the other
see Fig. 9 and thus securely hold same together.
The large tubes a do not meet where they approach each other from the opposite
sides so that the whole of the cushions may be united in the middle i.e. the elastic
cushion can thus be made all in one piece.
Fig. 11 is a longitudinal sectional view of a hub of a carriage or other wheel on
the end of an axle. The section is taken on line 13-13 Fig. 12.
Fig. 12 is a transverse section taken on line 14-14 Fig. 11.
** is the ordinary axle box of a carriage wheel.
The large tubes a are all formed integral with one another (see Fig. 12) and has
sections of tubes on their outermost sides so that the
all in one piece either with or without a chamber
cushion as desired.
elastic en-hion can be formed
therein to form a pneumatic
The holts or rods f* serve the same purpose as the hereinbefore described inner
tubes (or which they rve as substitute) and they are secured in position by the
screw (see Figs. 11 and 12.

page_text: The shell has at the inner end the flange ** integral therewith and at the
other end has secured thereon the outer end plate o with the tubular extension p
therein screw-threaded on the inside and adapted to receive the screw cap t.
s is an outer cover or guard which fits on the outer end of said shell d* and is
held in position by the flange t¹ on the screw cap which is formed as a male screw
at t² and screws into the female screw in the extension p and thus securely holds
the parts together.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures
throughout the drawings.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In an elastic hub for the wheels of vehicles-the combination with the axle
box of a set or sets of tubes or sections of tubes integrally or otherwise attached
to the axle box and having passed through or into these tubes or sections of tubes
so as to interlock therewith a corresponding set or sets of bolts rods or smaller
tubes attached to the shell of the hub acting in conjunction with any suitable
elastic cushion or cushions interposed between said parts substantially in the manner
and for the purposes hereinbefore described.
2. In an elastic hub-the arrangement and combination with the axle box of a
set or sets of sections of tubes integrally attached to the inside of or themselves
forming the rim of the shell of the hub a corresponding set or sets of bolts rods or
smaller tubes either integrally or otherwise attached to the sides of the shell,
openings provided in said sections of tubes, elastic cushions all combined in one or
more parts filling said tubes and also passing through the said openings therein and
occupying the space between said tubes and the axle box and means to rigidly attach
said sides of the shell to the axle box substantially in the manner and for the
purposes herein before described.
3. The improved construction of elastic hubs arranged combined and acting
substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described with
reference to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings hereunto annexed.
4. The improved construction of elastic hubs arranged combined and acting
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before described with
reference to Figs. 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings hereunto annexed.
5. The improved construction of elastic hubs arranged combined and acting
substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described with
reference to Figs. 6 and 7 of the drawings hereunto annexed.
6. The improved construction of elastic hubs arranged combined and acting
substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described with
reference to Fig. 8 of the drawings hereunto annexed.
7. The improved construction of elastic hubs arranged combined and acting
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before described with
reference to Figs. 9 and 10 of the drawings hereunto annexed.
8. The improved construction of elastic hubs arranged combined and acting
substantially in the manner and for the purposes hereinbefore described with
reference to Figs. 11 and 12 of the drawings hereunto annexed.
9. The improved construction of elastic hubs for the wheels of vehicles sub-
stantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before described and illustrated
in the drawings hereunto annexed.
Dated this 3rd day of January 180%
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.