Year: 1888

page_text: I ELIAS ALEN SEALE of Prewton, in the county of Escambia and State of Alabama
United States of America, Gentleman, 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 improvements in Vehicle Wheels, and it consists in a
certain novel construction and arrangement of parts fully set forth hereinafter and
specifically pointed out in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is a front view of a portion of the wheel.
Fig. 2 is a central section thereof.
Fig. 3 is a front view of the wheel with the oil cup or cap and the thimble removed
showing the manner of securing the inner ends of the spokes in place.
or oil-cup.
Fig. 4 is an inside view of the caspokos.
Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of
Fig. 6 is a longitudinal central sectional view of a wheel in which only one
removable thimble is employed and in which the spokes are arranged alternately in
different planes.
Referring by letter to the drawings
A designates the sleeve or box of the wheel which is adapted to receive the axle B
and rotate thereon and the outer end of the said box is recessed to receive the nut
which is secured on the end of the axle.
The box A is threaded on the outside and on the inner or rear end of the same is
screwed the thimble C, which is flared or spread toward the outer end, thus providing
a shoulder c. The inner end of the said thimble is provided with an inwardly
extending flange, c to fit over the shoulder at the inner end of the spindle of the
axle.
D represents a collar fitting around the sleeve A and provided at its inner edge on
the outer side with an annular recess, D', extending through almost to the inner side
of the collar and leaving merely a flango d. (on the inner side) to fit the sleeve, A.
The outer side or face of the collar D is further provided with a series of radial grooves

page_text: or recesses d', which communicate with the interior annular recess D'. EE designate
the spokes which are adapted to rest in the radial slots or recesses in the collar D
and the ends of the spokes projecting into the annular recess are bent laterally to
form arms, e, e, extending toward the inner side of the collar and concealed in the said
annular recess.
Shoulders, e¹¹ are formed on the opposite sides of the spokes to engage the annular
shoulder at the inner edge of the collar or the shoulder formed by the annular recoss
thus preventing the spokes from being drawn through the radial recesses when a strain
is put upon them. The outer ends of the spokes are thrended and passed through
tapped openings or perforations in the rim or felly F.
The ends of the spokes are screwed into these openings and in this way are
adjusted in length after which the ends of the spokes are braded.
The radial recesses in the collar D are made of such a depth as to receive the entire
width of the spokes and thus bring the outer sides of the spokes flush with the outer
side of the collar.
H designates a washer which is placed against the outer side of the collar D to
cover the ends of the spokes and it will be seen thai, the washer is shaped in exact
imitation of the opposite side of the collar so that when the washer is in place the
said collar is symmetrical in appearance both the inner and outer sides being exactly
alike.
I designates a thimble which is screwed on the sleeve A and forced up tight against
the outer sido of the washer H and the inner side or end of the said thimble is Hared
or spread to form a shoulder i. It will thus be seen that the collar D is firmly
clamped between the opposing shoulders of the thimbles Cand I and there is no chance
for lateral movement thereof. The innerside of the collar D and the outer side of the
washer H are beveled or tapered in any preferred manner and the flared outer end of
the thimble C and inner end of the thimble I are designed to continue the bevel or
taper so as to cause the entire hub to have the appearance of being formed in ono
piece. The sleeve A projects slightly beyond the outer end of the outer thimble I and
on the said projecting end is screwed the cap K which fits over and completely
conceals the nut or tap on the end of the axle spindle.
A partition or web, L is formed in the cap a short distance from the outer end and
provided at the center with a small opening or perforation 1. The compartment M
which is thus formed in the end of the cap, K, is designed as an oil cup and it com-
municates by means of the perforation, l. with the end of the sleeve which contains
the spindle. An opening m is formed in the side of the oil cup or compartment M. to
allow oil to be introduced thereinto and the said opening is provided with a screw cap,
m. As the wheel rotates, the oil which is in the oil cup will work very slowly
through the perforation in the web, J. and find its way to the interior of the sleeve.
A very small quantity of oil is necessary to lubricate a journal which is in proper
condition and more than the necessary amount not only is a waste of the material but
tends to impede rather than aid the operation of the journal. It is my desire to
provide an oil-cup for wheel journals which will deliver the oil as it is needed. This
oil cup is so fixed however that even should an unnecessarily large amount of oil
escape therefrom it could not work its way to the outside of the hub as the cap K is
screwed tightly against the outer end of the thimble I.
In Fig. 6 the inner thimble is formed integral (or rigid) with the box and the
removable collar D bears against the shoulder formed by this rigid thimble and is
provided in its inner side with radial recesses or grooves similar to those in the outer
side.
The spokes are arranged alternately in the outer and inner recesses or grooves, the
outer spokes being straight while the inner spokes are bent or inclined outward to
bring their outer ends in the same vertical plane with the outer spokes. The inner
spokes thus form braces to prevent the wheel from "dishing" or twisting.
The outer thimble bears at its inner end against the outer side of the collar D and
clamps the latter against the shoulder formed by the rigid thimble thereby holding the
inner ends of the spokes tightly in place.

page_text: Any suitable tire may be arranged on the rim of the improved wheel to cover the
braded ends of the spokes but a tire composed of rubber and bone-dust is preferably
employed and it may be arranged in a peripheral groove in the rim or felly to prevent
displacement.
The advantages of constructing a wheel as herein described will now be soen.
If a spoke should be broken or become loose it may be replaced or tightened by
simply removing the cap and the thimble [.
If it is to tighten it simply romove the inner end of the spoke from the radial slot
in which it is secured, turn it the desired number of times replaco it in the slot and
brade the end again.
Further if the box should become worn it may be removed and replaced by a now
one without calling in the aid of a wheelwright.
A wheel constructed as herein described may be more easily put together when first
made as will be readily seen. The spokes are designed to be of the same shape as the
buggy spokes now in use but the material used in these spokes is preferably steel.
The appearance of this wheel is also lighter whereas it may be made very strong so
as to withstand severe strains.
The spokes may be formed at the inner ends with simply the lateral arm to engage
in the annular recess in the collar, but I prefer to provide the shoulders on opposite
sides to engage the shoulders at the inner ends of the radial slots as herein before
fully described.
This wheel may be very cheaply made and as the sleeve or box is the only part
thereof which is liable to wear out (and this may be replaced very easily and cheaply)
it will be seen that the wheel is very economical.
A still further and very important advantage of the construction hereindescribed is,
that the wheel may be lubricated without removing any of the parts thereof, as the
oil is simply introduced through the opening, m, in the side of the oil-cup whence it
is directed by the rotation of the wheel to the interior of the box.
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. The combination with the collar having a series of radial slots therein, of the
spokes adapted to be inserted at their inner ends in the said slots and having
shoulders e thereon to engage the inner edge of the collar and the threaded outer
ends, and the rim having a series of tapped openings therein, substantially as and for
the purpose specified..
2. The combination with the collar of the spokes attached at their inner ends thereto
and having threaded outer ends, and the rim having a series of tapped openings
therein to receive the threaded ends, of the spokes, the extremities of the said spokes
which project beyond the outer side of the rim being braded, as and for the purpose
substantially as specified.
3. In a wheel, the combination with the box or sleeve A, threaded on the outer
side, of the collar D secured thereon and having the inner ends of the spokes secured
thereto the thimble C, screwed on the sleeve on the inner side of the collar, the
thimble I, screwed on the sleeve on the outer side of the collar and the cap, L screwed
on the end of the sleeve to cover the tap on the end of the spindle which passes through
the sleeve substantially as specified.
4. In a wheel, the combination with the exteriorly threaded sleeve or box A, of the
collar D surrounding said sleeve, and having the annular recess D¹ and the radial
recesses or slots d' communicating therewith, the spokes E secured at their inuer ends
in the said slots and having the lateral arms é to engage in the annular recess, and the
thimbles C and I to be screwed on the sleeve A on opposite sides of the said collar to
hold it in place substantially as specified.
5. In a wheel, the combination with the sleeve A, of the collar D secured thereon
and having the annular recess. D¹, and the radial slots, d' communicating therewith
and the spokes E, E inserted at the inner ends in the said slots and having the lateral

page_text: arms e e, to engage in the annular recess, and the shoulders, e¹ e¹, in opposite sides to
engage the inner edge of the said recess, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
6. In a wheel, the combination with the sleeve or box A, of the collar D having the
radial slots, d, in the outer side to receive the inner ends of the spokes, the washer, H,
to bear against the outer side of the collar and conceal the ends of the spokes and the
thimbles and I screwed on the sleeve A on opposite sides of the collar to bind the
same and the washer H firmly in position, substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
7. In a wheel the combination with the exteriorly threaded sleeve A, of the collar D
surrounding the sleeve and having the interior annular recess, D₁, and the radial
slots, d', communicating therewith, the spokes E secured at the inner ends in the said
slots and having enlargements to engage in the said annular recess, the washer, H, to
bear against the outer sides of the spokes and the taps or thimbles C and I to screw
on the sleeve A on opposite sides of the collar to bind the same and the said washer
together, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
8. In a wheel, the combination with the exteriorly threaded sleeve or box A of the
collar D having the inner ends of the spokes secured therein, the inner thimble C,
and outer thimble, I. and the cap, I secured on the end of the sleeve and having the
oil reservoir M therein, communicating with the bearing of the wheel, substantially as
and for the purpose specified.
9. In a wheel, the combination with the box or hub screw-threaded at the outer end
of the cap L screwed thereon and baving the partition or web, L, therein, provided
with a perforation, l, and the opening, m, in the side provided with a screw cap, m²,
all
constructed and arranged as and for the purpose specified.
10. In a wheel, the combination of the exteriorly-threaded box or sleeve, A, the
thimble C screwed thereon and having the flared outer end forming the shoulder, c.
and the inward extending flange, c¹, on the inner end, the collar, D, bearing against
the shoulder c and having the inner ends of the spokes secured thereto, the thimble, I,
screwed on the sleeve and having the flared inner end forming a shoulder, i to bear
against the outer side of the said collar and the cap or oil cup, L. screwed on the end
of the sleeve over the end of the spindle extending through the said sleeve, and having
the opening m in the side thereof to receive the oil to lubricate the journal, sub-
stantially as and for the purpose specified.
11. In a wheel, the combination with a threaded box having a shoulder thereon of
the collar having radial grooves or recesses in its outer and inner sides, the spokes
secured at their inner ends alternately in the said grooves or recesses and arranged at
their outer ends in the same vertical plane, the rim or felly attached to the outer ends
of the spokes and the outer thimble screwed on the box and bearing against the outer
side of the collar substantially as specified.
12. In a wheel, the combination with the axle box, of the collar suitably mounted
thereon and having radial recesses or grooves in its outer and inner sides, the outer
spokes arranged in a vertical plane and secured at their inner ends in the outer recesses
or grooves, the alternate inner spokes secured at their inner ends in the inner recesses
or grooves and bent or inclined outward to bring their outer ends in the same vertical
plane with the outer spokes and the rim attached to the outer ends of the spokes,
substantially as specified.