Improvements in Wheels and Axles for Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Dec., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wheels and Axles for Vehicles.
D
I, GEORGE LAMB SCOTT of 18 Nelson Street Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the 'nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My said invention relates to improvements in wheels and axles for vehicles
such as carts, carriages, auto-cars and the like. The principal object of my in-
vention is to produce a wheel and axle-bearing which will not readily communi-
cate jar and vibration to the body of the vehicle, the wheel and axle being so
constructed as to cut off vibration and destroy its continuity. In manufacturing
the felly or rim of my improved wheel I provide a number of socket brackets
corresponding to the intended number of spokes. These brackets are made with
a ledge on one side to abut on the side of a continuous ring of steel or other
metal which surrounds and embraces the brackets, the said ring being prefer-
ably shrunk on when the spokes and hub are in position. Around this metal
ring I place a thickness of rubber or other suitable resilient or insulating
material which will deaden sound and absorb jar and vibration. I then place
upon this rubber or insulating material, a number of metallic sections so as to
entirely surround the ring and forming practically an outer metallic tread
divided into sections. The ends of the different sections abut at about the centre.
of each spoke bracket and are secured to the bracket through the rubber and
inner ring by bolts or other suitable attachments the bolt heads being preferably
counter-sunk in the rim and squared or elongated to prevent.turning of the bolts
or movement of the sections. When a wheel rim or felly such as I have described
rolls on the road, the interrupted outer ring of sections destroy the continuity
of transmission of jar or vibration round the wheel, while the rubber absorbs
whatever jar may arise so that little or no jar is transmitted to the spokes. By
a modification I might form the rim or the outer ring of the rim from an under-
cut metal trough section or series of sections a section or part being removable
so that I can slip into position a number of blocks of wood or other material suit-
able for absorbing jar: or I might form the outer ring or ring sections with dove-
tail holes or recesses to contain blocks or portions of vulcanised rubber tending
to deaden sound and absorb jar. The hub from which the spokes radiate in my
improved wheel is closed at the outer end and, is bored to fit a cast metal or other
bearing collar which is slipped and secured on the outer end of the axle, by a
pin or other means. The inner end of the bored hub is internally threaded to
fit a screwed ring-nut which is slipped upon the axle before the bearing collar is
secured in position. A packing washer disc of leather or other suitable material
is placed between the end of the axle and collar bearing and the closed end of the
hub interior, and a similar washer is interposed between the ring-nut and the
inner side of the collar hearing. An oil hole with suitable closing cap is provided
to lubricate the hub bearing. A lock screw or other means is provided to keep
the ring-nut in its adjusted position. The bearing is thus shut in so as to be
dust and weather proof. The extended bearing furnished by the enlarged bearing

page_text: collar secured on the axle end, provides an easy running surface and this bearing
may if desired constitute a ball bearing. The butts of the spokes fit between
flanges on the hub, and rubber pads might be placed both at the butt and at the
outer end of each spoke. I might however use wire or metal spokes. The axle
end carrying the bearing collar may be coupled by flanges and bolts or other
means to the main body of the axle and to arrest vibration a thickness of rubber
may be placed between the flanges.
The whole or portions only of the herein before described improvements may
be used in constructing my improved wheel and axle.
Dated the 3rd day of December 1896.
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
5 John Dalton Street Manchester, Chartered Patent Agents
Improvements in Wheels and Axles for Vehicles.
I, GEORGE LAMB SCOTT of 18, Nelson Street Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement and accompanying drawings:-
My said invention relates to improvements in wheels and axles for vehicles
such as carts, trolleys, carriages, auto-cars and the like. The principal object
of my invention is to produce a wheel and axle bearing which will not readily
communicate jar and vibration to the body of the vehicle, the wheel and axle
being so constructed as to cut off vibration and destroy its continuity.
And in order that my said invention may be fully understood I will now
describe the same with reference to the accompanying two sheets of drawings.
On sheet 1.
Fig. 1 represents a side elevation of my improved wheel and axle bearing.
Fig. 2 shows to an enlarged scale a spoke socket bracket and the method of
connecting the outer sections of the rim to the same.
Fig. 3 is a cross section of the rim and spoke bracket.
Fig. 4 is a section of the spoke bracket on the line A B Fig. 3.
Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are longitudinal sectional views of the improved axle bearing.
On sheet 2.
Figs. 8 to 12 indicate modified forms of the sections forming the outer rim.
Figs. 13 to 16 show modifications of my improved rim.
Figs. 17 and 18 indicate respectively end and side elevations of my improved
divided axle.
In manufacturing the felly or rim of my improved wheel I provide a number
of socket brackets corresponding to the intended number of spokes. The
brackets a are provided with sockets of oval cross section as shown in Fig. 4,
and the spokes are also formed in this cross section. Round or other forms of
spokes and sockets may of course be used if desired. The brackets a are prefer-
ably made with a ledge al on one side as indicated in Figs. 2 and 3 to abut on
the side of a continuous ring of steel or other metal b which surrounds and em-
braces the brackets, the said ring being preferably shrunk or compressed on
when the spokes and hub are in position. The ledge a¹ may now be dispensed
with.
Around the metal ring b I place a thickness of rubber or other suitable
resilient or insulating material c which will deaden sound and absorb jar and

page_text: vibration. I then place upon this rubber insulating material a number of
metallic sections d so as to entirely surround the ring and form practically an
outer metallic tread divided into sections. The ends of the different sections d
abut at about the centre of each spoke bracket a and are secured to the bracket
through the rubber and inner ring & by bolts or other suitable attachments as
clearly indicated in Fig. 2 the bolt heads being counter-sunk in the sections d.
The bolt heads may he squared or elongated to prevent turning of the bolts
or movement of the sections. When a wheel rim or felly such as I have described
rolls on the road, the interrupted outer ring of sections destroys the continuity
of transmission of jar or vibration round the wheel, while the rubber or other
insulating material absorbs whatever jar may arise so that little or no jar is
transmitted to the spokes.
Figs. 13 and 14 show a modification of my invention in which I form the sec-
tions d of an undercut metal trough formation, a section or part being removed
so that I can slip into position a number of blocks of wood e, or other material
suitable for absorbing jar.
The socket bracket a is in this case shown without the ledge a¹ but if desired
this ledge may be employed as indicated in dotted lines.
The ring is shown secured to the spoke bracket a by means of a screwed
bolt 6, and another bolt 62 connects the outer section d, rubber e, and metallic
ring to the spoke bracket as indicated in dotted lines.
I might form the outer ring sections d with dovetail holes or recesses to con-
tain blocks or portions of vulcanised rubber, cork or the like tending to deaden
sound and absorb jar.
This is shown in Figs. 8 to 12. In the plan views Figs. 8 and 9 the blocks
of rubber are shown in two forms inserted in the dovetail recesses e¹ of the
section d.
Fig 10 is a sectional view of Fig. 9 and shows the dovetail recesses e¹ more
clearly.
Figs. 11 and 12 are plan and sectional views respectively of the sections
which in this instance are provided with conical pieces of rubber e, the dotted
lines indicatng another formation of rubber block which may be used if desired.
The rubber blocks herein before referred to may be flush with the sections d or
may project to some extent above the outer surface of the sections.
Fig. 15 shows the improved rim adapted to the existing form of rubber tyred
wheels, in which the outer tread of rubber is carried in a trough shaped metal
rim.
The metallic trough rim is secured to the spoke bracket a by means of the
screwed bolt o¹. .
The trough section may if desired be reduced in depth and the interposed ring
or thickness of rubber c placed therein as shown in Fig. 15. The outer metallic
sections are then placed around the rubber ring and are secured in position
by means of the bolts 03 as shown in dotted lines in the Fig.
In Fig. 16 I show a method of adapting my improved rim to the ordinary
wooden wheel. The wheel 2 formed with the usual-shrunk on metallic tyre 7/1
is provided with the ringe of rubber or other sound deadening and shock absorb-
ing material.
Upon the rubber ring I place the metallic sections and secure the whole
together by means of bolts g as shown.
The hub from which the spokes radiate in my improved wheel is closed at the
outer end and is bored to fit a cast metal or other bearing collar which is slipped
and secured on the outer end of the axle, by a pin or other means.
Figs. 5, 6 and 7 represent in longitudinal section modified forms of the im-
proved axle bearing.
In Fig. 5 the axle f which is preferably tubular as shown is provided with a
cast metal or other extended bearing collar f which is secured to the outer end
of the axle by means of a pin for the like. The flanged hub g revolves freely.

page_text: upon the collar fl and a ring cover h closes the outer end of the hub. A collar h
secured in position upon the axle f by means of a set screw ³ is provided to
close the inner end of the hub.
The bearing is thus shut in and rendered dust and weather proof. The butt
ends of the spokes i are disposed between the flanges of the hub y and a clamping
ring gas indicated in the drawings.
Bolts are provided to clamp the butt ends of the spokes hetween the ring
and the hub g. The bearing collar f is formed with annular grooves within
which revolve studs secured to the hub g and cover h, thus preventing any
lateral movement of the hub on the bearing collar.
The studs may if desired be used only with the cover l as shown in full lines
in Fig. 5 or if preferred the hub g may also be provided with the studs & as in-
dicated in dotted lines. An oil hole closed by a suitable closing cap is provided
for lubricating purposes.
Fig. 6 represents a modified form of hub. In this case the hub g is closed at
the outer end as shown.
The extended bearing collar is secured to the axle f by means of pins f
The hub g carries a flanged collar secured to the hub y by bolts
for the reception and clamping of the butt ends of the spokes i.
to provide
The inner end of the hub g is screw threaded and is provided with a screwed
ring nut which is prevented from turning by the screw P. Packing washer
discs m of leather or other suitable material are placed between the end of the
bearing collar and the closed end of the huby and between the ring nut and
the inner side of the collar bearing to render the bearing dust and weather
proof. An oil hole with screwed closing cap is provided for lubricating
purposes. In the modification shown in Fig. 7 instead of forming the inner
collar as indicated in Fig. 5 the collar is formed in halves as shown bolted
together. The collar overlaps the hub g and is formed with an annular internal
bead or it might be projections engaging with the annular recess or channel f
formed in the collar bearing f
The extended bearing furnished by the enlarged bearing collar secured on the
axle end provides an easy running surface and this bearing if desired may con-
stitute a ball bearing.
The spokes are preferably of wood but I might if desired use wire or metal
spokes.
An important advantage in the construction of my improved wheel lies in the
fact that any one of the spokes may be withdrawn and replaced without cutting
the tyre and breaking up the wooden felly as is at present the case. To effect
this it is only necessary to remove the ring (Figs. 5 and 7) or the screwed ring
nut and the flanged collar 7 (Fig. 6) and unbolt the socket bracket . The
spoke may then he easily removed and replaced. Rubber pads (see Figs. 3
and 6) are or may be placed both at the butt and at the outer end of each spoke.
The axle end carrying the bearing collar is coupled by flanges and bolts to
the main body of the axle and to arrest vibration a thickness of rubber s or
other resilient material is placed between the flanges. This is shown in Fig. 17
and 18. It will be understood that each end of the axle carrying the bearing
collars may be so coupled, or one coupling only may be used."
In constructing my improved wheel and axle the whole or portions only of the
hereinbefore described improvements may be used.
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 general arrangement construction and combination of parts comprising
the complete improved wheel axle and axle bearing for vehicles substantially as
described and shown.
2. In wheels for vehicles the metallic sections d provided either with or with-

page_text: out dovetailed blocks or portions of rubber or other resilient material the said
metallic sections forming an interrupted outer periphery for the purposes and
substantially as described and illustrated.
3. The improved tyre for vehicles consisting of the metallic ring shrunk or
otherwise placed in position upon the spoke sockets, the thickness of rubber c or
other suitable resilient or insulating material, and the metallic sections d
arranged for the purposes and substantially as described and illustrated.
4. In wheels for vehicles the arrangement and combination of parts comprising
the extended dust proof axle bearings substantially as described and illustrated
with reference to Figs. 5, 6 and 7 of the drawings.
5. The modified construction of rim for vehicles substantially as described and
illustrated with reference to Figs. 13 and 14 of the drawings.
For the Applicant.
E. K. DUTTON & Co.,
5 John Dalton Street Manchester. Chartered Patent Agents.