Year: 1886

page_text: I, JAMES LAIRD JOHNSTON, residing at Topeka, in the County of Shawnee,
& State of Kansas, one of the United States of America, gentleman, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in vehicle wheels,
& consists substantially in such peculiar features of construction and combination
of parts as will be hereinafter more particularly described and indicated in the
claims. The object is to so construct a vehicle wheel as that the greatest degree
of strength is had from a minimum amount of material; & also to provide a novel
and simple mode of securing the several parts together whereby the wheel can be
made exceedingly light and durable; further objects appearing from the description
hereinafter following.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure, 1, represents a sectional side view of a vehicle wheel embodying my
invention.
Figure, 2, is a longitudinal sectional view of the axle box and hub rings.
Figures, 3, and, 4, are detail sectional views of the outer sockets for the
spokes; and
Figures, 5, and, 6, are also detail sectional views of modified forms of sockets
which are formed with the hub rings & are designed to receive the inner ends of
the spokes.
In the practice of my invention I provide an axle box, A, having one end screw
threaded & its other end enlarged, as shown. Formed with & surrounding the
said box, adjacent to its enlarged end, is a collar or circumferential flange, a, while
at a point of said flange a projection or lug, b, is provided, the sides of which taper
inwardly at the bottom in the form of a wedge, as shown & the same being
designed to enter one of the correspondingly shaped recesses on the inner side of
the hub ring by which the box is prevented from movement when properly placed
within the rings. B, B, represent the hub rings which are counterparts in con-
struction the same being formed with radial sockets, c, for the reception of the
inner ends of the spokes, A. 4, the said sockets of each tending or inclining slightly
toward those of its fellow, as shown, in order that the spokes will be given
the proper dish, or relativeness. These rings are placed with the sockets, c, of one

page_text: alternating in position with the sockets of the other, this being usual in the
present class of vehicle wheels. The inner sides of the rings are made at right
angles and are supported and connected interiorly by radial webs or partitions, d,
each one of which, if continued across the ring, would pass through its center, thus
providing wedge shaped recesses, e, between them into which the wedge shaped
lug, b, on the axle box is received when properly placed into the hub rings. By
this construction of hub ring it will be seen that a great saving of material is
effected, together with a reduction in weight of the several parts, while at the same
time the greatest amount of strength is obtained. The webs, d, concentrating
toward the center of the rings. bear upon the perimeter of the axle-box, thus
equalizing the strain imposed on the rings. The end and edge of each web or
partition, is grooved as shown, at,. f, for the purpose of receiving the projection
formed by the manner of fitting up the box, thereby allowing the edge of the ring
to fit snugly against the collar, a, when the box is inserted. It will be apparent
that in consequence of the spaces, e, no difficulty will be experienced in adjusting
or replacing the box into the rings, since all that is required is to simply force the
box in with little or no turning thereof. It will be seen that the webs, d, are so
disposed as to be brought beneath the sockets, c, (this being preferred although
I do not confine myself to this precise location) by which it is evident that the
additional strength is afforded the same, and an increased, resistance supplied
against the force necessary to insert the spokes, and also prevents the box from
working loose in the rings. i, represents an opening or vent that is formed either
at the base of the sockets, as shown in figure, 1, or the same may be formed in the
side thereof as indicated in figures, 5, and, 6. In the present class of inventions it
has formerly been quite difficult to insert the spokes into their sockets as tightly
as is requisite, for the reason that a certain amount of air is always contained in
the latter which becomes compressed in the bottom of the sockets and does not
allow the spokes to be driven entirely to the bottom. By the employment of
these openings the air contained in the sockets is forced out on the insertion of the
spokes and thus is the difficulty which has heretofore been attendant on this
operation greatly lessened. Heretofore it has been found necessary to at first
insert the spokes and drive them down or in as far as possible and then wait until
the contained air has escaped or become absorbed and again subject the spokes to
a further force to insure their tightness of fit; but with my construction this is
entirely obviated and the spokes may be inserted and driven very tightly into
place at one operation.
It will be seen that the ring which is engaged and held by the projecting lug of
the box, will by virtue of the spoke and rim connection usually made, also prevent
the movement of the other ring, and the prime feature of constructing the two
rings alike is that the parts will be of equal symmetry and weight, and that the
box can be inserted in the wheel irrespective of the side at which it is introduced.
G, represents a rubber cushion or ring which is placed between the rings before
the box is inserted the same being of ordinary form; and, D, designates a nut for
forcing the hub-rings together to compensate for looseness of the spokes.
As a convenient and effectual mode of securing the rims and felly and the outer
ends of the spokes I employ a metal ferrule, D', which consists of the thimble or
socketed portion adapted to receive tightly the outer end of the spoke, A', the outer
end of which thimble is constructed with a concavity leaving flanges, a, a, which
form a solid seat for the convex inner side of the felly as clearly shown.
In the inner end of the socket and ferrule I form a recess adapted to receive a
nut, c, and prevent it from turning. When the nut is dropped in its recess the
ferrule, D¹, is driven on the spoke and adjusted in place against the inner side of
the felly through which a hole is bored. A screw, E, is then introduced through
the tire and felly and caused to enter the nut, c'. The parts are thus securely and
rigidly tied together and the spoke is held without materially weakening the felly.
At, x, I have represented the screw, E, as being passed directly through the
wooden-felly, but in practice I prefer for some wheels to form a cylindrical tenon, D³,

page_text: on the upper concave end of the ferrule, D¹, which tenon is screw tapped from end
to end for receiving the screw, E, which firmly binds the parts together and which
has a metal bearing throughout its length as clearly shown. From the above
description it will be observed that I do not form tenons on the spokes but bind
the outer ends by means of metal ferrules which bear solidly against the felly
& receive the metal screws; and also that I form the tenon fastenings integral
with the metal ferrules, and they may therefore be made of small diameter so as
not to weaken the felly.
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. In a vehicle wheel, a hub constructed with spoke sockets provided with an
opening or vent, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. In a vehicle wheel, a hub constructed with spoke sockets having at their base
an opening or vent, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
3. In a vehicle wheel, a hub ring provided with radial spoke sockets, and
webs, d, located beneath the sockets, substantially as described.
4. In a vehicle wheel, the combination of the two hub rings having recesses in
their inner sides, the axle box provided with a lug adapted to enter a recess of one
of the rings, and a securing nut, substantially as described.
5. In a vehicle wheel, a hub ring formed with spoke sockets having a vent or
opening, and strengthening webs, d, located beneath the same, substantially as
described.
6. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with the axle box having the wedge
shaped lug, b, of the rings, B, B, having the webs, d, and intermediate spaces for
the reception of the lug, substantially as described.
7. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with the axle box having the flange, a,
and lug, b, of the rings, B, B, having the webs, d, recessed at their ends, substan-
tially as and for the purpose described.
8. In a vehicle wheel, the hub ring, formed on the inner side with a right angle
bearing surface and provided with webs connecting the same, and forming a central
recess, and bearings for the box, substantially as described.
9. In a vehicle wheel, a spoke & felly ferrule consisting of the thimble having
a concave flanged seat for the felly centrally perforated to receive a screw, substan
tially as described.
10. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with the felly, the spoke, & the tire,
of a ferrule receiving the bottom of the socket & affording a seat for the inside of
the felly, a nut recessed in the end of the spoke & a screw fastening binding the
whole together, substantially as described.
11. In a vehicle wheel and for the purpose described a ferrule having a concave
seat & centrally arranged and perforated or screw tapped tenon all formed of one
piece, substantially as set forth.
12. In a vehicle wheel the combination with a mortised felly, a perforated tire
and a spoke, of a ferrule having a concave seat, a perforated tenon protruding
centrally therefrom, and a screw fastening provided with a nut recessed in the
bottom of the socket, substantially as described.