IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELS FOR WHEELED VEHICLES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,
Lake, & Co, Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for
the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELS FOR WHEELED VEHICLES."-
A. communication from abroad by Gabriel Leverich, of the City and
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 18th September 1875, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.
WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WHEELS FOR WHEELED VEHICLES," and have petitioned Her Majesty to
grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and assignis, Her Royal
Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn Declaration that

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare that the following Complete-Specification, under my hand-and-
scal fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing forming
a part of this Specification :-
The object of this Invention is to provide against the danger of
breaking the spokes of the wheels or the axles of vehicles, and also to
prevent the jarring incident to the use of wheels and axles of ordinary
construction. The said Invention comprises an axle box or boxes
suspended within one or more elastic bearings in cushions provided in
the hub in such manner that stress and strain exerted upon the spokes
or upon the perimeter of the wheel will be taken up by the elastic
bearing or bearings aforesaid instead of being exerted to wrench or
fracture the spokes or peripheral portions of the wheel.
.
The said Invention also embraces the combination with the hub and
axle box of a taper shell and elastic filling; also a novel combination of
a shell provided with a peculiarly arranged groove, and an axle box
constructed with a screw cap and check ring, whereby the advantageous
application in practice of the herein first-named feature of the Invention
is secured.
The said Invention also comprises the further and subordinate:
features of a novel combination with the wheel hub, the elastic cushions,
and the box or bearing of a recessed or slotted annulus radially ex-
tending therein from the aforesaid box, whereby the requisite rotation
of the latter with the hub, without interference with the operation of
the elastic cushions, is provided for.
The said Invention further comprises a novel combination with the
wheel hub, the elastic cushions, and a box having a suitable external
shape of an adjusting nut and screw thread, whereby the aforesaid
cushions may be compressed in a longitudinal direction at will to insure
any desired tension thereof against the endwise movement of the
box or bearing when the whole is subjected to lateral jarring or
concussion.

page_text: The said Invention further comprises a novel combination with the
hub the elastic cushions, and the box of an internal sleeve arranged
around but at some distance from the box or bearing aforesaid in order
to permit the requisite play of the latter, and covering the inner end of
the spoke mortises of the hub, whereby conpensation is made for the
weakening of the hub, incident to the hollowing out thereof, to provide
for the reception and operation of the cushioned box, and whereby at
the same time the inward projection of the spokes to interfere with the
movement of the box or bearing incident to the yielding of the cushions
during the use of the wheel is prevented.
The said Invention further comprises a novel combination of parts,
whereby the most efficient operation of the cushioned box is insured in
connection with a very great degree of permanence in the entire
device.
In the accompanying Drawing Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 are central
longitudinal sectional views representing several modified forms of my
Invention; and Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 are detail views of
certain parts thereof.
In Figure 1 A is a hub of the ordinary form and appearance, except
that it is provided with an inner shell b for the reception of an axle box c.
Said shell 6 is preferably. of a formation as represented in the Drawing,
that is to say, of an outwardly taper form, and with an enlarged portion
near its inner-extremity for the reception between it and the box c of an
interposed filling h of india-rubber or other elastic material. The box c
is provided near its outer extremity with a shoulder c', which fits against
an inwardly projecting shoulder b¹ at the outer extremity of the shell b,
while upon the opposite extremity of said box c is provided a collar
or enlargement c", which is received within a recessed portion ¹ of the
rubber filling h.
By means of the taper formation of the shell 6 space is left between
the inner surface thereof and the outer surface of the box c along their
central and inner portions, so as to provide sufficient "play" for the
box during the yielding of the elastic filling h. Said space is kept closed
at the terminus of the rubber filling ŉ by means of a metal washer j for
preventing. the forcing therein of a portion of said rubber filling during
the compression of the same; d is a check ring fitting over a reduced
|_ portion of the collar c¹, and is designed not only for retaining the box c

page_text: ¯¯matter:
A groove 9 is provided within the shell 6 opposite the check ring d,
so as by the entering therein of the said check ring to allow for the
oscillation or play of the box c. The said check ring d is held in place,
and the box c thereby confined within the shell 6, by means of a screw
cap e screwed into the entrance of the said shell.
Rotation of the box within the shell, and of the shell within the hub,
is prevented by means of ribs upon the one fitting within corresponding
grooves within the other.
To permit oscillation and reduce friction, slight play is allowed
between the shoulders b¹ and c', and to prevent rattling and wear, a rubber
ring or band i is fitted into a reduced portion or neck of the box c near
its outer end, and is compressed between it and the interior of the corre-
sponding part of the shell b. The rubber filling his inserted between
the shell and box under a degree of pressure proportionate to the
character of vehicle to which it is applied, and the amount of weight it
is liable to carry, but in all cases such pressure should be sufficient to
provide a firm and unyielding support to the axles while upon even
ground. The outer extremity h¹ of the said filling / also is designed to
protrude a little beyond the collar c", so that wlien the cap e is screwed
in, the said portion ³ will be subjected to an additional degree of com-
pression independently of that to which the mass of filling / is subjected,
**whereby the-check-ring-d_may be made to sustain a proportionately
greater amount of pressure outwardly than the collar c, thus providing
for a sufficient yielding of the filling necessary in allowing the limited
longitudinal movement of the box at times, without materially lessening
the pressure of said portion ¹ against the check ring d. By this means
the said check ring d is held more firmly against the screw cap e at all
times, thereby more effectually excluding dust and other foreign matter
from the interior of the hub.
It is preferred to give to the inner and outer surfaces of the check
ring d, as well as the movable parts which come in contact therewith, a
spherical formation to a sufficient degree, taking the length of the box
as a radius to provide for the free oscillation of the hub when necessary.

page_text: The action of the parts in the operation of this Invention is to trans-
mit any sudden wrench or strain from the point of contact at the rim
to the elastic bearing around the box, which in yielding allows an
oscillatory movement of the wheel and hub about the box, thereby
taking up the shock, which, in other cases, is borne in all its severity by
the spokes of the wheel and the spindle upon which the said wheel is
carried.
In Figure 2 the shell is replaced by an inner sleeve B* constructed
with radial fins a bedded in longitudinal recesses provided in the
interior of the hub, the said fins preventing any axial movement or
bearing of the sleeve. The india-rubber bearings are provided at each
end of the hub, being placed in suitably shaped chambers formed in the
extremities of the hub. The box c is arranged in and through these
elastic bearings or cushions as clearly shown in the Figure referred to.
Upon the box c is a radial stud 62, which fits into a notch b³ provided in
the adjacent end of the sleeve B*. The latter being incapable of turning
within or with reference to the hub, the box is of course retained in like
manner, and its axial movement is that of the hub itself and nothing
more. The inner end of the box c is enlarged and flanged as shown
at i¹, so as to form a shoulder against the outer end of the adjacent
cushion or bearing, while the outer end of said box is provided with a
nut bearing against the adjacent one of the cushions or bearings
aforesaid, so that by tightening the nut k, the rubber bearings or
cushions may be compressed, and thereby stiffened and rendered harder
and firmer should occassion require. By this means the elasticity of the
cushions may
be adjusted to meet the strain thrown upon them.
.
Having reference now to the remaining Figures of the Drawing,
in Figure 3, A is the hub counterbored at each end to receive the elastic
cushions B, C. Between the cushions B at the inner end of the hub and
the inner end of its counterbore, is an annulus C¹ formed with spurs a
that fit into recesses formed in the wood of the hub, and thereby prevent
the annulus C¹ from turning within the latter. This annulus has a notch
or slot 6* formed in its edge. Into this slot projects a radial spur cª,
provided on the outer surface of the box or bearing D. This is what is
commonly termed a pipe box, and extends through the bore of the hub
from end to end, the said hub being chambered or enlarged to provide
for requisite movement of the box D in directions radial to the axis of

page_text: In order to obviate both of these drawbacks an internal metallic
sleeve G of sufficient internal diameter to permit the play of the box D
within it is driven into the central or chambered portion of the hub,
thus providing a cylindrical brace within the hub and closing the inner
ends of the spoke sockets to prevent the inward thrust of the spokes to
an extent capable of interfering with the operation of the box D,
cushioned as set forth. This sleeve G may either be made separate from
the annulus C¹, as shown in Figure 5, or it may be formed in one
therewith when preferred, see Figure 9.
.
When desired the elastic cushions B, C, are surrounded by metallic
shells N, as shown in Figures 4 and 5, the said shells being fitted into
the counterbored end portions of the hub A, and serving in hubs
designed for heavy vehicles to more securely retain the elastic cushion
or cushions in place.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the
same, I wish it understood that I claim,—
First. The box c sustained within the hub Ain yielding bearings h, i,
as above described and for the purpose herein set forth.
Second. The combination with the hub A and the axle box c of the
taper shell 6 and elastic filling h, i, as herein described.
Third. The combination of the shell provided with groove g, and the
box c having collar c" with the screw cap e and check ring d, as above
described and for the purpose set forth.
Fourth. The combination of an adjusting nut k and screw thread
with the elastic bearings or cushions B, C, and the box c arranged to
receive the axle, as above described and for the purpose set forth.
Fifth. A radial spur so applied to the box as to retain the same in its
normal and proper relation to the elastic cushions or bearings within the
hub, as above described and for the purpose set forth.
Sixth. The recessed or slotted annulus O' and the radial spur c
of the box or bearing D in combination with the hub A. and a
cushion or cushions B, C, the whole operating as above described and for
the purpose set forth.
Seventh. In an elastic hub the combination of the internal sleeve &
to permit radial play of the box or bearing D with the said bearing and
'

page_text: Eighth.-The-clastic hub comprising the box or bearing D with one or
more circumferential shoulders provided with the nut_k_at its-outer end, 5
and having the radial spur c¹, one or more clastic cushions B, C, the
annulus C¹, and the sleeve G to permit radial play of the box D,
all
combined to operate as above described and for the purpose set
forth.
Ninth. One or more metallic shells N fitted in the counterbored 10
portion or portions of the hub, as above described and for the purpose
set forth.
Tenth. The annulus C¹ and spur c* arranged in relation to each other
and to the uncushioned end of the hub, as represented in Figure 4, for
the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of September,
in the year of our Lord, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-five.
15
Witness,
.
JA. EDWARDS,
8, Southampton Buildings,
London.
W. ROBT. LAKE. (L.S.)
2