IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELS FOR VEHICLES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake of the firm of Haseltine Lake
& Co. Patent Agents Southampton Buildings London for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELS FOR VEHICLES." A communication to him from
abroad by Urbain André Chanveau, Engineer and Prosper Casimir Alphonse
Lalanne bath of Paris France
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
•
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st November 1882.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent
Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, "IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELS FOR
VEHICLES." [A communication to him from abroad by Urbain André Chanveau,
Engineer and Prosper Casimir Alphonse Laglenne, both of Paris, France.]
This Invention has for its object to construct a wheel the body of which is
suspended within a rim or periphery, the characteristic feature of the said wheel
being the mode of elastic connection of the body of the wheel with the said rim or
periphery.
According to the said invention the improved wheel is constructed as follows,
that is to say, a central part of suitable form is placed in the centre of a ring or
rim which is made U-shaped in transverse section.
On the exterior of the
periphery of the said central part in line with the spokes are formed or fixed in
any suitable manner lugs of such width that they will fit freely but as close as
possible between the sides of the said U-shaped ring or rim.
Within the said ring are arranged a number of series of springs, (for example
pairs or couples of discs) these series of springs are held by tubes into which are
inserted rods forming plungers and permitting the couples of series to be com-
pressed or extended. These tubes and rods are terminated at their outer extremities
by hinges; on one side one of them is pivotted upon a cross-bar passing through
the sides of the said ring or forming a part of the same, and the other is jointed to
one of the said lugs. The series of springs are jointed to the lugs by means of
tubes and rods, and the wheel is thus elastically suspended in every direction,

page_text: because in the vertical direction the hinges of the lugs permit it to be raised or
lowered as required, and in the horizontal direction the compression or extension
of the couples of series permit a similar movement. In an oblique direction the
lugs receive the elasticity from the hinges and from the flexibility of the couples.
The form and dimensions and the arrangement of the parts may be varied
according to the different applications of the principle of suspension; and other
kinds of springs can be employed in place of the said couples, for example india-
rubber air-vessels, or spiral or other springs; the number of lugs and series of
springs may be increased or diminished as desired.
This arrangement or mode of suspension may be applied to wheels for vehicles
generally, for example for wheel-barrows or velocipedes (in which case the springs
are simplified and consist of curved plates), for railway vehicles or locomotives.
In the latter case the central wheel or the body of the wheel at its axle is connected
firmly to the frame of the vehicle without the interposition of springs, and the
elasticity of the vehicle resides in the wheel itself, and not between the axle and
the frame, In locomotives, the advantage which is gained for the mechanism is
that the distance from the axle to the cylinder or the required length of the
connecting rod is constant and can remain so without necessity for play in the
joints.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st May
1883.
a
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London "IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELS FOR VEHICLES
communication to me from abroad by Urbain André Chanveau, Engineer, and
Prosper Casimir Alphonse Laglenne, both of Paris, France.
This invention bas for its object to construct a wheel the body of which is
suspended within a rim or periphery, the characteristic feature of the said wheel
being the elastic connection of the body of the wheel with the said rim or
periphery.
In the accompanying drawing.
Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section showing a wheel constructed
according to the said invention.
Figure 2 is a side elevation showing the said wheel with a part of the periphery
removed, and
Figure 3 is a front elevation showing a modified form of the improved wheel.
A represents an axle or shaft carrying the body B of the wheel, which is placed
in the centre of a ring or rim H; this rim is made U-shaped in transverse section.
On the exterior of the periphery of the said body B of the wheel in line with the
spokes are formed or fixed in any suitable manner lugs of such width that they
will fit freely but closely between the sides of the U-shaped ring or rim H.
Within the ring or rim H are arranged a number of series of springs E or
spring couplings these series of springs E are held by tubes I into which are inserted
rods K forming plungers and permitting the springs to be compressed or extended.
These tubes and rods at their outer extremities are made in the form of hinges;
one of them is pivotted upon a cross-bar G passing through the sides of the ring
or rim H or forming a part of the same, the other being jointed to one of the
lugs D. The said lugs thus act upon the series of springs by means of the tubes
and rods, and the body B of the wheel is thus elastically suspended in every
direction, because in the vertical direction the hinges F and those on the lugs D
permit it to be raised or lowered as required, and in the horizontal direction the
compression or extension of the couplings or series of springs E permits a similar
movement. In an oblique direction the lugs receive elasticity from the hinges and
from the flexibility of the couplings.
The form and dimensions and the arrangement of the parts may be varied
according to the different applications of the principle of suspension; and other
kinds of springs can be employed in place of the said spring couplings for
example india-rubber nir-vessels, or spiral or other springs; the number of lugs and
series of springs may be increased or diminished as desired.
This arrangement or mode of suspension may be applied to wheels for vehicles
generally, for example, for wheel-barrows, velocipedes, or for railway vehicles, or
ocomotives. In the case of velocipedes the springs are simplified and consist of
curved plates as shown at E in Figure 3. In the case of locomotives or railway
ehicles the body of the wheel at its axle is connected firmly to the frame of the
ocomotive or vehicle without the interposition of the ordinary springs and the
lasticity of the vehicle resides in the wheel itself, and not between the axle and
he frame. In locomotives, one advangtage which is gained for the mechanism, is,
hat the distance from the axle to the cylinder (or the required length of the
onnecting rod) is constant and can remain so without necessity for play in the
bints.

page_text: Having thus fully described the said invention as communicated to me by my
foreign Correspondents and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim.
The improved wheel having the body suspended within the ring or rim by
means of springs which act in a circular direction, and are connected to the body of
the wheel and to the said ring or rim, by hinges, substantially as above set forth
and as shown in the drawings, for the purposes specified.
In Witness whereof I the said William Robert Lake have hereunto set my
hand and seal this nineteenth day of May in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty three.
W. ROD. LAKE
KE (L.S.)