IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELS FOR CARRIAGES AND OTHER VEHICLES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Haseltine, of the "International Patent
Office, No. 8, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County
of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WHEELS FOR CARRIAGES AND OTHER VEHICLES."-A communication from
abroad by John Raddin, of Lynn, Massachusetts, United States of
America.
Sealed the 17th May 1867, and dated the 21st February 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Haseltine at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
21st February 1867.
I, GEORGE HASELTINE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WHEELS FOR CARRIAGES AND OTHER VEHICLES," a communication, to
be as follows:-
This Invention relates principally to the application of rubber cushions or
springs to carriage wheels for the purpose of relieving the carriage body to a
greater or less degree from the concussive effects produced by riding over
rough surfaces, and for rendering the carriage body more easy and enduring.
The object of this Invention is to produce a wheel having the rubber cushions
or springs so arranged that while always so disposed as to receive the strain

page_text: between the tire and the hub, the bearing surfaces of the rubber are com-
paratively small, and the cushions are concealed from sight and from contact
of dust and other extraneous matters which would tend to impair their
efficiency. For this purpose each spoke of the wheel is so applied to the hub
and rim that the rim shall be capable of a slight radial movement towards and
away from the hub in the line of the spoke, this movement being against the
elastic cushion or cushions. The inner end of each spoke has a screw thread
cut upon it, which enters a corresponding screw thread formed in the hub.
The outer end of each spoke has a head, under which a washer may be
placed, this head and washer being enclosed in a metal box fastened by
suitable screws to the inner surface of the rim. The length of each spoke is
such that a space is left between the head and the rim. The spoke extends
through a hole made through the inner side of the box and under the washer,
and between it and the inner surface of the box (or between the head and the
When the
inner surface of the rim) is a rubber block or elastic cushion.
cushions are placed on the outer surface of the heads it will be obvious that
any compression of the rim towards the hub forces the inner surface of the
rim directly against the yielding cushions, and where the rubber is placed
under the head the expansion of the wheel at the sides due to its contraction
from the treading surface towards the. hub' draws the inner surface of the
boxes directly against the yielding blocks or springs. The cushions may be
placed in both positions, or between the ends of the spokes and the rim and
under the washers, so that both the expansion and contraction of the rim
bring the immediate expanding and contracting surfaces directly against the
cushions. The rubber cushions may be combined directly with the hub end
of the spoke so as to there receive the strain, as will be readily understood,
but their application at the outer ends of the spokes is deemed generally
preferable. The cushion may be applied to the felly of a wooden wheel whose
spokes may be made of metal or wood. The box containing the spring or
cushion is fastened to the felly. The said box may be made to clasp the
adjacent ends of two fellies, and rubber packing may be interposed between
the fellies, so that in expanding and contracting the rim the joint between the
fellies shall always be closed. By rotating the spokes so as to move them
outwardly (by partially unscrewing them) the fellies may be tightened within
the tire, or adjusted with respect thereto without resetting the tire. An
adjustable spoke make be combined with a tie which has an inner concave or
recessed surface. In that class of wheels in which the spokes are alternately
connected to opposite ends of the hub it is sometimes desirable to stiffen the
wheel by moving each series of spokes inwardly. For this purpose the inner

page_text: ends of the spokes may be connected to the hub by rings or collars slipped
over the hub (into which the spokes are entered), which collars sliding on
the hub are kept in position by suitable nuts placed on each side of each ring,
and working upon screw threads formed in the outer surface of the hub.
To make a light and strong metal felly or rim a tube may be used for tho
construction of the same, such tube also forming when desirable a very con-
venient and practical receptacle for application of the rubber cushions. The
outer surface of the tubular felly or rim is flattened to make the "tread" of
the wheel, or for the application of a tire. The spokes have the elastic
cushions at their outer end, as in the other constructions described, these
cushions being enclosed in a short tube let into the felly.
.
Another part of this Invention relates to the manner of connecting a
carriage wheel to the axle with reference to preventing lateral play or jolting
of the wheel. This consists in applying in connection with a nut which
secures the wheel to the axle a spring placed between washers slipped over
the axle, the pressure of the spring against the washers holding the axle nut
laterally in position relatively to the hub. Two collars or discs are slipped
over the axle, the inner one abutting against an extension from the said axle,
and the other against a nut, the collar being pressed apart and against the
said nut and projection by a suitable spring. These collars and spring are
contained within a box or cylinder which has an internal screw fitting upon
a screw cut on the hub. The collar against the nut is fixed relatively to the
cylinder. A similar arrangement may be applied at the outer instead of the
inner end of the hub if preferred.
It will be obvious that the first part of this Invention relating to the
employment of the elastic cushions is applicable to wheels of heavy carriages
as well as to light vehicles, and particularly to the wheels of railway carriages,
it being only necessary to modify the arrangement of the cushions to the
requirements or characteristics of such wheels.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said George Haseltine in the Great Seal. Patent Office on the
21st August 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
HASELTINE, of the "International Patent Office," No. 8, Southampton
Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send
greeting

page_text: year
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letter's
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of February, in the year of our
of Her
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth'
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said George Haseltine, Her special licence that I, the said George Haseltine,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
George Haseltine, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN WHEELS FOR CARRIAGES AND OTHER VEHICLES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said George Haseltine, my executors or administrators,
by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and
seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the
same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar
months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
'
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said George Haseltine, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement,
reference being had to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings forming a part of
this Specification :-
This Invention relates principally to the application of rubber cushions or
springs to carriage wheels for the purpose of relieving the carriage body to a
greater or less degree from the concussive effects produced by riding over
rough surfaces, and for rendering the carriage body more easy and enduring.
In methods of applying rubber cushions or springs to carriage wheels as here-
tofore practised the rubber has always been so disposed as to wear unevenly, and
to soon become more or less decomposed from the effects of heat and exposure
of large surfaces to atmospheric changes. In one of these methods a strip or
band is placed around the fellies and under the tire; but in such application
the softening of the rubber soon causes the fellies to become loose, and the
rubber is protruded from the wheel at the edges, giving an unsightly
In another method the fellies are first
appearance to the said wheel.
surrounded by a thin metal sub-tire, and the rubber band is applied upon
"tread" tire ;
the outer surface of the same, being then surrounded by the
but although this arrangement may hold the fellies firmly in position, yet the
large amount of surface in contact with the tires and subjected to the heating

page_text: action thereof soon impairs the 'resilience of the rubber and the appearance of
the wheel. For these and other reasons the construction of wheels with
rubber cushions or springs applied thereto has not been considered practicable
or of great expediency.
:
.f
The object of this Invention bas been to overcome these objections by pro-
ducing a wheel having the rubber cushions or springs so arranged, that while
always disposed to receive the strain between the tire and the hub the bearing
surfaces of the rubber are comparatively small, and the cushions are concealed
from sight and from contact of dust and other extraneous matters which would
tend to impair their efficiency. For this purpose each spoke of the wheel is
so applied to the bub and rim that the rim shall be capable of a slight radial
movement towards and away from the hub in the line of the spoke, this
movement being against the elastic cushion or cushions.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS..
Figure 1 represents a side elevation, and Figure 2 an edge view of a wheel
embodying the said Invention.
The rim a, the spokes and hub c are all of metal. The inner end of each
spoke has a screw thread d cut upon it, which enters a corresponding screw
thread formed in the hub. The outer end of each spoke has a head e, under
which a washer f, as seen at A, is fastened by suitable screws to the inner
surface of the rim a, the head and washer being enclosed in a metal box g.
The length of each spoke is such that a space is left between the head e and
the rim, as seen in the sectional parts of the Drawing. The spoke extends
through a hole made through the inner side of the box and under the washer,
and between it and the inner surface of the box or between the head and the
inner surface of the rim is a rubber block or elastic cushion h. When the
cushions are placed on the outer surface of the heads it will be obvious that
any compression of the rim towards the bub forces the inner surface of the
rim directly against the yielding cushions, and where the rubber is placed
under the head the expansion of the wheel at the sides, due to its contraction
from the trending surface towards the hub, draws the inner surfaces of the
boxes directly against the yielding blocks or springs. The cushions may be
placed in both positions, or between the ends of the spokes and the rim and
under the washers, so that both the expansion and contraction of the rim
bring the immediate expanding and contracting surfaces directly against the
cushions. The rubber cushions may also be combined directly, with the hub
end of the spoke, as seen at A, so as to there receive the strain, as will be
readily understood, but their application at the outer ends of the spokes is

page_text: deemed generally preferable. At B the cushion is shown as applied to the
felly of a wooden wheel. The spoke i may be made of either metal or wood,
but is shown in the Drawing as of metal, and tubular; is the felly, and
m the tire; n represents the spring box fastened to the felly, and containing
the rubber cushion h. The box n may be made to clasp the adjacent ends of
two fellies, and rubber packing o may be interposed between the fellies, so
that in expanding and contracting the rim the joint between the fellies shall
always be closed. By rotating the spokes so as to move them outwardly (by
unscrewing them) the fellies may be tightened within the tire, or adjusted
with respect thereto without resetting the said tire. At C is shown an
adjustable spoke combined with a tire having an inner concave or recessed
surface. By giving to the spoke a capability of radial movement, so that the
fellies may be all moved outwardly after application, advantage may be taken
of this very desirable construction of the tire, because the fellies may after
application to the spokes and within the tire be moved outwardly, so as to fit
and be confined in the recess of the same.
The wheel shown in Figures 1 and 2 is of that class known as truss wheels,
wherein the spokes instead of extending perpendicularly from the hub to the
rim are alternately connected to opposite ends of the hub, so as to strengthen
and brace the rim in position. In following such construction, and whether
the elastic cushions be used or not, it is sometimes desirable to stiffen the
wheel by moving each series of spokes inwardly. For this purpose the inner
ends of the spokes may be connected to the hub by rings or collars slipped
over the hub into which the spokes are inserted. The said collars slide on
the hub, and are kept in position by suitable nuts placed on each side of each
ring and working upon screw threads formed on the outer surface of the hub.
This mode of construction is indicated at D, where the spokes are shown as
entering rings or collars p slipped upon the hub, nuts q holding these rings
and spokes in position. By loosening the inner nuts and screwing up the
outer nuts the spokes will be tightened against the rim, as will be readily
understood.
Another part of this Invention relates to the manner of connecting a
carriage wheel to the axle with reference to preventing lateral play or jolting
of the wheel. To make a light and strong metal felly or rim a tube may be
used for the construction of the same, such tube also forming when desirable
a very convenient and practical receptacle for application of the rubber
cushions. Such a construction is illustrated at E in a section through one of
the spokes. The outer surface of the tubular felly or rim r is flattened to
make the "tread" of the wheel, or for the application of a tires thereto; t is

page_text: the spoke having the elastic cushion at its upper end, as in the other con-
structions described; this cushion is enclosed in a short tube u let into the
felly. Gas pipe may be advantageously used in the construction of this
tubular felly or rim, and such tubular felly or rim may be used either with or
without the elastic cushions.
Another part of this Invention relates to the manner of connecting &
carriage wheel to the axle with reference to preventing lateral play or jolting
of the wheel. This part of the said Invention consists in applying in con-.
nection with the nut which secures the wheel to the axle.a spring. placed
between washers slipped over the said axle, the pressure of the spring against
the washers holding the axle nut laterally in position relatively to the hub.
A construction embodying this improvement is shown at F, where v denotes.
the hub, w the axle, a the nut. Two collars or discs y, y, are slipped over
the axle, the inner one abutting against an extension from the axle, and the
other against the nut x. The collar is pressed apart and against the nut and
axle projection by a suitable spring, as seen at F. These collars and spring
are contained within a box or cylinder having an internal screw fitting
upon a screw thread cut on the hub, as seen at F. The collar against the
nut is fixed relatively to the cylinder z, and when the said nut is screwed upon
the axle and thus connected to the cylinder or box z, and the said box is
screwed upon the hub, it will readily be seen that the expansion of the spring
keeps-the hub and wheel at all times to their outermost position, and prevents
all lateral play of the wheel upon its axle. A similar arrangement may be
applied at the outer instead of the inner end of the hub if preferred.
It will be obvious that the first part of this Invention relating to the
employment of the elastic cushions is applicable to wheels of heavy carriages
as well as to light vehicles, and particularly to the wheels of railway carriages,
it being only necessary to modify the arrangement of the cushions to the
requirements or characteristics of such wheels.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, and shown how the Same may be conveniently and
advantageously carried into practice, I claim,-
The combination with the hub, spokes, and rim of a carriage wheel of
elastic cushions applied and operating substantially as described.
Also, in combination with the hub and rim of a carriage wheel radially
adjustable spokes, operating as set forth.
Also, in combination with radially adjustable spokes a recessed or concave
tire, as shown at C.
Also, in combination with the spokes of a truss wheel, so applying such

page_text: spokes that they may be moved laterally and secured in lateral position by
screw nuts, substantially as described and as shown at D.
Also, the construction of a carriage wheel with a tubular felly or rim,
substantially as described and as shown at E.
Also, combining with the hub and axle of a carriage wheel a spring for
keeping the wheel laterally in position upon the axle, substantially as described
and as shown at F.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Haseltine, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twelfth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
GEORGE HASELTINE. (L.S.)
Witness,
W. ROB. LAKE.