Improvements in Car Wheels.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Nov., 1891-Accepted, 12th Dec., 1891
COMPLETE DIECIFICATION.
Improvements in Car Wheels.
I, JOSIAH AUGUSTUS WEBBER, residing at 709 President Street in the City
of Brooklyn, County of Kings, State of New York, United States of America, by
occupation a Sea Captain do hereby declare the nature of this invention and
in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in car wheels and it consists broadly
stated, in a metallic hub which is driven or forced upon the axle as now well
understood and in two side plates between which I clamp by means of bolts which
hold the side plates together, a central body of non inetallic substances which
is preferably elastic and also preferably of fibrous character and which is
subjected to pressure so as to make it sufficiently dense to serve as the tread
of the wheel. The flange for the wheel is attached to or forms part of one of the
side plates.
In the drawings the same reference letters indicate the same parts in all the
figures.
Figure 1, illustrates a vertical transverse section of one of my improved wheels.
Figure 2, illustrates a vertical transverse section of the side plate which has
the flange on it, showing also the hub as integral with it.
Figure 3, illustrates a view similar to Figure 2 showing also in vertical transverse
section, the discs of non-metallic material.
Figure 4, illustrates in vertical transverse section the other plate of the wheel.
Figure 5, illustrates an elevation of one of the discs of non-metallic material.
A is the axle of the car, B is the hub of the wheel, C is one of the side
plates for the wheel. It is shown in the present instance as cast or forged integral
with the hub, but it may be as a separate piece and attached thereto in any
preferred manner. D is the flange for the wheel formed on the periphery of the
plate. E, E, are discs of non-metallic and preferably flexible and fibrous material,.
such as leather, paper and the like substances; I prefer leather, however. These
discs are cut out into blanks such as shown in Figure 5, having a hole F in their
centre and of about the diameter of the desired wheel, a number of these discs
are placed over the hub and against the plate C and are then subjected to great
pressure preferably by an hydraulic press, so that they are squeezed down into a
small part only of their original thickness, whereby they are rendered sufficiently
dense or hard and when a sufficient number of them have been placed on the hub
to form the desired thickness for the wheel, then another plate G not having any
flange on its edge is placed over the hub and against the compressed discs, and
the whole structure is there firmly bolted together by bolts H, which are either
headed down upon the side plates of the wheel or are held firmly in place by
suitable nuts.
I prefer to round off the edge of the plate G as shown, so that it will have but
slight bearing on the rail at any time, and I prefer that the non-metallic discs
should be applied to such a width that the normal tread of the rail shall come upon
them alone.
It is obvious that the disc E may be compressed prior to being put upon the wheel
and then placed thereon, separately or as one solid mass. The holes for the bolts
may be drilled at such time as preferred.
It will be seen that by my construction, I secure the following advantages in a
marked degree, that is to say my wheels are elastic and consequently relieve the
rails and also the cars of much shock and wear, and are "noiseless so called.
Also that there will be no screeching of the brakes when applied to the wheel,
LD017
"

page_text: because they take their bearing on the elastic non-metallic surface of the central
discs, and not upon a metallic surface. Also that when the tread of the wheel
has become somewhat worn, they may be taken apart and new discs.put in place
of those which have become worn, thus the hub and side plates may be used for
several sets of discs and the plate G, and the hub, if it be made separate from the
plate may be used for a very long time; but the flange on the plate C will after
a time become worn so that that plate will have to be thrown aside, or else turned
down to a size suitable for use as one of the other plates.
Also, and this is an important feature of advantage, the plates C and G may both
of them be made of hardened steel, or they may be chilled iron, or case hardened,
or otherwise treated since there is no danger of their cracking during manipulation,
owing to the absence of any metallic tire or tread for the wheel. Also because of
the absence of any tire I save very materially in the weight of the wheels thus
reducing the weight of the cars.
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,―
First. A car wheel comprising essentially a metallic hub, a non-metallic central
portion composed of discs extending from the hub to the tread of the wheel, the
edges of the discs constituting the tread of the wheel, and side plates one of them
provided with a flange for the wheel and means whereby they and the central portion
are clamped together, substantially as set forth.
Sec. nd. A car wheel comprising essentially a metallic hub and side plate.
integral therewith provided with a flange for the wheel, a central portion com-
posed of non-metallic material in the form of discs extending from the hub to the
tread of the wheel, the edges of the discs themselves forming the tread, another side
plate and means whereby the entire structure is clamped together, substantially as
set forth.
Third. A car wheel comprising essentially a metallic hub a central portion as
wide as the normal tread of the wheel made of the edges of non-metallic
discs which extend from the tread of the wheel inwardly to the hub and
side plates one of them provided with a flange for the wheel, substantially as set
forth.
Fourth. A car wheel the central portion whereof in a circumferential radial plane
is composed of discs of non-metallic material which extends from the hub to the
periphery of the wheel, the edges of which discs constitute the tread of the wheel,
substantially as set forth.
Fifth. A car wheel comprising essentially a metallic hub, and metallic side plates,
and non-metallic discs between the plates which extend to and constitute the tread
of the wheel, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 2nd day of October 1891.
JOSIAH AUGUSTUS WEBBER.
W. H. Beck,
115, Cannon Street, London, E.C., Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.