IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROLLER OR WHEEL SKATES
Year: 1876

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Mowbray Walker and Thomas Hakes
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th February 1876.
MOWBRAY WALKER, of 12, Great College Street, in the City of Westminster, and
THOMAS HAKES, of 11, Queen Victoria Street, in the City of London. " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF ROLLER OR WHEEL SKATES."
The object of our Invention is to construct such skates so that the several parts
shall be few in number as well as simple in form an action. That the entire skate
shall be strong, light, and durable, combining a sufficiency of normal stability with
freedom of motion and a facility in turning short curves without straining the foot of
the wearer, and without the aids of springs, swivel joints, castors, levers, or such
like supplementary appliances. For this purpose we take a sole plate, frame, or bar
of wood or metal, of appropriate shape and dimensions, and on the under side
beneath the heel of the wearer, but slightly forward, we screw, rivet, or otherwise
attach in a transverse direction two L shaped metallic bearings, about 1" and 11″
long in the limbs, 11%," to 3/4" wide, and about 3/4" thick, or the two may be
formed in one piece of this
section having about 2" clear between the arms.
The ends of the arms are made slightly thicker, of a ring shape, about 3/4" outside
and 1/2" inside diameter. These are tapped inside to receive a short cylinder or
bush of corresponding diameter, but a little longer than the thickness of the ring.
One end (the inner) of these bushes is rounded off, and the other is made in a square
or hexagon button head, so as to be readily turned by pincers or a small spanner.
These bushes are perforated nearly through and centrally to receive the axle ends of
the bearing wheel which fit and work therein. This wheel, which we call the
"bearing wheel," because it mainly sustains the weight of the skater, is made of box,
lignum vitæ, or other hard wood, or of metal, about 21/" diameter, and in transverse
section of particular geometric configuration. This figure is obtained by describing
two circles of equal radius (say 1/8") on the same line of diameter, but with an
eccentricily to each other of, say, 1". The perimeters of the two circles are
connected by parallel lines, and the resulting figure may be briefly described as a
narrow cylinder flanked by two hemispheres of equal radius. The hemispherical
ends of the wheel or roller thus formed are hollowed out to a depth of about 1/"
reducing the total width of the wheel to the space between the bearings afore
described. A steel rod, about 3/10" diameter and of a length to flush with the ends
of the wheel is inserted firmly and centrally therein, the ends which project in the
hollows forming the axle on which it turns. The wheel thus constructed is inserted
ED.

page_text: between the bearings, and the bushes are screwed up inwards, taking in the axle ends
and allowing the wheel to run freely and firmly. The convex ends of the bushes
prevent contact and friction between the wheel and the bearings, and it is obvious
that the screw action of these bushes affords great nicety of regulation in the fit
and running of the wheel, while it also permits of readily dismounting for cleaning
and repairs.
It will be observed that the perforation in the axle bushes is longer than the axle
ends to fit therein. The extra space is intended to hold a small piece of sponge, felt,
or cotton wool, saturated with oil or other suitable lubricant, and thus keep the axle
and bearing constantly and efficiently lubricated.
On the fore part of the sole plate or frame in position about under or a little in
advance of the bend of the foot we attach two similar shaped bearings, or one
double shaped bearing as before described, with similar screw brushes to receive a
similar wheel axle. The geometric figure of this wheel or roller, which we call the
"guiding wheel," is however essentially different. The function of this wheel,
besides helping to sustain the body of the skater, is principally to obtain a curvilinear
movement. Hitherto this has been attained chiefly by giving the bearings of the
leading wheel or wheels some motion about an independent centre, by which a cant
or lead of the wheels in the direction required is more or less readily obtained.
This construction however involves multiplicity of parts and complication of
structure. We avoid these disadvantages and achieve the same result by giving
the guiding wheel a peculiar geometric form. It is known that the revolution of a
cone (ie., a cone rolling on a flat surface) is in a circle of which the apex of the cone
is the centre, and the line traversed by the edge of the base is the periphery.
Our leading wheel, which is also made of box, lignum vitæ, or other hard wood
or metal, is constructed from the following diagram:-Draw a horizontal line of an
indefinite length which will be the axis of the cone and the wheel, bisect it with a
perpendicular equal to the diameter of the wheel, say 2", and on either side of the
perpendicular set off points at, say 9", 18", and 24", and from thence draw diagonals
to the top and bottom of the perpendicular. The result will be three double cones
of 9", 18", and 24" axis. Cut off 1" on either side of the perpendicular, & from
the points of intersection with the side of the smallest or 9" cone, describe flat
curves which shall take in those of the 18" and 24". The figure then contained
between the 4 curves and the two sides is that of the proposed wheel or roller, it
may be briefly described as the zones of two cones joined at their base. The blunt
angle formed at the junction of the cones is rounded off to prevent scoring of the
rink floor and is left smooth, but the cone surface on each side is chequered or
traced with a series of indentations, preferably in the form of a volute, or spiral or
parallel indentations are made on the surface at an oblique angle to the axis in
order to assist the bite of the wheel on the ground.
The action of these several arrangements is therefore as follows:-When the
skater desires to move in a direct line he balances himself centrally, the weigh of
the body bearing principally on the flat band of the hinder wheel. When he
desires to deviate right or left he inclines the body or foot or both in that direction.
The spherical surface of the hind wheel is then brought in connection with the
ground offering the least area of contact and the least amount of resistance to
lateral motion, while at the same time the chequered cone surface takes the
ground and carries the foot round in the curve proportional to the slant of the cone
at the point of contact.
This form of skate is best adapted for those having some proficiency in the use of
roller skates, but for less facile performers and beginners we construct a skate on our
principle with three wheels arranged in a line supported by bearings in the manner
herein-before described. The hinder wheel is located well back under the heel and
the centre one under the ball of the foot. Both these wheels are of the cylindro-
spherical form before described, and are of equal diameter, but the flat or cylindrical
portion of the hinder one is broader than that of the centro one, in the ratio of 2
to 3 (say 31," and ¹/."').

page_text: The leading wheel is placed well forward and is of the double conoidal form, the
same as in the two wheel skate, but of a smaller diameter than the centre and hind
wheels. In direct forward movements the weight is carried on the flat portion of
the centre and hind wheels, the fore wheel being then off the ground. When it is
desired to turn, the weight of the body is thrown forward, the hinder wheel is thus
raised and the leading cone wheel brought down when deviation is effected as
already described.
Although we consider the combinations above described to be the best for the
purpose, we do not confine ourselves to that particular arrangement or number of
wheels, as it is obvious that the conoidal wheel may be made the centre or bearing
wheel and the fore or guiding wheel may be cylindrical or cylindro-spherical.
Our Invention also consists in constructing a skate with 5 wheels, i.e., 2 forward,
1 centre, and 2 behind. The central wheel is conoidal or cylindro-spherical as afore
described, and is attached at about 2/3rds of the length of the sole plate or frame
forward. The 2 hinder wheels situate under the heel are cylindrical and mounted
parallel to the axis of the centre wheel, and are of equal diameter to it, and the
direct motion is made on these three. The two fore or guiding wheels under the
toe are conoidal in section, somewhat smaller in diameter, and the axes are slightly
inclined backwards and downwards from the centre line of the skate. A lead
outwards right and left is thus given to the fore wheels, which when either is
brought in contact with the ground by tilting forward on the centre wheel necessarily
induces a rotary action, the amount of which is regulated by the skill of the skater
in turning on the centre wheel as a moveable pivot. In this case where we employ
two wheels back and front, a third or central bearing is necessitated which may
be either formed in one piece with the side bearings before described, or may be
attached to the sole plate separately.
Although we consider the method of mounting the wheels with the regulating
and lubricating bushes in manner already described to offer several advantages, we
do not confine ourselves exclusively to that method, but the axles may be firmly
screwed to the bearings, and the wheels run free on the same throughout their whole
length of centre. In the latter case we prefer, in order to avoid the wear of tho
wheel centres when they are of wood, to turn out from the middle to each side a
conical space larger than the diameter of the axle to be used; the ends are then
bushed with metal rings, and we fill the conical annular space round the axle with a
dry lubricant composed of equal parts of plumbago and French chalk, or the space
may be packed with cotton steeped in any suitable lubricant. The dimensions of
the several parts given in the foregoing description are not to be taken as arbitrary,
but are merely indications of proportion and may be varied as inclination and
experience suggest.