Year: 1897

page_text: I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of 18, Queen's Gate Place, in the County of Middle-
sex, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows:-
This invention relates to vehicle-wheels and has for its principal object to con-
struct them mainly of steel in such manner that they will combine strength and
lightness with flexibility.
"
The chief objection to the use of steel wheels as heretofore constructed has been
owing to their being too rigid, that is to say, they have been so constructed that in
yielding under a sudden blow or stress they would receive a permanent
set";
in other words, the elasticity of the parts would not be sufficient to restore the
wheel to its normal condition.
The above objection will not exist with my improved wheel, which will be quite
as elastic as, if not more so than a wooden wheel, so that when subjected to the
greatest stress tending to its deformation it will not only yield but will readily
regain its original shape.
The rim of my improved wheel is of channel or V-shape in cross-section, and is
preferably formed with lateral or flat edges terminating in upright flanges. The
said flat edges are advantageously connected together by being rivetted or other-
wise joined to a circumferential metal band which serves to strengthen the rim
and prevent the edges thereof from extending outwardly. Or instead of employing
a separate metal band for connecting the edges, the rim may be formed in one
piece therewith like certain velocipede wheel-rims. The said rim is adapted to
receive a wooden felloe and metal tyre of the ordinary or any suitable form, or to
receive an india-rubber or inflatable tyre, or both a wooden felloe and an inflatable
tyre. When employing a wooden felloe I prefer to interpose between it and the
rim a strip or band of corrugated india-rubber. The bend or angle of the chan-
nelled or V-shaped rim is rounded to receive a steel hoop or ring which extends
completely around the rim within the said bend or angle thereof. This hoop not
only serves to hold the spokes, as hereinafter explained, but also receives a con-
siderable portion of any thrust coming on the rim; that is to say it is under
compression. For wheels of light construction I may employ, instead of a
continuous hoop, separate circumferential pieces or keys corresponding in number
to that of the spokes. Each of the circumferential pieces or keys is made of
tempered steel and may be so formed as to possess considerable flexibility. If
found desirable each piece or key may be connected at one end to the wheel-rim
by a pivotal joint.
The spokes of the wheel consist of steel rods which are bent double or into
V-form, the two limbs thereof being preferably curved inwardly or outwardly with
respect to each other. The said limbs of the spokes are preferably channelled or
35

page_text: crescent shaped in cross-section, or are otherwise formed so that their straightening
can only take place by an alteration in their cross-section. When the said spokes
are of channel or crescent-shape in cross-section I prefer to make the metal at
the edges of the crescent of somewhat greater thickness than that of the metal at
the other portion thereof. The ends of the spokes are provided with screw threads
and nuts to permit of their ends being received in and held by the notched or
recessed edges of a circularly flanged hub-collar, whereby the said spokes are
secured to the boss or central portion of the wheel. When the spokes are in place
they embrace, at the apex of the V, the aforesaid circumferential steel hoop or the
aforesaid separate circumferential spring pieces, or keys, and at such portions the
said spokes are preferably strengthened.
To render the wheel-rim true and to exert on the spokes the requisite amount
of tension, the aforesaid nuts at the ends of the spokes are adjusted within the
flanged hub-collar. The flanged edges of the said hub-collar are enclosed in
flanged end plates or end covers which are also notched or recessed to fit the spokes.
These flanged end plates or covers are so formed that when in place their innet
flat surfaces lie against the flat faces of the said nuts on the spokes and thereby
prevent the slackening of these nuts. The said nuts are preferably formed with
curved or spherically shaped ends where they lie against the flanges of the hub-
collar and the latter is formed with correspondingly shaped recesses for the recep-
tion of the said ends of the nuts, so that they will be firmly seated against the
flanges of the hub-collar. One of the said end plates or covers is preferably
formed integrally with the hub of the wheel. The end plates, the hub-collar and
the hub may be connected by transverse bolts and nuts or by other suitable means.
The aforesaid flanged hub-collar is in some cases formed in two portions so that the
distance apart of the flanged ends thereof can be varied by the employment of
suitable distance pieces on the said transverse bolts, or by an annular piece, or
segmental pieces, inserted between the two portions of the collar. By so forming
the said hub-collar, the putting together of the parts of the wheel will in many
instances be greatly facilitated. The edges of the two portions of the hub-collar
and the abutting edges of the distance piece or pieces are advantageously so formed
that the distance pieces will be held in place by the spring like action of the
spokes tending to force the two portions of the hub-collar together.
By employing the aforesaid circumferential pieces or keys, I may, in many cases,
find it unnecessary to use a divided hub-collar and distance piece.
I, HIRAM STEVENS MAXIM, of 18, Queen's Gate Place, in the County of Middle-
sox, Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, Civil and Mechanical Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
:-
3
This invention relates to vehicle-wheels and has for its chief object to construct
them mainly of steel in such manner that they will combine strength and lightness
with flexibility.
The principal objection to the use of steel wheels as heretofore constructed,

page_text: arises from their rigidity or want of elasticity so that in yielding under a sudden
blow or stress they receive a permanent
set."
The above objection will not exist with my improved wheel, the elasticity of
which will be quite as much as, if not more than, that of a wooden wheel, so that
when subjected to the greatest stress tending to its deformation it will not only
yield but will readily regain its original shape when relieved of such stress.
The spokes of my improved wheel consist of steel rods which are bent double
or otherwise formed into V-shape, the two limbs thereof being preferably curved
inwardly or outwardly with respect to each other. The said limbs of the spokes
are moreover preferably channeled or crescent shaped in cross section, or are
similarly formed, so that their straightening can only take place by an alteration
in their cross-section. The bent portion of the spokes, that is to say the outer end
or that portion at the apex of the V, embraces a steel hoop or ring which extends
completely around the rim of the wheel. This hoop or ring in addition to serving
as a means for connecting the spokes to the rim also receives a considerable portion
of any thrust coming on the rim; in other words it is under compression. The
inner ends of the spokes are provided with screw threads and nuts to permit the
said ends to engage with notches or recesses formed in the edges of a circularly
flanged hub-collar, whereby the said spokes are secured to the hub or central
portion of the wheel. The said hub is also provided with flanged end plates or end
covers which are adapted to fit against or enclose the flanged edges of the hub-
collar and are also notched or recessed to fit the spokes. One or both of these end
plates are detachable from the hub.
The end plates, the hub-collar and the hub may be connected by transverse bolts
and nuts or by other suitable means. In order to facilitate the building up of the
wheel the aforesaid flanged hub-collar is in some cases formed in two portions and
provided with detachable distance pieces for insertion between them.
Instead of providing the wheel-rim with a continuous ring or hoop as above
stated, I may (especially when the wheel is of light construction) employ separate
circumferential pieces or keys corresponding in number to that of the spokes; or
I may, in some cases, dispense with both the continuous ring and the circum-
ferential pieces or keys.
The use of the aforesaid circumferential pieces or keys, may, in many instances
render it unnecessary to use the divided hub-collar and distance pieces herein-
before referred to.
In order that my said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect I will proceed to describe the same more fully with reference to the
accompanying drawings in which :-
Figure 1 is a vertical transverse section and
Figure 2 a face view of a portion of a wheel constructed in accordance with my
invention.
Figure 3 is a cross section on the line 1. 1. of Figure 1 showing the shape of the
spokes employed in this wheel.
Figures 4 and 5 are vertical transverse sections, similar to Figure 1, showing
modifications of the wheel.
Figure 6 is an elevation and Figure 7 a plan of one of the nuts with which the
spokes in the wheel shewn by Figure 5 are provided.
Figures 8 to 11 illustrate various other modifications of the wheel.
Figures 12 to 25 are fragmentary sectional views showing various construc-
tions of the rim of the wheel; the even numbered figures being cross-sectional
views and the odd numbered figures being longitudinal sectional views.
In all the above figures like letters of reference indicate similar parts.
Referring more particularly to Figures 1, 2 and 3 the spokes are formed from
steel rods of approximately semi-circular section, which by subjection to a rolling
or other appropriate operation have the portions constituting the limbs AA con-
verted into channel or crescent shape in cross section. The end portions a a are
formed of circular shape and are screw threaded to receive nuts A' and the middle

page_text: portion a¹ is left of approximately semi-circular shape. These rods after being
thus formed are then bent double to convert them into the desired V-shape, their
limbs AA being in the present instance bent slightly outward with respect to each
other. I prefer to make the edges a² a² of the crescent shaped limbs A somewhat
thicker than the remaining portion, as shewn in Figure 3.
The rim of the wheel is of channel or V-shape in cross section, that is to say it
is provided with a recessed portion or pocket B, to receive the circumferential steel
ring or hoop B', and said rim has upright flanges bb extending from lateral or flat
edges 6 which are connected together by a circumferential metal band 62 to which
said edges b¹ are riveted. This band be not only serves to strengthen the rim and
prevent the edges 6 and flanges b from extending outwardly but also serves as a
seating for the tyre or felloe C, which in this instance is composed of wood. The
said felloe is supported upon a band of corrugated india rubber c
interposed between
the felloe and the metal band 68 and is held in place within the wheel-rim by a
metal hoop C¹ shrunk upon the felloe as is usual with wooden wheels. The recessed
portion B of the wheel-rim is formed at intervals with openings 63 through which
the spokes are inserted in place in the rim for engagement with the circum-
ferential hoop B'. When the said spokes are properly in place they embrace the
hoop B at their outer or bent portions a¹.
The hub D of the wheel is of tubular shape and somewhat conical to fit the axle
which is correspondingly shaped. At the end of larger diameter the said hub is
formed with external screw threads d for the end plate E to screw upon. The
opposite or smaller end of the hub is formed with a plain external neck ¹ for the
other end plate E to be readily slipped on to or off from the hub, so that it can be
conveniently detached. Mounted loosely on the said hub is the hub collar which
in the present case is formed in two parts FF that are held at the requisite distance
apart by the annular distance piece G which is preferably formed in two or more
segmental parts or sections. The end plates EE and the hub collars FF are
each formed with circular flanges e and f respectively and such flanges are further-
more formed with a series of radial recesses or notches c and which are so
shaped that when the hub collars F Fabut against the end plates E E¹ the said
recesses will embrace the ends a of the spokes as clearly seen in Figure 1, and the
nuts A on the spokes will lie in the annular spaces existing between the said hub
collars and end plates. The said end plates E E are furthermore so formed that
when in place, one of the flat faces of the square or hexagonal portions a³ of the
nuts A will lie against the said plates, so that the nuts will be incapable of turning
and thereby be prevented from becoming loosened by the vibration to which the
wheel is subjected when in use. The said nuts are also formed with slightly curved
ends a where they lie against the flanges of the hub collars and the end plates,
these parts being formed with correspondingly shaped recesses for the reception of
the said curved ends of the nuts, so that the latter will be firmly seated. The hub
collars F, F, the end plates E El and the distance pieces G are firmly held together
upon the hub 1 by means of the transverse bolts H and their nuts-H¹..
In building up the wheel the aforesaid spokes are placed in position one by one,
by inserting one of their ends a through one of the openings bs in the wheel-rim in
a lateral direction until the apex or bent portion a¹ of the spoke abuts against the
hoop B the said spoke is then furnished with its nuts. A and is turned into a
position to bring its free ends a a toward the centre of the wheel: The hub-collars
may then be attached to the inner ends of the spokes by bringing their notches into
engagement therewith. The distance pieces G are then inserted in place between
the said hub collars whereby the latter are thrust outwardly thereby causing the
spokes to be bent slightly outward which they are capable of doing by reason of
their elasticity. The various nuts A¹ are next tightened to adjust the tension on
the spokes and "true" the wheel. The hub D provided with its end plate E may.
then be inserted into the hub collars FF. The end plate E' is then placed upon.
the hub and the various parts are firmly connected together by the bolts H, and
nuta H

page_text: In the event of one of the spokes becoming damaged while the wheel is in use,
it can be readily removed from the wheel and be replaced by a fresh one without
disturbing the other spokes by removing the said nuts H', detaching the plate E¹,
displacing or removing the distance pieces G, sliding the collars F F towards
each other, loosening the nuts A¹ of the injured spoke and turning it into a lateral
position to enable it to be withdrawn from the rim, after removal of one of its
nute. The new spoke can then be easily inserted in its place and the parts of the
hub be again connected together in an analogous manner to that already described
above.
In Figure 4 I have shown the nuts A¹ to be of somewhat different construction,
that is to say they are provided with necks A where they pass between the hub
collars and the end plates, and are formed on their outer ends with hexagonal
portions A to enable them to be adjusted by a spanner or similar instrument with-
out the necessity of separating the parts of the hub to reach the ends of the nuts
that lie in the annular spaces between the end plates and the hub collars.
In Figures 5, 6 and 7 I have shown the hub of the wheel somewhat differently
constructed to that illustrated in the preceding figures, that is to say I have
dispensed with the annular distance piece G and substituted therefor sleeves G¹
which fit around the bolts H, the said sleeves being of such a length that they will
extend between the two loose hub collars FF. The nuts A' are also of somewhat
different construction to that shown in the previous figures, being formed with a
series of notches or recesses a³ in order to enable a suitable tool to engage therewith
and readily adjust said nuts on the spokes.
In Figure 8 the spokes are bent inwardly with respect to each other instead of
outwardly as in the previous constructions of the wheel, and the hub collars F F¹
are made in one piece, while the end plates EE are adapted to be removed from
the hub by being unscrewed therefrom when the nuts H' on the bolts H are detached.
The flanged edges of the hub collar are formed with holes f* instead of recesses f¹
and the wheel rim is formed with a deep recess B which permits of the outer or bent
ends a of the spokes to be lifted a sufficient distance to release the inner ends a
from engagement with the holes f* when the nuts A' are removed. The said end
plates EE have flanged rims e* to engage with the flanged edges of the hub collar.
The recessed portion B of the wheel rim unlike that illustrated in the preceding
figures is unprovided with the lateral or flat edges b' for enabling the band b³ to be
riveted thereto, there being employed in place thereof a band having upturned
edges 6 which are riveted to the upright flanges b of the rim.
In Figures 9 and 9* the circumferential hoop 13' in the wheel rim is dispensed
with and in place thereof I provide, flanges Ba projecting inwardly from the inner
surface of the rim. To these flanges are connected by rivets or otherwise, a series
of lugs B³ which correspond in number to that of the spokes and are formed with
apertures B through which the spokes can be passed and their bent portions a¹ be
thereby connected with the rim of the wheel. The hub of this wheel is similar in
construction to that illustrated in Figure 5.
In Figures 10 and 10* the circumferential hoop B₁ is likewise dispensed with,
but the wheel rim is approximately of the same construction as that illustrated
in Figures 1, 4 and 5. In this case the bent ends a¹ of the spokes are connected
to the rim by means of keys B5 that lie in the pocketted portion B of the rim.
These keys are preferably made somewhat resilient so that they will augment the
elasticity of the wheel. The hub of this wheel has one of the end plates formed
integrally therewith, while the other end plate E', which is detachable, is held in
In this case the said end
place by a nut D' screwing upon the end of the hub.
plate E¹ has a circular flange E formed thereon to protect the nut D'. In this
case also the hub collar is formed in one piece and is provided with holes f* (as
in Figure 8) for the reception of the inner ends a of the spokes, and the recess. B
of the rim is made deep as in Figure 8 to permit of the inner ends a of the spokes
to be detached from the hub by lifting them.
'

page_text: In Figure 11 I have shown the V-shaped spokes constructed of two separate
pieces connected together at their outer ends by a screw nut A The inner ends
of the spokes are formed with heads or enlargements A5 in place of the nuts A¹
before referred to. The nuts A are adapted to engage with the wheel rim by
being formed with enlarged ends A which lie against recesses A' around the holes
in the rim through which the opposite ends A8 of the nuts project. These ends A8
are hexagonally or otherwise formed to enable them to be readily turned by means
of a spanner. In this manner I am able to dispense with the circumferential
hoop as well as the keys B³ hereinbefore referred to, and thereby to simplify
the manner of adjusting the spokes.
In Figures 12 to 25 I have shown a variety of modified means of connecting the
spokes to the wheel rim. That is to say:-In Figures 12 and 13 each of the afore-
said keys B are connected to the rim at one end by a rivet or other connection Bº.
In Figures 14 and 15 the said keys are provided with lugs B7 which project through
openings formed in the inner circumference of the wheel rim the said lugs receiv-
ing between them the outer or bent ends a¹ of the spokes which embrace a rivet
or pin BB passed through the lugs. In Figures 16 and 17 the outer ends of the
spokes are similarly connected to lugs B² and pins BB but such lugs instead of being
formed upon keys B5 as above stated, are provided with stems B that pass com-
pletely through the felloe C and the tyre CI to which they are firmly connected by
having their outer ends formed with countersunk rivet heads. In Figures 18 and
19 the wheel rim is provided with a pair of continuous circumferential flanges 65 on
its inner periphery between which lugs A' formed on the outer or bent ends of
the spokes are inserted and retained in position by a rivet or pin 18. In Figures 20
and 21 the said wheel rim is provided with three continuous circumferential
flanges b, b, b, and the outer ends of the spokes are formed with two lugs Aº, A¹0,
to lie in the space existing between the said flanges and are held firmly in place
by a rivet or pin 1%. If desired the spokes may in this arrangement be made in
two pieces. In Figures 22 and 23 the wheel rim has a single continuous circum-
ferential flange 69 and the spokes, which are made in two pieces, are connected to
opposite sides of said flange by a rivet or pin 138. In Figures 24 and 25 I have
shown the rim adapted to receive a pneumatic tyre, the spokes being in this
instance connected to the rim by means of pairs of lugs B having stems 1310 which
are connected to the rim by rivetting. The outer or bent end of the spoke is
inserted between the lugs B and held in place by a pin B³.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. A V-shaped spoke adapted to be connected to the rim and the hub of a wheel
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2. A wheel provided with the herein described V-shaped spokes for the purpose
specified.
3.. The combination with the V-shaped spokes, of a circumferential hoop or a
series of keys arranged in the wheel-rim substantially as described and for the
purpose specified.
4. In my improved wheel the construction of the wheel-hub in a number of
detachable pieces which are adapted to be connected together and to engage with
the spokes substantially as described and for the purpose specified.
5. The combination with the divided hub-collar of a distance-piece or distance-
pieces adapted to be readily detached substantially as described and for the purpose
specified.
6. A wheel made substantially as described with reference to one or other of
the constructions illustrated in Figures 1 to 11 of the accompanying drawings and
for the purposes specified.
7. In a wheel of the kind herein before specified, the manner of connecting the

page_text: spokes to the rim substantially as described with reference to one or other of the
various constructions illustrated in the accompanying drawings
Dated this 7th day of February 1898.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.