AN IMPROVED WHEEL FOR CARRIAGES OF DIFFERENT DESCRIPTIONS
Year: 1835

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN DAY,
of York Terrace, Peckham, in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS His present most Excellent Majesty King William the Fourth.
by His Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Fourteenth
day of August now last past, for Himself, His heirs and successors, did give
and grant unto me, the said John Day, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, His especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I,
the said John Day, my executors, administrators, and assigns, by myself and
themselves, or by my and their deputy or deputies, servants or agents, or such
others as I, the said John Day, my executors, administrators, or assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, during the term of fourteen
years from the date of the said Letters Patent, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend my Invention of "AN IMPROVED WHEEL FOR
CARRIAGES OF DIFFERENT DESCRIPTIONS," within England, Wales, and the Town
of Berwick-upon-Tweed; in which said Letters Patent thero is contained
a proviso obliging me, the said John Day, particularly to describe and ascertain
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, and to cau-e

page_text: the same to be inrolled in His said Majesty's High Court of Chancery within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent, as in and by the same (reference Leing thereunto had) will more fully
and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said
John Day, do hereby declare that my said Improved Wheel for Carriages
of different Descriptions is described and ascertained in manner following,
and by the Drawing hereunto annexed (that is to say):-
The said improved wheel is manufactured wholly of bar iron, by welding
wrought-iron bars together into the form of a wheel, whereof the nave, spokes,
and rim, when finished, will consist of one solid piece of malleable iron; and
the mode whereby the said bars of malleable iron are fashioned and united
into the shape of a wheel is as follows:-Suppose the improved wheel is to
be for that description of carriages commonly called tram waggons, which
are to be used upon trough or plate railroads or tramroads, such a wheel
is represented at No. 4 of the Drawing hereunto annexed. The several spokes
or arms for the wheel are first prepared, each arm being made out of two
pieces of bar iron. For this purpose two suitable lengths or pieces of rolled
iron bars, two inches broad by half an inch thick, are cut off to proper lengths,
A, A, No. 1; and after bending one extremity B of each piece in a suitable
manner, the flat surfaces of the bars A, A, are applied together, so that they will
leave a triangular eye open between them in the form of the letter as shewn
at B, B, No. 1, then at one welding heat of the angular meeting p of the two
bars A, B, A, B, they are welded together, and after interposing a corresponding
wedge-like filling piece D, No. 1, within the opening of their triangular eye,
the whole of the end is submitted to another welding heat, and the two pars
B, B, are welded to the two inclining sides of the said filling piece D, so as to
form one mass therewith, and then that mass is moulded whilst it remain's hot
into the exact wedge-like shape requisite for forming a sectorial portion of the
central nave of the intended wheel, by inserting the angular point p, which is
formed by the welded junction of the two bars into an iron mould F, No. 1,
which is suitably formed, and by hamntering on the shoulders n, n, which
the two bars A, B, form by closing together around the wedge filling piece D,
the same is completely surrounded. Then the said shoulders n, n, and also
the flat surfaces of the two bars A, A, which are in contact, are welded.
together at another heat, for forming the arm or spoke of the wheel; and
after such welding of the two bars A, A, has been continued at successive
heats, as far as the spokes are intended to reach outwards from the centre of
the wheel, the outer ends of each of the two bars are bended away from each

page_text: other into two diverging branches E, E, so as to form segmental portions of
the circular rim of the intended wheel, as is shewn at E, E, No. 1 and No. 2,
the form of the arm A, A, with its two diverging branches E, E, somewhat
resembling that of a pickaxe or an anchor. The said bending of the branches
E, E, is performed with true curvature, and with the arm A, A, forming a radius
to that curvature by hammering the end of each of the bars around a suitable
iron mould G, G, No. 1, into which the arm is lodged, and the two extremities
of the branched and arched parts E, E, ale tapered away at a and b in a
suitable manner for forming searf joints with the corresponding ends of
adjoining branches, when eight (or other suitable number of them) are put
together in the form of a wheel, as is represented in No. 2, the wedge-like
ends B, D, B, of the several prepared arms A, A, E, E, then applying one to
another in sectors for forming the central nave of the wheel. But note,
previously to so putting the several arms together, a small wedge-like
filling piece x, No. 1, is inserted into the crevice which is opened between the
two bars A, A, when they are bended away from each other in order to
branch off, so as to form segmental portions E, E, of the rim, and that filling
piece is welded in, so as to give solidity to the bended and branching parts E, E.
All the several arms, being completed in manner aforesaid, are then to be welded
together at the centre or nave of the wheel, in order to form one mass or solid
boss, which is made up by aid of two circular plates of malleable iron H, H,
No. 1, whereof one is to be applied and welded on each side of the central part
of the nave, which is formed by putting together the wedge-like ends B, D, B, of
the several arms as aforesaid, so that they fit one to the other in the manner of
sectors of a circle, and the said two plates II, H, including all those wedge-like
ends between them, and overlapping their junctions, will weld them all securely
together and give substance to the nave of the wheel. The putting together
and welding is performed by heating the said wedge-like ends B, D, B, of all
the several arms to a welding heat at one time, and also the two round plates
II, H, in suitable forgé fires; and when all are properly heated, one of the
heated circular plates H is laid flat on an anvil, and then the several heated
wedge-like ends of the arms are placed on the flat surface of that circular
plate, in correct positions around the centre thereof, so that their inclining
sides B, B, will apply laterally one to another, in the manner of sectors of one
circular centre boss, as shewn in No. 2, leaving no vacancies between them.
And this being done by simultaneous manipulations of as many persons as are
requisite for so bringing together and holding the several arms in place, as
shewn in No. 2, the other heated circular plate II is promptly placed over the
assembled sectors, truly concentrical with them, and then a heavy stamper

page_text: which is provided over the anvil, and which was hoisted up therefrom pre-
viously to putting the parts together, is let fall perpendicularly upon the upper-
most circular plate H, with a sufficient blow to effect the welding of the
central nave of the wheel into a solid mass, and such blow may be repeated as
often as is necessary for completely welding the said mass; and whilst the heat
continues, the shoulders n, n, which form the spaces or groins between the
arms A, A, are hammered exactly into the intended shape, and smoothed by
the aid of. suitable tools of the kind called sets, and the same of the flat
surfaces around the borders of the circular plates H, H, all which being done
with the aid of succeeding heats if required, the formation of the solid central
boss of the wheel is completed by hammering it to its intended form, as in
No. 4. But note, the extremities a, b, of the bended branches E, E, which
were prepared as before mentioned for forming scarf joints, were bended at
the time of their formation, so that they will come near together, but without
being actually in contact with each other, as is shewn in No. 2, in order that
they may not in anywise controul the positions of the wedge-like sectors
B, D, B, during the aforesaid putting together and welding of the central boss.
But after that is finished as aforesaid, one of the said intended scarf joints
a or b, No. 2, is heated to a welding heat, and a bar of rolled iron, L, No. 2,
which is intended to form the outer rim of the wheel, is at the same time heated
to a welding heat at some distance from its extreme end, and that heated part
is applied opposite to the intended scarf joint a or b which has been heated, and
which part has been placed, whilst hot, in a suitable mould K, No. 2; and by
hammering on the outside of the heated bar L, when so applied (the blows
being in a direction towards the centre of the wheel), the scraf joint a or 6 of
the bended branches E, E, of the arms is welded together, and also the two
parts of that joint a or b are both welded to the bar L, which is to form the
outer part of the rim, in order by such welding to commence the formation of
a strong rim to the wheel, as is shewn at E, L, in No. 3 and No. 4. The
said bar L being thus welded at one part of the rim of the wheel, is then
bended round to conformity with the curvature of the circular rim, the bar L
being cut to such length as to extend about one third round the same, or other
convenient portions, as is shewn by No. 3, and by successive welding beats
the said bar L is welded to the several branches E, E, of the arms, and then
other portions of the same bar L are applied and welded in continuation until
they reach all round the rim, the junctions of the said portions of the bar L
being welded one to the other as well as to the branches E, E, and those junc-
tions are arranged to come in the intervals between the aforesaid scarf joint
a, b, at the ends of the branches E, E, of the arms A, A. And note; when

page_text: that part of the said welding of the outer rim L to the branches E, E, of the
arms is to be performed opposite to the end x of each arm A, A, the same is
done upon a mould like G, G, No. 1, in lieu of K, No. 2 and No. 3, the only
difference between the two moulds being that the mould G, G, has a notch in
it to admit the arm A, A, of the wheel. After the rim L of the wheel is thus
solidly welded all round to all the branches E, E, of the several arms A, A,
the exterior circumference of the rim E, L, E, which is so formed. by welding,
is then fashioned by hammering at successive working heats, and with the aid
of suitable sets and tools, until it is wrought to the required form; that is to
say, if the wheel is intended, as before mentioned, for tram. waggons, as
represented at No. 4, it should have a rounding edge, in like manner as is
usual for cast-iron tram wheels, and the said fashioning of the exterior rim,
and the due proportioning of the dimensions of the parts, is almost the only
difference which is requisite in the process of manufacturing my improved
wheel. When the same is intended for carriages of different descriptions, for
instance, if the improved wheel is intended for what is commonly called an
edge railway, see No. 6, the bar iron L, which is welded around the curved
branches E, E, of the arms A, A, to form the outer circumference, must be so
much broader than the bars whereof the arms A, A, and their branches E, E,
are forined, so as to leave the outer rim L overhanging those branclics at one'
side of the wheel, the moulds G and K, by which the branches E, E, are sup-
ported during the welding of the bar L to them being suitably formed, as is
shewn by No. 7 and No. 8, to admit of applying the bar L with the intended
extent of lateral overhanging. After the welding is completed, the said over-
hanging of the rim L may be fashioned by hammering at suitable working
heats, and with the aid of suitable tools well known to smiths, so as to turn up
the overhanging rim into the form of a flange projecting outwards beyond the
rim, the same as the usual prominent flange around the circumference of
those wheels which are intended for edge railways. No. 6 represents my
improved wheel, as it may be proportioned for the carriages in. which
locomotive steam engines are placed; the wheel must in such case have
suitable strength to qualify it for being impelled by the steam power, in order
to advance the carriage and draw other carriages after it, or if my improved
wheel is intended for a cart or waggon to travel on common roads, and therefore
requires a considerable breadth of the exterior circumference, the bar iron L,
of which the outer part of the rim E, L, E is to be formed, being of suitable
breadth, may be applied and welded, so as to overhang the branches E, E of
the arms at both sides of the wheel, as is represented in No. 5; the moulds
G and K, by which the branches E, E are supported during the welding of the

page_text: bar L to them, may in that case be formed as shewn in No. 7 and No. 8; and
in like manner in manufacturing my improved wheel suitably for carriages of
other descriptions, it is only requisite to apportion the strength of the parts to
the strain they are intended to endure. After the completion of the formation
of my said improved wheel by welding and hammering as aforesaid, the same
is to be mounted truly concentrically in a boring and turning lathe, and the
solid nave perforated with a suitable central hole for receiving the axes,
first drilling a small hole, and then enlarging the hole to a proper size by
boring, and if requisite, or if desired, the exterior circumference of the rim
may be turned truly circular, as is now commonly done for the wheels of those
carriages which are intended to travel on edge railways with rapid motion by
steam power.
And my said improved wheel may be applied and fastened
upon the axis by a tapering key or keys driven in the direction of the length
of the axis into grooves cut therein, and also cut within the central hole of the
wheel, in the same manner as is usually practised with the ordinary wheels
for which my improved wheel is substituted; and the said fastening may be
further secured in the manner represented in No. 6 (viz), a groove is formed
in a turning lathe around the end of the axis R which projects through the
central hole of the wheel so as to reduce that projecting part of the axis to a
smaller size, but leaving a prominent knob or fillet m on the end thereof, and
a ring or collar w, w, is fastened on the end of the axis by applying it around
the said groove in two halves, which are put together and securely retained by
an outer ring or collar s, s, which is fitted over the said two halves of the collar
w, w; and the collar s, s being an entire ring, will prevent the two halves w, w,
from separating or coming off the end of the axis, and consequently they will
prevent the wheel coming off the axis. The outer ring s, s, has a flat
circular flange which applies to the corresponding flange of the two halves
w, w, and the two flanges may be fastened together by three small screw pins,
which may have countersunk heads. The said compound collar w, s, s, w,
will also secure the tapering key or keys by which the wheel is keyed on the
axis from coming out of their places. The said mode of fastening is suitable
for wheels which are to be made fast on their axis; and in case the axis is to
have a bearing pivot on the extreme end of it beyond the prominent knob or
fillet m, the compound collar w, s, s, w, must be made so as to occupy but
little space along the projecting end of the axis; this is represented in the
Drawing. And when my said improved wheel is to be fitted to turn round
upon the axle, the hole through the central boss may be bored out to fit the
axle, or else it may be bored out larger, in order to receive a metal box to
which the axle is fitted, in the same manner as is usually done for ordinary

page_text: carriage wheels. The said box may be turned on the outside to fit truly into
the bored central hole of the wheel, and may have a projecting flange to apply
to the flat surface of the central boss of the wheel, and the box and flange may
be fastened in place by two, three, or more screws or rivetted pins, inserted
into holes drilled through the said flange and through the central boss; or
instead of inserting the said box quite through the central boss, the box may
be made in two lengths, each with a projecting flange, as shewn by No. 5,
one length t, t, being inserted from one side of the central boss of the wheel,
and the other length v, v, from the other side, and the two lengths must meet
together, or may nearly meet in the middle of the thickness of the boss. The
same rivet pins may in this case fasten the flanges of both portions of the box.
And note, when my improved wheel is intended for ordinary carriages, as is
shewn by No. 5, the central boss may be required to project out further at one
side of the arms that at the other side, in which case one of the circular
plates H, No. 1, should be prepared of a suitable extra thickness before it is
welded to the central boss, as herein-before described, and in the operation of
welding that thicker plate H should be placed uppermost. And note, my
said improved wheel may, if required, be surrounded with an exterior hoop or
tire, applied and fastened in the usual manner of hooped wheels by heating the
hoop and shrinking it on around the rim of the wheel. In such case the
uppermost part L of the rim may be formed by welding a slighter bar L to
the double branches E, E, of the several arms than is represented in the
Drawing. The only motive for so applying an exterior hoop or tire would be
to enable ordinary wheelwrights or smiths to renew the same when worn out;
but I prefer to have the bar L of sufficient substance to make out the solid
welded rim E, E, L, of sufficient strength without any exterior hoop, in the
manner herein-before described. And when such solid welded rim is worn so
thin as to become weak, it may then be surrounded with a hoop tire shrunk
around it, or what is still better, another bar L of suitable substance may
be applied and welded to the outside of the original worn rim E, E, L, in
the manner already described and represented in No. 3 for welding the original
bar L to the double branches E, E, of the several arms.
Having now described my said Improved Wheel for Carriages of different.
Descriptions, I, the said John Day, do hereby declare that the new Invention,
whereof the exclusive use is granted to me by the said Letters Patent, consists
in the circumstance of the centre boss or nave, arms, and rim of the said
wheel being wholly composed of wrought or malleable iron welded into one
solid mass, in manner herein-before described; but I make no claim to any
wheel with wrought-iron arms united by cast iron for a central boss or nave,

page_text: Inrolled the same Eleventh day of February, in the year above written.