IMPROVEMENTS IN CARRIAGE WHEELS
Year: 1883

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills of the firm of Harris
and Mills of 23 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex Patent
Agent for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN CARRIAGE WHEELS Communi-
cated to him from abroad by Claude Dégrange of Place des Maisons neuves,
Lyons in the Republic of France
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard
Mills at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th April
1883.
BENJAMIN JOSEPH BARNARD MILLS of the firm of Harris and Mills of
23 Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex Patent Agent "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN CARRIAGE WHEELS Communicated to me from abroad by Claude
Dégrange of Place des Maisons neuves, Lyons in the Republic of France
"
The Invention consists in strengthening wheels of wood or partly of wood and
partly of metal, by a metallic mounting uniting the spokes to the nave in a rigid
mauner, and facilitating compensation for play of the parts caused by sbrinkage.
This improvement is represented in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings.
The spokes are united with the nave, in the ordinary manner by means of tenons,
they are afterwards pinched tightly at their base between two metallic rings A. A
of angular section by means of bolts B B which may pass either between the joints
of the spokes as shown at Figure 1 or through their centre which would be
pierced for the purpose. The wing of the angle which covers the nave is conical
on the interior to receive a ring C in the form of a circular or conical wedge the
exterior cone of which is adjusted exactly to the bore of the angular ring. These
rings C are not welded but on the contrary are formed at I with a split or opening
sufficient to enable them to contract in following the shrinkage of the nave. In
forcing this circular wedge under the angular rings a powerful gripping of the
nave is obtained which can be renewed whenever the shrinkage of the latter
renders it necessary, the return of the rings is prevented by nails or stops D fixed
here and there on the nave. If the shrinkage of the nave should become too

page_text: much, it would only be necessary to place between the conical ring and the wood,
a thin ring of iron, zine, or other metal; this plan could also be employed to
prevent the sharp edge of the ring from penetrating into the wood. For this latter
purpose there could also be employed small metallic bands of double | form, as
indicated at E Figure 2 placed between the spokes, and let into and screwed upon
the nave; these bands have further the advantage of preventing the breaking of
the nave at its centre. This mounting gives the following important results.
First-It carries the dangerous section of the spokes to the exterior circum-
ference of the angular rings, to the place where the wood has preserved its greatest
dimension, whilst in the ordinary wheel, the fracture takes place at the reduced
section of the tenon. Second-It permits of preventing in proportion as it is
produced, the play resulting from the shrinkage of the nave, Third, It permits of
rapidly replacing one or two broken spokes by simply removing the mounting at
the back, and placing new spokes without tenons the mounting being replaced and
tightened up, the wheel has preserved all its solidity.
Figure 1 shows arrangements which can be employed for the union of the
spokes; in careful construction their contact is prolonged to the height of the
angular rings as shown by the spokes 1 and 2. If it is desired to economize the
size of the spokes, their contact will not be prolonged beyond the coupling bolt as
shown at Figures 3, 4 and 5 and the space between the angular rings will be
filled by a fitted piece H, to prevent water lodging in it.
The consolidation of the spokes could be obtained separately by two crown plates
bolted at their base in such manner that the tightening of the nave could be
obtained by two flat rings as shown at Figure 3. The circular wedging between
the latter and the nave, could also be obtained by other means than the circular or
conical wedge above described; for example by pressure screws acting all round
the nave, perpendicular to its axis.
These various arrangements constitute less practical means, but enter neverthe-
less into the principle of the invention.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and the mode in which
the same is carried into effect I would have it understood that what I claim in the
construction of wheels of wood or partly of wood and partly of metal is :-
First. The consolidation of the spokes at their base by two rings which bind
them strongly together and which carry their point of fracture to the place where
the section is the greatest.
Second. The tightening of the nave by a circular wedging between the latter
and the circle which consolidates the spokes.
In witness whereof I the said Benjamin Joseph Barnard Mills have hereunto set
my hand and seal this tenth day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
RTR MITTS Gol