An Improved Method of Securing Wheels to their Axles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 11th June, 1890-Accepted, 12th July 1890
PROVISIONAL. SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Securing Wheels to their Axles.
I THOMAS BIRKS, Tyne Street, Lenton, Nottingham, Perambulator Manufacturer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The nave of each wheel is bored out to receive the axle, the outer end of the nave
is closed and the inner end is formed with a double recess somewhat larger than the
bore, the smaller recess receives a collar secured on the axle, beyond the collar the
larger recess is screw threaded to receive a screw threaded collar free to revolve on
the axle, upon the screw threaded collar being screwed into the screw threaded
recess in the nave,
the wheel will be securely held on the axle until the collar is
unscrewed.
The screw threaded collar may be in two halves. Or instead of the larger screw
threaded recess the inner end of the nave may be formed with a projecting collar
screw-threaded outside to receive a flanged interiorly screw threaded collar free to
revolve on the axle.
Dated thin 1 1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Securing Wheels to their Axles.
I THOMAS BIRKS of Tyne Street, Lenton, Nottingham Perambulator Manufacturer
do hereby declare the nature of my 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 consists of the method hereinafter described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawing in securing wheels to their axles, my said invention being
particularly applicable to the securing of the wheels of perambulators bath, chairs
and other like vehicles to their axles.
I will describe my invention in connection with the wheels of a perambulator.
According to my invention the nave or hub of each wheel is bored out through
the greater part of its length to receive the outer end of the axle and the outer end
of the said nave or hub is closed. The inner end of the said nave or hub is formed
with a double recess, the two recesses being of different diameters. The smaller
recess in the hub or nave receives a collar made on the axle and the larger recess is
threaded with a concave or hollow screw to receive a loose screw threaded collar or
nut, the said loose screw threaded collar or nut being situated between the collar
already described and a second collar behind it. By screwing the screw collar or
nut into the screw threaded recess in the nave or hub the wheel is securely held on
the axle, the screw collar or nut as the wheel turns on the axle rotating between the
two collars described. By turning the screw collar or nut so as to withdraw it from
the screwed recess in the hub or nave the wheel is unfastened and may be withdrawn
from the axle.
The screw threaded rotating collar or nut may be made in two halves.
Or instead of making the large screwed recess in the nave or hub, the inner end of
the nave or hub may be furnished with a projecting collar screw threaded externally
to receive an internally screw threaded nut or collar free to revolve on the axle.
I will now describe with reference to the accompanying Drawing the manner in
which my invention is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation, the nave or hub being in section, a metallic
spoked wheel for a perambulator or other like vehicle secured to the end of the axle

page_text: .
according to one of the arrangements of my invention; Figure 2 represents in front
elevation a portion of the said, wheel exhibiting the closed outer end of the nave or
hub and Figure 3 represents the nave or hub and end of the axle and the fixing
appliances of the wheel drawn to a larger scale, the wheel being represented detached
from the axle.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in Figures 1, 2 and 3.
a is the nave or hub of the wheel to the flanges of which the wire spokes b
supporting the metallic rim and india rubber tyre at c are affixed in the usual manner.
The said nave or hub a is closed at its front or outer end the said outer end being
marked a². The screw cap or covering ordinarily used at the outer or front end of
the nave or hub is consequently dispensed with; but I wish it to be understood that
my invention may be used with naves or hubs having open fronts of the ordinary
kind. The tubular bore a³ of the hub receives the end of the axle d and the
open inner end of the hub is recessed at ef (see Figure 3) the larger recess f
being provided with a concave or hollow screw thread as represented. Near the end
of the axle is a fixed collar g of a size proper for fitting into the recess e in the
nave or hub and behind the said collar g is a back collar h; i is a screw collar or
screw nut turning freely on the axle d. A portion only of the said collar i is screwed
the other portion of the collar having a hexagonal or other angular figure for a
spanner to fit upon for turning the said collar or nut. The screwed front part of the
collar or nut takes into the screwed recess in the nave or hub a of the wheel.
The screw collar or nut is confined between the front and back collars 9,
h on the
axle the said screw collar or nut i being put on the axle before the front collar g is
secured in its place on the axle.
By passing the hub of the wheel onto the end d² of the axle and screwing the loose
screw nut or washer by means of a spanner into the screwed recess in the hub a
until the front collar g seats itself in the recess e in the hub as represented in Figure 1
the wheel is securely attached to the axle. On the rotation of the wheel the screwed
ecollar or nut i turns with it, the said collar or nut i working between the two fixed
collars .9, on the axle. By unscrewing the collar or nut from the recess f in the
hub, the wheel is unfastened and may be withdrawn from the axle.
h
Figure 4 represents in section a portion of a wheel secured to its axle according
to another or modified arrangement of my invention drawn to the same scale as
Figure 3 and Figure 5 represents the hub and axle of the arrangement Figure 4
detached.
2
In the arrangement Figures 4 and 5 the hub or nave a closed at its front end a²
is formed at its inner end with a projecting tubular collar k screwed externally: 7 is
a plain collar on the axle d for abutting. against the end of the screwed collar on the
'hub when the axle is fixed to the hub. On the axle d and behind the plain collar,
is an internally screwed nut .or collar m capable of sliding and turning upon the said
axle d.
In securing the wheel to the axle according to this arangement the hub a of the
wheel is passed onto the end d² of the axle until the end of the screwed projecting
collar on the hub abuts against the plain collar on the axle. The internally
screwed collar or nut m is then screwed upon the externally screwed collar A on the
hub so as to secure the wheel to the axle as represented in Figure 4 the end of the
screwed collar k bearing against one side of the fixed collar and the internal shoulder
in the screw nut or collar m bearing against the opposite face of the collar 1. When
'the screw nut or collar m has been screwed home its unscrewed rear part seats itself
on the back reduced part of the plain collar on the axle as seen in Figure 4 and on
the rotation of the wheel, the said collar or screw nut rotating with the said wheel
takes a bearing on the said reduced part of the collar 7.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention
and the manner in which the same is to be performed I declare that 1 claim as
my invention:-
First-Securing the wheels of nerambulators bath chairs and other vobielos to

page_text: their axles by the method or construction and combination of parts hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the accompanying Drawing; that
is to say, making in the rear open end of the nave or hub of the wheel an internally
screwed recess and combining with the axle a loose collar or nut screwed externally
working between fixed collars on the axle for screwing into the said screwed recess in
the nave or hub substantially as described and illustrated.
Secondly-Securing the wheels of perambulators bath chairs and other vehicles
to their axles by the modified construction and combination of parts hereinbefore
described and illustrated in Figures 4 and 5 of the accompanying Drawing, the said
modified parts consisting essentially of a projecting collar screwed externally at the
rear end of the nave or hub and an internally screwed loose collar or nut on the axle
for taking upon the projecting screwed collar on the nave or hub the end of the
screwed collar on the nave or hub and an internal shoulder on the loose screwed
collar or nut on the axle being situated on opposite sides of a fixed collar on the axle
substantially as described and illustrated.
Dated the Third day of June 1890.
THOMAS BIRKS.