IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELS FOR VEHICLES
Year: 1884

page_text: I, GEORGE KNOWLING, of Spring Grove, Kew Bridge, in the County of Middlesex,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
WHEELS FOR VEHICLES " and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
My invention relates to metal wheels for carriages, carts, vans, and other
vehicles.
In wheels of this class, the spokes have usually been connected with, or secured
to, the rim or felloe by bolts, rivets, screw-nuts or the like, which are liable to
become loose by reason of the jars and shocks to which the said wheels are
constantly subjected when in use. My invention is chiefly designed to provide
metal wheels constructed in such a manner that bolts, rivets, screw-nuts or the like
for this purpose can be dispensed with. For this purpose I make the spokes hollow
and provide their outer ends with flanges or flunged sockets which are brazed,
welded or soldered to the rim or felloe.
In constructing my improved wheels, I sometimes form the nave or hub of
sections or segments, each of which is cast in a mould so as to enclose the end of
two or more spokes, and which are bound together by suitable hoops or rings. My
said invention, moreover, comprises various other improvements as hereinafter set
forth.
My improved wheels are more durable and lighter in appearance than the
ordinary wooden wheels, and have greater strength than the metal wheels
heretofore employed. They may be made of iron, steel, brass or suitable metal or
combination of metals.
In the accompanying drawing, I have shown how my said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wheel made according to my invention.
Figure 2 is an edge view thereof.
Figures 3 and 4 are longitudinal central sections showing different methods of
securing the spokes in the nave or hub, and also illustrating my improvements in
connection with the axle-box or bush as hereinafter described.
Figure 5 is a section on the line x, x, Figure 3, the ends of the spokes being
shown in elevation.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of part of the said wheel.
Figure 7 is a, section on the line y, y, Figure 6, and
Figure 8 is a transverse section on the line z, z, Figure 7.
Like letters indicate the same parts throughout the drawing.

page_text: a is the nave or hub, b,.b are the spokes, c is the rim or felloe and d is the tire.
The spokes, and by preference also the rim or felloe, are made hollow, and they are
made either of cast or wrought metal. The rim or felloe is usually made approxi-
mately semi-circular or D-shaped in transverse section, but it may be of triangular
or other desired form. It may be conveniently made of a piece of drawn tube the
ends whereof are joined by. brazing or otherwise. I prefer to make the side of the
said rim or felloe next the tire thicker than the other parts thereof in order to
increase its strength and rigidity.
The spokes are provided at their outer ends with flanges b made to closely fit
the rim or felloe when the said spokes are in place, or they are provided with
flanged sockets firmly secured to their outer ends and made to closely fit the rim
or felloe. These flanges or sockets are united to the rim or felloe by brazing,
welding, or soldering. After the rim or felloe and the spokes have been thus
united, the inner ends of the said spokes are flattened or partially closed, and arc
either placed in a mould in which the nave or hub-a is then cast so that the metal
will run around them and retain them in position in the said nave or hub; or the
said nave or hub is secured to the spokes in the manner hereinafter described.
The tire d is secured to the wheel as follows, that is to say, I make the said tire
somewhat wider than the rim or felloe and shrink it thereon in the usual manner.
I then secure it by swaging, burring or hammering over its inner edges, as shown
at din Figure 7. To more effectually secure the said tire to the rim or felloe, I
sometimes insert in the latter short tubes or sockets e, into which are driven plugs
or pieces of wood or other suitable material; I then, drive nails or rivets g;
through suitable apertures in the tire d, into the plugs or pieces f. The tire may,
however, be secured in any other desirable manner.
I provide for fixing the axle box or bushi in the nave or hub a, as follows, that
is to say, I make the central aperture in the naye or hub somewhat larger than, is
necessary for the said box or bush, and I drive into the said aperture a plug or
piece of wood or other suitable material, which is then bored to receive the said
box or bush, or this plug or piece may, if desired, be bored previous to its insertion
in the nave or hub; the axle box or bush is then tightly fitted into the said nave
or hub.
:
. I sometimes secure the nave or hub to the spokes in the manner illustrated in
Figures 3 and 5, that is to say, the inner ends of two, or more, of the spokes b. are
flattened or partially closed and placed in a mould, in which a segment ; is then
cast so that the metal will run around and enclose them; the requisite number of
segments and spokes is then fitted within the rim or felloe, and the said segments
are firmly bound together by means of the rings and the hoops l, m, which are
shrunk upon the said segments and secured by bolts or rivets as at n.
I prefer to make the hoop which surrounds the outer end of the nave or
hub a with an internal flange to strengthen, and prevent the splitting of, the
said hoop and thereby diminish the liability to damage by collision.
When the wheels are to be made of greater width than usual I sometimes
construct the rim or felloe of two or more hollow or tubular rings placed side by
side, and make the tire somewhat wider than the said rings, to which it is secured
as above deseribed..
Having now particularly described, and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
First. A metal wheel the spokes whereof are hollow and are provided at their
outer ends with flanges or flanged sockets brazed; welded or soldered to the rim or
felloe.
Second. The combination, with the other parts of my improved wheel, of a tire
secured to the rim or felloe by swaging, burring or hammering over its inner edges
as above described, and with or without the nails or rivets driven into the plugs or
pieces of wood or other suitable material fitted in the tubes or sockets, substantially
as set forth,

page_text: Third. A metal wheel the nave or hub whereof is formed of sections or segments
each enclosing the inner ends of two or more spokes and held together by rings or
hoops, substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Fourth. The construction of my improved wheel with a hollow rim or felloe
having a thickened portion next the tire, substantially as, and for the purpose, set
forth
Fifth. The combination, with the nave or hub, of a plug or piece of wood or
other suitable material driven into the same, and an axle box or bush fitted therein,
substantially as, and for the purpose, set forth.
Sixth. The construction of the hoop surrounding the outer end of the nave or
hub with an internal flange, as, and for the purpose, set forth..
Seventh. The modification of my invention which consists in making the rim
or felloe of two hollow or tubular rings, substantially as set forth.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.