IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WROUGHT METAL WHEELS, AND IN MACHINERY FOR THE SAME
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane,
in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WROUGHT METAL WHEELS, AND
IN MACHINERY FOR THE SAME." -A communication from abroad by
Claude Brunon, Barthélemy Brunon, and Gabriel Brunon, of the
Firm of Brunon Brothers, of 13, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris...
Sealed the 16th August 1870, and dated the 26th February 1870..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville'
Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 26th February 1870.
I, ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WROUGHT METAL.
WHEELS, AND IN MACHINERY FOR THE SAME," to be as follows:-
=
This Invention relates to the manufacture of metal spoked wheels.

page_text: I make the wheels of iron and combinations of this metal suitable for
forging, the spokes being previously formed and united to the nave at
a welding heat by percussion or pressure applied at the centre of the
welding block, so as both to unite and impart the desired form to the
parts constituting the nave by forcing the metal from the centre towards
the outside of the moulds. The wheel thus formed and having any
number or form of spokes desired is as homogeneous as if made in a
single piece, while the peculiar disposition of the metal according to
this improved mode of manufacture allows of the weight being reduced
to the minimum limit consistent with strength, and thus render the
wheels applicable to all kinds of vehicles, and more especially to railway

page_text: in a matrix of suitable form. The metal being thus heated is operated
on by a punch of a truncated, conical, or circular wedge form, which
forces the metal outwards in the matrix so as to give it the form
shewn in Figure 2, leaving also a hollow centre for receiving the axle.
Figures 3 and 4 shew the metal blank from which the combined
rim and spoke is formed, and consisting of a flat bar of metal of suitable
length. This bar may be of a uniform section throughout its length,
but preferably I vary the form to suit the difference of strain, as seen
in Figure 3. The centre part serves to form the rim, the spokes B, C,
which are lenticular in section, being strengthened at the ends and
diminishing towards the part A forming a portion of the rim. The
blank is then bent of the form shewn in Figure 4 in a machine, the
ends B, C, being cut in a bevel. The spoke is strengthened at the part
next to the nave, as seen, while the lenticular section also strengthens
the centre portion and facilitates the insertion and withdrawal of the
shaping instrument in the subsequent operations. Lastly, the section
of rim is similarly reinforced, and forms without welding an integral
part of the spoke and without leaving any metal in excess. In order
to supply the spoke bars continuously to the bending machine in a
heated condition, and also leave a reserve constantly at disposal, I use
an arrangement of furnace which is arched in and provided with fire-
bars, the heat being supplied by radiation. The furnace is provided
with two bars or rails extending from side to side, on which the spoke
bars are caused to pass through a longitudinal slit at the upper part.
The bar in a cold state is laid on the projecting rail and moved trans-
versely through the slit, and where a number of bars are introduced
in succession the one bar moves the other forward across the rails in the
furnace until one is projected through the slit on the exit side. In this
manner each red-hot bar to be supplied to the bending machine is dis-
charged by the introduction of a cold bar into the furnace, and I thus
obtain a regular temperature as required, and also a continuity of action.
The bars are set in motion by the aid of a two-armed lever, which is
brought to bear on the cold bar.
The machine for bending the segmental rim spokes is shewn in front
view in Figure 6, side view at Figure 7, and plan at Figure 8. It
consists of a framing a, a, mounted on a base b, and united at top by
a tie rod c, which further connects the framing to the walls of the
A 2

page_text: workshop where convenient, and forms a support for the driving mc-
chanism. Motion is imparted to pulley d and is transmitted from its
shaft e to the cross shaft ƒ by means of bevel gearing 1, 2, and thence to
the principal shaft g by means of spur gearing 3, 4. The wheels 4 on
either side are provided with crank pins, to which are connected rods h, h,
united at the lower end by a cross bar i, which is in turn connected to a
slide J moving in vertical guides k, k. Each revolution of shaft g
produces an upward and downward motion of the slide k, the extent of
which motion is regulated by the distance of the crank pins from the
centre of wheels 4. The slide carries the die 1 for curving the
rim spokes, while the jointed counter die m is attached to a cross bar n
fixed to the framing. The-rim-spoke-is-shaped-by-the-aid-of these two
dies in the following manner:-The spoke bar o is first placed on the
die with its ends resting on the two supports p, p, a central position
being ensured by the aid of regulating guide r. The rising movement
of the movable matrix brings it up to the jointed counter die m,
the bar o being seized at the centre between the two, and the motion.
being continued the jointed parallelogram m, m³, m", is caused to enter
(in bending the spokes B, C, Figure 4) the fixed bar n, and assume the
position shown by the dotted lines in Figure 6. The friction rollers 28
serve to guide the bar during the bending operation, while the downward
motion returns the matrices to their former position; the rim spoke at
this moment envelopes the die 1, and rests on the part i, being then
removed (for similarly acting on a fresh bar) during the downward
motion on lever 6 coming in contact with a fixed stop 7 which
moves said lever forwards and with it the pushers S, S, Figure 7,
attached thereto. The lever 6 also comes in contact with stop 7 during
the rising motion for returning the pushers S to position. The machine
thus arranged transforms the bars into spokes with segments of the rim
attached, it being possible to vary the form of the spokes by the aid of
different dies or by regulating the stroke of the connecting rods. The
machine is started or stopped by the belt shipper t. The rim spoke
is now of the form shewn in Figure 4 with the ends B, C, inclined, and
at an angle represented by the dotted lines B', C', forming a trapezium,
a number of them being placed in the position they are to occupy to
form the wheel within a ring D, Fig. 5. The diameter of this ring is
such as to embrace the circle formed by the union of the rim segments;
provision is also. made for the reception of all the radii, and the ring is

page_text: provided with hand holds for moving the same. The rim spokes are
placed in the ring so that the ends B, C, may face alternately in
opposite directions, this result being obtained by reversing each rim
spoke with regard to the other; this is important in order to ensure the
perfect union of the parts, and I claim it as a particular feature in the
manufacture of wheels from forged metal. In order to unite the nave
with the spokes by forging I first bring the parts to be united to a
welding heat. The nave is heated by ordinary means, but I employ a
special arrangement of forge for heating the centre of the wheel in
uniting the rim spokes with the nave, said forge being arranged to heat
those parts only which require welding, and not the ring D holding the
parts in position.
The arrangement of furnace for effecting the above object is illus.
trated in Figures 9, 12, and 13. Around a central hollow box " com-
municating with the blower are radically disposed a suitable number of
hollow cases v, v, receiving a supply of air from u by pipes x which
may be provided with valves if desired; the cases are open at the top,
at which part is placed a furnace y of refractory material and provided
with fire-bars if desired. This circular furnace is intended to receive the
wheel whose centre is to be heated, it being placed in position by the aid
of the ring D before mentioned, which is of larger diameter than the
furnace and is thus unsubjected to its action. The air for combustion
supplied from case v permeates both the lower and upper layers of fuel
which enclose the centre to be heated and regulates the temperature.
By employing a number of these furnaces a continuity of action is
ensured.
The matrix for uniting the nave to the spokes shown in Figure 10
is made in two parts, upper and lower E, G, whose horizontal surfaces
are caused to meet in the spaces between the spokes of the wheel. The
diameter of such matrices corresponds to the internal diameter of ring D,
and part E is further hollowed at its centre for operating the forging
punch or circular die H.
Figures 14, 15, and 16 show an arrangement of hydraulic press or
machine for operating the matrices E, G, and punch H, which parts are
employed for uniting the spokes to the nave by welding, and also for
stamping or moulding the heated portion of the metal. The distinctive
feature of this Invention consists in the moulding or stamping of the

page_text: .
metal between two fixed dies, that is to say, the mould (which is in two
parts superposed) holds the metal without compressing it, this latter
object being effected by the aid of the part II herein-before mentioned as
a circular die. Figure 14 shows a front view, Figure 15 a plan, and
Figure 16 a longitudinal vertical section of the moulding machine. It is
composed of a base I and head J supported on columns 8, 8, forming the
framing of an hydraulic press having two pistons K united by a cross
head L to which is attached the die or punch H. The fixed die E is
carried on an intermediate cross bar E¹ firmly connected to the framing
8, S, and also by tie rods g, while the moveable die G is mounted on a
cross bar G', which is capable of vertical adjustment under the action-of-
screw M working in a nut N by means of a double set of bevil gearing
10, 11, 11, actuated by the motive power. The motion may be readily
reversed or arrested by hand automatically by the aid of a double inclined
part 11 which moves up and down with screw M.
The action of the machine is as follows:-The dics E, G, are first
separated, and the several segments of the rim and spokes in a heated
state (all scoria being removed) together with the unformed nave also in
a heated condition and placed in the centre of the wheel are by the aid
of ring D placed in the spaces corresponding therewith in die E; the
screw M is then set in motion for lowering the die G until it is brought
in contact with E, at which moment the hydraulic press is put in motion
to force up the conical punch or die H from below the nave Z and effect
a lodgment therein, by which means the heated metal is caused to fill
all the spaces and take the form of the moulds which remain stationary.
A counter punch O carried by the upper matrix G serves to afford the
necessary resistance to the upward pressure. On the moulding being
completed the dies are separated, when the rim and spokes will be found
to be homogeneously welded with the nave to the form of the dies.
The metal in excess forms a partition 12 in the bore of the nave of more
or less thickness according to circumstances or the extent of space to be
filled, which partition is afterwards removed.
Although I prefer to employ hydraulic compression by the aid of an
accumulator for moulding and welding together the parts of the wheel,
I may use other modes of compression, or it may be percussion, and I
reserve the right of adapting any such arrangement to the apparatus
described.

page_text: several segments of the rim. This operation, which is effected either by
pressure or percussion applied at the ends of the spokes, without however
bearing on the same so as to disarrange the parts, serves to weld the
filling wedges inserted at the point where the spokes merge in the rim
while preventing both the bulging of the spokes and the separation of
the segments, and thus preserving the form imparted to the wheel by
the first operation.
Figure 17 shows a front elevation, Figure 18 a vertical section,
Figure 19 a plan, and Figure 20 a horizontal section on line A, B,
Figure 17 of the machine. It consists of a framing P; P¹, formed in
two parts, P being a hollow column firmly attached to a base, and in
which is received the part P¹ turned at its lower end, and sliding with
slight friction in P. The part P¹ is supported on springs 13, 13, and is
prevented from turning by a key 14, as seen. To the upper end of
part Pi are connected two guides 15, 15, terminating in a screwed
socket 16, in which latter is mounted a screw R carrying the hammer
head S. Screw R is operated by a spring balance lever, and is also
provided with a brake lever 17. The counter part of the hammer is
formed of two jointed jaws 18, 18, attached to the framing, and when
the pressure or percussion is operated said jaws, which are embraced at
their ends by the part S, tend to approach each other and grip the
spokes so as to form a firm support to sustain the forging or welding
operation without in the least affecting the symmetry of the wheel.
T is an arm formed of a socket 19 and hollow arm fitting therein at
right angles. The socket embraces the upper part P¹ of the framing, on
which it is free to turn, and rests on the lower part P, in which position
it is fixed by a hand lever 20 received in corresponding notches in said
part P. The wheel to be welded being first heated at the point of
junction of the spokes and rim is then mounted on the arm T by the
nave; a counterpart or washer 21 engaging in a helical groove made in
the arm brings the heated part under the action of the hammer or
pressing tool, that is to say, between the jaws 18, 18. At this moment
the welding wedge is placed at the end of the heated bars, on which
pressure is applied or a blow struck by the aid of the balance lever.
The wedge is held between the cutting edges 21 of the percussion
instrument embracing the sides of the rim, it being cut of the desired

page_text: length during the downward motion. This operation requires to be
repeated for each section of the rim both rapidly and continuously. The
wedges are heated in any suitable manner, and I employ a peculiar
arrangement of rotary forge for heating the several points in the
periphery of the wheel.
Figures 21 and 22 represent vertical and horizontal sections of a
furnace rotating on an axis U and supported on a solid foundation,
having a hollow centre 22, at which the air for combustion is supplied.
The rotating part V unites the four forges and supplies air thereto.
X, X, are supports for the wheel while being heated, corresponding in
height with the arm T before referred to. Thc_forges-cach-consist-of-a-
furnace Y, supported by pipe V, and receiving air therefrom by means
of channels 23, each provided with a valve 24. It will be readily under-
stood that if the furnaces are lighted with a wheel supported above each
arm X I may not only heat four wheels at a time, but also vary the
position of the four furnaces by turning them on their centre without
interrupting their action. The arms X of the forge correspond in height,
as before mentioned, with the arm T of the wedging machine last
described, and as the arms X rotate on a centre they may be successively
brought end on to arm T, and in this manner a wheel may be transferred
from arm X and placed on T for receiving a wedge, after which it is
returned to X to be again heated in readiness to receive another wedge;
the second arm X then comes into action by the partial rotation of the
forge, and so on.
In the above manner I am enabled to weld the rims in a continuous
manner. The wheel is not heated after the last wedge has been applied,
but is replaced on arm X by another, while the finished wheel is removed
from arm T of the wedging machine. The screw 25 serves to regulate
the height of the arms of the forge so as to bring them in relation with
the wedging machine.
The herein-described mode of manufacturing forged spoke wheels is
also partially or wholly applicable to other kinds of metallic wheels than
those before described.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 25th August 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDER
MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Alexander Melville Clark, Her special
licence that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alexander Melville
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain
and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WROUGHT METAL WHEELS, AND IN
MACHINERY FOR THE SAME," a communication to me from abroad by
Claude Brunon, Barthelemy Brunon, and Gabriel Brunon, of the
Firm of Brunon Brothers, of 13, Boulevart St. Martin, Paris, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and immediately
after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the four Sheets of
Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked
thereon (that is to say)
-:
This Invention relates to the manufacture of metal spoked wheels
conevall

page_text: I make the wheels of iron and combination of this metal suitable
for forging, the spokes being previously formed and united to the
nave at a welding heat by percussion or pressure applied at the
centre of the nave, so as both to unite and impart the desired form to
the parts by forcing the metal from the centre outwards. The wheel
thus formed and having any number or form of spokes desired is as
homogeneous as if made in a single piece, while the peculiar disposition
of the metal according to this improved mode of manufacture allows of
the weight being reduced to the minimum limit consistent with strength,
and thus renders the wheel applicable to all kinds of vehicles, and more
-especially-to-railway-rolling-stock.
The Invention also includes improvements in and machinery for
forming the several parts of a wheel, for retaining the same in position to
be united for bringing the parts to a welding heat, and lastly, for welding
and uniting the parts so as to form one homogeneous whole.
Spoked metal wheels are composed of three distinct parts, 1st, the
nave; 2ndly, the spokes uniting the nave to the rim, which forms the
third part.
An additional part consists of the metal hoop or tyre forming the
wearing surface, but this is always made apart from the wheel, and is
fitted to the rim in various ways to admit of repair or renewal when
worn.
The present improvements however relate only to the wheel proper,
consisting of nave, spokes, and rim, independent of the tyre.
The principle of construction of the improved wheel of this Invention
consists in the division of the rim into as many parts or fellics as there
are spokes, and in the formation in a piece with each segment or felly
of the rim of two semi-spokes, these segments being then united to
the nave and also together by welding at the centre and at the
circumference.
By the above method the welding of the spoke to the tyre is dispensed*
with, this being a distinctive feature of the improved mode of con-
struction of this Invention.
This Invention is illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, Figure 2
of which shows the nave of a wheel formed from a metal block of the
form shown in Figure 1, which is heated in a furnace and brought to the

page_text: required form by the action of a punch of truncated conical form, which
forces the metal outward into the hollows of the die to give it the form
shown in Figure 2, and at same time to partially form the hollow centre
for the reception of the axle.
Figures 3 and 4 show the formation of the combined sectional rim and
spoke from a flat bar of metal of suitable length. This bar may be of a
uniform section throughout its length, but I prefer to vary the form to
suit the difference of strain, as seen in Figure 3. The centre part A
serves to form the rim, the spokes B, C, which are lenticular in section,
being strengthened at the ends and diminishing towards the part A
forming a portion of the rim. The bar is then bent of the form shown
in Figure 4 in a machine, the ends B, C, being cut on a bevel. The
spoke is strengthened at the part next to the nave, as seen, while the
lenticular section strengthens the centre portion; lastly, the section of
rim is similarly reinforced and forms without welding an integral part of
the spoke. In order to supply the spoke bars continuously to the
bending machine in a heated condition with a constant reserve, I use an
arrangement of furnace arched in and provided with two bars or rails
extending from side to side, on which the spoke bars are caused to pass
through a longitudinal slit at the upper part. The bar in a cold state is
laid on the projecting parts of the rails, and moved transversely through
the slit, and a number of bars being so introduced in succession they will
be caused to pass gradually across the rails in the furnace until one is
projected through the slit on the exit side. In this manner each red-hot
bar supplied to the bending machine is replaced by the introduction of a
cold bar into the furnace, and I thus obtain the regular temperature and
continuous action required. The bars are moved across by the aid of a
lever which is brought to bear on the last cold bar introduced.
The machine for bending the segmental rim spokes is shown in front
view at Figure 6, side view at Figure 7, and plan at Figure S. It
consists of a framing a, a, mounted on a base b, and united at top by a
framework c, which further connects the framing to the walls of the
workshop, and forms a support for the driving mechanism. Motion is
imparted to pulley d, and is transmitted from its shaft e to the cross
shaft by means of bevel gearing 1, 2, and thence to the principal
shaft by means of spur gearing 3, 4.
The wheels 4 on either side are
provided with crank pins, to which are connected rods h, h, the lower

page_text: ends of which are attached to a cross head i carrying a slide j moving in
vertical guides k, k. Each revolution of shaft y produces an upward and
downward motion of the slide k, the extent of which is determined by
the radius of the crank pins. The slide j carries the die for curving
the rim spoke, while the jointed counter die m is attached to a cross bar n
fixed to the framing. The rim spoke or segment is shaped by the aid of
these two dies in the following manner :-The spoke bar o is first placed
on the die with its ends resting on the two supports p, p, a central
position being ensured by the aid of regulating guide r. The rising
movement of the movable die brings it up to the jointed counter_die_m,
_the-bar-o-being-clamped at the centre between the two, and the motion.
being continued the jointed frame m, m², m", is caused in bending the
spokes B, C, to pass up through the fixed cross bar n, and assume the
position shown by the dotted lines at 5 in Figure 6. Friction rollers are
provided to guide the bar during the bending operation, while the
downward motion returns the dies to their former position. The rim
spoke at this moment envelops the die 1, and is removed to give place
to a fresh bar during the downward motion on lever 6 (Figure 7)
coming in contact with a fixed stop 7, by which said lever is moved
forward and with it the parts S, S, Figure 7, attached thereto. The
lever 6 also comes in contact with stop 7 during the rising motion for.
returning the parts S to position. The machine thus arranged transforms
in one operation the bars into segments of the wheel, the form of which
may be varied by changing the dies and regulating the length of stroke.
The machine is started or stopped by the belt shipper t. The rim spoke
or segment is now of the form shown in Figure 4 with the ends B, C, at
an angle represented by the dotted lines B¹, C', a number of them being
shown placed in the position they are to occupy to form the wheels
within a ring D, Figure 5. The diameter of this ring is such as to
embrace the circle formed by the union of the rim segments, provision a
being also made for the reception of all the radii, and the ring is
provided with hand holds for moving the same. The rim spokes or
segments are placed in the ring so that the inclined ends B, C, of the
continuous segments may form a scarf welded joint; this is important in
order to ensure the perfect union of the parts, and forms a particular 3
feature in this improved manufacture of wheels from forged metal. In
order to unite the nave with the spokes by forging I first bring the parts
to be united to a welding heat. The nave is heated by ordinary means,

page_text: but I employ a special arrangement of forge for heating the centre of
the wheel for uniting the rim spokes with the nave, said forge being
arranged to heat those parts only which require welding, and not the
ring D holding the parts in position.
An arrangement of furnace for effecting the above object is illustrated
in Figures 9, 12, and 13. Around a central hollow box u communicating
with the blower are radially disposed a suitable number of hollow
chambers v, v, receiving a supply of air from u by pipes a, which may.
be provided with valves if desired. The chambers are open at top, at
which part is placed a furnace y of refractory material, and provided
with fire-bars if desired. This circular furnace is intended to receive the
wheel whose centre is to be heated, it being placed in position by the aid.
of the ring D before mentioned, which is of larger diameter than the
furnace, and is thus unsubjected to its action. The air for combustion
supplied from chamber v permeates both the lower and upper layers of
fuel which enclose the centre to be heated and regulates the temperature.”
By employing a number of these furnaces a continuity of action is
ensured.
The matrix or die for uniting the nave to the spokes shown in
Figure 10 is made in two parts, upper and lower, E, G, whose horizontal"
surfaces are caused to meet in the spaces between the spokes of the
wheel. The diameter of each matrix corresponds to the internal diameter
of ring D, and part E is further hollowed at its centre for operating the
conical forging punch H.
Figures 14, 15, and 16 show an arrangement of hydraulic press or
machine for operating the matrices E, G, and punch H, which parts are
employed for uniting the spokes to the nave by welding, and also for
stamping or moulding the heated portion of the metal.
The distinctive feature of this Invention consists in the moulding or
stamping of the metal between two fixed dies, that is to say, the mould
(which is in two parts superposed) holds the metal without compressing
it, this latter object being effected by the aid of the conical punch H.
Figure 14 shows a front view, Figure 15 a plan, and Figure 16 a longi-
tudinal vertical section of the moulding machine. It is composed of a
base I and head J supported on columns 8, 8, forming the framing of
an hydraulic press, having two pistons K united by a cross head L, to
which is attached the punch H. The fixed die E is carried on an inter-.

page_text: mediate cross bar E' firmly connected to the framing'S, S, and also by
tic rods g, while the movable die G is mounted on a cross bar G', which
is capable of vertical adjustment under the action of screw M working
in a socket N by means of a double set of bevel gearing 10, 10, 11, 11,
actuated by the motive power. The motion may be readily reversed or
arrested by hand or automatically by the aid of a double inclined
part 11* moving with screw M. The action of the machine is as
follows: The dies E, G, are first separated, and the several segments of
the rim and spokes in a heated state (all scoria being removed), together
with the improved nave, also in a heated condition, and placed in the
centre of the wheel, are by the aid of ring D placed in the spaces
corresponding therewith in die E; the screw M is then set in motion for
lowering the die G until it is brought in contact with E, at which
moment the hydraulic press is put in action to force up the conical
punch H from below the nave Z and effect a lodgment therein, by which
means the heated metal is caused to fill all the spaces and take the form
of the moulds which remain stationary. A counter punch o carried by
the upper matrix G serves to afford the necessary resistance to the
upward pressure. On the moulding being completed the dies are
separated, when the rim and spokes will be found to be homogeneously
welded with the nave to the form of the dies. The metal in excess forms
a partition 12 in the bore of the nave of more or less thickness according
to circumstances or the extent of space to be filled, which partition is
afterwards removed.
Although I prefer to employ hydraulic compression as described for
moulding and welding together the parts of the wheel, I may use other
modes of compression, or it may be percussion, and I reserve the right
of adapting any such arrangement to the apparatus described.
I will now describe the machine for forging or welding together the
several segments of the rim. This operation (which is effected cither
by pressure or percussion applied at the ends of the spokes, without
however bearing on the same so as to disarrange the parts) serves to
weld the filling wedges inserted at the points where the spokes merge
in the rim, while preventing both the bulging of the spokes and the
separation of the segments, and thus preserving the form imparted to
the wheel by the first operation. Figure 17 shows a front elevation,
Figure 18 a vertical section, Figure 19 a plan, and Figure 20 a

page_text: longitudinal section on line A, B, Figure 17, of the machine. It consists.
of a framing P, P', formed in two parts, P being a hollow column firmly
mounted on a base, in which is received the part P¹ turned at its lower
end and sliding with slight friction in P. The part P¹ is supported on
springs 13, 13, and is prevented from turning by a key 14, as seen. To
the upper end of part P' are connected two guides 15, 15, terminating in
a screwed socket 16, in which latter is mounted a screw R carrying the
head. S. Screw R is operated by a spring balance lever, and is also
provided with a brake lever 17. The counterpart of the head is formed
of two jointed jaws 18, 18, attached to the framing, and when the
pressure or percussion is operated said jaws, which are embraced at.
their ends by the head S, tend to approach each other and grip the
spokes so as to form a firm support to sustain the the forging or welding:
operation without in the least affecting the symmetry of the wheel.
T is an arm formed on a socket 19 at right angles. The socket.
embraces the upper part P¹ of the pillar on which it is free to turn,:
and rests on the hollow column P, in which position it is fixed by a
latch lever 20 received in corresponding notches in said column P. The
wheel to be welded being first heated at the circumference at the points.
of contact of the segments, is then mounted on the arm T by the nave.
A counterpart or guide 21 serves to adjust the heated part and bring it
under the action of the head or pressing tool, that is to say, between the
jaws 18, 18. At this moment wedge is placed at the part heated, on
which pressure is applied, or a blow struck by the aid of the lever
handle x.
The wedge is cut of the desired length during the downward
motion by the cutting edges 21 of the head S, which embraces the rim
and holds the wedge so cut off in position. This operation having to be
repeated for each section of the rim requires to be effected both rapidly
and without interruption. The wedges are heated in any suitable
manner, and I employ a peculiar arrangement of rotary forge for
heating the several points in the periphery of the wheel.
Figures 21 and 22 represent vertical and horizontal sections of a
furnace rotating on a pivot U, and supported on a solid foundation,
having a hollow centre 22, at which the air for combustion is supplied.
The rotating part V unites the four forges and supplies air thereto;
X, X, are supports for the wheel while being heated, corresponding in
height with the arm T, before referred to. The forges each consist of a

page_text: furnace Y, supported by pipe V, and receiving air therefrom by means
of cliannels 23, each provided with a valve 24. It will be readily
understood that if the furnaces are lighted with a wheel supported above
cach arm X, I may not only heat four wheels at a time, but also vary
the position of the four furnaces by turning them on their centres
without interrupting their action. The arms X of the forge correspond
in height, as before mentioned, with the arm T of the wedging machine
last described, and as the arms X rotate on a centre they may be
successively brought end on to arm T, and in this manner a wheel may
be transferred from one arm X and placed on T for receiving a wedge,
after which it is returned to X to be again heated in readiness to receive
another wedge, the wheel from the second arm X being then subjected
to the action-of-the-machine-by-the-partial-rotation.of_the_forge,_and_so_
on. By the above means I am enabled to weld the rims continuously.
The wheel is not heated after the last wedge has been applied, but is
replaced on arm X by another, while the finished wheel is removed
from arm T of the wedging machine. The screw 25 serves to regulate
the height of the arms of the forge so as to bring them in relation with
the wedging machine.
The herein-described mode of manufacturing forged spoke wheels is
also partially or wholly applicable to other kinds of metallic wheels
than those before described.
Having described the nature of the Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be
protected by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the
manufacture of wrought-iron spoked wheels in the manner herein-before
described, the process comprising,—
1st. The production of the nave and combined felly spokes or segments
in the manner described and illustrated in the Drawings.
2ndly. Welding or uniting the same together in moulds or dies by
pressure or percussion applied at the centre of the nave block, as
described.
3rdly. The mode of welding together the segments or felly spokes at
the circumference, as described.
I also claim the several machines for bending or forming the spokes,
uniting or welding the nave and spokes, and welding the segments

page_text: together at the circumference, as also the arrangements of forges for
heating the several parts of the wheel during its manufacture, all as
herein-before described and illustrated in the Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fifth day of August,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy.
Witness,
W. G. E. SWINNOCK,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)