IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAMWAY AND RAILWAY WHEELS WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO SPUR, BEVEL, MITRE AND OTHER GEAR WHEELS
Year: 1883

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LETTERS PATENT to Robert Hadfield of Sheffield, Steel Manufacturer for an
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAMWAY AND RAILWAY WHEELS WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO SPUR, BEVEL, MITRE AND OTHER
GEAR WHEELS
ก
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Robert Hadfield at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st December 1883.
ROBERT HADFIELD of Sheffield Steel Manufacturer IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAMWAY
AND RAILWAY WHEELS WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO SPUR,
BEVEL, MITRE AND OTHER GEAR WHEELS
This Invention has for its object Firstly To relieve the wheel from all strain and
contraction thereby greatly prolonging the life of the wheel Secondly To dispense
with all necessity for skilled labor in fitting pairing or exchanging such wheels
To carry out my invention I proceed as follows I cast the wheel in two parts so as
to remove all strain therefrom in steel iron or any other suitable metal I first cast
the tyre and arms of the wheel in one piece and I afterwards cast the nave or
centre and fit these two parts together in the manner shewn in the accompanying
drawings Figure 1 of such drawings shews a front elevation of one half of a tram
or railway wheel made according to my invention Figure 2 is a sectional view
thereof shewing the way in which the tyre and arms of the wheel is fitted to the
centre or nave Figures 3 and 4 shew similar views of a bevel gear wheel made
and fitted according to my invention It is unnecessary to give any detailed
description of the fitting of such wheels as the same is clearly shewn by the
Drawings which will be readily understood by any mechanical man
With respect
to the form of the wheel I prefer the forms shewn in the Drawings but I wish it
to be understood that I do not confine myself to any precise form The advantages
of my invention are as follows First It relieves the wheel from all strain Second
After wheels so made have been once bored turned and fitted such wheel centres
may continue to be used for an indefinite number of tyres Third Even when the
axles of a tramway or railway or other carriage become worn out or the shafting
of gear wheels becomes worn it is only necessary to push the centre or nave off

page_text: and fix it on the new axle or shaft no boring or machining being required Fourth.
These wheels are cheaper than ordinary wheels whilst the cost of their renewal
(as compared with that of ordinary wheels,) will effect a large saving This is owing
to only a portion of the worn out part of the wheel having to be abandoned
instead of the whole wheel having to be thrown away as at present Fifth These
new wheels can be readily and truly paired so as always to keep the wheels on the
same axle true and of the same size each wheel thus working truly together This
is an exceedingly important and valuable feature as it enables the whole life of the
wheel to be secured whereas at present many wheels when only half or partially
worn out have to be taken off and practically thrown away as useless or sold for
old material owing to the difference in diameter through one wheel wearing faster
than the other which irregularity prevents their working or running truly together
Sixth Any unskilled person can quickly change or pair these wheels from one axle
to another to suit the requirements of the case or put on new wheels where
required thus affording combined convenience and economy as neither skilled labor
or machinery of any kind is required Having thus particularly and fully
described and illustrated the nature of my said invention and the manner of
carrying the same into effect I would have it understood that what I consider as
novel and of my invention and desire to secure by the herein before in part recited
Letters Patent is-Firstly Making a tramway or railway wheel by casting the
same in two parts in steel, iron or any other suitable metal and fitting the same
substantially in the manner herein before specified and shewn by the accompanying
drawings Secondly The application of my invention to spur bevel mitre and
other gear wheels in the manner hereinbefore described and shewn
In Witness whereof I the said Robert Hadfield have hereunto set my hand
and seal this thirty first day of December in the Year of Our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty three