Improvements in Wheels for Vehicles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 13th Apr., 1895-Accepted, 18th May,
1895
Improvements in Wheels for Vehicles.
A communication to me from LEO RAKUS, Technical Clerk in the Patenträder
Fabriks-Gesellschaft, Mährisch Ostrau, in the Empire of Austria.
I, EDMUND EDWARDS, of the Firm of Edwards and Co., Patent Agents and
Engineers, of 65 and 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, and accompanying drawing, that is to say :-
It is well known that great trouble is experienced with all the parts of carriages
and vehicles of different kinds, and especially with the wheels, on account of the
unavoidable shocks when travelling, by which the material of the wheels is con-
stantly shaken and jarred, and thereby not only the durability is affected, but more
especially the solid connection of the many parts of which they are composed.
By this constant jarring the numerous fastenings of the wheel, such as nails,
screws, bands, and the like, are loosened in their places, and even fall out, and the
solidity and durability of the wheel are greatly diminished. On this account, the
wooden rim of the wheel is seldom made in more than six pieces, or else
the durability of the attachment together of these parts would be even more
difficult to maintain, and the consequence is that the cost-where wood is the
material forming the felloes-is increased, and the single pieces do not properly
preserve their shape.
The object of the present invention is to construct a wheel in which the so easy
loosening of the holding parts, such as nails, screws, bands, and the like, is
prevented, and the solidity and durability of the wheel and of the fastenings of its
parts are greatly enhanced. A further object of the invention consists in the
method and apparatus for making the improved wheels. The fixing of the spokes
is effected simply by springing them in between the rim and the nave.
In the accompanying drawing, which is in illustration of the invention, Figure 3
shows the improved wheel the tyre of which is U-shaped, so that the pieces f
which form the felloes, can fit between its flanges, their ends abutting against the
outer ends of the spokess and holding the latter securely in their position.
The middle part of the spokes are of the usual shape but their ends are formed
so that they it closely against each other, and form the outer nave of the
wheel.
The central nave itself consists of two parts, the flange and tube o on one side,
and the separate disc n on the other side.
The tube is in the form of a truncated cone or pyramid, and its outer end is
provided with a screw thread upon which the disc n is screwed. Or, if the outer
surface is pyramidal in shape (as illustrated in Figure 4), the disc n, which is
made of corresponding shape, may simply be hammered or pressed upon it.
The felloes as well as the spokes must be so arranged that when the former
are placed between the outer ends of the spokes which are themselves fitted
between the tyre and the nave, they can, by pressure exerted upon them, be firmly
beld in their places.
The completion of the improved wheel described is therefore effected by such
pressure properly applied.

page_text: For this purpose the felloes are arranged with the spokes between them and
extending from the tyre to the nave, the felloes being loosely fitted between the
flange of the U-formed tyre, the spokes between them being elevated at the centre
so as to form a flat cone (Figure 2). The springing together of the spokes and
felloes is then effected by pressure upon the apex of the cone, such pressure being
made to act not only downward, but also outwardly from the axis of the cone, the
spokes and felloes being pressed together in the hollow tyre, and the surfaces of
the inner ends of the spokes being also pressed together to form the nave.
When the spokes have been pressed down into the proper position to form
the finished wheel, the central nave is inserted. It is advisable that the wheel
formed as described should be still more firmly kept pressed together, by warning
the metal tyre, in the way ordinarily practised by wheelwrights, so that no very
great pressure is required to force the spokes into the hollow tyre, and to press
their inner ends together. This heated tyre is then cooled, and the separate parts
of the wheel become then firmly held together.
An arrangement of apparatus for this purpose is shewn in the accompanying
drawing.
The bedplate a of the screwpress is open at the centre, and if the wheel is to be
dished, is depressed at the edge. It is surrounded with a perforated pipe i. The
tyrer described is placed concentrically upon the bed-plate, and between its flanges
the pieces forming the felloes, and the ends of the spokes are fitted, as already
described, and a conical or pyramid-shaped mandrel d corresponding with the shape
of the nave centre, is inserted in the central opening. The pressure plate g
corresponds on its lower side with the nave of the wheel, and is pressed down on
the mandrel d. In this way it forces down the spokes and the inandrel, the latter
from its wedge shape pressing the spokes against each other and into the tyre.
If the spokes are of soft material or liable to splinter, an elastic block e (preferably
of indiarubber) is inserted between the pressure plate and the spokes which are to
be pressed down, and in this way the edges of the spokes which receive the first
pressure are not injured (see Figure 2).
By the use of the block e, the spokes are first pressed partly down, and the
pressure plate is then raised and the block e removed, the pressure plate being then
again forced down, so that the spokes are brought to their proper position, and
they, together with the felloes are by the action of the mandrel d firmly pressed
together between the flanges of the tyre. Water is then allowed to flow from the
perforated pipe i upon the hot tyre, so that it is cooled, and the spokes and felloes
tightly held together. Finally, after the removal of the mandrel, the nave centre
is inserted by means of the same press.
From the above description will be seen the great advantage of the wedge-
shaped ends of the spokes.
The invention is applicable to wheels of all kinds.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The wheel, the spokes and felloes of which are sprung into position between
the hollow tyre and the nave without risk of shake, or the fastenings, such as
nails, screws, bands, and the like, becoming loose, substantially as described.
2. The process for the manufacture of wheels described in Claim 1, consisting
in first arranging the spokes with the felloes between their wedge-shaped ends in
the hollow tyre, so that by a uniform pressure from above and from the centre
they are forced into the tyre and into their proper relative final positions,
substantially as described.
3. The press for the manufacture of the wheels described in Claim 1, in which
a conical mandrel is inserted in the central opening and by means of a pressure
plate g extending over the mandrel and the parts forming the nave, the spokes

page_text: are forced down and at the same time are expanded radially, substantially as
described and illustrated.
Dated this 18th day of April 1895.
EDWARDS & Co.,
65 and 66, Chancery Lane, London, Agents for the Applicant.