Year: 1898

page_text: I, WILLIAM IVES, of 17, Milton Place, Halifax, in the County of York, Architect
and Surveyor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention consists in a new and novel construction and arrangement of wheel,
whereby the axle or central part carrying the axle of the wheel is made to, or is
allowed to yield or is capable of lowering and rising according to the weight or
pressure placed upon it, in preference to the rim or tyre being made or allowed to
yield, or to supplement or act in conjunction with a yielding rim or tyre.
This invention is suitable for cycle wheels and other vehicles, and is also applicable
to pullies and other purposes where a yielding wheel is required.
In carrying out my invention, I make the wheel in two or more parts, discon-
nected from each other, or in loose connection with each other, namely, a centre or
inner part containing the axle, or consisting of the axle, and side plates, and
cross rods, or studs or bridges, as hereafter described; and an outer part consisting
of the tyre or felloc and the spokes, and other cross rods or bridges or other device
and side plates or arms as hereafter described and between the inner and outer
parts are placed or inserted yielding tubes or rings. The centre part comprises
projecting arms, discs, or plates, or other devices extending from the axle, or from
the boss of the axle, and attached thereto. These plates, discs, arms, or the like
above mentioned, are connected together at any suitable distance from the axle by a
series of crossbars, or rods, or bridges, or studs, of suitable shape, or other devices,
under which crossbars and also over which crossbars I arrange or place yielding
rings or tubes of rubber or other yielding or suitable material of any suitable shape
in cross section and I may use inflated tubes of any suitable kind pneumatic or
otherwise, and I also may employ any desired number under and any number
over the crossbars. The yielding ring or rings, or tube or tubes under, and the
yielding ring or rings, or tube or tubes over the above mentioned crossbars or
studs, is, or are, each of them, both over and under, again borne by or bear or
rest upon, other crossbars, or rods, or bridges or other suitable devices, which
crossbars now mentioned are part of the outer portion of wheel, and are connected
or attached together at any suitable distance, by means of rings, or discs, or
plates, or arms, or other means, and are again connected by the spokes to the
rim of the wheel.
By the above described means it is my intention to get the weight placed upon
the wheel borne upon a yielding ring or rings or tube or tubes above the axle
and on a yielding ring or rings or tube or tubes below the axle simultaneously or
practically simultaneously.
I may also reverse the arrangement of crossbars upon which or against which
the yielding tubes or rings rest or hear, and the plates connecting them, that is
to say, some may be fixed to the centre part and some to the outer part, in reverse
order practically to that above described, and thereby get the same result.
Again, the yielding tubes or rings, instead of being simply arranged or placed

page_text: on or against the several crossbars as above described, may be threaded in and
out, or under and over them.
Dated this 20th day of June 1808
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Patent Agents, Halifax, Agents for Applicant.
Improvements in wheels and Pumnes.
I, WILLIAM IVES, of 17, Milton Place, Halifax, in the County of York, Architect
and Surveyor, 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:-
My invention consists in a new and novel construction and arrangement of wheel,
whereby the axle or central part carrying the axle of the wheel is made to, or is
allowed to yield, or is capable of lowering and rising according to the weight or
pressure placed upon it, in preference to the rim or tyre being made or allowed to
yield, or to supplement or act in conjunction with a yielding rim or tyre.
This invention is suitable for cycle wheels and other vehicles, and is also
applicable to pullies and the like where a yielding wheel is required.
In carrying out my invention, I make the wheel in two or more parts, discon-
nected from each other, or in loose connection with each other, namely, a centre or
inner part containing the axle or consisting of the axle, and side plates and
cross rods, studs or rails, as hereafter described and an outer part consisting of
the tyre or felloe and the spokes and other cross rods or rails or other devices
and side plates or arms as hereafter described. Between the said inner and outer
parts are placed or inserted yielding tubes or rings.
The centre part comprises projecting arms, dises or plates, or other devices
extending from the axle, or from the boss of the axle, and attached thereto. These
plates, discs, arms, or the like above mentioned, are connected together at any
suitable distance from the axle by a series of cross-bars, or rods, or rails, or
studs, of suitable shape, or other devices, under which cross-bars and also over
which cross-bars I arrange or place yielding rings or tubes of rubber or other yield-
ing or suitable material of any suitable shape in cross section and I may use inflated
tubes of any suitable kind pneumatic or otherwise, and I also may employ any desired
number of rings or tubes under and any number over the cross-bars. The yielding
ring or rings or tube or tubes under, and the yielding ring or rings or tube or
tubes over the above mentioned cross-bars or studs, is, or are, each of them, both
over and under, again borne by or bear or rest upon other cross-bars, or rods, or
rails, or other suitable devices, which cross-bars now mentioned are part of the
outer portion of wheel, and are connected or attached together at any suitable
distance, by means of rings, or discs, or plates, or arms, or other means and are
again connected by the spokes to the rim of the wheel.
By the above described means it is my intention to get the weight placed upon
the wheel borne upon a yielding ring or rings or tube or tubes above the axle
and on a yielding ring or rings or tube or tubes below the axle simultaneously or
practically simultaneously.
I may also reverse the arrangement of cross-bars upon which or against which
the yielding tube or rings rest or bear, and the plates connecting them, that is
to say, some may be fixed to the centre part and some to the outer part, in reverse

page_text: order practically to that above described, and thereby get the same result, again,
the yielding tubes or rings, instead of being simply arranged or placed on or
against the several cross-bars as above described may be threaded in and out, or
under and over them.
In the accompanying drawings illustrating my invention:-
:-
Fig. 1, is sectional elevation, taken on line A A of Fig. 2, of a flexible hub
embodying my improvements;
Fig. 2, is transverse section taken on line B, B, of Fig. 1;
Fig. 3 is elevation of a flexible hub shewing another construction and arrange-
ment of my improved flexible hub;
Fig. 4 is transverse section of Fig. 3, taken on line CC same figure;
Fig. 5 is sectional elevation taken on line 1, D, of Fig. 6, shewing a further
modified construction of the flexible hub;
Fig. 6 is transverse section taken on line E, E, of Fig. 5; and
Figs. 7 to 11 are details hereinafter referred to.
Like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout.
b
Referring to the drawings, letters a b Figs. 1 and 2 represent the two separate
parts of which the hub is constructed or built up, part a being secured to or
mounted loosely on the axle c, (according to whether the wheel is to be driven
from said axle, or to rotate loosely thereon), and part b secured by the spokes d
to the felloe or rim of the wheel. The part a, or hub proper, comprises an axle
barrel and two straight or curved or concaved side discs or plates secured thereto,
each marked a on the drawings, the side discs being preferably on the outside of
and nearly enclosing the whole of part b. The part comprises two straight or
curved or concaved side discs or plates secured or tied together by two annular
concentric rims b₁ spaced the proper distance apart, to the former of which the
spokes dare attached, these rims being curved or hollowed circumferentially
or otherwise adapted to receive the yielding or inflated or air expanded elastic
tubes e, e¹. Midway between the said rims 61, 62, and integral with- or securely
attached at short intervals apart to the side discs a, a, of part a are cross bars, rods
or transverse bearing surfaces a which may be concaved or somewhat bobbin shaped
to receive a part of the outer and inner circumferences of the inflated tubes e, e',
and hold same securely in position therein so that they cannot get displaced
laterally or have any lateral play, or plain cross bars, either with or without flanges,
may be employed instead of the concaved cross bars shewn on the drawings. These
cross bars are preferably covered with leather or other suitable material. Any
shape of crossbar whether round or angular-provided it has rounded or non-
cutting edges will answer equally well. If flanges or shoulders on the cross-bars
be used, they may, however, be clear of the sides of the tubes e, e', normally but
sufficiently near to same to limit their lateral movement.
The tubes e, el, are arranged side by side within the space between the rims b', b²,
of the part of the hub, and are passed first over one cross bar a', then under the
next and so on over and under each cross bar a¹, all round the hub, each tube
being passed over and under alternate cross bars as shewn in Fig. 1, so as to bear
on opposite sides thereof in alternate order. By arranging the tubes e, el, enclosed
in the part 6 of the hub, around the cross bars a¹ attached to the part a of the hub
at short distances apart radially of same, as described and shewn, considerable
friction or purchase is obtained between the tubes e, e¹, and said cross bars a¹,
such as will ensure the driving of part b by part a of the hub, or vice versa, without
the loss of power from independent axial movement. The cross bars a', in addition
to giving friction between the two separate parts of the flexible or elastic hub,
also form the bearing surfaces intermediate of the inflated tubes e, el, by which
cushioning of the hub or wheel is effected simultaneously above and below the
axle. The weight or load placed on the axle or wheel, or the riding of the wheel
over stones or rough places will be borne by the downward pressure of one or
more of the cross bars a¹, (which must necessarily move with the axle) on the
upper or outer circumference of one or both of the tubes e, e¹, that is to say, above

page_text: the axle, and by another or others of the said cross bars on the inner circumference
of one or more of said tubes, that is to say, below the axle, whereby the cushioning
of the wheel, or absorption of vibration and concussion, is equally distributed above
and below the axle. Moreover, as the cross bars a¹ bear on only the smallest part
of the circumference of the tubes and at intervals apart, such tubes are much
more easily depressed and respond more readily to rough places or stones and
therefore render the wheel fast and resilient.
Essentially the same hub is shewn Figs. 3 and 4 but the inflated
tubes are arranged differently within the compound hub. In said figures
the tubes are arranged concentrically instead of side by side and pre-
ferably slightly apart from each other, and, as shewn, are confined in the
part 6 of the hub, one bearing on the inner face of rim b¹, and the other on the
periphery of rim be, of part b, which in this case, is secured to the axle or axle
barrel, while the part a, (which comprises two plain metal rings, one on each side
of part b) is attached by the spokes d to the felloe or rim of the wheel, that is
to say, exactly the reverse to the hub shewn at Figs. 1 and 2. The part of the
hub in Figs. 3 and 4, may however be attached to the spokes of the wheel, and
the part attached to the axle or axle barrel precisely as shewn and described
with reference to Figs. 1 and 2, such alternative methods of connection of the
two parts of the hub to the rim or felloe and to the axle being immaterial and not
affecting my improvements.
The part a of the hub (Figs. 3 and 4) has attached to it the cross bars or bear-
ing surfaces a¹, spaced apart at short distances radially thereof, three cross bars
only being shewn in the example although any other suitable number may be
employed. These cross bars occupy a position between the concentric inflated
tubes e, e, compressing them slightly at the points of contact,, as illustrated in
Fig. 3, and give friction and resilience both above and below the axle such as
previously described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2.
At Figs. 5 and 6 I shew a modification of the construction of the hub, com-
prising the substitution of cross bars 1, 2, attached to the side discs of part b
for the annular concentric rims b, b, shewn at Figs. 1 to 4. In this example the
part a of the hub is shewn provided with six fixed cross bars, or bearing sur-
faces a', and, therefore a corresponding number of cross bars 61, 62, are attached to
the part of the hub these occupying positions intermediate of the cross bars at
radially of the hub, and supporting the inflated tubes e, e¹, at points out of line
with the direction of depression of the said tubes by the cross bars a¹.
It will be obvious that I may vary the number of any of the series of cross
bars or bearing surfaces a, b, or 62, and arranged them in the order somewhat
as shewn at Fig. 5, or in such other order with respect to each other as will give
the results intended by my improvements.
The action and results obtained by the construction of hub, and the arrange-
ment of the inflated tubes c, e¹, between the three sets of cross bars b' and ', and a
and b, are the same as described with reference to Figs. 1 and 2. In the employ-
ment of cross bars or bearing surfaces set at suitable distances apart radially of
the hub, and attached to or integral with one or both of the parts of the hub,
as herein before set forth, greater space or freedom is given to the inflated tubes e, e',
within the hub, and consequently their action is more sensitive.
I would have it understood that I do not confine myself to the number of yield-
ing elastic or inflated rings or tubes which may be employed in building up
a flexible hub according to my invention, but I consider that, for all ordinary
purposes, two of said tubes will suffice.
In order to prevent one part of the hub from creeping or moving
round out of position with the other part, I may provide arms pivotted
together, one of said arms being hinged to one part of the hub, or to the cross
bars, and the other hinged or attached to the second part of the hub, as illustrated
in front elevation Fig. 7, and side elevation, Fig. 8, whereby while allowing for
some independent rotary movement of the parts of the hub they are maintained

page_text: under control and in their respective positions. The said arms also give rigidity
laterally of the hub and assist in preventing side play. Any number of such arms
may be employed in conjunction with the hub. In Figs. 2 & 4 the side discs b
are shewn as being bolted to the annular rims 61, 62, but instead of being bolted
thereto they may be sprung into recesses in said rims, after the manner illustrated
at Fig. 9, or screwed into coarse spiral threads therein as shewn at Fig. 10; or
they may be provided at their outer edges and at intervals apart, with tongues or
lugs (see Fig. 11), which are adapted to pass through slotted openings g in the
annular rim, and, on turning the discs partially around, to pass behind said rims
and finally engage in recesses formed in the rear thereof and thus lock or secure
the discs to the rims.
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-
1st. The construction and arrangement of a compound flexible hub or boss for
wheels or pullies in which or intermediate of the parts of which are placed side
by side yielding, cushion or inflated tubes or rings, and a series of cross bars or
transverse bearing surfaces attached to or integral with one part of the hub and
over and under which the tubes or rings are passed alternately in manner and for
purposes substantially as shewn at Figs. 1 and 2 and described herein.
2nd. The combination with a compound flexible hub or boss for wheels or
pullies, having arranged concentrically therein yielding, cushion or inflated tubes
or rings, of a series of cross bars or bearing surfaces attached to or integral with
one part of the hub and passing between the tubes or rings, substantially as
shewn at Figs. 3 and 4 and for purposes described.
3rd. The combination with a compound flexible hub or boss for wheels or
pullies having arranged therein, one around the other, yielding cushion or inflated
tubes of the series of cross bars or bearing surfaces, of which the central or inter-
mediate series is attached to or integral with one part of the hub, while the inner
and outer series are attached to or integral with the other part of the hub, the
tubes or rings being placed between the said series of cross bars and bearing
thereon, substantially as set forth and shown at Figs. 5 and 6.
4th. The general arrangement, construction and combination of the several
parts of which the herein described compound hub or boss is or may be built up,
substantially as shewn in the several figures on the drawings annexed hereto.
10041
ր
1000
TASKER & CROSSLEY,
Patent Agents, Halifax, Agents for Applicant.