Improvements in and relating to the Method of Supporting the Weight of the Frame of Self-propelled Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Improvements in and relating to the Method of Supporting the
Weight of the Frame of Self-propelled Vehicles.
We, GEORGE JONES MITTON, of 16, Elm Street, Gray's Inn Road, London, England,
Engineer, and THE ELECTRIC MOTIVE POWER COMPANY, LIMITED, of 16, Elm Street,
Gray's Inn Road, London, England, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
Our invention relates, primarily, to an improved method of supporting the weight
of the frame of self propelled vehicles, driven by line axles, whereby the same may be
carried on the axle, without producing torsional strains at the axle bearing.
We produce this result by supporting the weight of the vehicle frame at a point in
the vertical plane of the wheel tyre, viz. :-within the hub of the wheel, in such
manner, that the line axle is entirely relieved of the weight of the vehicle frame, and
is thus subject to no bending strains.
Our invention further relates to an improved bearing for wheels whereby the said
wheels are held in place with greater security than heretofore, and the torsional
strains, if any, diminished.
We carry our invention into effect by constructing our wheel with a hollow hub,
having a trunnion or internal projection, both of which, viz. :-(the said trunnion and
the said hub) can be of any desirable size, shape or material and may be made in one
solid piece or may be joined together in any approved way. The said trunnion or
internal projection may be attached to the driving axle in any desirable way.
We form the outer part or periphery of the trunnion or internal projection of the
hub as a journal or male bearing, preferably cone shaped of any desirable taper and of
suitable length, the apex of such cone being towards the outside of the hub. On this
journal or male bearing we fit an outer or female bearing having a similar taper as
the male bearing and constructed in two pieces, as is usually done in such cases, but
when the ordinary cylindrical bearing is used the outer or female bearing may be in
one piece.
The frame of the vehicle may be attached to the outer or female bearing (1) with
a spring interposed between it and the said bearing (2) or the ends of a secondary
frame may be attached to the said bearing, carrying springs, which suspend the main
frame of the vehicle, and the said main frame or the said secondary frame may be
attached to the outer or female bearing, either rigidly or hinged, or in any other
desirable way, care being taken that the point of attachment lies in the vertical plane
of the wheel tyre, that is, directly over the tread of the wheel. It is thus evident
(1) that as the point of attachment of the frame of the vehicle lies in the vertical
plane of the wheel tyre, the chance of torsion is reduced to a minimum (2) that, the
whole of the weight of the frame of the vehicle being born by the journal hearing,
there is no strain on the live axle and in consequence no torsion on the wheel bearing
(3) that, as the internal projection or trunnion of the wheel is held firmly by the male

page_text: and female bearings of the journal, it is impossible for the wheel to collapse in case
the live axle breaks.
It is also evident that as the bearing on the internal projection or trunnion is cone
shaped, that it has a greater bearing surface than a parallel bearing of equal length
would have and that the apex of the cone being towards the outside of the wheel
hub, it is impossible for the said wheel to come off, unexpectedly.
Improvements in and relating to the Method of Supporting the
Weight of the Frame of Self-propelled Vehicles.
GEORGE JONES MITTON (Engineer) and THE ELECTRIC MOTIVE POWER COMPANY
LIMITED (Motor Carriage Builders), both of 74, Caistor Road, Balham, in the County of
Surrey, formerly of 16, Elm Street, Gray's Inn Road, London, 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 :-
Our invention relates primarily to an improved method of supporting the weight of
the frame of self-propelled vehicles driven by live axles, or any other desirable method
of propulsion, whereby the same may be carried on the axle or on the wheel hub
without producing torsional strains at the axle bearing. We produce this result by
supporting the weight of the vehicle frame at a point in the vertical plane of the wheel
tyres Either within the hub of the wheel, in such manner that the live axle is
entirely relieved of the weight of the vehicle frame & is thus subject to no bending
strain, or when using a wheel with dished spokes in such manner that the weight of
the frame shall be supported at a point lying in the vertical plane of the centre of the
wheel tyre, as hereinafter described with reference to Figure XI.
Our invention further relates to an improved form of bearing for wheels, whereby
the said wheels are held in place with greater security than heretofore.
Our first method of carrying our invention into effect is by constructing our wheel
with a hollow hub having a trunnion or internal projection, both of which viz. :-(the
said trunnion and the said hub) can be of any desirable size, shape or material and
may be made in one solid piece or may be joined together in any approved way; the
said trunnion or internal projection being attached to the driving axle in the most
suitable manner.
We form the outer part or periphery of the trunnion or internal projection of the
hub as a journal or male bearing, preferably cone shaped, of any desirable taper, and
of suitable length, the apex of such cone being towards the outside of the hub i.e.,
the side furthest from the carriage body. On this journal or male bearing we fit an
outer or female bearing, having the same taper as the male bearing, & constructed
in two pieces; but when the ordinary parallel bearing is used, the outer or female
bearing may be in on piece. The frame of the vehicle may be attached to the outer
or female bearing with a spring interposed between it & the said bearing or the ends
of a secondary frame may be attached to the said bearing, carrying springs, which
suspend the main frame of the vehicle and the said main frame or the said secondary
fraine may be attached to the outer or female bearing, either rigidly, or hinged, or in

page_text: any other desirable way, care being taken that the point of attachment lies in the
vertical plane of the centre of the wheel tyre, that is directly over the tread of the
wheel. It is thus evident (1) that as the point of attachment of the frame of the
vehicle lies in the vertical plane of the wheel tyre, the tendency of the wheels to
converge is reduced to a minimum, (2) that as the internal projection or trunnion of
the wheel is held firmly by the male & female bearings of the journal (in the case
where the bearings are rigidly attached to the frame) it is impossible for the wheel to
collapse in case the live axle breaks.
It is also evident that in the case where the bearing on the internal projection or
trunnion is cone shaped a greater bearing surface is provided than a parallel bearing
of equal length would have and that the apex of the cone being towards the outside
of the wheel, it is impossible for the said wheel to come off, unexpectedly. We may
construct our hub with an external projection or continuation for the purpose of
providing an attachment for the driving axle as in Figure III in which case that part
of the said axle lying within the hollow hub will form the internal trunnion or journal
on which the bearing, supporting the frame, will rest.
In the case of wheels having spokes considerably dished, we sometimes modify the
construction first specified while allowing the weight of the vehicle frame to lie on a
point in the vertical plane of the centre of the wheel tyre, that is directly over the
tread of the wheel. In this case we arrange our journal on the axle as near the wheel
hub as convenient and form our bearing in such a way that the point of attachment
of the frame lies directly over the tread, as in Figure XI. In this case also the
journal may be made cone shaped as in Figure I.
Referring to the drawings in which like letters refer to like parts.
Fig. I is an end vertical section and Fig. If a side vertical section in which A is
the hollow hub, B the cone shaped trunnion, C the bearing, D the frame, E the axle,
&G the point of attachment of the frame D lying in the vertical plane of the
centre of the wheel tyres. It is apparent that the trunnion B may be of a parallel
construction as in Figure III, if desired.
Figure III is an end vertical section and Figure IV a side vertical section in
which A is the hollow hub B is that part of the axle forming a parallel trunnion C
is the bearing D the frame E the axle F a continuation of the hollow hub supporting
the axle and G the point of attachment of the frame D lying in the vertical plane of
the centre of the wheel tyre.
Figure V is an end elevation section Fig. VI a plane section and Fig. VII a side
elevation in which A is the hollow hub B that part of the axle forming a trunnion C
the bearing, D the frame, E the axle, and F the continuation of the hub supporting
the axle.
Figure VIII is an end elevation section Fig. IX a plan section and Fig. X a side
elevation in which A is the hollow hub B the cone shaped trunnion C the bearing D
the frame E the axle F the continuation of the hub supporting the axle:
Figure XI is an end elevation section and Fig. XII a side elevation in which B is
that part of the axle formning the trunnion or journal C the hearing, D the frame E
the axle, F that part of the axle supported by the hub of the wheel G the point of
attachment of the frane D lying over H in the vertical plane of the centre of the
wheel tyre.
Each example of hub other than Figs. XI or XII may be constructed either as in
Figure I with an internal projecting trunnion, or as in Figure III with an external
projection or continuation of the hollow hub, for the purpose of providing a driving
attachment to the axle.
We are aware that steering wheels for automobiles are in use wherein the hubs are
formed hollow with internally projecting trunnions, the object of such construction
being to facilitate the movement of steering by placing the turning (steering) pivot
in the plane of the wheel tyre; also that such device is described and claimed in
Letters Patent No. 14284 of 1896.
We therefore make no general claim to the use of such wheels but only to the
particular application in the manner for the purposes herein set forth.

page_text: Having now particularly described & ascertained the nature of our said invention,
& in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is:-
'
I. In wheels of automobiles having their axes of rotation fixed in relation to the
axle which connects each pair and wherein the rotating portion is carried by a female
bearing; supporting the weight of the carriage frame, by a rigid or hinged attachment
on such bearing at a point within or above the wheel hub in a vertical line drawn
through the wheel-tread, substantially as and for the purposes described.
II. In wheels of automobiles wherein the rotating portion is carried within a female
bearing and wherein the weight of the vehicle is supported on said bearing at a point
in a vertical line through the wheel-tread, forming the male bearing as a cone having
its apex towards the outside of the wheel substantially as and for the purposes
described.
III. The several arrangements and combinations of parts forming our improved
driving wheels for automobiles and improved methods of supporting the weight of the
vehicle thereon substantially as described and as shewn in the drawings.
sted this on day of July 10.
G. JONES MITTON,
THE ELECTRIC MOTIVE POWER COMPANY, LIMITED.
PERCY W. NORTHEY,
Managing Director.