AN IMPROVED WHEEL
Year: 1873

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Wilkins, of No. 1, Clare Terrace, Oak Str.,
Merridale Road, Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, General
Manager of Tin Plate and Japan Works, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED WHEEL."
Sealed the 9th April 1874, and dated the 3rd November 1873.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Wilkins at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
3rd November 1873.
I, JOHN WILKINS, of No. 1, Clare Terrace, Oak St., Merridale Road,
Wolverhampton, in the County of Stafford, General Manager of Tin
Plate and Japan Works, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention for "AN IMPROVED WHEEL," to be as follows:-
The objects of this Invention are,—

page_text: capable of moving longitudinally at each end when subject to concussion
or undue pressure.
Secondly. To connect the spokes with the centre plates without the
use of screws.
Thirdly. To safely connect a vulcanized india-rubber strip, tire, or
band to the iron rim, and to a metal clip at the outer end of each spoke.
Fourthly. To produce an equal distension of the spokes upon the axle
or spindle of the wheel so as to tighten the wheel.
The first part of my Invention consists in forming a spoke or spokes
of wire, the one end of which has a round head formed upon it, but the
opposite end has a square or oblong head attached to it. The end of
the spoke which has the round head is passed into a countersunk hole
in the metal clip, the opposite end of the spoke with the square or oblong
head is passed into a slot or groove in the centre plates on each side of
the wheel; in which groove this end of the spoke can move backwards 1
or forwards when subject to concussion. The metal clip is fixed upon
the iron rim and receives the vulcanized rubber tire.
The second part of the Invention consists in making two pairs of
metal plates of such configuration that one plate may be placed upon
the other in a certain parallel position and the two plates rivetted 2
together so that each spoke may be inserted into its true position by
being passed through a slot in one of the plates, and by shifting the
spoke into its channel it can pass up and the oblong head of the spoke
bear against a shoulder or edge of each plate at the top of the channel,
and be in position to connect the centre with the circumference or rim 2
of the wheel.
The third part of the Invention consists in firmly and safely con-
necting the iron rim to the spokes and attaching a band or tire of
vulcanized rubber to it, this I do by placing a metal twin clip on each
wire spoke. Each metal clip has three holes pierced through it, it is 3
passed up the wire spoke to the inner side of the rim and bears against
it. A metal pin or rivet is passed through the lower hole in the clip,
bears upon the outer edge of the iron rim which has a slot in it to
receive the rivet. The rubber tire is placed upon the iron rim and
seated in the upper jaw of each clip with a slot in it resting upon the 3
rivet. Iron pins are passed through the other two holes in the clip and

page_text: .
through the rubber, each pin is rivetted to the clip which holds and
securely locks in its position the rubber tire; thus the wire spokes, iron
rim, and the rubber tire are safely and securely connected with the
centre plates of the wheel without the use of connecting screws with the
spokes.
The fourth part of this Invention consists in forming an iron or steel
rod or spindle or tube with a thread or threads upon its circumference,
so that the two pairs of metal plates may slide along it, be separated,
and kept apart by two nuts placed between them; one nut is then
screwed from left to right, the other nut from right to left, which
separates the plates and tightens up all the spokes simultaneously. On
the opposite side of each plate I screw another nut which securely locks
the nut and plates together. All the spokes are tightened or slackened,
as may be required, by unscrewing or screwing the pair of nuts in
contact with the plate in which the spokes are seated.
I construct wheels for perambulators, either rubber tired or not
rubber tired, on the same plan; but in place of the solid iron or steel
spindle I use an iron, steel, or metal tube, so that the wheel may revolve
upon a fixed axle. Upon this tube I make a thread or threads for the
purpose of tightening the spokes, as before described, by the use of nuts
and lock nuts. I protect the outer part or nose of the centre of the
wheel and axle with a brass or metal cap placed over it, if the wheel is
required without the rubber tire upon it I take the iron rim, perforate
and countersink a number of holes at equal distance corresponding with
the number of spokes placed in the wheel. In making this wheel
without the rubber tire I do not use the metal clips, but invert the inner
circumference of the rim when required with the rounded surface on
the outside.
I construct wheels for road carriages on the same plan as for bicycles
or perambulators, either with or without the vulcanized rubber tire, but
all its parts and proportions are made of a suitable strength and
substance for the heavy wear, pressure, and concussion to which such
wheels are subject.
The several Figures or Drawings herewith illustrate the several parts
of the Invention with the following explanation:-
Fig. 1, an illustration of the spoke with a round head at one end, and
a square or oblong head at the other end, with the metal clip upon it

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Wilkins in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 22nd April 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, John
WILKINS, of 1, Clare Terrace, Oak Street, Merridale Road, Wolver-
hampton, in the County of Stafford, General Manager of Tin Plate and
Japan Works, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Third day of November, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Wilkins, Her special licence that
I, the said John Wilkins, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said John Wilkins, my executors, adminis-
trators, 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 " AN IMPROVED WHEEL,” upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Wilkins, 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 John Wilkins, 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 Drawings hereunto
annexed and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say): :-
My Invention comprises the construction of a wheel of iron, steel, and
vulcanized rubber in combination, the various parts being so arranged as
to make it strong, safe, and durable. The rubber tire or strip being
vulcanized is stretched or placed upon an iron rim and seated in the

page_text: upper jaws of twin metal clips which are held fast upon the rim by a
strong iron rivet. The clips are placed at equal distance upon the cir-
cumference of the iron rim. The rubber tire is rivetted to the clips, two
rivets being passed through each clip and the rubber, or I first make the
wheel without the rubber tire and afterwards completely cover the iron
hoop or rim with india-rubber, not vulcanized, and then vulcanize the
rubber upon the rim of the wheel; this I do without the use of metal
twin clips. The spokes are made of steel or iron, each with a round
head or collar at one end, and at the opposite end with a square or
oblong head; they are connected to the iron rim or metal clips and
converge towards the centre of the wheel. The oblong heads of the
spokes are placed in connection with two pairs of metal centre pates
which are slotted, grooved, and rivetted together; these plates move left
and right from the centre of an iron spindle. The spindle is made half
square and half round in section to fit into the corresponding holes in
the centre of the two pairs of the metal centre plates; it has threads upon
it to receive the expanding flange nut screws, two of which are placed
between the centre plates upon the spindle; one nut is screwed to the
right side, the other to the left, which expand the centre pates, simul-
taneously draw the spokes into position, and perfectly tighten them. A
lock flange nut is screwed on each end of the spindle and brought close
up to the centre plates; two or more screws with nuts are placed through
the centre plates horizontally to hold fast together the flange nuts, the
lock nuts, and centre plates, and so unitedly to complete the construction
of the wheel.
Having thus set forth the general construction of the Invention, I
will now proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being had to
the accompanying Drawings and letters noted thereon.
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a section of the rubber tire A, iron
rim B, and metal twin clip C with a part of the steel spoke D projecting.
The rivets at e and pass through the rubber and are rivetted on the
opposite side of the clip. The large rivet g holds each clip upon the
iron rim. Fig. 2 is a section of Fig. 1, the rubber tire A, the metal
clip C, rivet e.
Fig. 3 is a section of the iron rim B and the steel spoke D, counter-
sunk in a hole made in the iron rim, with a part of the steel spoke D
inserted, the iron rim being embedded in an equal or unequal thickness

page_text: I would here observe that I do not confine my Invention to any
particular dimensions of the parts or whole of the wheel, as I can make
wheels on this principle and plan of any dimensions suitable either for
bicycles, velocipedes, perambulators, bath or invalid chairs, and road
vehicles.
E
Having now described my Invention, and explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I claim as my Invention secured to me by
Letters Patent, an improved wheel composed or constructed of its several
parts, as aforesaid, and illustrated by the several Drawings and sections
annexed, and the expansion of all the spokes at the centre of the wheel 1
by the use of nuts or screw nuts screwed upon the spindle to the left
and right of its axis.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Wilkins, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, the Twenty-first day of April, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy- 1
four.