IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHEELS FOR ENGINES AND VEHICLES USED ON RAILWAYS."
Year: 1865

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Christopher Mansell, of Ashford, in the
County of Kent, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF WHEELS FOR ENGINES AND VEHICLES USED ON RAILWAYS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Christopher
Mansell at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 6th November 1865.
I, RICHARD CHRISTOPHER MANSELL, of Ashford, in the County of Kent,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for " IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHEELS FOR ENGINES AND VEHICLES USED ON
RAILWAYS," to be as follows:-
I propose to make certain new and improved forms of retaining rings or
tyre fastenings to be fixed in combination with the tyres of wheels in such a
manner that they will not only hold tyres to the bodies of wheels but will
also support and sustain in proper position the parts of tyres which project
over the sides of the wheels, and by so doing admit of the tyres being worn
thinner than at present and prevent the mischief which now occurs with the
present system of allowing the sides of tyres to project and bend over the
retaining rings or tyre fastenings, and sometimes break off, which defects not

page_text: only make the tyres of wheels unserviceable and difficult to be removed for
repairs, but they also render wheels in a degree unsafe while working by
reason of the irregularity and loss in width of tyre surface bearing upon
the rails.
purpose
In making these improvements I propose in some cases to form the cross
section of the retaining rings or tyre fastenings with a rib or flange projecting
from each side of their outer peripheries, and in other cases to make them of
cranked forms or with a rib or flange projecting only from their outsides and
grooving their inner sides so as to form retaining lips and grooves to corre-
spond with and fit the various shapes of the lips and grooves, which I
making in the sides of the tyres; and further, I also propose to form retaining
rings or tyre fastenings from flat bars of metal in lieu of the present system of
always having a lip or flange projecting from and over the inside face of the
retaining rings or tyre fastenings; and in carrying out the aforesaid improve-
ments make the cross sections of the grooves and lips of the tyres and
retaining rings or tyre fastenings of any shape that I may find desirable,
taking care that they are arranged so as to fit each other, and also that the
ribs, flanges, or cranks extend sufficiently outwards to enable them to
support the weakest parts of tyres which now project over the sides of
wheels.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Christopher Mansell in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 4th May 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
CHRISTOPHER MANSELL, of Ashford, in the County of Kent, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date. the Sixth day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the twenty-ninth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Richard Christopher Mansell, Her special licence that I, the said Richard
Christopher Mansell, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Richard Christopher Mansell, my executors, administrators,
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

page_text: 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHEELS FOR ENGINES AND VEHICLES
USED ON RAILWAYS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Richard Christopher Mansell, my executors or administrators, by a
an instru-
ment 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 Richard Christopher Mansell, do hereby
declare the nature of my 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 Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed and
forming part of this my Specification, to the Figures drawn thereon, and to
the letters of reference placed on the Diagrams.
My improvements in the construction of wheels for engines and vehicles
used on railways, consist in making certain new and improved forms of
retaining rings or tyre fastenings, and fixing them in combination with the
tyres of wheels in such a manner that they will not only hold tyres to the
bodies of wheels, but will also support and sustain in proper position the parts
of tyres which project over the sides of the wheels, and by so doing admit of
the tyres being worn thinner than at present, and prevent the mischief con-
sequent on the present system, which allows the sides of tyres to project and
in wear to bend over the retaining rings or tyre fastenings, and sometimes
break off, which defects not only make the tyres of wheels less serviceable and
difficult to be removed for repairs, but they also render wheels in a degree
unsafe by reason of the irregularity of edge and loss in width of tyre surface
bearing upon the rails.
And having thus explained the object of my said Invention I will
proceed to describe and shew its nature. In the annexed Drawing I have
represented several Figures illustrating my Invention, and some of the prin-
cipal variations or modifications of which it is susceptible, and demonstrating
or exemplifying the manner in which it is to be and may be performed or put
in practice.
Figure 1 represents the cross section of one form of my improved retaining
rings, it being made with a rib or flange projecting from each side of its outer

page_text: Figure 2 represents the cross section of another or cranked form of my
improved retaining rings, it having a rib or flange projecting only from the
outside, and its inner side grooved to suit and receive the lip of the tyre; and
Figure 3. represents the cross section of that form of my improved retaining
rings which is made from flat bars of metal, having a groove formed in its
inner surface to suit and receive the lip of the tyre.
And in carrying out this Invention I use any of the usual descriptions of
wheel bodies or centres, and apply thereto one or other of these my improved
forms of retaining rings or tyre fastenings, taking care in all cases to make
their outside flanges project sufficiently outwards to enable them to support
the hitherto weak parts of tyres which project over the sides of the bodies of
wheels.
:
Figure 4 represents a front elevation of my improved wood disc wheel,
with one form of my improved retaining rings attached thereto.. This arrange-
ment of rings, in combination, with the tyre and part of the wood disc, is
shewn in cross section by Figure 5. C, represents the tyre; B, part of the
wood disc; and A, A, the improved retaining rings, with their outer flanges
projecting so as to support the tyre at its outer sides, and thereby enable it to
be worn down to the position shewn by the dotted line.
Figure 6 represents a front elevation of my improved iron wheel, for which
Letters Patent, No. 1210, were granted me on the 25th of April 1862, and to
which I have herein shewn another form of my improved retaining rings
attached; Figure 7 representing the cross section of its, tyre, wood lining, and
improved retaining rings; A, A, representing the rings; B, the wood lining;
C, the tyre; and D, the rim of the iron body. The section of retaining rings
shewn at Figure 1 may also be applied to this wheel. Figure 8 represents
my improved wrought-iron wheel, same as last mentioned, but having its rim
sufficiently wide to admit of the application of my improved. retaining rings
made from flat bars of metal; and Figure 9 represents a cross section of its tyre,
rim, and retaining rings, with elevation of part of a spoke. A, A, represents
the rings; B, the wood lining; C, the tyre; D, the rim; and E, part of a spoke.
Figure 10 represents an ordinary iron wheel with one of my improved
retaining rings attached thereto, and Figure 11 a cross section of its tyre,
retaining rings, rim, and elevation of part of a spoke. A, A, represents the re-
taining rings; C, the tyre; D, the rim of the iron body; and E, part of a spoke.
The improved retaining rings are attached in the usual manner, either by
ordinary screws, rivets, screw bolts, or bolts and nuts, securing them to the
tyre and body of the wheel, and in this ca e bolts shouldered at each end are

page_text: represented by F passing within and close to the inner circumference of the rim
of the wheel, and, in Figure 9.the inner retaining ring is represented as being
tapped or screwed, and the screw bolt F passing through the front or outer
ring and screwed into the inner ring so as to leave no projection beyond the face
of the latter; and in carrying out these improvements care must be taken to
fit the outer periphery of each improved retaining ring accurately within the pro-
jecting parts of the tyres, so as to secure the necessary support when the tyres
are worn down. The dotted lines on Figures 5, 7, 9, 11, and 12 shew the
section of worn out tyres when used with the improved retaining rings, and
it will be seen that the use of these improved retaining rings or tyre fastenings
allow the tyres of wheels to be worn longer and much thinner than is the case
with any other description of wheel, and thereby save a considerable expense
in maintenance, besides ensuring safety by means of the support given to the
projecting and consequently weak parts of tyres, and preventing the danger of
their bending inwards towards the centre of the wheel and breaking off.
Having thus set forth the nature of my Invention, and described the illus-
trations thereof as represented on the Drawing, and the manner of carrying
it into operation, I would here remark that I not confine myself to the par-
ticular form throughout of the sections shewn at Figures 1, 2, and 3, as they
may be varied and made as shewn by Figures 13, 14, and 15, or in other
inodified shapes to suit the section of the tyres that may be used, nor do I
confine myself to using two of my improved retaining rings to each wheel, as
one only may be used in combination with an ordinary ring, as shewn in cross
section by Figure 12, neither do I confine myself to using the particular
sections of the improved retaining rings to the respective descriptions of wheels
shewn in combination on the Diagrams, as I use any description of the
improved rings to any description of wheel body or centre to which they may
be applicable, nor do I confine myself to the use of rings flanged only on
their outer peripheries as they may also be furnished with additional ribs or
flanges on their inner peripheries, see Figures 16 and 17, and in the latter
case segments may be used in lieu of solid rings, and although I prefer
to use welded or continuous rings, yet the rings may be used unwelded. I
iutend it to be understood, and I hereby declare that I claim, the exclusive
use as of my Invention of the improvements in the construction of wheels
for engines and vehicles used on railways by the adaptation and application
thereto of retaining rings or tyre fastenings formed with outer flanges to
support the parts of tyres which project over the sides of the bodies of wheels,
and also the exclusive use of the adaptation and application to wheels of

page_text: Die sub-
retaining rings or tyre fastenings made from fat bars or metal, the
stantially as herein set forth, described, and illustrated in and by the annexed
Sheet of Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Christopher Mansell, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Second day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
5
RICH C. MANSELL. (L.S.)