CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY WHEELS
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Krupp, of Essen, in the Kingdom of Prussia,
Cast Steel Manufacturer, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY WHEELS."
Sealed the 28th August 1855, and dated the 8th March 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Krupp at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 8th.
March 1855.
I, ALFRED KRUPP, of Essen, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Cast Steel
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for " CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY WHEELS" to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in forming railway wheels by a combination of a
solid cast-iron disc, whether corrugated or otherwise, or plain, with or without
ribs, with a wrought iron or wrought or rolled steel tyre affixed thereto, by
shrinking or pressure, or bolts and nuts, or by any known methods of fixing
the tyre.
I construct my railway wheel of two distinct and separate parts; namely,
first, the interior of the wheel, including the nave; and, second, the tyre.
These parts are united together by bolts and nuts, or by the ordinary process
of shrinking. I form the interior part of the wheel together with the nave of
solid cast iron; I also make this central portion of the wheel surrounding

page_text: the nave with radial corrugations (or of an undulatory form), which diminish
in depth towards the rim. This rim is bounded on each side by a flange, the
inner one being of a greater depth than the outer, in order to receive the bolts
necessary to screw it to the tyre; or the central portion of the wheel may be
cast with a number of radial ribs, of a greater width at the nave and dimi-
nishing towards the exterior edge; in all cases the central portion should be
cast of sufficient dimensions to allow of their being turned in the lathe, so as
to form pure and even surfaces at the periphery and at the nave for securely
fixing the tyre and axle. For locomotive wheels, the radial corrugations or
ribs should be increased proportionably in number and height to the size of
the wheel. The tyres for these wheels may be of wrought iron or wrought
or rolled steel, and attached to the rims or flanges of the central and solid
portion of the wheel, either in a hot state by shrinking, or in a cold state by
means of a hydraulic press, or by bolts and nuts, or by any other approved
method.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alfred Krupp in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
29th August 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
KRUPP, of Essen, in the Kingdom of Prussia, Cast Steel Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Alfred Krupp, Her special licence that I, the said Alfred Krupp,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Alfred Krupp, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY WHEELS," upon the condition (amongst
others) that I, the said Alfred Krupp, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said

page_text: 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 Alfred Krupp, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention consists in forming railway wheels by a combination of a
solid cast-iron disc, whether corrugated or otherwise, or plain, with or without
ribs, with a wrought iron or wrought or rolled steel tyre affixed, thereto, by
shrinking pressure, or bolts and nuts, or by any other suitable method.
I construct my railway wheel of two distinct and separate parts; namely,
first, the interior of the wheel, including the nave; and, second, the tyre.
These parts are united by bolts and nuts, or by the ordinary process of
shrinking. I form the interior part of the wheel together with the nave
of solid cast iron; I also make the central portion of the wheel surrounding
the nave with radial corrugations (or of an undulatory form), which diminish
in depth towards the rim. This rim is furnished on each side with a flange,
the inner one being of a greater depth than the outer, in order to receive the
bolts necessary to secure it to the tyre; or the central portion of the wheel
may be cast with a number of radial ribs, of a greater width at the nave and
diminishing towards the outer edge; in all cases the central portion should
be cast of sufficient dimensions to allow of being turned in the lathe, to formi
smooth and even surfaces at the periphery and at the nave for securely fixing
the tyre and axle. For locomotive wheels, the radial corrugations or ribs
should be increased proportionably in number and depth to the size of the
wheel. The tyres for these wheels may be of wrought iron or of wrought or
rolled steel, and attached to the rims or flanges of the central and solid portion
of the wheel, either in a hot state by shrinking, or in a cold state by means of
a hydraulic press, or by bolts and nuts, or by any other approved method.
am thus enabled to form a railway wheel combining strength with durability
and cheapness. The whole of the tyre is equally supported, whereas in
ordinary wheels with arms those portions of the tyre between the arms are
liable to become more or less flattened, whereby their friction upon the rail
and consequent wear are increased.
I
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I do not confine myself to
making the central portions either of radial corrugations or ribs, as they may,
if desired, be cast plain; but what I claim as my Invention is, the construction

page_text: of railway wheels by a combination of a solid cast-iron disc with a wrought-
iron or wrought or rolled steel tyre affixed thereto by shrinking, by bolts and
nuts, or by any other known suitable means.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Krupp, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of August, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-five.
ALFRED KRUPP. (L.S.)