An Improved Wheel Rim.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 21st June, 1890-Accepted, 26th July, 1890
An Improved Wheel Rim.
JOHN HENRY BALL of 16 St. Stephens Road, in the Parish of Lee, in the
County of Kent, Commercial Traveller do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:
The object of this invention is to construct an improved rim for wheels by
making the same out of sheet metal which is rolled or drawn so that it forms a
hollow felloe; the edges of the metal being each bent or folded into such a shape
that they engage and form a joint of fourfold thickness. To do this one edge of
the sheet metal will have to be bent upwards, the other edge downwards; or
sometimes I leave the one edge flat and put a double bend on the other edge.
The joint may be formed on the top of the rim or in the centre of the same or at
one of the sides, but I prefer to place it at the bottom; in this case I generally
roll or draw the edges after they are folded or lapped together into a V shape or
corrugate the joint lengthwise.
This joint can be readily fixed by soldering or brazing but may be used without.
being subjected to such a process; the spokes passing through the fourfold joint
keeping the two edges of the metal firmly drawn into one another.
The top of the rim may be round or may be hollowed to be of a seinicircular
or other suitable section for the purpose of containing a tyre of india-rubber or other
suitable material.
Dated this 91st day of September 1889.
JOHN HENRY BALL.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Wheel Rim.
1, JOHN HENRY BALL, of 16 St. Stephens Road, Lewisham, in the Parish of
Lee, in the County of Kent, Commercial Traveller, 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 relates to an improved construction of hollow rin or felloe for
wheels having tyres of rubber or other elastic material, and it has for its objects,
increased strength of the rim, and the simplification of the manufacture thereof.
I attain these ends in the manner illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in
which Figures 1 and 2 are views in transverse section of my improved rim.
The rim is formed out of a strip of steel or other suitable metal, the edges of
which are turned over and adapted to engage the one with the other to form a
t folded" joint of fourfold thickness as illustrated. The rin may either be first
made of a tubular section as shown in Figure 3 and afterwards drawn or rolled into
the desired shape to receive the tyre, or it may be rolled and drawn into the desired
section as illustrated by Figures 4. 5. 6. 7. 8 and 9.
The strip of metal is first rolled into the section shown in Figure 5, and it is then
bent and drawn on a die X by a series of consecutive operations into the forms
A similar
shown in Figures 5. 6. 7 and 8. and finally into that shown by Figure 9.
method of construction may be adopted if rims of other sections are desired.
The joint is formed at the bottom of the rim as shown; so as to form an increased
thickness where the spokes pass through and take a bearing.
as illus-
It will be understood that the joint is made simply by folding the edges
trated, either by the process of rolling or drawing or by a combination of such
processes, and that the edges are not brazed or soldered to complete the joint, though

page_text: under some circumstances it may be advisable to soft solder or sweat" the outer
edges of the joint to prevent damp or moisture gaining access to the interior of
the rim.
To further increase the strength of the joint I sometimes form. one or more longi-
tudinal corrugations in the rim at the joint as illustrated by Figures 2 and 9 thereby
more firmly interlocking the edges of the joint.
It will be seen that as the spokes pass through the folds of the joint they all
assist in keeping the joint firm and secure.
I am aware that hollow rims for wheels have already been made from one or
more strips of metal rolled or drawn into shape and having their edges lapped
and brazed or soldered, and further that hollow rims have already been made from
two strips of metal fitting one within the other and connected together edge to edge
by means of folded joints, but
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. Constructing hollow metallic rims for wheels, out of one strip of sheet metal,
and connecting the edges together by means of a folded joint located at the bottom
of the rim through which the spokes pass and take a bearing, substantially as herein
described and shown in the accompanying drawing.
2nd. A tyre of the special construction and configuration of joint shown in
Figures 2 and 9. such joint being located at the bottom of the rim and having the
spokes passing through it substantially as herein described.
Dated this 21studio of Juño 1800.
ROBT. ED. PHILLIPS, M.I.M.E.,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent,
Royal Courts Chambers, 70-72, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.