IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELS AND AXLE-BOXES
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Patrick Heyns,, of 2, Wades Place, Poplar, in the
County of Middlesex, Cooper, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN WHEELS AND AXLE-BOXES."
Sealed the 9th August 1858, and dated the 17th February 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Patrick Heyns at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
17th February 1858.
I, PATRICK HEYNS, of 2, Wades Place, Poplar, in the County of Middlesex,
Cooper, do hereby declare the nature of my said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN WHEELS AND AXLE-BOXES," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to, a peculiar construction and arrangement of wheels
suitable for common road or railway carriages, and also to an improved form
of axle-box and journal applicable to those wheels, which turn loosely upon
their axles, whereby the ordinary nuts or cottars hitherto employed for keeping
the wheels on their axles are dispensed with.
My improved construction of wheel consists in forming the hub of plate iron
or other metal. These hubs are made in two parts, the one being provided.
with a number of radial recesses into which the inner ends of the spokes,
which are made of wood; are driven. When in position, the second portion
of the hub is brought up to the first, so as to bear against the sides of the.
spokes contained within the recesses, and bolts are passed through the whole

page_text: and through the centre of each spoke, so as to secure the whole together.
The felloes and tires are then fitted on in the ordinary or any other manner
so as to complete the wheel. In some cases I propose to substitute for the
spokes a disc of sheet metal, the inner or central portion being held between
the two halves of the hub, whilst the periphery is secured in any suitable
manner to the rim or felloe of the wheel, thus producing a solid instead of an
open wheel; suitable apertures may, however, be cut out of the plate for the
purpose of giving increased lightness and elegance to the wheel.
The improved axle-box is made in two halves, so as to open longitudinally
or in the direction of the axle journal, and are annular rims, as formed in the
interior of the axle-box for the purpose of receiving a corresponding collar
formed on the axle journal. It will thus be obvious that on bolting the two
halves of the axle-box together the journal will be effectually retained inside
by reason of the projecting collar. This axle-box may be adapted either to an
ordinary wheel or to wheels of my improved construction as herein-before
described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Patrick Heyns in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
13th August 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, PATRICK
HEYNS, of 2, Wades Place, Poplar, in the County of Middlesex, Cooper, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Patrick Heyns, Her special license that I, the said Patrick
Heyns, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the
said Patrick Heyns, my executors, administrators, or assigns, should at
any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN WHEELS AND AXLE-BOXES," upon the condition (amongst others)
that I, the said Patrick Heyns, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature

page_text: 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 Patrick Heyns, 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, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates to a peculiar construction and arrangement of
wheels suitable for common road or railway carriages; and also to an improved
form of axle-box and journal applicable to those wheels which turn loosely
upon their axles, whereby the ordinary nuts or cottars hitherto employed for
keeping the wheels on their axles are dispensed with.
My improved construction of wheel consists in forming the hub of plate iron
or other metal. These hubs are made in two parts, the one being provided with
a number of radial recesses into which the inner ends of the spokes, which are
made of wood, are driven. When in position the second portion of the hub
is brought up to the first, so as to bear against the sides of the spokes contained
within the recesses, and bolts are passed through the whole and through the
centre of each spoke, so as to secure the whole together. The felloes and
tires are then fitted on in the ordinary or any other manner so as to complete
the wheel. In some cases I propose to substitute for the spokes a disc of
sheet metal or other suitable material, the inner or central portion being held
between the two halves of the hub, whilst the periphery is secured in any
suitable manner to the rim or felloe of the wheel, thus producing a solid instead
of an open wheel. Suitable apertures may, however, be cut out of the plate
for the purpose of giving increased lightness and elegance to the wheel. The
improved axle-box is made in two halves, so as to open longitudinally or in the
direction of the axle journal, and an annular recess is formed in the interior of
the axle-box for the purpose of receiving a corresponding collar formed on
the axle journal. It will thus be obvious, that on bolting the two halves
of the axle-box together, the journal will be effectually retained inside by
reason of the projecting collar. This axle-box may be adapted cither to an
ordinary wheel or to wheels of my improved construction, as herein-before
described.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
proceed more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose I shall
refer to the several Figures on the Sheet of Drawings hereunto annexed, the

page_text: same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts throughout all the
corresponding Figures.
Figure 1 of the annexed Sheet of Drawings represents a side elevation and
partial section of one form of wheel constructed according to my present
Invention. Figure 2 is a corresponding vertical section of the same taken
through the centre thereof, and shewing the axle-box whereby it is held on
the axle. The hub of this wheel, is composed of wrought or cast iron, is
made either in one piece or in two parts A and B, [the part A being formed
with a number of radial recesses, into which the inner ends of the wooden
spokes or arms C, C, are driven. The plate B, which forms the second portion
of the hub is then applied against the side of the part A, so as to bear against
the inner sides of the spokes contained in the radial recesses. Bolts D, D, are
then passed through the two parts A and B, and through the spokes themselves
or through the spaces in the hub between the spokes thus holding the whole
of the parts firmly together.
On referring to the Drawings it will be observed, that the width of the hub
is reduced considerably less than that of an ordinary hub. It does not project
beyond the plane of the rim or tyre, and presents a perfectly plain surface
outside; the use of cottars, keys, or nuts for keeping the wheel on its axle
being altogether avoided by adapting my improved dividable axle box E to the
hub of, the wheel.. This axle-box is illustrated in detail on a larger scale at
Figures 3, 4, and 5, which represent respectively a back elevation, a plan with
one balf of the upper portion removed, and a front elevation. This box consists
of a cylindrical receptacle, divided longitudinally into two halves E, E¹. The
projecting portion 6 forms the bearing, within which the journal; of the axle
G (Figures 6 and 7) rotates. The interior of this portion may be made
either cylindrical, as shewn in Figure 2, to receive a cylindrical or parallel
journal, similar to that shewn at j (Figure 6), or it may be made of a conical
form, whith the greatest diameter outwards, as in Figure 4, so as to suit the
conical journal shewn in Figure 7, whereby a larger bearing surface and less
friction is obtained. The axles shewn in Figures 6 and 7 are each formed
with a projecting flange or collar c, which serves to keep the axle-box and
wheel on the axle. For this purpose the axle-box is formed with a chamber
or recess at r, within which the flange or collar c of the axle is enclosed by
means of the annular back plate H. This plate has a central opening in it
just large enough to embrace the body of the axle, and may be made in two
halves, with lap joints, for the facility of placing it on the axle; or, it may be
made in one piece, in which case the axle should be divided at the middle to
enable the plate to be applied, or the back plate II may be cast in one piece,

page_text: with each half of the dividable box, if found more desirable. When the axle
is thus divided the two portions may be coupled by an ordinary screw collar or
coupling I, which is screwed on to the two contiguous ends of the divided
axle, as shewn in Figure 8. I may observe, however, that I lay no claim to
the divided axle, but merely mention it for the purpose of illustrating a con-
venient mode of applying my improvements. When the journal of the axle is
parallel or cylindrical, as shewn in Figure 2, the axle-box will not require to
be divided longitudinally, but when a conical journal is employed, as in
Figure 7, then the box must necessarily be divided, in order to receive the
journal. The axle-box having been fitted on to its journál, and the back
plate H applied, the two halves of the box where a divided one is employed;
are bolted together by flanges, as shewn at s (Figures 4 and 5), and the wheel
is then pushed on to the projecting portion containing the journal; the
whole is now secured into the hub by the bolts t, t, which pass through lugs
on the back plate H, and through corresponding openings in the body of the
box and hub, as clearly shewn in Figure 2. These axle-boxes may be made
with or without flanges for securing the two
latter case passing through the thickness of the metal itself. The chamber or
recess within which the collar or flange of the axle revolves forms also an oil
chamber, and a second oil chamber or recess o is formed in the back plate, for
the purpose of receiving cotton waste, tow, or other packing, to prevent the oil
from escaping, and to exclude dust or grit and dirt. A small opening may be
made in the upper part of the oil chamber or recess v for facilitating the
application of oil or other lubricating material.
halves together, the bolts in the
Figures 9 and 10 represent respectively a side elevation and partial section
and a corresponding longitudinal section of a slightly modified form of wheel.
The hub A of this wheel may be of cast iron, the recesses or mortices for the
spokes being cast therein. In this arrangement the use of a separate axle-box
is dispensed with, as the hub itself forms also the box. A conical opening with
the widest part outwards is made through the centre of the hub, and a divided
axle, with a corresponding conical journal j, is placed therein, as shewn in the
Drawing. A face plate B is then screwed or otherwise attached to the outside
of the hub, and a corresponding plate H is fitted on to the opposite side
thereof. The axle in this case does not require a flange or collar, as the
conical journal answers the purpose of keeping the wheel in its place, so long
as the face plate B remains fixed.
r, r, are the oil chambers, formed by recessing the two sides of the hub;
and o is a nut and leather washer, which is screwed on to the axle behind.
the back plate H, for the purpose of lighting up the journal within the hub,

page_text: when it becomes worn, and also of affording a means of preventing the escape
of oil or grease from the back of the box. Axles of this construction will
require to be divided in the manner herein-before described, and illustrated at
Figure 8.
Figures 11 and 12 represent respectively a side elevation and vertical section
of a modified form of wheel, wherein a plate or disc of sheet metal C is sub-
stituted for the spokes or arms shewn in Figures 1 and 2. This plate, which
may or may not be cut out at intervals, for the purpose of lightening it, and
improving its appearance, is held at its centre between the two halves A and B
of the divided hub, bolts D, D, being passed through the two halves and through
the plate, so as to hold the whole together. The outer edge at the circum-
ference of the plate may be secured to the rim or felloe of the wheel in any
convenient manner, according to the material of which the rim is composed.
When iron rims are employed, it will be found convenient to bolt the edges of
the plate to angle irons, as shewn at a in the Drawings. Wheels of the
descriptions herein-before referred to may by slight modifications, which will
suggest themselves to the practical workman, be applied to railway carriages,
as well as to those on common roads.
Although I have illustrated only wheels having their spokes in one plane or
flat surface, yet the same improvements are equally applicable to splayed or
conical wheels, similar to those ordinarily used on common roads. The ordinary
wheels now in general use on common roads may also be modified, so as to
receive my improved axle-box and journal, in which case I propose to reduce
considerably the width of the hub, by sawing off the front projecting portion
thereof, and then to apply a thin metal plate thereto, so as to cover the entire
face of the hub, and enclose the inner ends of the spokes. Or another modified
form of wheel may be produced by sawing out of a circular wooden hub a
series of radial notches, large enough to receive the inner ends of the spokes,
and then applying a thin metal plate to each side of the hub, thereby producing
a narrow hub of wood and metal combined. Wheels constructed and fitted to
their axles according to my present Invention will be found to be admirably
adapted for omnibuses, carts, cabs, and indeed all vehicles running in crowded
thoroughfares, since from the fact of their hubs being flush or nearly so with
the felloe of the wheel, there will be less danger of accident by running foul of
other vehicles, and whilst greater width can be be given to the body of the
vehicle, which is a most important desideratum in omnibus building.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict

page_text: myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as variations may be made therefrom without deviating
from the principles or main features of my said Invention; but what I con-
sider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general constructions and arrangements of wheels and axle-boxes,
and the modes of fitting the same on to the journals of their axles, as herein-
before described.
Second, the peculiar constructions and arrangements of hubs for the wheels
of railway carriages, or common road vehicles, as herein-before described.
Third, the peculiar constructions and arrangements of axle-boxes for the
wheels of common road vehicles, and the means employed for securing the
same with their wheels on to the journals of the axles, as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Patrick Heyns, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eleventh day of August, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-eight.
PATRICK HEYNS. (L.S.)