Year: 1888

page_text: [Communicated from abroad by ALBERT COOK HALL, of Denver, in the Territory
of Colorado, United States of America.]
I WILLIAM HUMPHREY WHEATLEY, of 156 Strand in the County of Middlesex,
Patent Agent, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to provide a light strong and durable wagon wheel
entirely of metal; a wheel in which the tendency to chrystalize is reduced to a
minimum, a wheel on which the tire is independent of the mechanism of the felley
and spokes and on which new tires can be placed at any time.
The object of my invention is also to provide a hub for said wheel constructed
entirely of metal, an elastic hub, a hub that can be applied to the standard axle boxes
now in use.
Figure 1, illustrates a wheel constructed according to my invention.
Figure 2, is a partial plan view of the same.
Figure 3, is a sectional view of the spoke
Figure 4, illustrates the felley in three different ways, fully hereinafter described.
Figure 5, is an axial section of the whole wheel.
Figure 6, is an axial section of the hub.
Figure 7, is a plan view of the hub with the spokes left out.
Figure 8, is an end view of the binding ring.
Figure 9, illustrates a perspective view of one of the principal parts of the hub.
The metallic felley is shaped in form and is made as illustrated, in Figure 4.
A hole is
'The lugs E' E*, are placed exactly opposite each other, but do not meet
drilled through them at a slight angle the size of the tenons of the spokes. A hole
071

page_text: is also drilled though the bottom of the felley the size of the spoke. When the
spokes are to be put in place the felley is sprung apart enough to allow the large end
of the spoke to pass through the small hole in the lugs. The felley is then brought
back to its correct form and two rivets G shown in Figure 2, are placed one on each
side of the lugs and riveted while hot, thus forces the lugs of the felley tightly around
the tenons of the spokes, the wheel is then placed in a lathe chuck and the periphery
of the felley, and the ends of the spokes turned round and even A tire can be put
on this wheel in the usual manner.
The hub ends of the spokes are arranged in alternation near the inner and outer
ends of the hub to brace the wheel laterally and increase its strength.
A and B. are two cylindrical metal castings each being provided with an equal
number of fingers running parallel with their axes and formed at equal distances apart,
the spaces between the fingers of each cylinder being also equal and admitting the
fingers of the other.
The fingers of A are exactly like those of B, except that the sides of the fingers
of B, at B2, and B, and B are made concave while the sides of the fingers of A are
convex consequently when the fingers of A, are pushed into the spaces between the
fingers of B and the fingers of B, pushed into the spaces between the fingers of A,
they will fit together metal to metal as illustrated in Fig. 7 The convexing and
concaving of the sides is to keep the extreme ends of the fingers from springing
down, this form seems preferable to me but many others would answer the same
purpose.
The fingers should be of exactly the same length, and the spaces in depth should
correspond with the length of the fingers, so that when the two are interlocked they
will bear end to end, holes are then drilled in the centres of their joints so formed to
fit the contracted circular tenons A¹ of the spokes
Bo represents clearance spaces between the fingers their object being merely to
save labor in milling the fingers into size and shape
The fingers extend downwards and 11sing again present when interlocked a circular
recess with inclined sides. Into this circular recess is fitted the circular wedge band C.
It is made of two halves and fits the angular sides of the fingers, but is not allowed
to bear on their tops. The halves of the ring are held together by bolts P, which are
countersunk into the surface so as not to extend above the metal. This ring wedge
bears on all the fingers of A, on the side A, and on all the fingers of B, on the side B
while all the fingers have clearance on the side opposite from that on which they
bear Consequently the circular wedge when tightened slides down the inclines
and forces all the fingers of A, against B, and all the fingers of B, against A,
thereby wedging and binding them together, and also against the spokes if they be
in place
The cylinders A, and B, should be bored to fit the cylindrical shield D. The ends
of the spokes should also rest on it. The shield D, is provided with a flange D¹.
This extends down over the box F even with the top of the axle G¹.
E is a hard rubber shield which is forced between the shields D, and the box F.
The flange D' prevents it from expanding out at one end, and the axle nut H, at
the other. The screw L, keeps the cylinders A, B, from coming off from D, in
case they should work loose and the nut H, being withdrawn Such a thing being
possible but not probable, as they should fit tightly. This hub has been designed
for light rapid running wheels which are constantly subject to severe concussion
between the axle box and the hub caused by violently striking stones and other
obstructions in the roads such concussion forming rapid chrystalization of the spokes
where they join the hub.
To attach this hub to the wheel the spokes are placed in their proper positions
around the shield guard D, then the two parts A, and B, are slipped on from either
side so as to embrace said shields D, and properly engage the spokes. The ring
wedge C, is then put on and fastened with the bolts P, screwing it down until the
spokes are clamped tightly enough. Then the whole wheel will be as illustrated in
Figures 1, and 2.

page_text: Having now fully described and ascertained what the nature of my Invention
15, and how the same is constructed and performed I do hereby declare that what
I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,
1. The metallic tubular spokes A having contracted circular tenons A near each
end substantially as herein set forth and described.
2. The metallic felley F¹, V shaped in cross section having inwardly projecting
lugs placed at equal distances apart upon its circumference, said lugs having grooves
fitting the tenons of the spokes and made to securely clamp these tenons by means
of rivets passing through the sides of the felley upon each side of the spokes.
3. The combination of the metallic tubular spokes A, having tenons formed near
each end with the metallic felley F, having inwardly projecting lngs with holes passing
through them, and having rivets on each side substantially as set forth.
4 A metallic elastic hub having two cylindrical castings each having a number of
horizontal projecting fingers, each casting formed to fit within the other and to meet
shoulder to shoulder having holes formed in the centres of their lines of contact
between the two cylinders adapted to receive tubular metallic spokes, having said
fingers to present, when interlocked, an inverted circular recess, a circular split or
divided collar, provided with bolts or studs and operating when contracted or tightened
to diminish the diameter of said wedge collar, and operating by bearing on the opposite
sides of the inclines of said recess to force said cylinders and fingers tightly together,
spokes radiating from said holes having the internal diameter of said cylinders formed
to match the external diameter of a metallic shield provided with a flange extending
from one end and covering the end of the axle-box having the space between the
shield and the axle box tightly fitted with an elastic substance all arranged substantially
herein set forth and described.
5. A metallic hub having cylindrical metallic castings A, and B, interlocking and
bound together by the circular wedge C, the shield D, rubber sleeves E, and screws L,
in combination with the metallic spokes A, having contracted tenons A near each end,
and the metallic felley F, V shaped in cross section, having inwardly projecting lugs
or ribs placed at equal distances apart on the circumference, said lugs having grooves
fitting tenons of the spokes and made to securely clamp these tenons by means of
rivets passing through the sides of the felley upon each side of the spokes all arranged
as herein set forth.
Dated this 11th day of June 1888.
WILLIAM HUMPHREY WHEATLEY