MENTS IN WHEELS FOR LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, RAILWAY CARRIAGES, AND OTHER PURPOSES.
Year: 1865

page_text: MENTS IN WHEELS FOR LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, RAILWAY CARRIAGES, AND OTHER
PURPOSES. A Communication from abroad by Robert Elsdon, of St.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
13th June 1865.
1. JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELS FOR LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, RAILWAY CARRIAGIS,
AND OTHER PURPOSES," a communication to me from abroad by Robert Elsdon,
of St. Petersburg, in the Empire of Russia, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a new manufacture of that class of wheels known
as disc wheels, which are composed partly of wood and partly of metal, and
has for its object the diminishing the risk of breakage of the wheels. In
making a disc wheel according to this. Invention the tyre of the wheel is laid
down upon a metal block-having a hole in the centre, and is turned out so as
to correspond with the inside section of the wheel. Inside the tyre is placed
[Price 8.]

page_text: a safety ring, the object of which is to hold more securely in their places the
wooden blocks which compose the main inner portion of the wheel; these
wooden blocks must be previously shaped in the form of segments, so as to fit
accurately into their places round the interior of the tyre, and a groove or
recess is cut in the outer end of each to receive the safety ring before referred
to. A tapered mandrill is then forced by hydraulic or other pressure into the
circular opening left at the inner or converging ends of the several blocks at
the centre of the wheel, the effect of such tapered mandrill being to force out-
wards equally the whole of the wooden blocks and cause them to enter the
recess in the interior of the tyre. A central metal ring, which the Inventor
calls a "bed ring," and which may be made solid or otherwise, is then forced
into the centre of the wheel by hydraulic or other power, so as to form a bed
or bearing surface for the inner ends of the wooden blocks. The main centre or
boss of the wheel, if not already in position, is then placed inside the "bed ring
and secured in its place by keys, which are driven in between the boss and the
"bed ring," suitable key ways being made in each for that purpose. A
"lock ring" made in two or more segments of a circle, is then let into an
annular groove made to receive it in the boss, the parts being secured in their
places in the boss by bolts, rivets, pins, or otherwise. Should there be
any space left between the edges of the wooden block last driven in the
adjoining blocks, wooden keys or wedges may be driven therein, so as to
tighten the blocks well up in the interior of the wheel. The wheel is then
ready for finishing in the lathe. In some cases where greater strength is
required, it is proposed to pass strengthening bolts with mitred heads through
the bed ring," and to screw them into the safety ring in the tyre, in which
case the "bed ring" should be made of rather larger diameter than is
requisite when such bolts are not employed. In lieu of the "lock ring"
above referred to a substitute ring may be screwed on to the centre or boss of
the wheel and secured by bolts, rivets, or pins. The safety ring herein
mentioned may be made either plain or formed with side flanges to fit into the
recess of the tyre. By having square or oblong holes made in the "lock ring"
or substitute ring of rather smaller size than the heads of the keys provision
will be afforded for allowing the keys to be tightened up when the wheel is at
rest. The wooden blocks may either be all made to fit together as segments
of a circle, or two or more of such blocks may be wedged shaped in the
reverse direction to the segments, that is to say, with their narrower ends in
the tyre and their broad ends in the "bed ring."

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
18th December 1865.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE FRESENTS SHALL COME. I. JOHN HENRY
JOHNSON, of 47. Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex. Gentle-
man, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of June. in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-five, in the 28th year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me. the
said John Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I. the
said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators, or 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 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 FOR LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, RAILWAY CARRIAGES, AND OTHER
PURPOSES," a communication from abroad by Robert Elsdon, of St. Petersburg,
in the Empire of Russia, upon the condition (amongst others) thai. I, the
said John Henry Johnson, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was
to be performed, and calise 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 John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the 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 accompanying Drawings, and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
The said Invention relates to a new manufacture of that class of wheels
known as "disc wheels," which are composed partly of wood and partly of
metal, and has for its object the diminishing the risk of breakage of the
wheels. In making a disc wheel according to this Invention the tyre of the
wheel is laid down upon a metal block or bed having a hole in the centre, and
turned out so as to correspond with the inside section of the wheel. Inside
the tyre there may be placed, if desired, a safety ring, with a view to the

page_text: more securely holding in their places the wooden blocks which compose the
main inner portion of the wheel; these blocks must be previously shaped to
the form of sections or segments of a disc, so as to fit accurately into their
places round the interior of the tyre. If a single safety ring be used it may
be fitted into a groove or recess made in the periphery of the blocks, or if two
safety rings are used they may be fitted into annular recesses made one on
each side of the blocks at their circumference. and fit inside the tyre with the
ends of the blocks themselves; these safety rings will be useful in holding
the blocks together in case of fracture or displacement of the tyre, but I
make no claim to the separate use of such rings or hoops for the purpose
referred to. A tapered mandrill is then forced by hydraulic or other pressure
into the circular opening left at the inner or converging ends of the several
blocks at the centre of the wheel, the effect of such tapered mandrill being to
force outwards equally the whole of the wooden blocks and cause them to
enter the recess formed for their reception in the interior. of the tyre. A
central metal "bed ring," slightly tapered on its outer circumference, and made
solid or otherwise, is then forced into the centre of the wheel by hydraulic or
other power, so as to form a bed or bearing surface for the inner ends of the
wooden blocks. The main centre or boss of the wheel, if not already in
position, is then placed inside the "bed ring" and secured in its place by
keys, which are driven in between the boss and the "bed ring," suitable key
ways being made in each for that purpose. If desired, a "lock ring" may be
employed, made in two or more parts forming a circle, which is let into an
annular groove made to receive it in the boss, the parts being secured in
their places in the boss by bolts, rivets, pins, or otherwise. Should there be
any space left between the edges of the wooden block last inserted and the
adjoining blocks, wooden keys or wedges may be driven therein, so as to
tighten the blocks well up in the interior of the wheel; the wheel is then
ready for finishing in the lathe. In some cases where greater strength is
required it is proposed to pass strengthening bolts with mitred heads through
the "bed ring." and to screw them into the safety ring in the tyre when such
ring is used, in which case the "bed ring" should be made of rather larger
diameter than is requisite when such bolts are not employed. In lieu of the
lock ring above referred to a substitute ring may be screwed on to the centre
or boss of the wheel, and secured by bolts, rivets, or pins. By having square
or oblong holes made in the lock ring or substitute ring of rather smaller size
than the heads of the keys, provision will be afforded for allowing the keys to be
tightened up when the wheel is at rest. The wooden blocks may be either all
made to fit together as segments or sections of a disc, or two or more of such

page_text: blocks may be wedge shaped in the reverse direction to the segments, that is
to say, with their narrower ends in the tyre and their broad ends against the
"bed ring."
And in order that the 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 same letters of reference indicating corresponding parts in all the
Figures.
Fig. of the Drawings represents a side elevation of a complete wheel
constructed according to this Invention; Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of
the same taken through the centre thereof: Fig. 3 is a sectional detail of
the "bed ring" and Fig. 4 is a similar view of the boss or nave. In
working this wheel a metal block with a hole in the centre and turned out to
correspond with the inside section of the wheel, is placed upon the ground or
upon a suitable foundation, and the tyre A of the wheel is placed upon it, the
wooden blocks B, B', having been accurately finished to size, so as to occupy
the space between the inner circumference of the tyre A and the outer
circumference of the bed ring" C. are then placed upon the metal block
with their outer ends within the recess of the tyre. The last block of the
series forming the wooden disc is then forced into its place, after which a
tapered mandrill attached to a vertical shaft is brought down into the central
aperture in the disc and forces outwards the whole of the blocks equally,
causing them to be pressed into the recess in the tyre. The "bed ring" C,
made to the proper size, and solid or otherwise, and with a slight draw upon
it, is then forced into the centre of the wheel by hydraulic or other power, so
as to hold the blocks firmly inside the recess in the tyre. The blocks and
"bed ring" having been forced home the boss D. if not already in position, is
then placed upon the metal block by removing the partly finished wheel, and
lowering it upon the boss, which enters the interior of the "bed ring," the
inner ends of the several blocks being thus gripped between the respective
flanges of the boss and the bed ring;" a, a, are cylindrical bolts or keys
which are driven in between the centre or boss D and the "bed ring," and
rivetted as shown in the Drawing, or otherwise secured in their places,
suitable key ways or slots being cut in the outer surface of the boss, and the
inner surface of the bed ring to receive them. By driving in bolts a as
shown in the Drawing, and subsequently rivetting them, the boss is not only
prevented from slipping out of the bed ring." but is also prevented from
turning round therein. The blocks B¹ of the series are tapered in the reverse
direction to the blocks or segments B, so as to act as wedges when forced

page_text: outwards by the tapered mandrill and tighten up the whole of the blocks
laterally. Before inserting the blocks into the tyre a recess is cut on their
opposite sides at their outer circumference to receive the safety rings b. b,
which are placed in position after the blocks have been forced home, and are
secured to the blocks by bolts or rivets c. c. as shewn. The inner edges of the
tyre are then turned over on to the rings b. b, so as to lock them in the
recess in the tyre, after which the wheel may be placed in the lathe for the
final finish, and will then be ready for pointing.
. Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider 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 construction and arrangement of wheels for locomotive
engines, railway carriages, and other purposes, substantially as herein-before
described and illustrated by my Drawings.
Second. The combination of the "bed ring" C with the central boss D and
blocks B. B', substantially as herein-before described.
Third, the tightening of the blocks B inside the tyre by the combined effect
of radial and lateral pressure produced by a central tapered mandrill and by
the wedge-shaped blocks B', substantially as herein-before described.
In witness whereof. 1, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Thirteenth day of December, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-five.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)