IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARRIAGE WHEELS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Elisabeth Hafner de Bodmer, of No. 4, Rue
Chalgrin, and No. 60, Boulevart de Strasbourg, Paris, in the Empire
of France; for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION
OF CARRIAGE WHEELS,"
Sealed the 28th January 1870, and dated the 4th August 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Elisabeth Hafner de
Bodmer at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with her.
l'etition, on the 4th August 1869.
I, ELISABETH HAFNER DE BODMER, of No. 4, Rue Chalgrin, and
No. 60, Boulevart de Strasbourg, Paris, in the Empire of France, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARRIAGE WHEELS," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists in substituting curved blade springs in lieu of
straight spokes, one end of each of these springs being inserted into
the nave and the other end bolted to the rim of the wheel. By this
arrangement the load of the carriage bearing on the axletree and the
[Price 8d.]

page_text: latter on the nave the lower and side spokes will yield and the nave
get out of the centre of the wheel. This eccentric position will be
constantly shifting while the wheel is running, and thus less horse or
other power will be required to draw the load. The spokes may be
made either of one or several blades, and these improved wheels be
applied to any kind of vehicle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Elisabeth Hafner de Bodiner in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 2nd February 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ELISABETH
HAFNER DE BODMER, of No. 4, Rue Chalgrin, and No. 60, Boulevart
de Strasbourg, Paris, in the Empire of France, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-third year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Elisabeth Hafner de Bodmer, Her special licence that
I, the said Elisabeth Hafuer de Bodmer, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Elisabeth Hafner de Bodmer,
my executors, administrators, and 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 "A NEW KIND
OF CARRIAGE WHEELS WITH SPRINGY SPOKES AND ECCENTRIC NAVE," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Elisabeth Hafner de Bodmer,
my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Elisabeth Hafner de Bodmer, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the

page_text: same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement:-
My Invention consists in substituting curved blade or plate springs
in lieu of straight spokes, one end of each of said springs being inserted
into the nave while the other is bolted fast to the rim of the wheel.
By such arrangement the weight of the vehicle bearing on the axletree
and the latter on the nave, the spokes of one side of the wheel yield
and are straightened, while those of the opposite side are contracted,
which causes the nave to get out of the centre of the wheel. The
ecccentric position of the nave will always be shifting while the wheel
is running, and the effect will be to lessen the traction power to be
exerted by the horse. The spokes may be composed either of one or
of several blades or plates.
my In-
The accompanying Sheet of Drawing is an illustration of
vention. The adjustment of the springs or spokes both with nave
and rim may be modified in several ways.
Figures 1 and 2 are front and side views of a wheel constucted
according to my system. The nave E may be made either of wood or
of metal. A, wooden rim or felly encircled as usual by an iron ring
or tire B; the spring spokes C may be composed of one or of several
blades or plates, the inuer end of each is inserted at F into the nave.
If composed of several blades, as shewn Fig. 1, the said blades are kept
close together by a screw bolt, or they can be embraced by a strap.
The main blade or plate of each spring is fastened by its outer end to
the rim of the wheel by screw bolts, as shewn at D. The nave is fitted
as usual on the axletree H.
Figures 3 and 4 show another mode of fitting my spring spokes to
the nave of a wheel. A is the common axle box containing the lubri-
cating liquid; it is surrounded by wooden or metal pieces adapted to
the inner shape of the cast-iron nave, which is composed of two pieces
E, E', the said pieces being screwed up together at V. One half E of
the nave is cast with as many recesses I) as there are spokes, the
said recesses being intended to receive the inner end of blades C, which
are notched at I to receive a corresponding projecting ring of the
portion E' of the nave when fully screwed up. The recesses D are
notched at J' for the same purpose. Small screws K are then inserted,
as shewn, to prevent the portions of the nave getting loose. L is a
brass ring concealing end of axle box in the usual manner.

page_text: Figure 5 exhibits another arrangement for fitting the blades of springs
into the nave. H is the axletree; A, the lubricating axle box; B, solid
middle part of the nave, made, either of cast iron or any other metal,
with suitable recesses to receive end of each blade C. The two portions
D, D', of the nave are screwed upon the central part B. A wrought-iron
ring is fitted on the portion D of the nave; F, brass ring fitted at
the other end of the nave to conceal and protect the screw nuts I, I', I",
screwed up on the end of the axletree. The blades of the springs are
notched at J to receive the rings formed on the portion D of the nave
which hold them fast. H', small screw securing the brass ring F on
the nave;
Jis another screw entering by half into the nave piece D
and axle box A to hold it fast; A', a projecting part of said axle box
used as a key to prevent its turning.
Figure 6 shews the adjustment of a spring spoke C with the rim of
a wheel A; this spring is bent to form a shoulder or flange at its
outer end at I, which is bolted to the rim, as shewn.
Figure 7 shews the fitting of a straight spoke C to the rim A of a
wheel by means of the T-shaped outer end of said spoke bolted fast
to the rim.
Figure 8 is a side view of a wheel upon my system otherwise adjusted.
The spring spokes are forged with a segmental enlargement or boss at
the inner end, the said segmental bosses being so calculated that when
placed close together they form a complete circular body, as shewn
Fig. 9; the central space left is bored to fit the axletree H, over which
it is adjusted, thus forming a nave composed of as many segments as
there are spokes in the wheel. The nave thus formed is faced on both
sides on the lathe, and a circular groove I is cut in each side (see
Figs. 9 and 10). The end of the axletree over which the nave is fitted
is screw threaded, and two round pieces E, E', bored in their centre
are also screw threaded to fit the axletree H. Projecting rings are
formed on the inner face of the round pieces E, E', for the purpose of
entering the circular grooves I of the segmental bosses or enlargements
C'; one of the said segmental pieces is held tight over the axletree
by means of a cottar J. Wheels of this latter description would be
suitable for railway vehicles.
My Invention being now described and illustrated by the accom.
panying Sheet of Drawing, I would have it understood that I claim the
use of blade or plate springs composed either of one or of several blades

page_text: or plates to supersede rigid spokes in the construction of carriage wheels,
such wheels constructed according to any one of the modes herein-
before described being applicable with advantage to all kinds of vehicles
to lighten their draught, whether they be velocipedes, carts, or carriages
for ordinary roads, railway carriages, or other vehicles.
In witness whereof I, the said Elisabeth Hafner de Bodmer, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of
January, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred
and seventy.
Signed and sealed in the
presence of
L. D'AUBREVILLE, C.E.
E. HAFNER DE BODMER. (L.S.)