IMPROVEMENTS IN CARRIAGE WHEELS
Year: 1884

page_text: I, JOHN GEORGE HARRISON No 10 Noel Road, Edgbaston Birmingham Manager
of Works, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN
CARRIAGE WHEELS, to be as follows:-
I form on the Axle Bush or box a collar or flange near the centre, larger than
the head of Bush or box (& which I will call "the Bush ") or that part which goes
nearest to collar or axle, or any other part & from the base of such collar on outside
of bush I form two cones, one on either side of the centre collar & both cones
falling from the centre collar towards either end of bush. In this collar I form or
cut a notch to suit projection or lug inside spoke band, which I describe lower
down. The ends of bushes may be the usual or any pattern but by preference
I would make the front end or outer end with an enlarged surface to form a
bearing for a leather (or other suitable material) axle washer, and also to carry
hoop which protects Axle oil cap. On each of the conical parts of bush I place
pads of Vulcanized India Rubber of proper substance, moulded into proper form
& made to match any angle or curve on collar of bush, as well as conical parts
thereof. Outside these India Rubber pads I place a ring or band of metal, which
for convenience I make in halves & so form the inner side that it shall tightly grip
& hold the rubber against the centre collar but shall not bear on any metal part
of the bush & inside this band, which I will call the spoke band, I make a projection
or lug in solid, which shall agree with notch in centre collar before mentioned but
shall be small enough to allow perfect play & freedom to rubber pads when under
compression. I force the two parts of spoke band together on pads & into position
& hold them there either by means of screws, bolts, or other contrivance & the lug
inside band being set in notch in collar prevents the wheel revolving without
carrying bush with it. On the outer part of spoke band I provide receptacles for
spokes of wheel which may be of any shape or any material. The advantages
I claim are that the rubber pads being forced against the centre collar of bush
from either side, and the centre collar being larger in diameter than any other part
of bush I form a complete and safe wheel centre, giving complete and perfect.
isolation to carriage, thereby reducing vibration & shock from road lessening
noise & wear & tear, & greatly adding to ease & comfort of occupants of carriage.
Dated this first day of February 1884.

page_text: I, JOHN GEORGE HARRISON of 10 Noel Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham Manager
of Works, do hereby declare the nature of said invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CARRIAGE WHEELS," 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 prevent the rigid parts composing the wheel
centre or hub from coming in direct contact with each other; this is effected by
isolating the spoke carrier band, from the axle bush, by intervening anti-vibration
pads of india rubber, which prevent the travelling of concussion or vibration to the
carriage.
I form on the axle bush or box an annular collar or flange about its middle or
midway between its ends, the said annular collar is larger in diameter than the
head of the bush or box (which I will hereafter-wards call the bush) or that part
which comes nearest to the collar or axle, and upon opposite sides of the annular
collar, I make the axle bush conical inclining upwards from the outer ends. A
notch or cut away part is formed out of the periphery of the middle of the said
collar, into which a lug or hanging projection on the inside of the spoke band or
ring takes. The terminal ends of the axle bush may be of the usual form or may
be made of any desired pattern. The axle cap may be furnished with a ring or
casing roughened or milled upon its surface which protects the axle cup from wear
or otherwise; and upon the conical parts of the bush lying on opposite sides of the
middle collar, I place short cylinders of vulcanized india rubber or other yielding
material moulded into proper form or to the shape of the axle bush lying on either
side of the division ring or collar. These yielding cylinders or pads, intercept the
vibration created in the wheel either through the inequalities of the ground over
which it passes or otherwise, and upon these cylinders or pads of yielding vulcanite
india-rubber, the spoke ring or carrier takes, which for convenience is made in
halves; so that when the parts are in their respective relative positions, the rubber
is forced tightly against the division ring or collar on the middle of the bush, with
the hanging lug on the inside of the spoke ring and lying within the notch in the
division ring, so that the bush and spoke ring or carrier shall move together
without any of the rigid materials composing the wheel becoming actually in
contact. The said hanging lug is made small enough to allow the perfect play and
freedom to rubber pads when under compression, the parts constituting the centre
or hub of the wheel are forced together and into position and held by screws, bolts
or other contrivances. The sockets for the spokes are arranged around the periphery
of the spoke band..
The spoke band and its sockets instead of being made in two parts as already
described, may be composed or made up of three parts, consisting essentially of a
central spoke ring with sockets arranged radially around its periphery. The parts
constituting the band whose internal sides come in contact with the isolating
medium, consists of two flanged bands which come on either side the spoke ring,
and are connected together by screw rivets or other-wise.
Having now described the nature of my invention I will proceed to describe
with reference to the accompanying Drawings the manner in which my invention
is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section of a wheel centre or hub
constructed according to my invention. Figure 2 is a complete wheel and its hub
or centre upon a smaller scale. Figure 3 is a side elevation of the hub or centre.
Figure 4 is a side elevation of the bush showing the position of the division ring

page_text: or annular collar which separates the isolating short cylinders or rings of india-
rubber figure 5, one of which is shown in elevation and the other in section.
Figure 6 shows the india-rubber short cylinders or pads figure 5 fitted upon the
conical necks or bodies of the bush. The halves of the spoke band are respectively
arranged opposite the ends of the bush. Figure 7 is a cross section of the bush
next to the division collar, and figure 8 is a transverse vertical section of the said
bush figure 7 within the spoke ring showing the position of the hanging snug with
respect to the notch in the division ring of the bush. Figure 9 is a complete
vertical section of a centre or hub of a wheel constructed according to my invention.
in which the spoke ring is made in three parts. Figure 9ª is a front elevation
of the same, and figure 10 are the parts of the spoke ring separately.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several figures' of the
Drawings.
a is the axle bush within which the axle of a carriage revolves, and a³ is an
annular division ring or collar situated on the bush about midway between its
ends as a are the cone surfaces of the said bush, upon which the pads or short
cylinders of india-rubber or other suitable yielding material b encircles. cc is the
divided spoke bands and c³ ³ are the spoke sockets, of the said half or divided
spoke bands or rings which are secured together by means of screw rivets or other
equivalents d. ee are the spokes of the wheel and f is the rim. The spoke
bands c c and wheel are compelled to travel or move with the axle bush a, by
lugs changing from the hollowed out or recessed part of c of the spoke
bands cc the said hanging lugs engage loosely within a notch or cut away part a
on the division ring a² of the bush. e' is the axle cap which is screwed in the
ordinary way.
In putting together a wheel centre or hub constructed according to my invention
the cushion or pad isolating cylinders b b are respectively forced over the ends or
heads as a of the axle bush, and when in position as best seen in figures 1,9
and 6, they lie upon and tightly grip the cone surfaces of the bush as a³, the half
spoke bands c c are then brought together from opposite sides of the axle bush,
with the hanging lugs lying loosely within the notch or cut away part a* in
the division ring of the bush. The spoke band is then connected together and the
parts affixed in their respective positions as represented in figure 1 by screw pins
or rivets & passing through the solid parts between the spoke sockets c. But
I do not confine myself to the use of screw rivets or pins for connecting the
two halves of the spoke band together as other equivalent means may be
employed.
On pressure or concussion being imparted to the spoke band through the spokes,
the rubber cushions are forcibly compressed laterally towards the division ring a²
of the axle bush. This compression imparts greater elastic density to the pads
which offers greater resistance while yielding sufficiently to perfectly isolate and
prevent the travelling of concussion, shock or tremor to the axle or carriage, so
that the yielding pads which come between or separate the outside of the axle bush
and the inside of the spoke band thereby isolating the rigid materials composing
the hub or centre. The division ring marked a³ of the bush and the lugs c³ ³ of
the spoke bands cc form the means whereby the parts of the wheel centre and
wheel are made to move together, while the other rigid parts are insolated by the
intervention of yielding pads.
In figure 9 the spoke band is made in three parts consisting essentially of two
outer bands c, c with a middle or central spoke ring f in which the sockets of the
spokes are formed solid; or without being divided as before described, so that on
driving forcibly home the spokes within the sockets of the ring f, there is no
tendency for the dividing, or opening out of the sockets. The spoke socket ƒ³
of the ring is supported upon flanges g on either side the annular space or
opening in which the division ring of the bush lies, the divisions of parts of the
spoke band may be united together by screw pins, rivets or by other equivalents.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is:-
First. The construction and combination of parts of wheel centres or hubs
bereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings for preventing
the rigid parts composing the wheel centre or hub from coming in contact with
each other; that is to say, isolating the spoke carrying band from the axle bush
by means of intervening yielding pads preferably of vulcanized india rubber which
prevent the travelling of concussion or tremor to the carriage, the parts being
arranged and combined as described and illustrated in figures 1 to 8 both inclusive
of the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. Constructing wheel centres with axle bushes, which are encircled by
isolating anti-vibration pads or cylinders of india rubber, with cone bodies or cono
surfaces separated by a division ring which connects the bush to the spoke band or
wheel by a hanging lug or lugs on the inside of an annular space within the spoke
band, which said lug or lugs take and lie loosely within a notch in the periphery
of the division ring, the parts being arranged and combined for the purpose as
described and illustrated in the several figures of the Drawings.
Thirdly. Spoke bands for wheel centres made up of two or three parts as
described and set forth in the accompanying Drawings.