IMPROVEMENTS IN "TRACTION WHEELS
Year: 1884

page_text: DIECIFICATION.
I DAVID MUNSON OSBORNE of Auburn in the County of Cayuga and State
of New York, one of the United States of America, Gentleman, do hereby declaro
the nature of my. Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN "TRACTION WHEELS" and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described aud
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The aim of this Invention is to produco a carrying and driving wheel for
agricultural machinery which shall combine the elements of strength, lightness and
durability, and which may be produced at a cost not exceding that of the wheels
now in use.
To this end the Invention consists in a sectional wheel constructed with a cast
metal hub or centre, with a sectional metal rim and with radial metallic spokes the
ends of which are threaded and secured to the rim and hub respectively.
It also consists in constructing the hub with flanges or cars to receive the
spokes, and with a gear wheel or geared rin thereon to impart motion to tho
mechanism of the machine.
Referring to the accompanying Drawings:-
Fig. 1. represents a side elevation of my improved wheel.
Fig. 2. is an edge view of the same.
Fig. 3. is a vertical central section through the wheel.
Fig. 4. is an edge view of one of the sections of the rim or felloe.
Fig. 5. is an inside face view of the same.
Fig. 6. is a view illustrating a modification of my construction.
A, represents the bub or central portion of the wheel, constructed of cast metal
in a tubular form and provided at or near its ends with encircling flanges or
projections a, the outer edges of which are extended laterally inward in order to
receive the inner ends of the spokes B.
I also prefer to cast upon the hub, integral therewith, the wheel or rim C,
provided with gear teeth to impart motion to the other parts of the machine.
This gear may, however, be constructed in a separate piece and bolted to the hub.
D, represents the rim or felloe of the wheel, constructed of metal in numerous
sections which are joined end to end, cach section being of the full width of the
D
.

page_text: face of the wheel. These segmental sections are of the form plainly represented
in Figs. 4 and 5. each section being provided with a series of holes b, to receive
the spokes also provided at one end with a hub or flange c, to overlap the inner
face of the next section where it is joined thereto, and also provided along each
side with an inwardly turned flange d.
The openings for two spokes are formed in the projecting lip or flange c, in such
position that when one section is joined to the end of the next the openings in
the lip of one will coincide with the openings in the body of the other so that the
spokes may pass through the overlapping ends of the two sections. B, represents
the cylindrical metallic spokes which may be made solid or tubular, and which
are threaded at the two extremities. Each spoke is inserted at the inner end
through one of the flanges c, on the hub and secured by means of two nuts e, and f,
applied thereto on opposite sides of the flange.
At the outer end each spoke is passed through the rim or felloe and provided
with nuts on the inside and outside as shown, or they may be provided simply
with a head on the outer side of the rim as in Fig. 6. in which case dependence
will be placed entirely on the nuts at the inner ends to effect the necessary
adjustment.
Each of the rim sections receives ordinarily six spokes, two in the middle and
but each end.
It will be understood that the spokes at the ends pass through the extremities
of the two adjoining sections and that in connection with their nuts g and h, the
spokes bind the adjacent ends of the sections firmly together.-In this manner it
will be seen that the various sections are united one to another in such manner as
to constitute a continuous and rigid rim for the wheel.
The side flanges d, of each section are also arranged to overlap the ends of the
flanges of the next section and are united thereto by means of transverse bolts or
rivets, applied as shown in the Drawings, these connections serving to give
additional stability to the wheel. In practice it is found advisable to form the
sections of the rim with oblique ends so that the joints between the sections shall
extend across the wheel at an angle to the axis, but it will be understood that the
joint may be extended in line with the axis.
In order to ensure the rotation of the wheel I propose to form on the outer
surface of the rim sections diagonal and longitudinal lips or projections i and k.
These projections may be made hollow or cored out on the inside as represented in
the Drawings in order to reduce the weight. While these lips will in most cases
be necessary, it is to be understood that they do not constitute a necessary feature
of my wheel, and that in their place I may employ flanges or plates separate from
the rim and bolted thereto.
The flanges d, at the sides of the rim serve the twofold purpose of giving the
same additional stiffness and of preventing earth from passing to the inner surface
of the rim so as to be carried upward thereby and deposited in the gearing.
It will be apparent to the skilled mechanic. that the form of the interlocking
ends of the rim sections may be modified without departing from the spirit of my
Invention, the only requirement in this regard being that the sections shall be
united firmly at the ends. In practice I usually construct the rim sections of
malleable cast iron, each section coming from the mold plate in immediate condition
for use.
My wheel may be advantageously used in connection with reaping, mowing and
binding machines, corn planters, traction engines, and generally on all machines
requiring strong supporting wheels.
It is to be noted that in my wheel the connection of the spokes with the hub
and the rim is such that the rim sections are tied inward to the hub, any tendency
of the rim to move outward being resisted by the tensile strain of the spokes. In
this regard the wheel differs essentially from those in which the spokes are seated
loosely in sockets in the inside of the rim.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The improved wheel consisting of the hub having flanges or projections
thereon, the rim composed of metallic sections joined end to end and lapped one
upon another the spokes having their ends secured firmly to the hub and the rim
sections respectively in substantially the manner described and shown whereby
they are adapted to tie the hub and the rim together.
2. In a wheel, the combination of metallic rim sections joined end to end and
lapped one upon another, and spokes passed through the overlapping ends of the
sections; whereby the spokes are caused to unite the sections one with the other.
3. The combination with the metallic rim section substantially as described, of a
second section provided with a flange or lip overlying the first section on the inner
side, a spoke passed through the overlapping ends of the two sections, and two nuts
or their described equivalents applied to the spoke and confining the rim sections
between them, substantially as described and shown.
4. In a wheel a rim composed of inetallic sections united end to end, each
section formed with inwardly extending flanges d, and with spoke openings b.
5. The improved rim section for a driving wheel constructed in one piece of cast
metal with the spoke openings, the side flanges, and the external lips.
6. In a driving wheel, the combination of a central hub, the spokes extending
outward therefrom, and a rim composed of sections united to each other by means
of the spokes.
7. In combination with the sectional rim and the spokes uniting said sections,
the central hub having the flanges to receive the spokes, and the gearwheel C, cast
integral therewith.
8. In a wheel, the combination of the central hub, a rim composed of sections
joined end to end, and a series of spokes connecting the hub and rim and applied
substantially as described to tie the rim sections inward as distinguished from
spokes which are seated against the inside of the rim to hold the same outward.
Dated the Ninth day of July 1884.
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