IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING WHEELS FOR VEHICLES
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of .53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN AND IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING WHEELS FOR VEHICLES." A communica-
tion from abroad by Agustin Blasco y Fabregas, of Manila, in the Philippine
Tolanda
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th February 1881.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING
WHEELS FOR VEHICLES." [A communication from abroad by Agustin Blasco y
Fabregas, of Manila, in the Philippine Islands.]
The present Invention relates to an apparatus particularly adapted for use in
the manufacture of the vehicle wheel, for which I applied for Provisional Protection
on the Nineteenth day of January 1881, No. 232, and it relates also to a method
of putting, pressing, and securing together the parts forming the hub proper. The
improved apparatus is adapted for holding the laminae of the felly while being
successively put in place, also while the spokes are being inserted and the hub
parts applied; and it enables the parts of the wheel to be quickly and cheaply
put together. The parts composing the hub proper are forced together by powerful
pressure, as hereafter described.
The hub of the wheel is formed by the dovetail ends of the spokes, wooden
concave plates or rings placed around the axle box on opposite sides of the spokes,
and outer iron clamping rings, which parts are tied together by bolts. In addition
a nut formed in one piece with a dust cap is screwed on the outer end of the axle
journal box; a wooden collar is placed upon the inner end of the box to give a
finished appearance, and to that is secured a metal ring. The continuous felly is
formed of two, three, or more laminæ or strips of wood laid one upon another so
as to break joints, and held together or in place by a continuous iron tire. Upon
the latter are laid strips of leather which form an elastic layer that compensates
for concussions or shocks.. Segmental steel wearing plates are secured upon the
LD Gil

page_text: leather strips, and said parts of the wheel rim are bound together by screw bolts,
the plates being separated at their ends to allow for expansion.
The apparatus used for the manufacture of the wheel consists of a circular table
supported by a suitable frame and carrying radial segments or sector-shaped blocks
which are adapted to be adjusted to and from the centre of the table by means
hereafter described. The outer ends of the segments are fitted with strips which
may be termed "sizers" or "reinforcers" in view of their function. These
"sizers " are held in place by dovetail tenons, so that they are removable to vary
the radial length of the segments to suit the size of wheel. Slides corresponding
in number with the segments, and formed with tongues that enter grooves in the
table, are attached on the ends of screws that are tapped into lugs fixed on the edge
of table, so that by operating the screws the slides are moved radially on the table
to and from the segments. Four clamping screws placed at suitable distances apart
are tapped for vertical movement in slides that are fitted to move in grooved
plates attached to the segments. Through a central opening in the table extends
the upper end of a spindle carried by a hand lever hung on the frame of the
apparatus, and the lower end of which moves in a cross bar, so that the spindle is
held centrally in the aperture. The upper portion of the spindle is made as a
removable gudgeon fitted to screw upon the lower portion. The upper end is also
fitted with a nut and a flange, between which the hub of the wheel is clamped.
The press I employ for finishing the wheel consists of an upright rectangular
frame having its upper bar fitted with a put and screw, and its lower bar fitted
with a post carrying a ring or rings. The lower end of screw is formed with a
loose collar adapted for setting upon one end of the hub, and the upper end of the
post is formed to enter the hub, and has flanges against which the end of the hub
takes. The collar and upper end of the post are retained in line by a pin extending
from one to the other at the centre.
In making the wheels, the segments having been first set for the size of felly
desired, the laminae of wood are placed around them, one outside the other, and so
that the joint of each layer is covered by an outer layer, and the slides and
clamping screws are moved to hold the strips securely. The felly is then bored,
and screws driven into the felly through holes in the slides,, and the felly is bored
between the slides to receive the spokes. The gudgeon being removed, one plate
and ring is put on, the spindle resting on the flange of the spindle; the spokes are
put in place one by one by first inserting the tenon into the felly, and the other
plate and ring are put on the spokes. The gudgeon is then screwed upon the
spindle, the nut screwed down to clamp the parts firmly, the hub is bored, and
the screws then put in to hold both these parts together..
Before the spokes are put in place the spindle will be raised by the lever more
or less according to the disc desired for the wheel, and to give the required offsett
to the alternate spokes they will be formed with their dovetail ends out of centre,
and will be inserted in the machine reversed alternately. The wheel is then taken
out of the machine, the continuous tire put on, and it is then put in the press with
the hub clamped tightly between the collar of the screw and the flanges of the post.
The collar of the wheel having been first put on, the screw is brought down against
the hub and the bolts that hold the parts together are forced through the hub.
The holes for the bolts may be bored while the wheel is in the press, the clamping
rings serving as a support for the tools used in boring and in forcing the bolts to place.
The wheel is then to be removed, the axle box inserted, and the outer metal ring
secured by nuts on the ends of the bolts. The bolts take by their heads on one
metal ring and screw into the other ring, the heads being on reverse sides of the
hub. After these bolts are in place the hub is securely held and the collar may
therefore be put on after the wheel is taken from the press. It will thus be
understood that the parts which form the hub proper, to wit, the rings and butts
of the spokes, are placed in the proper position in the apparatus, and that screws
are inserted to hold said parts together while the wheel is being transferred to the
-press. The press forces the parts of the hub together with such pressure that

page_text: the hub acquires the great solidity which is requisite for strength and durability.
Other bolts are next inserted and thereby the hub parts are held together in the
same position and firm contact resulting from such operation of the press.
To give a simultaneous movement radially to all the segments for the purpose of
placing them in the required position for application of the felly strips before the
screws are inserted, and also to loosen the felly to permit removal of the wheel when
its parts have been adjusted and fitted together in the proper relation, I employ a
shaft provided with a crank handle and a spirally grooved plate which is placed
beneath the table, and is adapted to revolve around the gudgeon. The shaft is
screw threaded near its outer end where it passes through a hanger pendent from
the table, hence by rotating the shaft it is caused to move lengthwise through the
hanger and thus rotates the disc which moves the segments.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th August 1881.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND IN MACHINERY FOR MAKING
WHEELS FOR VEHICLES."
A communication from abroad by Agustin Blasco y
Fabregas, of Manila, in the Philippine Islands.
The present Invention relates to an apparatus which is particularly adapted for
use in the manufacture of wheels for vehicles forming the subject of former Letters
Patent dated January 19th, 1881, No. 232. It also relates to a method of putting,
pressing, and securing together the parts formning the hub proper. The felly of the
wheel is composed of laminae of wood, and the hub proper is formed of the butts
of the spokes having a dovetailed shape; also wooden and metal rings that fit on
opposite sides of the spoke butts, and are firmly clamped in place by means of
screws that pass transversely through all the parts. The apparatus is adapted for
holding the laminae of the felly while being successively put in place, also while
the spokes are being inserted and the hub parts applied, and it enables the parts of
the wheel to be quickly and cheaply put together, and is therefore practically
indispensable for that purpose. The parts composing the hub proper are forced
together by powerful pressure as hereafter described.
In the accompanying Drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view and Figure 2 a cross
section of the apparatus; Figure 3 is a side view, and Figure 4 a vertical section
of the press used for finishing the wheel; Figure 5 is a detail. plan view showing
the mechanism for adjusting the segments q; Figure 6 is a perspective view of one
of the "sizers" or reinforcing strips applied to the outer ends of the segments q;
Figure 7 is a detail central vertical section of the apparatus shown in Figure 1;
Figure is a plan view of a portion of the wheel for whose manufacture the
apparatus is especially adapted; Figure 9 is a central vertical section of the wheel
hub. Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Referring first to Figures 8 and 9 showing the wheel, the hub A is formed.
by the dovetail ends of spokes a, wooden concave plates or. rings c, c, around
the axle journal box 6 on opposite sides of the spokes and outer iron clamping
rings d, d, which parts are tied together by short screw bolts e and long bolts e²
passing through from side to side. In addition a nut f formed in one piece with
a dust cap is screwed on the outer end of the axle journal box b; a wooden collar g
is placed upon the inner end of the box b to give a finished appearance, and to
that is secured a metal ring h. The continuous felly B is formed of two, three, or
more laminae or strips of wood laid one upon another so as to break joint, and
held together or in place by means of a continuous iron tire l. Upon the latter are
laid strips m of leather which form an elastic layer, that compensates for con-
cussions or shocks incident to use of the wheel on stony or rough pavements or
roads. Segmental steel wearing plates n are secured upon the leather strips m,
and said parts of the wheel rim are bound together by screw bolts o. The plates n
are separated at their ends to allow for expansion.
The apparatus used for the manufacture of the wheel is shown in Figures 1 to 7
inclusive. Referring in the first instance to Figures 1, 2, 5, 6, 7, C is a circular
table supported by a suitable frame D. q, q, are radial segments or sector shaped
blocks laid on table C, and adapted to be adjusted to and from the centre of the
table by means hereafter described. The outer ends of segments q are fitted with
strips q, which may be termed "sizers" or reinforcers in view of their function.
These "sizers are held in place by dovetail tenons, so that they are removable to
"

page_text: vary the radial length of the segments q to suit the size of wheel. 7 are slides
corresponding in number with segments q formed with tongues that enter grooves
in table C, and attached on the ends of screws 8, that are tapped into lugs &¹ fixed
on the edge of table C, so that by operating the screws 8, the slides are moved
radially on the table to and from segments q. t are clamping screws tapped for
vertical movement in slides t¹, that are fitted to move in groove plates t2 attached
to segments q. There are four screws t placed at suitable distances apart around
the table. The table C is centrally apertured, and through the aperture extends
the upper end of a spindle E that is carried by a hand lever u hung on frame D,
and the lower end of the spindle moves in a cross bar of the frame, so that the
spindle is held centrally in the aperture. The upper portion of the spindle E is
made as a removable gudgeon fitted to screw upon the lower portion. The upper
end is also fitted with a nut v¹ and a flange v2, between which nut and flange the
hub of the wheel is to be clamped.
For finishing the wheel I employ a press, which is shown in Figures 3 and 4.
Said press I do not claim as new per se, but it is indispensable for carrying out the
method of manufacturing the wheel. It consists of an upright rectangular frame w,
having its upper bar fitted with a nut a¹ and screw b', and its lower bar fitted with .
a post c¹, carrying a ring or rings d. The lower end of screw b¹ is formed with a
loose collar e adapted for setting upon one end of the hub, and the upper end of
the post c¹ is formed to enter the hub, and has flanges c² against which the end of
the hub takes. The collar e¹ and upper end of post c¹ are retained in line by a
pin f extending from one to the other at the centre. The segments q having been
first set for the size of felly desired, the laminae of wood are placed around the
segments q, one outside the other, and so that the joint of each layer is covered by
an outer layer, and the slides and screws t are moved to clamp the strips securely.
The felly is then bored, and screws & driven into the felly through holes provided
in slides r, and the felly is bored between the slides to receive the spokes. The
gudgeon being removed, one plate c and ring is put on, the spindle resting on
flange v2, the spokes are put in place one by one, by first inserting the tenon into
the felly, and the other plate c and ring d are put on the spokes. The gudgeon v
is then screwed upon the spindle, the nut v screwed down to clamp the parts
firmly, the hub is bored, and the screws e then put in to hold these parts together.
Before the spokes are put in place the spindle will be raised by lever u more
or less according to the dish desired for the wheel, and to give the required offset
to the alternate spokes, they will be formed with their dovetail ends out of centre
and will be inserted in the machine reversed alternately. The wheel is then taken
out of the machine, the continuous tyre put on, and it is then put in the press,
Figures 3 and 4, with the hub clamped tightly between the collar e' of the screw
and the flanges c² of the post c', the collar g, having been first put on the screw, is
brought down against the hub and the long bolts e2 are forced through the hub.
The holes for the bolts c² may be bored while the wheel is in the press, and the
rings & serve as a support for the tools used in boring and in forcing the bolts to
place. The wheel is then removed, box b inserted, and ring secured on the ends
of bolts e by nuts. The bolts e², e², take by their heads on one ring & and
screw into the other ring, the heads being on reverse sides of the hub. After the
long bolts 2 are in place, the hub is securely held, and the collar y may therefore
be put on after the wheel is taken from the press. It will thus be under-
stood that the parts which form the hub proper, to wit, the rings and butts of the
spokes, are placed in the proper position in the apparatus (shown in Figures 1
and 2), and that screws are inserted to hold said parts together while the wheel is
being transferred to the press, shown in Figures 3 and 4. The press forces the
parts of the hub together with such powerful pressure that the hub acquires the
great solidity which is requisite for the desired degree of strength and durability.
Other bolts are next inserted, and thereby the hub parts are held together in
the same position and firm contact resulting from such operation of the press.
In Figures 5 and 7 at a³ is shown a shaft provided with a crank handle, which

page_text: is arranged in connection with a spirally grooved plate a* (Figure 5) that is adapted
to revolve around, the gudgeon v being placed under the table to give a simul-
taneous movement radially to all the segments q for the purpose of placing them
in the required position for application of the felly strips before the screws are
inserted, and also to loosen the felly to permit removal of the wheel when its parts
have been adjusted and fitted together in the proper relation. The shaft a³ is
screwthreaded near its outer end where it passes through a hanger pendent from
the table C. Hence by rotating the shaft it is caused to move lengthwise through
the hanger, and thus rotates the disc at which moves the segments q.
Having described the nature of the said Invention and the manner of performing
the same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the
liereiubefore in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. In an apparatus for the manufacture of vehicle wheels, a series of separated
segments or blocks fitted for adjustment to and from a common centre upon a
supporting bed or table, substantially as shown and described.
2nd. In apparatus for the manufacture of vehicle wheels, the segments provided
with removable sizers or reinforcers, substantially as and for the purposes set
forth.
3rd. In apparatus for the manufacture of vehicle wheels, the combination with
the radially arranged segments 9 of the removable sizers or reinforcers q²,
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4th. In apparatus for the manufacture of vehicle wheels, the sizers or
reinforcers q2 formed with the dovetail vertical ribs and grooves combined with
the segments q having dovetail grooves, substantially as and for the purposes
specified.
5th. In apparatus for the manufacture of vehicle wheels, the bed or table C
having radial grooves formed by separated segments for receiving the spokes, and
fitted with clamping devices for clamping and sustaining the parts forming the
wheels, substantially as shown and described.
6th. In apparatus for the manufacture of vehicle wheels, the combination of
the segments q arranged horizontally on a table, the clamping screws t arranged
vertically in a suitable support, and the clamping slides r, as shown and described.
7th. In apparatus for the manufacture of vehicle wheels, the combination of the
segments q arranged horizontally on a table, and the vertically moving clamping
screws t, as shown and described.
8th. In apparatus for the manufacture of vehicle wheels, the combination of the
segments q arranged horizontally on a table, and the screw operated clamping
slides r, as shown and described.
9th. In apparatus for the manufacture of vehicle wheels, the combination of the
segments arranged for radial adjustment on a table, and clamping devices for
pressing and holding the felly or parts forming the felly to the table and slides,
substantially as shown and described.
10th. In apparatus for the manufacture of vehicle wheels, the adjustable
clamping slides provided with holes, through which the felly may be bored and
screws inserted, as set forth.
11th. In apparatus for the manufacture of vehicle wheels, the sliding clamps r,
screws s, and nuts 8', combined with the table C and blocks or segments q, as
shown and described.
12th. In apparatus for the manufacture of vehicle wheels, the clamping screws t
carried by slides t¹, combined with the table C and segments q, substantially as
and for the purposes set forth.
13th. In apparatus for the manufacture of vehicle wheels, the combination of the
grooved plates t², slides t', and screws t, as shown and described.
14th. In apparatus for the manufacture of vehicle wheels, the combination of
-the centre spindle E, table C, and segments or block q, as shown and described.
15th. In apparatus for the manufacture of vehicle wheels, the combination of
the spindle E, segments q, and clamping slides, as shown and described.

page_text: 16th. In apparatus for the manufacture of vehicle wheels, the spindle E provided
with the removable gudgeon v and nut v¹ combined with table C fitted to
receive the spokes, substantially as shown and described.
17th. In apparatus for the manufacture of vehicle wheels, the vertically
adjustable spindle E provided with gudgeon v and nut v¹ combined with the
centrally apertured table C, as shown and described.
18th. In apparatus for the manufacture of vehicle wheels, the combination with
table C, peripheral or tire clamps and segments q arranged thereon, of the spirally
grooved disc suspended concentrically beneath the table, and a screw threaded
crank shaft arranged as shown to adjust the disc for moving the segments,
substantially as shown and described.
19th. In apparatus for the manufacture of vehicle wheels, the combination with
the segments fitted for radial movement of the spirally grooved disc a fitted
for revolution for adjustment of the segments, substantially as shown and
described.
20th. In apparatus for the manufacture of vehicle wheels, the combination of
the screw shaft a³, spiral cam disc a, and movable segments q, as shown and
described.
21st. In the manufacture of vehicle wheels, the method herein before described,
which consists in placing in the required local relation the rings and spokes com-
posing the hub proper, and after the spokes are permanently attached to the rim
of the wheel, inserting screws for temporarily confining them in horizontal
position, and applying the heavy pressure requisite to force and hold the parts
together, and then inserting the remaining screws to form the complete hub, as set
forth.
22nd. In the manufacture of vehicle wheels, the method herein before described,
which consists in first forming the rim or felly by placing and clamping together
laminæ of wood, and securing them by screws, then boring the felly to receive the
spokes, inserting the spokes, and securing their inner ends by clamping rings and
plates, as set forth.
23rd. In the manufacture of vehicle wheels, the method herein before described of
forming the rim or felly, which consists in placing and clamping together strips or
laminae of wood, securing the strips together by screws, and boring them while
clamped to receive the spokes, as set forth.
24th. The herein described improvement in the art of forming continuous fellies
or rims for wheels, which consists in winding and clamping strips or laminæ of
wood around a central formner, and securing the strips by screws while clamped, as
set forth.
25th. In the manufacture of continuous rims or fellies for wheels upon a central
former, the method of adjusting or regulating the size of the fellies or rims, which
consists in the use of removable sizing or reinforcing strips with the former, as
specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and wool this Thind day of Aument
A 11 1001