IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHEELS FOR RAILWAY AND TRAMWAY CARRIAGES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Emmanuel Rigby, of Manchester, in the County
of Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF
WHEELS FOR RAILWAY AND TRAMWAY CARRIAGES." A communication from
abroad by James Rigby, of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
Sealed the 10th February 1880, and dated the 28th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Emmanuel Rigby
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 28th November 1879.
THOMAS EMMANUEL. RIGBY, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHEELS FOR RAILWAY AND TRAM-
WAY CARRIAGES." (A. communication from abroad by James Rigby, of Montreal,
Quebec, Canada.)
This Invention relates to the construction of noiseless wheels for railway and
tramway carriages, and consists principally in constructing such wheels with a
metal body and a tire of vulcanized fibre.
The body of the wheel and the tire constitute a single solid structure, which has
a rigid internal portion and a slightly elastic outer portion, the latter possessing
the quality of great durability. The outer portion also is capable of receiving the
impact of a blow without giving forth much sound, and hence the wheels are nearly
noiseless. One method of making this wheel is substantially as follows:-The body
of the wheel is first cast in the usual well known or other convenient manner, with
suitable peripheral recesses having overhanging portions. The vulcanized fibre
having been first formed into blocks, sheets, or rings, is then sawed upon its outer
face into proper shape to form the circumference of the tire, and on its inner face
into proper shape to engage with the recesses of the body of the wheel. The two
parts thus formed are then united by placing one over the other in proper position
and by forcing the projections of the one endwise into the recesses of the other.
The tire is then fixed in its position by means of a clamping ring held by screw
bolts or rivets.
In another method of manufacturing these noiseless wheels the tire is made of a
combination of vulcanized fibre and steel, iron, or other suitable metal, and a different
device is employed for attaching the said tires to the body of the wheel.
The body of the wheel is cast in any convenient manner, but without the
peripheral recesses mentioned above, and the tire is made of alternate layers of
vulcanized fibre and steel, iron, or other suitable metal, the edges of the layers being
towards the periphery, the inner circumferential face of such layers being made to
correspond with the outer circumferential face of the body of the wheel.
The tire is fixed in its position by means of a clamping ring and screw bolts, and
is further secured by means of bolts or rivets passing through it and through the
clamping ring and the body of the wheel.
The tire may be made in sections if desired.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas Emanuel Rigby in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th May 1880.
"
THOMAS EMMANUEL RIGBY, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
'IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHEELS FOR RAILWAY AND TRAM-
WAY CARRIAGES." (A communication from abroad by James Rigby, of Montreal,
Quebec, Canada.)
This Invention relates to the construction of noiseless wheels for railway and
tramway carriages, and consists principally in constructing such wheels with a
metal body and a tire of vulcanized fibre.
The body of the wheel and the tire constitute a single solid structure, which has
a rigid internal portion and a slightly elastic outer portion, the latter possessing the
quality of great durability.
The outer portion also is capable of receiving the impact of a blow without giving
forth much sound, and hence the wheels are nearly noiseless.
Such being the nature and object of the said Invention, I will now proceed to
describe in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect; and in order that the same may be clearly understood
I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have marked
the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those in the
following explanation thereof.
One method of making this-wheel is illustrated in partial sectional view at Fig. 1,
and in partial plan view at Fig. 2 of the annexed Drawings, and is substantially as
follows: The body a, a, of the wheel is first cast in the usual well known or other
convenient manner, with suitable peripheral recesses b, b, having overhanging
portions, as at c, c. The vulcanized fibre d, d, having been first formed into blocks,
sheets, or rings, is then sawed or cut upon its outer face into proper shape to form
the circumference of the tire, and on its inner face into proper shape to engage with
the recesses b, b, of the body of the wheel. The two parts thus formed are then
united by placing one over the other in proper position and by forcing the projections
of the one endwise into the recesses of the other. The tire d, d, is then fixed in its
position by means of a clamping ring e, e, held by screw bolts or rivets f, f.
Fig. 3 is a partial inner face view of the wheel a, a, representing holes g, g, in
the body of the wheel through which an instrument may be inserted to force off
the tire when desired. Fig. 4 shows another form of the peripheral recesses b, b,
which may be varied still further in shape so long as their peculiar character is
maintained.
In another method of manufacturing these noiseless wheels, shown at Figs. 5
and 6, the tire b, b, is made of a combination of vulcanized fibre and steel, iron, or
other suitable metal, and a different device is employed for attaching the said tires
to the body a, a, of the wheel.
The body a, a, of the wheel is cast in any convenient manner, but without the
peripheral recesses mentioned above, and the tire b, b, is made of alternate layers
of vulcanized fibre and steel, iron, or other suitable metal, the edges of the layers
being towards the periphery, the inner circumferential face of such layers being
.made to correspond with the outer circumferential face of the body a, a, of the
wheel.
The tire b, b, is fixed in its position by means of a clamping ring c, c, and screw
bolts d, d, and is further secured by means of bolts or rivets e, e, passing through it
and through the clamping ring c, c, and the body a, a, of the wheel. The tire b, b,
may be made in sections if desired.
Having now described the nature and object of the said Invention, together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into practical

page_text: effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as the Invention communicated to
me as aforesaid the novel and peculiar construction of wheels for railway and
tramway carriages, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the
Drawings annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Emmanuel Rigby, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty seventh day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and eighty.
THOMAS EMMANUEL RIGBY. (L.S.)