IMPROVING THE CONSTRUCTION OF CART AND CARRIAGE WHEELS
Year: 1886

page_text: We, ALEXANDER MEIKLE & WILLIAM MEIKLE of the firm of A. Meikle & Son
Wheelwrights 17 Livingstone Place Edinburgh Scotland do hereby declare the
nature of our invention for IMPROVING THE CONSTRUCTION OF CART AND CARRIAGE
WHEELS to be as follows:-
In providing metallic Hoops or Ferrules; to be driven tightly on outer ends of
spokes; thus preparing spokes for receiving an iron Dowel or spike which shall
pass into or through the Felloes, thereby securing them (Felloes) on to the ends of
the spokes. The Felloes may be jointed in usual manner or preferably each joint
may be in the centre of the end of a spoke.
ALEXANDER MEIKLE.
WILLIAM MEIKLE.

page_text: We ALEXANDER MEIKLE and WILLIAM MEIKLE 17 Livingstone Place Edinburgh
Scotland, Wheelwrights do hereby declare the nature of our invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to cart and carriage wheels with wood spokes and wood
felloes, for use on common roads, and consists in making Hoops or Ferules and
using them for driving tightly on to the ends of the spokes nearest to the felloes.
Also in making and using Spikes or Nails with a small head at one end and slightly
pointed at the other end; which spikes are driven through holes in the felloes into
corresponding holes in the ends of the spokes, till the head of the spike is clear of
the sole of the wheel. The hoops or Ferules protect the spokes from being split
by the tightness of the Spikes or Nails; while the heads of the Spikes or Nails
hold the felloes securely to the spokes; The forenamed Hoops (Ferules) and Spikes
(Nails) we make of Iron or Steel or brass or other metal; and of a size and shape
best adapted to the particular wheels for which they are intended; the body of
the spike or that part between the head and the point we prefer to have parallel
and rectangular.
In arranging the felloe or felloes (which may be of any number from one up to
not more than half the number of the spokes) preferably we place the felloe or
felloes so that each joint shall be centrally on the end of a spoke one half of a
spike being in a grove in the end of one felloe and the other half in a similar
grove in the adjoining end of felloe as shown in accompanying drawing of a
portion of a wheel, and which illustrates our invention.
F F portion of 2 fellocs of a wheel partially in section as shown at F1 F¹ F¹ in
order to show clearly the position of (NN N) Spikes or Nails, S S₁ portions of
spokes S¹ being in longitudinal section. H Hoop or Ferule which is also shown in
section at (EE) end of spoke nearest to felloe M Joint, showing its relation to
spike and end of spoke.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim, is, the invention of enclosing the end of each spoke, with a Hoop or
Ferule, and securing the felloe or felloes to the spokes by means of spikes or
Nails by which the following advantages are gained:-
1. A smaller yet stronger connexion between the spokes and felloes.
2. A larger bearing surface for the felloe on the end of the spoke consequently
the spoke is less liable to wear into the felloe.
3. Wheels may by this invention be made much lighter in the felloes, but will
have more stability than by the ordinary method.
Dated this Eighteenth day of September 1886.
ALEX MEIKLE.
W. MEIKLE.