Vehicles and for other Purposes.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application. 24th June, 1886.
Complete Left, 4th Feb., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 4th Mar., 1887.
Vehicles and for other Purposes.
I GEORGE HENRY RAYNER of No. 36 Great James street Bedford Row London,
architect do hereby declare the nature of my said invention to be as follows:—
These improvements relate to the construction of Wheels applicable for Vehicles
and for other Purposes, and consist of constructing the spoke or spokes of such wheels
to act as springs for their entire length or only for a given length thereof, and
constructing the rims of such wheels of flexible metal or material, as a band or
in the form of a chain, so that such rims shall be capable of yielding to pressure, and
also constructing such rims with unflexible metal or material and the constructing of
such rims to constitute tyres and also the constructing of such rims to bold or receive
flexible or unflexible or chain tyres and in certain other mechanical details of the
several parts thereof, and in constructing such wheels with one or more runs
of spokes.
By these contrivances wheels are constructed that provide for the movement of the
boss or nave for a given distance from its true centre in any direction, and by these
means the loads carried by the axle of such wheel or wheels are provided with a direct
or indirect acting spring or both (according to the class of spoke or spokes employed)
between the axle and the rim or rims of such wheel or wheels, in the line of force and
suspension of the load, thereby securing great durability of such wheels with anti-
concussive transit of the load without the employment of any other additional spring
or springs between the axle and the load.
The first part of my said Improvements consist of constructing the wheel with
boss, and a rim of flexible or unflexible material or of chain form, with one or more
spokes in the form of an increasing curve from the end or ends thereof, that are
attached to the boss or to the rim, such spokes acting as springs for their entire
length forming a part of one or more coils between the boss and the rim, these spokes
are attached to the boss and the rim by means of a flange or flanges formed on the
boss or rim through which the ends of such spokes pass in a line with the centre of
the axle of such wheels and are held thereto by means of screw nuts or rivets.

page_text: The second part of my said improvements consist of constructing the spokes of such
wheels to act as springs for the whole or only a given portion or portions of their
lengths, these spokes are attached to the boss and rim of the wheel by means of
recesses formed on such boss and rim, in a line with the diametrical centre of the
wheel or at an angle therefrom, to receive the ends of such spokes and into which they
are inserted and by the spring action of such spokes the rim and the boss of such
wheels are held in position.
The third part of my said Improvements consist of constructing the tyres of such
wheels as a chain and forming such chain tyre and the rim of the wheel on which it is
mounted with projections and corresponding recesses on each, on the circumferences
brought in contact or on the edges thereof, and by such projections and recesses the
tyre and the rim are held together.
In order that the nature of my said Improvements may be more fully understood I
will proceed to describe the several Figures on the sheet of drawings herewith annexed
all of which are marked with the like letters of reference to the like parts throughout.
Figure 1, is a plan of a wheel constructed according to the first part of my said
Improvements with two runs of spokes in which A is the boss of the wheel and B. the
rim, and C, C, C, C, are spokes with increasing curves from the boss A forming one
or more coils between the boss A and the rim B; and D. D are two flanges on the
boss A to receive one end of such spokes, and E, is the flange on the rim of the wheel
to receive the other ends of such spokes, and F, F, F, F, are the screw nuts that hold
such spokes in position. Figure 2, is a vertical section of Figure 1, taken at the
vertical centre line thereof. Figure 3, is a plan of a wheel with spokes of increasing
curvature forming only a part of a coil between the boss and chain rim G, of the
wheel. Figure 4 is a plan of a wheel constructed according to the second part of said
Improvements in which the spokes C. C. C. C. are constructed to act as springs for
only a given portion of their lengths, and H, H, H, H, are the recesses formed on the
rim of the wheel and I, I, I, I, the recesses on the boss of the wheel to receive the
ends of the spokes C, C, C, C. Figure 5, is a vertical section of Figure 4 taken at
the vertical centre line thereof. Figures 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, and 13 show a few
modifications of the form of spokes to be employed. Figure 14 is the plan of one
class of chain tyre constructed according to the third part of my said Improvements
in which K is the chain-tyre and M's and N's respectively, are the projections and
recesses on the chain tyre and on the rim B of the wheel. Figure 15 is a side view of
Figure 14. Figure 16 and 17 shew a few modifications of flexible tyres & rims of
wheels for same in which O is the flexible Tyre.
The several parts of my said Improvements may be held together by screw bolts,
and nuts, pins, cotters, rivits, or any of the usual contrivances for such purposes.
As my said Improvements are capable of various modifications without departing
from the principle thereof, I do not restrict myself to material, or dimensions, nor to
the precise form or placement of the several parts thereof.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Wheels Applicable for
Vehicles and for other Purposes.
I, GEORGE HENRY RAYNER of No. 36 Great James Street, Bedford Row, London,
Architect, do hereby declare the nature of my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF WHEELS APPLICABLE FOR VEHICLES AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES and
in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:—
These Improvements relate to the construction of Wheels applicable for Vehicles and
for other purposes, and consist of constructing the spoke or spokes of such wheels to
act as springs for their entire length or only for a given length or lengths thereof, and
constructing the rims of such wheels of flexible metal or material as a band, or in the
form of a chain, so that such rims shall be capable of yielding to pressure; and also
constructing the rims of such wheels with unflexible metal or material, and the
constructing of such rims to constitute tyres, and also the constructing of such
rims to hold or receive flexible or unflexible bands, or chain tyres, and in constructing
such wheels with one or more rims and tyres, and in certain other mechanical details
of the several parts thereof.
By these contrivances wheels are constructed that provide for a movement of the
boss or nave for a given distance from the true centre of such wheel in any direction,
and by these means the load carried by the axle of such wheel or wheels is provided
with a direct and indirect spring action, between the axle and the rim or rims of such
wheel or wheels by compression in the line of force, and suspension, from the direction
of force from the load, thereby securing the desired motion of the boss or nave of the
wheel; and when flexible tyres are used, the motion given to such by either or both
of such motions the required anticoncussive transit of the load is effected, and any
spring or springs between the axle and the load, may be dispensed with.
The first part of my said Improvements consist of constructing the wheel or wheels
with a boss or nave, and a rim of flexible or unflexible metal or material as a band, or
of chain form, and with three or more spokes each in the form of an increasing or
decreasing curve, or of convex or concave form from the ends thereof that are attached
to the boss or nave, or to the rim, such spokes acting as springs for their entire
lengths, and forming a single round or less, of a coil in the circumference between the
boss and the rim; these spokes are attached to the boss and rim by means of a flange
or flanges formed on the boss and rim, through which the ends of such spokes pass in
a line with the centre of the axle of such wlieels, and are fixed thereto by means of
screw nuts, revits, or any of the well known contrivances for such purposes.
The second part of the said improvements consists of constructing the spokes of.
such wheels to act as coil or bent springs for the whole or only a given portion or portions
of their lengths, these spokes are attached to the boss and rim of the wheel by means
of recesses formed on such boss and rim in a line with the diametrical centre of the
wheel, or at an angle therefrom, to receive the ends of such spokes, and into which

page_text: they are inserted and by the spring action of such spokes the rim and the boss of such
wheels may be held intact and in position without any other fixings.
The third part of my said Improvements consists of constructing the tyres of such
wheels as a chain, and forming on the rim of the wheel on which it is mounted, or on
the edge of the rim such projections or recesses, or both, that such chain tyre will fit
or grip, and by these means the chain tyre and the rim are held together.
In order that the nature of my said Improvements may be more fully understood I
will proceed to describe the several figures on the sheet of Drawings hereunto
annexed, all of which are marked with the like letters of reference to the like
parts throughout.
Figure 1 is a plan of a wheel constructed according to the first part of my said
Improvements, with one row of spring spokes and unflexible rim and flexible tyre, in
which ", is the boss of the wheel, and, the unflexible rim, and c, c, c, c, c, c, are the
spring spokes in the form of increasing curves from the boss a, such spokes forming a
single round of a coil in the circumference between the boss a, and the rim b, and d, d,
are two flanges one on each end of the boss a, to receive one end of the spring spokes
c, c, e, c, c, c, and e, is the flange on the inside of the rim b, to which the other end
of the spring spokes e, e, c, c, c, c, are attached by means of the screw nuts ffffff
the ends of such spring spokes passing through the flange e, and in like manner such
spokes are attached to the flanges d, d, on the boss a, by the screw nuts g, I, I, I, I, I
and h, is the flexible tyre. The flanges d, d, to which the spring spokes are attached
being at a distance from each other longitudinally, prevent the oscillation of the rim
of the wheel, and the spring spokes are here shown alternately attached to each of
such flanges.
Fig. 2 is a vertical section of Figure 1: but with double row of spokes, taken at the
vertical centre line thereof.
Figure 3, is another form of wheel, in which the spokes c, c, c, c, C, G, C, G, 6, 6,
are fixed direct into the flexible or unflexible rim 6; the other end of the
spokes c, c, c, c, c, c, c, 6, 6, c, are fixed into a groove K, along the hub, and secured
by screwnuts, rivets, cotters or coverplates.
Figures 4 and 5, are modifications of Figure 1, each showing a segment of a wheel
in plan with a flexible rim, and spring spokes of increasing curvature from the boss
each spoke forming a part of a single coil, in the circumference between the boss a,
and the flexible rim, with indents n, n, to provide for the flexibility thereof, and on
the inside of the rim the ear is formed to receive the ends of the spring spokes <,
instead of the flange e, as in Figure 1, and in the boss a, the recess k is formed to
receive the other end of the spoke c.
Figure 6, is a further modification showing the segment of a wheel in plan with
spring spokes having a convex and concave form longitudinally.
Figure 7, is the plan of a wheel constructed according to the second part of my
said Improvements, in which the spokes 1, 1, 1, 1, are constructed as coil springs for a
given portion of their lengths, 0, 0, 0, 0, being the coil springs therein formed,
and k, k, k, k, are recesses formed in the boss a, and m, m, m, m, are the recesses
formed on the inside of the flexible rim, which several recesses receive the ends of
the spokes 1, 1, 1, 1.
Figure 8 is a vertical section of Figure 7 taken at the vertical centre line thereof.
Figure 9, 10, 11, and 12, are a few modifications of Figure 7, showing segments of
wheels in plan, respectively showing spokes forming coil springs for a portion, and
portions of their lengths, and a coil spring for their entire lengths, and as a lapped
spring for a given length thereof in which p, is the lapped spring portion thereof.
Figure 13, is a segment of the rim and tyre of a wheel in plan, showing a side view
of the chain tyre constructed according to the third part of my said improvements,
and Figure 14 is a plan of the same in which r, r, r, are the links of the chain forming
the tyre, and s, s, are projections on the unflexible rim, by which the chain tyre and
rim fit into the spaces in each other, and are held together.
Figures 15, and 16, show a modification of Figures 13, and 14; in this case the
projections 8, s, are formed on the edges of the rim 7.

page_text: As my said Improvements are capable of various modifications, without departing
from the principal thereof, I do not restrict myself to the materials, dimensions, or the
precise form or placement of the several parts thereof, or to the number of rows of
spokes to be employed, or to one rim as two or more rims may be employed according
to the number of spokes employed; or to the form of the cross section of the spokes,
rims, or tyres, or to the method described of attaching the spokes to the boss, or nave
or rim, as the same may be attached by any of the well known contrivances for such
purposes and when the axle is to rotate with the wheel the boss or nave may form
part of the axle.
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 :-
1st. The construction of wheels with spring spokes whereby the boss, nave, or hub
is free to move from the true centre of the wheel for a given distance by the force of
the load on the axle, and resume its central position of the wheel when the load on the
axle is removed, as herein before described and set forth.
2nd. The constructing of such wheels with three or more spokes, each spoke having
the form of an increasing curve from the boss or nave, or rim of the wheel, as herein
before described and set forth.
3rd. The constructing of the spokes of such wheels with a convex and concave form
longitudinally, or either, and leaving the boss or nave and rim at any desired angle,
as herein before described and set forth.
4th. The constructing of the spokes of such wheels as coil or lapped springs for a
given length or lengths thereof, or for their entire lengths, as herein before described
and set forth.
5th. The constructing of such wheels with flexible or unflexible rims and tyres, as
herein before described and set forth.
6th. The constructing of the rims of such wheels with projections or recesses or
both on their outer circumference, or on the edge or edges thereof to receive chain
tyres of flexible or unflexible material, as herein before described and set forth.
=
7th. The constructing of such wheels with chain tyres of flexible or unflexible
material, as herein before described and set forth.