IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELS FOR TRACTION ENGINES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Braby, of Rudgwick, in the County of Sussex,
Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN WHEELS FOR TRACTION
ENGINES."
Sealed the 2nd April 1878, and dated the 26th January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Braby at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 26th January 1878.
JAMES BRABY, of Rudgwick, in the County of Sussex, Gentleman.
MENTS IN WHEELS FOR TRACTION ENGINES."
:
"IMPROVE-
Many plans have been proposed for preventing the slipping of the driving
wheels of traction engines, but the only successful means at present known is to
increase the weight of the engines and wheels to such an extent as to render the
engines practically useless for many descriptions of lighter farm work, for which a
traction engine might otherwise be advantageously employed.
Now the object of my Invention is so to construct the wheels of traction engines
as to ensure their taking a firm hold on the ground, while at the same time. I
materially reduce the weight of the engine, and thereby make it available for
lighter farm work.
In carrying out my Invention I form the nave and spokes of the wheel in the
ordinary manner, and I dispense entirely with the broad tyre and employ in place
thereof a felloe composed of an open framework, to which the spokes are attached
by bolts or otherwise. The sides of this framework may be formed of two or more
rings of wrought iron on edge bolted or otherwise connected together at suitable
distances apart. Between these rings are bolted or otherwise secured thin diagonal
braces, of the same depth as the rings, and which constitute an openwork filling
between the rings, and serve therewith to take a firm hold of the ground and pre-
vent the slipping of the driven wheels.
In some cases I propose to form the side rings or pieces with a laterally pro-
jecting flange, which will constitute extended bearing surfaces, capable when the

page_text: wheel is passing over soft ground of preventing the wheel from sinking too far into
the soil.
By constructing wheels in this way I am enabled to obtain a very light engine,
which can be used for light work, and is also capable of drawing a load heavier than
itself from the firm grip the wheels will take on the ground.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Braby in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 26th July
1878.
JAMES BRABY, of Rudgwick, in the County of Sussex, Gentleman.
MENTS IN WHEELS FOR TRACTION ENGINES."
"IMPROVE-
Many plans have been proposed for preventing the slipping of the driving
wheels of traction engines, but the only successful means at present known is to
increase the weight of the engines and wheels to such an extent as to render the
engines practically useless for many descriptions of lighter farm work, for which a
traction engine might otherwise be advantageously employed.
Now the object of my Invention is so to construct the wheels of traction engines
as to ensure their taking a firm hold on the ground, while at the same time I
materially reduce the weight of the engine, and thereby make it available for
lighter farm work.
In carrying out my Invention I form the nave and spokes of the wheel in any
ordinary or approved manner, and I dispense entirely with the broad tyre, and
'employ in place thereof a felloe composed of an open framework, to which the
spokes are attached by bolts or otherwise.
In the accompanying Drawing I have shewn in several views the mode of
carrying out my Invention, which is susceptible of modification to suit varying
circumstances, the principle however of the open framework being in all cases
retained. The sides of this framework I form of two or more flat rings of wrought
iron set on edge and bolted or otherwise connected together at suitable distances
apart. Between these rings are bolted or otherwise secured thin diagonal braces,
which constitute an open filling between the rings, and serve therewith to take a
firm hold of the ground and prevent the slipping of the driving wheels.
Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation of the improved wheel; Fig. 2 is a plan view of
the same; and Fig. 3 is a section taken at the line 1, 2, of Fig. 1.
In these Figures a is the hub of the wheel, made, say, of cast iron, in which case
it is secured to the spokes b by being cast thereon. The spokes are made of plate
iron, and shaped at their outer ends to form shoulders for the rings c, c, and also
for a pair of diagonal braces or openwork d, d. One of these spokes is shewn
detached at Fig. 4; its outer end is also slotted centrally to receive the ends of a
second pair of diagonal braces d, d, and it terminates in a pair of eyes formed to
receive a transverse rivet e, which passes through the rings and through two pairs
of diagonal braces, that is, through the contact extremities of one pair and the

page_text: distended extremities of a second pair, as well as through the eyes of the spoke.
The mode of supporting the diagonal braces at their opposite ends is best shewn at
Fig. 2. These bracings may be of the same depth as the rings, as shewn at Fig. 3,
or they may be of less depth, according to the strength of wheel required.
Fig. 5 shews in plan view a wheel in which the diagonal bracings are somewhat
differently arranged; in this example two bars are used to form the open filling
between the rings c, c. These bars may extend round the whole periphery of the
wheel, and being bent to a zig-zag form, as shewn, they will require a slight modi-
fication in the form of the spokes. Thus where the bars d, d, come together the
spokes will be formed as at Fig. 4 to receive the bars, but with narrower shoulders;
the next adjacent spokes will however have no central slot, as the bars will come
in contact with the rings c, c, and bed upon the shoulders of the spokes. The
parts will be secured together by rivets e, as before explained.
A further modification of the filling between the rings is shewn in plan view at
Fig. 6. In this instance the filling consists of bars d, d, bent to a V shape, and
secured in place in a manner substantially the same as that described in the first
arrangement.
Fig. 6* shews an arrangement of filling substantially the same as that illustrated
at Fig. 2, but in this case the diagonal bracings d slightly differ in form.
In some cases I propose to form the side rings or pieces with a laterally pro-
jecting flange, which will constitute extended bearing surfaces, capable when the
wheel is passing over soft ground of preventing the wheel from sinking too far into
the soil.
This modification is shewn in the sectional views Figs. 7 and 8, in the former of
which the filling bars are made of a depth corresponding to the depth of the
rings c, c, and in the latter the rings are formed with an additional depth or an
inner extension beyond the extended bearing surfaces. The depth of the diagonal
bracings it will be understood will vary according to the strength of wheel desired
to be produced.
When constructing wheels for a very powerful engine I propose to use three of
the rings c, c, filling up the spaces between them after the manner above described.
An illustration of a broad wheel thus constructed is shewn in partial plan view
at Fig. 9, and in cross section at Fig. 10. The spokes of this wheel may be made
in pairs if thought desirable, and arranged either radially or diagonally.
By constructing wheels in the manner above explained it will be readily under-
stood that I am enabled to produce an engine which can be used for light work,
and will also be capable of drawing a load heavier than itself by reason of the firm
grip the wheels will take on the ground.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in Wheels
for Traction Engines," and explained the manner of carrying the same into effect, I
wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent I claim,
constructing the felloes of the driving wheels of traction engines of open framework,
in the manner and for the purpose above set forth.
.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Braby, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, the Twenty-third day of July, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
JAMES BRABY. (L.S.)