Improvements in Hubs for the Wheels of Vehicles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd June, 1891-Accepted, 4th July, 1891
DE MULTICATION.
Improvements in Hubs for the Wheels of Vehicles.
1. ALFRED PACKARD TAYLOR, residing at Denver in the County of Arapahoe,
State of Colorado, and United States of America, Carriage Maker, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to he
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
My invention relates to a novel and improved form and construction of hubs for
vehicle wheels.
In the manufacture, use and repair of vehicle wheels as hitherto constructed
many and serious difficulties have presented themselves, most of which difficulties
are occasioned by or dependent on the use of hubs which do not meet in every
particular the requirements for a perfect hub for vehicle wheels.
Among these difficulties may be mentioned as the most pronounced and whose
obviation therefore seems the most imperative the difficulty of getting a hub which
while being strong and durable in use, shall be so constructed as to retain the spokes
securely and firmly therein and control to a great extent the dish of the wheel
without in any way injuring or weakening the hub-extremity of the spokes; to get
a hub by means of which a diminution of the size of the hub-extremities of the
spokes on account of shrinking in a dry atmosphere, and on account of wear due to
intermittent jars and concussions to which vehicle wheels are subjected, and on
account of various other causes, may be readily and easily remedied; and numerous
other difficulties, all of which are but too well known to those accustomed to the
manufacture, use and repair of vehicle wheels.
The object of my improved hub for vehicle wheels is the obviation of these
difficulties, the device to be of simple and economical construction, strong, reliable
and durable in use and efficient for the purpose intended to produce a lub which
while being adapted to control to a large extent the dish of the wheel, shall be so
constructed as to retain the spokes firmly and securely in position by clamping and
so obviate the use of rivets passing through said spokes; a hub which shall be
adapted to take up slack of the spokes in the hub occasioned by wear or shrinking
and so enable the wheel to be kept perfectly tight a hub which admits of
the removal of any one of the spokes for repairs without disturbing the others;
a hub possessing many and superior advantages over hubs for vehicle wheels as
hitherto constructed.
My improved hub will be fully understood by reference to the accompanying
drawing wherein is illustrated an embodiment thereof. In this drawing,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of my improved hub, the spokes secured therein
being broken away.
Fig. 2 is an end view of one of the screw flanges forming a part of my improved
hub.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the hub showing the arrangement of the sockets
together with the spokes therein, the spokes not being sectioned.
Referring now to these views wherein similar reference characters designate
corresponding parts of the mechanism, the reference numeral 1 indicates the body
of the hub which is made preferably of malleable cast iron, though it may be made
of any other approved material.
This hub as shown in the drawing consists of a hollow shell 1 within which is
secured the hollow spindle boxing 2 which is made to fit the spindle of the axle.
The hub is provided with an interiorly projecting circumferential flange 3 into
which the outer extremity of the boxing 2 is driven and which holds said extremity
of the boxing securely in position. The boxing may then be secured at its inner

page_text: extremity either by wedging the same in the hub or by pouring a molten
filling into the hub around said boxing, the boxing being thereby securely fixed
in the hub.
By this construction it will be seen that in case the boxing should become
worn or broken, or if for any reason it should be deemed desirable to substitute
another boxing for the one in the hub, the same may be readily and easily
effected.
Surrounding the middle portion of the hub is a zone of sockets adapted to
receive the tenons of the hub extremities of the spokes. These sockets are formed
by leaving apertures in the hub when the same is cast, said sockets being separated
from each other by partitions 4, and the sockets though preferably of the ordinary
shape, may be of any desired shape.
Into these sockets are driven the spokes 5 as shown in Figs. 1 and 3. On each
side of the zone of the sockets for a suitable distance the periphery of the hub is
cylindrical and threaded as shown at 6 in Fig. 1. From the threaded zones the
hub slopes toward the extremities, though it will be understood that the hub may
be fashioned after any approved shape or style according as may be deemed
desirable, or according to the dictates of artistic skill.
Surrounding the threaded zones 6 are screw flanges 7 adapted to be screwed on
the hub. These flanges are so constructed as to present to the spokes a plane
surface, while on the opposite side thereof they taper gradually to the surface of
the shell 1 of the hub, thus giving the hub a neat, finished and attractive appearance.
These flanges are also provided with an angular portion as indicated by the line 8
in Fig. 2, said portion being adapted to be grasped by a wrench when it is desired
to screw the flanges on or off the hub.
By this construction of hub it will be seen that numerous and important
advantages are gained. By the use of screw flanges screwed on a solid hub the
flanges may be screwed up tight against the spokes so as to hold them firmly in
place. It will also be observed that in case the spokes should wear they may be
retightened that in case it is desirable by loosening one flange and tightening the
other the dish of the wheel may be changed; that when it is desired to remove
a broken spoke, it may be easily accomplished by unscrewing the flanges, and
that other important advantages are gained over hubs of ordinary construction.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
In a metal vehicle hub, the combination with the continuous metal shell provided
with a series of spoke sockets formed therein, and with external screw threads on
each side of the sockets, and having also the interiorly arranged flange as described;
of the spokes having their inner reduced ends fitting said sockets, the screw flanges
adapted to engage the external screw threads on the shell, and having the angular
portions adapted for engagement with a wrench, and of the spindle boxing secured
at its outer end to the said flange and at its inner end to the inner end of the shell,
as set forth.
Signed at Denver, Colorado, this 15th day of May 1891.
ALFRED PACKARD TAYLOR.