Improvements in and relating to Vehicle Wheels.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 7th June, 1898-Accepted, 6th Aug., 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Vehicle Wheels.
We, JOHN EUGENE MAXIMILIAN BECKER, of No 82, Nassau Street, Engineer,
and FREDERICK WILLIAM DUNTON, of 302, West 53rd Street, Manufacturer,
both of New York City, County and State of New. York, United States of
America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same 18 to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement:-
This invention relates to a wheel for motor and other vehicles and railway
cars, which 18 so constructed that it runs very lightly and that an axle is entirely
dispensed with.
The wheel is provided with a laterally projecting flange, which is surrounded
by a correspondingly projecting flange of a frame, and with anti-function balls
interposed between the flanges of the wheel and frame Thus light running
is insured, and as the axle, axle bearing and spokes are dispensed with, the con-
struction of the wheel is greatly simplified.
In the accompanying drawing:
Fig. 1 18 a side elevation of a motor vehicle provided with our improved wheel.
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the wheel and steering apparatus.
Fig 3 a side elevation of the wheel.
Fig 4 a longitudinal section on line 4, 4, Fig 3
Fig. 5 a detail horizontal section of the wheel-frame on line 5, 5, Fig 3.
Fig 6 a side elevation of a modification of the wheel.
Fig 7 a section on line 7, 7, Fig 6.
Fig 8 a side elevation of a further modification of the wheel
Fig 9 a vertical section on line 9, 9, Fig 8.
Fig 10 a side elevation similar to Fig 8, but having that part of the frame
which carries the field magnets removed.
Fig. 11 a horizontal section on line 11, 11, Fig. 8, with the field magnets and
armature omitted, and
Fig 12 a section through part of the wheel showing a modification of the
tire.
The letter A, represents the body of a suitable vehicle, such as a carriage,
tricycle, delivery wagon &c, supported at its rear axle by a pair of running
wheels a, and at its front by a combined steering and motor-wheel, the construc-
tion of which forms the subject of this invention
The king bolt b, carrying the usual fifth-wheel 61, is connected at its lower
end to the upper part of a duplex frame c, c, (Fig 4) The two halves of this
frame are placed side by side at a short distance apart and are connected to one
another by adjusting stay-bolts c¹, that may be drawn up from time to time to
compensate for wear
Each frame section c, 18 made with an annular inwardly turned flange &³, that
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page_text: constitutes a ball race and is provided with an upwardly extending bracket o³,
to which the king bolt b, is rigidly connected, so that the wheel may be steered.
Between the grooved flanges e, of the frame-sections c, c, there is confined a
doubly grooved circular flange or ring d, which is made of smaller diameter
than the flanges, and is surrounded thereby. The flange d, is formed on the
inner edge of an annular web d', that projects radially beyond the frame-
flanges, and terminates in a rim, upon which the usual rubber tue d³, is
seated.
The parts d, d', d, collectively constitute the body of an annular wheel, which
is at its center revolubly held to the frame c, while its outer end projects beyond
such frame to contact with the ground. Between the grooved flanges, and
the doubly grooved flange d, are interposed a number of anti-friction balls or
rollers e, that insure a light running of the wheel within its support, and which
are protected by a dust guard p
In order to steer the wheel, we employ a hand crank f, the shaft f¹, of which
connects by cross-piece f, (Fig. 2) and links f³, with a cross piece f*, secured
to the fifth-wheel b¹. Thus by manipulating the crank handle f, the wheel may
be turned in either direction, as will be readily understood
Power is applied to the wheel in motor vehicles preferably from a source of
electric energy, either by a gear connection or in a gearless manner
In Figs. 5, we have shown a ring g, having an external gear and affixed
to the web d³, of the wheel. This ring is engaged by a pinion g, which receives
its motion from the armature-shaft g, of an electric motor ga. The motor g³,
is placed within one of a pair of boxes h, which contain the cells g', of an electric
storage battery and are secured to the outer sides of the frame c.
Motion 18 controlled by a hand crank i, of a current regulator 1, to send a
current of suitable intensity from the battery into the motor, in the usual
manner.
In Fige 6 and 7, the construction is the same as above described, excepting
that the ring g, is provided with an internal gear into which the pinion g₁,
meshes.
•
In Figs. 8-11, the gear connection is entirely dispensed with, a gearless
arrangement for driving the wheel being substituted. In these figures we
fasten to the ring d, by screws, the annular concentric armature j, which is
embraced by the ring. To the armature there is attached by spider k, the con-
centric commutator 7, which is thus revoluble together with the armature and
wheel
The fixed field magnets m, and pole pieces m³, of the motor are arranged within
the armature and concentric thereto. Bolts m, rigidly connect the field magnete
to that one of the frame sections e, which is on the side opposite from spider k
The current entering at n, and passing out at n', will in this way revolve the
armature around the field magnets so as to impart direct motion to the motor-
wheel without the use of any gearing.
In Fig. 12, the rubber tire d³, is shown to be replaced by a flanged metal
tire d', shrunk upon rim d, such construction being more particularly designed
for heavy vehicles.
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:-
1. A vehicle wheel having a laterally projecting flange combined with a frame
having a correspondingly projecting flange that surrounds the wheel-flange,
and anti-friction balls interposed between the flanges, substantially as specified
2. A vehicle wheel having a laterally projecting flange combined with a duplex
frame having a pair of inwardly projecting flanges that surround the wheel-
flange, and anti-friction balls interposed between the wheel-flange and the frame-
flanges, substantially as specified.

page_text: 3. A vehicle wheel having a laterally projecting doubly grooved flange com-
bined with a duplex frame having a pair of inwardly projecting flanges that
surround the wheel-flange, and anti-friction balls interposed between the wheel-
flange and the frame-flanges, substantially as specified.
4 In a vehicle, the combination of a wheel having a laterally projecting
flange, with a pivoted frame having a correspondingly projecting flange that
surrounds the wheel-flange, anti-friction balls interposed between the flanges,
means for imparting rotary motion to the wheel, and means for turning the
frame on its pivot, substantially as specified.
Dated this 7th day of June 1898.
ALLISON BROS.,
Agents for the Applicants.