IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TRAVELLING WHEELS OF TRACTION ENGINES, ROAD ROLLERS, STEAM CARRIAGES, OR OTHER TRACTION VEHICLES, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHEELS, PULLEYS, OR DRUMS FOR TRANSMITTING POWER IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH VEHICLES, OR WHERE POWER IS REQUIRED TO BE TRANSMITTED BY MEANS OF CORDS ROPES, OR BELTS
Year: 1872

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to George Williamson, Engineer, of Hunslet, near
Leeds, and William Henry Williamson, Draughtsman, of Manning-
ham, near Bradford, both Places in the County of York, for the
Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TRAVELLING
WHEELS OF TRACTION ENGINES, ROAD ROLLERS, STEAM CARRIAGES, OR OTHER
TRACTION VEHICLES, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHEELS, PULLEYS, OR
DRUMS FOR TRANSMITTING POWER IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH VEHICLES, OR
WHERE POWER IS REQUIRED TO BE TRANSMITTED BY MEANS OF CORDS, ROPES,
OR BELTS."
Sealed the 6th August 1872, and dated the 16th February 1872.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Williamson
and William Henry Williamson at the Office of the Commissioners
of Patents, with their Petition, on the 16th February 1872.
We, GEORGE WILLIAMSON, Engineer, of Hunslet, near Leeds, and
WILLIAM HENRY WILLIAMSON, Draughtsman, of Manningham, near
Bradford, both Places in the County of York, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE

page_text: TRAVELLING WHEELS OF TRACTION ENGINES, ROAD ROLLERS, STEAM CARRIAGES,
OR OTHER TRACTION VEHICLES, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF WHEELS, PULLEYS,
OR DRUMB FOR TRANSMITTING POWER IN CONNECTION WITH SUCH VEHICLES, OR
WHERE POWER IS REQUIRED TO BE TRANSMITTED BY MEANS OF CORDS, ROPES, OR
BELTS," to be as follows:-
This Invention comprises various combinations or modifications in
the construction and arrangement of the component parts of the
travelling wheels of traction engines, road rollers, steam carriages, or
other traction vehicles, and in the construction of wheels, pulleys, or
drums for transmitting power in connection with such vehicles, or where
power is required to be transmitted by means of cords, ropes, or belts,
substantially as herein-after described.
The first part of the Invention relates more particularly to the con-
struction of the travelling wheels, the object being to enable them to
obtain a smooth, flat, and elastic tread on the road, and also to allow
them to accommodate themselves more readily to the inequalities of the
ground over which they travel.
According to one modification we use a flexible tyre of steel or
other suitable metal in combination with a rigid wheel, and separated
from it by an elastic cushion, or as we prefer, in combination with
movable arms arranged radially about the boss, which is provided
with an elastic cushion to receive them, in which case the flexible tyre
on coming in contact with the road is flattened, and the arms which are
supporting the weight being free to work at right angles to the axle of
the wheel, the whole of the pressure is put upon the under side of its
cushion, which as the wheel further revolves is liberated and resumes
its shape through the combined elasticity of the tyre and the boss.
The movable arms are by preference made of wrought-iron bars
secured to castings of iron and steel at both ends, the outer castings
(or shoes) being provided with lips or flanges to receive the flexible tyre,
which is held from turning about the shoes by bolts, pins, or other
suitable means. The flanges may be extended so as to overhang the
tyre in wheels intended to run on railroads or tramways.
To prevent the shoes from grinding against each other india-rubber
or other suitable elastic material is inserted in cavities in the heel and
toe of each shoe; this also serves as a means to exclude the dirt.

page_text: The outer ends of the arms or segments are provided with recesses
in which are inserted blocks of rubber or other elastic material. The
arms are connected by joints, and are prevented from turning or moving
transversely by stops bolted or rivetted to the tyre.
According to a fifth modification the arms are round with inner
ends forged on them which fit iuto recesses in the elastic cushion of the
boss, and are held therein by the retaining bolts, as above mentioned.
The second part of the Invention relates more particularly to the
construction of a non-elastic spherical boss for the travelling or traction
wheels generally, but more particularly for those of road rollers. In
this modification the boss is fixed and of a spherical shape, and is fitted
into sockets which are made in half castings bolted together on the boss.
The arms of the wheels are secured to the castings and fit into recesses
formed therein. Claws similar to those of a clutch are provided on
both boss and socket to carry the wheel round, sufficient space being
left to allow of a certain amount of oscillation transversely, so that the
wheel or roller will readily accommodate itself to any irregularity of
the road or ground over which it travels.
The third part of the Invention relates to an elastic grooved wheel or
pulley, more especially applicable for the tractive wheels of climbing
locomotives and carriages to obtain additional bite on the rails, or for
transmitting power by means of cords, ropes, or belts, either in con-
nection with such vehicles as above mentioned, or where otherwise
employed. In all these cases however the wheel or pulley is by pre-
ference provided with a deep V groove or cavity cut in its circumference
with inward projections at the outer part, & in this cavity or groove
the rubber (made to the shape thereof) is placed, & is secured therein
by rivets or rubber cement, or other suitable preparation, or is simply
stretched tight into the groove, but it is so fixed therein that when in
its normal position it lies in the cavity & its sides flush with the
inward projections.
In the case of travelling wheels for railroads or other similar uses the
weight of the vehicle causes the displacement of the under part of the
rubber, and causes a necessary and additional side grip of the rails.
In the case of pulleys the tension of the rope, cord, or band causes
a bulging out of the rubber which laps over the rope, and the endeavour

page_text: to resume its proper form, combined with the friction of the rubber,
causes a gripping action to be exerted on the rope and prevent its
slipping. As the rope runs off at a tangent to the pulley the rubber
covering loses its gripping action, and liberates it without any click or
chafing action.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said George Williamson and William Henry Williamson
in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th August 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, GEORGE
WILLIAMSON, Engineer, of Hunslet, near Leeds, and WILLIAM HENRY
WILLIAMSON, Draughtsman, of Manningham, near Bradford, both
Places in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Sixteenth day of February, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-fifth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto us, the said George Williamson and William Henry Williamson,
Her special licence that we, the said George Williamson and William
Henry Williamson, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said George Williamson and William Henry Williamson,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE TRAVELLING WHEELS OF TRACTION ENGINES, ROAD
ROLLERS, STEAM CARRIAGES, OR OTHER TRACTION VEHICLES, AND IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF WHEELS, PULLEYS, OR DRUMS FOR TRANSMITTING POWER IN CON-
NECTION WITH BUCH VEHICLES, OR WHERE POWER IS REQUIRED TO BE TRANSMITTED
BY MEANS OF CORDS, ROPES, OR BELTS," upon the condition (amongst others)
that we, the said George Williamson and William Henry Williamson,
our executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under
our, or one of our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of our said Invention, and

page_text: in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same
to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said George Williamson and William
Henry Williamson, do hereby declare the nature of our said Inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement in writing,
and on reference being had to the accompanying Drawings (that is to
say) :-
This Invention comprises various combinations or modifications in the
construction and arrangement of the component parts of the travelling
wheels of traction engines, road rollers, steam carriages, or other traction
vehicles, and in the construction of wheels and pulleys (or drums) for
transmitting power in connection with such vehicles, or where power is
required to be transmitted by means of cords, ropes, or belts.
The first part of the Invention relates more particularly to the con-
struction of the travelling wheels, the object being to enable them to
obtain or have a flat and elastic tread on the road, and also to allow them
to accommodate themselves more readily than hitherto to the inequalities
of the ground over which they may travel.
According to one modification (that illustrated in the lower halves of
Figures 1 and 2 on the accompanying Drawings) we employ a flexible tyre
of steel or other suitable metal in combination with a rigid wheel and
separated from it by an elastic cushion, or as we prefer in combination
with movable arms radially arranged about the boss, which is provided
with an elastic cushion to receive them, in which case the flexible tyre
on coming in contact with the road is flattened; and the arms supporting
the weight being free to move at right angles to the axle of the wheel
the whole pressure is put upon the under side of the cushion, which, as
the wheel further revolves, is liberated and resumes its shape through
the combined elasticity of the tyre and boss. The moveable arms are by
preference made of wrought iron bars a secured to castings of iron or
steel at both ends, the outer castings or shoes b¹ being provided with lips
or flanges c to receive the flexible tyre P, which is held from turning
about the shoes by bolts d, pins, or other suitable means.
The flanges
may be extended to overhang the tyre in wheels intended to run on
railroads or tramways. To prevent the shoes from grinding against each

page_text: other, and to exclude dirt, india-rubber or other suitable elastic material is
inserted in cavities formed in the heel and toe e of each shoe. The inner
ends of the arms, or the inner castings b, are by preference made of a
circular form where they abut on the elastic boss g. A thin ring or
band i of india-rubber covers these ends and the retaining bolts (here-
after mentioned) alternately to prevent the arms chafing the bolts,
which are in recesses in the castings; or the same end may be attained by
encircling each bolt with a ring of rubber, and allowing the arms to
abut direct upon the elastic cushion g which surrounds the boss proper,
and is composed of india-rubber or other suitable elastic material either
in segments or in one or more complete rings. The sides of the arms a
are confined by metal plates k, against which flat rings or flanges » of
rubber or other suitable elastic material are placed to receive any trans-
verse movements of the wheel. The whole is held and secured by
retaining bolts f (above referred to), which pass through slotted holes
in a loose flange 7 fitting against a shoulder on the boss h, the inner
flange of which is cast solid with it. With this employment of the
elastic boss and flexible tyre many combinations giving almost similar
results may be made.
According to a second modification (illustrated in the upper halves of the
same Figures) the flexible tyre or hoop is arranged within the shoes m,
which are provided with recesses o for india-rubber or other suitable
elastic substance to render the circumference elastic, the arms a being
connected together by links n.
According to a third modification (illustrated in the upper half of
Figure 3) the flexible tyre is omitted, the outer ends of the arms or seg-
ments a forming the outer circumference of the wheel, and being
rounded more than is due to the radius of the wheel, the object of which
is to prevent their scraping the road in the act of flattening. The seg-
ments are held in position by a retaining ring 6 and bolts working in
slots c in each arm, the ring being sufficiently broad to cover the slot
holes and prevent the dirt getting to the bolts; or as a substitute for the
ring connecting links d are used, which fit in recesses in the segments,
and are held by pins or bolts.
According to a fourth modification (illustrated in the lower halves of
Figures 3 and 4) the flexible tyre is employed in combination with elastic
packing, and with or without the elastic boss and movable arms. The

page_text: outer ends of the arms or segments are provided with recesses in which
are inserted blocks of rubber or other elastic material e. The arms are
connected by joints f, and are prevented from turning or moving trans-
versely by stops g bolted or rivetted to the tyre.
According to a fifth modification (illustrated in Figures 6 and 7) a
suitable arrangement for a steam road carriage, the arms a are round,
with inner ends forged on them which fit into recesses in the elastic
cushion c of the boss d, and are held therein by retaining bolts d², as
described above in respect to the first modification.
According to a further modification (that illustrated in Figures 8 and 9)
a is the boss, which may either be serrated or have pockets to receive
any clastic material, but which we prefer should be circular, and sur-
rounded with a complete and thick hoop of india-rubber or other elastic
material b, forming a cushion for the movable arms, and an elastic
medium for flattening the outer circumference of the wheel by means
of the arms; but we prefer the method illustrated, in which the arms c
(the number of which is considerably reduced, and which abut on the
elastic boss) have their outer ends stirrup-shaped to embrace a flexible
tyre e of steel or other suitable metal, and have between them at suitable
distances apart shorter stirrups d, also embracing the tyre, and which
being mounted loosely in retaining rings ƒ on cach side are free to yield
to pressure from without; the said rings are secured to the side discs k
by bolts and stay bolts g running across at suitable intervals. The inside
ends of the arms rise in radial slots h cast in the boss and its cover, and
made large enough to allow the arms some lateral play, and are con-
nected together by broad buffer pieces c" which press against the elastic
cushion; the stirrups are kept the desired distance apart by suitable
pieces m, which are placed between the retaining rings fand the discs k.
Upon yielding to pressure the arms and stirrups rise between the
retaining rings and side discs; and the inner ends of the former also rise
in the recesses h, and compress the buffer pieces c¹¹ into the elastic boss,
allowing the outer circumference to flatten itself upon the road, the
retaining rings holding with their stirrups the remainder of the circum-
ference of the tyre circular, so that it will only yield to pressure applied
from without; or, in other words, its shape will only be affected by the
resistance of the road. The advantages we derive from this form of
wheel are great elasticity, and consequent lessening of the strain on
machinery, which is effected by dividing the elasticity between the boss

page_text: and tyre, and so reducing the quantity of india-rubber used to a
minimum; the large amount of flattening obtained, and consequent
superior adhesion or grip on the road, which is effected by allowing the
arms to move inwards when the pressure comes upon them, and at the
same time holding the upper part of the tyre circular by means of the
stirrups and retaining rings; and, lastly, its simplicity of construction
and repair, and consequent cheapness.
The second part of the Invention relates more particularly to the con-
struction of a self-adjustable traction wheel, or of a non-elastic spherical
boss for travelling, or traction wheels generally, but more particularly
applicable to road rollers.
In one modification (that illustrated in Figures 10 and 11) the boss dis
fixed and of a spherical shape, and is fitted into sockets c made in half
castings and held together on the boss by bolts b. The arms a of the
wheel are secured to the castings and fit into recesses formed therein.
Claws e, similar to those of a clutch, are provided on both boss and
socket to carry the wheel round, sufficient space being left to allow of a
certain amount of oscillation transversely so that the wheel or roller will
readily accommodate itself to any inequalities or irregularity of the road
or ground over which it may travel.
According to another modification (that illustrated in Figures 12 and
13) which we prefer, the wheel is mounted on a boss a of a spherical form,
and having projecting claws 6 cast upon it for carrying the wheel round.
Two side cups or sockets c, c¹, which embrace the spherical boss and
have corresponding claws cast upon them, are made to fit the boss proper
of the wheel and keep out any dirt, the whole being secured to the
wheel by bolts e' passing through the flanges of the sockets c, c¹. The
claws or projections in both boss and socket have each a certain amount
of convexity where they come in contact to admit of the side motion or
oscillation of the roller, springs or segmental pieces of india-rubber d'
being introduced between the sides of the claws 6 to absorb any shock
caused by jolting.
The advantages we derive from these improvements are that we are
enabled to employ perfectly cylindrical rollers, which adjust themselves
to the inequalities of the road by means of the spherical boss described,
and thus prevent any undue wear on the inner edges, besides enabling
the whole width of the roller to be effective in compressing the material,

page_text: made by these rollers will be free from ridges.
In special cases, to attain the same end as the use of the spherical
boss, we use an elastic boss similar to our traction engine wheel boss,
herein-before lastly described, either alone or in combination with the
spherical boss.
We would here remark that as an equivalent to the spherical boss we
sometimes form the end of the axle of a spherical shape, & so attain
the above-mentioned advantages.
The third part of the Invention relates to an elastic grooved wheel or
pulley more especially applicable for climbing locomotives and carriages,
to obtain an additional bite on the rails, as illustrated in Figures 14 and
15, or for transmitting power by means of cords, ropes, or belts, either in
connection with such vehicles as above mentioned, or where otherwise
employed, as illustrated in Figures 16 and 17. In all these cases however
the wheel or pulley is by preference provided with a deep V groove or
cavity in its circumference, and in this cavity or groove the rubber
band a (made to the shape thereof, or flat and sufficiently wide to fill
the cavity when stretched therein) is placed, and secured by rivets,
rubber cement, marine glue, or other suitable preparation, or is simply
stretched tightly into the groove or stitched to the pulley with copper
wire, but for purposes where there is no extraordinary grip on the rope
wo prefer simply stretching it into position. Or we fill the cavity with
a sheathing or coating of india-rubber, by placing the pulleys, &c., in
moulds and pouring it in a liquid state round their circumference.
In the case of pulleys, the tension of the rope, cord, or band
causes a bulging out of the rubber which laps over the rope, and the
endeavour to resume its proper form combined with the adhesion or
friction of the rubber causes a gripping action to be exerted on the rope
and prevent its slipping. As the rope runs off at a tangent to the
pulley, the rubber covering loses its gripping action and liberates it
without any click or chafing action, the special advantages derived
being an extraordinary grip on the rope or cord by means of the wedge-

page_text: panying Drawings, or any mere modification or variation of or in the
arrangement of the component parts of our said improvements.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Williamson, on behalf of
myself and the said William Henry Williamson, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of August, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
two.