IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY CARRIAGE WHEELS
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alfred Vincent Newton, of the Office for
Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Me-
chanical Draughtsman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
RAILWAY CARRIAGE WHEELS."-A communication from abroad by
Robert Beatson Hugunin and Alonzo Morris Hazen, both of
Cleveland, in the State of Ohio, United States of America.
Sealed the 9th October 1869, and dated the 4th May 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alfred Vincent Newton
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
. on the 4th May 1869.
I, ALFRED VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY
CARRIAGE WHEELS," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to the construction of railway wheels with steel
or wrought iron tyres, which are firmly secured to the body without
shrinkage.

page_text: The body of the wheel is composed of two main cast-iron sections,
which when united or brought together form a body that is divided
transversely to its axis. These two main sections are fitted to their axle
and forced into position by hydraulic pressure, and they are so combined
with a wrought iron, steel, or other suitable tyre that the friction of the
sections on the axle is or may be made to hold them in place. The
outer peripheries of the sections and inner periphery of the tyre are
shaped so as to form a double cone, and thus when the sections are
brought together the tyre is crowded or wedged on the sections, and a
tightness of fit is secured for it (without shrinkage of the tyre) by
simply forcing the sections together or pressing up the one section
against the other. The sections are provided with flanges, which serve
to grip the tyre when the parts are pressed together. A rubber or other
soft and elastic packing is arranged around the outer peripheries of the
sections and between the same and the tyre, for the purpose among
other objects or effects of preventing the hammering of the ends of the
rails on which the wheel runs, and of lessening the constant jar that
tends to crystallize the axle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Alfred Vincent Newton in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 4th November 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALFRED
VINCENT NEWTON, of the Office for Patents, 66, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Mechanical Draughtsman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of May, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the
thirty-second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, Her
special licence that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Alfred Vincent
Newton, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might

page_text: 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 RAILWAY CARRIAGE WHEELS," being a communication
to me from abroad by Robert Beatson Hugunin and Alonzo Morris
Hazen, both of Cleveland; in the State of Ohio, United States of
America, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Alfred
Vincent Newton, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention,
and 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
monthis next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing
hereunto annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is
to say):-
The object of this Invention is to construct railway carriage wheels
with their bodies or main portions of cast iron and their tyres of
different metal, as, for instance, of wrought iron or steel, whereby among
other advantages the liability to fracture or crack is reduced, and great
durability and efficiency under a cheap and simple form of construction
generally secured, also facility afforded for replacement of certain parts of
the wheel in case of breakage.
The Invention consists in constructing the body of the wheel of two
main cast-iron sections, which when united or brought together form a
body that is divided transversely to its axis, and so fitting these two
main sections on the axle and combining with them a wrought iron or a
steel or other suitable tyre as that the friction of the sections on the axle
is or may be made to hold them in place, and by a peculiar construction
of the outer peripheries of the sections and inner peripheries of the tyre,
and otherwise suitably forming the sections, the tyre is crowded or
wedged on the sections, and a tightness of fit secured for it (without
shrinkage of the tyre) by simply forcing the sections together or pressing
up the one section against the other. Furthermore, the Invention
includes in a combination with a wheel constructed substantially as

page_text: described a rubber or other soft and elastic packing arranged around the
outer peripheries of the sections, and between the same and the tyre, for
the purpose, among other objects or effects, of preventing the hammering
of the ends of the rails on which the wheel runs and of lessening the
constant jar that tends to crystallize the axle.
Having thus specified the object and nature of the Invention, its
description will be proceeded with in reference to the accompanying
Drawing.
Fig. 1 represents a face view of a railway carriage wheel constructed
in accordance with the Invention as fitted to its axle; Fig. 2 is a trans-
verse section of the same; Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the main or
body sections and tyre before fitting the same together; and Fig. 4 is a
transverse section of the wheel with its tyre before finally closing the
junction of the main sections.
In the Drawing, A, A', are the two discs or body sections of the wheel
made of cast iron, and which may or may not be exact duplicates of each
other. Their centre portions a, a', which form the hub of the wheel may
be made of different or equal lengths as deemed advisable. The body or
main section A is first fitted to the axle B and forced along the same till
its centre portion a or partial hub presses against a shoulder b on the
axle. The hub portion a¹ of the other or outside main section A¹ it is
preferred to give a somewhat longer bearing to on the axle. The general
contour of the wheel or its shell as formed by the main sections A, A¹,
may be varied, but should be such as to insure the sections against
warping or improper shrinking in casting, and so that the greatest
stiffness and support will be secured to the tyre C. Thus the sections
may be cast concave or plain, with or without curved arms or swells,
either on their inner or outer sides. The rims or outer peripheries of
these sections A, A', form the tyre seats c, c', of an inwardly sloping
character, which may either be of the nature of a straight, bevil, or of
curvilinear form for the purpose of clasping, pressing outwards, and
securely holding the tyre C, which is of corresponding shape on its inner
side or face. By this construction of the tyre scats and tyre the space
between the main section and tyre in putting the wheel together is closed
suddenly with a strong outward pressure or expanding action on the
tyre, whereas without such sloping construction of the contiguous
surfaces of the main sections and tyre the sliding friction between or of

page_text: these parts would be prolonged and continual from the commencement
of fitting them together, and no secure junction could be made or close
fitting of the main sections be effected without shrinking on the tyre,
which is impracticable. The steel or other suitable tyre C is made or
rolled complete of the desired pattern, preferably with the flange d of the
wheel as forming part of it, and when in its place on the wheel may be
bound on its edges by projections e, e¹, on the main sections to aid
in conjunction with the sloping seats c, c¹, which occupy reverse
inclinations in holding the tyre firmly to its place, and in closing the
joint between the tyre and the sections. Thin sections or strips f, f¹, of
packing made of rubber and cloth, or rubber and felt, or other suitable
soft material may be applied to the tyre seats c, c', before putting the
wheel together, and as by reason of the sloping character of the seats and
inside of the tyre there is little or no sliding friction between the surfaces
in putting the wheel together, the packing remains and is compressed
where placed. Similar packing if desired may be interposed between the
adjacent ends of the half hubs a, a¹, also between the projections e, e¹,
and edges of the tyre. Such packing as arranged between the tyre and
main sections serves to wholly or partially destroy the metal connection
or contact of the tyre and body of the wheel, and in the application of
the wheel to the rail prevents hammering at the ends of the rails and
destroying or battering them up in rolling over them; also lessens or
prevents that constant jar which crystallizes the axle, and is otherwise
advantageous.
To put the wheel together, which cannot be done without the axle B,
that may accordingly be termed part of it, said axle is first turned down
to its proper size with its ends or portions on which the wheels are
intended to be driven preferably made of a slight taper, and the holes
through the hub portions a, a', bored so as to establish a tight fit. The
inner body section A of either wheel is then placed on the axle and
forced by hydraulic pressure to the position it is designed to occupy
against the shoulder b. The tyre C, with its flange side inwards, is then
adjusted to its seat c on said section, and the other main section A'
forced by hydraulic pressure to its place on the axle, and so as to drive
home the tyre, and by the double wedged construction of the seats c, c¹,
to produce an outward pressure from within or expanding action on the
tyre. This is the position and condition of the parts represented in

page_text: Fig. 4, in which the two sections A, A', meet at the inner edges of their
peripheries but remain unclosed between their hubs or hub portions a, a',
which allows of a final pressure being brought to bear on said sections to
force their hubs together that will spring the webs of the two sections
outwards, and cause their seats c, c, to yet more closely bear on or
against the tyre, thus establishing that tightness of fit for or of the tyre
by the expanding action of the sections on or against the tyre, which
‘shrinking on " where practicable only could effect and insuring the
tyre beyond contingency from moving in its place.
66
The use of bolts, keys, or shrank wrought-iron collars for securing the
main sections together may be dispensed with, inasmuch as the friction
on the axle caused by forcing under a heavy pressure the main sections
to their places on it and the spring of said sections as reacted on the
tyre will generally suffice to accomplish all that is necessary in this
respect, and as a mode of fastening combines strength with simplicity
and durability.
Should any accident happen to any part of the wheel the damaged
part only would have to be replaced. A steel tyre to the wheel may
thus be combined with a cast-iron body by a very simple process.
Having now set forth the nature of the Invention of "Improvements
in Railway Carriage Wheels," as communicated to me from abroad, 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,―
First. The combination in the construction of a railway carriage
wheel of the main or body sections A, A', having tyre seats c, c', formed
substantially as specified on their peripheries, the tyre C of corresponding
configuration on its interior and the axle B on which the main sections
are hung or driven to produce an expanding action on the tyre,
substantially as specified.
Second. The car wheel herein described constructed by forcing the
sections A and A' over or on the axle B and clamping the tyre C by
springing said sections so as to react on the tyre through the meeting of
the sections at or near their rims in advance of their contact at the hubs
or hub sections, as herein set forth.

page_text: Third. The body sections A, A', constructed substantially as described
with side projections e, e', for operation in concert with the sloping
scats c, c¹, on or against the tyre, essentially as described.
Fourth. In combination with the wheel having its metallic portions
constructed substantially as specified the interposed rubber or other
equivalent packing, as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Vincent Newton, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, the Fourth day of November, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine.