Improvements in or relating to Wheels for Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Dec., 1899-Accepted, 17th Mar., 1900
Improvements in or relating to Wheels for Vehicles.
A communication by JoHN W. EISENHUTH, of Park Row Building, in the City,
County and State of New York, United States of America, Gentleman
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E., Agent for Foreign Patent
Solicitors, 6, Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street, Manchester, both in the
County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham, in the County of Warwick,
and 322, High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement:
This invention relates to improvements in wheels, and more particularly to
wheels which are adapted for driving vehicles of any kind.
It consists in a wheel having a stationary central portion braced with respect
to the vehicle and a rotating rim portion, ball bearings interposed between the
central portion and the rim portion, and gearing engaging the rim portion for
rotating it, and thereby driving the vehicle.
It also consists in a wheel having a stationary hub portion, a revoluble rim
portion, ball bearings interposed between the hub and the rim, a removable dise
for holding the rim and ball bearings in place upon the said hub, a rack secured
to the rim portion, and a pinion for actuating the said rack to drive or rotate the
rim of the wheel.
It also consists in certain other novel constructions, combinations and arrange-
ments of parts, as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 represents a vertical transverse section through a wheel constructed
in accordance with this invention.
Figure 2 represents a side elevation of the same, parts being broken away to
show the gearing.
Figure 3 represents a vertical transverse section through a wheel constructed in
accordance with this invention, a portion of the said wheel being shown in
elevation.
Figure represents a detail fragmentary view of a portion of the said wheel
in side elevation, a part being broken away and sectioned to show the position
of the rack and its driving pinion.
Figure 5 represents a detail perspective view of a portion of the said wheel
illustrating the means for braking the same.
1 in the drawings represents a wheel, 2 a central stationary portion. and 3
a rotating rim portion."
This improved wheel is designed to supply vehicles with a driving means
which shall not be subjected to binding strains. Wheels of this type, while
being well adapted for all styles of vehicles, are particularly well adapted for

page_text: driving motor vehicles and similar mechanisms. This is so because the central
portion or disc of the wheel is held stationary and rigid with the frame and there-
fore is not likely to twist or get out of alignment. The rim of a wheel thus
constructed can therefore be driven by gearing with less friction than if the
wheel was subjected to a greater twisting and binding action.
As seen in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, the wheel 1 may be formed with
its central portion 2 secured rigidly to the frame of the vehicle. The stationary
portion 2 is secured to the end of a fixed axle, as 4, being firmly secured thereto
by means of a hub 5 and a nut 6. The stationary portion 2 may be formed of a
solid disk or may be provided with radiating spokes, as 7 7 (seen in Figure 2).
Finishing caps as 8 and 9, may be added to the hub portion in order to give a neat
and artistic appearance to the parts. The central portion 2 of the wheel carries
upon its periphery a grooved bearing portion as 10, the outer periphery
of the said bearing portion being provided with two ball-races as
at 11 11, suitable bearing-faces being supplied to receive anti-friction
balls as 12 12. The rim 10 is thoroughly braced with respect to the frame of the
vehicle by means of diagonal or inclined brace rods as 13 13, so that the said
rim portion is firmly and rigidly held in place. The outer portion of the rim 10
is preferably made removable and secured to the stationary portion 2 by means
of bolts or rivets, as 14 14, so that the parts may be easily removed. The rotating
rim 3 is formed so as to travel in the stationary rim 10, the said rim being
preferably hollow and provided with a suitable tire as 15, of any well known
kind. The inner surface of the rim 3 is made with suitable bearing faces to
engage the balls 12 and run thereon. In order to actuate the movable rim 3,
it is provided upon its inner periphery with gear teeth as 16 16, which are
adapted to engage an actuating pinion, as 17, secured to a drive shaft 18. The
drive shaft 18 finds bearing in the frame of the stationary. portion, its outer end
extending into the stationary rim 10. at which point the pinion 17 is mounted
interiorly of the said rim portion, so as to mesh with the gear teeth 16.
A gear
or other pulley as 19, may be secured to the drive shaft 18 and may receive its
motion from any suitable motor carried upon the vehicle for propelling the
same.
The
As seen in Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the drawings, the central portion of the
wheel may be formed in the shape of a disc as 22 which carries the hub 23 of
the wheel. The hub is preferably recessed so as to receive the axle 24 of the
vehicle, to which it is rigidly secured. This may be accomplished by securing
the axle in the hub as shown at 25 in the drawing and additional security may
be obtained by the use of rivets or bolts as 26 26. Near the periphery of the
hub disc 22 is formed an annular recessed portion as 27 extending entirely
around the disc. A peripheral portion 28 is also formed outside of the recessed
portion 27, the said peripheral portion being provided with a bearing groove
forming a part of a ball-race as at 29. The recessed portion 27 is also provided
upon its inner face with a groove 35' for forming part of the ball race.
rim portion of the wheel as 31 may be provided with an outwardly facing
groove 32 for receiving any suitable tire as 33 so that rubber tires or hollow
inflated tires may be used as may be found most desirable and lasting. The
rim 31 is provided upon its inner periphery with an offset portion or annular
flange as 34 which extends into the recessed portion 27 of the hub disc. Secured
to the annular projection 34 is a collar or ring 35 provided with gear teeth, form-
ing a rack, as 36. This ring carrying the rack 36 is rigidly secured to the
flange 34 of the rim so that by actuating the said rack, the rim of the wheel
may be turned. A series of roller bearings as 37, is preferably interposed
between the rim 31 and the hub disc 22 so as to prevent any friction between
the two parts. Bearing grooves are also formed in the said rim to coincide with
the grooves 29 and 35 of the hub disc so that ball bearings may be interposed
between the rim and the disc as at 39 39 to ensure an antifriction engagement
at these points. In order to hold the rim in place against the wheel disc, an

page_text: outer ring as 40 is applied outside the rim and rigidly secured by bolts or rivets
to the hub disc 22. Suitable ball races are formed between this ring and the
rim 31 and ball bearings as at 41, 42 interposed between the parts. Dust rings
as 43 may be applied to the edges of the hub disc and the outer ring 40 to prevent
dust getting between the rim and the said parts and reaching the ball bearings.
In order to actuate the rim 31 a pinion as 45, is suitably mounted in an enlarge-
ment formed upon the hub dise 22 so as to engage the rack 36. This pinion is
secured to any suitable shafting as 46 which may be driven by any desired motor
or other power mechanism. Interposed between the end of the shaft 46 and the
rim 31 is a single ball as 47 so that all friction will be eliminated at this point:
In driving a wheel of this character, power is applied to the shaft as 46 which
is communicated through the pinion 45 and the rack 36 to the rim 31. It will
be seen that the parts are so constructed that great power may be applied to
the said rim without twisting it out of position and causing a binding action in
the driving gearing.
An important feature of this invention also is the means for stopping the
revolutions of a rim of this character. This purpose is accomplished by means of
a braking mechanism comprising a brake shoe 48 adapted to engage one of the
flanges of the revoluble rim. This brake shoe is carried by a bolt or bar 49
which slides in a bearing 50 secured to the hub disc. A spring as 51 inter-
posed between the bearing 50 and a pin or projection 52 secured to the bolt 49,
normally holds the shoe away from and out of engagement with the said rim.
In order to apply the brake, the bolt 49 is pivotally secured to a lever 53, the
said lever being fulcrumed upon a bracket 54 secured to the shaft of the wheel.
The other end of the said lever 53 is pivotally secured to an operating rod 55
which preferably extends up through the flooring of the vehicle and is provided
with a foot engaging head as 56. To assist in raising the rod, a coil spring
as 57 may be interposed between the flooring and the head 50. It will be
apparent that by placing the foot upon the head 56, the brake may be applied to
the rim of the wheel with greater or less power to stop its revolution.
It will be noted from the above description that a simple and yet desirable
wheel has been constructed and one that is capable of being con-
structed so as to be thoroughly braced with respect to the vehicle to
which it is attached. The driving shaft also receives a bearing in the rigid part
of the frame and wheel and engages the actuating rim in such a way that there
is no chance for a binding strain between the parts or a twisting of the gear, so
as to make their teeth bind. The ball bearings facilitate the movement of the
wheel without friction while the improved braking mechanism enables the vehicle
to be kept under perfect control.
Having now particularly dscribed and ascertained the nature of this said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent I declare that what I claim is:--
1. In a wheel, the combination with a stationary central portion, of a revoluble
rim portion, a gearing attached to the revoluble rim portion for moving the same,
antifriction bearings interposed between the stationary portion and the rim
portion and arranged upon each side of the gearing, the said antifriction bearings
coming into direct contact with the said rim upon its inner surface, the structure
being such that there will be no binding or twisting action between the parts in
revolving the wheel, substantially as described.
2. In a wheel for vehicles, the combination of a central portion mounted
rigidly upon the frame of a vehicle and provided with a peripheral groove. a
revoluble rim adapted to move upon the rigid portion, the said revoluble rim
having a tire upon its outer periphery, gear teeth arranged centrally upon the
inner periphery of said rim, antifriction bearings mounted in the said perpheral
groove and arranged upon each side of the gear teeth on the revoluble rim, a

page_text: gearing mounted upon the rigid portion for actuating the gear teeth on the
revoluble rim, substantially as described.
3. A wheel for vehicles comprising a central stationary portion secured to
the frame of a vehicle, means for bracing the said central portion, a revoluble
rim entirely disconnected from the stationary portion, an internal centrally
arranged gear formed upon the revoluble rim, ball-races formed in the stationary
central portion, antifriction balls mounted in the said frame and arranged upon
each side of the internal gear upon the revoluble rim, a shaft mounted upon the
stationary portion of the wheel and extending into the hollow rim portion, and
a pinion secured to the said shaft and engaging the internal gear for revolving
the outer rim of the wheel and driving the vehicle forward, substantially as
described.
4. In a wheel for vehicles, the combination of a central stationary portion
having a hub for engaging the axle of the vehicle, a nut for holding the same in
place, finishing-caps applied over the said nut and hub, rods for bracing the rim
of the said central portion, ball bearings mounted in the rim of the same, a
revoluble rim portion engaging the said ball bearings directly, the said rim
portion being hollow and provided with a suitable tire, an internal centrally
arranged gear formed upon the revolving rim portion and a pinion for actuating
the same, the construction being such that the wheel may be rotated so as to
drive the vehicle without any chance of binding in the parts, substantially as
described.
5. A wheel for driving vehicles comprising a hub disc rigidly secured to the
frame of the vehicle, a revoluble rim adapted to move with respect to the said
hub disc, a rack carried by the said rim, an annular rack enclosing portion
formed on said disc and covering said rack, means for actuating the said rack,
and ball bearings for reducing the friction between the rim and the said hub
disc, substantially as described.
6. In a wheel for driving vehicles, the combination of a stationary hub disc
formed with an annular gear enclosing recess near its periphery, a revoluble rim
having an annular projection upon its inner periphery adapted to engage the said
recess on the hub disc, a ring carrying a rack secured to the said annular pro-
jection, and travelling in said annular recess, gearing for engaging and actuating
the said rack in order to cause the said rim to revolve, ball bearings interposed
between the rim and the disc, and roller bearings interposed between the said
annular projection and the saiu disc to reduce friction, substantially as described.
7. A wheel for driving vehicles comprising in its construction a hub disc
rigidly secured to the frame of a vehicle, the said disc being provided with a
recess near its periphery, a revoluble rim adapted to engage the hub disc, an
annular flange formed upon the said rim and projecting into the recess upon
the hub disc, a rack secured upon the said annular flange, a pinion for engaging
the said rack to actuate it, a shaft carrying said pinion and connecting it with any
motive power, a single ball mounted between the rim and the said shaft, ball
races formed between the rim and the said disc to receive anti-frictional ball
bearings, an outer securing ring for holding the rim in place with respect to the
disc, ball bearings interposed between the said ring and the said rim, and dust
excluding rings applied upon the said disc, and the said ring for keeping dust out
of the bearings, substantially as described.
8. A brake for rim actuated wheels comprising a brake shoe, a bolt carrying
the same, a lever secured to the axle of the wheel and a rod for actuating the said
lever and applying the brake against the rim of the wheel, substantially as
described.
9. In a brake for rim actuated wheels, the combination with a brake shoe,
of a sliding bolt carrving the same, a bearing upon the stationary central portion
of the wheel for holding and guiding the said bolt, a spring for holding the shoe
normally away from the rim, a bent lever fulcrumed upon the shaft of the

page_text: wheel, an operating rod engaging the said lever, said operating rod extending
to a suitable position in the vehicle flooring, a head carried by the said rod and
a spring for holding the rod normally upwardly, the constructon being such
that by pressing upon the head, the rod may be depressed and the brake shoe
forced against the rim of the wheel, substantially as described.
1021
1
L 1 1900
W. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.