provements in Wheels and. Axles for Road Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Wheels and. Axles for Road Vehicles.
I JAMES REGINALD CHURCHILL of Hathersage in the County of Derby,
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to improvements connected with the wheels and axles of
vehicles to run exclusively on common roads as distinct from railways, tramways
and the like. Its objects are to provide a means whereby the wheels will run true
even when the moving parts are worn, and to simplify the application to vehicles.
of the wheels themselves.
In a road vehicle fitted, for example, with a pair of wheels of the ordinary
description, the axle carrying the said wheels is fixed firmly to the springs or
the body of the vehicle and the wheels themselves rotate on this axle-one.on
each end.
Now, when the bush of either of these wheels wears at all, the wheel runs out.
of truth to the extent to which the diameter of the bore of the bush has been
worn to be in excess of the diameter of that part of the axle carrying the said
wheel.
The renewal of these bushes in the wheels and indeed their fitting at all are
eliminated by the use of wheels and axles constructed and applied according to my
invention.
Instead of providing that each wheel rotates on the end of a fixed axle, I provide
that each wheel is firmly fixed to, and rotates with, a separate subsidiary axle,
which separate subsidiary axle itself rotates in a bearing or bearings attached to;
formed by or forming part of the main axle.
(By main axle, 1 mean the one, which, in an ordinary arrangement, would have
the wheels free to rotate on its ends and which, in my invention, as well as in
any ordinary case, carries the vehicle itself with or without the intervention of
springs.)
Thus, instead of the main axle having a wheel, at each end, free to rotate on it,
it provides or carries bearings within which can rotate two separate subsidiary
axles each having a wheel firmly attached thereto. I do not support such a
subsidiary axle by any bearing on the side of the wheel remote from the centre of
the vehicle (in other words, on the outside of the wheel) but apply each wheel in
an "overhung" manner-the subsidiary axle carrying it having bearing on only
one side of the said wheel.
Wheels carried in such a manner, will always run true, since the subsidiary axles,
carrying them, will, by the weight of the vehicle, automatically and continually
follow up any wear which may occur in the bearings.
The method of the application of these wheels to a vehicle is also simplified by
this invention, as they only require to be shrunk, driven, keyed, pinned or firmly
fixed in any well known manner, to their subsidiary axles, which themselves rotate
in the bearings and are held in position, as required, by suitable collars...
Lubrication is supplied to the bearings of the subsidiary axles carrying the
wheels.
In cases where the body of a vehicle comes below (i.e. nearer the ground than)
the centres of the wheels, the main axle is usually bent down to clear the body of

page_text: the said vehicle. To apply my wheels and subsidiary axles, in such a case, is as easy
as in the case of a straight main axle; those portions of the main axle which are
transversely beyond the body of the vehicle on each side of it, serving to provide
or carry the bearings for ny subsidiary axles.
When a vehicle is required to be made in such a way that the body shall come
below the centres of the wheels-my wheels and subsidiary axles can be carried in
bearings of such a form and size that there can be a straight axle used under the
body of the vehicle and the distance upwards to the centres of. the wheels supplied
by the said bearings.
Dated this 18th day of June 1896.
I, JAMES REGINALD CHURCHILL of Hathersage, in the County of Derbyshire,
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 following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements connected with the wheels and axles of
vehicles to run exclusively on common roads, as distinct from railways tramways
and the like. Its objects are to provide a means whereby the wheels will run true
even when the moving parts are worn, and to simplify the application to vehicles
of the wheels themselves.
In a road vehicle fitted, for example, with a pair of wheels of the ordinary
description, the axle carrying the said wheels is fixed firmly to the springs or
the body of the vehicle and the wheels themselves rotate on this axle-one on
each end.
Now, when the bush of either of these wheels wears at all, the wheel runs
out of truth to the extent to which the diameter of the bore of the bush has
been worn to be in excess of the diameter of that part of the axle carrying the said
wheel.
The renewal of these bushes in the wheels, and indeed their fitting at all, are
eliminated by the use of wheels and axles constructed and applied according to
my invention, which I will now describe with reference to the accompanying
drawings:-
Fig. 1 shows in elevation part of a square axle having applied to it, at one end,
those parts necessary for a performance of my invention-when it is desired to use
wheels having wooden naves; and Fig. 14 shows the modification for wheels
having metal naves. Fig. II is a section on A. B. Fig. I.
Instead of providing that each wheel rotates on the end of a fixed axle, I provide
that each wheel is firmly fixed to and rotates with a separate subsidiary axle 1
(Fig. 1) (hereinafter called the "subsidiary" axle) which itself rotates in bearings 2
attached to the main axle 3. (By main axle, I mean the one, which, in an ordinary
arrangement, would have the wheels free to rotate on its ends, and which, in my
invention, as well as in any ordinary case, carries or helps to carry the vehicle
itself with or without the intervention of springs.) Thus, instead of the main
axle 3 having a wheel free to rotate on it, it provides or carries bearings within
which can rotate the subsidiary axle 1, having a wheel firmly attached thereto.
I show suitably shaped metal parts 4 & 5 between which the nave of a wood wheel
can be bolted by bolts 4. The part 4 is firmly fixed to the subsidiary axle 1 by
shrinking or other suitable means and the part 5 is removable therefrom. The

page_text: arrangement being such that, when the wood nave of a wheel is bolted between
parts 4 & 5 (which then become or are part of the wheel) it is impossible for the
said wheel to rotate withcut revolving the subsidiary axle 1 in the bearings 2:
carried by the main axle 3. At Fig. 1 1 show the metal uave before mentioned.
The part 4 of this nave is firmly fixed to the subsidiary axle 1 in the same manner
as described for the same numbered part in Fig. I.
In cases where the metal nave is entirely in one piece, then the said nave is
firmly fixed to the subsidiary axle, 1, as described.
In my drawing, however, I show the usual removable plate 5 used in wheels as.
commonly made.
I do not support the subsidiary axle 1 by any bearing on the side of the wheel
remote from the vehicle (in other words, on the outside of the wheel) but apply
the wheel in an "overhung" manner.
The bearings 2 are fixed to the main axle 3, by pinning, rivetting, shrinking, or
equivalent means; and, when worn, can readily be removed therefrom and replaced
by new ones. Provision for lubrication is made through the bosses 7.
The leather washers 8 I provide to minimize shocks and keep out dust. The
spring flat (or flap) 10 is placed, in the position shown, on the main axle 3.
Wheels carried in this manner will always run true, since the subsidiary axles
carrying them, will by the weight of the vehicle, automatically and continually
follow up any wear which may occur in the bearings.
The application of the wheel is also simplified by this invention, as it only.
requires to be shrunk, driven, keyed, pinued or firmly fixed in any well known
manner to its subsidiary axle which itself rotates in the bearings and is held in.
position by a suitable collar 6; by removing which, it is possible to withdraw the
subsidiary axle and therewith the said wheel for renewal or inspection.
Fig. III shows the application of my invention to the case in which the body of
the vehicle is required to come below (nearer the ground than) the centres of the
wheels.
The main axle 3 is bent and the wheel 9 is carried by the subsidiary axle 1 in.
the bearings 2..
In an ordinary vehicle, each end of a main axle would, of course, be provided
with the parts necessary for the performance of my invention as shown in the
accompanying drawings."
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what.
I claim is :-
In a road vehicle, the main axle, bearings and subsidiary axles with wheels or
parts thereof firmly fixed thereto; substantially as shown at and described with.
reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 18th day of March 1897.
JAMES R. CHURCHILL.