IM- PROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF FIXING AND SETTING SMALL WHEELS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Walter Eyre, of No. 32, Sedan Street, Sheffield, in the
County of York, Manager of Buffer Department, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF FIXING AND SETTING SMALL WHEELS, AND
IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME."
Sealed the 18th November 1879, and dated the 20th June 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Walter Eyre at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th June 1879.
-
WALTER EYRE, of No. 32, Sedan Street, Sheffield, in the County of York,
Manager of Buffer Department. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF FIXING AND
SETTING SMALL WHEELS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME."
My Invention consists in forming in the wheel an oval hole, either tapered or
straight, with an axle shaped to suit therewith, and in fixing the wheel on the axle
by means of the machine or apparatus hereinafter referred to.
The advantage to be derived from an oval form in the hole of the wheel and in
the axle, as distinguished from a square, hexagonal, or octagonal form therein, is
that by doing away with all angles in the boss of the wheel the boss is rendered
stronger, and the wheel more easily badded or fitted from end to end of the hole,
than is found to be the case when there are angles to be filled up, thereby ensuring
greater durability in the work of fixing.
And the machine or apparatus consists in the combination of adjustable blocks of
steel or other suitable material for holding the axle with a centre, on which it is
caused to rest, and by means of which it is raised as required after the wheel has
been fastened on to it.
The said blocks (four or of other convenient number) are grooved so as to adapt
them for taking any size of axle that may be required, and are arranged so as to
admit of their being worked laterally by means of a combination of wheels. These
blocks are employed in pairs, and when brought into use are drawn apart in order
to allow of the axle being placed between them, and are then closed up as required
by means of the wheel arrangement. The axle before being put in this position is
drawn and formed at the ends to suit the aforesaid oval hole.

page_text: The above named centre, which is at the bottom of the machine, is brought in
contact with the end of the axle, when it is placed between the blocks in the manner
stated.
The axle, when so fixed, has the wheel dropped on the end, which has been forged
down to receive it, and it is then riveted over in the ordinary manner.
The wheel having been fastened as above stated, the blocks are drawn slightly
back, and the centre at the bottom of the machine is then raised theroby, at the
same time raising the axle. The axle can then be turned on this centre, and it will
also turn in the said blocks, which will hold it in such a manner that the axle and
wheel can revolve together, thereby showing whether the wheel is set true upon its
axle.
By fastening the wheel in the manner above stated, it is held firmly and truly
adjusted on its axle at one operation, and the work is rendered durable.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Walter Eyre in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
December 1879.
WALTER EYRE, of No. 32, Sedan Street, Sheffield, in the County of York,
Manager of Buffer Department. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MODE OF FIXING AND
SETTING SMALL WHEELS, AND IN APPARATUS FOR THE SAME."
My Invention of "Improvements in the Mode of Fixing and Setting Small
Wheels, and in Apparatus for the same," consists in forming in the wheel an oval
hole, either tapered or straight, with an axle shaped to suit therewith, and in fixing
the wheel on the axle by means of the machine or apparatus hereinafter referred to.
The advantage to be derived from an oval form in the hole of the wheel and in the
axle, as distinguished from a square, hexagonal, or octagonal form therein is, that by
doing away with all angles in the boss of the wheel, the boss is rendered stronger
and the wheel more easily bedded or fitted from end to end of the hole than is found
to be the case when there are angles to be filled up, thereby insuring greater
durability in the work of fixing.
And the machine or apparatus consists in the combination of adjustable blocks
of steel or other suitable material for holding the axle, with a centre on which it is
caused to rest, and by means of which it is raised as required after the wheel has
been fastened on to it.
The said blocks (four or of other convenient number) are grooved, so as to adapt
them for taking any size of axle that may be required, and are arranged so as to
admit of their being worked laterally by means of a combination of wheels. These
blocks are employed in pairs, and when brought into use are drawn apart, in order
to allow of the axle being placed between them, and are then closed up as required
by means of the wheel arrangement. The axle before being put in this position
is drawn out and formed at the ends to suit the aforesaid oval hole.
The above named centre, which is at the bottom of the machine, is brought in
contact with the end of the axle, when it is placed between the blocks in the manner
stated.
The axle, when so fixed, has the wheel dropped on the end, which has been forged
down to receive it, and it is then rivetted over in the ordinary manner. .
The wheel having been fastened as above stated, the blocks are drawn slightly
back, and the centre at the bottom of the machine is then raised thereby, at the
same time raising the axle. The axle can then be turned on this centre, and it will
also turn in the said blocks, which will hold it in such a manner that the axle and
wheel can revolve together, thereby showing whether the wheel is set true upon
its axle.
By fastening the wheel in the manner above stated, it is held firmly and truly
adjusted upon its axle at one operation, and the work is rendered durable.
Having thus stated the nature of the said Invention, I will proceed to describe
more particularly in what manner the same is to be performed by the aid of the
accompanying Drawings, in which is represented a wheel and axle constructed in
the manner above referred to, and also the machinery or apparatus for fixing the
wheel on the axle.

page_text: stronger, and the wheel more easily bedded or fitted from end to end of the hole
than is found to be the case when there are angles to be filled up, and thereby
insuring greater durability in the work of fixing.
Figures 4, 5, and 6 shew in elevation, end view, and plan, my machine for fixing
tho said wheel on its axle, which machine consists of a combination of wheels fixed
upon a stand of iron or other material, the said wheels being arranged so as to be
capable of adjusting as required four or more blocks A, A. The said blocks A, A,
are grooved out to take any size of axle that may be required, and when in use are
drawn apart in order to admit the axle, and afterwards closed up when the axle has
been inserted by means of the wheel arrangement B, B. The axle, before being put
in this position, is drawn out or tapered at the ends (as shewn at c in Fig. 3) to suit
the hole D previously formed in the wheel.
The machine is supplied with a contre E at the bottom, which centre is brought
in contact with the end of the axle, when it is placed between the blocks as herein-
before described.
The axle when so fixed has the wheel dropped on the end, which has been forged
down to receive it, and it is then rivetted over in the ordinary way.
The wheel having been fastened as herein described, the blocks A, A, are drawn
back slightly by means of the wheel arrangement B, B, and the centro E at the
bottom of the machine is then raised, the axle being thereby raised at the same
time. The axle can then be turned on the centre E; at the same time it will
revolve in the blocks A, A, which will hold it in such a manner that the axle and
wheel can revolve together, shewing at once whether the wheel is set truly upon
its axle.
By means of the apparatus and method of fastening just described, a wheel may
be held firmly and truly adjusted upon its axle at one operation, and by doing away
with all angles inside the hole of the wheel in the manner hereinbefore described, a
better fit may be secured, and the work made more durable than heretofore.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, I hereby declare that what I claim as of my Invention
is,-
First. The formation in the boss of the wheel of an oval hole, straight through-
out, or tapered and making the axle to correspond therewith, as and for the purpose
herein before described.
And, Secondly. The machine or apparatus for adjusting or setting the wheel truly
upon its axle in the manner bereinbeforo described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Walter Eyre, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty first day of
in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
Witness,
ELIAS MIDDLETON,
Atlas Works,
Sheffield,
Clerk.
WALTER EYRE. (L.S.)