IMPROVEMENTS IN CARRIAGES AND CARRIAGE WHEELS
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Offord, the younger, of Wells Street, Oxford
Street, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CARRIAGES AND CARRIAGE WHEELS."
Sealed the 6th October 1877, and dated the 19th April 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Offord at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 19th April 1877.
JOSEPH OFFORD, the younger, of Wells Street, Oxford Street, in the County of
Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARRIAGES AND CARRIAGE WHEELS."
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of carriages by the
introduction of india-rubber to certain parts thereof in a novel and peculiar
manner.
In order to give elasticity to the wheels, and so to ease the motion of the carriage,
the use of india-rubber tyres has been proposed; but the rapid wear of such tyres,
and the difficulty of maintaining their adhesion to the wheels, have greatly retarded
their introduction.
I now propose to attain the same object by interposing between the felloe of the
wheel and the spokes india-rubber or any other elastic washers, the elasticity of
which will ensure the easy running of the wheel, or prevent jarring of the same
with the ground being transferred to the axle and body of the vehicle. This
will involve a novel construction of the wheel; thus the hub will consist mainly
of a tubular wrought or cast iron or gun metal axle box having a flange pro-
jecting therefrom at about the middle of its length. This flange is drilled to form
radial sockets, which will correspond in number with the number of spokes intended
to be used; these spokes may, for the sake of lightness, be made of metal tubes,
which will be threaded to fit the sockets of the hub. These tubular spokes may
at their outer ends be closed by a metal pin or plug, which will fit into a flanged
metal socket let into the felloe or segmental section of wood which is to form part
of the felloe, or the spoke may be continued nearly through the felloe, and thus
form the pin to connect the rim to the nave of the wheel. The spokes will also be
fitted with a flanged collar corresponding with the flanged socket in the felloe, and
between these two flanges an elastic washer will be placed. The upper flange may

page_text: be dispensed with, as the inner surface of the felloe will bear direct on the isolating
washer.
The novelty of my Invention consists mainly in leaving each spoke loose, so
as to bear upon the elastic buffers, which may be placed at either or both ends of
the spoke, rigid wheels being the source of sound and shaking. When the spokes
thus constructed are fastened into the sockets of the hub they will be ready to
receive the felloe which is to be put together in the ordinary manner, and will then
receive a tyre as usual.
The metal hub may be enclosed in an envelope of wood, which will give it the
appearance of an ordinary wooden hub or nave.
I propose also to construct wheels without wooden felloes or rims, but with iron
rims grooved on the outside, in which I place elastic tyres of india-rubber, or
leather, or rope. I do away with the wooden rim in this case, so that I may be
able to subject the wheel to the necessary heat in fixing the india-rubber tyres.
This principle of the elastic buffer wheel, it will be understood, is applicable to
wheeled articles generally.
A further improvement in the use of india-rubber in carriages is to make the
brake block of a compound of hard and soft rubber; the face which is to receive
the friction of the wheel being soft or elastic, and the back hard or rigid. This
back I make tapering longitudinally, and of a dovetailed form in cross section, in
order that it may fit into a flange or countersunk plate, which is attached to the
brake arm or lever. This peculiar form of the back of the brake block admits of
its being fitted securely to the brake plate by being slidden endwise therein..
Another application of india-rubber to carriages has for its object to remove the
liability of persons slipping on the step when descending from or entering the
carriage. To this end I prepare a sheet or plate of ribbed rubber, and secure it by
suitable cement to the metal step, arranging the ribs (or any other pattern or device)
transversely of the step.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Joseph Offord in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th October
1877.
JOSEPH OFFORD, the younger, of Wells Street, Oxford Street, in the County of
Middlesex. IMPROVEMENTS IN CARRIAGES AND CARRIAGE WHEELS."
16
This Invention relates to improvements in the construction of carriages and car-
ringe wheels by the. introduction of india-rubber to certain parts thereof in a novel
and peculiar manner.
In order to give elasticity to the wheels, and so to case the motion of the carriage,
the use of india-rubber tyres has been proposed; but the rapid wear of such tyres,
and the difficulty of maintaining their adhesion to the wheels, have greatly retarded
their introduction.
I now propose to obtain the same object by interposing between the felloe of the
wheel and the spokes elastic india-rubber washers, which by their elasticity will
ensure the easy running of the wheel. This will involve a novel construction of the
wheel, which is shown in several views in the accompanying Drawing.
Fig. 1 is a partial side elevation of one form of my improved elastic wheel, and
Fig. 2 is a cross section of the samc.
In these Figures A is the hub of the wheel formed of wood, and bound round
the middle by a band of iron a. This band is pierced radially, and the holes are
tapped to receive the inner ends of tubular spokes B, which are screwed to fit the
tapped holes in the ring, and project into corresponding holes in the hub; C is the
felloe made of wood, and pierced with radial holes which are fitted with short
flanged tubes that form sockets for pins b, which project from the outer ends of the

page_text: spokes. These pins constitute portions of flanged plugs which close the outer ends
of the hollow spokes, and are secured thereto by brazing or otherwise.
Between the felloe and the flanges of the spokes washers D of india-rubber are
inserted to form an elastic cushion. It is on the interposition of this elastic medium
that I rely for preventing the jarring motion of the running wheels with the
ground being transmitted to the axle, and thence to the body of the vehicle to which
the wheels are applied; but to enable the elastic medium to effect its object it is
necessary to give the spokes of the wheels a little endway play, and for this reason
the felloe is fitted with sockets, as above described. To secure the felloe a metal
tyre E is shrunk on as usual.
It will be understood that, if thought desirable, steel rods may be used in place
of the tubes B to form the spokes, but the outer ends of the spokes must be
formed with socket pins b and flanges 6', and their inner ends are threaded as
described.
Fig. 3 is a cross section of a wheel modified in its construction, but having the
same principle of elasticity as that described. In this example the hub consists
mainly of a tubular wrought or cast iron (or it may be gun metal) outer box A
having an annular flange a projecting therefrom at about the middle of its length.
This flange is drilled to form radial sockets, which are tapped to receive the screwed
ends of the spokes B. A flange is formed on the outer ends of the spokes,
between which and the felloe the elastic washers D are interposed. Instead, how-
ever, of the spokes entering sockets in the felloe, as in the first arrangement, steel
pins c, projecting inwards from the felloe, enter the hollow spokes, which form
sockets for their reception. These stud pins are passed through and secured to the
felloe, which in this case consists of a hoop of iron or steel for the purpose of
receiving an elastic tyre of vulcanized india-rubber E, which is attached thereto
during the process of vulcanizing.
From this explanation it will be understood that my mode of imparting
elasticity to wheels is equally applicable to wheels fitted with elastic as with rigid
tyres.
The metal hub or axle box, it will be seen, is enclosed in an envelope of wood A²,
which will give it the appearance of an ordinary wooden hub or nave.
Fig. 4 shows in partial side elevation a wheel with wooden spokes and wooden
felloe made elastic by the introduction of elastic washers D. The endway move-
ment of the spokes in this case is obtained by fitting their outer ends with pins b,
which project into sockets formed in the felloe, as explained with reference to
Fig. 2.
A further improvement in the use of india-rubber in connection with wheel
carriages is to make the brake block of a compound of hard and soft rubber, the
face which is to receive the friction of the wheel being soft or elastic, and the back
hard or rigid. This part of my Invention is illustrated at Figures 5, 6, 7, 8,
and 9.
Fig. 5 represents a back view of the brake block; Fig. 6, a side view of the
same; and Fig. 7 is a cross section shewing the block fitted to its holder. In
these Figures it will be seen that the brake block F is made tapering longitudinally
at back, and of a dovetailed form in cross section, in order that it may fit into a
flanged or countersunk plate G, which is attached by screws or nuts to the brake
arm or lever.
Fig. 8 is a side view of this flanged plate or brake block holder, and Fig. 9 is a
front view of the same. This peculiar form of the back of the brake block admits
of its being fitted securely to the brake plate by being slidden endwise therein.
When therefore it is so worn as to require replacement by a new block it may be
readily knocked out of its holder, and a fresh block may be dropped into its place.
It will be understood that this form of brake block is equally adapted to road and
railway carriages.
Having now set forth the nature of my Invention of "Improvements in Car-
riages and Carriage Wheels," and explained the manner of carrying the same into

page_text: effect, I wish it to be understood that under the above in part recited Letters Patent
I claim,
Firstly. The means above described for imparting elasticity to wheels, such
elasticity being. obtained through the medium of the yielding couplings by which
the spokes and the felloe are connected.
Secondly. The construction of brake block and holding plate as above described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Offord, the younger, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Nineteenth day of October, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
JOSEPH OFFORD, Junior. (L.S.)