Improvements in or connected with the Hubs of Wheels of Vehicles.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Aug., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 3rd May, 1898-Accepted, 3rd Aug.,
1898
Improvements in or connected with the Hubs of Wheels of Vehicles.
I, CHARLES HENRY LAY, of 87, Alpha Road, Millwall, London, E., Mechanic,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is the prevention or reduction of the vibration of
wheels being transmitted to the spindle or the vehicle such as cycles, carriages,
auto-cars, etc.
This invention consists in mounting and arranging the hub and nave-for
clearness I will call the nave that part of centre of wheel to which the spokes
are attached and the hub that part in which the spindle or axle bearing is situated
of a wheel separate from each other so that there is an annular space between
them which is packed with an elastic cushion advantageously on the pneumatic
principle in order that vibration may not be transmitted from the tyre or rim
to the hub or spindle and thence to the occupants of the vehicle.
In order to attain this I construct the wheel proper with a nave of larger
diameter than usual, the spokes being joined to such nave and to the rim in any
usual manner, the nave has radiating arms webs or flanges which slide upon
against or between corresponding webs arms or flanges formed on the hub.
The hub may have any usual form of spindle and bearing either balls, rollers
or the ordinary bush. On the hub are constructed or mounted radiating webs
arms or flanges for the purpose of preventing lateral twist by taking a bearing
against or between the corresponding webs, arms, or flanges projecting from the
nave of the wheel. In order to convey the motion from the rim to the hub or
spindle connection is made by means of hinged links advantageously in the
form of springs or they may be formed with slots, such links being connected
to the radiating arms or webs on the hub at one end of link and by means of
small projections on the rim to the rim of the wheel at the other end of link.
It will be seen that a wheel so formed consists of two independent parts, viz.;
the wheel proper and the hub and radiating arms, so connected that they allow
of considerable eccentricity radially but no lateral motion and also that the
circular motion of the rim is transmitted to the hub or spindle or vice versa
regardless of the eccentricity of the rim to the hub.
The annular space between the hub and the nave is fitted with elastic cushion
rings of india-rubber or pneumatic rings of suitable section and substance so
arranged that an elastic bearing is formed to absorb vibration, these rings of
resilient material being arranged either parallel to each other around the sleeve
or bush or concentrically or otherwise in such a manner that each takes a share
of the weight of the wheel and prevents collapse should any injury be caused to
one or more rings.
Or the elastic cushion may consist of a pipe or pipes or other suitable vessel
or receiver wound spirally round the sleeve or bush and such vessels or pipes
may be inflated with air or other fluid.

page_text: A solid or less resilient ring of suitable diameter may also be provided and
so disposed in the annular space that in the event of all the elastic rings becoming
useless or even removed the wheel will continue to be serviceable the same as a
solid wheel only allowing the rim to take an eccentrically rolling motion around
the hub or spindle, or suitable cones can be arranged to be brought into use
whereby the wheel is converted in a few moments into a solid or rigid wheel.
At each side of the hub are arranged washers or plates for the purpose of
enclosing and squeezing up the elastic cushion between the sleeve or bush and
the hub. These plates or washers being adjustable by screws or wedges and so
the tension or compression of the elastic cushion can be varied as required.
These plates may also take a bearing against the sides of nave to enclose rings
from dust or damage.
In the case of pneumatic rings any usual method of inflation may be employed
and the air chambers may be made in the form of annular rings or tubes of
Buitable section of which any number may be employed enclosed between the
two washer plates and the hub and sleeve or bush of the wheel. The pneumatic
chambers may be charged from a reservoir of compressed gas or fluid carried in
the vehicle and connected to the inflating valve of each section of the elastic
cushion by a detachable flexible tube and coupling or by other suitable means.
For some purposes the spokes may be replaced by discs of metal or other
suitable material advantageously so arranged that the outer disc can readily be
removed for inspecting or repairing the links and radiating arms which by this
means would be entirely enclosed from dust and dirt.
To further reduce the vibration I employ similar arrangements of air or
elastic cushions fitted to the spindle or axle of the wheel on the springs or forks
of a vehicle.
I also arrange a groove or other suitable means on the hub and washer plates
by which a dust guard may be clipped or sprung in place so that grit may not
get in between the air cushions and wear them.
Wheels on this principle can be made to carry any weight and allow of any
degree of elasticity and in the case of cycle wheels can be made of about the
same weight as an ordinary cycle wheel with pneumatic tyre.
The whole may be described as a wheel consisting of rim spokes and nave for
the one part so disposed around a hub with projecting arms for the other part
and connected to each other by hinged links, that rotary motion is imparted to
cach regardless of the relative positions of their centres and the interposition
of an elastic cushion between the nave and the hub for the purpose of arresting
vibration. Lateral strains being taken up by flanges or radiating arms so dis-
posed on the wheel and on the hub that they are free to move only in a radial
direction.
308
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Hubs of Wheels of Vehicles.
I, CHARLES HENRY LAY, of 87, Alpha Road, Millwall, London, E., Mechanic,
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 :-
The object of this invention is to prevent vibration of wheels being trans-

page_text: mitted or to reduce the vibration of wheels transmitted-to the spindle of the
vehicle such as cycles, carriages, autocars, etc.
And in order that my present invention may be easily understood I will proceed
to fully describe same with reference to the drawings hereunto annexed.
Fig. 1 is a side view of wheel having my present improvements applied therein.
-partly in side elevation and partly an interior view parts being removed to
show the latter.
Fig 1 is an edge view partly in plan and partly in section on line 1-1 Fig. 1.
Figs 2 and 3 are sectional views taken diametrically through wheels (shown
on a rather larger scale) illustrating alternative ways of carrying out the present
invention.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts throughout the
drawings.
This invention consists in mounting and arranging the hub G and nave F
(for clearness I will call that part of centre of wheel to which the spokes are
attached the nave and that part in which the spindle or axle bearing is
situated the hub G) of a wheel separate from each other so that there is an
annular space or spaces between them which is packed with an elastic cushion
advantageously on the pneumatic principle as shown at A and A¹ in order that
vibration may not be transmitted from the tyre or rim K. to the hub G or
spindle W and thence to the occupants of or riders in or on the vehicle.
or
In order to attain this I construct the wheel proper with a nave F of larger
diameter than usual the spokes L being joined to such nave F and to the rim K
in any usual or suitable manner the nave F has radiating webs, arms
flanges which slide upon against or between corresponding webs arms or
flanges G formed on the hub G see Figs. 1 and 1.
The hub G may have any usual form of spindle W and bearings either halls
rollers or the ordinary bush. On the hub G are constructed or mounted radiating
webs arms or flanges G₁ for the purpose of preventing lateral twist by taking
a bearing against or between the corresponding webs, arms or flange F1 projecting
from the nave F of the wheel. In order to convey the motion from the rim K
to the hub G (or spindle if fixed) connection is made by means of hinged links
or springs advantageously in the form of springs Z or they may be
formed with slots such links or springs Z being connected to the radiat-
ing arms or webs G¹ on the hub G at one end of link Z and by means of small
projections on the rim K to the rim of wheel at the other end of said link Z.
It will be seen that a wheel so formed consists of two independent parts riz.:
the wheel proper (consisting of the rim K spokes L and nave F) and the hub G
and radiating arms G so connected that they allow of considerable eccentricity
radially but no lateral motion and also that the circular motion of the rim K
is transmitted to the hub G (or spindle) or rice versa regardless of the eccentricity
of the hub G to the rim K.
The annular space between the hub G and the nave F is fitted with elastic
cushion rings of india-rubber or pneumatic rings A of suitable section and sub-
stance so arranged that an elastic bearing is formed to absorb vibration these
rings of resilient material being arranged either parallel to each other around
the hub G or concentrically or otherwise.
Or the elastic cushion may consist of a pipe or pipes or other suitable vessel
or receiver wound spirally around the sleeve or bush and such vessels or pipes
may be inflated with air or other fluid.
A solid or less resilient ring of suitable diameter (not shown) may also be
provided and so disposed in the annular space that in the event of all the elastic
rings becoming useless or even removed the wheel will continue to be serviceable
the same as a solid wheel only allowing the rim to take an eccentrically rolling
motion around the hub or spindle or suitable cones not shown can be arranged
to be brought into use whereby the wheel is converted in a few moments into
a solid or rigid wheel.

page_text: At each side of the hub are arranged washers or plates H for the purpose of
enclosing and squeezing up the elastic cushion between the nave F and the
hub G. These plates or washers H being adjustable by nuts I or screws or
wedges and so the tension or compression of the elastic cushion can be varied
as required.
These plates H may also take a bearing against the outside edge of the nave F
and I may if desired have attachments (not shown) for fixing an elastic dust
guard or I may use other dust excluder arrangement.
In the case of pneumatic rings as shown any usual method of inflation may
be employed and the air chambers may be made in the form of annular rings or
tubes A of suitable section of which any number may be employed enclosed
between the two washer plates H and the hub G and nave F of the wheel. The
pneumatic chambers may be charged from a reservoir of compressed gas or fluid
carried in the vehicle and connected to the inflating valve of each section of the
elastic cushion by a detachable flexible tube and coupling in the ordinary and
well-known manner or by other suitable means.
For some purposes the spokes L may be replaced by discs of metal or other
suitable material advantageously so arranged that such disc can readily be
removed for inspecting or repairing the links Z and radiating arms G¹ which
by this means would be entirely enclosed from dust and dirt.
I may also arrange a groove or other suitable means on the nave F and washer
plates by which a dust-guard (not shown) may be clipped or sprung in place
so that grit may not get in between the air cushions and wear them.
Wheels on this principle can be made to carry any weight and allow of any
degree of elasticity and in the case of cycle wheels can be made of about the
same weight as an ordinary cycle wheel with pneumatic tyre.
Alternative arrangements are shown in Figs. 2 and 3 similar letters of reference
being employed.
d
Fig. 3 shows a double arrangement of pneumatic or other rings at a b C
the radiating arms G¹ of hub G being replaced by dished plates G³ joined together
and having recesses in them for the reception of the cushion rings abc.
The nave F being also of dished plates and almost entirely enclosing G* and
the cushion rings. Depressions R are formed in these plates in which steel
balls Rmay be placed to prevent undue wear between the sides of the plates
and an elastic dust guard (not shown) may be fixed to washer plute H and outer
cover F thus entirely enclosing the working parts, and in this construction the
links or springs Z are joined at one end to the periphery of the hub extension G*
and at the other end to the nave extension F* whereby rotary motion is trans-
mitted while vertical motion is freely permitted.
In Fig. 2 another alternative is shown viz.: the flange F** is extended beyond
the flanges G¹ of the hub G and bent or recessed as shown and then the outermost
edges of F* F** are brought together and bolted or otherwise secured to one
another and such flanges ** are connected internally by springs or links
the flanges G as shown in Fig. 2.
to
It will be obvious that I may employ hinged links or springs such as Z in
both directions between the extensions G or G* on the one hand and either the
projections U inside the rim K or the extensions F or F** on the other hand.
The whole may be described as a wheel consisting of rim spokes and nave
for the one part so disposed around a hub with projecting arms for the other part
and connected to each other by hinged links that rotary motion is imparted to
each regardless of the relative positions of their centres and the interposition
of an elastic cushion between the nave and the hub for the purpose of arresting
vibration lateral strains being taken up by flanges or radiating arms so disposed
on the wheel and on the hub that they are free to move only in a radial direction.
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:-

page_text: 1. In elastic hub wheels for vehicles the arrangement of arms webs or flanges
radiating from and on the " nave" F and "hub G respectively in combination
and acting in conjunction with hinged links or spring links such as % or Z
substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.
2. Vehicle wheels having elastic hubs therein constructed and arranged to act
substantially in the manner and for the purposes herein before described and
illustrated in the drawings hereunto annexed.
TONGUE & BIRKBECK,
Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.