MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WHEELS
Year: 1849

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I ENOCH
CHAMBERS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Smith, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Tenth day of November,
One thousand eight hundred and forty-nine, in the thirteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Enoch Chambers, my exors, admors, and assigns, Her especial
licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the said Enoch
Chambers, my exors, admors, and assigns, and such others as I, the said
Enoch Chambers, my exors, admors, or assigns, should at any time agree
with, and no others, from time to time and at all times during the term of
years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, and in
the Islands of Guernsey, Jersey, Alderney, Sark, and Man, and in all Her
said Majesty's Colonies and Plantations abroad, my Invention of "IMPROVE
MENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WHEELS;" in which said Letters Patent is
contained a proviso that I, the said Enoch Chambers, should cause a
particular description of the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, by an instrument in writing under
my hand and seal, to be inrolled in Her said Majesty's High Court of
Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the same, reference
being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, I, the said Enoch
Chambers, do hereby declare that the nature of my said Invention, and the
manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the
Drawing hereunto annexed, and to the figures marked thereon, that is to
say:
My Invention consists of improvements in the manufacture of wrought
iron wheels; and in order that the same may be fully understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed to describe the means pursued by me.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 shews a wrought-iron wheel manufactured according to my
Invention. Figure 2 shews a transverse section thereof. Figure 3 and
Figure 4 shew the wheel without the tyre. Figure 5 shews a side view and
a transverse section of one half of the wheel; and Figure 6 shews three
views of railway tyre of ordinary construction for the wheel. Wheels made
according to my Invention are each first made up into two halves, each half
consisting of one half of the ring or felloe, one half of the spokes, and one half
of the nave, all of wrought iron, and the parts of a wheel are made in the
following manner:-For each half. of the nave a block or plate of iron is forged
in a cylindrical exterior frame, with a flanch or projection all round, and this
flanch or projection is to be drawn out by forging so as to form projecting
pieces at those parts in the circumference where the spokes are to be welded on.
In the wheel shewn there are eight spokes, four on each half wheel, and in all
cases this construction of wheel requires to have an even number of spokes,
half being affixed or welded to one half of the nave, and the other half of the
spokes being fixed to the other half of the nave, and the spokes being placed
in such relative positions that those of the one half shall come into the spaces
between those of the other half. The projection or flanch being thus drawn
out or forged at intervals on each half of the nave of an intended wheel, so as
to produce proper projections for the purpose of receiving the spokes, the
spokes are to be welded on each spoke, having a portion of a ring or felloe of
the wheel forged thereon, as shewn, the alternate portions of the felloe or ring
being on the two half naves respectively, so that when the two are brought
together, and the inner surfaces of the two half naves are brought together,
they will form a wheel, such as is indicated by Figures 3 and 4.
The two
half naves are to be brought to a welding heat, and being placed one on the
other in the position above described, are to be welded together by a suitable
hammer or press. I prefer to use a steam hammer for this purpose, and the

page_text: parts of the felloe or ring of the wheel where they come together are also to
be welded, and the tyre is to be shrunk on, and the wheel completed. The
centre of the nave of the wheel is to be cut or turned out and made suitable
to receive the axle, as shewn, and as is well understood. Instead of welding
the spokes and parts of the felloe to the half naves before welding the half
naves together, the spokes and parts of the felloe may be welded on after-
wards, but I prefer the former method. In the preceding description I have
had special reference to railway wheels, but the same method of construction
is equally applicable to wheels for common road carriages and waggons.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I would remark that I do not confine myself to the form
of the spokes or felloe, as the same may be varied, so long as the peculiar
character of my mode of manufacturing wheels is retained. But what I
claim is,―
First, the manufacture of wheels by first making the nave in two parts
(divided vertically), each having half the number of spokes, with a portion of
the felloe attached to each spoke, and then welding together the said two
half naves, after which the tyre is shrunk on as usual. And,
Secondly, I claim the making of wrought-iron naves with two flanches, each
to receive and have welded thereto one half of the spokes of which a wheel is
to be composed.
In witness whereof, I, the said Enoch Chambers, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of May. One thousand eight hundred
Enrolled the Tenth day of May, in the year of our Lord Oue
thousand eight hundred and fifty.