Improvements in Metallic Wheels.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in Metallic Wheels.
I, ISAAC DAVIS, of No. 53 Oxford Chambers Bourke Street Melbourne in the
Colony of Victoria, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows
This invention of improvements in metallic wheels relates mainly to the class
which have a divided hub and axle box and the improvements consist mainly in
the means devised for securing the spokes to the hub and to the rim and in such a
manner that the rigidity of a metal to metal connection is avoided. The axle box
is divided and held in position in the divided hub practically as described in the
Specification of Letters Patent No. 17584 of 1895 (granted to J. C. Fell in respect
of an invention communicated to him from me) but in the present case, I cone each
end of said axle box and allow its inner coned end to sit or bear in a similar
bearing formed in the hub whilst the outer coned end fits in a coned cap which is
screwed into the outer end of the hub. Again between the axle box and the
interior of hub and in a space provided between said coned ends I place a tube or
sleeve made of some such substance as leather. Near each end of the exterior of
the hub I provide a flange which has the requisite number of semi-circular recesses
in it to receive the inner enlarged ends of the tubular spokes and the ends of each
of said spokes bear either upon a dise of hard rubber compressed cork or upon a
ring of similar material set into a recess provided to receive it in said flanges or
springs may be used for such purpose. When the spokes are in position an annular
ring or flange also furnished with the requisite number of semi-circular
recesses to fit the spokes is fitted in position so as to enclose both the said
spokes and the rubber bearing pieces. Then to secure said annular spoke rings in
position coupling rings are screwed onto the hub and which beside securing the
rings or flanges in position also secure the both halves of the hub together. The
outer or rim ends of the spokes have a collar formed on them and such ends fit
into sockets which are rivetted or otherwise secured to the metal rim and which as
before is preferably of a channel section and either built up in sections or endless.
Said sockets are furnished with internal threads to receive tubular nuts and which
are screwed into said socket and onto the collar at end of spoke. Between the
outer end of each spoke and the bottom of each socket a washer of hard rubber
or some such pliable material is placed. In the channel of the rim under the tire
a packing of cork or some such material is placed in order to form a bed or cushion
for the tire and also to relieve it of any jarring action.
1000

page_text: Improvements in metalne wheels.
I, ISAAC DAV18, formerly of No. 53 Oxford Chambers, Bourke Street,
Melbourne, in the Colony of Victoria, but now of 144 Fleet Street, in the City
of London, Gentleman, 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 :-
This invention of improvements in metallic wheels relates more particularly but
not exclusively to that class of wheels which have a divided hub and axle box, and
the improvements consist mainly in means for securing the spokes to the hub and
to the rim in such a manner that the rigidity of a fixed metal to metal connection
is avoided as I shall now explain by reference to the accompanying drawings
wherein,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through the axle box, hub and adjacent parts of
my improved wheel which is shown applied to one end of an axle.
Fig. 2 is a part end elevation of the hub and attached parts, and
Fig. 3 is a central cross section on the line of Fig. 1.
Fig. 4 is a cross section through the rim and tyre of my improved wheel
showing how the wheel spokes are secured to the fornier.
Fig. 5 shows to a smaller scale, my improved wheel in side elevation.
Figs.
and are similar views to Fig. 2 showing modified arrangements of
elastic or yielding bearings for the inner ends of the wheel spokes.
Referring to Figs. 1 to 3 inclusive, 1 is the angle box divided longitudinally
into two parts that are held in position in the longitudinally divided hub 2 by small
lugs 1 on the former entering corresponding recesses 2" in the latter, each end of
the axle box being coned or tapered as shown at 1, 1, and resting against similarly
shaped hearings formed respectively in the hub 2 and a cap 3 screwed into the
outer end of the hub as in the wheel described in the Specification of Letters
Patent No. 17584 of 1895 granted to J. C. Fell on a communication from me.
The exterior of the axle box 1 and the interior of the hub 2 between the said
coned ends, are so relatively shaped as to form between them, when together, a
space in which is placed a divided tube or sleeve 4 made of suitable material such
as leather for the purpose of preventing escape of lubricant from the divided axle
box. The bearing surfaces within the axle-box are lubricated by means of
lubricant admitted from a dust proof lubricator 2d passing through the hub 2,
sleeve 4, aud axle box 1, as shown in Fig. 3. 2 is a ring of material such as
leather let into an annular recess in one end of the hub 2 so as to surround the
end of the wheel axle A to which the wheel is fitted and prevent entry of dust to
the axle box bearing at this point, the screw cap 3 serving to effectually exclude
dust at the other end of the bearing, as in my former construction. 2° are lengths
of leather, cord or the like placed in recesses in the adjacent longitudinal edges of
the two sections of the hub to prevent the passage of dust to and the escape of
lubricant from the bearing at these parts.
Near each end of and at the exterior of the hub 2 there is provided a flange 5
which has formed therein a number of semi-circular recesses 6 which are adapted
to receive and retain the inner enlarged ends 7 of the tubular spokes 7 of which,
as will be seen, there are two annular series arranged at an angle to each other so
as to connect the rim to the hub near the ends thereof. 5ª are removable rings or
annular flanges furnished with a number of semi-circular recesses corresponding to
those in the adjacent flanges 5 and adapted to fit the spoke ends 7" and enclose and
hold them in place. Each enlarged inner spoke end 7 is made solid and arranged

page_text: to bear in an outward radial direction directly against the pair of flanges 5, 5*
between which it passes and in an inward direction against an elastic or yielding
bearing or support arranged between it and the wheel hub. In the arrangement
now being described each bearing or support consists of a disc or block 8 of hard
india rubber, compressed cork, or like material located in the corresponding recess 6
between the flanges. The removable flanges 5* may be secured in place by any
suitable means. Conveniently they may be secured in the operative position shown
by coupling rings 9 screwed onto the ends of the hub 2 and which, beside securing
the flanges 5 in position, also serve to secure the two halves of the hub 2 together
around the axle box 1. The elastic or yielding bearings or supports for the inner
enlarged ends 7" of the spokes 7 may be variously modified. Thus in Fig. 6 they
are formed by making a series of notches 8" in the periphery of a rubber ting 8,
the adjacent faces of the flanges 5, 5ª being each formed with an annular recess to
receive such ring. In Fig. 7 the elastic or yielding bearings consist of coiled
metal springs 8 each surrounding a cylindrical block 8 of india rubber or like
elastic or yielding material.
The outer or rim end of each spoke 7 has a solid collar 7b formed thereon and
such end is fitted into a socket 10 which is riveted or otherwise secured to the
metal wheel rim 11. Each socket 10 is furnished with an internal screw thread to
receive a tubular nut 12 which is fitted on the spoke before the collar 7b is formel
thereon and which fixes the latter in place. Between the outer end of each spoke
and the bottom or closed end of each socket is a washer 13 of a suitable elastic
or yielding material such as hard rubber or leather, to serve as an outer cushion for
the spoke end.
The wheel rim 11 is preferably made of channel section as shown in Fig. 4, an
may be built up in segments or sections, or may be made as a divided ring with its
ends connected together, or as an endless ring as may be desired. In the
channel 11 of the rim and under the tyre 14 is placed a packing 15 of material
such as cork, in order to form a yielding bed or cushion for the tyre and relieve it
of any jarring action. The construction of the wheel rim and tyre may however
be variously modified without departing from the essential features of my
invention.
By constructing metallic wheels in the improved manner hereinbefore described,
the wheel rim is held firmly and concentrically to the hub by two series of spokes
inclined to each other and having their enlarged outer and inner ends bearing in a
non-yielding manner respectively in an inward direction against the rim or part
carried thereby and in an outward direction against the hub or part carried thereby
so that the rim will offer considerable resistance to lateral strains applied to either
side of it; the spokes are capable of being separately tightened up so as to put
them in tension but they are at the same time each free to move radially into the
hub independently of the others so as to permit of inward radial deflection of the
part of the wheel rim to which each spoke is connected, thus obviating all rigidity
of the parts with a metal to metal connection; the spokes being provided with
enlarged ends solid therewith, obviates the necessity of providing the spokes, as
heretofore, with nuts and screw threads which, owing to their being subjected, when
in use, to alternate tensile and compressive strains in quick succession become
rapidly injured to such an extent as to render repairs of the wheel frequent and
costly; the transmission of shock or jar from the rim to the hub and thence to the
body of the vehicle and the production of noise is prevented or considerably
reduced by the interposition between the inner and outer ends of the spokes and
the hub and rim respectively of elastic or cushioning material; and each spoke is
capable of being easily and separately removed without having to take the wheel
to pieces or even to remove it from its axle, so that a spoke can, when necessary,
be easily removed and replaced.
The foregoing are necessary practical requirements for a strong durable
metallic wheel and so far as I am aware, are not to be found in any wheel
heretofore proposed.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that I do not claim
broadly and separately the interposition of elastic or cushioning material between
the spokes and the wheel hub and rim, or the making of the spokes independently
movable in an inward radial direction; or the mode of connecting the outer ends of
the spokes to the rim, but what I do claim is :-
1. In a metallic wheel, the combination of spokes having enlarged inner ends
and a hub provided with a pair of flanges each formed with recesses adapted to
receive and hold the inner enlarged ends of the wheel spokes each of which is
arranged to separately bear in an inward direction upon elastic or yielding material
enclosed and held in place by the said flanges which are made easily detachable the
one from the other, substantially as herein described.
2. A metallic wheel having its spokes enlarged at their inner and outer ends, the
inner ends being arranged to independently bear in an outward direction against a
rigid part of the wheel hub or extension thereof and in an inward direction against
elastic or yielding material carried by the said hub, and the outer enlarged ends of
the spokes being arranged to bear in an inward direction directly against tightening
up or tension devices carried by the wheel rim, substantially as described.
3. A metallic wheel comprising two series of spokes connecting the wheel rim
to the hub near the ends thereof, each spoke being in tension and having enlarged
ends 7, 7 solid therewith and bearing directly against parts in rigid connection
with the hub and rim so as to tie the hub aud rim together, the inner end of each
spoke bearing upon an elastic or yielding support arranged between it and the hub
so that it is free to move into the hub independently of the other spokes and the
outer end 7 of each spoke being connected to the rim by an adjustable nut that
bears against the said enlarged outer end of the spoke and by which the tension on
the spoke can be varied, and a layer of cushioning material located between the
outer end surface of each spoke and the rim, the whole substantially as herein
described for the purposes specified.
4. A metallic wheel provided with spokes having enlarged inner ends held
in place between flanges 5, 5 and bearing against elastic or yielding
material 8 enclosed by the said flanges, the whole constructed arranged and
operating substantially as described and shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, or modified as
set forth.
5. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting my improved metallic
wheel substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and shown in
Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, or modified according to Fig. 6, or to Fig. 7 of the drawings
annexed.
Dated this 8th day of March 1891.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.