An Improved Vehicle Wheel.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Dec., 1890-Accepted, 31st Jan., 1891
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Vehicle Wheel.
I, JAMES CARPENTER, of the City of Brooklyn, in the County of Kings and
State of New York, United States of America, 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:-
My invention relates to a vehicle wheel made wholly of metal and consists of
the novel construction and arrangement of and manner of uniting the hub, spokes,
tire and felloc hereinafter described, and shown in the accompanying drawing
forming a part hereof in which,―
Figure 1 is a side view of a portion of the wheel embodying my invention;
Figure 2 is a sectional view in elevation of the same; and
Figure 3 is a perspective view of the hub and box.
A is the tire of metal; B is the felloe also of metal and made T-shaped with
the flat side next to the tire; C is a thin strip of paper, papier-maché or other
suitable material which is placed between the tire and the felloe around the whole
circumference of the wheel, so as to make the tire set more firmly onto the
felloe, and also for the purpose of deadening the ringing sound (which is produced
in use since the wheel is made wholly of metal) and to prevent the tire from
pounding, stretching and drawing, and thereby loosening. The tire, felloe and
interposed strip are united together by rivets in the usual manner; I can also
make the tire and felloe of one piece of metal and T-shaped in form by making
the flat side of the T thicker in cross-section, and employing this flat side of the
Tas the tire instead of the separate tire which is usually attached to the felloe, as
will be readily understood. D. are the spokes which are made of metal, preferably
of strips of spring steel of any desired width and thickness, and which are bent or
sprung into reverse curves varying according to the amount of spring desired, and
are twisted at their outer ends one-half way round, as shown. The extreme outer
ends of the spokes are bent over at right angles, so as to form flanges d which fit
into mortises cut in the top of the standard of the T-shaped felloe right under
the flat side (see Figure 2), and the spokes are then riveted to the standard of the
felloe, the flanges of the spoke entering the mortises in the standard of the felloc,
preferably from the outside, for reasons to be hereafter set forth; or the standard
of the T-shaped felloe may be slightly enlarged right under the flat side and the
mortises cut directly under this enlarged portion, so that the enlargement will act
as a shoulder against which the ends of the spokes may rest. The inner extremities
of the spokes to be connected with the hub are bent near the extreme ends so as to
form a semi-circle a (see Figure 1).
E is the hub of metal (see Figure 2), preferably cast in the form of a hollow
shell with a central rim G (see Figure 3) into which the spokes are inserted, and
with the heads c c' with openings therein for the passage therethrough of the axle
box F and with the projecting ends ff which take the place of the protecting
bands which are usually secured onto the ends of the hub to prevent the nut on the
end of the axle from being knocked off and to keep the dirt out; that is, the
hollow hub E, rim G, heads e c¹ and projecting ends ff' are cast all in one piece.
The box F is made slightly tapering, with the taper end on the outside and is
also screw-threaded on that end, and the other or inner end of the box is made
flaring (see Figure 2); the outer head c¹ of the hub is screw-threaded on the inside
into which the taper end of the box F is screwed; and the inner head c of the hub
is counter-sunk to correspond with the flaring end of the box F which is to be
inserted into it. The axle is inserted into the box F and the nut / screwed on to
the outer end, which nut is protected by the head f' of the hub; and the shoulder h

page_text: on the axle fits into the flaring end of the box (see Figure 2), thus securely
fastening the axle to the hub.
The rim G is preferably of the width of the spokes, and openings g, corre-
sponding to the number of spokes, are milled into this rim, extending across its
extreme width, and these openings are themselves in width equal to the thickness of
the spokes which are inserted into them, preferably from the outside. As will be
seen in the drawing, these openings are made with a circular portion into which the
semi-circular parts of the inner bent ends a of the spokes are inserted and partially
fill, and these openings may be at any angle so as to dish the wheel at any desired
pitch. In order to keep the spokes from being pulled out bolts or rivets glare
driven into these openings g after the spokes are inserted therein, preferably from
the outside, completely filling said openings, and thereby firmly securing the spokes
to the hub in order to prevent these rivets from coming out one end thereof may
be upset, or this may be effected in the manner hereinafter set forth.
;
In order to prevent the spokes by any possibility from coming out sideways from
the hub by the jarring, in addition to the rivets g', as above set forth, and also to
finish off the hub, caps or bands K are screwed against both sides of the rim G,
the upper surface of the hub being screw-threaded for that purpose (see Figure 2);
or these bands may be riveted or otherwise secured to the rim of the hub as will
be readily understood. As before stated, the flanges d of the spokes are inserted
into the felloe, preferably from the outside,-
-or that is, from the same side as the
inner ends of the spokes are inserted into the rim G of the hub, that is, the spokes
are so constructed that they may be connected with or inserted in both the hub
and felloe from the same side of the wheel, either the inner or outer side as desired,
the outer side being more preferable, and at the same time; but in either case each
spoke is independent of the other, and in case a spoke should become broken from
any cause it may be taken out of the wheel and a new one inserted in its place very
easily and quickly by simply unscrewing the band K and knocking out the rivet
which secures the spoke to the felloe and the rivet g¹ which secures it to the hub
and without in the least interfering with the other parts of the wheel and which
cannot be done in wheels heretofore made without removing the tire or other parts
of the wheel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is:
1st. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with a T-shaped felloe of flexible
metal spokes securely united thereto and to the hub of the wheel, substantially as
set forth.
2nd. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with a tire and felloe in one piece made
T-shaped, of flexible metal spokes securely united thereto and to the hub of the
wheel, substantially as set forth.
3rd. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with a T-shaped felloe, of flexible metal
spokes curved or sprung out of a true radial line in the direction of their length,
said spokes being securely united, to the said felloe and to the hub of the wheel,
substantially as set forth.
4th. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with a tire and felloe in one piece made
T-shaped, of flexible metal spokes curved or sprung out of a true radial line in the
direction of their length, said spokes being securely united to the said felloe and to
the hub of the wheel, substantially as set forth.
5th. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with a tire and felloe having a strip of
fibrous or other suitable material between them of flexible metal spokes securely
united to the felloe and to the hub of the wheel, substantially as set forth.
6th. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with a tire and felloe having a strip of
fibrous or other suitable material between them of flexible metal spokes curved or
sprung out of a true radial line in the direction of their length, said spokes being
securely united to the felloe and to the hub of the wheel, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 7th. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with the tire and a T-shaped felloe of a
strip of fibrous or other suitable material placed between them and flexible metal
spokes securely united to said felloe and to the hub of the wheel, substantially as
set forth.
8th. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with the tire and a T-shaped felloe, of
a strip of fibrous or other suitable material placed between them and flexible metal
spokes curved or sprung out of a true radial line in the direction of their length,
said spokes being securely united to said felloe and to the hub of the wheel,
substantially as set forth.
9th. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with a tire and felloe having a strip of
fibrous or other suitable material between them of flexible metal spokes securely
united to the felloe and to the hub of the wheel, said hub being so constructed that
the spokes may be securely but removably inserted therein from either side thereof,
substantially as set forth.
10th. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with a tire and felloe having a strip of
fibrous or other suitable material between them, of flexible metal spokes curved or
sprung out of a true radial line in the direction of their length, said spokes being
securely united to the felloe and to the hub of the wheel, said hub being so
constructed that the spokes may be securely but removably inserted therein from
either side thereof, substantially as set forth.
11th. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with the tire and a T-shaped felloe of
a strip of fibrous or other suitable material placed between them and flexible metal
spokes securely united to said felloe and to the hub of the wheel, said hub being so
constructed that the spokes may be securely but removably inserted therein from
either side thereof, substantially as set forth.
12th. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with the tire and a T-shaped felloe, of
a strip of fibrous or other suitable material placed between them and flexible metal
spokes curved or sprung out of a true radial line in the direction of their length,
said spokes being securely united to said felloe and to the hub of the wheel, said
hub being so constructed that the spokes may be securely but removably inserted
therein from either side thereof, substantially as set forth.
13th. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with the tire and a T-shaped felloe,
of a strip of fibrous or other suitable material placed between them and flexible
metal spokes curved or sprung out of a true radial line in the direction of their
length, said spokes being securely united to said felloe and to the hub of the
wheel, and an axle box tapered and screw-threaded at one end, and the other end
made flaring to be inserted into said hub, substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
14th. In a vehicle wheel the combination with a metal tire and a metal T-shaped
felloe having the flat side next to the tire, of flexible metal spokes and a metal
hub having the ends ff and heads c c', substantially as and for the purpose set
forth.
15th. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with a metal tire and a metal T-shaped
felloe having the flat side next to the tire, of a strip of paper or other fibrous
material interposed between said tire and felloe, flexible metal spokes and a
metal hub having the ends ff and heads c c¹, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth,
16. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with a metal tire and a metal T-shaped
felloe having the flat side next to the tire, of a strip of paper or other fibrous
material interposed between said tire and felloe, flexible metal spokes constructed
as shown and described, a metal hub having the ends ff', heads c c¹ and rim G
with openings g therein into which the inner ends of the said spokes are adapted
to be inserted and removably united thereto, substantially as and for the purpose
set forth.
17th. In a vehicle wheel a metal hub having ends ff¹ and heads c c¹, substantially
as and for the purpose set forth.
18th. In a vehicle wheel the combination with a metal hub E having the

page_text: heads cc¹, one screw-threaded internally and the other counter-sunk, of an axle-
box F made tapering and screw-threaded at one end and flaring at the other end,
so as to be securely united to and within said hub, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
19th. In a vehicle wheel the. combination with a metal hub E having ends ƒ ƒ¹
and heads cc' one of which heads is screw-threaded internally and the other counter-
sunk, of an axle-box F made tapering and screw-threaded at one end and flaring
at the other end, so as to be securely united to and within the hub, substantially as
and for the purpose set forth.
C
20th. In a vehicle wheel, the combination with a metal tire and a metal T-shaped
felloe having the flat side next to the tire and secured thereto, a strip of paper or
other fibrous material interposed between the tire and the felloe, a hollow metal
hub E having ends fil and heads e c¹ and a rim G. with openings 9 therein, into
which the spokes are to be inserted, a metal axle-box tapered and screw-threaded
at one end and the other end made flaring to be inserted into said hub, flexible
metal spokes D. having flanges d on their outer ends which fit into mortises b in
the standard of the T-shaped felloe and are riveted thereto and which spokes are
curved or bent semi-circular in form at their inner ends to be inserted into the
openings in the rim G, and are securely fastened therein by rivets or bolts, and
caps or bands K. secured to the hub E. and covering the sides of the rim G,
substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
21st. In a vehicle wheel the combination with the spokes having the ends which
are to be united to the hub constructed with semi-circular bends a, as shown and
described, of a hub having openings g. therein into which said ends of said spokes
are inserted and rivets or bolts also inserted into said openings, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
22nd. In a vehicle wheel the combination with the spokes having the ends which
are to be united to the hub constructed with semi-circular bends a as shown and
described, of a hub having openings g therein into which said ends of said spokes
are inserted, rivets or bolts also inserted into said openings and caps or bands secured
to the hub on both sides thereof over said openings g, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth.
23rd. In a vehicle wheel a metal felloe made T-shaped or with an inner flange
and flat metal spokes, bent in reverse curves and having a twist that brings their
outer ends with their surfaces to the flat surface of said flange on the felloe to which
they are bolted or fastened while the other ends of said spokes have semi-circular
bends a and are inserted into slots or openings g. having recesses in the metal hub G.
and secured therein by pins or bolts g', substantially as set forth..
24th. In a vehicle wheel a metal felloe made T-shaped or with an inner flange
and flat metal spokes, bent in reverse curves and having a twist that brings their
outer ends with their surfaces to the flat surface of said flange on the felloe to which
they are bolted or fastened while the other ends of said spokes have semi-circular
bends a and are inserted into slots or openings 9 having recesses in the metal
hub G. and secured therein by pins or bolts g', and caps or bands secured to the hub
on both sides thereof over said openings g, substantially as set forth.
25th. In a vehicle wheel the combination of a metal felloe made T-shaped or
with an inner flange having mortises therein, and flat metal spokes bent in reverse
curves having their outer ends bent to fit into said mortises in the felloe and said
spokes having a twist that brings said outer ends with their surfaces to the flat
surface of said flange on the felloe to which they are bolted or fastened while the
other ends of said spokes have semi-circular bends a and are inserted into slots or
openings g having recesses in the metal hub G. and secured therein by pins or bolts g¹
substantially as set forth.
26th. In a vehicle wheel the combination of a metal tire and a metal felloe made
T-shaped or with an inner flange, having the flat side next to the tire and secured
thereto, a strip of paper or other fibrous material interposed between said tire and
felloe and flat metal spokes bent in reverse curves and having a twist that brings

page_text: their outer ends with their surfaces to the flat surface of said flange on the felloe
to which they are bolted or fastened while the other ends of said spokes have
semi-circular bends a and are inserted into slots or openings having recesses
in the metal hub G. and secured therein by pins or bolts g substantially as set
forth.
Dated the 30th day of December 1890.
g
PHILIP M. JUSTICE,
Associate Agent.