US1240003A - Wheel. - Google Patents

Description

P. G. ANDERSON.

WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11. 1915.

Lfififiw u Patented Sept. 11, 1917.

3 SHEETSSHEET I.

P. G. ANDERSON.

WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT-11119.16.

1. ,QQQQUfi; Patented Sept. 11, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

P. G. ANDERSON.

WHE EL. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 11- 1916.

Patented Sept. 1!, 1917.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

" %TATE% AENT @FFTQM PER G. ANDERSON, on ELKHART, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR 'ro BATHRICK & PALMER MACHINE 00., INCORPORATED, or ELKHAJM', INDIANA.

WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patggntgfl g e ML 3191 Application filed September 11, 1916. Serial No. 119,518.

To all whom it may concern Beit known that 1, PER Gr. A DERsoN,"

wheels, and particularly to a wheel of that class wherein the spokes and rim are formed from a blank stamped up from sheet metal, the primary object of the present invention being to provide a novel form and construetion of rim and spokes, whereby lightness with strength and durability are obtained, and further to provide a novel construction of hub and means for clamping the spokes thereto, whereby maximum strength and durability at the point of connection is at.

forded.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wheel of this character which is composed of a comparatively few number of parts, which can be'easily and conveniently assembled to produce the wheel structure.

The invention consists in the features ofconstruction and thecombination and arrangement of parts which will be hereinafter described, defined in the claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in

I which:

Figure 1 is an outer side elevation of a vehicle wheel constructed in accordance with my invention;

Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through the same;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the hub;

Fig. 4: is a fragmentary perspective vlew of one of the spoke ends;

Fig. 5 is a similar view of another spoke end' Fig. 6 is a transverse section showing a modified form of rim; and

Figs. 7 and 8 are similar views showing othe modified forms of rims.

In the practical embodiment of my invention I provide a hub 1, preferably comprising a casting having the tubular side entensions 2 and 3, the former being of less diameter than the hub body to provide a contiguous annular shoulder 4, the latter being provided with a threaded portion for the recepconnected with the opposite edges 0 tion of a hub cap. The side extension 3 is also of less diameter than the body of the hub to provide an annular shoulder 7. The shoulder 7 is formed partly by the inner portion of an annular vertical flange 8 formed upon one side of the hub body and connecting the same with a horizontal flange 9 surrounding the hub body, the inner free edge of said flange 9 forming an abutment surface 10 which is in line with the shoulder or abutment surface 4.

The rim 11 of the wheel comprises a transversely flat plate which is provided at one side with a retaining flange 12 and which is integral with spoke elements 13 and 14, said spoke elements extending inwardly at diverging angles toward opposite sides of the hub and alternating in arrangement with each other. The rim and spoke elements are formed, in practice, from a single piece of sheet metal first stamped to produce a blank of the desired contour and then bent into shape, the spokes 13 and 1 1 being produced by rolling portions of the metal into tubular or cylindrical form. The outer ends of these spokes are respectively the rim 11 by connecting webs 15 and 16, the web 15 being made continuous with the flange 12, which is made of extra thickness by the doubling of the sheet metal as shown. The portions of the metal forming the web 16 are displaced at intervals around the wheel to provide attaching flanges 17, while the inner ends of the spokes 13 and 14 are formed to clearly abut against the outer face of the spoke supporting flange 9 and are respectively provided with extensions 18 and 19 at 7 one side for attachment thereto.

The extensions 18 of the spokes13 are arranged to bear against the inner surfaces of hollow bosses 20 formed upon the flange 9 and are clamped against said bosses by clamping members 21 secured to the bosses by rivets 22, the heads of which are housed within the bosses, as shown. Said spokes are also provided at their outer side with concaved portions 23, which are engaged and held in engagement with the bosses by an inner clamping plate 2 1 which surrounds the portion 2 of the hub and which is fastened in position by transverse bolts 25.

The extensions 19 of the spokes 14: fit against an abutment or clamping surface 26 formed on the vertical flange 8 and are clamped against said surface by an outer annular clamping plate 27, through which ex. tensions and plates the bolts 25 also pass and are fitted with 'nuts 27, whereby the said spoke extensions 19 and clamping'plate are secured in position. The clamping platebears against the shoulder 7 and is provided at its outer edge with inclined lugs or oflsets 28 which engage the inner ends of the body portions of the spokes 14 and thus reinforce and hold said spokes from outward deflec-. tion.

It will be evident from the foregoing description that the rim and spokes may be economicallyconstructed of sheet metal to provide a combined rim and spoke structure of maximum strength and durability, and that by the described construction of the hub and clamping elements the inner ends of the spokes may be fastened to the hub in a firm and secure. manner. This construction also enables a wheel to be made which is composed of parts capable of being readily assembled for use and also. disassembled for repairs or other purposes, while maintaining its integrity under stresses and strains in service. The construction described further provides for the use of a hub of maximum strength adapting the wheel to be used upon automobiles andother comparatively heavy vehicles.

In the structure shown in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, the webs 15 and 16 extend inwardly from the edges of the rim plate 11 on converging lines and abut and are arcuately curved to form a connecting portion in in which the webs mutually reinforce and brace each other, and the form of rim disclosed in said figures is adapted for use in connection with an outer demountable rim 29 adapted for holding a clencher tire,

which rim may be provided with the usual attaching clips or webs 30 which are secured to the flanges 17 by bolts or analogous fastenings 31. As shown in Fig. 7, the construction ma be modified by forming a straight or at rim ll integral with the Webs 15 and 16 and brazing or otherwise fastening thereto a cast or rolled metal outer rim plate 32 having at one side a retaining flange 33 and which is adapted to receive a demountable rim of the type shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. 8 I have shown a modification in which the wheel rim 11 is formed .at one side to rovide a retaining flange 34 similar to the ange 12 and at its opposite side to form a depressed channel 35, such a type of rim being adapted for cooperation with an outer demountable rim adapted to carry a straight side tire.

In Fig. 9 I have shown a rim similar in construction to the rim shown in Fig. 8, with the exception that the webs 15 and 15 are straight instead of curved and are arranged in V-shaped formation, a type of structure which may be employed if desired.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the construction and mode of use of my improved wheel will be readily understood, and it will be seen that the invention provides a wheel including a cast 'or drop forged hub in connection with a unitary spoke and rim structure, together with connecting means whereby the spokes are firmly clamped to provide a wheel of great strength and durability. Other advantages will be apparent to those versed in the art from the foregoing description.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A Wheel including a rim and spokes formed in a unitary structure from sheet metal, the spokes being coupled to the rim by webs having inner abutting portions and outer diverging portions, one of said webs having flanges struck outwardly therefrom for engagement with fastening means of a demountable rim.

2. A wheel including a rim and spokes formed as a unitary structure from sheet metal, said spokes being coupled to the rim by webs having inner abutting portions and outer diverging portions, one of' said webs having flanges struck outwardly therefrom for engagement with fastening means of a demountable rim, the spokes at opposite sides of the wheel being of unequal lengths and having extensions at their inner ends, a hub, and means for securing said spoke extensions to the hub.

3. A wheel comprising a hub, a rim and spokes formed of a unitary structure of sheet metal, said spokes having inner end portions bearing against the periphery of the hub and provided with extensions,

.clamping plates engaging the spokes and their extensions, and fastening means for uniting the aforesaid parts.

4. A wheel comprising a hub having end portions and a surrounding annular flange carrying clamping surfaces at opposite sides thereof, a rim and spokes formed as a unitary structure of sheet metal, said spokes having inner end portions resting against said flange and extensions resting against memos the spokes at one side of the center of the wheel to the series of clamping members, a clamping plate engaging the abutment surface at the opposite side of the Wheel and clamping the extensions of the other spokes thereagainst, and bolts passing through the extensions of the latter named spokes and the said clamping plates and securing the parts in position.

6. In a wheel, a rim and spokes formed of sheet metal, said rim and spokes being provided with connecting webs, one of said Webs having flanges struck outwardlt therefrom for engagement with fastening means of a demountable rim.

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

PER G. ANDERSQN,

Witnesses:

V. L. Brsnor, FRED J. PAMEEIR.

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