US1475161A

US1475161A - Metal wheel

Info

Publication number: US1475161A
Application number: US265403A
Authority: US
Inventors: James H Wagenhorst
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1918-12-05
Filing date: 1918-12-05
Publication date: 1923-11-20
Anticipated expiration: 1940-11-20

Description

3 Sheets-Sheet l fil/L41;

.1. H. WAGENHORST METAL WHEEL Filed DGO. 5, 1918 lNov. 20, i923.

Nw. 20, w23.

` l,475,l6l J. H. WAGENHORST METAL WHEEL Filed Dec. 1918 3 sheets-sheet 2 NOV. 2u, 1929s. www@ J, H( VVAGENHORST- METAL WHEEL Filed Dec. 5, 1918 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 vide a rigid connection atented Nov. 2d, i.

lm E. WJAGENHRSE @F AKRQN, @HEEL dpplietlon idioti December 5, 192.3. Serial ilo. 2655293.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, Jarras H. Wesen- Hons'r, a citizen et the United States, residing at Akron, in the county oi Summit and State of hio, have invented a certain new and useful improvement in Metal Wheels, of which the following is a full, clear, and eXact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates generally to metal wheels, and more particularly to one coinprising a hub, a telly intended to receive a demountable tire carrying rim, and a plu rality of dat or stripped metal spokes rigidly iastened to the hub and tensioned as their outer ends are connected to the telly.

One object of the invention is to provide a cheap, simple, and durable wheel, one which can be quickly and easily assembled, and one in which the wheel adjustment or the bringing of the wheel body into proper alignment can be accomplished by and with the tensioning of the spokes, and another advantage of a construction of this character is, that by means of strip spokes all circumferential torque is cared for and by giving the proper spread to the spolres at their inner ends a .wheel can be provided capable. of standing lateral strains from either direction.

Another object of the invention is to construct the spoke ends so as to permit optional tensioning and at the same time probetween the spoke and `telly.

Another object is to provide for the proper tensioning of each individual spoke irrespective of its angle with reference to the axis ot the wheel, and it is also an object of the invention to provide 'for a simple and economical manufacture of the spokes.

With these several objects in view and certain others which will become apparent, the invention consists in the novel features of construction and combination hereinafter fully described and set forth in the appended claims.

ln the drawings 'forming a part of this specification, Fig. v1 is a side elevation, partly in section, of a wheel body embodying one form of my invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section through the hub and rim; Fig. 3 i's a detail sectional view showing a .slight modiiication of theielly; Fig. 4 is a plan view oi the blank 'rom which the ,spokes are cut; Fig. 5 is a side elevation partly in section of a w in which the in1 plained.

ner and outer spokes are arranged alternately; Figttl is a detail perspective view of one oi 'the spokes; Fig. 7 is a detail view partly 1n section showing on a somewhat larger scale the connection between the spoke end and telly; F ig. 8 is a transverse sectional View showing another form or method of connecting the inner ends of the spokes; Fig. 9 is a detail perspective view of one end of one construction of hub used in connection with this type of wheel; Fig. l0 is a sectional view showing a slightly diderent manner of connecting the outer end of the spokes to the folly and also brake drum and spoke ends and hub; Fig. il is a detail perspective view of the spoke ends shown inFig. l0; Fig. l2 is a detail sectional view showing a slightly modified the manner of connecting the 7@ construction oi hub; and Fig. l2a a view, l@

similar to Fig. 11, showing a modiiication or the outer spoke-end construction.

ln the practical embodiment of my invention I employ a metallic hub A having an exterior annular flange lB adjacent its inner end and a similar iiange C adjacent its outer end and these flanges are 'formed with a bead or rib B' upon their respective inner and outer faces and these beads or lribs can be in the form of a circle or they maybe polygonal in form, the number o sides being determined by the number of spokes used in connection with the wheel. The telly or fixed rim D is of sheet metal and is intended to receive a demountable tire carrying rim and may be of any desired type or construction, and in Fig. 2 l have shown this telly as having a dat base on bottom portion while in Fig. 3 the base is inclined as shown at D and D2 for the `purpose hereinafter en- The spokes E are 0i strip or sheet metal, tapered slightly at their inner ends as shown at E in order that they may be assembled about the hub, and at their outer ends each spoke is formed with a shank or spindle portion E2 which is adapted to be projected through an opening F produced in the base or bottom of the metallic telly or 'lined rim and the end of this spindle or shank portion E2 is threaded .as shown. at ES in order to receive the tensioning or fastening nut G. In punching the holes i? a portion of the metal is carried outwardly as shown at F in Fig. 7 providing a reinforcement at this point and also a .rounded edge into which can be drawn the fillet/ed portion F2 oi the spoke end it being preferable to form this fillet at the juncture of the flat portion of spoke with the shankV or spindle portion thereof.

In practice I propose to run `the spokes out in a continuous strip as illustrated in Fig. 4, theinner end portions of adjacent strips being united and the shank or spindle portion also united and the continuous strip or blank comprising a series of spokes can be divided at the proper pointsto provide the separate and individual spokes. The shaping of the spokes with the taper at the inner end can be accomplished at the same tlme that the spokes are divided at this point. By this method of making the sp kcs I obtain greater economy in their manufacture and at the same time maintain great uniformity in the spokes. 1

The inner end of each spoke is also preferably formed with a corrugation H which enables the spoke to be iitted against the rib or beaded hub flange and the inner and outer hub rings I and K are provided with grooves I and K into which the corrugat-ions H are adapted to lit when said rings are placed upon the hub and fastened to the hub flanges by means of bolts L which pass through the rings and flanges and the spoke ends at the points where they are corrugated. By this means the inner ends of the spokes are securely connected to the hub and all possibility' oi movement at this point of attachment is eliminated. In Figs. l and v2 I have shown the inner and outer spokes in alignment whereas in Fig. 5 the inner and outer spokes are arranged alternately.

Instead of a, bead from the hub ange a protuberance could be provided and corresponding recesses produced in the rings I and K and the bolt openings in the spoke could be flanged by drawing a portion of the metal through at the time the bolt openings are punched and this flanged portion would receive the protuberance on the hub flange and would in its turn fit into the recess in the flange ring.

The outer ends of the spokes are first projected through the openings in the felly and thenuts placed thereon to maintain them in their proper position and then by tightening up the nuts the spokes are placed under tension and the adjustment or trueing of the wheel accomplished and it will be noticed that each and every spoke can be given the proper-tension irrespective of' its angle with reference to the axis of the wheel and 'furthermore by rounding the openings in the felly and filleting the spoke end a rigid connection will be obtained which at the same time lends itself to the optional tensioning of the spoke it being understood that a very slight longitudinal or stretching move- Inent will place the entire spoke under proper tension "and by connecting the inner and outer ends of the spoke to the hub and felly respectively all tendency towards circumferential movement avoided.

It will be noted that the outer series of spokes are given a greater inclination than the inner series and in order'to provide the proper bearing supports for these differently inclined spokes I rovide beveled spacing washers L beneatlli the nuts and bearing upon the face of the fell or the base of the felly canrbe given the roper angles ff inclination as shown. at lg and D2 in Fig. 3. y

By havingthe spokes separate each spoke can be properly tensioned irrespective of its inclination, and another advantage of separate spokes is that in case one spoke should become bent or broken it can be quickl and easily removed and a new one substituted and properly tensioned without disturbing the remaining spokes. In Fi .3. 1, 2, and 3 and likewise 8 and 12 Ihave s iown the outer ends of the spokes attached. to the felly at different ints that is, the inner series attached ad'cent 'to of the telly andthe outer series attached to the outer side of the felly 8 where the spokes cross eac other and the reverse order is obtained. In Fi 10 however I have shown the spoke enls brought together and projected through a single opening in the felly and a commonnut applied to the ends which when combined constitute a cylindrical shank or spindle to receive the nut. The spoke ends for'this construction are illustrated in detail in Fig. 11.

In Figs. 8, 9, and 12 I have shown another method of'connecting the inner ends of the spokes to the hub which consists in providing hub flanges M, the inner 'and outer faces ofv which are inclined corresponding with the inclination .it is desired to give to the spoke. The inner end of each spoke is bent backwardly and inwardlv upon itself as shown atI N and this bent or hooked end is brought into e gement with 'a ring 0 frusto-conical innil inclination of its faces corresponding with the inclination of the hub anges M and the inclination of the spokes. The hooked ends of the spokes are brought into engagement with the rings and then the outer ends of said spokes projected through the felly and the spokes tensioned, and it is obvious that as these spokes are all brought under pr per tension ithe rings with the spokes conn cted theretolwill be brought into engagement with the hub flanges which arrest their movement and thereby maintain the inner ends of the spokes in a thorou hly rigid position. If desired the rings couId be made with shallow radial depressions to receive the spoke ends and the hub flanges could is completely the inner side rm, the

except in Fig.

lll

maaier also be made with shallow radial depressions M either to receive the spoke ends in case they project beyond the face of the ring or these depressions could receive projections formed upon the rings if desirable, the idea being that by havingmating radial projections and depressions upon the hub anges and rings all possibility of circumferential movement at these points will be avoided.

ln Fig. l0 l have shown the inner end of the inner spoke as' turned in the reverse direction as shown at M in order to be brought into enga ement with the inclined portion P' of the irakedrum l), and bolts P2 can be passed through the hub flange, brake drum,` and if desired through the spoke ends. Where a limited number of spokes are employed the hub danges Mz can be formed with undercut grooves M3 as most clearly shown in Fig. 12, and into which the hooked ends of the spokes can be brought into engagement and in certain instances it maybe desirable to have spaced radial projections instead of a continuous hub flange in order' that the hooked end of the spoke may be inserted laterally. By connectin the inner ends of. the spokes tlinough t ,e employment of the ring in connection with the return bend of the spoke end it will be seen that a very cheap and easily assembled wheel is provided completely eliminating the use of bolts for effooting the connection between the spoke ends and hub, and it `is obvious that when all of the spokes are properly tensioned the central connecting ring will be held absolutely fixed in its proper position.

This form of connection could also be used with a straight hub flange and iat ring, that is flange and ring perpendicular to the axis of the Wheel, instead of having the hub flange and ring upon` an inclination.

It will thus be seen that l provide several novel forms of metal wheel all of which embody the saine general features of construction and advantage, namely the individual and optional tensioning of strip metal spokes whereby wheel adjustment is accomplished and circumferential torque avoided 'and at the same time a wheel provided ca able of withstanding lateral strains and maintaining loads without affecting any of the connectioiris between the several parts of the wheel body.

Subject matter disclosed but not claimed in this application is claimed in a divisional application Serial No. 668,534 filed Oct. 15th, i923. i

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is l. A. metal wheel comprising a hub, a plurality of strip spokes connected at their inner ends to the hub and terminating at their or ends in or spindles and a folly having openings through which the Shanks or spindles project and fastening means applied to said Shanks or spindles for connecting the spokes with the felly and simultaneously tensioning said spokes.

2. A metal wheel comprising a hub, a plurality of strip metal spokes having their inner ends connected to the hub and held against circumferential movement, the outer ends of said. strip spokes terminating in spindles, and a sheet metal felly having openings through which the spindles are projected and nuts screwed upon said spindles to secure the outer end of the spokes to the felly and simultaneously tension said spokes.

3. In a metal wheel, the combination with a hub, strip metal spokes terminating iu spindles the juncture of the strip and spindle being filleted and a sheet metal felllv having apertures therein to receive the spindle and filleted ends of the spoke the edges of said apertures being rounded.v and fastening means lapplied to the ends of the -spokes whereby said spokes are connected to the felly and radially tensioned.

42. A metal wheel comprising a hub having flanges and a sheet metal folly having apertures, and a plurality of stripiiiotul spokes the inner ends of said spokes being shaped for engagement with the hub flanges and means for holding said ends in engagement, the outer ends of said spokes being threaded and projected through the apertured felly and nuts secured upon said threaded ends for fastening and tensioning the spokes.

5. A metal wheel comprising a hub having radial flanges, a sheet metal fixed rim, an outer series of strip sheet metal spokes having spindles at their outer ends, said outer series of spokes being connected at their inner ends to the outerhub flange, the` outer ends of said spokes'passing through the sheet metal fixed rim and connected thereto. un inner series of strip sheet metal spokes having spindles at their outer ends, said outer ends passing through the sheet metal fixed rim and connected thereto, the inner ends of said inner sei-ies of spokes being connected to the inner hub flange. the angle of inclination of the outer series of spokes to the axis of the wheel being different from the angle of inclination of the inner series of spokes.

6., A metal wheel comprising a hub and a sheet metal felly, and a plurality of strip metal spokesconnected at their outer ends to the felly, the'inner ends of said spokes being bent back upon themselves and an annulus to which said inner ends of the spokes are connected, said spokes being tensioned 'whereby the annulus is held in engagement with the hub.

7. A etal wheel comprisinge hub having anges, a felly having apertures and a plurality of strip metal spokes, the inner ends of said spokes being bent back upon themselves, the outer ends of said spokes being threaded and projected through the felly, nuts applied to the threaded ends of Said spokes whereby said spokes and felly are connected together and the spokes tensioned, and an annulus to which the inner ends of the spokes are hooked, the spokes being arranged obliquely with reference to the plane of the Wheel, the annulus and spokes being held in locked relation with the hub. 8. A metal wheel, a hub, a felly, a plurality of strip spokes having their inner ends bent back upon themselves, the outer ends of said spokes being connected to the felly and tensioned, and a brake drum, the

maaier inner ends of said spokes being connected to the inner portions of said brake drum, and means for connecting said brake drum to said hub.

9. A metal wheel comprising a hub having anges, said flanges having projections, a sheet metal felly, and a plurality of strip metal spokes, the inner ends of said spokes being shaped for engagement with the hub flanges and the projections thereon, and means for holding said ends in engagement with said hub ianges, the outer ends of said spokes being connected to the sheet metal A felly.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature.

JAMES H. WAGEN HORST.