US1558468A - Disk wheel - Google Patents

Description

Oct 27,192 1,558,468

G. H. FORSYTH DISK WHEEL Original Filed March 13, 1922 Patented Oct. 27, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

' GEORGE E. FO'RSYTH, OF CHICAGO. ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOB TO MOTOR WHEEL CORPORA- TION, OF LANSING, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OF MICHIGAN.

DISK WHEEL.

Carved out of application on which Patent No. 1,373,184 was granted March 29, 1921, and filed after grant of that patent. This application filed March 13, 1922, Serial No. 543,189. Renewed August 24, 1925.

double disk type wherein the telly portion of the wheel is formed separate and apart from the two disk portions, this application being subject matter carved out of my application Serial No. 264,253, filed Nov. 26. 1918.

Steel wheels of the double disk type have in the past generally embodied two disks spaced apart more widely at the center and approaching each other peripherally near the point of attachment to the rim. This emphasizes optically the impression of heaviness and also sacrifices resiliency to rigid strength while at the same time failing to impart strength in the highest degree except as measured by capacity to carry dead load as distinguished from resistance to laterally applied stresses resulting from skidding, striking of curbs, etc. Where single disks have been employed they too usually have been open to the same 0bjcctions.

The main and primary object of the present invention is the provision of' such a wheel which, due to the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter described, is characterized by a reduced cost of production, an increase in its actual strength under load while reducing the actual weight, an adaptation to dilterent standard hubs, and an appearance of lightness and symmetry compatible with the best appearing pleasure car.

In order that the invention in its various aspects may be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art, two embodiments of the invention are set forth hereinafter by way of description and ex cinplification in the accompanying drawing. ll will be readily appreciated however that the description and drawing are illustrative only and are not to be taken in an unnecessai'il) limiting sense.

In the drawing- Fig. 1 is a vertical section through a wheel embodying the present invention; and

Fig 2 is a similar section throu h a wheel wherein the disk portions may e formed of tempered spring steel, sprung into position; illustrating an embodiment of central spacing construction of particular valuein this type.

Having articular reference to Fig. l of the drawing the numerals l0 and 11 represent respectively the forward and the rear wheel disks. the central portions of said disks adjacent the hub being shaped for assemblage with the standard hub 12, hub plate 13. and brake drum 14 whereby no special designing of the wheel hub and related parts is necessary. The first or forward disk 10, which is the smaller in diameter of the two, is shouldered at 15 to bear against the annular wooden insert 16 which preferably corresponds in thickness to the usual wooden spokes of the artillery type at wheel, and to which it is secured by bolts 17. The said disk curves inwardly from the shoulder 15 a short distance and then radially and gradually outward in a sweeping curve to its outer marginal edge 18. The second or rear disk 11 is shown as having its central portion adjacent the hub disposed parallel to the corresponding portion of the forward disk and secured to the opposite or inner edge of the wooden insert 16 by means of the previously mentioned bolts 17. This disk extends radially from the side of the wooden insert 16 to a point where it curves inwardly and then again radially. thus forming a shouldered portion 19 for bearing upon the brake drum 14. In case no brake drum is used, as in front. wheels, the curve at 19 imparts additional resiliency to the disk. Throughout the portion of this second disk intermediate the cupped portions or pockets 20 to be described later the disk extends from the shoulder 19 in a substantially radial direction as indicated at 21 to its marginal pc riphery 22,, where it is flanged slightly'to the rear for a purpose hereinafter explained.

In association with the two disks above described, a supplemental felly member 23 is employed which is preferably formed of heavier metal than the disks l0 and 1.1, and serves both to connect the marginal spaced portions'of the two disks and to support the rim 24. The felly member 23 has a configuration characterized by marginal beads 25 and 26 for taking over the peripheral portions 18 and 22 of the two disks. It provides also a shoulder 27 for the bearing of a rim-retaining ring 28, and a second shoulder at 26 for positioning the rear edge of the rim 24. By the employment of this felly member it is rendered possible to use disks 10 and 11 of lighter metal than would otherwise be permissible.

Having reference to the curvature of the rear disk 11 where it is formed into pockets 20, the depressed surface of the disk bears radially and gradually forward from shoulder 19 in substantially parallel spaced rela- 'tion tothe disk 10, and, adjacent the periphery lies against the under surface of the felly member 23 and conforms with the curvature of the said member, as illustrated clearly in Fig. 1. Apertures are formed in the deepest portions of the pockets 20 to receive bolts 29 which pass through aligned openings in the felly member and serve to 'attach the rim-retaining ring 28 to the wheel.

With particular reference now to Fig. 2, a form of disk is employed both on the front and rear faces of the wheel which, asmciated and united by means of this felly member, enables the employment, if desired, of highly tempered spring steel disks, whereby exceptional strength accompanied with great resiliency is obtained.

The front disk 1.0 and the rear disk 11 are of slightly different diameters, but in other respects are substantially the same. They are preferably, although not necessarily, punched from a fiat sheet of hard or. tempered steeland need not be formed in their concave shape by a press. The felly member 23 having been formed, the disks 10 and 11 may be placed on opposite sides thereof and forced towards each other at their central portions whereby they are sprung into concave shape and their marginal portions, originally held apart by the beaded margins 25 and 26 of the telly member, are sufficiently contracted to clear the beads and snap into the channels formed within the heads. The disks are then permitted to separate sutliciently at their central and hub portions to allow their outer peripheries to be forced outwardly again under the spring of the disks as far as permitted by the felly member. In this position they are retained by the inherent tension of the metal in the disks tending to resume its former plane. This method of assembling forms a wheel of exceeding strength and resiliency, presenting a maximum of resistance to deforming strain and insuring a return of the wheel to its original shape after deformation.

As a particularly cfiicicnt method of assembling the disks and felly member in the relation above described, and holding the same in assembled relation, I arrange within the space between the two disks about the hub portion two telescopically disposed cuplike plates 30 and 31, the inner side wall of one and theouter side wall of the other being threaded for mutual intercngagement as shown. The inner peripheries of these two plates are provided with notches or holes 32 for engagement by a spanner wrench or the like in order that they may be angularly adjusted relative to each other. By turning one of these plates in one direction they are caused to approach one. another and thus allow the central portions of the disks to be pressed together, thereby dishing the disks and reducing their diameters sufliciently to permit them to enter the beads 25 and 26 of the folly member. The disks having done so, one of the plates is turned in the opposite direction, thus spacing the central portions of the disks farther apart, and supplementing the spring tension of the disks in firmly seating the margins of the same within the beads of the telly member. Thereafter the plates 30 and 31 constitute a filler member serving to hold the plates in fixed relation at their centers and being themselves prevented from further relative movement by means of the bolts 17, which unite the hub plate 13 with the brake drmn 14 while at the same time transtixing the plates 30 and 31.

The locking of the cupped plates 30 and 31 relative to one another also prevents any relaxing of the spring tension of the disks due to the tightening of the bolts 17. In this construction the valve stem 33 is made exteriorly accessible by passing the same through the disk 11. The rim-retaining bolts 29 have their heads disposed within the space between the disk 11 and felly member 23, and are prevented from turning within the folly member by-the engagement therewith of a polygonal shank.

It will be observed also that the telescopic arrangement of the'filler plates 30 and S1 imparts tothe composite filler member an adjustability as to thickness, enabling the wheel to be fitted to standard hubs having varying distances between front and rear hub plates corresponding to the thickness of wooden spokes employed in ditl'crent wheels of artillery typc.- 'lhc tillcr member 16 of Fig. 1. also may be dressed down to adapt the wheel to a thinner standard hub. or it may be substituted by a member of greater or less thickness according to the requirements of the particular hub to be fitted with the disk.

It will be understood that while the illustrated embodiments of the invention are described as shown, a considerable latitude ltlt) is to be permitted in construction within the range ofthe claims. For instance, the beaded outer margins and 26 may be formed after instead of before the assembly with the disks 10 and 11; also the felly member 23 may be formed integral with either the forward disk 10 or the rear disk 11.

I claim:

1. A disk wheel comprising disks having their inner portions spaced apart in fixed relation at the hub, and their peripheries spaced apart a greater distance and united by a felly member, the intermediate portion of the disks being under compression.

2. A wheel comprising a hub portion, a medial disk portion, and a felly portion, the medial disk portion formed of two opposed plates spaced farther apart adjacent their peripheries than adjacent the hub to produce a double wheel disk having its medial disk portion maintained under radially acting compressive stress.

3. A wheel'comprising a hub portion, a medial disk portion, and a felly portion, the medial disk portion formed of two opposed plates spaced farther apart adjacent their peripheries than adjacentthe hub and maintained under compressive stress, the forward and rear faces being concave.

4. A disk wheel comprising a hub portion, a felly member and spaced steel disks, said disks spaced apart in fixed relation at their central portions by the hub, and spaced farther apart adjacent their peripheries and held in engagement with the felly by the inherent'spring action of the disks.

5. A disk wheel comprising a hub portion, a felly member, and spaced steel disks connecting the hub and felly, in combination with a pair of filler spacing plates disposed between the disks about the hub, said plates each flanged towards the other and provided with interengaging threads, said filler plates provided with means of relative angular adjustment to increase or diminish the space between the disks in their central portions,- and means for holding the disks in adjusted relation.

6. The method of forming a metal disk wheel associated with a hub and a felly, which consists indisposing the disks in spaced relation'with their outer edges held apart by the felly member having marginal inwardly opening channeled beads, forcing.

the center portion of the disks towards each other until their peripheries clear the chanspaced relation with their outer edges held apart by'the felly member havin marginal inwardly opening channeled bea s, forcing the center portion of the disks towards each other until their peripheries clear the 'channel walls of the felly, and then allowing the central portions of the disk to separate .sufficiently to cause their peripheries to seat within the channels of the beads, and then fixing the assumed relation of the central portion of the disk at the hub in order to prevent their peripheries from leaving the channels under stress.

, 8. A wheelcomprising a hub with front and rear hub plates, a felly portion and an intermediate disk portion secured at the hub by the plates, with means adjustable as to thickness for spacing the plates apart whereby to enable the utilization of the standard spoke hub in a disk wheel.

9. A wheel comprising a hub with front and rear hub plates, a rim portion, and an intermediate disk portion secured at the hub between the plates in combination with a filler member, adjustable as to thickness, assembled with the disk portion between the hub plates whereby to enable the utilization of the standard spoke hub in a disk wheel.

10. A disk wheel including front and rear disks spaced apart at the hub and having their-peripheries in fixed relation, the two disks maintained under radial compressive stress.

11. A wheel comprising disks having their central, portions spaced apart at the hub and their peripheries also spaced apart and united by a felly member, and means acting to vary the distance betweenthe disks adjacent the hub whereby to set up and maintain radialcompression in the disks.

12. A disk wheel including a hub, a felly, and front and rear disks secured to the huband felly, with means acting upon the disks in the hub zone to set up and maintain radial-

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