US1144373A - Traction-wheel. - Google Patents

Description

S. S. MORTON.

TRACTION WHEEL.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 29, 1914.

' Patented June 29, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET1.

S. S. MORTON. TRACTION WHEEL. APPLICATIONHLED JUNE 29, I914- 1,1M,378. Patented June 29, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

v 3 m W 5 n e I w fl xq :T T Q N N N x w v 3 '3 ins w T N @uuentoi Jazz/d pfzyarim SAES Application filed June 29, 1914. Serial No. 848,014.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, SAMUEL STEPHEN MORTON, citizen of the United States, residing at Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Traction-Wheels; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements 1n traction Wheels and is especially adapted for use upon vehicles propelled by mechanlcal power and designed for carrying heavy loads.

The object of the invention is to provide a wheel of this character so constructed that one-fourth of the circumference is in flat engagement with the ground at all times,

and in which the load is evenly distributed as the wheel revolves no matter whether the surface over which the wheel is passing be smooth or rough.

Another object is to provide a traction wheel in which the spokes and tread elements are so mounted that slipping is pre vented and shocks absorbed. 7

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 represents a side elevation of a wheel constructed in accordance with this inventlon; Fig. 2 is an edge View thereof with some of the spokes in section; Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 3--3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 1s a transverse vertical section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 1.

In the embodiment illustrated a casing 1s shown composed of two disk like steel plates 1 and 2, each having a centrally disposed opening surrounded on its outer face by a hub member 3 preferably made integral therewith. These disks have inturned peripheral edges whereby they are spaced apart when assembled. A central chamber 4 is formed from which radiate spoke sockets 5 providedwith reduced portions 6 at their outer ends, a shoulder 7 being formed at the junction of each of the reduced portions with the body of the socket. The larger body portion of the sockets is of a width corresponding to the length of a plurality of Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1915.

rollers 8 adapted to be disposed in the central chamber 4 and to extend into the inner ends of said sockets 5 fora purpose to be described. An annular flange 9 extends inwardly from the inner face of each of the disks 1 and 2- near the hub ortion thereof and forms a base or support or the rollers 8 above referred to. The disks 1 and 2 are secured together by a plurality of bolts extended transversely therethrough near the periphery thereof between the spoke sockets and also by other bolts which extend through said plates near the hub portion inside the partition formed by the flanges 9. Any desired number of spoke sockets 5 may be provided, 12 being here shown, and in which are slidably mounted spokes 10, the diameter of which corresponds to or is slightly less than that of the reduced portions 6 of the sockets. Blocks, 11 are mounted on the inner ends of these spokes 10 and are adapted to slide 1n the larger body portions of the sockets and are adapted to engage the shoulders 7 which limit the outward movement of the spokes. The free ends of these spokes 10 have balls 12 formed thereon which are adapted to revolubly engage correspondingly shaped sockets 13 formed in the tread elements 14. The tread elements 14 are here shown substantially inverted cup shaped and are provided in their outer faces at the center thereof, with rounded cavities 15 which form a portion of the sockets 13, the other ortion thereof being formed by cap mem- )eIS 16 secured to said inverted cup shaped tread elements, said cap members being here shown provided with laterally extending flanges 17 which overlap the inverted cup shaped members 14 and are riveted thereto. These cap members 16 are preferably made in section to facilitate the assembling of the parts.

The weight distributing elements 8 which are here shown in the form of rollers, are

. arranged transversely in the chamber 4 and in the larger portions of the sockets 5 and are adapted to move in and out to distribute the load properly on the spokes carrying the tread elements which engage the supporting surface for the wheel. It is to be observed that a certain quantity or number of rollers 9 must be employed suflicient to permit the operation above described to take place- For instance should the chamber be filled with rollers they could not serve as weight distributors; neither would they opcrate if an insuflicient amount were used, approximately one twelfth, more or less, of the chamber should be vacant.

The reduced outer portions 6 of the sockets 5 are each provided with a packing 19 designed to retain the heavy grease and graphite used for lubricating the spokes and to apply it to them in their movement into and out of the sockets.

Forming a ball and socket connection between the spokes 10 and the tread elements or feet 14-, adapts the spokes to adjust themselves to smooth or uneven surfaces and the cup shape of said elements adapts them to retain their position wherever placed without danger of slipping. This construction of s oke and tread elements adapts it as a shoc absorber also, for instance, should the wheel pass over a hole in the road, one or two of these feet will shoot down into the hole without permitting the axle to drop as is the case with wheels as ordinarily constructed and it operates similarly when passing over projections in the road as the spoke which passes over the projections will slide inward without raising the axle or it will raise it a slight distance only. The construction of this wheel also especially adapts it for use on a plowed field or soft road as it does not pack the surface over which it passes, and thus requires less power to operate it.

I claim as my invention l. A traction wheel comprising a casing having a plurality of radially extending spoke sockets reduced at their outer ends, with shoulders formed at the inner ends of said reduced portions, spokes slidably mounted in said sockets and provided on their inner ends with enlargements operating in the larger portions of the sockets. tread elements mounted on the free ends of said spokes and having a universal joint connection therewith, and load distributing frictional engaging elements mounted in said casing at the inner endof said spokes, and partially filling said casing.

2. A traction wheel comprising a casing, having a central hub, a chamber surrounding said hub, radially extending spoke sockets communicating with said chamber, spokes slidably mounted in said sockets, means for limiting the outward movement of said spokes. load distri -iuting rollers disposed in said chamber and adapted to extend into said sockets and filling about eleven twelfths of said casing, and tread elements engaged with the free ends of said spokes by ball and socket joints.

3. A traction wheel comprising a casing composed of two disk like plates having registering central hub portions, an annular partition within said casing surrounding said hub portion, a plurality of radially extending socket members formed in each of said plates, those in one plate adapted to register with those in the other when the parts are assembled to form spoke sockets, spokes slidably mounted in said sockets, cooperating means on said spokes and the inside walls of said sockets for limiting the outward movement of the spokes and inverted cup shaped tread elements mounted on the free ends of each of said spokes and havling a ball and socket connection there- Wit 1.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL STEPHEN MORTON Witnesses:

IRWIN M. GAssELL, EZRA C. CASSELL.

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