Representative Wheel Types.
Page 71
Page 72
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
Including a Few Instances of Resilient Wheels and Special Solid-tire Fittings
Airless Resilient Whee:s, Ltd.
Office and Works : Milo Road, Lordship Lane, Dulwich, London, 8.E.
Airless resilient wheels have now been running for some two years on all classes of commercial vehicles, of from 10-cwt. to 5-tons carrying capacity. Over 16,000 miles have been covered on one set of springs, without appreciable loss of temper or elasticity. The springs are fitted in such a manner as closely to tate the action of a pneumatic tire, in that any pressure on the tire acts upon all of them.
It is claimed by the manufacturers that, besides the great advantage of resiliency, the life of solid tires used with the Airless wheel is increased by as much as 50 per cent.
Owing to the special construction of the wheel, any solid band-type rubber tire can be fitted, and even in the heaviest types it is not absolutely necessary to use a press, though it would be advantageous to do so. The illustration shows a wheel from which the damp and dirt-proof cover-ring has been removed.
standard make of tire can bc vulcanized to the rims without eteration to the moulds, and the rims are of such substantial proportions that they can he re-rubbered again and again.
Owing to their special construction, the skeleton wheels, which are made in standard diameters, can be fitted with various diameters and breadths of tires, the only alteration required being in the size of the rim, larger diameter rings being fitted with lugs which project further towards the centre to suit the spokes.
It will at once be seen what great advantages ensue by using a detachable rim ; for instance, owing to the inner lug being off centre, several degrees more steering kick can be obtained by mounting the rims with the Overhang outwards.
If necessary a i‘eater road clearance may be attained by fitting rims and tires of larger diameter. In the same way tires which are too light or too heavy for their work may he changed for those which are more suitable. Broad steel tractor rims can be fitted in place of rubbered rims to suit special purposes.
The Atlas Resilient Road Wheels Co. Head Office and Works : West Gorton, Manchester.
There can be no doubt that steel wheels for commercial road vehicles are rapidly superseding the wooden type, and-, as has already been stated, they are almost essential for Overseas work.
Atlas cast-steel wheels are now manufactured in large quantities for all types of heavy vehicles. They are cast from a special steel called " Electric," which is of very high quality both as regards strength and ductility; its ultimate tensile strength is between 32 and 34 tons per sq. in. and the elongation 20 per cent. in 8 ins.
George Fischer Steel and Iron Works, Ltd. Head Office and Works: Schaffhausen, Switzerland.
Cast-steel road wheels made by this company are extensively used on many modern Commercial vehicles and especially for Overseas work. These are of very fine quality and remarkably fra from the blow-holes which are sometimes too prevalent in this type of construction. It is now generally conceded that metal wheels are of the greatest importance, particularly in circumstances where extremes of climate may have to be contended with, and as there are few good 'makers of these wheeis it is just as well to keep them in mind..
The Fischer steel wheels can be obtained to customers own designs and either with solid or tubular spokes.
Stewart, Duncan, and Co., Ltd.
Head Office and Works : London Road Ironworks, Glasgow,
Numerous attempts have been made in the past to devise a satisfactory spring wheel for heavy vehicles, which would retain in some measure the resiliency and shock-absorbing properties of the rubber-tired wheel.
The Reid-Reikie spring wheel has now been in use for some years and has given entire satisfaction. The wheel consists of a cast-steel centre, which is fitted to the axle in the usual way. The tire, which is made of special cast steel, is larger in diameter than the centre, and in the space between the tire and centre there are one or more rows of helical springs. The Outer ends of these springs rest on the inside of the tire, while the inner erds are free to move on the periphery of the wheel -centre.
Alley and MacLellan, Ltd.
Office and Works: Sentinel Works, Polmadie, Glasgow.
A really high-class wheel should be capable of rssisting dasnage owing to climatic conditions, whilst, of course, being at the same time strong and resilient. The Sentinel composite.wheel, manufactured by Alley and MacLellan, Ltd., embodies the requirements specified above. It consists of a cast-steel centre, a number of wooden felloepieces bolted together, a wedge rinu and a steel tire. The steel centre with the sliding wedge ring forms a double cone, which firmly grips the composite oak felloe and forces it outwards against the steel tire. For further security, bolts are passed through the steel tire arid felloe.
Owing to its construction shrinkage in the folio's or stretch of the tire can be easily taken up.
T. Toward and Co., Ltd.
Works: St. Lawrence Iron Works, Ouseburn, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
London, Office : 57, Gracecbmgch gStreet,.
This company is continually making pressed-steel wheels in large numbers for almost every conceivable duty. The "A "-class wheels have steel tread plates and can be used for vehicles of up to 40 tons gross weight. The "B " class is a similar type of wheel made with turned rims to suit the standard sizes of rubber band tires.
The spokes and rim flanges of these wheels are pressed out of two solid plates of special steel, with hubs of toughened, annealed steel between; for trailers a cheaper wheel with a cast-iron nave has just been introduced. Provision is made for the addition of brake drums and, if necessary, driving sprockets, while many variations may be specified by the buyer without extra cost.
Lynton Wheel and Tyre Syndicate, Ltd. Head Office and Works: -Warrington.
For the lighter types of commercial vehicles, the wellknown Lynton resilient wheel is suitable. These wheels, after being in use for some years, have been found very satisfactory, and their resilience is almost equal to that of pneumatic tires. For heavy vehicles the company has brought out a cool. pound wheel. This wheel has pressed-steel side members, which are drawn together on to taper wooden felloes. These latter carry a T-section steel band which can act as the tread, or wilen required a rubber tread can be vulcanized to it.
The wheel is locked together by means of a ring nut on the hub, and it is only necessary to-retrieve this nut in order to fit a new T-seetion rim.
E2P Smith, Parfrey and Co., Ltd.
Head Office and Works : Pimlico Wheel Works, Rannoch Street, Hammersmith, London., W.
This old-established and well-known company has been renowned for its high-grade wheels for many .years. Heavy built-sip steel wheels, for vehicles such as steam rollers, can be manufactured or repaired, as well as all types of wood wheels for light and heavy motor vehicles.
A few weeks ago one of our representatives paid a visit to the company's works at Hammersmith and was greatly impressed by the variety of work undertaken as well, as by the huge stock of timbers in seasoning, and the stock of partlyfinished wheels.
For many years the entire fleet of L.G.O. horsed buses was run on wheels hired from Smith, Parfreys, while thousands of taxicabs continue to use their wheels in vast quantities. When required wire wheels can also be manufactured or repaired.'
As an example of the enterprise of this concern, we may record that it has laid down two types of welding plant, and is in a position to perform all kinds of difficult welding. New gearwheels can be welded on to a solid shaft without disturbing the others. A speciality is made of repairing broken crankshafts, and in many eases these' when tested to destruction, have broken in a place different from that which was welded. Special orders for parts receive attention.
"Airless "—a spring wheel with a good record.
C. Cranston Mason and Co.
Read Office : 124, North Street, Glasgow.
This firm is specializing in the Creery detachable bandtire rim, which is particularly suitable for Overseas.
The Creory rim is so designed that it does away entirely with the massive rim of the ordinary steel wheel, while at the same time it in nowise impairs its strength. It is for use in conjunction with steel wheels only, but, as this type of wheel is the only one suitable for practically all classes of Overseas lorries of considerable capacity, this is no drawback. The emery wheel consists of a skeleton steel centre, to which the rubber rim is bolted, the bolts passing through the ends of the spokes, on the centre, and internal bias on the rim.
The solid rubber tires are vulcanized directly on to the rim, without the intervention of a heavy steel base. Any