US1365277A - Trolley-wheel - Google Patents

Description

Patented 11,1921.

| NV E NTOR M/V/bn H pe/"7.

WITNESSES:

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES MIL'IQN'RUPERT, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

PATENT OFFICE.

n. n NUTTALL TROLLEY-WHEEL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 11, 1921.

Application filed September 25, 1919. Serial No. 326,208.

shall be relatively light in weight, of rela,

tively great strength and consistof relatively few parts.

Another objectof my invention is to provide a trolley wheel of the above type that shall have positive means for retaining the parts in their. proper relative position during the life of the wheels.

One type of trolley wheel made heretofore comprised a one-piece device of relatively soft metal such as. copper. The scrapping of such a wheel, after the rim had been worn down, meant the loss of considerable valuable material. Another type coinprised a number of pieces such as a copperrim, with pressed steel flanges, and supporting webs, requiring a relatively large num ber of individual parts for each wheel.

In practising my. invention, I provide a hub having-an integral web and groove rim made of a relatively soft metal which is a good conductor, and two pressed -111etal flanges which extend radially beyond the rim and which have a bearing on thehub to strengthen the wheel. main objects is to obtain the lowest weight consistent with the required mechanical strength, length of life andconductivity, I so arrange the parts of my device as to obtain the desired results to a relatively high degree.

In the single sheet of drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of the device embodying myinvention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view therethrough on the line y-g of Fig- 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the pressed metal flange and Fig. 4 is a sectional view. therethrough on the line 0200 of Fig. 3.

A central conducting and wearing memher 1 comprises a hub 2, radial web members 3 and a grooved rim 4-, these three .As, one of the parts being integral and preferably made of some metalv having a high conductivity. The hub 2 is provided with a central longitudinal opening 5, so that it may be suitably mounted on a supporting shaft (not shown) and associated with the ordinary trolley harp. The radial web members 3 alternate with a plurality of longitudinal openings 6, shown in broken lines in Fig. 1, and it will be noticed that these openings 6 are much larger peripherally than the web members 3.

T'wopressed metal side plates 7, made of some metal possessing a relatively high strength, are used, one .on each side ofthe member 1. Each side plate comprises a number of portions each having its own particular function and these will be described in detail. The outer periphery S of the side plate 7 extends beyond the rim 1 and is headed over to form asmooth outer rim. The intermediate part 9 of the plate '7 is shaped to contact with the side and part of the inner surface of the rim at. The inner part of the plate 7 has two well defined peripheral portions; first those portions 10 adjacent to the openings 6, and second, those portions 11 adjacent the radial web members 3. The portions 10 are so depressed or indented that their inner surfaces, will contact longitudinally when the two plates aremounted onthe member 1, while the portions 11 are so depressed as to be ad jacent to, and in contact with, the sides of the web members 3. I Portions of the. inner part of the side plates 7 are formed in the shape of a longitudinally extendingflange member 12, having an extended bearing surface on the outer periphery of the hub 2 adjacent the openings-6 and smaller .portions 13, measured peripherally, adjacent the web members 3, having a relatively small bearingsurface .onthehub 2. The two side plates 7, may besecured together by suitable means, here shown as a plurality of rivets 14, inserted in openings 15 in the depressed portions 10 of the side plates 7. However, I do not wish to be restrictedto the use of rivets, as I may also spot weld the two plates together at the indented portions 10. As the flange portions 12 have an extended bearing surface on the hub 2, the composite trolley wheel will have materially greater strength than it would have if the whole inner periphery were formed in the shape of the portions 13.

It will also be noticed that the depressed portions 10 act as a locking feature against circumferential movement of the member 1 relative to the side plates 7.

It will also be noticed that a trolley wheel constructed in accordance with my invention may be relatively light in weight, yet possessing the requisite mechanical strength. Proper current conducting parts are also provided between the rim and the hub in the shape of radially extending web members integral with both rim and hub, so that the side plates need not be relied upon to carry any current. The positive fastening means employed to hold the side plates together will operate to hold the side plates securely in proper relative position throughout the life of the wheel.

While I have shown a specific embodiment of my invention, changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and I desire that only such limitations shall be placed thereon as are imposed by the prior art or are speciflcally set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a trolley wheel, the combination with a grooved contact ring having integral web and hub portions, said web having a plurality of openings therethrough, of side plates contacting with said rim and extending beyond the same, and having indented portions projecting into said web openings, and means for securing the side plates together and against the web and rim.

2. In a trolley wheel, the combination with a hub member having a plurality of integral radially-extending web members and a rim, said web members having openings therebetween, of two side plates contacting with said rim and extending beyond the same and having integral longitudinallyextending flange portions registering with and fitting into said web openings and bear- "ing on said hub member, and rivets extending through said web openings and securing the two plates together and against the web and rim.

3. In a trolley wheel, the combination with a hub member having a plurality of in tegral radially-extending web members and a rim, said web members having longitudinal openings therebetween, of two side plates contacting with said rim and extending beyond the same and having integral longitudinallyextending flange portions registering with' said web openings and bearing on said hub member, and means for securing said side plates together in saidweb openings.

4. In a trolley wheel, the combination with a hub member having a plurality of integral radially-extending web members and a grooved rim, said web members having longitudinal openings therebetween, of two side plates contacting with said rim and extending beyond the same, having integral longitudinally-extending flanges bearing on said hub member, the portions of said flanges adjacent to said web openings having a relatively large bearing surface on said hub, and means securing said side plates together through said web openings.

5. In a trolley wheel, the combination with a hub member having a plurality of integral radially-extending web members and a rim, said web members having longitudinal openings therebetween, of two side plates contacting with said rim and extending beyond the same, having integral longitudinally-extending flanges bearing on said hub member, the portions of said flanges adjacent to said web openings having a greater bearing surface on said hub than those portions adjacent the web members, and having body portions depressed into said web openings, and means for securing said side plates together in said web openings.

6. In a trolley wheel, the combination with a hub member having a plurality of integral web members and a rim, said web members having longitudinal openings therebetween, of two side plates having a central flanged opening adapted to receive said hub, and havingindented portions registering with said web openings, the flange portions adjacent to said web openings having a greater bearing surface on said hub than those portions adjacent the web members, and means for securing said indented portions of the two plates together.

7 In a trolley wheel, the combination with a hub member, having a plurality of integral radially-extending arms and a rim, of two side slates having a central flanged opening a apted to receive said hub, the flange portions adjacent to the spaces between sald arms having a greater bearing surface on said hub than those portions adjacent the arms, and means integral with said side plates for preventing circumferenpliall) movement of said side plates on said In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 12 day of Sept,

MILTON RUPERT.

Images