File:Carriage wheels by Wm Felton (14753733836).jpg

Identifier: treatiseoncarria01felt (find matches)
Title: A treatise on carriages : comprehending coaches, chariots, phaetons, curricles, whiskies, &c. : together with their proper harness, in which the fair prices of every article are accurately stated
Year: 1796 (1790s)
Authors: Felton, William Debrett, John, d. 1822
Subjects: Carriage and wagon making Carriages and carts
Publisher: London : Printed for and sold by the author, and by J. Debrett ... (and 5 others)
Contributing Library: Getty Research Institute
Digitizing Sponsor: Getty Research Institute

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CHAP. VI.

WHEELS.

('Felloe (or fellie)' Each of the curved pieces making up the outer rim of a wheel, to which the spokes are fixed (chiefly in plural). Occasionally these pieces collectively (obsolete).)

UPON the superior advantage given to the motion by the different heights of the wheels, opinions are frequently divided ; some maintaining the large, others the smaller wheel. On smooth ground the smaller wheel moves quicker than the large ; but on a rough or uneven surface, the large wheel has the preference, as it will easily overcome the resistance which obstructs the small one.

Wheels should be made, to four-wheeled carriages, as near of a height as the construction and appearance will admit; and is not required for heavy work, the lighter they are made the better. The fixtures, from whence the draught is taken, should be placed rather above the centre of the largest wheel, for advantage of draught. The members of a wheel are of three descriptions, viz. the nave, the spokes, and the felloes. The nave is the stock, made of elm, in which all the spokes are fixed, and in which the axletree or wheel-box is confined, to receive the axle-arm. The spokes are straight timbers, made of oak, firmly tenoned in the nave, and are the support of the felloes or wheel-rim. The felloes, made of ash or beech, are the rim of the wheel, which is divided into short lengths, in the proportion of one to every two spokes : those are fixed on the spokes; and, on them, the iron or strakes, •which maintains the wear, are nailed.

The height of the wheels regulates the number of spokes and felloes that they are to contain ; as the larger the circumference of the wheel is, the number of spokes required is greater in proportion; they should not be, to any wheel, more than sixteen inches apart on the felloes between the spokes.

The usual height of wheels extends to five feet six inches, and are divided in four proportions, to contain from eight to fourteen spokes, and only half that number of felloes ; and are reckoned eights, tens, twelves, or fourteens, which are the number of spokes in a wheel, or felloes in a pair. The height, which regulates the number, is, for an eight-spoked wheel, not to exceed three feet two inches; for a ten, four feet six inches ; for a twelve ; five feet four inches ; for a fourteen, five feet six or eight inches. These are the extreme heights for the different number of spokes to each wheel, which should be rather more than less, in particular to the fore wheel of a four-wheeled carriage, which receives more stress than the hind one ; and the rule is, when the hind wheels are of that height to require fourteen spokes, the fore one, is under the necessary height before stated, should have twelve; never allowing the fore wheels to have but two spokes less than what is needful for the hind ones.

There are three descriptions of wheels, viz. the straked, the hooped, and the patent rim : the difference of either is only in the rim ; so that in wheels there are four heights, and three sorts, which make twelve different prices in the whole, supposing them all of one size ; but as they are made lighter for phaetons and chaises than for coaches and chariots, the prices vary accordingly.

PLATE XI.

Fig. 1, 2, 3, and 4, are wheels of four different heights, fhewing the number of fpokes each wheel ought to contain, and the difference of the three forts now generally ufed, the hoop, the ftrake, and patent rim.

Fig. 1. A hooped wheel, called an eight, made with fellies, aad hooped on the rim with an entire piece of iron.

Fig. 2. A ftraked wheel, called a ten, made on the common principle, with fellies, and the iron rim made in fhort lengths, called ftrakes.

Fig. 3. A hooped wheel, called a twelve, with fellies, and a hooped rim of one entire piece.

Fig. 4. A patent wheel, called a fourteen ; this is the patent rim, made of one piece of timber, fhewing the nuts and bolts with which the rim is faftened.

Fig. 5. The nave, or ftock, which is the centre of the wheel, in which the fpokes are fixed.

Fig. 6. The fpoke, which fixes in the ftock, and fupports the rim.

Fig. 7. The felly, fhewing the pins or dowels on the end, by which it is kept fecure at the joints.

Fig. 8, The fide view of a flraked wheel.

Fig. 9. The fide view of a rimmed hoop wheel.

Fig. 10. The flrake, which is the fhort iron with which the common wheel is rung.

THE PATENT OR BENT-TIMBER WHEEL.

HAS the rim of one entire piece, bent to the circle, inftead of fhort lengths, or fellies, which are hewn to the fhape ; the ftrength of the bent timber is preferved while the other is deftroyed ; befides, it is hooped with iron, inftead of being fliod with ftrakes, and will often laft twice the time longer in wear than the others will do, has a much lighter and neater appearance, and on that account is often preferred.

The mock patent, or hooped wheel, comes very near the others in appearance and ufe, particularly if made with afh fellies ; as the prefervation of both lies in the hoops that the wheels are rimmed with. It is compofed of part patent and part common, having the timber the fame as the ftrake, and the iron as the patent wheel.

The common fort of wheels are preferred by many of account of their being more eafily repaired than the hooped or patent wheel, which is certainly right ; but, though the repairing of them is more difficult, yet they are much lefs fubject to need it.

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