RESILIENT WHEELS

Shannon News, 5 August 1927, Page 4

RESILIENT WHEELS

Many attempts have been made in the past to produce a spring wheel, notably by the Germans when they were short of rubber for tyres during the war. A new wheel of this type has recently been evolved by Mr. Dennis Milner, B.Sc, A.C.G.1., who has devoted considerable time- to scientific study of the suspension problem and to the building of various experimental designs. The spokes each consist of several curved blades of spring steel, riveted to a hub at one end and to bridge pieces secured to a springy rim at the outer ends; the tyre fits round the springy rim and is prevented from creeping or coming off side-ways by lugs at the ends of the bridge pieces. The shape of the spokes is specially designed so that the weight of the car, plus the small impacts caused by slight irregularities in the road, are not sufficient to deflect the spokes and rim to any appreciable extent, the wheel remaining circular. The inventor is of the opinion that fhe use of his spring wheels in combination with suitable tyres would enable the chassis designer entirely-to dispense with road springs. Should this prove to be the case it would make possible a very great simplification of the transmission and of the steering and brake controls, as there would be no relative movement between the axles and the frame. The shape and number of the spokes of the Milner wheel are such that there is adequate strength to resist lateral loads and the torque produced by braking or the transmission of" power.