Improvements in Axle Boxes or bearings for the Rotating MALES of Railway and other Vehicles.
Year: 1886

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Nov., 1886,
Complete Left, 5th Aug., 1887.
Complete Accepted, 20th Sept., 1887.
RESERV
Improvements in Axle Boxes or bearings for the Rotating MALES
of Railway and other Vehicles.
I, ERIC CLAS WINTERROS of Lütlich in the Kingdom of Belgium Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of this Invention to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to improvements in bearings for the rotating axles of rail-
way and other vehicles and consists in constructing and arranging the parts of the
axle-box or bearing in such a manner as to convert the rubbing friction into a rolling
friction means being also provided for supporting longitudinal pressure resulting
from sideways or lateral motions of the vehicle and converting the resulting rubbing
friction on the wheel hub or shoulder into a rolling friction.
In a railway axle box for example constructed according to this invention a disc
or wheel is mounted on a short shaft excentric to the axis of the travelling wheel.
On the inner side of this disc that is to say on the side presented to the centre line
of the vehicle, there is provided a deep circular concentric groove by means of
which the disc is hung upon the end of the axle and receives rotary motion there-
from. A flange on the end of the axle prevents any longitudinal motion of the disc
or tendency of the rim or flange forming the outer surface of the groove to slip off
the axle. Any forward or backward thrust or pull exerted on the axle may be
effectually received or resisted by two fixed pieces or bearings arranged at sides of
the axle end and extending into the groove of the aforesaid disc. The mechanism is
enclosed in a box or casing sliding vertically in guides in the horn plate in the usual
manner being provided with an opening on one side for the reception of the wheel
axle and containing the bearings for the shaft of the grooved disc-This box is con-
structed so as to admit of being almost hermetically closed, and contains a sufficient
quantity of oil to cover the short shaft of the grooved disc so that the latter rotates
in an oil bath and in rotating carries up a portion of the oil and transfers it to the
wheel axle. By these means the bearing is rendered self lubricating. Suitable

page_text: means are provided for preventing the oil from escaping round the wheel axle; for
example a ring of packing material may be placed around the axle where it enters
the box and secured by an adjustable ring or collar fixed by a screw. Rubbing
friction resulting from lateral pressure of the wheel hubs against the axle box is con-
verted into rolling friction by means of antifriction rollers interposed between the hub
and the adjacent surface of the axle box and working in suitable annular grooves
formed in the said hub and axle box-These antifriction rollers are preferably con-
nected to and radiate from a ring slipped over the axle or over the adjustable packing
ring or collar when such is employed.
DL: 02 J Namba 1000

page_text: 1, ERIC CLAS WINTERROS of Lutlich in the Kingdom of Belgium Engineer do
hereby declare the nature of this Invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This Invention relates to improvements in bearings for the rotating axles of railway
and other vehicles and consists in constructing and arranging the parts of the axle box
or bearing in such a manner as to convert the rubbing friction into a rolling friction
means being also provided for supporting longitudinal pressure resulting from sideways
or lateral motions or oscillations of the vehicle and converting the resulting rubbing
friction on the wheel hub or shoulder into a rolling friction as hereinafter explained.
In a railway axle box for examplo constructed according to this Invention a disc
or wheel is mounted on a short shaft excentric to the axis of the travelling wheel.
On the inner side of this disc that is to say on the sido presented to the centre line of
the vehicle there is provided a deep circular concentric groove by means of which the
Cisc and the axle box connected therewith are suspended from the end of the axle
the disc receiving rotary motion from the axle at the same time. A flange on the end
of the axle prevents any longitudinal motion or displacement of the axle relatively to
the disc and retains the ring or flange forming the outer surface of the groove in
position upon the axle. Any forward or backward thrust or pull exerted on the axle
may be effectually received or resisted by two fixed pieces or bearings arranged
at sides of the axle end and extending into the groove of the aforesaid disc. The
mechanism is enclosed in a box or casing sliding vertically in guides in the horn plate
in the usual manner being provided with an opening on one side for the reception
of the wheel axle and containing the bearings for the shaft of the grooved disc. This
box is constructed so as to admit of being almost hermetically closed and contains a
sufficient quantity of oil to cover the short shaft of the grooved disc so that the latter
rotates in an oil bath and in rotating carries up a portion of the oil and transfers it to
the wheel axle. By these means the bearing is rendered self lubricating. Suitable
means are provided for preventing the oil from escaping round the wheel axle for
example a ring of packing material may be placed around the axle where it enters the
box and secured by an adjustable ring or collar fixed by a screw. Rubbing friction

page_text: resulting from lateral pressure of the wheel hub against the axle box is converted into
rolling friction by means of antifriction rollers interposed between the hub and the
adjacent surface of the axle box and working in suitable annular grooves formed in
the said hub and axle box. These antifriction rollers are preferably connected to a
ring slipped over the axle or over the adjustable packing ring or collar when such is
employed.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood 1 shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the soveral
figures on the annexod sheets of drawings the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents an end view partly in section
of a pair of Railway axle boxes provided with antifriction bearings according to this
Invention and Figure 2 is a corresponding side elevation of the same also partly in
section. Figure 3 drawn to a larger scale is a detail illustrating the connection
between the axle box and the horn plate. Figure 4' drawn to a still larger scale
represents a section through the upper part of the bearing shewing the application
of the packing rings J K and lateral antifriction rollers M. hereinafter described.
Figure 5 is a detail shewing how the said antifriction rollers are connected to the
ring K forming a pressure ring or gland for the packing J. Figure 6 is side view
of the interior of the axle box shewing the lateral supports of the axle and Figure 7
is a corresponding transverse section. Figure 8-represents the axle -box -in- plan.
Figure 9 illustrates a modification of the packing in section and figure 10 represents
an ordinary axle altered for use with the improved axle box.
A A Figures 1 and 2 represent a pair of ordinary Railway wheels fixed in the
usual manner on an axle B working in axle boxes E capable of vertical motion in
horn plates D being connected to the body or frame work of the vehicle by springs Y.
The main body of the axle box E is in the form of a circular casing closed on the outer
side by a tight fitting plate or cover F (figures 1. 2. 4 and 7). On the inner side
that is to say the side facing the horn plate this casing is provided with a rectangular
projecting part E° (figures 3 and 8) provided with dovetail or similar grooves working
over the corresponding guides Do in the horn plate D. The neck B° on the end
of the axle B is passed through a circular hole or opening in the inner side of the
casing E (figures 1. 3. 4 and 6) which contains a disc H mounted on a short shaft G
working in bearings G¹ G° in the centre of the casing but excentric to the axis of the
axle B. This disc is provided on its inner side with a deep annular groove Hº and
the neck B° of the axle B engages with this groove so that the disc is suspended from
the end of the axle and rotates therewith. The weight of the vehicle being thus
transmitted to the axle through the disc H the friction resulting from the pressure
of this weight upon the rotating axle is converted from a rubbing friction into a
rolling friction. On the extreme end of the axle there is attached a disc B (figures
4 and 10) the edge of which forms a flange slightly projecting beyond the sides of the
axle neck and engaging in a corresponding groove H in the bottom of the annular
groove Ho so that the disc H is compelled to partake of the longitudinal movements
of the axle for which purpose the shaft or axis of the disc is allowed sufficient
longitudinal play in its hearings to enable this motion to take place without friction.
On each side of the hole or opening provided for the passage of the axle through
the side of the casing E there is provided a projection E¹ (figures 6 and 7) projecting
inwards from the side of the casing and extending into the annular groove H° in the
disc H for the purpose of affording lateral support to the axle. These projections
being situated before and behind the axle afford a firm support for the same and
take the pressure resulting from the action of the brakes. The concave surfaces of
these projections E' are lined with renewable wearing surfaces E³ of gun metal or
the like.
The box or casing E is filled with lubricating oil up to the level of the shaft G so
that the disc H rotates in a bath of oil, and carries up with each rotation a quantity
of the lubricant (which is distributed over the end or neck of the axle. The bearing
is thus lubricated automatically.. In order to prevent any escape of oil from the

page_text: interior of the box or casing E the covering plate F is put on with a liquid tight joint
and the holes Go and G₁ forming the bearings for the shaft G of the disc H are
similarly closed by plates 1° 1' figures 1 and 7. With the same object the opening
provided for the passage of the axle in the part E is formed with a recess for the
reception of packing material J which is forced against the axle by the pressure of a
ring or gland K screwed into the hole (figures 1,4 and 7). The gland K is prevented
from working loose by a screw N passed diagonally through the side of the casing
so that its lower end projects into grooves Qfigure 4 formed in the sides ofthe gland
whilst its head lies underneath a rounded or hemispherical projection P supporting
the spring Y upon the axle box or casing E (figure 1). In order to enable the
pressure of the gland K on the packing J to be adjusted, the hole R. is drilled in the
axle opposite to and at the same inclination as the screw N and grooves or recesses S
(figure 4) are formed in the inner surface of the gland K opposite to the grooves Q.
In order to adjust the pressure of the gland by screwing it inwards or outwards the
frame or body of the vehicle is first raised until the projection P is clear of the recess
or bearing in the top of the axle box. The screw N is then turned by a suitable key
until its lower end clears the grooves Q in the gland K thus rendering the latter free
to turn.
A rod Rº is then introduced into the hole in the axle B as indicated in Figure 1 so
that the upper end of this rod engages with one of the grooves S (figure 4) in the
interior of the gland K thus connecting the latter with the axle. By simply turning
the wheel A in one direction or the other the gland K can then be screwed inwards
or outwards to the desired extent. Another arrangement for preventing escape of
oil is illustrated in figure 9. In this case the opening formed in the side of the axle
box for the reception of the axle is enlarged towards the inner side and the axle neck
is provided at B³ with alternate annular grooves and projections of triangular form
in transverse section so that a sharp ridge is presented between each groove. When
the axle rotates the centrifugal force propels the oil to the edges or summits of these
ridges whence it falls into the conical enlargement of the hole in the side of the axle
box and returns to the interior of the casing E. This arrangement is effective when
the vehicle travels regularly without sudden variations in the speed but in order to
prevent escape of oil or sudden changes of speed a ring X of rubber or other elastic
material is passed over the grooved and recessed part B of the axle as indicated in
the drawing so that it fits closely in one of the grooves in the axle on the one hand
and on the other hand presses against the conical enlargement of the hole. This
ring revolves with the axle and collects and returns the oil to the interior of the
casing.
The gland K herein before described forms a support for a ring L (figures 4 and 5)
carrying a series of antifriction rollers M which roll between the box of the wheel
and the part E of the axle box in suitable annular grooves (figure 4). These rollers
take all the pressure resulting from lateral oscillations of the vehicle in a horizontal
direction and convert into a rolling friction all the friction resulting therefrom
between the wheel box or shoulder and the side of the axle box.
Figure 10 shows how an ordinary axle may be adapted to the improved axle boxes
without necessity for removing the wheels. This adaptation is the more readily
accomplished owing to the smaller friction of the new axle box enabling the neck of
the axle to be shortened. The neck is simply cut down for a portion of its length so
as to form a new shoulder with the aid of a ring B³ placed in front of the original
shoulder and at the back of the part which passes through the hole in the side of the
axle box and a circular plate or disc forming the flange B is connected to the end
of the axle by means of a dovetail projection or spring B' engaging with a corre-
sponding recess in the end of the axle and a pin B.
The vertical movement of the axle box relatively to the vehicle may be provided
for by other arrangements than those shown in the drawing. For example the horn
plates D may be arranged outside the axle boxes or the axle boxes may be supported
between guides arranged before and behind them with brackets provided with rubber
or helical springs transmitting the pressure of the vehicle.

page_text: "
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
.and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I claim is :-
First. An axle box for railway or other like vehicles wherein a disc or wheel (H)
provided with a projecting flange or ring working upon the end or neck of the axle
converts the rubbing friction into a rolling friction substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Second. In combination with the disc or wheel H the tightly closed oil chamber
or casing E whereby the said disc is enabled to supply the axle with lubricating oil
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Third. In combination with the antifriction disc H the arrangement of the pro-
jecting supports or bearings E¹ extending into the annular hollow or access in the
said disc as and for the purpose substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings (figures 2, 6 & 7).
Fourth. In combination with the axle neck and the disc H, the packing J, the
ring K with grooves N and S the rod or screw N and the rod R° substantially as
and for the purpose as herein before described with reference to the drawings.
Fifth. In combination with the disc H and the axle box E the arrangement of
antifriction rollers M working in grooves formed in the wheel box and in the axle
box E substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated in
the accompanying drawings.
1