AN IMPROVEMENT IN THE BEARINGS OF THE AXLES OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Beardmore, of the Stowage, Deptford,, in
the County of Kent, Engineer, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVEMENT
IN THE BEARINGS OF THE AXLES OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND LOCOMOTIVE
ENGINES."
Sealed the 12th January 1855, and dated the 7th November 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Beardmore at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
7th November 1854.
I, WILLIAM BEARDMORE, of the Stowage, Deptford, in the County of Kent,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT
IN THE BEARINGS OF THE AXLES OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES"
to be as follows:-
This Invention consists of constructing the bearings of the axles of railway
carriages and of locomotive engines of wood, and arranging the boxes of the
bearings and apparatus connected therewith in such manner that a constant
supply of water may be kept up to the wood bearings.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Beardmore in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
7th May 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
BEARDMORE, of the Stowage, Deptford, in the County of Kent,. Engineer,
send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Seventh day of November, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Beardmore, Her special licence that I, the said William Beard-
more, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
William Beardmore, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter
during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland,
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVEMENT
IN THE BEARINGS OF THE AXLES OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Beardmore, by
an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the
said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Beardmore, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof (that is to say):-
This Invention consists of constructing the bearings of the axles of railway
carriages and of locomotive engines of wood, and arranging the boxes of the
bearings and apparatus connected therewith in such manner that a constant
supply of water may be kept up to the wood bearings.
Having thus stated the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed to
describe the manner of performing the same.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of the bearing and axle box of a railway
axle, the bearing being of wood; Figure 2 is a plan, partly in section;
Figure 3 is a transverse section, taken at the dotted line (1), (1), in Figure 2;
and Figure 4 shows an inner end view, partly in section, taken at the line
(2), (2), in Figure 2. In cach of these Figures the same letters indicate
similar parts.
a is the journal of a railway axle, which is coated or cased with
brass or other metal not liable to rust; b, b, is the axle box, which is shewn of
the form I prefer, but the shape may be varied; c* is an opening through
which water to lubricate the axle is introduced. The water thus employed

page_text: may in winter time with advantage have salt mixed therewith, to prevent
the freezing of the water, and oil or grease may be introduced to float on the
surface of the water; or soap may be mixed with the water employed, to aid in
lubricating the axle and bearing. c is the bearing in which the journal of the
axle turns, made of hard wood, by preference, of lignum vitæ; it is shown to
be of one piece, but this is not essential; but it is desirable that it should have
a few grooves made on its surface in contact with the journal, to facilitate the
flow of the water or lubricating material between it and the journal. d is a
shield or washer, of wood or other suitable material, held in a groove in the
axle box and embracing the journal, to prevent the water splashing out from
the box where the axle enters it; but I would state that I make no claim
to the use of such washers or shields. e is a roller, of wood or other suitable
material, which turns freely on a brass spindle passing through it. The ends
of the spindle are supported by wire or other springs f, which rest on the axle
box, the elasticity of which tends to raise the roller up to and to keep it in
contact with the under surface of the axle a, the rotation of which causes it to
revolve also; and thus, so long as the rotation of the axle continues, a constant
stream of water or lubricating material from below is carried up to the axle
and to the surface of the wood bearing.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine myself
to the form of the bearing, nor to the method shewn and described for supply-
ing it with the water or lubricating material, as the same may be varied
without departing from my Invention; but what I claim is, constructing the
bearings of the axles of railway carriages and locomotive engines of wood, and
arranging the apparatus connected therewith in such manner that a supply of
water may be kept to such wood bearings.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Beardmore, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fifth day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five.
Witness,
JNO. ALCOCK.
W. BEARDMORE. (L.s.)