IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLE BOXES AND APPLIANCES APPERTAINING THERETO
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas North, of Hitchin, in the County of
Hertford, Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLE
BOXES AND APPLIANCES APPERTAINING THERETO."-A communication from
1…………… .1 .1……. Malinc
of Devel
Bombay
I, THOMAS NORTH, of Hitchin, in the County of Hertford, Gentleman,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN AXLE BOXES AND APPLIANCES APPERTAINING THERETO,' a communication to
me from abroad by Owen Tomlinson, of Parel, Bombay, to be as
follows.
"

page_text: Specification dated Twenty-sixth November, One thousand eight hundred
and seventy-two, No. 3541, has already been filed.
The following are the particulars and description of the Invention :-
Firstly. A centre tongue of iron cast in the groove in which the
washer is fitted in some axle boxes now in use. This centre tongue runs
down the centre of the lower part of the groove in the bottom casting so
as to project higher than the inner and outer flange of the groove, it in fact
forms two grooves in the lower part of the bottom casting (the axle box for
this Invention is cast in two pieces, a top casting and a bottom casting.
Secondly. A slot or groove in the lower parts of the wooden washer
(which in the present Invention is made in two pieces fitting together
with single lap joint). Into this groove the centre tongue above referred
to fits so as as form a double lapped or tongued joint. The two parts of
the washer are made to maintain a thorough fit on the axle by means of
a small steel camber spring fixed to the outer edge of each half of the
wooden washer, which by compression against the inside of the axle box
gently forces the two halves of the washer together. The wooden washer
is so bored out to fit the axle as to leave a slight clearance or allowance
at the lap joint for wearing away of the washer, and as the washer
gradually becomes worn by the axle this clearance or allowance at the
lap joint is gradually closed up by means of the steel spring above
described.
Thirdly. A packing or stuffing box on each side of the brass bearing
formed by a peculiar shape of casting for the top casting of the axle
box. In these packing or stuffing boxes no cushion plate or other
appliance is necessary for the purpose of supporting or keeping the pads
in position. They are, in fact, effectually supported and kept in position
by the casting and the journal which they lubricate. Each of these
packing or stuffing boxes is intended to receive a capillary pad the whole
length of the journal, thus insuring its thorough lubrication.
1
The advantages of this Invention are, that the centre tongue being
higher than the inner and outer flange of the groove effectually prevents
on the one hand rain drift from getting into the axle. boxes,, and a con-
sequent overflow of oil, and on the other hand prevents the oil in the
axle box from escaping to the outside. It also effectually excludes dust
and grit from the interior of the axle box. (If thought desirable one
or two small holes can be drilled through the bottom of the outer of the

page_text: two grooves, which are formed by casting in the centre tongue, so as still
further to provide for the escape of rain water). The packing or stuffing
boxes moreover provide for a more complete, simple, and inexpensive
system of lubrication than in any existing appliance of which I am
aware.
<<
The mode of changing the brass bearing in an axle box containing the
present Invention differs slightly from that described in the Specification
of my said former Invention for a New and Improved Axle Box, and
Appliances appertaining thereto," and is somewhat simpler owing to the:
fact of the axle box being in the case of the present Invention cast in:
two parts.
The process to be followed in the case of the present Invention is as
follows: Take off the moveable front cap or face plate, slacken back
about three-fourths of an inch the two bolts which secure the top and
bottom castings of the axle box together, then insert in the open joint
two suitable packing pieces of steel or iron, then take a screw jack and
place it under the axle box and wind it up in the usual manner about
three-fourths of an inch, and the iron keep will be liberated; then with
the hand raise the iron keep clear of the collar of the axle bearing by
the handle, and draw it out; after which the defective brass can be
removed, a new one substituted, the iron key replaced, and the screw
jack lowered.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Thomas North in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 12th July 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, THOMAS
NORTH, of Hitchin, in the County of Hertford, Gentleman, send
greeting.
WHEREAS. Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of January, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the
thirty-eighth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto me, the said Thomas North, Her special
licence that I, the said Thomas North, my executors, administrators, .

page_text: %
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas North, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, sliould 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AXLE BOXES AND APPLIANCES APPERTAINING THERETO," a communication to me
from abroad by Owen Tomlinson, of Parcl, Bombay, upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Thomas North, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing. under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain 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 immc-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Thomas North, 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, reference being had to the annexed Drawings and
to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:―
In the Drawings Fig. 1 represents a longitudinal section of my
Invention; Fig. 2, sections of same at A, A; and B, B, Fig. 3, end
elevation; and Fig. 4, a plan and sectional plan of washer.
Firstly. This Invention consists of a centre tongue a of iron cast in
the groove b, b, in which the washer a', a', is fitted as in some axle boxes
now in use. This centre tongue a runs down the centre of the lower
part of the groove 6 in the bottom casting, so as to project higher than
the inner and outer flange of the groove, as shewn in the Drawing, Fig. 1.
It in fact forms two grooves in the lower part of the bottom casting (the
axle box for this Invention is cast in two pieces, a top casting and a
bottom casting.
Secondly. This Invention consists in making a slot or groove in the
lower parts of the wooden washer a¹, a¹, (which in the present Invention
in made in two pieces fitting together with single lap joint). Into this
groove the centre tongue above referred to fits so as to form a double
lapped or tongued joint. The washer and double lapped or tongued
joint are also shewn in the Drawing, see Fig. 1. The two parts of the

page_text: washer are made to maintain a thorough fit on the axle c, c, by means of
a small steel camber spring fixed to the outer edge of each half of the
wooden washer a², a', which by compression against the inside of the
axle box gently forces the two halves of the washer together. The
wooden washer is so bored out to fit the axle as to leave a slight clearance
or allowance at the lap joint for wearing away of the washer, and as the
washer gradually becomes worn by the axle this clearance or allowance
at the lap joint is gradually closed up by means of the steel spring above
described.
Thirdly. This Invention also consists in having a packing or stuffing.
box d, d, on each side of the brass bearing formed by a peculiar shape
of casting for the top casting of the axle box. In these packing or
stuffing boxes no cushion plate or other appliance is necessary for the
purpose of supporting or keeping the pads in position. They are in fact
effectually supported and kept in position by the casting and the journal
which they lubricate. Each of these packing or stuffing boxes is
intended to receive a capillary pad the whole length of the journal, thus
insuring its thorough lubrication. The nature, shape, and principle of
these stuffing boxes will be further seen at a glance on referring to the
section at B, B, in the Drawing, Fig. 1.
The advantages of this Invention are that the centre tongue being
higher than the inner and outer flange of the groove effectually prevents
on the one hand rain drift from getting into the axle boxes and a con-
sequent overflow of oil, and on the other hand prevents the oil in the
axle box from escaping to the outside. It also effectually excludes dust
and grit from the interior of the axle box. If thought desirable one or
two small holes can be drilled through the bottom of the outer of the
two grooves, which are formed by casting in the centre tongue, so as still
further to provide for the escape of rain water).
boxes moreover provide for a more complete,
system of lubrication than in any existing appliance of which I am.
aware.
The packing or stuffing
simple, and inexpensive
The mode of changing the brass bearing in an axle box containing the
present Invention differs slightly from that described in my Specification
of my said former Invention for a "New and Improved Axle Box," and
Appliances appertaining thereto" (which Specification is dated Twenty-
eighth August, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, and has

page_text: been duly filed), and is somewhat simpler owing to the fact of the axle
box being in the case of the present Invention cast in two parts.
The process to be followed in the case of the present Invention is as
follows: Take off the moveable front cap or face plate, slacken back
about three-fourths of an inch the two bolts which secure the top and
bottom castings of the axle box together, then insert in the open joint
two suitable packing pieces of steel or iron, then take a screw jack and
place it under the axle box and wind it up in the usual manner about
three-fourths of an inch, and the iron keep will be liberated; then with
the hand raise the iron keep clear of the collar of the axle bearing by
the handle and draw it out, after which the defective brass can be
removed, a new one substituted, the iron key replaced, and the screw
jack lowered.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention and the manner
of carrying the same into effect, I declare that what I claim and desire
to be secured by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is the
centre tongue cast in the lower part of the washer groove, the slot or
groove in the washer as above described, the double lapped or tongued
joint formed by such centre tongue and groove with the washer and the
stuffing boxes for capillary pads, all, substantially as above described and
illustrated on the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas North, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Tenth day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five.