IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLES FOR COMMON ROAD VEHICLES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN AXLES FOR COMMON ROAD VEHICLES." A communication from abroad by
Elias Alexander Wible, of Folsom, in the County of Sacramento, State of
California, United States of America.
Sealed the 25th May 1880, and dated the 31st December 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 31st December 1879.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLES FOR COMMON ROAD
VEHICLES." [A communication from abroad by Elias Alexander Wible, of Folsom,
in the County of Sacramento, State of California, United States of America.]
These improvements relate to the construction of axles for waggons and other
vehicles, and to the manner of connecting the axle tree and the spindle or axle
together, the object of the Invention being to increase the strength of the axle tree
and spindle, to reduce the friction between the bearing parts, and to facilitate the
lubrication of the spindle, the removal of the same from the axle tree, the making
of repairs, and to obtain other advantages.
The Invention consists in an axle tree composed of a hollow tube with boxes at
the ends to receive the bearings of the spindle, and a wooden stock with an
interposed rubber cushion; also in spindles or axles provided with shafts for
entering the hollow axle tree, said shafts being formed with bearings, one fitting
in the boxes on the ends of the axle tree, and the other in a sleeve that is secured
in the axle tree by bolts, whereby the spindles are secured to the axle tree. The
Invention also consists in means for permitting lubrication of the bearings, and
preventing the entrance of dirt. The axle tree is curved or arched from its mid-
length downward to each end, so that the spindles or axles when inserted shall
give the proper set to the wheels, and the axle tree may also be sprung back
sufficiently to give the requisite gather to the wheels. On the end of the tube
are rings or sockets screwed or welded to form the boxes for the reception of the
outer bearing of the axle shaft. The wooden stock is placed on the top of the axle
D

page_text: tree and over the boxes at the ends, a sheet of rubber being interposed between
the axle tree and stock to relieve these parts of shock from the wheels coming in
contact with obstructions. The axle, stock, and cushion are secured together by
ordinary clips.
The spindle or axle, which is similar at each end of the axle tree, terminates at
its inner end with an annular shoulder, and the axle shaft is formed with an
enlarged portion serving as a gudgeon or bearing that fits snugly in the box, and
abuts against the tubular axle tree. The inner end of the shaft is reduced to form
a second bearing, over which is placed a sleeve or cylindrical box, which is retained
in place by a collar on the shaft, the end of the shaft being rivetted, or a screw nut
applied to retain the collar; or the sleeve may be secured in any desired manner
which will leave the bearing free to revolve. The box fits closely in the tubular
axle tree, and in such a position on the shaft that when the latter is inserted in
the axle tree an annular groove in the box comes under a set screw that is tapped
in one of the clips and the axle tree, and passes through the wooden stock, so that
the screw may be entered into the annular groove of the box, thereby retaining the
shaft, while permitting it to revolve freely. In the end clips and through the axle
tree and stock a hole is formed to receive a tube that is formed with a cup at its
upper end, and is fitted with a screw plug. Through this tube, the plug being
removed, the oil or other lubricant is poured for lubricating the shaft. Holes are
also provided to permit the escape of air displaced by the oil. Beyond the box
a small space is divided off by a partition and packing next to the end of the shaft
to form a reservoir for lubricating material that is supplied by a tube inserted
through the axle tree and stock. This reservoir will contain material sufficient to
last for some time. Owing to the bend which is given to the axle tree, the
lubricant gravitates to the outer end of the shaft both that placed in the reservoir
And that entered by the tubes in the clip, whereby the bearings are kept thoroughly
lubricated. The wheel hub is secured on the spindle or axle by a flanged nut on
the end of the spindle, and the nut is covered by a dust cap secured on the hub.
The inner end of the hub is fitted with a flanged conoidal thimble, that is, of a form
for fitting closely over the enlarged end of the spindle next to the shoulder, while
the flange of the thimble abuts against the end of the hub, and is beneath a
collar on the hub. A shield or dust band projects from the flange of the thimble
over the box on the end of the axle tree so as to prevent the entrance of mud and
dirt into the bearings, and to give a noat finish. The advantages of this construction
are, that the friction is greatly reduced owing to the small extent of bearing surface;
a self lubricating spindle or axle is supplied without weakness, as is the case with
hollow spindles; great strength is given to the spindle and axle tree by the manner
in which the spindle is supported, the shaft entering the axle tree its whole length,
and its bearings preventing it from yielding to the shocks and jars of the wheels
coming in contact with obstructions; the spindle or axle may be very readily
removed when necessary simply by loosening the set screw, and thus permitting
removal of wheel, spindle, and shaft; and lastly, the arrangements for lubrication
are simple and convenient.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Alexander Melville Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
26th June 1880.
ALEXANDER MELVILLE CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLES FOR COMMON ROAD
VEHICLES." A communication from abroad by Elias Alexander Wible, of Folsom,
in the County of Sacramento, State of California, United States of America.
These improvements relate to the construction of axles for waggons and other
vehicles, and to the manner of connecting .the axle tree and axle spindle together,
the object of the Invention being to increase the strength of the axle tree and
spindle, to reduce the friction between the bearing parts, and to facilitate the
lubrication of the axle spindle, the removal of the same from the axle tree, the
making of repairs, and to obtain other advantages that will be fully referred to in
connection with the further description.
The Invention consists in an axle tree composed of a hollow tube with boxes at
the ends to receive the bearings of the spindle, and a wooden stock with an
interposed rubber cushion, all secured together by clips; also in axle spindles
provided with shafts for entering the hollow axle tree, said shafts being formed
with bearings, one fitting in the boxes on the ends of the axle tree, and the other
in a sleeve that is secured in the axle tree by bolts, whereby the spindles are
secured to the axle tree. The Invention also consists in means for permitting
lubrication of the bearings, and preventing the entrance of dirt, all of which will
be more particularly described with reference to the accompanying Drawing,
wherein Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of an axle tree and spindle constructed
in accordance with this Invention; Figure 2 is a cross section of the same on
line of Figure 1; Figure 3 is a side elevation. Similar letters of reference
indicate corresponding parta. A is the hollow or tubular axlo tree curved or arched
from its mid-length downward to each end, so that the spindles when inserted shall
give the proper set to the wheels. The axle tree may also be sprung back sufficiently
to give the requisite gather to the wheels. On the end of this tube are rings or
sockets a screwed or welded to form boxes for the reception of the outer bearing
of the spindle shaft; B is the wooden stock placed on the top of axle tree A and
over the boxes at the ends, a sheet b of indiarubber being interposed between the
axle tree and stock to relieve these parts of shock from the wheels coming in
contact with obstructions. The axle, stock, and cushion are secured together by
ordinary clips c; C is the axle spindle, which is similar at each end of the axle
tiee, and terininates at its inner end with an annular shoulder d and shaft D that
is formed with an enlarged portion e serving as a gudgeon or bearing that fits
snugly in the box a, and abuts against the tubular axle tree A. The inner end of
shaft D is reduced to form a second bearing over which is a sleeve or cylindrical
box g, which is retained in place by a collar h on shaft D, the end of the shaft
being rivetted, or a screw nut applied to retain the collar h; or the sleeve g may
be secured in any desired manner, which will leave the bearing f free to revolve.
The box g fits closely in the tubular axle tree, and in such a position on the shaft
that when the latter is inserted in the axle tree an annular groove in the box comes
under a set screw i that is tapped in one of the clips c and axle tree, and passes
through the wooden stock, so that the screw may be entered into the annular
groove of the box g, thereby retaining the shaft D, while permitting it to revolve
freely. In the forward end clip c and through the axle tree and stock a hole is
formed to receive a tube j that is formed with a cup at its upper end, and is fitted
with a screw plug k. Through this tube j, the plug being removed, the oil or
other lubricant is to be poured for lubricating the shaft. There are also holes
at 1, 1, to permit escape of air displaced by the oil. Beyond the box g a small space

page_text: is divided off by a partition and packing m next to the end of the shaft to form a
reservoir for lubricating material that is to be supplied by a tube inserted through
the axle tree and stock, as shown. This reservoir will contain material sufficient
to last for some time. Owing to the bend which is given to the axlo tree the
lubricant gravitates to the outer end of shaft D both that placed in the reservoir
and that entered by tube j, whereby the bearings are kept thoroughly lubricated;
E is the wheel hub placed on spindle C and secured by a flanged nut n on the end
of the spindle, and the nut is covered by a dust cap secured on the hub. The inner
end of the hub is fitted with a flanged conoidal thimble F, that is, of a form for
fitting closely over the enlarged end of the spindle next to shoulder d, while the
flange of thimble F abuts against the end of the hub, and is beneath a collar o on
the hub. From the flange of F a shield or dust band p projects over box a so as
to prevent the entrance of mud and dirt into the bearings, and give a neat
finish.
The advantages of this construction are as follows:-In the first place the
friction is greatly reduced owing to the small extent of bearing surface, such
surface being limited to the bearings e and f; again, a self lubricating axle spindle
is supplied without weakness, as is the case with hollow spindles; again, great
strength is given to the spindle and axle tree by the manner in which the spindle
is supported, the shaft entering the axle tree its whole length, and its bearings
preventing it from yielding to the shocks and jars of the wheels coming in contact
with obstructions; the spindle may be very readily removed when necessary by
simply loosening the set screw i, and thus permitting removal of wheel spindle and
shaft and lastly, the arrangements for lubrication are simple and convenient.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of performing the
same, I declare that what I claim as the Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st The axle tree formed of a tube A provided with sockets a that form boxes
for the bearings of the spindle shaft and curved or arched from the midlength, the
wooden stock B, and interposed rubber cushion b, these parts being combined and
secured by clips, substantially as described and shown.
2nd The shaft D of spindle C provided with the enlarged bearing or gudgeon e
and reduced bearing f, in combination with the tubular axle tree A provided with
the socket or box a, and the grooved sleeve g secured on shaft D, and held in axle
trec A by a set screw i, whereby the shaft and spindle are secured to the axle tree
in a manner to permit free revolution, substantially as shown and described.
3rd. The set screw i tapped in the clip and entering through the axle tree and
stock into a groove in the sleeve that is secured on the spindle shaft D, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes set forth.
4th. The flange or dust cap p projecting from the hub over the box a to protect
the bearings from the entrance of foreign matters, as specified.
5th. The shaft D formed with the enlarged portion e that serves as a bearing
for the shaft, combined with the tubular axle tree having a box a, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty fifth day of June, in the year of our