Improvements in or relating to Radial Axles for Railway and other similar Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Radial Axles for Railway and other
similar Vehicles.
I, OTTO BUSSE, of Copenhagen, c/o Messrs. Tait & Carlton, 63 Queen Victoria
Street, in the City of London, Chief Mechanical Engineer, Danish State
Railways, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention of improvements in or relating to radial axles for railway and
other similar vehicles, has for object to obviate the disadvantages attending the
use of radial axles as heretofore constructed.
For this purpose in radiating axles according to this invention each axle with
its axle boxes is mounted in guides carried by a frame that is centrally pivotted
to the underside of the vehicle through a carrying spring or springs and inclined
suspension links and is connected near each of its ends to the corresponding sides
of the vehicle by horizontal draw-rods jointed both to the frame and to the vehicle,
the arrangement being such that when the vehicle enters or leaves a curve an
automatic radial movement of each of its axles will take place under the control
of the inclined suspending rods and the horizontally inclined draw-rods, to
permit the carrying wheels to adapt themselves to the portions of rails over which
the vehicle is passing.
In one arrangement of radiating axle according to this invention, the axle and
its bearings are mounted in guides connected together by a cross piece from which
are hung pairs of suspension rods that carry two transversely arranged laminated
springs arranged at the respective sides of the cross piece and upon the central
portions of which bear a cross head carrying a centrally arranged socket in which
is fitted a pivot secured to the underside of the vehicle the weight of which together.
with the load carried thereby is thus transmitted through the pivot, socket springs,
and cross piece to the top of the axle boxes and thence to the axles and wheels.
The socket and pivot are or may be formed with flanges one of which is provided
with pins arranged to work in slots in the other so as to limit the extent of
turning movement of the axle and connected parts relatively to the vehicle. The
axle box guides are each connected to the corresponding sole bar or -side
member of the under frame of the vehicle by a horizontally arranged draw-rod one
end of which is bifurcated and jointed to a pin on the corresponding axle guide,
whilst its other end is connected to a fixed pin on the said sole bar or side member
by a ball and socket joint so as to permit the draw-rod to swing vertically as well
as horizontally. The suspension rods are downwardly and outwardly inclined so
that the load of the vehicle will tend to keep the vehicle, axle and attached parts
centrally with one another, and the two draw-rods are inclined towards each other
from their points of attachment to the vehicle so that when one swings outwardly
the other will swing inwardly and vice versa and so effectually control the radial
movement of the axle and attached parts. The sole bars or side members of the

page_text: vehicle underframe are formed with suitable recesses to permit of the radial
movement of the axles and attached parts..
Dated this 8th day of August 1896.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, WC., Chartered Patent Agent.
Improvements in or relating to Radial Axles for Railway and other
similar Vehicles.
I, Orro Busse, of Copenhagen, c/o Messrs. Tait & Carlton; 63 Queen Victoria
Street, in the City of London, Chief Mechanical Engineer, Danish State
Railways, 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 of improvements in or relating to radial axles for railway and
other similar vehicles, has for object to obviate the disadvantages attending the
use of radial axles as heretofore constructed.
For this purpose in radial axles according to this invention each axle with its
bearings is mounted in guides carried by a frame that is centrally pivoted to the
underside of the vehicle through a carrying spring or springs and inclined
suspension rods and is connected near each of its ends to the corresponding side
of the vehicle. by horizontal draw-rods jointed both to the frame and to the vehicle,
the arrangement. being such that when the vehicle enters or leaves a curve an
automatic radial movement of each of its axles will take place under the.control
of the inclined suspension rods and the horizontally inclined draw-rods, to permit
the carrying wheels to adapt themselves to the portions of rails over which the
vehicle is passing.
In the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1 is an end view partly in cross section;
Fig. 2 an inner side elevation partly in longitudinal section; and Fig. 3 a plan,
partly in horizontal section, showing part of a locomotive with one arrangement
of radial axle acording to this invention. Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line ar
of Fig. 3. Figs. 5 to 12 inclusive arc detail views.
In this arrangement the axle 1 with its bearings 2 are mounted in two lateral
guides 3 constituting in effect axle boxes which are rigidly connected together
by a cross piece or beam 4. From pins 5" in bearings 5 on the ends of the cross
piece are hung two pairs of suspension rods 5 that carry two transversely arranged
laminated hearing springs 6 arranged at the respective sides of the cross piece and
upon the central portions of which bear a cross head 7 carrying a centrally
arranged socket 8 in which is fitted a pivot 9 secured to the underside of the
vehicle 10 the weight of which, together with the load carried thereby, is thus
transmitted through the pivot, socket, springs, suspension rods, cross piece to the
tops of the guides or axle boxes and thence to the axle 1 and its wheels 11. The
socket 8 and pivot 9 may, as shown, be formed with flanges 8", 9" respectively,
one of which, viz. 9" is provided with cotter pins 12 arranged to work in slots 8
in the other 8ª so as to limit the extent of turning movement of the axle and
connected parts relatively to the vehicle.
The guides 3 are each connected to the corresponding sole bar or side member 13
of the under frame of the vehicle, by a horizontally arranged draw-rod 14 one
end 14 of which is bifurcated and jointed to a vertical pin 15 mounted in a
pair of lugs 3ª on the corresponding axle.guide .3, whilst its other end 14b is

page_text: connected to a fixed pin 16 on the said sole bar or side member 13 by a ball and
socket joint 17 so as to permit the draw-rod to swing vertically as well as
horizontally. The suspension rods 5 are downwardly and outwardly inclined,
and the two draw-rods 14 are inclined rearwards towards each other from their
points of attachment to the vehicle so that when one swings outwardly the other
will swing inwardly and vice versa and so effectually control the radial movement
of the axle and attached parts.
The flanges 8, 9" of the socket and pivot 8 and 9 are held together vertically.
by the cotter pins or bolts 12 so that they will rise and fall together. Also the
two bearing springs 6 are connected to the cross head 7 by means of bolts 12".
which pass through the cross head and through a connecting buckle 12b shown
separately in end view, plan and cross section in Figs. 5, 6 and 7 respectively..
This buckle keeps the bearing springs in position, and assists in connection with:
the cotter pins 12, in connecting the two wheeled truck or frame formed by the
guides 3, cross piece 4 and attached parts, to the engine frame so that it will be
lifted with the latter when the same is raised.
The ends of the two bearing springs are forked to admit the four suspension
rods 5, the spring ends having rocking washer plates 6" bearing upon adjustable
washers 5 carried by the said rods.
The cross piece 4 is provided on each side of its central portion with projec-
tions 4, to form guide ways 4 (Figs. 8 and 9) for corresponding projections 7"
on the cross head 7, whereby the lateral movement of the truck to either side from
the centre of the locomotive frame can be controlled to suit the requirement of any.
particular rail curve.
The guides or axle boxes 3, one of which is shown separately in side, plan and
end view in Figs. 10, 11 and 12 respectively, are each formed with two pairs of
lugs 3", the rearward pair of which surve for use in case it is required to turn the
truck round.
By the construction described, when the engine passes on to a curve, the draw
rods will force the axle truck to adopt such a position in relation to the engine
frame that the locomotive will easily pass round the required curve, the axle being
capable not only of making the necessary lateral movement relatively to the
vehicle but also of making a partial rotary movement to suit the curvature of the
track. The lateral movement is permitted by the suspension rods 5 the inclination
given to which tends to bring back the truck centrally to the engine after passing
from a curve into a straight line of rails and helps to steady the motion of the
engine itself, because not only is a vertical spring pressure obtained on the top of the
guides or axle foxes 3 but a spring side pressure is also secured between the engine
and the axle truck. The oblique position of the draw bars 14 also assists the
action of the rods to return the truck to its central position. The resistance
against any lateral movement of the radial axle and truck produces a side pressure
between the engine and truck which also assists in centralizing the truck and
preyents a slinging motion in the same manner as described for the springs.
It will be seen that with the axle truck in the normal or central position there
is no side pressure between the engine frame and truck as the suspension rods 5
have, at both ends of the cross piece 4, assumed the same angle to the vertical,
but the moment any lateral motion is imparted to the cross piece the one pair of
rods will assume a more vertical inclination and thereby reduce any spring side
pressure at the corresponding end of the beam while the rods at the other end of
the cross piece by increasing their angle to the vertical line will give the required
side pressure to the truck. The tendency of the engine load is therefore to bring
the truck into its normal central position in order that the spring side pressure
may be equalised.
As shown in Fig. 2 the sole bars or side members 13 of the engine frame are
formed with suitable recesses at 13 to permit of the radial movement of the axle
and attached parts. The said recessed portions are of such dimensions however as
to very nearly clasp the axle truck so that in case of accident the guides or axle

page_text: boxes 3 may at once take up the load of the engine which will come down on the
top of them, the engine frame then acting as safety axle guards.
The advantages of my arrangement of radial axles over former arrangements
known to me are various and include the following viz:-
1. When the engine moves forward the axle truck will be hauled not pushed.
2. An equal distribution of load on both truck-wheels is permanently secured.
3. The engine will assume its normal position in a natural way by its own weight
without the application of any side or auxiliary springs, slide surfaces, or equiva-
lent devices, which readily get out of order, whilst its suspension rods
and rocking plates, required in my arrangement are easily maintained.
4. The axle will not get jammed fast in curved or radial axle box guides, as is the
ease in some constructions, when the wheels, owing to irregularities in the track,
assume a cross way position from the horizontal line.
5. The whole arrangement is easily and cheaply produced without any special
tools and it can be made to suit various constructions of locomotives and it can
with but few alterations to the existing parts, be introduced under engines which
formerly had no radial axles,
6. The introduction of the long transverse bearing springs 6 and the suspension.
of same by inclined rods 5 as herein before described, contribute to give a soft and
easy movement to the engine and secures a sure and steady guidance on the rails,
even at high speed, thus effecting a saving in wear and tear of the rails as well
as the engine, especially of the wheel. tyres.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. Mounting an axle of a railway or similar vehicle in guides or axle boxes
carried by a frame that is pivotted to the underside of the vehicle through one or
more carrying or bearing springs and through inclined suspension rods, and is
connected near each of its ends to the corresponding side of the vehicle by
norizontal draw rods jointed both to the frame and to the vehicle, the arrangement
being such that when a vehicle provided with two or more axles mounted as set
forth enters or leaves a curve an automatic radial movement of the axles will take
place under the control of the inclined suspension rods and horizontal draw rods to
permit the carrying wheels to adapt themselves to the portions of rails over which
ihe vehicle is passing, substantially as described.
2. Radial axles constructed arranged and operating substantially as described
and shown.
For the Applicant,
W. LLOYD WISE,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Chartered Patent Agent.