Year: 1886

page_text: I, WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co, Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings in the County of Middlesex do hereby declare the nature
of the 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 railway car axles and is an improvement upon the
ordinary forms which is more particularly designed with the special object of
rendering an axle, adapted for general and ordinary use, capable of being used
through a much longer period of service than has heretofore been possible.
Car axles have ordinarily been made in one piece or solid, the ends being formed
with collars, journals and hub seats upon which latter the wheels are shrunk or
pressed, so that any defect, whether it be inherent or the result of wear renders
the entire axle unfit for use. In the ordinary axles such defects are very likely
to occur, particularly at the journals as the wear is practically confined to these
parts. It becomes therefore extremely desirable to provide some way of utilizing
an axle which has deteriorated in any manner, and thus save the expense of
replacing such axle by a new one.
The object of this invention is to construct an axle in such manner that by a
rearrangement of its parts, it may be capable of good service even after it has
failed one or more times from such defects or deteriorations as commonly occur in
the journals. For this purpose an axle is made in two parts, each of which is a
complete axle in itself, though of only one half the standard length. These short
axles are placed end to end, and when secured in any proper manner, make a
standard axle to which the wheels may be secured, and which may be applied and
used in the ordinary way.
An axle thus constructed has two sets or pairs of journals and hub seats, so that
in case of failure or injury to one of the journals it is only necessary to disconnect
the two symmetrical parts of the axle, remove the wheel from the defective part,
reverse the position of the part and replace the wheel on its other seat. By this
means the capabilities and life of an axle are obviously very greatly extended and
this too at a slight additional expense.
This invention may be carried out under a variety of conditions. For instance,
thus far reference has been had only to the general class of rigid or solid axles, but
axles are also made sectional, or divided so that the two halves or ends may turn
independently of each other. The invention is, however, applicable to this form
as well, it being only necessary to use a form of coupler which will permit an
independent rotary movement in the two halves or parts, while preserving in
other respects their relative positions fixed,

page_text: The details of this device are shown in the accompanying drawings which
illustrate the same by means of a simple but effective device embodying the
principles of the invention.
Fig. 1 is a view partly in elevation and partly in section of my improved axle.
Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section of the same on line x-x.
Fig. 3 is a similar section on the line y-y.
The axle proper is made up of the two symmetrical parts A and B. And while
it is not absolutely necessary, yet it is obviously desirable that each should be one
half the length of a standard axle, in order that when joined by a coupler they
may be placed end to end. Each part conforms to the required standard in all
other particulars, that is to say, at each end is a collar C, a journal D, a shoulder E,
for the dust bearing, and the slightly tapered wheel or hub seat F. The central
portion G may be straight.
In order to secure the two parts together, a sectional sleeve or coupler H is
employed. The interior of this coupler is formed in such manner as to fit evenly
on the axle, and it may be made in two or more longitudinal sections.
The sections of the coupler being applied to the axle in the manner indicated in
the drawing, the whole is secured by some form of clamping or binding device;
for example, circular grooves are provided around the coupler at two or more points
and into these are forced the split rings K. having ears L which are clamped tightly
together by the bolts and lock nuts M.
If it be desired to make a rigid axle, depressions as N are formed in the parts A.
and B, into which extend lugs or pins O set in the sections of the coupler. If on
the other hand it is desirable that the two parts A and B should have a certain
independent rotary movement in the coupler these lugs are dispensed with or other
such provisions made as will make this practicable.
•
The wheels P may be forced onto their seats either before or after the two parts
of the axle are combined. Should any defect in a journal subsequently appear
the wheel adjacent thereto is removed, the position of the defective part reversed
in the coupler and the wheel replaced upon the sound end.
The invention is not confined to any particular form of axle, nor to the specified
means for uniting or combining the two parts or halves of the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :—
1st. A car-axle composed of two parts each constituting in itself an axle in
combination with a coupler uniting the two parts in substantially the manner set
forth.
2nd. A car-axle composed of two symmetrical parts in combination with a
coupler uniting the two parts end to end in the manner set forth.
3rd. A car-axle composed of two symmetrical parts placed end to end in
combination with a longitudinally divided cylindrical coupler adapted to encloso.
and unite the two parts and clamps for binding the sections of the coupler together
as set forth.
4th. A car-axle composed of two symmetrical parts placed end to end in
combination with a longitudinally divided cylindrical coupler adapted to enclose
and unite the two parts, clamps for binding the sections of the coupler together.
and means for locking the parts of the axle against movement in the coupler as
set forth.