CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARRIAGE AXLES AND AXLE BOXES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Cockshoot, junior, of Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Coach Builder, and Henry Weatherill, of the
same Place, Manager, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARRIAGE AXLES AND AXLE BOXES."
Sealed the 16th November 1869, and dated the 31st May 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Cockshoot and
Henry Weatherill at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 31st May 1869.
We, JOSEPH COCкSHOOT, junior, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Coach Builder, and HENRY WEATHERILL, of the same Place,
Manager, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARRIAGE AXLES AND AXLE BOXES," to.
be as follows:-
The improvements relate to axles and axle boxes of various descrip-
tions, and we will proceed to describe each one separately.
The first part of our Invention relates to further improvements on
Letters Patent granted to us on the 19th October 1868, No. 3188, the

page_text: principle of which consisted in forming a solid flange upon the old
"mail axle" in lieu of a loose one as hitherto, the said solid flange being
employed in conjunction with a loose split washer for the purpose of
encircling and pressing against a fixed collar formed on the back of the
axle box, thereby firmly retaining (when the solid flange and loose
split washer are bolted together) the box and axlo together, thereby
giving a double security against accident from the arm of the axle
contained in the axle box breaking. The present improvement consists
in recessing the said split washer, in order that the back collar of the
axle box when received within the recess of the solid flange will allow
the split washer and such solid flange to lay in close proximity, giving
greater rigidity when bolted up.
Secondly. The improvements relate more particularly to that class of
axles known in the trade as the "Collinge axle," and consist in enlarging
the ordinary recessed collar thereof, so as to make it deeper and larger
in diameter, so that the inner surface can be tapped with a screw thrend
for the purpose of receiving a split nut having a number of elongated
holes around its circumference; it is also provided with a flango having
an octagon or other form adapted for screwing it up. The said split nut
is constructed so as to screw into the annular recess formed in the larger
diameter of the collar of the axle, so as to bed against a collar formed
on the back end of the axle box, a leather or other washer being
provided as a packing inside; thus when it is desired to secure the axle
box to the axle the split nut is screwed up, the action of which beds the
axle box into the annular recess of the fixed collar, in which position it
is locked by means of a pin which passes through a hole formed in the
axle collar into one of the slotts formed in the circumference of the nut,
thereby enabling the nut as the packings wear to be screwed up and
secured in whatever position such nut is required for firmly retaining
the axle to the axle box, thereby preventing the annoyance of knocking
or rattling now so much complained of, which is caused by the improper
fitting together of the axle box and axle through the wearing of the
leather washer packings, the pin holes being also employed as a duct
for oil.
Thirdly. The improvements relate to that class of axle known in the
trade as the "mail axle," in which the axle and axle box are retained or
secured together by means of three long bolts passing through the nave
and a loose washer plate placed behind the fixed axle collar, by which

page_text: means the wheel is secured to the axle. The iniprovement upon this the
original construction of mail axle consists in dispensing with the loose
washer, and securing the fixed collar of the axle and the revolving collar
of the axle box when brought into contact by means of a split collar
that when in position embraces both the fixed collar of the axle and the
revolving collar of the axle box. The outer surface of this split collar is
provided with a screw thread that admits of a nut being screwed over
the two halves, thereby permanently retaining through the medium of
the split collar the axle and axle box in close retention, allowing at
the same time the free revolution of the axle box and wheel, thus
simplifying and strengthening the fixings of the axles, which is of great
and material advantage to heavy class work.
Lastly. Our improvements consist in adapting to old axle boxes, or
those already made, an arrangement of fixing which will convert them
into axles combining the advantages of our improvements; for example,
when converting the old axle box for this purpose, we provide the back
end thereof with a screw thread, on to which we secure a new back end
with a collar and groove attached, being prepared thereby to receive our
improvements, and which can from time to time as the packing wears:
be screwed up and secured by a pin, as previously described. The great
saving and advantage to be derived from this portion of our improve-
ments consists in enabling the manufacturer to construct the front part
of the axle box of an inferior metal, and securing thereto in the manner
described the back collar of such axle box which has to bear the brunt
of the friction; thus a good and superior class of metal is only employed
where the greatest friction exists, the remainder being of an inferior
and therefore much cheaper metal; this construction reduces also the
amount of labour required in the production.
0
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters l'atent,
filed by the said Joseph Cockshoot and Henry Weatherill in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th November 1869.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JOSEPHI
Соскаиоот, junior, of Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Coach
Builder, and HENRY WEATHERILL, of the same Place, Manager, send
5 greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirty-first day of May One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-niuc, in the thirty-third year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us,
the said Joseph Cockshoot and Henry Weatherill, Her special license
that we, the said Joseph Cockshoot and Henry Weatherill, our
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said
Joseph Cockshoot and Henry Weatherill, our 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 "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARRIAGE AXLES AND AXLE BOXES," upon the
condition, amongst others, that we, the said Joseph Cockshoot and
Henry Weatherill, our executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under our, or their, or one of their hands and seals, 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 we, the said Joseph Cockshoot and Henry
Weatherill, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement and accompanying
Drawings, that is to say :-
The improvements relate to axles and axle boxes of various descrip-
tions, and we will proceed to describe each one separately.
The first part of our Invention relates to further improvements on
Letters Patent granted to us on the Nineteenth day of October Onc
thousand eight hundred and sixty-cight, No. 3188, the principal of
which consisted in forming a solid flange upon the old "mail axle " in
lieu of a loose one as hitherto, the said solid flange being employed in
conjunction with a loose split washer for the purpose of encircling and
pressing against a fixed collar formed on the back of the axle box
thereby firmly retaining (when the solid flange and loose split washer
are bolted together) the box and axle together, thereby giving a double
security against accident from the arm of the axle contained in the axle

page_text: box breaking. The present improvement consists in recessing the said
split washer, in order that the back collar of the axle box when received
within the recess of the solid flange will allow the split washer and
such solid flange to lay in close proximity, giving greater rigidity when
bolted up.
Secondly. The improvements relate more particularly to that class
of axle known in the trade as the "Collinge axle," and consist in en-
larging the ordinary recessed collar thereof, so as to make it deeper and
larger in diameter, so that the inner surface can be tapped with a screw
thread for the purpose of receiving a split nut having a number of
elongated holes around its circumference; it is also provided with a
flange having an octagon or other form adapted for screwing it up. The
said split nut is constructed so as to screw into the annular recess
formed in the larger diameter of the collar of the axle, so as to bed
against a collar formed on the back end of the axle box, a leather or
other washer being provided as a packing inside, thus when it is desired
to secure the axle box to the axle the split nut is screwed up, the
action of which beds the axle box into the annular recess of the fixed
collar, in which position it is locked by means of a pin which passes
through a hole formed in the axle collar into one of the slotts formed in
the circumference of the nut, thereby enabling the nut as the packing
wears to be screwed up and secured in whatever position such nut is
required for firmly retaining the axle to the axle box, thereby preventing
the annoyance of knocking or rattling now so much complained of which
is caused by the improper fitting together of the axle box and axle
through the wearing of the leather washer packings, the pin holes being
also employed as a duct for oil.
Thirdly. The improvements relate to that class of axle known in the
trade as the mail axle, in which the axle and axle box are retained or
secured together by means of three long bolts passing through the nave
and a loose washer plate placed behind the fixed axle collar, by which
means the wheel is secured to the axle. The improvements upon this
the original construction of mail axle consists in dispensing with the
loose washer and securing the fixed collar of the axle, and the revolving
collar of the axle box when brought into contact by means of a split
collar, that when in position embraces both the fixed collar of the
axle and the revolving collar of the axle box. The outer surface of this
split collar is provided with a screw threads that admits of a nut being

page_text: screwed over the two halves, thereby permanently retaining through the
medium of the split collar the axle and axle box in close retention,
allowing at the same time the free revolution of the axle box and wheel,
thus simplifying and strengthening the fixings, of the axles which is of
great and material advantage in heavy class work.
Lastly. Our improvements consist in adapting to old axle boxes or
those already made an arrangement of fixing which will convert them
into axles combining the advantages of our improvements; for example,
when converting the old axle box for this purpose, we provide the back
end thereof with a screw thread into which we secure a new back end
with a collar and groove attached, being prepared thereby to receive our
improvements, and which can from time to time as the packing
wears be screwed up and secured by a pin, as previously described.
In order that the Invention may be better understood and explained
in detail we have hereunto attached a Sheet of Drawings made upon a
scale of about six inches equal to one foot, and in which the various
arrangements and modifications embracing our several improvements
are represented to the class of axle for which they are designed.
Before proceeding to describe each axle and axle box according to its
respective class or design, it will be understood that in all the Figs. a
represents the axle arm, 6 the axle box, the nave, and d the solid flange
of the axle.
Figs. 1 and 2 represent the arrangement of axle and axle box
embracing the arrangement referred to under the first part of our
improvements, and in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal, and Fig. 2 a
tranverse section of the same. In these Figs., the axle arm a is provided
with a recessed solid flange d, and the axle box b is provided with a back
collar having a recess or groove in front, into which the hollow or
recessed split washer e is placed so as to embrace the smaller or reduced
diameter of the axle box. This split washer is recessed so as to
embrace the axle box bat a point outside the recess of the solid
flange d, and at the same time to allow the flango of the split washer to
he received within the recess of the solid flange d, so as to lay in close
proximity therewith, and thereby effecting when the box is secured up
to the solid flange through the medium of the split washer e and bolts g
greater rigidity and firmness to the working parts in contact, and between
which leather packings harc employed.
Figs. 3, 4, 5, and 6 represent respectively detached, longitudinal, and

page_text: transverse sections of the arrangement and construction of the axle and
axle box described and referred to under the second head of our Inven-
tion, and which embraces the adaptation of our improvements to the
axle known in the trade as the "Collinge axle." In this improved
arrangement the recessed fixed collar or flange d is enlarged, so as to
make the ordinary recess i deeper and larger in diameter, so that the
inner surface can be tapped with a screw thread for the purpose of
receiving the split nut e, a section of which is shown at Fig. 4, taken
through the line C, D, of Fig. 3.
Another section of the same is also shewn at Fig. 6, which is taken
through the line E, F, of Fig. 5. In this section the split nut is shewn
as having a number of clongated holes or slots m around its circum-
ference. It is also provided with a flange having an octagonal or
other form that is adapted for screwing or turning the nut round. The
two halves of the split nut when put together are constructed so as to
screw into the annular recess i formed in the axle collar and to bed
against the collar formed on the back end of the axle box b, a leather
washer being provided as a packing inside; thus when it is desired to
secure the axle box to the axle arm a the split nut e is screwed up,
the action of which beds the axle box into the recess i of the fixed
collar, in which position it is locked by means of a pin n which passes
through a hole formed in the axle collar into one of the slots m in the
circumference of the split nut e, thereby enabling the nut as the leather
packings wear to be secured and screwed up firmly in contact with the
packings, preventing thereby the annoyance of knocking or rattling.
The pin holes m may also be employed as a duct for oil.
Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14 represent various arrangements
of axle and axle box constructed according to the principle described
under the third head of our Invention, and which relate more particularly
to that form of axle known in the trade, as the "mail axle." In
Figs. 7, 8, and 9 the split collar e embracing the reduced diameter of
the axle box, and which is employed for drawing up and retaining the
axle box in contact with the solid flange through the medium of the
axle box collar, is provided with a screw thread externally and pro-
jecting keys o, see Fig. 8, that fit into and slide within grooves p formed
in the periphery of the solid flange d, the split collar when in its place
embracing the axle box, is screwed together and drawn so as to force up
the axle box into contact with the solid flange by means of the external

page_text: nut r, which is provided with an octagonal formation on its outer surface
by which it is turned round the sliding keys o, at the time the split
collar is being screwed up prevents the same turning round. Fig. S
represents a transverse section of Fig. 7 taken through the line G, 1.
Figs. 10, 11, and 12 represent a similar class of axle to the last, with
the addition thereto of a loose split washer & fitting over the fixed collar
of the axle, and which forms the grooves for the sliding keys of the split
collar e, the additional washer being prevented from turning round
when the external nut is screwing and binding the several parts
together by reason of its fitting the octagonal formation of the axle.
Fig. 12 represents a transverse section of the axle taken through the
line I, J, of Fig. 10.
Another formation of the same axle is shewn at Figs. 13 and 14. In
this arrangement the split washer e is constructed so as to enclose when
in its position both the collar of the axle box and the fixed solid
collar d of the axle, the said split collar when thus placed being provided
with a screw thread externally is enclosed and bound together by the
nut r.
Figs. 15, 16, and 17 represent another modification of our improve-
ments designed for securing the axle box to the "Collinge axle." In
this arrangement the groove of the axle box is encircled, as before
described, by the leather packing hand split washer e, the periphery of
the split washer being provided with a screw thread, as is also the
periphery of the solid or fixed axle flange d. The screw thread of the
split washer, being chased in a reversed direction to the thread of the
solid flange, as seen in Fig. 16, form right and left handed threads, thus
when the nut is turned so as to act upon both threads simultaneously,
it draws the split washer e and packing towards the solid flange of the
axle, the pressure of which bearing against the collar of the axle box
forces the same into the recess and against the back surface of the
solid axle collar d, between which the leather washer packing is placed.
The nut, as the packings wear, is screwed up and retained in its
position by the spring catch a or other equivalent entering one of the
notches or recesses formed in the face of the nut r, maintaining thereby
the axle and axle box in perfect working contact, by which means
any "back lash" or looseness in the fitting of the parts together is
prevented.
Figs. 18 and 19 represent two arrangements of our improved axle

page_text: box collar and its adaptation to old axles. When applying such axles
to such purpose we provide the back end thereof with a screw thread 1,
on to which we secure the new back eud o with a collar f and groove w
attached, the two arrangements shewn being adapted to the two classes
of axles herein-before referred to. The great saving and advantage to
be derived from this portion of our improvements consists in enabling the
manufacturer to construct the front part of the axle box y of an inferior
metal, and securing thereto in the manner shown and described in the
back collar of such axle box which has to bear the brunt of the friction
of superior metal; thus a good and superior class of metal is only
employed where the greatest friction exists, the remainder being of au
inferior and therefore much cheaper material. This construction also
reduces the amount of labor required in production. The recesses or
grooves formed in the interior of the axle box are provided as
chambers or receptacles for lubricant, and are entirely excluded from
weather, dust, or other extraneous matter.
Having now described the nature of our said Invention, together
with the method of carrying the same into practical effect, we wish it to
be distinctly understood in conclusion that we claim,―
First. The novel arrangement and adaptation to the back end of the
axle box of a collar described and referred to in the Drawings as the
collar, which forms a medium by which the axle box is drawn up and
firmly retained in contact with the solid flange of the axle, as described
and set forth in the Drawings attached.
Secondly. We claim the novel arrangement, employment, and use of
set screws, studs, or catches, or any slight modification thereof, for the
purpose of preventing in carriage axles "back lash" or unsteadiness in
the fittings of the parts in contact.
Thirdly. We claim the novelty of utilizing old axles and axle
boxes into the improved form of axle box forming the subject of these
improvements by adapting thereto a new back end of superior metal
upon which is formed the axle box collar, as described.
Fourthly. We claim the novelty of constructing axle boxes according
to our Invention of two metals, namely, one, the back end, of superior,
and the remainder of inferior metal.
And, lastly. We claim the general arrangement and construction of
the various modifications of apparatus shewn and described to be

page_text: employed for the purpose of securing the axle box to the solid flange
or collar of the axle through the medium of the axle box collar, as
herein-before described, set forth, and fully illustrated in the Drawings
attached.
In witness whereof, we, the said Joseph Cockshoot, junior, and
Henry Weatherill, have hereunto set our hands and scals, this
Twelvth day of November, in the year of our Lord, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty-nine.
JOSEPH COCKSHOOT, JUN. (L.S.)
HENRY
WEATHERILL
(L.S.)
Witnessed by,
THOMAS WRIGLEY, C.E.,
Agent to the Petitioners,
20, Cross Street,
Manchester.