IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLE BOXES
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson; of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in
the County of Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLE BOXES."-A communication
from Benjamin Laurent, of Houécourt, in the Empire of France,
Manufacturer.
.
Sealed the 20th March 1855, and dated the 30th October, 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson.at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
30th October 1854.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of
Middlesex, and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLE BOXES," communicated
to me from Benjamin Laurent, of Houécourt, in the Empire of France,
Manufacturer, to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to a peculiar construction of axle box for ordinary
conveyances, whereby a greater strength and durability is obtained, as well
as a better system of lubrication. The improvements consist in forming
an internal rim or annular projection in the axle box near the outer end
of the same, whereby a larger bearing or frictional surface is presented to
the holding or retaining nut. For this purpose, the end of the axle; which

page_text: is slightly tapered, is made of smaller diameter, and passes through a
correspondingly sized hole in the internal rim, and the end thereof has
a screw thread formed upon it, on to which is screwed the securing or
holding nut. The end of the axle box is continued beyond the internal
rim, but is of sufficiently large bore at that part to contain the holding nut
inside. A brass or other metal cap is screwed into the extreme. end of the
axle box. This cap is hollow, and forms an oil reservoir for the front portion
of the axle, the oil being poured in through a hole for that purpose made in
the cup, and which is stopped by means of a screw plug. The inner end of
the axle box is cast with an annular grease chamber upon it, and a grooved
collar is fitted on to the back end of the axle to fit into this chamber, which
is previously supplied with oil or other lubricating material. Thus, as the
wheel revolves, a continual flow of oil will take place over the rubbing surfaces,
thereby effectually lubricating the journal or axle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 30th April 1855.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
and of Glasgow, North Britain, Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Thirtieth day of October, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the eighteenth year of Her reign, did,
for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said John
Henry Johnson, Her special license that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry
Johnson, my executors, administrators, or 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLE BOXES," a
communication from Benjamin Laurent, of Houécourt, in the Empire of France,
Manufacture, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Henry
Johnson, by an instrument in writing under hand and seal, should par-
ticularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what

page_text: 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 I, the said John Henry Johnson, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say :-
The said Invention relates to a peculiar construction of axle box for ordinary
conveyances, whereby a greater strength and durability is obtained, as well as a
better system of lubrication. The improvements consist in forming an internal
rim or annular projection in the axle box near the outer end of the same,
whereby a larger bearing or frictional surface is presented to the holding or
retaining nut. For this purpose, the end of the axle, which is slightly tapered,
is made of smaller diameter, and passes through a correspondingly sized hole
in the internal rim, and the end thereof has a screw thread formed upon it, on
to which is screwed the the securing or holding nut. The end of the axle box
is continued beyond the internal rim, but is of sufficiently large bore at that part
to contain the holding nut inside. A brass or other metal cap is screwed into
the extreme end of the axle box. This cap is hollow, and forms an oil reser-
voir for the front portion of the axle, the oil being poured in through a hole
for that purpose made in the cap, which is stopped by means of a screw plug.
The inner end of the axle box is cast with an annular grease chamber, & a
grooved collar is fitted on to the back end of the axle to fit into this chamber,
which is previously supplied with oil or other lubricating material. Thus, as
the wheel revolves, a continual flow of oil will take place over the rubbing
surfaces, thereby effectually lubricating the journal or axle.
And in order that the said Invention may be more properly understood, I
shall now proceed to describe and refer to the several Figures on the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto annexed.
Figure 1 of the Drawings is an external elevation of the axle box; Figure 2
is a longitudinal section of the same, taken through the line 1, 2. Figure 3
is a transverse section of the smaller end of the axle box, taken along the
line 3, 4. Figure 4 is a similar section of the large end of the axle box,
taken along the line 5, 6. Figures 5 and 6 represent respectively an external
elevation and plan of the oil reservoir at the small end of the axle box. And
Figures 7 and 8 represent respectively an elevation and plan of the nut
intended to keep the axle box in its place..

page_text: .
The axle box D is bored and polished to receive the journal C of the axle A.
This box is composed of cast iron, and formed with a contracted portion or
internal annular projection G, of sufficient size to afford a good bearing for the
nut I at the end of the axle. The journal C, which is turned slightly conical,
is terminated by a cylindrical portion c,.of smaller diameter, which is prolonged,.
and has a screw thread formed upon it to receive the nut I. This nut is of
wrought iron, enlarged at ', in order to present a greater frictional surface
against the collar G, and it is, made, hexagonal at i, in order to receive a screw.
key. The part. H. of the axle box is of a greater internal .diameter than the
rest, in order to afford space for the reception of the nut I; it is also tapped
or screwed internally, to receive the oil reservoir J, which is screwed into it.
This cap or, reservoir is furnished with a flange.j, in the face of..which is cut
an annular groove for the reception of a leather washer . The exterior of the
oil reservoir is made octagonal at j', in order to receive the screw key. At the
back of the hemispherical portion of the cap J there is an interior enlarge-
ment, having a hole formed therein for the introduction of the oil, which
hole can be closed by the screw plug. L. The larger end or extremity of. the
journal C is fitted with a grooved washer or collar B, and the axle box D is
cast with an annular chamber. d, which encloses and entirely covers the collar B.
The oil for lubricating this extremity of the journal is put into the annular
space,d, the groove in the washer or collar B assisting in retaining it there.
The rotation of the box D, and consequently of the chamber d, keeps up a
constant lubrication of the journal, the oil in the chamber d not requiring
renewing for a considerable period. The axle box is thus supplied with oil at
one end by the reservoir d, and at the other by the reservoir J, and is held firm
in its place on the journal C by the annular projection G and nut I, and will
remain in good working order without requiring any further care or attention
for a considerable time.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried
into effect, I would observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine or restrict
myself to the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to
describe or refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without
deviating from the principles or main features of the said Invention; but what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,―
First, the general combination and arrangement of the various parts of axle
boxes for common road carriages or vehicles, as herein-before described.

page_text: Second, the application and use of the annular collar or internal projection
G, G, for the purpose herein-before described.
Third, the peculiar construction and arrangement of oil or grease reservoirs
or holders, for the purpose of keeping up a constant lubrication at each end of
the journals during the revolution of the wheels of the vehicle, as herein-before
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Thirtieth day of April, One thousand eight
hundred and fifty-five.
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)
J. HENRY JOHNSON. (L.S.)