IMPROVEMENTS IN BEARINGS FOR RAILWAY AXLES
Year: 1867

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Lorentz Tidén, of the City of Manchester, Russian
Vice-Consul, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN BEARINGS FOR
RAILWAY AXLES."-A communication from abroad by Claes Adelsköld,
Major of the Royal Engineers, in the Kingdom of Sweden.
Sealed the 26th July 1867, and dated the 9th March 1867.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Lorentz Tidén at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
9th March 1867.
I, LORENTZ TIDEN, of the City of Manchester, Russian Vice-Consul, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BEARINGS FOR RAILWAY AXLES," being a communication to me from abroad by
Claes Adelsköld, Major of the Royal Engineers, in the Kingdom of Sweden,
to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in the application of moveable steps to the axle-
boxes of locomotive engines, tenders, carriages, and wagons, which steps are
so constructed that when the locomotive or carriage is passing a curve on the
line the axles adapt themselves to the radius of the curve of the rails over
which they may be passing. The steps may move independently or with the
axle-box, which together with the lubricating apparatus may be of any
approved construction. The frame of the locomotive is made with guides for
the axle-boxes in which the steps fit. The bottom of the steps is provided
with a projecting flange fitting into a corresponding groove or recess in the

page_text: axle-box; by means of this flange or elevation, which may continue across the
steps the side pressure on the steps forces them in a transverse direction or in
a curve according to the shape of the flange. When these improved bearings
are applied to the fore or bind axle of an uncoupled engine it is evident that
through the side pressure produced by the outside rail in the curve against
the flange of the wheel a pushing inwards of this wheel is caused, whereby the
axle guided by the flanges on the moveable bearings moves sideways towards
the centre of the curve and thereby gets into a radial position. If both the
fore and hind axles of a locomotive, as well as the axles of all the carriages
and wagons in a train bad these improved bearings with tyres of sufficient
conical form and ample room for moving, calculated for the sharpest existing
curve, then all the axles would in passing the curve place themselves in a
radial position and the straining or breaking which is unavoidable with the
fixed axles now used would be avoided and the train would move in a curve
almost as easily as on a straight line.
The advantages of these moveable bearings are apparent, and consist
chiefly,-
First, in the wear and tear of both rails and rolling stock being considerably
diminished.
Secondly, as the resistance in the curves will be less the locomotives will be
able to draw heavier loads.
Thirdly, the railways may without inconvenience or risk be constructed with
sharper curves and pass through more uneven ground, thereby effecting a
saving in the original cost.
Fourthly, the distance between the axles of locomotives and carriages
may be increased and more wheels applied, by which means more powerful
engines may be constructed and separate tenders may be dispensed with;
longer carriages holding a greater number of passengers can also be used.
And, finally, the construction of these bearings is very simple, so that their
cost will not much exceed that of the usual fixed ones.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Lorentz Tidén in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
5th September 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, LORENTZ
TIDEN, of the City of Manchester, Russian Vice-Consul, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters

page_text: Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Lorentz Tidén, Her special license that I, the said Lorentz Tidén,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Lorentz Tidén, my 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BEARINGS FOR RAILWAY AXLES," being a communication to me from abroad by
Claes Adelsköld, Major of the Royal Engineers, in the Kingdom of Sweden,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Lorentz Tidén, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, 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 I, the said Lorentz Tidén, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be
performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement (that is to say) :-
The nature of this Invention consists in an improved mode of constructing
the bearings of railway axles with moveable steps so that when the loco-
motive engine or carriage to which these improvements are applied is passing
a curve on the line of rails, the steps, and consequently the axles,. are at liberty
to adapt themselves to the radius of the curve of the rails over which they
are passing.
And in order that this Invention may be fully understood and readily
carried into operation, I will proceed to describe the accompanying Sheet of
Drawings, reference being had to the figures and letters marked thereon.
Figure is an elevation of part of the framing of a locomotive engine
and of the improved bearing and step for the axle; Figure 2 is a plan, and
Figure 3 a vertical section of the same. In these views a is part of the
frame of the locomotive engine, to which are bolted the angle brackets 6 for
guiding the plate c vertically; d is the moveable step, and e a box for the'
lubricating material. On the upper part of the step d is a rib or flange-x,
fitting into a corresponding recess or groove in the plate c. The lower end

page_text: of the spring pillar f bears upon the top of the plate c, and the upper end
thereof fits in a recess in the bridle of the spring, as now customary. The
step d is made with sufficient space between the sides thereof and the angle
brackets so that the step may have room to move laterally without coming
in contact with the angle brackets, the amount of space depends upon the
radius of the curve and the boss of the wheel. By means of the diagonal
rib or flange x, the side pressure on the steps forces them in a lateral
direction or in a curve, when the shape of the rib or flange a is made
segmental. The same system for moveable radius bearing steps can also
with suitable alterations be applied to railway carriages and waggons. When
these improved bearings are applied to the fore or hind axle of an uncoupled
locomotive engine or to the axles of a railway carriage or waggon it is
evident that through the side pressure produced by the outside rail in the
curve against the flange of the wheel a pushing inwards of this wheel is
caused, whereby the axle guided by the ribs or flanges & on the moveable
step d moves sideways towards the centre of the curve and thereby gets into
a radial position. If both the fore and hind axles of a locomotive engine, as
well as the axles of all the carriages and waggons in a train, had these
improved bearings, with tyres of sufficient conical form and ample room for
moving calculated for the sharpest existing curve, then all the axles would in
passing the curve place themselves in radial positions, and the straining or
breaking which is unavoidable with the parallel fixed axles now used would
be avoided, and the train would move in a curve almost as easily as on a
straight line.
The advantages of these moveable bearings are apparent, and consist
chiefly,-
First, in the wear and tear of both rails and rolling stock, being considerably
diminished.
Secondly, as the resistance in the curves will be less, the locomotives will
be able to draw heavier loads.
Thirdly, the railways may without inconvenience or risk be constructed
with sharper curves, and pass through more uneven ground, thereby effecting
a saving in the original cost.
Fourthly, the distance between the axles of locomotives and carriages may
be increased and more wheels applied, which means more powerful engines
may be constructed and separate tenders may be dispensed with; longer
carriages holding a greater number of passengers can also be used.
And, finally, the construction of these bearings is very simple, so that their
cost will not much exceed.that of the usual fixed ones.

page_text: Having thus stated the nature of the Invention, and described the manner
of performing the same as communicated to me by the within-named Claes
Adelsköld, I declare that I claim the improved moveable bearing for railway
axles when combined with the plate c, and the mode of connecting them
together as described and shewn in the Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Lorentz Tidén, have hereto set my
hand and seal, this Second day of September, One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-seven.
LORENTZ TIDEN. (L.S.)