Improvements in the Manufacture of the Axle-boxes of Carriages, and in Tools and Apparatus used in the said Manufacture.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 4th Oct., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 12th June, 1890-Accepted, 12th July, 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of the Axle-boxes of Carriages,
and in Tools and Apparatus used in the said Manufacture.
We JABEZ LONES and CHARLES VERNON and EDWARD HOLDEN and RALPH
BENNETT trading as Lones Vernon and Holden of Sandwell Iron Works Smethwick
in the County of Stafford Manufacturers do hereby declare the nature of this Inven-
tion to be as follows:-
Our invention consists in manufacturing the axle boxes of carriages from solid bars
or billets of iron or steel by the process or combination of processes hereinafter
described. Our invention also consists of the tools and apparatus hereinafter described
to be used in the manufacture of axle boxes by the process constituting part of our
invention.
We will describe the manufacture of an axle box according to our invention in
conjunction with the tools and apparatus which we employ.
We take a rolled or forged bar or billet of iron or steel of a diameter somewhat less
than the barrel of the axle box to be made but somewhat longer than the finished axle
box. The said bar or billet is square in cross section with its angles removed and
replaced by planes. We place this bar heated to a welding heat in a lower die fixed
on the bed of a steam hammer the said die having a form nearly the counterpart of
the exterior of an axle box excepting that the enlarged upper end is longer than the
head of the axle box. By the descent of a compressing tool carried by the steam
haminer the top of the heated bar is compressed and forced into the upper enlarged
part of the said die so as to partly fill it and a solid roughly shaped head thereby
formed on the bar that part of the bar from which the barrel of the axle box is to be
formed being unoperated upon. The partly made axle box being again heated is
placed in a second die similar to the first a space being left between the interior of
the upper part of the die and the partly made head of the box placed in it. A properly
shaped punching tool carried by the steam hammer being made to descend npon the
heated head of the box either a shallow tubular depression or a deep tubular depression
is punched in the said solid head the said hear at the same time being expanded in
the upper part of the die and made to take the cylindrical figure of that part of the
die. When a shallow depression is punched in the head the ordinary front internal
shoulder has to be turned from the solid part of the head and when a deep depression
is punched in the head a separate front internal shoulder is shrunk in the interior of
the tubular head at the proper place. The interior and exterior of the head of the
partly made axle box having been thus shaped the partly made axle box is reheated
and placed in a third die similar to the second die and by the descent of a long loose
punching tool the top of which fits in a seat in the tup of the steam hammer and is
acted upon by the descent of the said seat the said tool is forced through the solid
barrel part of the partly made axle box and a tubular figure given to the said barrel
part. By the operation of the last named punch the square barrel part is expanded
nto the cylindrical lower part of the fixed die and a cylindrical figure thereby given
to the exterior of the said barrel part. In this way a roughly formed axle box is
nade from the solid bar or billet described which axle box is finished in the
ordinary way.
Taper axle boxes as well as cylindrical axle boxes may be made according to our
nvention.
We will now describe more in detail the tools and apparatus which we use.
The three lower dies are arranged equi-distantly in a circular block on the bed of
he stean hammer and the head compressing tool the punch for punching the head
nd the seat for receiving the long loose punching tool for punching the barrel are all
C

page_text: fixed in the tap or head of the steam hammer the said tools and seat being respectively
arranged opposite to or in a line with the fixed lower dies-on the bed of the hammer.
At the bottom of each of the lower dies is a lifter resting on a sliding block by which
the axle box under operation is lifted from the die sufficiently far to be taken hold
of and removed by the workman. This sliding block is raised by a lever operated
from the descending hammer. The lifter of the third die is tubular for the passage
through it of the long punching tool. We prefer to use with the long loose punching
tool a chilled cast iron or steel sphere. This sphere is placed on the bottom of the
hollow head of the axle box and the bottom of the long punching tool which is cupped
fits on the sphere which sphere is forced by the descent of the punching tool before
it through the axis of the solid barrel so as to convert the said solid barrel into a
tubular barrel as before described. Instead of using the three pairs of tools in the
same steam hammer as described each pair of tools may be used with an independent
steam hammer or the movable tools may be worked by hydraulic power or by a
stamp.
1000
W. T WHITEMAN,
Agent for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of the Axle-boxes of Carriages
and in Tools and Apparatus used in the said Manufacture.
We JABEZ LOXES and CHARLES VERNON and EDWARD HOLDEN and RALPH
BENNETT trading as Lones Vernon and. Holden of Sandwell Iron Works Smethwick
in the County of Stafford Manufacturers do hereby declare the nature of the said inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed to be particularly described
and ascertained in and by the following statement :—
Our invention consists in manufacturing the axle boxes of carriages from solid bars
or billets of iron or steel by the process or combination of processes hereinafter
described. Our invention also consists of the tools and apparatus hereinafter described
to be used in the manufacture of axle boxes by the process constituting part of our
invention.
We will describe the manufacture of an axle box according to our invention in
conjunction with the tools and apparatus which we employ.
We take a rolled or forged bar or billet of iron or steel of a diameter somewhat less
than the barrel of the axle box to be made but somewhat longer than the finished axle
box. The said bar or billet is square in cross section with its angles removed and
replaced by planes, the sides being flat or concave. We place this bar heated to a
welding heat in a lower die fixed on the bed of a steam hammer, the said die having
a form nearly the counterpart of the exterior of an axle box excepting that the
enlarged upper end is longer than the head of the axle box. By the descent of a
compressing tool carried by the steam hammer the top of the heated bar is compressed
and forced into the upper enlarged part of the said die so as to partly fill it and a
solid roughly shaped head thereby formed on the bar, that part of the bar from which
the barrel of the axle box is to be formed being unoperated upon. The partly made
axle box being again heated is placed in a second die similar to the first, a space
being left between the interior of the upper part of the die and the partly made head
of the box placed in it. A properly shaped punching tool carried by the stenn
hammer being made to descend upon the heated head of the box a deep tubular
depression is punched in the said solid head the said head at the same time being
expanded in the upper part of the die and made to take the cylindrical figure of that
part of the die.
When a depression of small diameter is punched in the head the
ordinary front internal shoulder has to be turned from the solid part of the head and
when a depression of larger diameter than that referred to is punched in the head a
separate front internal shoulder is shrunk in the interior of the tubular head at the
proper place. The interior and exterior of the head of the partly made axle box

page_text: having been thus shaped the partly made axle box is reheated and placed in a third
die similar to the second die and by the descent of a long loose punching tool, the
top of which fits in a seat in the tup of the steam hammer and is acted upon by
the descent of the said seat the said tool is forced through the solid barrel part of
the partly made axle box and a tubular figure given to the said barrel part. By the
operation of the last named punch the square barrel part is expanded into the
cylindrical lower part of the fixed die and a cylindrical figure thereby given to
the exterior of the said barrel part. In this way a roughly formed axle box is made
from the solid bar or billet described which axle box is finished in the ordinary way.
The third die may be used for finishing the punching of the head as well as for
punching the barrel of the axle box.
Taper axle boxes as well as cylindrical axle boxes may be made according to our
invention.
.
We will now describe more in detail the tools and apparatus which we use.
The three lower dies are arranged equidistantly in a circular block on the bed of
the steam hammer and the head compressing tool, the punch for punching the bead
and the seat for receiving the long loose punching tool for punching the barrel are all
fixed in the tup or head of the steam hammer the said tools and seat being respectively
arranged opposite to or in line with the fixed lower dies on the bed of the hammer.
At the bottom of each of the lower dies is a lifter resting on a sliding block by
which the axle box under operation is lifted from the die sufficiently far to be taken
hold of and removed by the workman. This sliding block is raised by a lever
operated from the descending hammer. The lifter of the third die is tubular for the
passage through it of the long punching tool. We prefer to use with the long loose
punching tool a chilled cast iron or steel sphere. This sphere is placed on the bottom
of the hollow head of the axle box and the bottom of the long punching tool, which is
cupped, fits on the sphere which sphere is forced by the descent of the punching tool
before it through the axis of the solid barrel so as to convert the said solid barrel into
a tubular barrel as before described.
We will now proceed to describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the
manner in which our invention is to be performed.
Figure 1 represents in elevation and cross section the rolled or forged bar or billet
of iron or steel which we prefer to use in making an axle box according to our
invention; Figure 2 represents the said bar a after the upper part of it has been
operated upon to form the solid head of the partly made axle box b, c the barrel
being made from the part c: Figure 3 represents the partly made axle box after
its solid head b (Figure 2) has been partially punched with a conical depression & and
Figures 4 and 5 represent the same after the depression in the head has been com-
pletely punched as represented at 2 and a portion of the barrel also punched, the
punching tool p used for the last named punching operation being represented in the
head of the partly made axle box Figure 4. The tubular depression d² thus punched
in the solid head 6 of the axle box has such a diameter that a separate front internal
shoulder has to be shrunk in the interior of the tubular head.
Figure 6 represents the partly made axle box Figure 5 after the barrel part c has
been punched by the use of the long loose punching tool e and chilled cast iron or
steel sphere f and Figure represents the finished axle box after its exterior has
been screw ribbed and the ring shrunk in the tubular depression d² for forming
the front internal shoulder of the axle box.
In making the front internal shoulder in the head 6 of the axle box solid with the
said head we punch in the said head a depression d³ of the kind represented in
Figure 8 the said depression d³ having a diameter somewhat less than that of the
depression de represented in Figures 4. 5. 6 and 7 and we turn from the interior
of the depression d³ the front internal shoulder as represented in Figure 9 as well
as turn out the oil chamber or cavity.
When a depression of the kind represented at d³ is punched in the head the
punching tool has a figure the counterpart of the depression to be punched.

page_text: Figures 10 and 11 represent conical axle boxes made according to our invention as
hereinafter described.
Figure 12 represents in front elevation and Figure 13 in side elevation partly in
vertical section the tools and apparatus which we use in conjunction with a steam
hammer for carrying our improved method of manufacture into effect; Figure 14
represents a plan of the circular bed block carrying the lower dies.
for
is the slide of the steam hammer to which slide is fixed the tup or head 12 carrying
the heal compressing tool & the preliminary head punching tool and the seat
acting upon the head punching tool ? Figure 4 and the long loose punching tool e
(Figures 6 and 13) for punching the barrel: q is a circular block on the bed of the
stean hammer the said block q having equidistantly arranged in it three fixed lower
dies r, 8 and which dies are situated respectively opposite or in line with the head
compressing tool k, the head punching tool and the seat n for acting upon the
finishing head punching tool and barrel punching tool.
The fixed lower die 7 has a form nearly the counterpart of the exterior of the
axle box excepting that the enlarged upper end is longer than the head of the
axle box.
The second lower die 8 is nearly similar to the die excepting that an enlarged
space above the head part is made for the cylindrical block 2 of the first hending
punching tool to enter and the head part is of somewhat larger diameter than the
head part of the dier.
The third or finishing diet is nearly similar to the dies excepting that the space
above the head part of the die is shallower than that of the dies and the head part of
the third die has a diameter somewhat greater than that of the head part of
the die s.
Each fixed die is provided with a. lifter u working in the barrel part of the die the
said lifters resting on the sliding block u². The lifter u of the third die t is tubular
(see Figure 13) for the passage through it of the long barrel punching tool e
and sphere f. By raising the sliding block u the axle box under operation is
lifted from the fixed die sufficiently far, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 13, to
be taken hold of and removed by the workman. This sliding block u² is raised by the
lever turning on the centre ut operated through the links us and u by the
descending slide i of the steam hammer. That is to say, after the axle box has been
operated upon in any of the dies 7, 8, t the workman by means of the hand lever u
draws the upper end of the link under the projection x on the slide i of the
steam hammer so that on the next descent of the slide the said projection acting
upon the link carries down the said link and with it the link us. By the descent
and changed positions of the links u and us the lever 3 is turned on its centre and its
inner arm made to raise the sliding block u² (as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 13)
and the several lifters carried by it. On loosing the hand lever u the weight of the
sliding block 2 restores the lifting lever u³ and links u³ and u and hand lever u to
their normal positions.
It must be understood that one only of the lower dies r 8t and its corresponding
upper tool are in use at a time the other two upper and lower tools being inoperative
at each descent of the steam hammer but if desired three axle boxes in course of
manufacture may be operated upon simultaneously at each blow of the hammer.
We will now proceed to describe in detail the manufacture of an axle box of the
kinds represented in Figures 7 and 9 according to our improved method and by the
use of the apparatus and tools constituting part of our invention.
We take the nearly square rolled or forged bar or billet a Figure 1 and having
heated it to a welding heat we place in it the fixed lower dier on the bed of the steam
hammer the upper end of the said bar or billet a projecting from the open top of the
die 7.
By the descent of the slide of the steam haminer the compressing tool on the
said slide operates upon the top of the said heated bar, or upon a hand tool placed
on the top of the bar, compressing the said top of the bar and forcing it into the lower 5
half of the upper enlarged part of the said die r. A solid roughly shaped head bas

page_text: represented in Figure 2 is thereby formed on the bar a the part c of the bar from
which the barrel of the axle box is to be formed being unoperated upon. The lifting
link being pulled under the shoulder x of the slide i of the hammer the next descent
of the said hammer depresses the links u and us and lever u³ and raises the sliding
block u³ and lifter u thereby raising the axle box partly from the die r.
The partly
made axle box Figure 2 being again heated is placed in the second die s the diameter
of the head part of which being such that a space is left between the said head part
of the die and the solid head b of the axle box placed in it. By the fall of the slide i
the preliminary punching tool descends upon the heated head band punches therein
the conical depression d as illustrated in Figure 3 the said head at the saine time being
expanded in the head part of the die the block 2 carrying the punching tool & entering
the upper enlarged part of the said die. The partly inade axle box being lifted from
the die 8 in the manner before described it is reheated if required and placed in the
third fixed diet and the lower part of the finishing punching tool p represented in
Figure 4 is made to rest in the upper part of the conical depression d in the said
head b and is held in its place by a pair of tongs passed through the side opening
at y in the block and tool. The head part of the third tool t is of larger diameter
than the partly punched head b Figure 3. By the descent of the slide of the steam
hammer the seat n in its tup acts upon the conical top of the tool p and forces the
said tocl into the said head and punches therein the tubular depression d² as represented
in Figures 4 and 5, the said punched head being expanded into and made to take the
cylindrical figure of the head part of the die t. The interior and exterior of the
head b of the partly made axle box Figures 4 and 5 having been thus shaped and
the upper portion of the barrel part punched the partly made axle box is lifted from
the lower diet and reheated if required and again placed in the said lower die t,
for the punching of the barrel c. This is effected by the use of the long loose punching
tool e represented in Figure 6 the top of which fits in the seat in the tup of the
hammer the said tool e being used preferably in conjunction with the chilled cast iron
or steel sphere ƒ Figure 6. The sphere is placed on the solid bottom of the punched
head Figures 4 and 5 and the cupped bottom of the long punching tool e fitted on
the said sphere and held in its place by the pair of tongs passed through the slot or
opening y. By the descent of the slide of the steam hammer the seat n in the tup.
acts upon and forces down the said tool e and the latter forces the sphere f before it
through the axis of the solid barrel c so as to convert the said solid barrel into a
tubular barrel as represented in Figure 6.
By the action of the long punching tool e and sphere upon the solid barrel the
square part of the barrel is expanded into the cylindrical lower part of the fixed die t
and a cylindrical figure thereby given to the exterior of the barrel part of the axle
box.
The separate internal shoulder g Figure 7 having been shrunk in the tubular
depression d² in the head b the axle box is finished in the ordinary way.
In making the partly made axle box Figure 9 the head finishing punch has a
figure the counterpart of the tubular depression in the head Figure 8 and the
solid shoulder h Figure 9 is made by the turning process.
Instead of finishing the shaping of the head by means of the punching tool p
before the punching of the barrel c by the use of the long punching tool e and
sphere the finishing of the head by the use of the punching tool p may be the last
stage of the process. That is to say after the conical depression d Figure 3 has been
punched in the head the sphere f is inserted in the said depression d and by the
operation of the long punching tool e and sphere f the barrel c is punched. The
finishing of the head bis then effected by the use of the punching tool p.
The forination or upsetting of the solid head 6 Figure 2 on the bar a may be effected
In this case the
by a pressing machine instead of by a steam hammer or stamp.
upper part only of the bar Figure 1 need be heated.
Taper axle boxes of the forms represented in Figures 10 and 11 may be made by
slightly modifying the process we have hereinafter described for the manufacture of
cylindrical axle boxes. That is to say after the tubular depression has been punched
in the head a taper punching tool e Figure 11 for punching the hole in the barrel

page_text: and for expanding the barrel part into the lower part of the fixed die is used in
place of the cylindrical punch e and sphere f. In making these forms of axle boxes
side vertical depressions are made in the lower fixed dies for the formation of the
ribs or feathers on the exterior of the axle box and the form of depression d' in the
head of the box represented in Figure 11 is made by punching a depression of
the diameter of the hole in the collar the said collar being turned from the solid
metal of the punched head.
3
Instead of using the three pairs of tools in the same steam hammer as described
and represented each pair of tools may be used with an independent steam hammer;
or the movable tools may be worked by hydraulic power or by a stamp.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our inven-
tion and the manner in which the same is to be performed we declare that we
claim as our invention of "Improvements in the manufacture of the axle boxes of
carriages and in tools and apparatus used in the said manufacture":-
First. Manufacturing the said axle boxes by the shaping and combined punching
and shaping process or combination of processes substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings: that is to say taking a heated
rolled or forged bar or billet of iron or steel preferably square in cross section with
its angles removed and replaced by planes; forming from the upper part of the
heated bar by an upsetting or compressing action an enlargement or head and by a
punching operation or operations forming a tubular depression in the solid head and
shaping the exterior of the head and finally giving a tubular figure to the barrel part
of the axle box and a cylindrical figure or taper figure to the exterior of the barrel
part by a punching operation; or first partly punching the head then punching the
barrel and afterwards finishing the head, the combined punching and shaping
operations being performed upon the partly made axle box while it is supported in
dies of the kinds herein described and illustrated.
Secondly. The tools and apparatus hereinbefore described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings to be used in the manufacture of axle boxes by the process
or combination of processes claimed in the prior claim, whether the several pairs of
tools and apparatus he used in the same steam hammer or other hammer or stamp or
in independent steam or other hammers or stamps.
713
11
3
c
1000