Improvements in Axles, Axle-boxes, and Oil-caps for the Wheels of Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Mar., 1898-Accepted, 30th Apr.,
1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Axles, Axle-boxes, and Oil-caps for the Wheels
of Vehicles.
I, HENRY PHILLIPS, of No. 8, Morfa Street, Bridgend, in the County, of
Glamorgan, Coach Builder and General Smith, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The invention has for its object improvements in axles, axle-boxes, and oil-caps
for the wheels of vehicles.
My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which :--
Fig. 1 is an end view of the oil-cap.
Fig. 2 is a section of the axle, axle-box and oil-cap and Fig. 3 is a plan thereof.
Fig. 4 is an end view of the axle and axle-box with the oil-cap removed.
Figs. 2 and 3 are drawn at right angles to each other.
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My invention relates to that class of axle and axle-box which are known in the
carriage trade as Drabble's axle and axle-box," in which a linch-pin is passed
through a slot in the outer end or point of the axle, and a set-screw is screwed into
the outer end of the axle to retain the linch-pin in position.
A is the oil-cap, which has a drilled and tapped boss G in the centre of its face,
and a screw G¹ fitting therein. The oil-cap A is retained in position by means of
two cap-shaped bolts C passing through holes in the flange E of said oil-cap and
secured by nuts C¹ screwed on to said bolts C.
The axle a has a slot a¹ in its point as usual, and a linch-pin I passing there-
through. The linch-pin, after it has been placed in position, is retained by means
of a split pin I passed through a hole in its end, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4. The
slot through which the linch-pin is passed is made wider than the linch-pin to allow
for adjustment for wear, as will be hereafter described.
The axle a has two leather washers K and L, the former, K, fitting between the
collet H, which is of usual construction, and the outer end of the axle-box B, the
latter, L, fitting between the rear end of the axle-box and a flange a² on the rear
of the axle. Two short grooves a³ are cut in the axle on opposite sides thereof to
enable the oil to pass between the axle and axle-box to the oil-wells B₁ formed in
the interior of the axle-box.
The axle-box B has longitudinal projections D cast thereon to prevent rotation
within the nave of the wheel, and the bolts C have L-shaped heads fitting recesses
in the said longitudinal projections D.
An oil-tight joint is made between the oil-cap and the axle-box by means of the
leather or other washer F, and the oil is prevented from escaping at the rear of
the axle by means of the ring or washer M fitting a circular groove at the rear of
the axle.
When it is desired to oil the axle, the screw G¹ is removed and oil is inserted into
the oil-cap. The collet H has the bottom hole, through which the linch-pin I is
passed, wider than the linch-pin itself; the oil therefore passes through this hole,
at the sides of the linch-pin, into the slot a¹ in the point of the axle, through which

page_text: the linch-pin is passed, from which it flows down the grooves a³ into the oil-wells B¹
in the axle-box B.
When the leather washers K and L have become somewhat worn, the adjusting
screw a¹ is screwed up by means of a screw-driver through the hole in the tapped
boss G, without removing the oil-cap. This screw a bears against the linch-pin I
and presses it, and consequently the collet H, forward. The collet presses the
washer K against the axle-box, which latter presses against the washer L, thus
taking up all wear which may have occurred in the washers K and L.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim, is:
1. An axle for the wheels of vehicles having a slot in its point for a linch-pin
wider than said linch-pin, and an adjusting screw acting to press said linch-pin
forward, substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose stated.
2. The combination with an axle for the wheels of vehicles having a slot for a
linch-pin wider than said linch-pin and an adjusting screw and oil grooves, of a
collet, a leather or other suitable washer interposed between said collet and the
front of the axle-box, and another leather or other suitable washer interposed
between the rear of the axle-box and a flange on the axle, substantially as herein
shown and described.
3. The combination of an axle having a linch-pin, a slot wider than said linch-
pin, an adjusting screw, a collet, a leather or other suitable washer between said
collet and the axle-box, and another similar washer between the axle-box and a
circular flange on the axle, with an oil-cap having a central oil-hole and a perforated
flange, said oil-cap being retained in position by means of bolts passed through
holes in the flange and nuts, substantially as herein shown and described.
4. The combination of an oil-cap having a perforated flange and bolts passing
through the perforations in said flange having L-shaped heads fitting recesses in
longitudinal projections formed on the axle-box, substantially as herein shown and
described.
5. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the improved. axle,
axle-box and oil-cap substantially as herein shown and described.
Dated this 29th day of March 1898.
1.
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:
HARRIS & MILLS,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.