IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FLAPPED AXLES
Year: 1884

page_text: I JAMES RICHARDS of Bridge Street Wednesbury in the County of Stafford
Axle and Spring Maker do hereby declare the nature of my invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FLAPPED AXLES," to be as follows that
is to say:-
My Invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of flapped
axles which can be manufactured easier and sounder besides having the advantage
of adaptability and ease with which repairs can be effected not possessed by the
present flapped axles.
Flapped axles as at present made have the flaps forged in one piece with the
body of the axle itself or the flaps are welded upon the body. In either of these
cases there is a disturbance of the grain or fibre at the junction which is liable to
strains not known in a plain axle.
In manufacturing my flapped axles I make the straight ones in two parts as at
present for convenience of fitting and turning and I make the flaps and fit them
separately to each end by forming a square or other hole through the centre of the
flap which is made to fit in the required position when heated: The top of the
flap of course projects above the axle and the coach builder has to make his
packing accordingly. Thus when the socket flap is passed over the axle and
allowed to cool in its position it becomes very firm and for the purpose one with
the axle. If necessary a small screw may be inserted to ensure it against ever
moving but generally this would not be required.
In cranked flapped axles the flaps would also project above the level of the axle
but in this case the flap would finish with two sides and internal projecting nose
pieces which would slide into corresponding recesses in the axle made at or about
the centre of its depth or near the neutral axis of the bar so as not to weaken the
axle.
With stiff side curves, these Haps when shrunk into position will be perfectly
firm. But in this case a screw or pin may be used as a supplimental preventative
against the flaps moving.
GEORGE BARKER,
Agent for the Applicant,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham,

page_text: "
I JAMES RICHARDS of Bridge Street Wednesbury in the County of Stafford,
Axle and Spring Maker do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF FLAPPED AXLES" and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement to be as follows that is to say :-
My invention has for its object improvements in the manufacture of flapped
axles which can be manufactured easier and sounder, besides having the advantage
of adaptability and ease with which repairs can be effected not possessed by the
present flapped axles. Flapped axles as at present made have the flaps forged in
one piece with the body of the axle itself or the flaps are welded upon the body.
In either of these cases there is a disturbance of the grain or fibre at the junction
which is liable to strains not known in a plain axle.
In manufacturing my flapped axles I make them in two parts as at present and
I make the flaps and fit them separately to each end by forming a square or other.
hole through the centre of the flap which is made to fit in the required position
when heated. The top of the flap of course projects above the axle and the coach
builder has to make his packing accordingly. Thus when this socket flap is passed
over the axle and allowed to cool in its position it becomes very firm and for the
purpose one with the axle. If necessary a small screw may be inserted to ensure
it against ever moving but generally this would not, be required. In cranked
flapped axles the flaps would also project above the level of the axle but in this
case the flap would finish with two sides and interval projecting nose pieces which
would.slide into corresponding recesses in the axle made at or about the centre of
its depth or near, the neutral axis of the bar so as not to weaken the axle. With
stiff side curves these flaps when shrunk into position will be perfectly firm. But
in this case-a-screw or pin may be used-as a supplimental preventative against the
flaps. moving.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practice I have appended hereunto a sheet of drawings upon which I have
given.two examples of the application of my invention which will serve to enable
any practical nan to construct other axles according to this invention.
Figure 1. is a side elevation of one end of a straight axle before it it welded' up.
Figure. 2. is a cross sectional elevation on the line A. B: looking towards the left
end of the axle.
2
Figure. 3. is a side elevation of a cranked axle also before it is welded up and
Figure. 4. is a cross sectional elevation of the same upon line C, D, looking
towards the left end of the said axle.
Figure 5.isa.cross sectional elevation of the cranked axle upon line K. L
looking at the right end. 10.
Referring to the drawings E is the straight axle upon which I place the flap M
passing it over the end E¹ for that purpose. before it is welded up. The shape of
this flap is clearly indicated by Figure 2. which is an elevational section looking
towards the end E. After carefully fitting the socket into the required position

page_text: and marking the axle while it is there, I remove it and then make several cross
cuts upon the axle before returning the flap M to its position I then make the flap
hot and replace it and whilst hot I administer several blows or equivalent pressure
so as to slightly embed it upon the cuts or projections raised upon the harder axle
which impresses the grip of the flap upon the axle.
The cranked axle is dealt with in a different manner. The flap N being placed
upon the axle not as a socket but as a U flap with two projecting nose pieces n¹
and n there only being in this case the two sides n³ and n* and no bottom part
other than the two nose pieces n¹ and n which take that place. The side curves n³
and n are made stiff so that the sides n³ and n* will never be likely to bend.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
The improvements in the manufacture of flapped axles of the flaps made quite
distinct from the axle itself so as not to interfere with the grain of the fibre in the
axle either by welding or forging and placed thereon substantially as herein set
forth.
GEORGE BARKER,
Agent for the Applicant,
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham.