AN IMPROVED AXLE-BOX FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND WAGONS
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Steven, of Edinburgh, in the County
of Edinburgh, Scotland, Railway Carriage Builder, for the Inven-
tion of "AN IMPROVED AXLE-BOX FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND
WAGONS."
Sealed the 3rd November 1853, and dated the 22nd August 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Steven at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 22nd August 1853.
⚫I, JOHN STEVEN, of Edinburgh, in the County of Edinburgh, Scot-
land, Railway Carriage Builder, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "AN IMPROVED AXLE-BOX FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES
AND WAGONS" to be as follows:
My Invention consists, in the first place, in the construction of an
axle-box cast in one solid piece of metal, the box and cover being cast
in one instead of in two pieces, as is usually the case.
My Invention consists, in the second place, in forming the box with
a recess at the top to receive the spring, and securing the spring (at its
central part) within the recess by means of a strong buckle or clasp,
instead of uniting it to the box by means of the ordinary ties or clips.

page_text: And my Invention consists, in the third place, in a peculiar construc.
tion of the brass bearing and grease cover, by which the brass is in
immediate contact with the grease, being formed so as to extend
upwards to the part containing the grease, and having a cylindrical
hole through it to admit the grease to the journal.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the. conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Steven, in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 15th February 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JOHN STEVEN, of Edinburgh, in the County of Edinburgh, Scotland,
Railway Carriage Builder, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-second day of August, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
seventeenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Iler heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto me, the said John Steven, Her special
license that I, the said John Steven, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John Steven, 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, excrcise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
AXLE-BOX FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND WAGGONS," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said John Steven, by an instrument in
writing under my hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascer-
tain 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 John Steven, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is

page_text: to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by s
the following statement, reference being had to the accompanying
Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:
My said Invention relates, in the first place, to the formation or
construction of axle-boxes suitable for railway carriages, waggons, and
other vehicles, each in one single piece or mass, the body of the axle-
box being cast or formed in one piece with its under cover, instead of
being in two separate pieces, as in the arrangement usually adopted in
such works. The axle-boxes so made are of superior compactness and
substantiality, and when cast they are at once ready for use without
requiring any fitting of the under cap or other details.
Secondly, to the formation of axle-boxes with recesses or cavities on
the upper sides or tops thereof for the reception of the bearing springs,
the springs being secured at their central portions within the recesses
by means of strong buckles or clasps, instead of uniting them to the
boxes by means of the ordinary tics or clips. The weight of the
carriage or waggon is suflicient to keep the springs in their places
in the box recesses, and hence the usual fastening details are quite
unccessary.
Thirdly, to a peculiar construction of the brass bearings and grease
chambers of axle-boxes, by means of which arrangement the brass is
kept in immediate contact with the grease or lubricating matter. Such
brasses are formed so as to extend upwards to the part containing the
grease, cylindrical holes being provided for the passage of the grease
to the rubbing surfaces.
And in order that my Invention may be properly understood I
shall now proceed to describe the several Figures on the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto attached. Figure 1, on the Sheet of Drawings
is a complete side or end elevation of one form of my improved
axle-box, with its bearing spring fitted upon it. Figure 2, is a
plan of the axle-box alone, the spring being removed. Figure 8, is
an external elevation of the axle-box at right angles to Figure 1, the
spring being removed. Figure 4, is a longitudinal vertical section of
the box with its brass bearing and bearing spring, the axle journal
being represented in elevation within it. Figure 5, is an inside eleva-

page_text: tion of the axle-box without its spring, corresponding to Figure 4. In
all these views the body or main shell A, of the axle-box is represented
as cast in a single piece with its cover portion B, a recess C, being
formed thercon for the reception of the central portion of the bearing
spring D. The spring is embraced at its centre by a buckle or clasp
piece E, this piece being accurately fitted to the recess in the top of the
box so as to bear firmly therein when pressed by the load above. The
upper part I, of the axle-box contains the lubricating matter, which is
covered up by the hinged door or lid G. At H, on each side are the
usual vertical grooves fitting to the horn plates of the carriage or
waggon as guides for the vertical play of the box under the spring
action. The brass bearing I, has a central grease passage J, through
which the lubricating matter passes to the journal surface. The brass
is carried up at this part by recessing it into the bottom of the division
forming the grease chamber, so that the brass itself is brought into
actual contact with the lubricating matter above, thus considerably
facilitating the passage of the grease to the working surfaces. When
the length of the journal is considerable, more than six inches, for
example, two such grease passages are formed in the brass. The
shoulder K, and collar L, of the journal are confined as to lateral
movement by the box itself, and a cutter M, is passed through the
box directly beneath the journal, the ends of such cutter being flush
with the guard scats so as to prevent all objectionable play. I also
wish it to be understood that my improved axles may be made with
loose or separate under caps or under covers, if preferred.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
.or carried into effect, I may observe, in conclusion, that I do not confine
or restrict myself to the preciso 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 my
Invention; but what I consider to be novel and original, and there-
forc claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent, is,―
First; the general arrangement and construction of axle-boxes for
railway carriages and waggons, as herein-before described.

page_text: Second, the system or mode of forming or constructing axle-boxes in
one solid piece.
Third, the system or mode of arranging and constructing axle-boxes
with their bearing springs set or placed directly upon them.
Fourth, the system or mode of constructing axle-boxes with top
recesses for holding the bearing springs.
Fifth, the application and use of buckles or clasps for securing the
bearing springs to the axle-box tops.
Sixth, the upward extension of the bearings of axle-boxes for the
conduction of the lubricating matter, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Steven, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of February, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
JOHN STEVEN. (L.B.)