Improvements in the Axles, Axle Trees, and Boxes of Vehicles, and Portable Machinery.
Year: 1894

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION..
Improvements in the Axles, Axle Trees, and Boxes of Vehicles, and
Portable Machinery.
We, JOHN TAGELL, Point Nepean Road, North Brighton, Mechanical Engineer,
GEORGE BERRY EDWARDS, of 385 Little Lonsdale Street, Melbourne, Saddle
Tree Manufacturer, and THOMAS DARBY of Point Nepean Road, North Brighton,
Professional Rider, all in the Colony of Victoria, 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 object of our invention is to provide a cheaper and a better method of
lubricating the axles of vehicles, and portable machinery. Hitherto the means
employed have not only been defective but also wasteful of both time and oil.
When the latter was required it was either necessary to remove the cap or a portion
of it or probably to remove the whole wheel. With our improvements there is no
cap to cause inconvenience, whilst the oil that can be stored within the axle and
tree will provide a sufficient supply for several months.
Our invention consists of a divided axle and bar or tree (of iron, steel, or other
metal) the two portions of which are locked together by a sleeve secured by gibs
and cotters or a screw thread. Around the axle box which has a closed end and
which is secured into the hub of the wheel by a cone and nut, is cast or cut one
or more spiral oil channels. Similar spiral channels are also provided around the
axle. A hole is formed up the centre of each axle and partially into the bar
or tree or the said hole extends right through the bar or tree from axle to axle.
When a through hole is provided the oil which has a free passage without any
intermediate escape can traverse from one axle through to another. It is fed into a
hole or holes either in the top or side of the bar and percolates through a series of
small orifices, connected with or unconnected with a channel or channels around
the axle. There being a solid end to the axle box no oil can possibly escape.
But in order that our invention may be better understood we will now refer to
the accompanying sheet of drawings which are to be taken as part of this
Specification and read therewith.
Similar letters of reference indicate similar or corresponding parts where they.
occur in the several views.
Fig. 1, shews A the box, B the cone on same, C the nut, D the axle, E the axle
bed or tree, F oil well in box, G the central hole through the axle and tree, H the
oil channels in axle, I the oil channels in box, J oil holes through shaft into box,
K sleeve, L gib and cotter hole, M gib, N cotter, O spring cover, oil entrance
hole P, plug in spring plate, R washer or washers, S end of axle box.
Fig. 2, is a plan of the coupling K, gib M, cotter N, spring plate O, plug Q.
Our drawings represent an axle and tree in which a hole G traverses the whole
length of the complete tree and axles. The oil is admitted into the hole G
through the feed hole or holes P and is liberated therefrom through the passages Ꭻ
and the end of the axle D. As it falls through the passages J it descends onto the
wearing portion of the box and finally into the well F. When the oil in the well
accumulates above the bottom of the hole G in the axle it is free again to pass
down the passages J or right across through the two divided bars or trees to the
opposite axle when the vehicle oscillates. A complete circulation is thus set up
and maintained.
When the hole does not traverse the whole length of the tree and axles but
extends only from the end of each axle to a short distance inside the collar two oil

page_text: feed holes P are provided. The two solid intermediate spaces of the tree are
locked together either by the sleeve with a gib and cotter or screw as described.
Whether the axle and tree be tubular throughout their length or whether there
be an intermediate solid section the two joints of the divided tree do not necessarily
meet closely together. A washer or washers of metal, leather or other flexible
material or a combination of the same not only assures a tight oil joint but also
affords a means of adjusting the distances between the two axles.
It is evident that when the two axle trees are locked together with coned ends
and with a gib and cotter as shewn in the drawings that no washers are necessary
to maintain the oil tight joint. But seeing that no adjustment in the total length
is permitted when the ends of the trees or beds are tapered and that the cost of
the gib and cotter may prove more than that of an internally screwed sleeve we
cut a right and left handed thread in the sleeve and corresponding threads upon
the trees or bars. The sleeve in this case is securely locked by being jammed
tightly against the washers aforesaid.
The use of the nut C enables us to dispense with the plate and bolts that are at
present employed to secure the box in the hub. By means of the nut C, the
cone B which is constructed with a suitable angle is drawn tightly into the hub
where the inclination of the cone rigidly fixes it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
-
In the axles, axle trees, and boxes of road vehicles, and portable machinery.
1stly. The combination of a box A with closed end S, well F, oil channel or
channels I, cone B, and nut C, as herein illustrated and described.
2ndly. The combination of a hollow axle D, axle tree E, washers R, oil
passages J and channels H, sleeve K, gib and cotter M and N, oil hole P, spring
cover Q, as herein illustrated and described.
2.
3rdly. The combination of one or a pair of hollow axles, with solid trees, the oil
into which is fed through a covered hole or holes P, and passes through the axle
into the axle box A, by passages J connected or unconnected with a channel H
substantially as and for the purposes set forth and as herein illustrated and
described.
4thly. The combination of one or a pair of hollow axles and trees the oil into
which is fed through a covered hole or holes P and passes through the axle into
the axle box by a series of small passages J connected or unconnected with a
channel H, substantially as herein illustrated and described.
5thly. The combination of one or a pair of hollow axle and axle trees D and E,
screwed or gibbed and cottered sleeve K, oil passages J, box A, close end S,
cone B, nut C, oil channel or channels I, substantially as herein described and
as illustrated in the drawings.
Dated this 10th day of September 1894.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, W.C., Agents.