Improvements in or connected with Radial Axle Boxes for Railway or Tramway Locomotives or Vehicles.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 11th May, 1891-Accepted, 13th June 1391
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Radial Axle Boxes for Railway
or Tramway Locomotives or Vehicles.
I JAMES YATE JOHNSON of 47 Lincoln's Inn Fields in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention which has been com-
municated to me from abroad by Frederic Weidknecht of 48 Rue de Bondy,
Paris in the Republic of France, Engineer, and in what manner the same is to be
performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates to improved means for obtaining a swivelling or jointed
connection between the grease boxes or axle boxes of a railway or tramway
locomotive or vehicle and the frame with a view to rendering the axle self adjusting
and facilitating the passage over curves. These arrangements are combined with
improved means for suspending or supporting the vehicle whereby the axles are
retained in a parallel position when travelling in a straight line."
And in order that the said invention may be fully understood 1 shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the same and for that purpose shall refer to the
several figures on the annexed sheets of drawings the same letters of reference
indicating corresponding parts in all the figures.
Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings represents in side elevation partly in
section an example of an axle box embodying the principles of this invention.
Figure 2 represents the axle box in end elevation and partly in section.
Figure 3 illustrates the arrangement of the parts in plan and partly in horizontal
section.
Figure 4 is a diagram shewing the displacement of the axle on passing over a
curve.
Figure 5 illustrates an arrangement of the connecting rods or links to be employed
when the said rods are situated at the extremity of the engine.
Figure 6 shews the position of the connecting rods when they are arranged
internally or directed towards the centre of the engine.
The improved arrangement is obtained by means of two axle boxes 1. arranged
outside the wheels and provided with eyes A. A by which they are connected to
two inclined connecting rods or links B B (Figures 3 and 4) pivotally attached to
the frame of the locomotive or vehicle at CC by means of a spherical joint as
represented in section in Figure 1. By means of this arrangement of the links B'B¹
a longitudinal displacement of the axle relatively to the frame has the effect of
placing the axle approximately in a position coinciding with the radius of the curve
over which the engine is travelling. Figures 1, 2, 3 and 5 illustrate an arrange-
ment according to which the links B B are situated at the rear extremity of the
engine that is to say at the back of the axle when travelling forwards so that they
are under compression when the engine. is running with the funnel in front.
evident that in certain cases it is preferable to place the links B B on the opposite
side of the axle or towards the centre of the engine as indicated in Figure 6.
this case the links act by traction when the locomotive is travelling forwards. The
axle may in like manner be arranged in front of the locomotive.
It is
In
The action of the links B B will be readily understood by referring to the
diagram Figure 4 in which the full lines represent the position of the links (B B¹)
and of the axle (X) when the latter is in the extreme position to the left hand.
The extreme position to the right hand is represented by thick dotted lines and the
intermediate central or normal position assumed when travelling in a straight line
is represented by thin lines and dots. The dotted line E represents the longitudinal
axis of the vehicle.

page_text: In order to maintain the axle in the central position relatively to the axis of the
engine when the latter is travelling over straight portions of the track the bearing
springs are supported upon specially formed rockers D Figures 1 and 2 working
in cavities or recesses of suitable forin provided in the upper side of the axle box.
These rockers are provided at their upper part with a ball or sphere 2 working in
a corresponding recess in the strap or support of the bearing spring, and the lower
part is in the form of a sector 3 the curves of which are so adjusted that any
longitudinal displacement of the axle produces a reaction in an oblique direction
tending to cause the axle to return to the central position. As shown in the drawing
the form given to the two extremities of the sector or lower bearing surface 3 of
the rocker is such that this oblique reaction tends to diminish in proportion as the
radius of the curve over which the engine is travelling becomes shorter thus
favouring the passage as the reaction of the flanges against the rails is propor-
tionately reduced.
The chief advantages of the invention are as follows:-
1. Great simplicity of construction.
2. Facility of access to all the parts the whole of the mechanism being outside
the frame.
3. No slides are required for the axle boxes.
4. The axle is maintained in the parallel position and at the same time is free to
move on a curve thus diminishing the risk of derailing which is frequently caused
by excessive reaction or pressure of the flanges against the rails.
5. The axle is displaced in the direction of the radii of the curves.
6. And for the two reasons lastly mentioned the supplementary tractive power
required on passing over curves is greatly reduced.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination with external independent axle boxes of links or connecting
rods so arranged as to automatically modify the position of the axle whilst travelling
and bring its axis in line or nearly so with the radius of the curve over which it is
travelling substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
2. The arrangement of the rockers or supporting pieces placed between the
bearing springs and the axle boxes the said rockers being of such shape that they
tend to maintain the axle transversely or in the central position when the wheels
are travelling over a straight track but at the same time enable it to be displaced
whenever the wheels are travelling over a curve. substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
3. The general arrangements and combinations of parts constituting the improve-
ments in or connected with radial axle boxes substantially as hereinbefore described.
Natod a ---- -in of n
| RAFT
-טק -טיפ - - ע שאם
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.
J. H. JOHNSON & Co.,
47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agents.