Improvements in Car Axles.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd June, 1890-Accepted, 5th July, 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Car Axles.
We, WILLIAM FRANCIS SHERMAN, of Lowell, State of Massachusetts and CHARLES.
SUMNER BATES, of Braintree, State of Massachusetts, all in the United States of
America, Gentlemen, 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 simple construction of divided axle for
use in the trucks of cars whether propelled by steam, electricity or other motive power
whereby we are enabled, without materially increasing the cost, to reduce the friction
so difficult to contend with in going around curves, to a minimum and to entirely
obviate the danger of the cars leaving the track at points where curves occur, and
differences in the relative height of the tracks.
Our invention consists primarily of a divided axle of approximately uniform diameter
throughout, the abutting ends of the two parts being strengthened and kept in the
same horizontal plane by a dowel fitting sockets or recesses in the end of each part,
with means for connecting the parts against longitudinal displacement while at the
same time permitting free and independent rotary movement of each part of the
axle.
The invention further consists of a divided axle, sleeve splined to each part, the said
sleeves overlapping, securing means for preventing separating movement of the sleeves,
each of said sleeves having free rotary movement with the part of the axle to which it.
is secured independent of the other and antifriction bearings between the sleeves.
The invention further consists of a divided axle a dowel fitting sockets in the
abutting ends thereof a collar secured to the periphery of each division of the axle
forming practically a bead or flange on the end thereof and securing sleeves secured
to the parts of the axle and recessed to receive the collars with means for holding the
sleeves together whereby the said collars prevent separating movement of the parts of
the axle.
The invention further consists in the two-part axle, the dowel for keeping the parts
in a horizontal plane, the sleeves, with means for holding them together, the collars
engaging the sleeves and preventing separating movement and the two sets of anti-
friction balls or rollers between the sleeves.
Finally, the invention consists in the details of construction.
In the accompanying drawings in which we have illustrated our invention in the
form best known to us
Fig. 1 represents in section the inner ends of the axle sections with the means for
holding the parts together.
Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the axle and the left hand sleeve of Fig. 1, the anti-
friction balls being shown in dotted lines.
Fig. 3 is a plan view of an axle and pair of wheels on a section of curved
railway.
In these figures we have shown our invention as applied to the axle of an ordinary
set of flanged car-wheels but it will of course be understood that we do not limit our-
selves in this connection and may apply the invention to any form of axle used or
adapted to be used with any of the well known forms of wheels. The two divisions of
the axle are indicated at a, and, b, and the abutting ends are formed with recesses or
sockets adapted to receive a cylindrical dowel f, which is of such length relatively to
the extent of the sockets as to allow the ends of the parts a, b, to abut squarely. This
dowel strengthens the divided parts on the line of division and tends to make
practically a continuous axle without interfering with the independent rotation of
each part.
Around the end of each part a, b, we place an annular collar g, h, secured to the
Price 1

page_text: parts of the axle by screws as shown or in any suitable manner, the adjoining faces of
these collars being flush with the ends of the axle divisions. These collars are
removable for the purpose hereinafter described and they form beads or flanges on the
ends of the divisions to prevent any longitudinal displacement of the sections by
reason of the sleeves A B which fit the parts of the axle snugly and are recessed to
receive the collars which as shown project above the periphery of the divisions of the
axle. Each sleeve is splined or otherwise secured to one of the parts of the axle so as
to move with its respective part and as the dowel is not connected to either part it
will be seen that each part is independent of the other and may rotate at different
degrees of speed as in passing around curves, thus preventing strain upon the parts of
the truck so used by the undue friction. The two sleeves are formed male and female,
the sleeve A fitting within the recessed face of the sleeve B and in order to bridge the
line of junction of the axle divisions we extend an annular rib, i, into a corresponding
depression in the sleeve B and between the opposing faces place a series of antifriction
balls or rollers e, these faces being suitably grooved.
In order to hold the two sleeves together without interfering with their independent
rotary movement, we employ an annular ring which is fitted to an annular recess
formed partly in the sleeve B and partly in the sleeve A. as shown and between
this ring and the rear wall of the recess formed by a portion of the sleeve A
we place a series of antifriction rollers d. Bolts c, pass through the outer flange
of the sleeve B and the upper half of the ring and as the lower half of this
ring overlaps the sleeve A the parts are thus held securely together but without
friction and allowed independent rotation without any undue strain in any direction,
this being equalized by the construction described.
The collars are removably secured to the ends of the divided portion of the axle in
order that the sleeves may be slipped on first and the collars applied afterwards.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
1. A divided axle having a removable collar secured to the inner end of each part a
sleeve secured to each part of the axle and means for securing the sleeves against
separating movement.
2. A divided axle, a sleeve secured to each part one sleeve fitting the recessed face
of the other, antifriction bearings between the sleeves and an annular ring secured to
one sleeve and overlapping the other.
3. A divided axle having a sleeve on each part fitting and secured one within the
other and antifriction bearings between the opposing faces of said sleeves.
4. A divided axle having a sleeve on each part provided each with an annular
groove in their opposing faces and bearings arranged in said grooves.
5. A divided axle, sleeves on the inner ends of the axle having recesses to form a
channel, antifriction bearings in said channel, and means for securing the sleeves
against separating movement.
6. A divided axle, collars on the inner ends of the axle, sleeves secured to each part
of the axle, having an annular channel, antifriction bearings in said channels and
means for securing the sleeves against separating movement.
7. In combination with a divided axle connected by a socket and dowel connection,
a sleeve on each end of the axle having grooves in their opposite faces, bearings in
said grooves and means for securing the sleeves together.
8. In combination with a divided axle connected by a dowel, a collar on each part
of the axle, a sleeve surrounding each collar, bearings between the sleeves and means
for connecting the sleeves.