Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 19th Oct., 1892
Complete Specification Left, 19th Oct., 1892-Accepted. 18th Mar., 1893

page_text: The objects of my present invention are to do away with rolled sections in the
manufacture of hounds and tongues by substituting cut and pressed shapes, so as
to need no extra pieces in the way of bracing; also, to put the least possible
amount of metal in that part of the axle which lies between the arms, and
finally to make a metallic axle and bolster in one piece and to secure elasticity
at the shoulder of the arm.
Fig. 19 is a section showing the form of the blank 1, from which the axle and
bolster is made." Then by means of suitable dies in a press I turn up the edges of
the axle at flanges 2, 2, so as to form the lower side of the arm, I then take a piece
like that shown in Fig. 20 and cut it at 3 3 and place it in a die and bend these
ends to the shapes 44. (Seen in Fig. 17.) I then weld this piece on the axle,
preferably along the lines, turned up into a half-circle. The piece thus forming
the upper half of the arm is carried in two parts backward and upward toward the
top of the bolster, where I fasten them either by rivetting, as seen in Fig. 14, at 5,
or welding, as seen in Fig. 17 at 6. In some cases, as when the bolster is low and
the web thick, the reinforcements may be run straight back along the web without
extending upward. They may be fastened from where they leave the lower half
of the arm up to their ends: but to get elasticity I prefer to fasten them only at
the top by welding. The bend 7 in these extensions may be thrown much farther
back than I have shown them, in order to lengthen that part of the arm behind the
wheel, so as to secure the distribution of the strain. The extension of this piece
and the reach attachment in the center render unnecessary end flanges or stiffening-
ribs in the web, which I have used in other forms of metallic axle and bolster.
The arms I taper in the usual way. The web I make with increased thickness
next to the axle, as the central part of the axle is very light, and so that I may
give vertical strength to the arms. By "increased thickness I do not mean
merely the fillet which it is common to roll in the corners of metal joining at an
angle, but substantially such an increase as is shown in Figs. 16 and 19.
"
In making the hind hounds I take a piece of metal, preferably steel, in a flat bar
of suitable thickness and cut it into pieces 9, 9, as shown at lines in Fig. 21.
These shapes will vary some for different forms of wagons. The thickness best
suited to a given size of wagon will be found to be less than that of rolled shapes,
owing to the peculiar shape, hereinafter to be explained. The main thing is that
by my plan of cutting and pressing 1 get the extra strength where and in the
direction it is most needed. I heat the pieces and place them in suitable dies in
a press, which can be made by ordinary skill, and thus shape them both in cross-
section and length-wise. There will be some trimming to be done at the ends of
the hounds so formed. This and punching the holes for the web should be done
after the hounds have been formed. I make the shape of the cross-section to vary
and gradually change in form, as seen in Figs. 23, 24, 25, to meet the changing
lines of strain developed by use. Where the hounds join the axle and bolster by
a turn at a sharp angle, I press in the corner-braces 10 10. At the point where
the hounds join the reach I adapt their shape to suit any desirable shape of reach
or reach-plate.
Having shown how I make the hind hounds, Figs. 1 and 16 will clearly show how
to make the front hounds both for those on the forward part of the axle and those
for the rearward part of the axle. These last also join or are connected, with the
slider, which I call, for distinction, the "front" hounds and slider, as it will be
séen from Fig. 1 that I do not make my metal hounds to extend in one piece each
from the tongue through and between the axle and bolster, as is usually done with
wooden ones.
The front hounds can be changed in shape to suit the common shapes of tongues.
It will be obvious to one skilled in the art that as the back end of wagon-tongues
are usually reinforced by brackets, or what are sometimes called "tongue-hounds,"
made of either metal or wood, my front hounds can be made to fit said brackets or
tongne-hounds. If a falling tongue is used, the back ends can be shaped to receive
or be made into an eye or boss, such as is used generally on shafts or drop-tongues.

page_text: In such case the extra strength at the back ends will be thrown to and extend back
from the front ends. When a stiff or half-stiff tongue is made, a support such as 11
or some common form may be used. The pieces 12 12 I use to get a bearing for
the tongue and to avoid too sharp an angle in the hounds. These for some forms
of construction may be omitted or may be used in other forms; but I find this to
be the best position in which to use them.
In making the front hounds and slider I pursue the same plan as explained for
making the hind hounds; but from Figs. 5, 6, and 7 it will be seen that the changes
in the shape of other cross section is a little more marked. This I do to get an
extra-heavy wearing surface and also greater strength at that part of the slider
where the reach works upon it. Having cut, pressed, trimmed, and punched the
hounds and the slider or ends, which are parts of the same pieces, I fasten them
together by rivets. For some constructions they can be welded. When any of
these hounds are to be joined to metallic axles and bolsters, they should be riveted
in hot by hydraulic or compressed-air riveting machines; but when putting them on
wooden axles or bolsters it is better to bolt them fast.
In making my metallic tongue I take a piece of thin metal large enough to
make two tongues and split it, to save scrap, along a diagonal line, according to
the taper wanted. I heat it and place in a press between a pair of dies suited in
shape. The closing of the dies gives the shapes as shown at Fig. 9 and the dotted
lines of Figs. 10 to 12 in the different parts, and of course the varying shapes from
one point to another. I then move the piece to another form in the die, and the
next motion of the press turns the edges as seen in full lines in Figs. 10 and 11, and
the end as seen in full lines at Fig. 13, and furnishes the press-work. I then form
a piece 13 and rivet it on the lower side of the back end of the tongue, as shown in
dotted lines in Fig. 1, so as to reinforce the tongue-bolt hole and stiffen the tongue
at the back end, as I have necessarily changed its form of cross-section from its
strongest shape in order to give bearing-surfaces for the hounds and double-tree.
All the pressing can be done better in hydraulic machines. The particular cross-
sections of hounds and tongue shown, while I believe them to be best, are by no
means the only sections possible, but may be greatly varied, provided the extra
strength is thrown at or about the points I have indicated.
The advantages of my invention are, among others, that I get the most lateral
strength in the axle with a given amount of metal, while the vertical strength is
given by the bolster and the connecting-web and a strong arm without too much
rigidity. In the hounds I get the desired extra strength at the points where it is
needed and save weight where it is useless, which cannot be done by using rolled
sections of uniform shape and weight.
.
It is easily seen that if hounds were no stronger vertically where they join axle
than they are in their body they would not stand common use without being reinforced
by braces, and it is equally clear that if they were of no stronger shape laterally at
section 22 of Fig. 22 than in their body they would not stand use. By cutting the
two out of one piece as seen at Fig. 21, I secure the extra metal without waste, and
by pressing into the varied shape, as explained, I get the greatest amount of
working strength at a reduced cost, for it costs more to roll angle and channel
shapes etc. than plain flats, and after they are rolled they have to be welded to or
otherwise fitted up at the ends and be shaped up lengthwise and then braces be
added. Again, in the front hounds and slider I get the best slider and strongest
hounds from a given weight. In the tongue I get the desired taper and in every
way a stronger and cheaper one than can be made from metal of a uniform shape
and weight without pressing.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature of the said invention and in
what manner the same will be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1st. In a wagon, a metallic axle and bolster in one piece having the arms made
heavier than the balance of the axle and provided with reinforcements extending to
the web substantially as set forth.

page_text: 2nd. In a wagon, a metallic axle and bolster having the web connecting them
thicker next the axle than in the balance of the web, substantially as set forth.
3rd. Pressed metallic hounds for a wagon, having increased strength imparted to
them in a vertical direction at the point where they join the axle and bolster
by increasing there the vertical depths of the section of said hounds.
4th. Pressed metallic hounds for a wagon, having increased strength imparted to
them in a horizontal plane at the point where they join each other by increasing
their horizontal section there.
5th. In a wagon, pressed metallic combined hounds and slider having increased
thickness at the place where the reach works upon the slider, substantially as set
forth.
6th. A pressed metallic tongue for a wagon, the cross-section of which at the rear
end is shallow gradually changing into a circle at the front end, said tongue also
having a longitudinal tapering corrugation extending from the rear end nearly to
the front end.
Dated this 19th day of October 1892.
WHEATLEY & MACKENZIE,
40, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents.