AN IMPROVED CRANK AXLE APPLICABLE TO CRANKS OF ANY DESCRIPTION WHATSOEVER,
Year: 1862

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Bird, of Blidworth, in the County of Not-
tingham, Farmer and Miller, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED CRANK
AXLE APPLICABLE TO CRANKS OF ANY DESCRIPTION WHATSOEVER, WHEREIN THE
Sealed the 15th July 1862, and dated the 20th January 1862.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Bird at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 20th January
1862.
I, JOSEPH BIRD, of Blidworth, in the County of Nottingham, Farmer
and Miller, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN
IMPROVED CRANK AXLE APPLICABLE TO CRANKS OF ANY DESCRIPTION WHATSOEVER,
WHEREIN THE WEAR IS MAINLY ON ONE SIDE THEREOF," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists, in forging the axles between each pair of collars,
where collars are used, and where collars are not used at each extremity of
the axle of an oval form, on the side where the wear will mainly be, and of a
semicircular form on the other half thereof, each collar has a recess forged
or otherwise formed in it to receive the snugs which are cast on the ends,
and which form part of a piece of iron or other metal, which is shaped in
such wise that when one of such castings is laid on the axles formed as above

page_text: described, the said casting will form the axle round it, the casting being
secured to the axle by a screw passed through the snugs, and into the axles
outside the collars where collars are used, whereby when the casting is worn
nearly through by the pressure of the bearing upon it, it can be readily
replaced by another casting.
The same method may be applied to axles which are fixed, having the
bearings revolving, or having the bearings fixed or moveable. By the use of
my Invention (among other advantages to be derived therefrom,) considerable
saving of expense is effected..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Joseph Bird in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th July
1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOSEPH
BIRD, of Blidworth, in the County of Nottingham, Farmer and Miller, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of January, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Joseph Bird, Her special licence that I, the said Joseph Bird,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Joseph
Bird, my executors, administrators, and 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, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED CRANK AXLE
APPLICABLE TO CRANKS OF ANY DESCRIPTION WHATSOEVER, WHEREIN THE WEAR IS
MAINLY ON ONE SIDE THEREOF," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Joseph Bird, my executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing
under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain 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 Joseph Bird, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,

page_text: to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following state-
ment thereof, that is to say:-
My Invention consists in forging the axles between each pair of collars,
where collars are used, and where collars are not used at each extremity of
the axle of an oval form on the side where the wear will mainly be, and of a
-semicircular form on the other half thereof; each collar has a recess forged
or otherwise formed in it to receive the snugs which are cast on the ends,
.and which form part of a piece of iron or other metal which is shaped in such
wise that when one of such castings is laid on the axles formed as above
described, the said casting will form the axle round, the casting being secured
to the axle by a screw passed through the snugs, and into the axle outside the
collars where collars are used, whereby when the casting is worn nearly
through by the pressure of the bearing upon it, it can be readily replaced
by another casting.
The same method may be applied to axles which are fixed having the
bearings revolving, or having the bearings fixed or moveable. By the use of
my Invention, among other advantages to be derived therefrom, considerable
saving of expense is effected.
:
Having thus set forth the nature of the said Invention, I now proceed to
explain the manner of performing the same with reference to the accompany-
ing Drawings, and to the letters and figures marked thereon.
Figure 1 is a side view of an axle shaft, having my improvement applied
to four of the axles A, A, A, A. Figure 2 is a side view of one of such
axles. Figure 3 is a section of the same, and Figures 4, and 5, are respec-
tively side view and section of a piece A, attached to each axle by screws or
rivets. Figure 1 is on a smaller scale than the other Figures. According to
my Invention the axle is forged between each pair of collars where collars
are used, and where collars are not used, at each extremity of the axle, of an
oval form, on the side where the wear will mainly be, as seen at B, Figures
2 and 3, and of a semicircular form on the other half thereof; thus the axle
is of an oval form on the side upon which the most wear is, and of a semi-
circular form on the side upon which the least wear is; each collar has a
recess forged or otherwise formed in it to receive snugs C, which are cast or
forged on the ends and form part of a piece of iron or other metal A, which
is shaped in such wise that when one of such castings or forgings is laid on
the axle formed as above described, the said casting or forging will form
the axle round. The piece is secured to the axle by a screw D passed
through the snug and into the axle shaft outside the collars, where collars aro
used; in wide axles I further secure the piece by two or more screws E, which

page_text: are passed through the axle and into the piece, whereby when the piece A is
worn nearly through by the pressure of the bearing upon it; it can be readily
replaced by another piece A, as the heads of the screws are in that part which
has the least wear upon it.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same may be performed, I declare that I claim, the constructing an
improved crank axle in manner herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Bird, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eighteenth day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
Witness,
GEO. JON. ROBINSON,
Patent Office,
Nottingham.
JOSEPH BIRD. (L.S.)