Improvements in Elastic Spring and Axle Blocks and in Wheel Naves.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 20th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 22nd Oct., 1892
Improvements in Elastic Spring and Axle Blocks and in Wheel
Naves.
J RICHARD PALMER of Oak House, Polygon Avenue, Ardwick, near Man-
chester, in the County of Lancaster, Coach Builder, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
The
My said invention relates firstly to the supporting blocks usually interposed
between the axle or springs and the carriage. In order to lessen or neutralise the
jar which is apparent in all vehicles it has been proposed previous to my present
invention to render such blocks elastic by means of interposed rubber cushions
sometimes applied to the top or bottom of the block and sometimes as in the case
of a former invention of my own interposed in the block itself. A disadvantage
inherent to all of these arrangements was that either complete insulation of the
block was impossible or such insulation if obtained was accompanied by weakness
of connection. My present invention relates to an elastic block composed of two
halves divided by a cushion of vulcanised india rubber and so connected and
secured to the rubber as to provide complete insulation of the halves of the block
while at the same time the connection of the halves is absolutely secure.
two halves of the blocks are trough shaped and preferably open at the ends. The
sides are waved or serrated or otherwise formed so that the protuberances of one
side come opposite to or enter the depressions in the other side, the two sides thus
interlocking or meshing with each other like the teeth of gearing. In the sides
and bottoms of the halves I form countersunk holes. I then place a mass or
cushion of soft or non-vulcanised rubber between the halves and press the halves
towards each other so that the rubber exudes at the sides filling the space between
the elevations and depressions of the sides and also filling the countersunk holes
so that when the soft rubber is flushed off all round and then vulcanised in situ the
two halves of the block are separated and completely insulated from each other by
the rubber while at the same time the rubber is by the vulcanising process firmly
connected to the block halves. The rubber which enters and fills the countersunk
holes in the halves of the block, binds and rivets each half firmly to the interposed
rubber cushion so that they cannot be separated, while the interlocking sides which
are 'equally insulated by interposed rubber, resist and prevent any separation of
the halves of the block by longitudinal strains. The interlocking insulated sides
also prevent the rocking or rolling motion which has been apparent in former
types of elastic blocks. I thus obtain an elastic block which when interposed
between a vehicle or spring and the axle absolutely insulates the vehicle from the
axle and prevents or minimises all jarring.
For heavy vehicles the halves of the block or each half of the rubber cushion
might be connected by bolts carefully insulated by rubber but I do not at present
think that such auxiliary connections will be requisite.
My improved block is made with snugs for bolting it to the axle flap and to the
spring clips or body of the vehicle.
The invention is in the second place applicable to the construction of elastic
wheel naves. The improved nave would be of precisely the same construction as
the axle block except that the halves between which the rubber is interposed
would in the case of a nave assume the form of two concentric rings instead of two
straight pieces. These concentric rings would be formed with interlocking isides
and countersunk holes as in the case of the axle block halves. The back of the

page_text: outer ring would be formed with sockets to receive the ends of the spokes. I do
not however confine myself to this precise form of nave.
Dated this 22nd day of December 1891.
DUTTON & FULTON,
1, St. James' Square, Manchester, Agents.
Improvements in Elastic Spring and Axle Blocks and in Wheel
Naves.
I, RICHARD PALMER of Oak House, Polygon Avenue, Ardwick, near Man-
chester, in the County of Lancaster, Coach Builder, 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 and accompanying
drawings:
:-
My said invention relates firstly to the supporting blocks usually interposed
between the axle or springs and the carriages. In order to lessen or neutralise
the jar which is apparent in all vehicles it has been proposed previous to my
present invention to render such blocks elastic by means of interposed rubber
cushions sometimes applied to the top or bottom of the block and sometimes as in
the case of a former invention of my own, interposed in the block itself. A dis-
advantage inherent to all of these arrangements was that either complete insulation
of the block was impossible or such insulation if obtained was accompanied by
weakness of connection. My present invention relates to an elastic block composed
of two halves divided by a cushion of vulcanised india rubber and so connected and
secured to the rubber as to provide complete insulation of the halves of the block
while at the same time the connection of the halves is absolutely secure.
The accompanying sheet of drawings illustrates the improved axle block.
Fig. 1 is a side view.
Fig. 2 is a plan.
Fig. 3 is an end view.
Fig. 4 is a cross section at the line A. B. Fig. 1.
The two halves a a¹ of the block are trough shaped and preferably open at the
ends. The sides are waved as shown in Fig. 1 or serrated or otherwise formed so
that the protuberances of one side come opposite to or enter the depressions in the
other side, the two sides thus interlocking or meshing with each other like the teeth
of gearing. In the sides and bottoms of the halves I form countersunk holes b. I
then place a mass or cushion of soft or non-vulcanised rubber between the halves
and press the halves towards each other so that the rubber exudes at the sides
filling the spaces between the elevations and depressions of the sides and also
filling the countersunk holes so that when the soft rubber is flushed off all
round and then vulcanised in situ the two halves of the block are separated
and completely insulated from each other by the rubber while at the same
time the rubber is by the vulcanising process firmly connected to the block
halves. The rubber is represented in black in the drawings. The rubber which
enters and fills the countersunk holes 6 in the halves a a' of the block, binds and
rivets each half firmly to the interposed rubber cushion so that they cannot be
separated, while the interlocking sides which are equally insulated by interposed
rubber, resist and prevent any separation of the halves of the block by longitudinal
strains. The interlocking insulated sides also prevent the rocking or rolling
motion which has been apparent in former types of elastic blocks. I thus obtain
an elastic block which when interposed between a vehicle or spring and the axle
absolutely insulates the vehicle from the axle and prevents or minimises all
jarring.
2

page_text: For heavy vehicles the halves of the block or each half of the rubber cushion
might be connected by bolts carefully insulated by rubber.
My improved block is made with snugs e for bolting it to the axle and to the
spring clips or body of the vehicle. The invention is in the second place applicable
to the construction of elastic wheel naves. The improved nave would be of
precisely the same construction as the axle block except that the halves between
which the rubber is interposed would in the case of a nave assume the form of two
concentric rings instead of two straight pieces. These concentric rings would be
formed with interlocking sides and countersunk holes as in the case of the axle
block halves. The back of the outer ring would be formed with sockets to receive
the ends of the spokes.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed 1 declare that what
I claim is :-
1) The improved elastic axle block composed of two metallic halves completely
insulated by a mass of interposed rubber vulcanised in situ the said halves being
formed with waving or other suitably shaped edges and with countersunk holes
between and into which the rubber is pressed so as to hold the halves together and
prevent displacement of the rubber substantially as hereinbefore described and
shown.
2) The improved elastic wheel nave constructed substantially as herein before
described.