AN IMPROVEMENT IN CAR AXLES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Nathaniel Jones, of Syracuse, in the County of Onondaga
and State of New York, United States of America, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVEMENT IN CAR AXLES."
Sealed the 28th February 1878, and dated the 15th January 1878.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Nathaniel Jones at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 15th January 1878.
NATHANIEL JONES, of Syracuse, in the County of Onondaga and State of New
York, United States of America. "AN IMPROVEMENT IN CAR AXLES,"
The nature of my Invention consists in the construction and arrangement of a
divided axle, with wheels movable, independent of each other, and capable of expansion
and contraction, while in either position they are locked to prevent spreading, and
adapted for railroad and street railroad cara and other purposes, as will be herein-
after more fully set forth.
In the annexed Drawing, to which reference is made, and which fully illustrates
my Invention,―
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of my Invention, without any locking device.
Figure 2 is a similar view thereof, with locking device.
Figures 3 and 4 are transverse sections on the lines x, x, and y, y, of Figure 2.
Figure 5 is a longitudinal section showing a modification of
my Invention adapted
for light work.
A and B represent the two car wheels of one pair or set, connected by a divided
axle in the following manner :-The wheel A is on its outer side formed or provided
with the usual projecting journal C, to be placed and held in the car axle journal
box, while from the inner side of said wheel extends the axle D, of such length as
to reach to, or nearly to, the other wheel B. This axle D is made hollow, or other-
[Price 6d.1

page_text: wise bored out from its outer end inward for a suitable distance, and, preferably, the
entire length up to the side of the wheel, as represented in Figure 2. The wheel B
is on the outer side provided with a journal C¹ similar to the journal C of the wheel
A, and from the inner side of said wheel B projects an axle D¹ of such diameter as
to fit in the bored-out or hollow axle D. From the inner side of the wheel B also
extends a sleeve or elongated collar H, concentric with the axle D¹, and of such
diameter as to fit over the end of the axle D. In the outer end of the axle D' are
made one or more recesses a, a, extending entirely around the axle, as shown, and
one or more flat keys b are passed through slots in the hollow axle D, and fill one or
more of the recesses a on one side, thereby preventing any lateral motion of either
wheel or of either part of the divided axle, while it allows the two parts of the axle
to turn independently of each other. The ends of the flat key or keys b also pass
through slots in an elongated sleeve or cylinder I surrounding the inner end of the
hollow axle D, next to the wheel A. This sleeve or cylinder I is to form a part of
said hollow axle D, or else a part of the wheel A, projecting therefrom in the same
manner as described for the sleeve H, the object being to strengthen this part of the
axle where the greatest strain is. The end of the hollow axle D is also provided
with circumferential recesses a¹, a¹, and flat keys 6¹ passed through the sleeve H, and
lying in one or more of said recesses on one side. This latter device may be used
independent of the key or keys b and recesses a, or at the same time with it, as
desired.
It will readily be seen that though connected together by the divided axle D, D¹,
the wheels A and B can and do turn independent of each other, thus reducing the
friction in going around curves. And, furthermore, by means of either or both of
the locking devices described all lateral motion is prevented, and yet the wheels can
be easily changed from narrow gauge to broad gauge, and vice versa, the parts
being, of course, made of such dimensions that suitable bearings will in either case
be formed between the two parts D, D', of the axle, and the sleeve H in both cases
surrounds the end of the part D of the axle. In the construction of this axle it will
be noticed that each wheel, A and B, is formed with the respective parts belonging
to it in such a manner that it is virtually in one piece, and no bolts, screws, or other
extraneous fastenings are used.
For street cars and other light work I intend to use the modification shown in
Figure 5. In this case the wheel B has no sleeve or elongated collar projecting
inward from it, but the solid axle D¹ is turned down to form a circumferential
shoulder h a suitable distance from the wheel to form a joint with the end of the
hollow axle D. The extreme end of the solid axle D' is formed with a head m and
neck n, which form a swivel, inserted and held in a hollow cylindrical piece I of
the same outside diameter as that of the axle D¹. This piece I is held permanently
in the inner end of the hollow axle D by a pin or key i passing through said parts.
Suitable holes d are provided for lubricating the axle, as shown.
Having thus fully described my Invention, what I claim as new, and desire to
secure by Letters Patent is,―
1st. The combination of the wheel A, provided with the journal C and bored out
or hollow axle D, and the wheel B, provided with the journal C', axle D', and sleeve
or collar H, all substantially as described, and for the purposes set forth.
2nd. In combination with the solid axle D¹ projecting from the wheel B, and the
hollow axle D projecting from the wheel A, the re-inforcing sleeve I, the annular
recesses a formed in the axle D¹, and one or more flat keys b passing through the
sleeve I and axle D, and filling one or more of the recesses a on one side, substan-
tially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
3rd. In combination with the hollow axle D projecting from the wheel A, and the
solid axle D¹ and sleeve H projecting from the wheel B, the annular recesses a¹, a¹,
formed around the outside of the hollow axle D, and one or more flat keys b' passing
through the sleeve H, and filling one or more of the recesses a¹ on one side, sub-
stantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

page_text: 4th. The combination of the solid axle formed with the exterior shoulder h and
the swivel m, n, on its end, the hollow axle D, interior hollow cylindrical piece I,
and the pin or key i, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-
ninth day of December, One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven, at
Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America.
Witnesses,
CHARLES HENRY WATSON.
HENRY HOWARD.
NATHANIEL JONES. (Ls.)