Improvements in Axles for Tram-cars, Omnibuses, and other Carriages and Conveyances.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 31st May, 1890
Complete Specification Left, 10th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 22nd Nov., 1890
PROVISIONAL DI BOLTIN
Improvements in Axles for Tram-cars, Omnibuses, and other
Carriages and Conveyances.
We BORLASE CHILDS of Trewithan, Liskeard, in the County of Cornwall,
Esquire, and JOSEPH HAMLYN, of Liskeard, in the same County, Coach-builder,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
Our invention relates to axles for tram-cars, omnibuses, and other carriages,
and conveyances, and has for its object the construction of the axle-tree, and axle,
and the method of mounting the springs upon the same in such a way that the
following advantages are obtained:
1st. The weight of the vehicle is thrown over the centre of the wheel instead of
being thrown on the axle-tree between the wheels as in the ordinary method, thus
giving much greater stability and allowing a considerably lighter axle-tree to be used
than usual.
2nd. In the case of omnibuses.constructed so as to run along tram-rails, the floors
of such buses, or cars can be placed much lower, that is nearer the ground, so
enabling passengers to alight or get on the cars with dispatch.
3rd. The necessity of removing the whole of the springs, as well as the wheel, in
order to repair the wheel, or to insert a new washer upon the axle as is now the case
in the Andrew's, or similar systems, is entirely obviated, the wheel being casily
detached, and again put on with the same facility as in the case of an ordinary
conveyance.
4th. The construction of the axle-tree, and mountings for springs is much simpler,
and considerably cheaper than similar appliances having the saine objects in view.
To carry our invention into effect we arrange upon each side of the axle-tree,
between the axles in a convenient position, either solid therewith, or fixed thereto by
bolts, rivets, or similar means of attachment, a bracket extending upwards and
outwards.
Upon the top of this bracket is attached by means of the ordinary clip bolts, or
other equivalent device the springs of the vehicle in such a position that they are
directly over, the wheels, and axles.
The effect of this method of distributing the weight is that practically all the
bending strains upon the axle-tree between the brackets are very greatly reduced thus
allowing very considerable reduction in the size of the said axle-trees in comparison
with those now in use.
11
1
M1000
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, E.C., Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Axles for Tram-cars, Omnibuses, and other
Carriages and Conveyances.
.
We, BORLASE CHILDS, of Trewithan, Liskeard, in the County of Cornwall,
Esquire, and JOSEPH HAMLYN, of Liskeard, in the same County, Coach-builder,
do hereby declare the nature of our invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement :-
or
Our invention relates to axles for tram cars, railway vehicles omnibuses
other carriages and conveyances and has for its object the construction of the

page_text: axle tree and axle and the method of mounting the springs upon the same in
such a way that the following advantages are obtained.
1st. The weight of the vehicle is thrown over the centre of the wheel instead
of being thrown
the axle-tree, between the wheels as in the ordinary method
thus giving much greater stability and allowing a considerably lighter axle-tree
to be used than usual.
2nd. In the case of omnibuses constructed-so as to run along tram rails the floors
of such omnibuses or cars can be placed much. lower, that is nearer the grounil so
enabling passengers to alight and get on the cars with greater facility and dispatch,
also the centre of gravity of the car and its load is much lower than in the vehicle of
ordinary construction.
3rd. The necessity of removing the whole of the springs as well as the wheel in
order to repair the wheel or to insert a new washer upon the axle as is now the case
in the Andrew's and similar systems is entirely obviated the wheel being easily
detached and again put on with the same facility as in the case of an ordinary
conveyance.
4th. The construction of the axle-tree and mounting for springs is much simpler
and considerably cheaper than similar appliances having the same object in view.
In order that our invention may be the better understood we now proceed to
describe the same in relation to the drawings hereunto annexed reference being had
to the letters and figures marked thereon. Like letters refer to like parts throughout
the drawings.
Figure 1 shows in side elevation a wheel of large diameter arranged so that the
weight passing through the spring is in a vertical line with the point of contact on
the rim with the ground.
Figure 2 is an end sectional view of the same.
Figure 3 is our invention carried out with a tram wheel of small diameter..
Figure is a view of an ordinary road car wheel of small diameter according to
our invention.
To carry our invention into effect we arrange upon each side of the axle-tree A
between the axles B in a convenient position either solid there with or fixed thereto by
bolts rivets bands or similar means of attachment a bracket. C extending upwards and
outwards.
Upon the top of this bracket C is attached by means of an ordinary clip bolt D or
other equivalent device the springs E of the vehicle in such a position that they are
directly over the wheels and axles or in a vertical line passing through the point of
contact of the wheel with the ground.
The effect of this method of distribution of the weight is that practically all the
bending strains upon the axle between the brackets are very greatly reduced thus
allowing considerable reduction in the size of the said axle-tree in comparison with
those now in use.
i
It is obvious firstly that the whole of the strain has to pass from the spring through
the bracket C to the axle B, secondly, the bracket and its attachments with the axle
tree must be made substantial enough to withstand the collapsing strains set up by the
weight of the vehicle tending to force the bracket supporting the spring nearer to
the axle.
In Figures Land 2 we have shown the arrangement of our system of mounting the
springs in which a wheel of large diameter is used. In Figures 1 and 2 in order. that
the distribution of weight shall be directly vertical to that part of the rim of the
wheel in contact with the ground, the wheel being of large diameter the axle is bent
in a downward direction thus allowing the lower part of the wheel to be in the vertical
line of stress and the upper part to clear the spring.
In Figures 3 and 4 the wheels are of much smaller diameter allowing of their
disposition beneath their springs as to permit of the vertical stress being communi-
cated to the rim of the wheel with little or no angular inclination of the wheel from
the vertical.
It is clear that either one or other methods before described of mounting the

page_text: springs and wheels upon the axles enables the wheels to be removed from the vehicle
with the greatest facility this being a very essential point in order to facilitate
repairs.
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
clain is :-
-
1st. An improved axle for vehicles having the springs mounted on brackets upon
the axle tree, attached thereto or solid therewith, so that the load on the springs is
communicated to the rims of the wheels in a vertical line passing through the said
springs in order to relieve the centre of the axle tree from bending strain.
2nd. The construction and arrangement of the axle tree, axles, springs, and
wheels, for tram ears, railway vehicles, cmnibuses, or other carriages, or conveyances,
substantially as described and illustrated in reference to Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4.
Dated this 10th day of October 1890.
FELL & WILDING,
1, Queen Victoria Street, London, E.C., Agents for the Applicants.