CERTAIN IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARRIAGE AXLES AND AXLE BOXES
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Cockshoot, junior, of Manchester, in thre
County of Lancaster, Coach Builder, and Henry Weatherill, of
the same Place, Manager, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF CARRIAGE AXLES AND AXLE BOXES."
Scaled the 9th April 1869, and dated the 19th October 1868.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by tlie said Josepli-Cockslioot and
Henry Weatherill at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with-
their Petition, on the 19th October 1868..
WC, JOSEPH COCKSшOOT, junior, of Manchester, in the County of
Lancaster, Coach Builder, and HENRY WEATHERILL, of the same Place,.
Manager, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN
IMPROVEMENTS IN CARRIAGE AXLES AND AXLE BOXES," to be as follows:-
Our Invention is designed for the purpose of improveing, the con-
struction of the ordinary axletree and boxes for carriages and other.
vehicles in such a manner that they will not only be more durable and.

page_text: lasting, but that they will offer the greatest resistance, security and
immunity from those serious accidents which now occur when a
breakage of the axle takes place within the nave or box of the wheel
or the root end of the axle, and the improvements consist in forming or
constructing the back flange plate of the axle solid, so as to form a
component part of the axle in contradistinction to forming such flange
or plate loose, and which in the old construction of "mail" axle is
known as the "back plate," this solid flange is formed with a recess
or annular space around the axle arm at the root on its outer surfaces
towards the "nave," the arm of the axle projecting outward from the
recess to its termination at the extremity of the nave, where it is
enclosed by the sleeve or box and the cap in the ordinary manner.
The box or sleeve of the axle is secured in the nave of the wheel, and
which revolves upon the axle is secured thereto in the following
manner The said box is enlarged for about one-third of its length
at that end terminating near the solid flange or roller of the axle; in
this enlarged portion a groove or hollow ring is formed so as to leave
a collar on the back end of the "box;" inserted into the recess or hollow
portion of the fixed or solid collar or flange or "back plate" is this
collar which revolving with the box and takes the place or is substituted
for the collar of the ordinary mail axle; the fixed solid flange or back
plate of the axle receives within its recess first a leather washer known
as the collar washer, then the collar of the box or sleeve, the diameter
of which equals the recess formed in the solid flange, the outer flat
surface when inserted being flush or level with the inner side of the
groove formed in the enlarged portion of the box; within this groove
there is then placed a second leather washer equal in diameter to the
fixed or solid flange, the outer surface of which beds against the solid
flange and against the inner surface of the collar inserted in the recess
of the solid flange of the axle. A loose flat metal plate ring or washer
which may be formed in two parts is then placed in the same groove
against the leather washer, and which is provided with countersunk or
fixed bolts that protrude through holes corresponding to the position
of such holes formed in the leather washer against which it beds
and the solid or fixed flange of the axle; thus when the nuts of the
holts are screwed up to the solid flange of the axle the box or sleeve
is firmly retained in its place by reason of the loose flange and washer
embracing or encircling the reduced diameter of the box within the
groove afore-mentioned. Within the enlarged diameter of this box

page_text: or sleeve an annular space or chamber is formed encircling the arm
of the axle into which before the box and wheel is bolted up or
otherwise secured to the solid flange in the usual manner oil or lubricant
is placed, which being thus isolated or enclosed is thoroughly preserved
and free from the encroachment of wet, dust, or other extraneous matter
that would militate against its efficient lubrication. A second chamber
or space for oil is also provided in the back collar of the "box," a screw
like recess or oil groove is also formed from the first chamber to the
back collar, or small recesses for oil may also be provided in the "box"
around the axle in suitable places that would lubricate the frictional
surfaces of the collar of the box, the frictional surfaces of the fixed
axle collar may also be provided in like manner; the combined arrange-
ment of recesses and chamber for oil being by this arrangement
thoroughly enclosed perfect and efficient lubrication is obtained.
will readily be understood that by the employment of this novel con-
trivance of axle and box the wheel is securely bolted to the solid flange
of the axle, which in conjunction with its retention thereto through the
medium of the groove in the box or sleeve, which gives rigitity, provides
a double security against accidents which are caused by the breaking
of the axle in the axle box or sleeve or at the root of the axle arm, as
is usually the case in the event of such a catastrophy the bolts securing
the loose flange and nave to the axle necessarily prevents the broken
portion of the axle and wheel parting from the solid flange forming
a portion of the axle, thus obtaining an axle and box that is at once
more durable, cleanly, and less liable to accidents from breaking than
the axles now in use.
It