IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH COACH AXLES AND THEIR BOXES OR BUSHES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ebenezer Partridge, of the Lion Axle Works, High
Street, Smethwick, in the County of Stafford, Engineer and Coach Axle
Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH
COACH AXLES AND THEIR BOXES OR BUSHES."
Sealed the 6th March 1876, and dated the 11th September 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ebenezer Partridge at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th September 1876.
EBENEZER PARTRIDGE, of the Lion Axle Works, High Street, Smethwick, in the
County of Stafford, Engineer and Coach Axle Manufacturer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND CONNECTED WITH COACH AXLES AND THEIR BOXES OR BUSHES."
This Invention relates to improvements in axles and axle boxes for wheels of road
vehicles, and mainly to those axles known as "old solid collar" or Collinge's
Patent. The object of my Invention is to secure wheels upon axles that they
cannot leave the vehicle in case of breakage or other cause.
The Invention consists, firstly, in the employment of a ring (which may be
composed of two pieces hinged in order that it, i. e., the ring, can be put on after
the axle box is in the hub of the wheel) threaded upon the outside or upon the
inside of its larger diameter, the smaller diameter or inner surface being angled
and formed with a shoulder to take against a projecting shoulder on the exterior
of the axle box. The threaded portion of the ring takes into corresponding
threads upon or in the solid collar of the axle, and is kept in place by a key passed
into holes in the ring and collar
The second part of the Invention consists in forming a raised shoulder upon the
inner end of the axle box, such raised shoulder having a bevil or inclined surface on
one of its faces.
The third part of the Invention consists in forming elongated holes in the outer
portion of the nut, where the nut and "collett" are combined as one article, such
elongated holes permitting the nut to be screwed up and held tight by a key, which
is put through one of the holes and a hole in the axle. Instead of the holes in the
nut being elongated, round or other shaped holes may be formed in it in spiral
order that when the key is removed and the nut turned to tighten it up the key
can be put into the next or other hole that may come opposite the hole in the
axle, which hole may be an elongated one.

page_text: The Invention consists, fourthly, in forming a screw thread upon or in the solid
collar of an axle, and in using a cone-shaped band or ring upon the exterior of the
axle box, that the box may run freely therein, and yet be held up securely against
the collar of the axle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Ebenezer Partridge in the Great Seal, Patent Office on the 10th March 1877.
EBENEZER PARTRIDGE, of the Lion Axle Works, High Street, Smethwick, in the
County of Stafford, Engineer and Coach Axle Manufacturer "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AND CONNECTED WITH COACII AXLES AND THEIR BOXES OR BUSHES."
This Invention relates to improvements in axles and axle boxes for wheels of road
vehicles, and mainly to those axles known as "old solid collar" or Collinge's Patent.
The object of my Invention is to secure wheels upon axles, that they cannot
leave the vehicle in case of breakage or other cause.
My Invention will be clearly understood by the annexed Drawings, in which
Figure 1 is a view of a divided rung, formed by the two halves a, b, connected by
the intermediate strip c, as in Figure 2, so that the ring can be opened out to
facilitate it being slipped into position after a wheel is upon the axle, but not full
on as when ready for running. This ring, which may be solid or unbroken (as in
Figure 3, to enable it to be slipped over the axle "box" before the box is wedged
into the hub or nave of the wheel) has a screw thread cut upon its sinaller exterior
periphery & to engage into a thread in the inner periphery of the solid or fixed
collare of the axle A to form the attachment of one to the other, the ring
being held igid against the frictional contact or action of the wheel by a
screw stud f, which is put in to fix it. The face of the ring, from its larger
periphery g, g, abuts against the inner face of the hub or nave, while it rotates
or revolves upon the axle, and serves in a measure to steady the wheel.
The internal periphery of the ring (whether solid or lunged) is tapered or inclined
for about one half of its width, as distinctly seen in the sectional views, Figures 2
and 3, by the line x, x, for a correspondingly angled or tapered portion of the
exterior of the axle box B, shown separately in Figure + to be in contact, as is
more particularly represented in Figure 5. This angled portion terminates in a
horizontal part, marked i, which finds a lodgment or bearing upon or against the
horizontal part marked j of the ring, so that the two surfaces, i c., the angled and
the horizontal act in unison, whereby the wheel is prevented leaving the vehicle,
should the axle A break from any cause outside the shoulder C, where axles
generally do break, consequent upon the length of leverage of the free end of the
axle arm, the fixed point or fulcrum being at or near the inside of the shoulder.
The horizontal part i of the axle box is also sufficiently broad for its inner periphery
to take a bearing upon the axle shoulder C, and thus serves or assists to serve to
steady the wheel upon the axle, the box being kept up close to the lenther or other
packing washer by the ring a, b.
Figure 6 represents a nut and collet D combined to be fitted on or over a
threaded ond of the axle A, so that after the nut is screwed home as in Figure 5,
within the axle box B, it can be prevented turning loose by the pin m, which can
be put through one or other of the holes n, n, in the nut portion 2, and into a hole
in the axle itself. The holes n, n, in the nut p, are arranged in spiral order, as
shown, to enable the nut to be screwed up to the desired extent, when one of the
holes must present itself over the hole in the axle to permit of the pin m being
dropped in The pin m has a head, and this takes under a shoulder q of the box cap
E, as in Figure 5, whereby the pin is prevented jumping out while the wheel is
revolving; the collet by this means is held close up to the inner angled shoulder 8 nt
the outer end box B.
Figure 7 shows a nut and collet D combined, in which the nut portion 2 has an²

page_text: elongated hole n, of which there may be at least three to ensure one or other of
them coming opposite the hole in the axle for the insertion of the pin or key m for
locking the collet in place The elongated hole may be in the end of the axle if
desired, instead of in the collet, the object being, as before stated, to enable a pin or
key to be inserted to lock the collet on.
In Figure 5 I have shown all the foregoing improvements applied to or in connec-
tion with the same axle, but each or any number of them can be used alone or in
combination for the purpose set forth.
Having thus described the nature of my said Invention, I wish it to be under-
stood that I make no claim to the exact construction or form of the several details,
as they can be varied to suit the various forms or wheel boxes and axles generaly
in use in road coaches and like vehicles, although my Invention is specially
applicable to what is known as the "old solid collar" or "Collinge axle," as first
herein-before referred to, but what I do claim is,―
Firstly. The employment of a ring with an inclined inner periphery to bear in
contact with an inclined outer periphery of an axle box at the inner end, as
and for the purposes described, whether said ring be solid or in more than one
piece, hinged or not, and the fitting or fixing of said ring to the solid collar,
substantially as shown in the annexed Drawings.
Secondly. I claim forming an incline or bevil upon the exterior of a raised
portion of the inner end of a coach axle box, when in combination with other
appliances it prevents a wheel leaving a vehicle on the axle breaking outside its
shoulder, as described.
Thirdly. I claim forming a screw thread upon or in a "solid collar" of a coach
axle, and the employment of a ring also threaded, and the fixation of said ring, as
described, when for the purpose set forth.
Fourthly I claim forming holes spirally or elongated in a collet and nut
combined for the insertion of a key or pin, which also enters a coach axle, as and
for the purpose described.
Lastly I claim the special combination of appliances, shown in Figure 5 of the
annexed Drawings, in connection with coach axles for the purposes set forth.
In witness whercof, I, the said Ebenezer Partridge, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighth day of March, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-seven.