other Parts of the Running Gear of Road Vehicles.
Year: 1888

page_text: other Parts of the Running Gear of Road Vehicles.
We, THEODORE CHARLEYS MUNZ, Carriage Smith, and CALVIN CONE, Gentleman,
both of Toledo, in the county of Lucas, and State of Ohio, United States of America,
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:-
Our invention relates to new and useful Improvements in connection with the
Running Gear of road Vehicles and Method of Forming the Same, and we do
hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same.
Reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figure 1 is a top plan view of a running gear with the spindles omitted.
Figure 2 is a front view of the front axle, showing one of the spindles secured in
place.
Figure 3 is a cross sectional view on lines I-1 Fig. 2.
Figure 4 is a view in elevation of the headblock with the reaches secured thereto
and the upper portion of the fifth wheel, the parts being inverted Figure 5 is a top
view of a blank sheet of metal of the desired shape to produce an axle when properly
formed as herenafter described.
Figure 6 is a like view, and shows the blank cut away at points where it is desired
to attach clips.
Figure 7 is a side elevation of an axle formed of the blank shown in Fig. 6.
Figure 8 is a side elevation of an axle, showing the central part rectangular in
cross section, the end portions being U-shaped, and also showing depressions upon
the upper side of the axle into which projections upon the clips may fit, to prevent
the same from moving.
Figures 9, 10, and 11 are transverse sections, showing some of the different
forms of axles that may be constructed in accordance with our invention, it being
understood that the interior longitudinal opening may be of any desired shape or
form.

page_text: The object of the invention is to produce a vehicle running gear that shall be light,
strong, and inexpensive of construction and consists in the method of forming the
main parts thereof, and in the manner of assembling the parts.
Heretofore vehicle axles, have been constructed of iron or steel forged to the
desired shape, or of a cast or malleable cast.
In either of the modes described there is necessarily a great weight of material to
insure the desired strength, the first mentioned mode also requiring skilled labor in
in the manufacture and a supplemental wood finish upon the upper side thereof,
thereby involving great expense. In the last mentioned construction there is great
difficulty in cooling the cast axle and maintaining the proper shape.
It has also been customary heretofore to construct the headblock of wood, with a
metal plate secured to the under side to serve as a bearing.
It has also been customary to construct the reach sections of wood, and to strengthen
the same, to attach a bar of metal to the underside thereof.
These constructions are not only expensive, but require great care in joining the
metal and wood parts, to present a finished appearance, the paint finish is also liable
to crack and fall off at the point of juncture of the wood and metal, and the wood is
at all times liable to split in seasoning.
The object of our invention is to form the axles, headblock, and reach sections of
sheet metal, preferably of sheet steel, though not necessarily, as any sheet metal of
sufficient rigidity is adaptable for this purpose, and by a simple process produce a
finished axle, headblock, or reach section, whereby the quality of the finished product
shall be superior to that now produced and the cost of manufacture reduced.
To construct these parts we take a sheet of metal of the desired thickness, and by
the use of dies or other suitable means form a blank to construct the desired part,
whether the axle, headblock, or reach sections. We will describe the method more
particularly with regard to the axle as it will be understood that the same method is
observed in forming the headblock or reach sections and consequently a description of
the method of forming the axle will suffice for all the parts.
To form an axle, we form a blank A of the desired surface area and form and then
preferably though not necessarily, cut away from the sides of the blank a portion of
the same corresponding to the shape and size of the clips to be employed in clasping
the spindle in place, as shown at A¹, and afterward form the same into the desired
shape whether it be U-shape in cross section as shown in figure 9, rectangular as
shown in figure 10, or V-shape as shown in figure 11, or any other desired
form, so that there is an arched bearing surface caused by the longitudinal opening
through the entire length of the axle, thereby increasing the strength, and reducing
the weight.
The blank when prepared as described is placed between dies having cameo
and intaglio forms of the desired shape and pressed into shape by any power
desired.
We may form the axle of the same general contour in cross section, as shown in
figure 7, B designating the finished axle, or with a rectangular central portion as
shown at B¹ in figure 8, wherein are also shown depressions B" into which projec-
tions formed on the clips may rest, to hold the clip from movement, in which instance
the rectangular notches A¹ may be omitted.
To form the headblock or reach sections blanks of the proper size and shape are
formed and with cameo and intaglio dies of the desired shape the headblock or reach
sections are formed by the method just described.
In forming the headblock it is preferable to form rectangular notches C into which
the forward ends of reach sections D may. rest, and also for the reception of the clips
for securing the springs upon the headblock.
E designates the spindle one of which is secured in each end of both axles, and F
designates a cushion which may be either of wood, rubber or any suitable material,
and is interposed between the spindle and axle, the whole being held in place by
clip G.
In assembling the parts to form a running gear, the axles, headblock and reaches

page_text: having been pressed into the desired shape from blanks of metal as has been described,
the spindles are secured within the longitudinal openings of the axle, and securely
held against the interposed packing by clips, a clip king bolt H is secured to the
center of the forward axle, the bolt portion preferably passing through a perforated
rectangular metal block I, placed within the central opening of the headblock, the
bolt also passing through the headblock and protruding a sufficient distance to
receive the forward spring, the reaches are now secured to each axle, and
preferably strengthened by braces K secured to the rear axle and to the reaches.
The fifth wheel is secured to the reaches and headblock, and the gear is ready for
the wheels.
It will be seen that by the method described of forming the main parts of the
running gear we may vary the form of axle, headblock or reach sections to any
desired form or pattern by constructing the dies accordingly, and that there is thereby
constructed a durable, cheap and strong running gear.
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 claim is :
1st. The herein described Method of forming the Axles, headblock, and Reaches
of a Vehicle. Running Gear which consists in constructing, a blank of the desired
form out of sheet metal, and then forming the same into the desired shape by pressure,
as and for the purpose set forth.
2nd. A step in the Art of making the principal parts of a Vehicle Running Gear,
of sheet metal which consists of forming cut away portions in the sides of the blanks
corresponding to the position of the clip plates previous to forming the same into
the desired shape by pressure, as and for the purpose set forth.
3rd. A Vehicle Running Gear, comprising Axles headblock, and reach sections,
formed of sheet metal, and pressed into the desired shape, as and for the purpose
set forth..
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