CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF AXLE BOXES AND AXLE BEARINGS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jules Alphonse Mathieu Chaufour, of Paris, in the-
Empire of France, for the Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF AXLE BOXES AND AXLE BEARINGS."
Sealed the 16th April-1858, and dated the 9th January 1858.
.
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PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jules Alphonse Mathieu
Chaufour at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 9th January 1858,
s
I," JULES ALPHONSE MATHIEU CHAUFOUR, of Paris, in the Empire of France,
do hereby declare the nature of 'my Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF AXLE BOXES AND AXLE BEARINGS," to be as follows, that is
to say:
The Invention relates to improvements in axle boxes and bearings for axles
of railway and other carriages, shafts of screws, and other machinery: "The
improvements are as follows:-
First, the application of friction collars to the journals of the axles of rail-
way and other carriages to prevent concussion' or shaking.
... b
Secondly, the application of rings to tighten "and" support a number of
packing cylinders or antifriction rollers!
Thirdly, the construction and application of adjustable shells or friction
bearings for containing the packing cylinders or rollers.
Fourthly, the application of a wedge to permit the introduction of the
packing cylinders.
Fifthly, in a peculiar arrangement of the grease boxes or reservoirs.
Sixthly, the application of a screw for tightening the bearings..
The axle box is provided with a cap or cover, fitted with a reservoir for the
grease. The upper reservoir or grease box contains a pipe to convey the

page_text: grease to the packing cylinders. The lower reservoir receives the waste
grease, which may be removed when necessary.
The axle bearing or plummer block also contains reservoirs or grease boxes
for supplying the journal and cylinders with grease.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Jules Alphonse Mathieu Chaufour in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 29th April 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JULES
ALPHONSE MATHIEU CHAUFOUR, of Paris, in the Empire of France, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of January, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the said
Jules Alphonse Mathieu Chaufour, Her special licence that I, the said Jules.
Alphonse Mathieu Chaufour, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said Jules Alphonse Mathieu Chaufour, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,
an Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF AXLE BOXES
AND AXLE BEARINGS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
Jules Alphonse Mathieu Chaufour, my executors or administrators, by an
instrument in writing under or their, or one of their hands and seals, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in
what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed
in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months next and imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jules Alphonse Mathieu Chaufour, do
hereby declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawing hereto annexed,
and to the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
My said Invention relates to improvements in axle boxes and bearings, or
plummer blocks containing cylinders, for lessening the friction of the axles of

page_text: railway and other carriages, and of the shafts, of screws, and machinery in.
general.
This system of constructing axle boxes and plummer blocks with cylinders
for transforming, in part, a sliding friction to a rolling friction, is composed,
first, of a cast-iron axle box in which is placed a shell or bearing of a cylin-
drical and octagonal form. This shell supports another shell which receives
the cylinders.
Secondly, of two collars which support the journal at its two extremities.
The collars keep the cylinders in their proper position, and form a basin or
reservoir for the oil for lubrifying the cylinders, the journal, and the friction
collars.
Thirdly, of a cup or vessel placed at the end of the shell for receiving the oil
which escapes from the basin or reservoir on one side only of railway axle
boxes.
Fourthly, of a feeding cup or reservoir placed on the upper part of the axle
box, by which I introduce the oil for lubrifying the cylinders and journal,
which oil is introduced by a tube.
Fifthly, of a lower basin or vessel intended to indicate the level of the oil in
the reservoir, and receive the waste oil.
Sixthly, of a basin for receiving the oil which escapes from the back of the
axle box.
Seventhly, of iron or steel cylinders, according to the nature of the materials
of which the journals and shells of the boxes are composed.
Eighthly, of packing rings or washers composed of iron, copper, or other
metal. These packing rings support the pivots of the cylinders, and allow the
necessary tightening for rendering them applicable to all journals furnished
with lateral collars. These rings also preserve a small space between the
cylinders, to prevent friction which would cause them to work irregularly.
Ninthly, I can employ, if necessary, rings or washers in a single piece for
journals which have no collars. The orifices which are formed in the packing
rings should be of an oval form for obtaining the necessary tightening.
Tenthly, to avoid the rapid wear which would take place on the cylinders,
journals, and the shell, in consequence of great weight and concussion, I give
to the friction collars the dimensions calculated according to the weight and
speed.
Figure 1, plan; Figure 2, longitudinal section; Figure 3, partial section
and elevation, and Figure 4; front elevation of the improved axle box; Figures

page_text: 5 and 6; front and side view of the packing rings and cylinders; Figure 7,
plan of the plummer block; Figure 8, partial elevation and section of the
same; Figures 9 and 10, front view and plan of a wedge. A, journal of the
axle B; C, collar of the journal ;D, cylinders; E, packing rings; F, iron
shell at the upper part of the bearing of the axle box; G, lower part of the
bearing of the axle. box; H, friction collars; I, upper part, in cast-iron of
the bearing of the axle box; J, aperture for ascertaining the level of the oil
in the lower reservoir; K, tube for the introduction of oil; L, upper basin' or
reservoir; M, lid of the reservoir; N, lower basin or reservoir of oil; O,.lid of
the same; P; body. of the axle box; Q, cap of the axle box; R, lower basin
for receiving the oil which escapes from the bottom of the box; S,. wedge
for pressing the lower part of the bearing against the upper part; T, screw.for
tightening the wedge; U, body of the bearing; .V,.cap of the same; X, guard
plates of the carriage. By the application of the friction collars H, which are
proportioned according to the weight and speed, I avoid the rapid wear which
takes place in ordinary bearings, and which has, rendered the application of
cylinders to railway and other axle boxes impracticable; and also avoid the
concussion caused by the play existing between the cylinders and the journal.
By means of the two iron bearings F, G, furnished. laterally with friction
collars H forming a shell, the wearing takes place only on the shell, which may
be replaced without removing the body of the box. By the use of the wedge S,
the packing cylinders can be placed round the journal without being. obliged
to remove the collar at the end of the journal, and which permits. of making
the body of the axle box in one piece,, and of examining the interior of the
axle box without unmounting. By the employment of the two packing rings
E, I can apply the system to all journals with collars, and I obtain the
necessary tightening of the packing cylinders after a certain time of action,
which could not be accomplished with rings in one piece in which the orifices
are not oval. By means of the upper başin or reservoir L, in which is placed
the feeding tube K, the oil communicates directly with the interior of the box;
and I effect the required lubrification. By means of the lower cup or reser
voir N, furnished with a hole J, the waste or bad oil can escape from the
interior of the box and be withdrawn, and the quantity of oil ascertained' which
remains in the axle box before greasing. By means of the vessel R; the oil
which escapes from the back of the box during the working may be collected
and replaced in the upper basin or reservoir. By the application of the screw
T, pressing on the wedge S, I give to the two bearings G, I, and to the collars
H, the desired tightening without being obliged to open the axle box.
:.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of per-

page_text: forming the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine myself to
the precise details of construction so long as the peculiar features of my
Invention are retained; what I claim as new, and desire to be secured by
Letters Patent, is,―
First, the application of friction collars H to each extremity of the journal
to prevent concussion and wear, as herein-before described and represented in
Figures 2, 3, 7, and 8 of the annexed Drawing.
Secondly, the arrangement of the two packing rings E, to obtain the
necessary tightening when applied to journals with collars, as herein-before
described and shewn in Figures 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, of the Drawing.
Thirdly, the application of two iron bearings F, G, furnished laterally with
friction collars H, to axle boxes, as herein-before described and shewn in
Figures 2 and 3 of the Drawing.
Fourthly, the application of the wedge S, which permits the introduction of
the packing cylinders and bearings F, G, without removing the collar C, and
of making the body of the axle box in one piece, as herein-before described
and represented in Figures 2, 3, 9, and 10 of the Drawing annexed.
Fifthly, the peculiar arrangement of the oil reservoirs or grease boxes
N, L, R, as herein-before described and shewn in Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 7, and 8
of the accompanying Drawing.
Sixthly, the application of the screw T for pressing the wedge S to obtain
the necessary tightness of the parts in contact, as herein-before described and
shewn in Figures 2, 3, 9, and 10 of the Drawing.
Seventhly, the combination of rolling and sliding friction, by giving to the
lateral friction parts, and to the journals of the axles a development of surface
relative to the weight and speed, as herein-before described and shewn in the
Drawing annexed.
Eighthly, the application of the herein-before described improvements to the
axles of railway and other carriages, and to the shafts of screws and machinery
in general, as herein-before described and shewn in the Drawings..
In witness whereof, I, the said Jules Alphonse Mathieu Chaufour, have
hereto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of April, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
J. A. MATHIEU CHAUFOUR. (L.S.)