IMPROVEMENTS IN LUBRICATING THE AXLES OF CORVES OR WAGONS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Edward Scarborough, of Wigan, in the County of
Lancaster, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LUBRICATING THE AXLES
OF CORVES OR WAGONS, AND IN APPARATUS THEREFOR."
Sauled the 17th August 1878 and deted the 23rd March 1878
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Edward Scarborough
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd March 1878.
"IM-
GEORGE EDWARD SCARBOROUGH, of Wigan, in the County of Lancaster.
PROVEMENTS IN LUBRICATING THE AXLES OF CORVES OR WAGONS, AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR.
.
This Invention consists in a new method of and apparatus for lubricating the
axles of corves or wagons on tramways, and in the apparatus for accomplishing the
saine. It consists in a rotary brush placed beside the rail on an axle transverse to
the track. This axle is geared to another, on which is a wheel, against which the
corve rubs in passing. The wheel is supported on a strong frame, and its bearing is
free to move horizontally within certain limits in a direction perpendicular to the
track, the amount of movement being regulated by a spring, preferably a bow spring;
but other forms will do, even india-rubber, as its object is to take off sudden
shocks, and to push the wagon over towards the other side of the rail, so as to leave
a space bear on the axle between the wheel and bearing, into which the brush fits
easily. The spring also gives the horizontal wheel a firm bearing (with its con-
sequent friction) on the passing wagon. This causes the wheel to revolve and set in
motion the train of gearing and brush. The brush thus revolves in the grease
trough, and by the time it reaches the axle the freshly dipped surface is exposed to
rub against the axle. The brush thus greases both axles, and the wagon passes on
to a similar arrangement a little farther on on the other side of the line, which
greases the opposite wheels, and at the same time shoves the bearing over the freshly
greased surface. The brush is formed in segments between plates, so that as the
11

page_text: bristles wear down they can be elevated out of the plates and screwed tight
afresh.
The advantages of this plan over that ordinarily in use are,-
1st. That it gives a uniformity of greasing, as the freshly dipped surface of the
wheel brush is used in all cases.
2nd. That the brush revolves and brushes the axle as well as merely daubing it.
3rd. The ratio of gearing and height of brush being alterable at pleasure, any
required regulated amount of brushing can be given in a given passage over the
brush.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Edward Scarborough in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 21st September 1878.
GEORGE EDWARD SCARBOROUGH, of Wigan, in the County of Lancaster. "I-
PROVEMENTS IN LUBRICATING THE AXLES OF CORVES OR WAGONS, AND IN APPARATUS
THEREFOR."
This Invention consists in a new method of and apparatus for lubricating the
axles of corves or wagons on tramways, and in the apparatus for accomplishing the
same. It consists, 1st., in a rotary brush placed beside the rail on an axle transverse
to the track. This axle is geared to another, on which is a wheel, against which the
corve rubs in passing. The wheel is supported on a strong frame, and the bearing is
free to move horizontally within certain limits in a direction perpendicular to the
track, the amount of movement being regulated by a spring, preferably a bow
spring; but other forms will do, even india-rubber, as its object is to take off
sudden shocks, and to push the wagon over toward the other side of the rail, so as
to leave a space bare on the axle between the wheel and bearing, into which the
brush fits easily. The spring also gives the horizontal wheel a firm bearing (with
its consequent friction) on the passing wagon. This causes the wheel to revolve
and sot in motion the train of gearing and brush. The brush thus revolves in tho
grease trough, and by the time it reaches the axle the freshly dipped surface is
exposed to rub against the axlo. The brush thus greases both axles, and the wagon
passes on to a similar arrangement a little farther on on the other side of the lino,
which greases the opposite wheels, and at the same time shoves the bearing over
the freshly greased surfaco. The brush is formed in segments between plates,
so that as the bristles wear down they can be elevated out of the plates and
screwed tight afresh.
The advantages of this plan over that ordinarily in use are,-
1st. That it gives a uniformity of greasing, as the freshly dipped surface of the
wheel brush is used in all casos.
2nd. That the brush revolves and brushes the axle as well as merely daubing it.
3rd. The ratio of gearing and height of the brush being alterable at pleasure,
any required regulated amount of brushing can be given in a given passage over the
brush,

page_text: Referring to the Drawing,-
Fig. 1 shews a plan of a wagon passing over the apparatus.
Fig. 2, an end elevation, the grease trough being shewn in section.
A, A, are the rails; B, the corve running thereon; C, C¹, the brushes placed on
shafts D, D', carrying the mitre wheels E, E', actuated by the vertical shafts F, F',
from the mitre wheels G, G'. The upper bearings of shafts F, F', are carried by the
springs H, H', secured to standards I, I, I, I, as shown. The wheels I, I', placed
on the shafts F, F¹, are actuated by the corve in passing, as before stated, and
serve the double purpose of causing the grease brushes to revolve, and also of
pushing the corve body over on the axle, so as to leave a space between the
bearing and the wheel, as shewn at L, where the brush is shewn greasing and
brushing the space, the wheel F¹ having pushed the corve body over.
A cover a, shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1, protects the grease troughs. The
grease troughs are shown at K, K¹,
The springs allow free movement of the shafts F, F¹, and can be adjusted to
regulate the amount of greasing. b, b, guard springs.
Having now described my Invention and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim broadly the principle of
apparatus placed between the rails for the purpose of greasing corve axles, nor yet
the plan of pushing over the body of the corve, so as to oil the space between the
wheel and bearing; but what I believe to be new and desire to claim under the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
1st. The brush or brushes placed between the rails and caused to revolve or ex-
hibit freshly oiled faces continuously while wagons or corves are passing over said
brush or brushes for the purpose of brushing and oiling the axles of said wagons or
corves, substantially as described.
2nd. The arrangement of mechanism, substantially as described, in which the body
of the wagon is shifted over, so as to leave room for lubricating between the wheel
and bearing, while at the same time, and preferably by the same mechanism, the
surface of a rotating or travelling brush or its mechanical equivalent is made to
dip or rotate in a lubricant, and then rub in its freshly oiled state against the
axle.
3rd. The mode of lubricating wagon or corve axles, substantially as herein
described and illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Edward Scarborough, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of September, in the year of our
Lord 1878.
GEORGE EDWARD SCARBOROUGH. (L.S.)
Witness,
E. GARDNER COLTON,
Messrs. W. P. Thompson & Co.'s Patent Office,
6, Lord Street,
L'pool.