IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLE-BOXES FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, &
Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLE-BOXES FOR RAILWAY VEHICLES." A communication
from abroad by Thomas A. Bissell, of Detroit, Michigan, United States of
America.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th February 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLE-BOXES FOR RAILWAY'
Southampton Buildings, London.
VEHICLES." [A communication from abroad by Thomas A. Bissell, of Detroit,
Michigan, United States of America.]
My Invention relates, first, to a removable shoe incasing or holding the journal-
brass, and provided with a pendant flange at its front end which hangs down in
front of and a short distance from the end of the axle in combination with the
stop-plate carried by such flange; secondly, to the peculiar construction of the
removable shoe; thirdly, to the peculiar construction of the stop-plate; fourthly,
to the combination of the peculiar shoe, brass, and stop-plate, and the means for
connecting those parts together; fifthly, to providing an axle-box having the usual
dust-excluding packing, with an oil-pocket in its bottom extending close up to the
journal, and with a forked plate riding loosely on the axle-collar, and adapted to
return its drip to the oil-pocket, whereby all the oil passing back onto the axle-
collar is returned to the oil-cellar instead of passing back and out of the box, and
a greater depth of oil in the cellar will be maintained; sixthly, to constructing an
axle-box provided with the usual dust-excluding packing with a slot in its top
in front of the packing-slot and immediately above the axle-collar to receive a
forked plate which rides loosely through said slot upon the axle-collar; and,
seventhly, to the peculiar construction of the dust excluding packing, and also
to the peculiar construction and method of pivotting the door, all for the purposes
hereinafter explained.
In carrying my Invention into practice the axle has the usual journal and collar
enclosed in the axle box provided with the usual packing to exclude dust. In
front of the packing-slot another slot is cored in the top of the box, into which is

page_text: inserted a wooden plate hollowed out on the lower end to ride the axle-collar and
take up the oil running onto it. The said wooden plate is provided with down-
wardly extending ends from which the oil drips off at the sides of the box on the
outside of a pocket cast or formed in the bottom of the back end of the box into
the oil-cavity. The front wall or diaphragm of this box extends close up to the
journal of the axle, which thereby increases the capacity of the oil-cellar, and at
the same time any dirt or dust coming into the back of the box through the
packing is caught in the pocket and prevented from mingling with the oil to
abrade the journal and brass.
In connection with the said axle I provide a light metal bearing or brass, which
is preferably cast or formed with a lug at its front end, and is held or incased in a
metal shoe provided with a pendent flange at the front end. An eye is formed in
the said pendent flange to embrace a lug formed on a light brass or metal bearing
stop-plate against which the end of the axle abuts, and which limits the end play
of the latter. A socket is formed in the top of the said stop plate to receive the
aforesaid lug of the journal-brass encased in the metal shoe.
At each side of the axle-box is a projecting guard-wing to prevent the waste
from being pushed around the pocket in packing the box, and thereby insuring
a free flow of oil from the sides of the pocket to the body of the cellar.
It will be understood that, by reason of the stop-plate being removably pendent
from a point above the axle, preferably from the shoe, no obstruction is offered to
the packing of the box with the usual waste at the sides and beneath the journal,
while if the removable stop is supported upon a bar extending across the axle-box
from side to side upon a level with the axle, such support will so obstruct the
operation of packing as to require its removal generally every time the waste
is renewed, removed, or attended to; and in the hurry of packing the boxes of a
train it frequently happens, especially when the weight of the car has caused a
slight settlement or displacement of the parts, that the operator has not time or is
unable to replace the stop-plate, and the brass becomes ruined by the wear which
the stop-plate is intended to prevent. The aforesaid dust-guard or packing consists
of a single piece of wood with a central hole for the journal to pass through; its
outer face is recessed on its lower half which is covered with a piece of leather;
this leather face presses against the rear wall of the box, forming a tight joint
therewith, and preventing the oil from working out. The top and bottom of the
said wood packing are cut with narrow recesses or grooves in which are placed
strips of metal which are secured by brads or screws, and take the wear at the top
and bottom of the packing.
A spring is placed in the bottom of the packing-slot to keep the packing up
against the axle.
The axle-box is provided with a door or cover, one end of which is pivoted to a
lug which projects laterally from the side of the said box, and is kept in its closed
position by means of a spring.
According to this Invention I cast upon and with the door a stop which projects
over the edge of the said lug, and which, when the door is opened, strikes against
the lower edge of said lug. This arrangement prevents the cover from falling down
when opened to too great extent, and compels its being closed in the right direction,
whereas as heretofore constructed it is often broken off by attempting to close it
by turning it clear around, or with a motion from below.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said William Robert Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 9th
August 1880.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLE-BOXES FOR RAILWAY
VEHICLES." A communication from abroad by Thomas A. Bissell, of Detroit,
Michigan, United States of America.
My Invention relates, first, to a removable shoe encasing or holding the journal-
brass, and provided at its front end with a pendent flange which hangs down in
front of and a short distance from the end of the axle, in combination with the
stop-plate carried by such flange; second, to the peculiar construction of the
removable shoe; third, to the peculiar construction of the stop-plate; fourth, to
the combination of the shoe, brass, and stop-plate, and the means for connecting
those parts; fifth, to providing an axle-box having the usual dust-excluding
packing, with an oil-pocket in its bottom extending close up to the journal, and
with a forked plate riding loosely on the axle-collar, and adapted to return its drip
to the oil-pocket, whereby all the oil passing back on to the axle-collar is returned
to the oil-cellar instead of passing out of the box, and a greater depth of oil in the
cellar will be maintained; sixth, to constructing an axle-box with the usual dust-
excluding packing, and with a slot in its top in front of the packing-slot, and
immediately above the axle-collar to receive a forked plate which rides loosely
through said slot upon the axle-collar; also to the peculiar construction of the
dust-excluding packing; and also to the peculiar construction and pivotting of
the door, all as and for the purposes hereinafter explained.
In the accompanying Drawing,―
Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of an axle-box (enclosing an axle) on
the line x, x, Figure 2.
Figure 2 is a cross section of the same, looking to the front, on the line y, y,
Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a horizontal section on the line z, z, Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a perspective view of the shoe and stop-plate with the axle-brass
removed.
Figure 5 is an end elevation of an axle-box with the door open.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of the same (partly in section) with the door
closed.
Figure 7 is a section on the line ¹, x¹, Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of my improved dustguard or packing.
A represents the axle having the usual journal A¹ and collar a; B is the box
provided with the usual packing C to exclude dust. In front of the packing slot
another one is cored in the top of the box in which is inserted a wooden plate D
hollowed out on the lower end to ride upon the axle-collar, and take up the oil
running on to it, which oil drips off from its ends b, b, at the sides of the box on
the outside of the pocket E cast or formed in the bottom of the back end of the
box into the oil-cavity. The front wall or diaphragm of this box extends close up
to the journal of the axle, and thereby increases the capacity of the oil-cellar, and
at the same time any dirt or dust coming into the back of the box through the
packing is caught in the pocket and prevented from mingling with the oil to abrade
the journal and brass.
F is a light metal bearing or brass which in the present case is cast or formed
with a lug c at the front end, and is held or encased in a metal shoe G provided
with a pendent flange G² at the front end. An eye is formed in the pendent
flange G to embrace a lug d formed on the light brass or metal bearing stop-
plate H against which the end of the axle abuts, and which limits the end play of

page_text: the latter. A socket is formed in the top of the plate H to receive the lug c of the
journal-brass.
At each side of the box is a projecting guard-wing e to prevent the waste from
being pushed around the pocket in packing the box, and thereby insuring a free
flow of oil from the sides of the pocket to the body of the cellar.
It will be noticed that, by reason of the stop-plate being removably pendent
from a point above the axle (in the Drawing from the shoe), no obstruction is
offered to the packing of the box with the usual waste at the sides and beneath the
journal, while if the removable stop is supported upon a bar extending across the
axle-box from side to side upon a level with the axle, such support will so obstruct
the operation of packing as to require its removal generally every time the waste
is renewed, removed, or attended to; and in the hurry of packing the boxes of a
train it frequently happens, especially when the weight of the carriage has caused
a slight settlement or displacement of the parts, that the operator has not time
or is unable to replace the stop-plate, and the brass becomes ruined by the wear
which the stop-plate is intended to prevent.
My Invention obviates this difficulty by affording ready access to the box without
the necessity of removing and replacing any of the parts.
The dust guard or packing C consists of a single piece of wood with a central hole
for the journal to pass through; its outer face is recessed on its lower half, which is
covered with a piece of leather C¹; this leather face presses tightly against the rear
wall of the box, forming a tight joint therewith, and preventing the oil from
working out. The top and bottom of the wood packing C are provided with
narrow recesses or grooves in which are placed strips c¹ of metal, which are
secured by brads or screws, and take the wear at the top and bottom of the
packing.
A spring D² is placed in the bottom of the packing-slot to keep the packing up
against the axle.
I represents a door or cover to the box J; one end of this door is pivoted to a
lug b¹ which projects laterally from the side of the box, and is kept in its closed
position by means of the spring G. For this purpose my Invention consists in
casting upon and with the door I a stop K which projects over the edge of the
lug b', and which, when the door is opened, strikes against the lower edge of the
said lug, as is clearly shewn in Figures 5 and 6. This prevents the cover from
falling down when opened beyond the position shewn in Figure 5, and ensures its
being closed in the right direction; whereas in the old construction it is often
broken off by attempting to close it by turning it clear around, or with a motion
from below.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,-
First. The combination in an axle-box of the removable shoe encasing the
journal-brass, and provided with a pendent flange at its front end, with the stop
plate carried by the said flange, substantially as described and for the purposes
specified.
Second. The shoe G for an axle-box having side flanges to enclose the brass, and
a flange G¹ at its front end provided with an eye to support the stop-plate,
substantially as set forth.
Third. The stop-plate H for an axle-box having a lug d for supporting the same,
substantially as set forth.
Fourth. In an axle-box the combination of the removable shoe, the brass F, and
the stop-plate, constructed and connected substantially as set forth and for the
purpose specified.
Fifth. In an axle-box having the usual dust-excluding packing the combination
of an oil-pocket extending close to the journal, and the forked plate adapted to ride
loosely on the axle-collar, and return the drip to the oil-cellar, all constructed and
arranged substantially as set forth.

page_text: Sixth. An axle-box having a slot in its top for the usual dust-excluding packing,
and another slot in front of the packing-slot and immediately above the axle-collar
for the reception of the forked plate, so that when the parts are in place the said
forked plate will ride loosely upon said collar, substantially as set forth.
Seventh. In an axle-box the wood dust-packing provided with the strips of
metal c¹ inserted in its top and bottom edges, substantially as set forth and for the
purpose specified.
Eighth. The dust-excluding packing consisting of the recessed wood piece having
the leather facing and the metal strips, substantially as set forth and for the purpose
specified.
Ninth. In combination with an axle-box, and as means for excluding dust from
the outer end thereof, the door pivotted as described and actuated by the spring,
and provided with the stop, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
W. ROB. LAKE. (L.S.)