Improvements in Axleboxes.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 3rd Dec., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 1st Sept., 1896-Accepted, 7th Nov., 1896
Improvements in Axleboxes.
RICHARD JAMES TOLEMAN and JAMES DENIS TWINBERROW, both of
Saltley Central Works Birmingham, the first named Manufacturer the latter
Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
Our design has for its ohject improvements in the construction of axleboxes,
whereby access to the internal parts is facilitated & increased economy of lubricant
secured by special arrangement of the lubricator & dust excluding shield.
Existing axleboxes are usually (1) made as a single casting provided with a
front lid through which the lubricator & bearing may be withdrawn for examination,
or (2) made in two parts united by a horizontal joint, the lower part containing
the lubricator being removable, but the bearing in the upper part being difficult
of access.
In the first place we form the axlebox body of two pieces joined in a plane
inclined to the horizontal, commencing at the outer end at or above the level of the
inner surface of the crown & inclined downwards towards the back, at such an
angle that whilst the joint does not descend below the normal oil level, the guard
grooves, which are usually placed near the inner end, may be formed entirely upon
the upper portion; in cases where the guard grooves are located towards the front
or centrally, or when lugs are provided on the transverse centre line for the
accommodation of bogie bolts, we make such portions long enough to project beneath
the bottom part & unite their lower edges by a brace which may be an integral
part of the upper casting or removable & fitted to retain the bottom part in working
position.
We prefer to employ a flat keyplate or packing piece on the back of the
bearing & form lugs on the latter to transmit the journal thrust to the sides of the
axlebox: we place the lugs near the extremities of the bearing & provide vertical
facings to receive the lateral thrust thereon, horizontal ribs beneath these faces
prevent the dropping of the bearing when the journal is not in place, the
longitudinal thrust is received on the exposed edges of the facings; the inner pair
of facings may be inclined to facilitate the outward travel of the bearing when
after removal of the keyplate its outer end is raised to clear the collar of the
journal.
We fit the lubricator to the bottom part & sometimes divide the latter by two ribs
lengthways with the axlebox, the two outer chambers so formed are united by a
passage & contain the lower ends of the syphon wicks, the inner chamber is fitted
to receive the drip of spent oil from the lower portion of the lubricator & com-
municates by overflow only with the outer chambers.
We sometimes close the outer chambers by a plate resting on the top edges of
the ribs & held to same by tongue pieces or flanges bent down into contact
therewith the plate is closely fitted to the edge of the box contiguous to the dust
shield & may have a facing of felt or the like secured to its upper surface.
We employ dust shields of improved construction; in one form we enclose a
sheet of thin metal, fibre, vulcanite or the like, in a covering of felt or flexible
material, the whole fitting dust tight in the shield groove; the hole in the centre
of the felt is smaller than the axle so that it forms flanges around same, we fit a
strip of leather of any suitable width around the axle & provide it with suitable

page_text: stops to prevent rotation, we cause the flanges of the felt to embrace the leather &
tighten their grip thereon by means of spring rings or flexible cords drawn up by
auxiliary springs.
In another form we arrange for the removal or replacement of the shields
without disturbing the top part of the box & for this purpose we unite segmental
pieces of felt, leather, wood or the like, aloue or in combination to a flexible band
which may be drawn out as a straight strip or coiled firmly round the axle, in
virtue of its own resilience or by the action of suitable springs.
To obviate the necessity for using a jack beneath the top part, when it is desired
to relieve the weight in order to remove a bearing, we sometimes fit a wedge or
screw between the back part of the box & the top of the axle; thus forming a
fulcrum about which the axlebox is lifted by a bridle or hook bolt engaging near
the front edge & drawn up by a screw bearing on a horn or lug attached to the
sole bar.
We adapt an axlebox to use a solid lubricant by forming a grease chamber above
the keyplate, the latter forming the bottom part of the chamber & being provided
with suitable holes for the passage of the lubricant; the load is transmitted thereto
by horizontal flanges projecting from the box casting & making a grease tight
joint round the edges of the key.
We do not fit a lubricator in the bottom when employing solid lubricant & hence
prefer a simple front lid as means of access to the keyplate & bearing.
We sometimes employ a facing of soft metal or compressible material to distribute
the load over the bearing surfaces.
When oil is used in the top chamber we prefer to regulate its flow by fitting a
ulug in the connecting passage provided with a small central hole in which a wire
is freely fitted, the other end of the wire is formed as an eye to facilitate
withdrawal of the plug, the inner end being clinched over for this purpose.
Dated this Second day of December 1895.
R. J. TOLEMAN.
J. D. TWINBERROW.
Improvements in Axleboxes.
We, RICHARD JAMES TOLEMAN, Manufacturer, and JAMES DENIS
TWINBERROW, Engineer, both of Saltley Central Works, in the City of
Birmingham, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement:-
This invention consists of improvements in axleboxes, our object being to so
construct and arrange such appliances as to permit of convenient access to the
internal parts and to effectually exclude dust and ensure efficient and economical
lubrication of the journal.
In order that our invention and the method of carrying the same into effect may
be more readily understood we append hereunto three sheets of explanatory
drawings to be hereinafter referred to.-
On Sheet 1 Figure 1 is a side elevation, Figure 2 a plan (having one half of the
cover or upper part removed).
Figure 3 a sectional side elevation and Figure 4 an end elevation (with part in
section) representing an axlebox constructed in accordance with our invention.
On Sheet 2 Figure 5 is a part sectional end elevation and Figure 6 a part
sectional side elevation representing the manner in which we arrange a lubricator
for an axiebox with hinged lid.

page_text: Figure 7 is a sectional side elevation and Figure 8 an end elevation with part in
section representing the manner in which we adapt an axlebox for use with a
grease lubricant, whilst Figures 9 and 10 are similar views of our axlebox as
adapted either for oil or grease.
On Sheet 3 Figure 11 is a front elevation, Figure 12 a plan, Figure 13 a
sectional elevation, and Figure 14 a sectional plan, representing one form of our
improved dust shield.
The same reference letters in the different views indicate the same parts.
Referring to Sheet 1, we form the axlebox body of two parts which we connect
together in a plane inclined to the horizontal, such as A. B, and we so arrange this
jointing or connecting plane that its lower end shall not fall below the normal oil
level. We preferably form the guard grooves A' entirely upon the cap or upper
portion of the box as illustrated.
We preferably employ a flat-key plate or packing piece such as C on the back
of the bearing D and form lugs D¹ on the latter to transmit the journal thrust to the
lugs E on the sides of the axlebox. The inuer or adjacent faces of the lugs D¹
and E are inclined as shown by dotted lines at Figure 3 to facilitate the outward
travel of the bearing when its outer end is raised to clear the collar of the journal
after removal of the key-plate, and also to prevent the dropping of the bearing
when the journal is not in place.
We fit the lubricator in the bottom part of the axlebox as illustrated, and we
provide a separate inner chamber to receive the spent oil dripping from the lower
portion of the lubricator. Each separate chamber consists preferably of a
detachable metallic trough or receptacle such as F having a bell mouth to prevent
its contents from splashing over the sides or ends. The space at the bottom of
the axle box surrounding the spent oil trough, forms the cleau oil reservoir, and
such oil is conveyed to the lubricator by suitable syphon wicks.
We provide for the convenient and the effective lubrication with an axlebox
having a hinged lid by suspending a lubricator on each side of the journal from the
bearing thrust lug E (forming part of the axlebox) as illustrated at Figures 5
and 6 Sheet 2, the suspended lubricator is kept in contact with the axle by the
spring E¹, whilst the complete lubricator including the suspending appliances can
be readily withdrawn by means of the handle G.
We adapt our axlebox to use a solid lubricant by forming a grease chamber H
above the loose key-plate C as illustrated at Figures 7 and 8, such key-plate
forming the bottom part of the chamber and being provided with suitable holes for
the passage of the lubricant. The load is transmitted to the key-plate by the
flanges H projecting from the box casting and making a grease-tight joint along
the edges of the plate. We do not fit the lubricator in the bottom of the box when
employing grease lubricant and hence prefer a simple front lid or door such as J as
the means of access to the key-plate and bearing.
We sometimes employ a facing of soft metal or compressible material to distribute
the load ever the bearing surfaces.
In adapting an axlebox for use with either oil or grease lubrication, we fit our
improved lubricator in the bottom of the box as illustrated at Figures 9 and 10.
When oil is used in the top chamber we preferably regulate its flow by fitting a
plug in the connecting passage provided with a small ceutral hole in which a wire
is freely fitted, the other end of the wire is formed as an eye to facilitate withdrawal
of the plug the inner end being clinched over for this purpose.
In one form of our improved dust shields such as shown at K Figures 3 and 9,
and by the detail views Figures 11 to 14 inclusive on Sheet 3, we employ a metal
plate or casing such as K and attach to the back or inner side of same a felt pad M,
preferably by means of thin wire. In the interior of the shield we insert a split or
open felt ring such as N and between this felt ring and the axle we interpose a
wide leather collar O, which is also split or open. The collar is prevented from
rotating with the axle preferably by means of the metallic spikes P attached to
the collar and the stops Q upon the casing. The leather collar is gripped or
4
.

page_text: pressed on to the axle by means of the spring R. We sometimes dispense with
the metal casing K and the felt pad M and employ only the leather collar O and
the felt ring or pad N, causing the spikes P to enter grooves formed in the
box casting and making the felt N of sufficient width or thickness to fill the
shield groove. The gripping spring is fitted on the felt N in any convenient
manner.
In another form of our improved shields we enclose a sheet of thin metal, fibre,
vulcanite, or the like, in a covering of felt or flexible material, the whole fitting
dust-tight in the shield groove as illustrated at Figure 7. The hole in the centre
of the felt is smaller than the axle so that when forced on to the axle it forms a
flange on each side of the same as shown. Between the axle and the felt covering
we place a ring or strip of leather provided with suitable stops to prevent rotation,
and we cause the flanges of the felt covering to embrace and grip the leather by
means of suitable spring rings or the like.
In another form we arrange for the removal or replacement of the shields
without disturbing the top part of the box and for this purpose we unite segmental
pieces of felt, leather, wood, or the like, to a flexible band which can be drawn out.
as a straight strip or coiled firmly round the axle by virtue of its own resilience or
by the action of suitable springs.
To obviate the necessity for using a jack beneath the top part of the axlebox
when it is desired to relieve the weight in order to remove a bearing, we
sometimes fit a wedge or screw between the back part of the box and the top of
the axle, and thus forin a fulcrum about which the axlebox is lifted by a bridle
or hook bolt engaging near the front edge and drawn up by a screw bearing on
a horn or lug attached to the sole bar.
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.-
1. In axleboxes the jointing or connecting of the upper and lower parts of the
box in an inclined plane substantially as and for the purpose described.
2. An axlebox having its upper and lower parts jointed or connected together in
an inclined plane and the guard grooves formed entirely upon the upper part,
substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
3. An axlebox suitable for use with grease or like lubricant having an open
bottom upper chamber for the reception of the lubricant with internal projecting
flanges for seating upon the key-plate interposed between the bearing and the
grease chamber substantially as herein before described and as illustrated in the
accompanying drawings.
4. The adaptation of an axlebox for use with either grease or oil lubrication
substantially as herein before described and as illustrated at Figures 9 and 10 of
the accompanying drawings.
5. The combination with axlebox lubricators of a detachable inner receptacle or
of a central and separate chamber in the lower part of the box to receive the spent
oil substantially as hereinbefore described and as illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
6. The construction and arrangement of a suspended lubricator within an axlebox
substantially as herein before described and as illustrated at Figures 5 and 6 of the
accompanying drawings.
7. The improvements in dust shields for axleboxes comprising a split or open
collar of leather or other material interposed between the axle and a split or open
felt or other pad having a clipping band or spring upon its outer surface and
fitting directly within the shield groove of the axle box or within a suitable casing,
the inner collar of leather or other material being prevented from rotation with the
axle by suitable stop pieces, substantially as hereinbefore described and as
illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

page_text: 8. The improved general construction and arrangement of axleboxes substantially
as and for the purposes described.
Dated this 28th day of August 1896.
MARKS & CLERK,
18 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., and
13 Temple Street, Birmingham, Agents for the Applicants..