Improvements in Apparatus for Detecting Flaws in Cranked and other Axles and such like Articles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application 9th Sept., 1889
Complete Specification Left, 4th July, 1890-Accepted, 9th Aug., 1890
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Detecting Flaws in Cranked and
other Axles and such like Articles.
I RICHARD HENRY DICKINSON, of Birmingham Central Tramway Co. Ltd., Kyotts
Lake Road Depot, Locomotive Superintendant, do hereby declare the nature of my
this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object Improvements in apparatus for detecting flaws in
cranked and other axles, and such like articles, which are liable during forging,
hardening or working to have such flaws developed or formed in them which may
afterwards lead to rupture, and thus endanger other parts of the machinery besides
causing great inconvenience, and even loss of life as many sad accidents have been
caused by failure of axles.
My invention consists in forming a continuous internal chambers in the body of the
axle whether it be straight or cranked, and connecting to the end or some other
convenient part an automatic whistle or alarm so that a pressure of air, gas or
liquid may be produced in the chamber which will be maintained until a flaw is
developed, when the air gas or liquid will escape through the flaw by this means
releiving the automatic whistle which immediately sounds an alarm, and enables the
driver to ascertain the cause thereof so that the same may be repaired, without further
risk. Take for instance, an ordinary single cranked axle; I drill a hole along the
centre of each end and down each side, of the crank and along the crank journal,
plugging the ends of the holes with screw or other plug so as to seal them up.
then chamber out say the hole at one end of the axle so as to receive the alarm
apparatus which consists of an internally recessed valve seat with a screw hole through
the centre which serves to receive either the whistle or alarm, or the end of the pipe
connected with the pump when being charged with pressure of any kind. The recess
in the axle is sufficiently deep to receive a valve which is capable of opening inwards
when the internal pressure is relieved as in the case of an escape by a developed flaw
and escape of gas. The opening of the valve internally is produced by a spring
acting internally against the said valve this spring being adjusted to open the valve
at any desired pressure, but, while there is still sufficient remaining to blow the
alarm because the passage leading to the alarm is not open until the valve is relieved
by the spring. The liquid or gas may be of a kind that would discolour the part
of the axle where the flaw takes place as it escapes thus making it easy to find
when the engine is stopped. The examination of axles to find flaws at present is a
most difficult and unsatisfactory process, and this invention is intended to greatly
lessen this difficulty.
1000
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for Detecting Flaws in Cranked and
other Axles and such like Articles.
I, RICHARD HENRY DICKINSON, of Birmingham Central Tramway Co. Ltd. Kyotts
Lake Road Depôt Locomotive Superintendant 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 :-
My invention has for its object; improvements in apparatus for detecting flaws
in cranked and other axles and, such like articles, which are liable during forging,

page_text: hardening or working to have such flaws developed or formed in them which may
afterwards lead to rupture and thus endanger other parts of the machinery besides
causing great inconvenience and even loss of life as many sad accidents have been
caused by failure of axles.
My invention consists in forming a continuous internal chamber in the body of
the axle whether it be straight or cranked and connecting to the end or other convenient
part, an automatic whistle or alarm so that a pressure of air, gas, or liquid may be
produced in the chamber which will be maintained until a flaw is developed when
the air, gas, or liquid will escape through the flaw, by this means releiving the
automatic whistle which immediately sounds an alarm and enables the driver to
ascertain the cause thereof so that the same may be repaired without further risk.
Take for instance an ordinary single cranked axle. I drill a hole along the centre
of each end and down each side of the crank and along the crank journal plugging
the ends of the holes with screw or other plugs, so as to seal them up. I then
chamber out, say the hole at one end of the axle so as to receive the alarm apparatus
which consists of an internally recessed valve seat with a screw hole through the
centre which serves to receive either the whistle, or alarm, or the end of the pipe
connected with the pump when being charged with pressure of any kind. The recess
in the axle is sufficiently deep to receive a valve which is capable of opening inwards,
when the internal pressure is releived, as in the case of an escape by a developed
flaw and escape of gas. The opening of the valve internally is produced by a spring
acting internally against the said valve this spring being adjusted to open the valve
at any desired pressure but while there is still sufficient remaining to blow the alarm
because the passage leading to the alarm is not open until the valve is releived by the
spring. The liquid or gas may be of a kind that would discolour the part of the
axle where the flaw takes place as it escapes thus making it easy to find when
the engine is stopped. The examination of axles to find flaws at present is a most
difficult and unsatisfactory process and this invention is intended to greatly lessen
this difficulty.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood and more easily carried
into practice I have appended hereunto a double sized sheet of drawings upon which
I have fully illustrated the nature of my said invention applied to an ordinary single
cranked axle.
Figure 1., is a longitudinal section through a cranked axle.
Figure 2., is an elevation of the valve C.
In applying my invention to an ordinary single cranked axle I drill a hole B
along the centre of each end and down each side of the crank A and along the crank
journal plugging the ends of the holes with the screws or other plugs G so as to
seal them up. I then chamber out the hole at one end of the axle so as to receive
the alarm apparatus which consists of the internally recessed valve seat F with the
screw hole through the centre for receiving either the whistle E or other alarm as
also the end of the pipe which is connected with the pump, when the hole B is being
charged with pressure of any kind. The recess in the axle is sufficiently deep to
receive the 4 winged valve C which is capable of opening inwards when the internal
pressure is releived as in the case of a developed flaw such as H.
The opening of the valve C internally is produced by the spring Dacting internally
against the said valve this spring being adjusted to open the valve at any desired
pressure but at the same time leaving sufficient still remaining to blow the whistle or
alarm E because the passage e¹ leading to the alarm is not open until the valve F is
releived by the spring D.
The cranks may be strengthened by the wrot iron straps being shrunk on the
cranked webbs.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is ;
The improvements in apparatus for making known flaws in cranked and other

page_text: axles and such like articles consisting of internal passages charged with pressure which
act upon an alarm substantially as and for the purpose herein set forth and shewn
upon the drawings.
n 11: Tule 1800
GEORGE BARKER,I
77, Colmore Row, Birmingham, Agent for Applicant.