IM- PROVEMENTS IN RADIATING AXLE BOXES FOR LOCOMOTIVES, TENDERS, CARRIAGES, VANS, TRUCKS, TRAMWAY CARS, AND ALL VEHICLES RUNNING ON RAILS OR TRACKS, AND IN THE METHOD OF ATTACHING SUCH AXLE BOXES TO THE FRAMES OF SUCH VEHICLES, AND SUSPENDING THE BREAKS THERETO
Year: 1874

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Thomas Dobson at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 5th
June 1874.
I, THOMAS DOBSON, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN RADIATING AXLE BOXES FOR LOCOMOTIVES, TENDERS, CARRIAGES,
VANS, TRUCKS, TRAMWAY CARS, AND ALL VEHICLES RUNNING ON RAILS OR TRACKS,
AND IN THE METHOD OF ATTACHING SUCH AXLE BOXES TO THE FRAMES OF SUCH
VEHICLES, AND SUSPENDING THE BREAKS THERETO," to be as follows:-
This Invention relates to that class of axle boxes which may be
termed radiating, thereby allowing the axles which they carry to become
radii of the curve round which the vehicle is travelling, and is applicable
to all class of vehicles running on rails or tracks.
This Invention consists of forming on the upper surface and under
surface respectively of any suitable description of axle box a diagonal
transverse groove or slot at an angle of about forty-five degrees. The
axle box is distinct from and unattached to the frame of the carriage,
but is kept in position longitudinally by a pin, stud, roller, or other
suitable provision, which is attached to the frame of the carriage and
takes into the diagonal transverse groove before mentioned. The axle
box is further kept in position longitudinally by a stud or provision

page_text: which is carried by a frame or bracket underneath the axle box, and
which stud or provision takes into the diagonal transverse groove on the
under side of the axle box. The axle box is provided with a flange or other
suitable provision to act as a stop for too great transverse travel. The
axle box is also provided with a bracket, which carries the break rods
so that the breaks travel with the axle, and are thus always in proper
position with the wheel they operate upon.
In fitting a pair of wheels to run in axle boxes constructed on this
principle, the grooves in the axle boxes of each respective wheel are set
at opposite angles, so that if the grooves were prolonged they would
meet in front of the wheels, and the axle boxes travel transversely in
unison on the respective pins, which work in the diagonal transverse
grooves, thus permitting sufficient play as to allow of the axle becoming
a radii of the curve round which the wheels are travelling.
•
In fitting rolling stock with wheels working in axle boxes on this
principle, the leading and trailing wheels may be so fitted. The centre
wheels may work in stationary or fixed axle boxes of ordinary construc-.
tion, or the leading wheels only may be fitted with axle boxes according
to this principle, but by preference I propose the following deposition of
wheels, namely, that the carriage frames should be fitted in the centre
with four wheels having ordinary axle boxes, and with a close pitch, the
carriage frame being fitted with a pair of leading and trailing wheels,
whose axles work in boxes constructed according to this Invention. By
this means a very large wheel base can be obtained with perfect safety,
suitable for saloon and other lengthy carriages and long engines, and
sharp curves can be traversed with ease.
This Invention is also particularly applicable to tramway cars, which
can be fitted with axle boxes similar to those before described, and cars
so fitted can turn the sharpest curves with ease.
A modification of this Invention consists of reversing the action, as
herein-before described, and forming the diagonal transverse grooves on
the frame of the vehicle, and fitting the axle boxes with pins or suitable.
provisions to work therein as will be understood.