Improvements in Axle-boxes for Railway Rolling Stock, and in the Means for Lubricating same.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 30th Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 19th Jan., 1895-Accepted, 9th Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Axle-boxes for Railway Rolling Stock, and in the
Means for Lubricating same.
We, HARRY REES, of Daffarn Villa, Station Road, Low Wincobank, Sheffield,
and THOMAS HULME, of Woolley Wood Road, Low Wincobank, Sheffield,
Gentlemen, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to improvements in axle boxes for railway rolling stock,
and has for its object to provide means for more conveniently changing and fixing
in position the brass or bearing than those hitherto in use in such axle-boxes, and
also for more effectually lubricating the said bearing.
According to this invention the usual chamber for containing the tallow or other
This
lubricant is utilized for holding the brass tightening and fixing device.
device consists of a plate resting upon the top of the brass and tapering downwards
from the middle of the bearing towards each end. Upon this plate bear two metal
blocks or keys, tapered in contrary directions, whose upper flat surfaces bear
against the top of the chamber in which they are held. Each of these blocks or
keys is formed with a hole passing therethrough for receiving a bolt provided at
one end with a head and at the other with a screw thread. A portion of the bolt,
contiguous to its head, is formed square, and the hole, formed in the block or key
through which the said portion passes is likewise made square to prevent the bolt
from turning. At the outer end of the other block or key be rs a lock plate
against which are screwed lock nuts upon the outer end of the bolt, for tightening
up and fixing the brass or bearing in position. This end of the bolt extends beyond
the axle-box and is provided with another nut which is screwed against a plate
forming a loose cover at the end of the chamber containing the said tightening and
fixing device. In order to replace an old bearing for a new one the said cover is
removed the lock nuts unscrewed, and the outer lock or key removed.
tapered plate can then be taken out, thus permitting of the removal of the brass
or bearing. A new brass or bearing can then be placed in the axle-box, the
tapered plate and block or key being likewise replaced and tightened up by means
of the lock nuts which causes the two blocks or keys to appoach each other and to
force down the said plate. By means of this invention the bearing cannot shift as
is often the case in shunting with axle-boxes as hitherto constructed.
The
The improved apparatus for lubricating the said bearings consists in the use of
three rollers, one large and two small, the latter bearing against the top surface of the
former and against the lower surface of the axle journal. These rollers are supported
at each end by carriers or brackets supported upon springs carried in cylindrical
extensions formed in the lower axle-box. This latter, which may be formed of
sheet iron or tin-plate is bolted to the upper box and contains the oil for lubricating.
It is likewise provided with an indicator which may consist of a glass tube con-
nected with the lower part, for indicating the amount of oil contained therein.
The rollers are gently pressed against the axle by the said springs and partake of
the movement of the axle so as to continually feed the oil and to lubricate the latter
as it is revolved, the lubricating stopping immediately the axle ceuses to revolve.
In order to prevent any waste of oil, a save all ring or scraper which may be made
of tin plate, is fixed on the axle at the inner side of the axle-box.
As our invention is capable of some modifications in the application of same,
we do not restrict ourselves to materials, dimensions, or to the precise form or

page_text: placement of the various parts thereof, or to the different classes of rolling stock or
machinery to which it may be applied.
Dated this 29th day of August 1894..
F. G. CASSELL,
Of Cassell & Co.,
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, London, W.,
Agent for the Applicants.
Improvements in Axle-boxes for Railway Rolling Stock, and in the
Means for Lubricating same.
We, HARRY REES, of Daffarn Villa, Station Road, Low Wincobank, Sheffield,
and THOMAS HULVE, of Woolley Wood Road, Low Wincobank, Sheffield,
Gentlemen, 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 relates to improvements in axle-boxes for railway rolling stock
and consists in means for more conveniently changing and fixing in position the
brasses or bearings than those hitherto in use, and for more effectually lubricating
the axles or journals.
For this purpose the usual chamber for containing the tallow or other lubricant
is utilized for holding the brass tightening and fixing device. This device consists
of a plate resting upon the top of the brass and tapering on its upper surface from
the middle of the bearing downwards towards each end. Upon this plate bear
two metal blocks or keys tapered in contrary directions, whose upper flat surfaces
bear against the top of the chamber in which they are held. A tightening bolt
passes longitudinally through these blocks or keys, the inner one of the latter being
formed with a square hole fitting on to a square portion of the said bolt to prevent
the latter from turning. These blocks or keys are tightened up by means of a
lock-plate and nuts bearing against the outer face of the other block or key, the
bolt extending beyond the outer face of the axle-box where it is provided with a
nut which is screwed against a plate forming a loose cover to the end of the
chamber containing the said tightening and fixing device.
The apparatus for lubricating the journal or bearing consists of three rollers, one
large and two small, the latter bearing against the top surface of the former and the
lower surface of the journal. These rollers are carried by brackets bearing upon
springs carried in cylindrical extensions formed in the lower part of the axle-box
which may be formed of sheet iron or tin and contains the oil for lubricating. This
part of the axle box is also provided with an indicator for indicating the amount of
oil contained therein.
In the accompanying sheet of drawings Fig. 1 is a longitudinal and Fig. 2 a
transverse section of our improved axle-box as applied to railway rolling stock,
some of the parts being shown in elevation.
a is the chamber in the upper part of the box which is usually employed for
holding tallow or other lubricant, and is the brass or bearing supported in the
lower part of the chamber a by the flanges b'. c is the plate tapering towards
each end and resting upon the brass b. d, d' are the metal blocks or keys tapered
in contrary directions on their lower surfaces where they bear upon the plate c,
and e is the tightening bolt passing through the said blocks the part el of which is
made square to fit a square hole in the block d to prevent the bolt from turning.
fis a lock-plate and fi lock nuts screwing against the outer end of the block d for
drawing the said blocks or keys together and thus pressing the plate e upon the
brass b, the nut f on the outer end of the bolt screwing against a loose plate g

page_text: forming a cover to the end of the chamber a. In order to replace an old brass or
bearing for a new one the nut is unscrewed and the cover g is removed, the lock
nuts are then also unscrewed and the block d removed from the chamber a. The
tapered plate can then be taken out thus permitting of the removal of the brass or
bearing. A new brass can then be replaced in the chamber a and tightened up by
the nuts as before described.
The lubricating apparatus consists of three rollers a large one and two smaller
ones,, the latter resting upon the former and bearing against the lower part of
the axle journal shown in dotted lines in the drawings. These rollers are
supported at each end by brackets k, k, bearing upon coiled springs carried in
cylindrical extensions or guides m, m formed with or connected to the lower part n
of the axle-box. This part n is preferably formed of sheet iron or tin and bolted
through the flanges n¹ to the upper part of the axle box, and in it is held the oil
for lubricating, the large roller h dipping into the oil and feeding it, through the
rollers to the journal i, the rollers being gently pressed against the journal by
the springs and revolved by the movement of the axle. By means of this
apparatus lubrication ceases directly the vehicle stops and commences directly it
begins to move, all waste being prevented by a ring or scraper o which may be made
of tin, and attached to the axle on the inner side of the axle box.
The part n of the axle box is provided with an indicator p consisting of a glass
tube communicating with the lower part of the box n for indicating the amount of
oil contained therein.
Our improved apparatus may be employed in engines or machinery other than
railway rolling stock for which it may be found suitable.
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:-
e
1. In railway axle-boxes the combination with the chamber a of the brass cr
bearing b, the tapered plate c, the blocks or keys d, d', the tightening bolt the
lock plate and nuts ff, the nuts and cover substantially as described and for
the purposes specified.
2. The improved lubricating apparatus consisting of the rollers h, h', '
supported by brackets k, k, bearing upon springs 1, l, carried in guides m, m in the
lower part n of the axle-box, and the indicator p substantially as described and shown
in the drawings.
3. The improved railway axle-box substantially as described and shown in the
dran ings.
Dated this 15th day of January 1895.