IMPROVED MODES OF APPLYING PACKING OF ELASTIC OR FLEXIBLE MATERIALS TO AXLE- TREES, SPRINGS, AND BEARINGS OF RAILWAY AND OTHER CARRIAGES, TO RAILS, CHAIRS, AND SLEEPERS, AND TO FRAMES OF MACHINES, FOR ISOLATING THEM FROM CONTACT, AND PREVENTING NOISE
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Peachey Holliss, of Clapham Rise, in the
County of Surrey, Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVED
MODES OF APPLYING PACKING OF ELASTIC OR FLEXIBLE MATERIALS TO AXLE-
TREES, SPRINGS, AND BEARINGS OF RAILWAY AND OTHER CARRIAGES, TO RAILS,
CHAIRS, AND SLEEPERS, AND TO FRAMES OF MACHINES, FOR ISOLATING THEM
FROM CONTACT, AND PREVENTING NOISE."
Sealed the 21st December 1866, and dated the 26th June 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Peachy Holliss
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
26th June 1866.
I, CHARLES PEACHEY HOLLISS, of Clapham Rise, in the County of Surrey,
Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "Im-
PROVED MODES OF APPLYING PACKING OF ELASTIC OR FLEXIBLE MATERIALS TO AXLE-
TREES, SPRINGS, AND BEARINGS OF RAILWAY AND OTHER CARRIAGES, TO RAILS,
CHAIRS, AND SLEEPERS, AND TO FRAMES OF MACHINES, FOR ISOLATING THEM PROM
CONTACT, AND PREVENTING NOISE," to be as follows:-
My Invention consists of improved modes of applying packing of elastic or
flexible materials so as to completely surround the parts treated, and isolate
them from contact, and by this means prevent vibration and noise. With
regard to carriages I completely surround the axletree with some non-
conducting material, such as vulcanized or prepared india-rubber, cork, felt,

page_text: or any other elastic or flexible material, either separately or combined at the
part on which the springs rest, and I attach a bracket at the top side of the
axletree on the inner side of the springs to prevent them from moving out
of position, and thoroughly isolate the axletree, and consequently the wheels
from the springs; I then apply the clips, bolts, and nuts, and screw up in
the ordinary manner. In fixing the scroll irons of springs and other parts to
the body and under carriage I bore the holes of greater diameter than the
bolts, to admit packing of elastic rings round the bolt, and the bolts are made
by preference with bevilled necks under the ordinary shaped head, with a
corresponding bevilled collar or washer at the opposite end, the borings at
each end being bevilled to correspond, by which means the bolts are main-
tained in a central position; I then apply the elastic or flexible packing
round the bolts under the head, collar, and nuts with washers, and between the
parts to be attached, and screw up in the ordinary manner. Further, with
respect to carriages, I apply the packing in conjunction with an intervening
metallic pad to give greater bearing surface between the shackles where the
side springs unite with the back springs, in order to prevent contact and
avoid noise. This arrangement with the packing round the axletree will be
found sufficient for "Hansom" cabs, and materially increase comfort in
riding. With regard to the rails, chairs, and sleepers of permanent ways, I
apply the elastic or flexible material or packing between the sleeper & chair,
or between the chair and rail, and around the bolts, so as thoroughly to
interpose the packing between the surfaces, which would otherwise come into
contact and produce noise when a train passed over them. To effect this the
chair must be hollowed in the inner part to admit of the insertion of the
packing, the bolts surrounded with a ring packing, and the borings made
larger than the bolts to admit it, in the manner herein-before described with
reference to carriages. When this isolating packing is applied between the
chair and rail on bridges passing over thoroughfares the noise of a passing
train which frightens horses is materially reduced, and all annoyance removed.
With regard to the frames of machines, I apply the elastic or flexible material
or packing between the floor, foundation, or table, and the supports, legs, or
frames of the machine to produce isolation, and the bolts are packed with
rings, and when sewing machines are so treated, the noise commonly pro-
duced by their working is much decreased, and shafting or gearing of
machines may be similarly isolated with a view to the prevention of vibration,
friction, and noise.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles Peachey Holliss in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 26th December 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
PEACHEY HOLLISS, of Clapham Rise, in the County of Surrey, Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Charles Peachey Holliss, Her special licence that I, the said Charles
Peachey Holliss, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others
as I, the said Charles Peachey Holliss, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man,
an Invention for "IMPROVED MODES OF APPLYING PACKING OF ELASTIC OR
FLEXIBLE MATERIALS TO AXLETREES, SPRINGS, AND BEARINGS OF RAILWAY AND
OTHER CARRIAGES, TO RAILS, CHAIRS, AND SLEEPERS, AND TO FRAMES OF MACHINES,
FOR ISOLATING THEM FROM CONTACT, AND PREVENTING NOISE," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I; the said Charles Peachey Holliss, my executors or
administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature
of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Charles Peachey Holliss, 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 consists of improved modes of applying packing of elastic,
flexible, and non-conducting materials, so as to completely surround the parts
treated at all points of contact or connexion, and thereby isolate them,
prevent the travelling of sound, and counteract the disagreeable results of
vibration.
My Invention is more especially applicable to the axletrees, springs, and

page_text: bearings of carriages and vehicles, to the rails, chairs, and sleepers of per-
manent ways, and to the frames of machines. The packing I employ is
composed of india-rubber, vulcanized or prepared, cork, felt, leather, or cloth,
separately or combined, but any other flexible, elastic, and non-conducting
materials may be employed with advantage when used in the manner herein-
after described.
I will now proceed to describe how my Invention may be carried into effect
with regard to carriages, having reference to the Drawings hereunto annexed.
Figure 1, Sheet A, shows the axletree of a carriage with my arrangement
of packing, and auxiliary union clip, herein-after described and referred to.
b represents the packing; a, the union clip; c, the springs; e, the top plate.
Before proceeding to describe the mode in which I apply packing to the
axletrees of carriages, I will describe the novel clip I use, which I designate
the union clip, shown by Figures 1 and 2. This clip for the axletree and
springs may be welded or made in one piece with the surface which rests on
the axletree extended outwards, so as nearly to abut against the flauge of the
axletree, and inwards several inches along the axletree, thereby giving a
greater bearing surface to receive the packing, and the surface on which the
springs rest is to be extended to about six inches, with the ends turned down
at right angles for the same purpose, as shown. The springs having a
corresponding plate d rivetted to them with the ends turned down at right
angles over the ends of the clip plate, to prevent the springs from shifting
from position, room being allowed for the packing. The use of this clip
entirely obviates the necessity of screwing up so tightly as at present practised
in the ordinary mode of fixing; a slight top plate e screwed on to prevent
recoil is all that is necessary to retain the clip and springs in position, while
the packing has full scope to exert its elastic force. I then completely
surround the axletree and springs at the points of contact f, and along the
extended surfaces g with the non-conducting material, allowing it to return up
against the flange of the axletree, and each end of the bracketed plate on
springs, so as to completely isolate one from the other. I then apply the
union clip and top plates to the axletree and springs, and screw up, when the
springs will be fixed up in such a way that they cannot possibly shift from
their position, and no sound can be transmitted to or through them. An
inverted clip, welded or attached to the bearings of the fore carriage, must be
applied to the top of the fore springs, and packed as described in reference to
the union clip, the spring having a fixing plate attached to it, the same as on
the under side. In fixing the scroll irons of springs and other parts to the
body and under carriage, I bore the holes of greater diameter than the bolts

page_text: used, so as to admit of the packing & being applied round the bolts i, Figure 3,
the heads of which should be of greater diameter than usual, to permit a
greater surface of packing being used than could otherwise be done, and I
prefer that the bolts should be made with bevilled necks under the ordinary
shaped head, and I then apply a corresponding bevilled washer or collar at
the opposite end, the borings at each end being bevilled to correspond. This
plan ensures the bolts retaining their central position; the non-conducting
material is then to be applied round the bolts under the heads and nuts with
washers, and between the parts to be attached, and the screwing up to be
ellected in the ordinary manner. Although it is possible to isolate the body
from the scroll or other bearing without increasing the size of the holes in the
iron 1, as shown by Figure 3, Sheet A, yet it is preferable to widen them
when practicable, and it is also desirable to widen the surfaces of all bearings,
so as to give a greater area for the use of packing.
"3
Figure 5, Sheet A, represents my mode of applying packing in connection
with an intervening metallic pad m between the shackles, where the side
springs unite with the cross springs or other bearings, so as to cut off the
transmission of sound from one to the other, the metallic pad giving a greater
bearing surface. This arrangement, together with the use of the union clip
and the packing at axletree and springs, will be found sufficient for "Hansom
cabs without further application of my Patent. The centre or pivot pin on
which the fore carriage turns should be bored for the packing, and packed
in the manner herein-before described, with the addition of a tube n,
Figure 4, for the pin o, Figure 4, to work in, which I fix with flange
nuts p, p, outside and inside the body or other part to keep it in position, and
retain the packing, as shown by Figure 4.
In applying my Invention to railway carriages, omnibusses, or similar
vehicles, I prefer to attach the under carriage and springs to a frame of iron
or wood, or both combined, and then imbed the body on the frame, applying
the packing and isolating the connecting bolts, as herein-before described, by
which means I get a twofold isolation; also apply packing to the tires of
wheels of carriages.
Figure 9, Sheet A, shows my mode of carrying this into effect. The first
tire has a groove in the centre of its entire periphery, I then apply the non-
conducting material 6, and then a second tire of less substance than the
first, and with a corresponding bead v to sink into the groove of the first tire,
to prevent it from moving from its position. The outer tire may either have
a keyed joint or a lapped joint, and screwed on, and must be put on under
pressure, to ensure its fitting tight, and it must be put on cold.

page_text: Having now described now my invention is applicable to carriages, I will
proceed to describe my system of packing as applied to railways.
It is well known that the rumbling noise produced by the passage of a
train along an iron bridge often frightens horses, and causes serious accidents,
more especially where such bridges cross the crowded streets of the metropolis,
and moreover the vibration which ensues from the transit of the train has a
very injurious effect on the wrought iron of which such bridges are generally
constructed, and the object of this part of my Invention is to remedy both of
these evils, and to prevent noise in any part of a line where it may be deemed
desirable to apply my packing. I apply packing between the sleeper and
chair, and between the chair and rail, and around the bolts and nuts, so as to
interpose the packing between the surfaces which would otherwise come into
contact and produce noise when a train passed over them.
Figures 6, 7, and 8, Sheet B, show my several modes of carrying out this
part of my Invention. It will be seen by reference to these Drawings that
the chair is hollowed out in the inner part to admit of the insertion of the
packing, the bolts surrounded with a ring packing, and the borings made
larger than the bolts to admit of its application. In fixing the rail in the
chair I prefer to use a set screw with an iron plate to prevent its shifting or
dragging the packing out of position in the act of fixing, and where wedges
are used I prefer to use two reversed wedges and an intervening plate of iron
next the packing for the inner wedge to work against, to prevent the packing
from being driven from position, and pin the two wedges together after they
are driven up, to prevent their becoming loose or moving from their position.
My Invention also relates to the application of packing to the frames of
machines, and to other parts of machinery. I apply the packing between the
floor, foundation, or table, and the supports, legs, or frame, the bolts being
packed with rings in the same manner as herein-before described, and
complete isolation being effected. Sewing machines packed according to my
mode do not make nearly so much noise as in ordinary, and the shafting and
gearing of machines may be packed and isolated in the manner I have
described with reference to carriages and rails, with a view to the prevention
of vibration, friction, and noise.
.
Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I do not
confine myself to the precise forms of applying packing herein-before described
and shown by the Drawings annexed hereunto, for these may be varied to
some extent without departing from the principle of my Invention, which is
to effect the perfect isolation of the parts whose contact otherwise would

page_text: produce noise; and I claim and desire to secure by these Letters Patent the
modes of packing herein-before described and shown by the Drawings, by
which perfect isolation is produced; and I claim the use of the union clip
and the metallic pad, herein-before described and shown applied to carriages.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Peachey Holliss, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Twenty-fourth day of December, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
CHAS. P. HOLLISS. (L.s.)