IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH RADIAL AXLE-BOXES FOR LOCOMOTIVES, CARRIAGES, WAGONS, AND TRUCKS FOR RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS
Year: 1884

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I, WALTER MACKERSIE SMITH of 10 Percy Street, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, in the
County of Northumberland Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of my
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND CONNECTED WITH RADIAL AXLE-BOXES
FOR LOCOMOTIVES, CARRIAGES, WAGONS, AND TRUCKS FOR RAILWAYS AND
TRAMWAYS" 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 reference to means whereby radial axle boxes and wheels of
locomotives, carriages, wagons or trucks used on railways or tramways may be
kept in their proper positions relatively to the longitudinal centre line of the
engine or vehicle and whereby such axle boxes or wheels when they have been
caused to move out of the said positions during passage of the engine or vehicle
round a curve may be caused to resume their normal positions when the engine or
vehicle reaches a straight portion of line. For this purpose according to my
Invention I provide between the axle-boxes and the vehicle frames springs of any
suitable construction; and I connect the two axle boxes of each axle by cross
stays Referring to the accompanying two Sheets of Drawings, Fig. 1 shows the
inner end of a radial axle box with axle and cross stays in section.
Fig. 2 is a plan partly in section.
Fig. 3 is an elevation at right angles to Fig. 1.
Figs. 4 and 5 shew one of the plungers.
A A are spiral springs arranged in recesses B formed in the axle-box rubbing
piece or guide C. The spiral springs A act on plungers D, that press against
flanges E formed on the axle boxes F in such a manner that the axle boxes and
wheels are kept in their proper positions namely, when the engine or vehicle is
travelling along a straight road at equal distances from the centre line of the
engine or vehicle. G. G. are stays to prevent the springs A from unduly pressing
the axle-boxes against the axle-collars. These stays are arranged in front of aud
behind the respective axles.
In lieu of arranging the spiral springs A in the manner shown and described
with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, they may be placed at the top of the axle box

page_text: as shewn in Figs. 6 and 7 which are side and end views repectively of a radial axle
box both views being partly in section. In this case each spiral spring A acts at
one end on a plunger D which presses against the plate or cheek formed with or
attached to the axle box E while at its other end the spring bears against the side
frame H. G are cross stays connecting the opposite axle boxes of each pair.
Figs. 8 and 9 which are respectively a side elevation partly in section, and a
horizontal section through the centres of the spring plungers illustrate a similar
arrangement to that described with reference to Figs. 6 and 7 but having springs
and plungers arranged at both the top and the bottom of the axle-box. The spiral
springs A. A in each of the above-described arrangements are arranged to act by
compression but tension springs may be used according to and for the purposes of
my Invention as illustrated in Fig. 10 which is a plan partly in section. In this
case the spiral springs A shown in dotted lines are each fixed at one end to the
engine or carriage frame H and at the other end to the cross stay G. The action
of this arrangement will be readily understood from the foregoing description.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
1. The use of springs arranged as described and illustrated between the radial
axle-boxes and the framing of the vehicle to operate as and for the purpose
specified.
2. The combination with radial axle boxes, of springs and cross stays all arranged
and operating as described with reference to and shewn respectively in Figs. 1 to 5,
in Figs. 6 and 7, in Figs. 8 and 9, and in Fig. 10 of the Drawings.
C