IMPROVEMENTS IN LUBRICATING THE AXLES OR JOURNALS OF WHEELS, ALSO "APPLICABLE TO: LUBRICATING APPARATUS FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF MOTION' IN GENERAL
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to 'Albert François Delanoy, of Paris; in the Empire
i
of France, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LUBRICATING THE AXLES OR JOURNALS OF WHEELS, ALSO "APPLICABLE TO:
LUBRICATING APPARATUS FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF MOTION' IN GENERAL."
Sealed the 3rd February 1860, and dated the 6th August 1859.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Albert François Delannoy
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 6th August 1859.
I, ALBERT FRANÇOIS DELANNOY, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Civil
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
LUBRICATING THE AXLES OR JOURNALS OF WHEELS, ALSO APPLICABLE TO LUBRICATING
APPARATUS FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF MOTION IN GENERAL," to be as follows, that.
is to say:
My Invention consists in an improved mode of constructing the axle boxes
and bearings and the journals of carriages and machinery, whereby the oil for
lubricating the same is maintained at a uniform level in the box or bearing.
and the loss of lubricating material and introduction of foreign bodies is
prevented.
In applying the improvements where the wheel is to be free and the axle
fixed, the wheel is provided with a box of a suitable form, which turns with it.
The journal of the axle is pierced or formed with a longitudinal passage or
duct, at the extremity of which is a nut or box for containing the lubricating'
material, and which is closed or made air-tight by a screw. In communication

page_text: with this longitudinal passage or duct are two or more small passages formed
vertically, and extending to the outer circumference of the journal, each
having a wick therein; the upper part of the journal is hollowed out to
receive a felt or woollen band; the band is held to the journal by means of
screws, which press upon the exterior surface of a leather covering on which
the felt band is sewn, the leather and band being separated from the journal
by a spring. The wicks; which extend or dip into the longitudinal passage or
duct in the journal, pass through the double surface to the exterior of the felt
band to which they aro attached. The opening in the nut or receiver con-
taining the oil being on the same level as the longitudinal passage in the
journal, the oil will pass into the duct or passage in the journal, and thence
into the small or vertical ducts up to the felt band at the circumference or
bearing surface of the journal, which becomes soaked, and thus lubricates the
journal. When the wheel is fixed to the axle and revolves with it, the journal
is surrounded with a cast-iron box, which is fixed, having a sheath or casing
internally. This box has a space to receive the oil, which communicates with
the sheath by two vertical holes, in which space is placed a felt or woollen
band partially within the sheath, and kept from coming in contact with the
box by springs, which serve to hold it against the journal; the reservoir of oil
is on the same level as the opening in the sheath in which the band is placed,
which becomes soaked, as before described. The box may be made of one
piece, and closed air-tight from the external side by a gland or cover, the
extremity of the box applied against the nave of the wheel being closed by a piece
of leather suitably fixed, and which is made to enter a groove in the axle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Albert François Delannoy in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 3rd February 1860.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME. I. ALBERT
FRANÇOIS DELANNOY, of Paris, in the Empire of France, Civil Engineer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Sixth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-third year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said. Albert François Delannoy, Her special license that I, the said Albert.
François Delannoy, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as

page_text: I, the said Albert François Delannoy, 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 of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN LUBRICATING THE AXLES OF JOURNALS OF WHEELS, ALSO APPLICABLE TO
LUBRICATING APPARATUS FOR THE TRANSMISSION OF MOTION IN GENERAL," upon
the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Albert François Delannoy, my
executors, administrators, or assigns, 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 Albert François Delannoy, 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, reference being had to the Drawing hereto annexed, and
to, the figures and letters marked thereon, that is to say :-
My Invention consists in an improved mode of constructing the axle boxes,
bearings, journals of carriages and machinery, wherein the surface to be
lubricated is on the same level with the oil box, and the loss of lubricating
material and introduction of foreign bodies is prevented.
In order that my Invention inay be better understood, I will now refer to
the accompanying Drawing, in which Figure 1 represents a longitudinal
section of an axle box fitted to the wheel rotating ou the journal of the axle,
which is fixed. a is the journal formed with a screw thread at its extremity.
The upper part is hollowed out, so as to form a recess t; c, c, are two vertical
holes or passages formed in the recess, and which communicate with the
channel b. The oil box d is screwed to the extremity of the journal a, and is
provided with an upper opening, which is closed by means of the valve or
stopper j, held in its place by the spring k. The stopper j is opened by means
of the lever l. The reservoir is also provided with a lower opening closed by
a screw plug or stopper j¹; e, e, piece of leather fixed by a screw to the recess
in the journal a; f, felt band attached to the leather e; g is a spring for
pressing the felt f to the bronze bearing n, fitted to the nave of the wheel.
The bearing n is formed of one piece, which surrounds the journal a of the
axle; i, i, wicks placed in the holes c, c, serving to supply by capillary attrac-
tion the oil to the felt, which becomes saturated; m, m', stuffing boxcs or

page_text: glands, one being placed on each side of the nave of the wheel, and con-
. nected together by bolts. and nuts o, o, which serve also to compress the
-packing v. These stuffing boxes prevent the ingress of dirt or other foreign
matters into the oil box, and also prevent the escape of the oil; p, shoulder
-piece; q, washer, being portions of the framing for supporting the journal a
and stuffing box m². Figure 2 represents a vertical and longitudinal section
through A, B, Figure 4, of an axle box, in which the axle rotates; Figure 3
is a vertical and transverse section through C, D, Figure 2; and Figure 4
shows a horizontal section through E, F, Figure 3. In these Figures the same
letters refer to similar parts. The journal a is formed without the ordinary
collar, and therefore can slide in its bearings; j,j, bronze bearings made of
one piece, and partly surrounding the journal a; k, brass socket in which the
extremity of the journal a rotates; 1, leather disc, in contact with a disc of
iron m; n', oil box in one piece, formed with a lateral reservoir d; v, opening
fitted with a lid or cover s, for the ingress of the oil; u, an opening closed by
the screw plug y, for the egress of the oil. The axle box is also provided at
one of its extremities with an opening closed by a screw plug or stopper 9,
which presses against the iron disc m; f, felt immersed in oil in the reservoir d.
The oil ascends by capillary attraction to lubricate the journal a; 9, spring
fixed to an open diaphragm or partition w cast with the box n.
This spring
keeps the felt f in contact with the lower part of the journal, so as to lubricate
it; o, cap of a stuffing box, which is set on the back part of the oil reservoir,
and serves to press the packing a in the chamber p, to avoid loss of oil and
prevent the entrance of foreign substances into the interior of the box.
My system of lubricating is applicable to shafts for transmission of motion
and to the axletrees of vehicles. To apply the oil box to rotating axles of
-railway carriages, it is necessary to form the journal without the ordinary
collar or cap at the end of the journal, by which means the axle is enabled to
work independantly of its grease box, and I obtain less resistance in the
tractive power. In consequence of the bearing being made to completely
surround the journal, it is enabled to resist the alternate rocking motion of
the axle, which is so disagreeable to passengers and so injurious to the
railway plant.
Having now described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner
of carrying the same into effect, I would state, in conclusion, that I do not
-confine myself to the precise details of construction herein-before described,
provided the principle of my Invention be preserved; but what I claim as my
Invention, and wish to be protected by the herein-before in part recited
Letters Palent, is,-

page_text: First, the general arrangement and construction of axle boxes for lubri-
cating the journals or axles of railway and other carriages, and of machinery
in general, as herein-before described and shewn in the Figures of the
accompanying Drawing.
Secondly, the construction and application of an oil box on the sanie
level as the part to be lubricated to the fixed axles or journals of railway or
other carriages, such journals being formed with channels or passages for
lubricating the same, as herein-before described and shewn in Figure 1 of the
accompanying Drawing.
Thirdly, the construction and application of a modification of the said oil
box for lubricating rotating axles or journals of railway and other carriages,
as herein-before described and shewn in Figures 2, 3, and 4 of the accom-
panying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Albert François Delannoy, have hereto
set my hand and seal, this Thirty-first day of January, One thousand
eight hundred and sixty.
A. F. DELANNOY. (L.S.)