IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY WHEELS, AND IN THE AXLES AND BEARINGS FOR THE SAME
Year: 1868

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Rae, of Sydenham. in the County of
Kent, Engineer, and George Miller, of Glasgow, in the County of
Lanark, Rivet Manufacturer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY WHEELS, AND IN THE AXLES AND BEARINGS
FOR THE SAME."
Sealed the 2nd October 1868, and dated the 9th April 1868..
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Rae and George
Miller at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 9th April 1868.
We, JAMES RAE, of Sydenham, in the County of Kent, Engineer, and
GEORGE MILLER, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, Rivet Manu-
facturer do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY WHEELS, AND IN THE AXLES AND BEARINGS
FOR THE SAME," to be as follows:-
We, JAMES RAE, of Sydenham, in the County of Kent, Engineer, and
GEORGE MILLER, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, Rivet Manu-
facturer do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY WHEELS, AND IN THE AXLES AND BEARINGS
FOR THE SAME," to be as follows:-

page_text: ing of the safety of railway wheels and axles, the saving of lubricating
material, and a more efficient mode of constructing wheels and fixing
tyres thereto. Instead of having the boss of the wheels fastened or
keyed on to the axle as is generally done, and allowing both wheels and
axles to revolve, we fix the axle by securing it at each end to the
saddles which support the carriage springs; upon the axle we form
two raised journals in the proper position either forged on the axle
itself or made of iron, steel, or brass, and fitted on the said axle. We
prefer to make the journals loose and fix them with screws which
allow them to be adjusted when worn.
The bosses of the wheels are
bushed and faced with iron, steel, brass, white metal, or hard wood; we
then bore out and face them perfectly true with the tyre, making the eye
or hole in the bosses fit the raised journals on the axle on which they are
intended to revolve. In order to keep the wheels in the proper position
on the axle we form a flange on the inner face of the saddle
against which the outer face of the boss revolves, the inner face
revolving against a flange cast on each end of a hollow distance piece
which we make in two parts or lengths, connecting them to each other
by flanges bolted together; by this means in the event of the faces of
the boss becoming worn we are enabled to adjust the wheels by
inserting a ring or washer between the inner flanges of the distance
pieces. On the outside of the boss and on the inner flange of the saddle
we make a recess forming a curve transversely, into which we fit a
leather band covering up the joint between the boss and saddle, thereby
preventing the escape of lubricating material when the wheel is
revolving, and likewise preventing the entrance of any dirt or dust into
the bearing over the leather band; we fit another band of india-rubber
to keep the leather band up to its work in the event of its becoming at
all worn.
On the inner side of the boss and end flange of the distance
piece we form a similar recess, and fit on leather and india-rubber bands
in like manner. On the faces of the saddle and distance piece flanges
against which the faces of the boss revolve we cut grooves or channels
in the form of a scroll or otherwise in such a manner that as the wheel
revolves the lubricating material is caused to circulate or flow from
the centre towards the circumference. By forming similar grooves or
channels of exactly the opposite figure or direction the lubricating
material is caused to return to the recess or channel formed in the
axle whence it was drawn, thus the lubricating material is used con-
tinuously. The lubricating material is conducted to the recess or

page_text: channel formed on the axle by pipes leading from a reservoir placed
in some convenient position, the flow being regulated by valves or other
suitable means. in constructing the bodies of the wheels which may be
made of cast iron of a hollow or other form, or with wrought-iron side
plates or discs, we turn the peripnery of the body slightly conical and
pore out the tyre to correspond. The said tyre has a hook flange formed
on one side which fits over a tongue or projection formed on the body
of the wheel, on the other side we use a clip ring fitting into a groove
made in the tyre and over a tongue formed on the body. The tyre is
drawn on to the body by means of bolts, space being left so that the tyre
may be tightened up to the body in case it should become loose, by
this means we avoid the tedious and expensive process of shrinking the
tyre upon the body and the risk of fracture, there is also less chance of
straining and distorting the metal.
Our method also enables us to harden the working parts of the tyre,
which we do in the following manner: We heat the tyre in a suitable
furnace to the proper degree of temperature and then place it upon a
wood disc which we cause to revolve on a shaft or spindle, we then
raise by suitable mechanical means a trough containing the water, oil,
or other substance used for tempering until a sufficient portion of the
tyre is immersed to insure the hardening of the working parts while
allowing the other parts of the tyre to remain in their original state of
toughness or tenacity. In the case of wheels that require to be fixed
upon the axle, instead of revolving, we forge the wheel boss on the
axle itself to which we bolt or rivet the side plates or discs; sometimes
instead of having two such plates we use only one. When using two
plates we make the inner plate, in halves joining them to each other
by a butt, strip, or joint plate with bolts or rivets. The periphery of
the wheel upon which the tyre is fixed we make of wrought iron of a
T section, the side plates or discs being bolted or rivetted on either side
of the centre flange. The object of making wheels in this manner is
to effect a saving of labour and expense in boring and fitting, and also
to increase their security. We sometimes use wood discs or bodies
fastened to a boss forged on the axle, the tyre being connected to the
body in the usual manner."

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters l'atent,
filed by the said James Rae and George Miller in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 9th October 1868.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, JAMES
RAE, of Sydenham, in the County of Kent, Engineer, and GEORGE
MILLER, of Glasgow, in the County of Lanark, Rivet Manufacturer,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight, in the thirty-
first year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said James Rae and George Miller, Her
special licence that we, the said James Rae and George Miller.
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the
said James Rae. and George Miller, our 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY
WHEELS, AND IN THE AXLES AND BEARINGS FOR THE SAME," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said James Rae and George Miller, our
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our or
their hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us
or them, 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 James Rae, on behalf of myself
and the said George Miller, do hereby declare the nature of our 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 accompanying Sheet of Drawings forming a
part of this Specification:-
These improvements have for their object the saving of engine power,
the reduction of wear and tear of wheels and permanent way, the

page_text: increasing of the safety of railway wheels and axles, the saving of
lubricating material, and a more efficient mode of constructing wheels
and fixing the tires thereon. Instead of having the boss of the wheels
fastened or keyed upon the axle as is generally done, and allowing both
wheel and axle to revolve, we fix the axle by securing it at each end
to the saddles which support the carriage springs, and in the proper
positions upon the axle we provide raised journals which are either
forged on the axle itself or made of iron, steel, or brass and fitted on
the said axle; we prefer to make these journals loose and fix them
with screws which allow them to be adjusted when worn. The boss
or central part of the wheel is bushed and faced with iron, steel, brass,
white metal, or hard wood; we then bore out and face the said boss
perfectly true with the tire, making the eye or hole in the boss fit the
raised journal on the axle on which it is to revolve. In order to keep the
wheel in the proper position on the axle we form a flange on the inner
face of the saddle against which the outer face of the boss revolves, the
inner face revolving against a flange one of which is cast on each end of
a hollow distance piece which we make in two parts or lengths,
connecting them to each other by flanges bolted together; by this
means in the event of the faces of the boss becoming worn we arc
enabled to adjust the wheels by inserting a ring or washer between the
inner flanges of the distance pieces. On the periphery of the boss and
of the adjacent flange of the saddle we make a recess, the bottom of
which is curved or convex; into this recess we fit a leather band
covering the joint between the boss and saddle thereby preventing the
escape of lubricating material when the wheel is revolving, and likewise
preventing the entrance of any dirt or dust into the bearing. Over
the leather band we fit another band of india-rubber, metal. or other
material to keep the leather band up to its work in the event of its
becoming worn. On the periphery of the inner side of the boss and
of the end flange of the distance piece we form a similar recess and
fit in leather and india-rubber or metal bands in like manner. On the
faces of the saddle and distance piece flanges against which the faces
of the boss revolves, we cut grooves or channels in the form of a
scroll or otherwise, in such a manner that as the wheel revolves the
lubricating material is caused to circulate or flow from the centre
towards the circumference. By forming similar grooves or channels in
the opposite direction the lubricating material is caused to return to
the recess or channel formed in the axle whence it was drawn, thus

page_text: and 2 so that the tire may be tightened up to the body in case it
should become loose; by this means we avoid the tedious and expensive
process of shrinking the tire upon the body and the risk of fracture.
There is also less danger of straining and distorting the metal, and we
are enabled to harden or temper the tire as herein-after more fully
explained. The distance pieces d which are placed between the wheels
are secured to the axles a by set screws or other suitable fastenings,
the ends or flanges d' of the said distance pieces being faced and fitted
to the side of the wheel which runs between the distance piece and the
saddles, as shewn in Figures 2 and 3; the said saddle is fitted in the
guide frame f and works freely therein. The springs are fastened to
the saddles by the bolts s¹. The inner flange d* of the distance pieces
whereby the two parts are secured together is shown detached in
Figure 7. In Figure 4 we have shown a modification of this part of
our improvements. The distance pieces instead of extending the full
length of the axle between the wheels are short pieces fitted between
the wheel and the flange, when worn lining pieces or washers are
placed between the said flange and the piece d. The periphery of the
boss of the wheel and also the adjacent part of the flange of the distance
piece is recessed to receive the leather bands e. the bottom surface 3
of the recesses being made convex. Over these leather bands are fitted
other bands which I prefer to form of metal, but if desired rings of
india-rubber or other suitable material may be used. The bands fit
over the joints between the wheel and the flanges of the distance piece
and the saddle, and are secured to the said distance piece and saddle
by screws or other suitable means; Figure 6 shows the face of the
saddle flange with the spiral grooves c. The lubricating material is
conducted to these grooves and to similar grooves on the face of the
distance piece flange d' through the channels h. The grooves or
passages g, shown in dotted lines in Figure 6, conduct back to the axle
the oil or other lubricating matter which passes through these spiral
grooves to the periphery of the boss of the wheel and which collects
within the bands e. The lubricating material is supplied to the bearings
from the reservoir through the passages h or through suitably arranged
pipes or tubes which through the union joint f may be connected with
a tank or, reservoir arranged in any convenient position upon the
carriage. The waste oil or other material is conducted away from the
bearing by the tube j into the vessel j' and is drawn therefrom through
the cock n. The journal m is fixed on the axle a, the said journal

page_text: being preferably perforated with the holes m' to allow the lubricating
material to flow from the passages h to the surface of the bush or
bearing w; in Figure 4 we have shown the boss of the wheel faced and
bushed or lined with white metal c¹. The journals m are secured to
the axle by the keys y, Figure 9; these keys allow the said journal to
be reversed upon the axle when they are worn. In this modification
of our improvements the outer portion of the wheel upon which the
tire is fixed is made of wrought iron of a T section, the side plates or
discs being bolted or rivetted on either side of the centre flange v¹
and also upon the central projection 6* of the boss b'. In constructing
wheels which require to be fixed upon the axle, such as locomotive
driving wheels, we employ a separate boss of cast iron or other suitable
metal to which we bolt or rivet the side plates or discs; sometimes
instead of two of such plates we use only one. In hardening or
tempering the tires we secure the same by means of the dogs d³ upon
the face plate f¹. The said dogs are adjusted to hold and release the
tire by the cone c² which is operated by the screws, the said screw
being provided with a wheel 2 or other convenient means of mani-
pulation. The oil or other liquid used for tempering is contained in
the tank w which is raised and lowered by the lever h¹ which is kept
in any desired position while the tire rotates in the liquid by means of
a screw or pin in the sector n¹.
Having thus fully described our said Invention, and shown how
the same may be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
we claim,-
First. Fixing the shaft or axle in the saddles s and fitting the wheels
to turn upon journals formed on or attached to the said axle and keeping
the wheels in place on the axle between saddles and distance pieces.
constructed and arranged substantially as set forth.
Second. Providing the wheels with bushes or bearings of hard wood or
metal, substantially as set forth.
Third. The bands e fitted over the joints between the wheel and the
saddle and distance pieces in combination with the outer bands k.
substantially as and for the purposes set forth.
Fourth. The passages and apertures h and m¹ for conducting the
lubricating material from the reservoirs to the bearings, substantially as
set forth,

page_text: Fifth. Forming spiral or other suitable grooves or channels extending
from the centre to the periphery of the faces of the distance piece and
saddle flanges, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Sixth. The spiral grooves and channels h and g arranged in com-
bination with the box or other reservoir and the bearing to be
lubricated, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
Seventh. Constructing the tire t and periphery of the body b with
conical surfaces, and fitting the said tire and body together in such a
manner that the tire can be secured and tightened upon the body by
means of the bolts, substantially as set forth.
Eighth. Hardening or tempering the working surfaces of the tire
before the same is fitted upon the body of the wheel.
Ninth. The arrangement of the trough w in combination with the
apparatus for supporting and rotating the tire and with the devices for
adjusting the said trough to bring the oil or other liquid into contact
with the same, substantially as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Rae, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Ninth day of October, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-eight.
JAMES RAE. (L.S.)
Witness,
THO. N. PALMER,
Clerk to Messrs. Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
8, Southampton Buildings,
W.C.