IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLE BOXES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Dugald Drummond, of Cowlairs, in the County of
Lanark, North Britain, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AXLE BOXES."
Sealed the 28th August 1877, and dated the 2nd: March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Dugald Drummond at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 2nd March 1877.
DUGALD DRUMMOND, of Cowlairs, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLE BOXES."
This Invention relates to improvements, the objects of which are herein-after
stated in describing the Invention.
To an axle box made with the improvements the grease chamber is formed beneath
and at one side of the axle journal, and the lid to be opened when introducing grease
is at the side instead of in front, as usual. The box has to be made with the usual
internal cavity at the lower part to admit of the axle being conveniently got into its
place, but after the axle has been got in a curved plate is inserted to cover the lower
part of the cavity, and keep the grease up to the journal. The object of these
arrangements is to insure the direct, immediate, and continued application of the
grease to the journal, a result not obtainable with ordinary axle boxes in conse-
quence of the lubricant having to pass through small apertures in the bottom of an
upper grease chamber, and through apertures in the brass or bearing piece above
the journal, and thus necessitating a slight heating of the bearing in order to liquefy
the grease before lubrication can take place.
The improved box is cast with an open outer end, upon which a cover is bolted,
and this allows of the interior being easily examined at any time, and of a new
brass or bearing piece being put in without taking the wheels from under the wagon
or other vehicle. At the inner vertical face of the box there is applied a movable
iron plate for excluding dust, and which has rivetted or otherwise attached to it a
piece of leather cupped or bent out to fit on the shoulder or plain part of the axle:
The plate is attached to the box by screw pins, which pass through elongated holes,
allowing of the necessary movement. The brass or bearing piece is formed with a
Price Gd1

page_text: convex projecting part on its upper side to fit in a counterpart cavity in the crown
of the box, the object of this construction being to admit of the brass or bearing
piece adjusting itself to any slight difference of inclination between the parts in the
vertical plane of the axle.
The improved axle box, whilst having the advantages herein-before indicated, is
less expensive to make than many kinds of existing axle boxes.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Dugald Drummond in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th August
1877.
DUGALD DRUMMOND, of Cowlairs, in the County of Lanark, North Britain,
Engineer. IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLE BOXES."
"
My said Invention relates to improvements, the objects of which are herein-after
stated in describing the improved axle box details, as made according to the
Invention.
And in order that the same may be properly understood, and carried into effect, I
hereunto append a Sheet of explanatory Drawings, to be herein-after referred to, and
representing an axle box for a railway wagon as made with my improvements. In
these Drawings the same reference numerals are used to mark the same or like parts
wherever they are repeated.
Figure 1 is a plan; Figure 2, a horizontal section; Figure 3, a back elevation ;
Figures 4 and 5, vertical sections as at right angles to each other; and Figure 6, a
front elevation.
The shell of the axle box consists of two parts, a body casting, 7, and a front
plate, 8, to be bolted on after the internal parts are fitted. The grease chamber
9, 10, is formed beneath and at one side of the space occupied by the axle journal
11, and the lid 12, to be opened when introducing grease, is at the side instead of in
front, as usual. The box body 7 has to be made with the usual internal cavity 13
at the lower part to admit of the axle 11 being conveniently got into its place, but
after the axle has been got in, a curved plate 14 is inserted to cover the lower part
31 of the cavity, and keep the grease up to the journal 11. The object of these
arrangements is to insure the direct, immediate, and continued application of the
grease to the journal 11, a result not obtainable with ordinary axle boxes in conse-
quence of the lubricant having to pass through small apertures in the bottom of an
upper grease chamber, and through apertures in the brass or bearing piece above
the journal, and thus necessitating a slight heating of the bearing in order to liquefy
the grease before lubrication can take place.
The casting of the box body 7, with the open outer end on which the front plate
or cover 8 is bolted, allows of the interior being easily examined at any time, and
of a new brass or bearing piece 15 being put in without taking the wheels from
under the wagon or other vehicle. At the inner vertical face of the box there is
applied a movable wooden shutter 16 for excluding dust, and which is made with a
circular aperture fitting easily on the shoulder of the axle 11, whilst it is held in a
kind of pocket 17 formed for it at the back or inner end of the axle box, in which
pocket it can move up or down to a small extent. The brass or bearing piece 15 is
formed with a convex projecting part 18 on its upper side to fit into a counterpart
cavity in the crown of the box, the object of this construction being to admit of the
brass or bearing piece 15 adjusting itself to any slight difference of inclination
between the parts in the vertical plane of the axle.
My improved axle box, whilst having the advantages herein-before indicated, is
less expensive to make than many kinds of existing axle boxes.
Having thus particularly described my said Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, I have to state that I do not restrict myself to the precise details

page_text: herein described or delineated, but that what I believe to be novel and original and
claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters
Patent is,―
1. The arranging or combining together of the parts of axle boxes substantially
in the improved manner herein described and delineated.
2. The making of the axle box with a front opening and cover plate (8) combined
with a lateral grease inlet, substantially as herein described.
3. The forming of the brass or bearing piece (15) with a convex part (18) to allow
of a slight angular adjustment, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Dugald Drummond, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
1MANזזתת
D. DRUMMOND. (L.S.)