IMPROVEMENTS IN TRUCKS OR BOGIES FOR RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND IN BRAKES AND SELF-LUBRICATING AXLE-BOXES FOR THE SAME
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by John Clayton Mewburn at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th March 1883. Communicated to
him from abroad by Eleanor Whiting and Josephine Mary Smith both of
Brooklyn New York in the United States of America
JOHN CLAYTON MEWBURN of 169 Fleet Street in the City of London Patent
Agent and Consulting Engineer " IMPROVEMENTS IN TRUCKS OR BOGIES FOR
RAILWAY CARRIAGES AND IN BRAKES AND SELF-LUBRICATING AXLE-BOXES FOR
THE SAME [communicated to him from abroad by Eleanor Whiting and Josephine
Mary Smith both of Brooklyn New York in the United States of America]
"
This invention relates in part to a truck for railway carriages the body of which
is constructed of thin metal in substantially one piece, that is to say, it is
preferably made from one casting of steel or annealed iron, but it might be made
up of plates rigidly secured together. It has platforms over the wheels upon
which the carriage body rests, a roof plate which connects these platforms together,
and two pendent side plates in which are formed the pedestals for the axle boxes
and the housings for the springs.
The metal body of the truck has a contracted part or waist, the pendent sides
being drawn in until they stand directly over the rails of the railway, and in these
are formed sockets to receive brake staffs. The carriage body is pivoted over the
forward axle, of the truck next the end of the carriage, and a beam, preferably of
wood, extends lengthwise through the metal body which is secured thereto. To
this beam the coupler is secured, or may be secured if desired.
The invention also relates to a brake of the kind that impedes the movement of
the carriage by pressure of the brake-shoes on the rail. In the sockets in the
truck body before mentioned, which are arranged vertically over the rails, are
fitted to slide suitable.brake staffs provided with shoes to bear and press on the
rail. Mounted transversely on the axial beam of the truck is a wedge which has
inclined ends that engage suitable projecting shoulders on the brake-staffs whereby
when the said wedge is moved along on its saddle on the beam, the brake shoes
are forced down upon the rails; and when it is moved along in the opposite
direction the said shoes are lifted. The braking is effected through a brake chain

page_text: in any way desired, either by hand or other power; and the parts are retracted to
release the brakes by means of a spring. To prevent the brake shoe from polishing
the crown of the rail, which would cause the carriage-wheels to slip a groove or
recess is formed in the bottom or face of each shoe so that they do not actually
touch the rails on their crowns.
The invention also relates to the construction of the self-oiling or lubricating
axle box. This box comprises a shell or housing which is cylindrical internally
but square externally at its middle where it is einbraced by the saddle. The
journal-box is cylindrical externally and internally in substance, but has flutes or
grooves internally which extend from end to end for the passage of the oil or
lubricant. This box fits in the housing, but the housing extends beyond it to
leave a space in the housing for a supply of oil. At the back or inner end of the
housing is an inturned flange which surrounds the opening where the axle spindle
enters the box or housing; and to this flange, inside, is secured a bearing washer
to take the wear. The axle spindle has no button, and on it is slipped and
secured a thimble (of steel by preference) which fits into the journal box. A pro-
jecting flange on the inner end of the thimble is clamped between the bearing
washer on the housing and the inner end of the journal box. The parts are all
drawn snugly together by means of a screw cup which screws into the outer end
of the housing and presses against the end of the journal box. The journal box is
prevented turning with the axle by means of a screw or pin, and means are
provided for the admission of oil or other lubricant to the oil reservoir in the
outer end of the box. The flange on the thimble is perforated so that oil may
have access to the face of the bearing washer for lubrication. As the parts fit
together with an oil tight joint, no dust can possibly enter the box at its inner
end, and no oil can waste. When the journal box wears on one side it may be
turned over so as to present a new wearing surface; and when worn out entirely
it may be renewed.
The saddle in which the axle box is mounted has a bearing plate which rests on
the plane top of the axle-box and a latch-bar which engages between rounded
abutments on the bottom of the box. The cheeks of the saddle slide in grooves
in the pedestal of the truck and are beveled to a narrow edge where they embrace
the box. This permits the box to oscillate laterally to a limited extent. The
latch-bar prevents the saddle lifting off the box.