Improvements in Leather Axle-washers.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 3rd Jan., 1891
COMPLETE DI BOLFICATION.
Improvements in Leather Axle-washers.
I, TIMOTHY GINGRAS, of Buffalo, in the County of Erie and State of New York,
one of the United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly
described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this invention is the production of a more efficient as well as a
cheaper leather axle-washer than those now in use, it being especially adapted to
washers for use in the larger sizes of axles, such washers being usually constructed
with a comparatively wide face; a further object being the provision of means within
the washer for retaining a portion of the lubricant applied to the axle, whereby, if
the axle should become heated on account of insufficient lubrication, the grease
retained in the washer will be liquified and thereby sufficiently lubricate the parts to
prevent injury to the same.
In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan of a strip of leather showing
my method of producing washers from strips. Fig. 2 is a plan of a series of washers
produced by dies, Fig. 3 is a transverse section in line X X of Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5
are plans of washers formed from strips.
Like parts are designated by corresponding letters of reference in all the figures.
This invention relates more especially to leather washers having a wide face, and
to attain the results heretofore set forth, I punch from a suitable hide of leather by
means of dies or other mechanism, a circular blank A, of a diameter of the largest washer
generally used, and then punch from the centre of this blank a smaller blank B, but
instead of using dies having a circular circumference, I employ one having a serrated
cutting edge, so that the blank will have a serrated inner edge A', to provide retaining
spaces for the lubricant after the washer is placed upon the axle. The blank B is
now provided with a serrated periphery B', the extreme diameter of which equals
the diameter of the next smaller washer. The centre of this washer is now similarly
punched out but with a die having a circular cutting edge, thereby forming a
washer having serrations B¹ upon the periphery thereof, the blank remaining having
its centre again punched out until finally there remains a blank too small for further
use as a washer.
In Figs. 4 and 5 I have illustrated washers having serrations of different shape,
and in Fig. 4 I bave shown a washer provided with a series of apertures a', to
In some
afford additional retaining spaces for the lubricant.
cases I may simply
split the interior of the washers, as illustrated in Fig. 5, and in fact I may use
other dissimilar forms of recesses and serrations in the washer, all of which would be
within the scope of my invention.
In punching out the washers as heretofore described I obtain alternately washers
having their interior and their circumference respectively serrated or recessed,
thereby obviating any loss whatsoever of the material employed. The fact, however,
that the serrations are on the periphery of some of the washers and in the interior
of others does not affect the usefulness of the same, the lubricant lodging in the
washers with equal facility in either case. Another advantage of these washers are that
they can be easily trimmed to fit an axle should they be too large or too sinall for use.
Instead of punching the washers from pieces of leather, as heretofore described,
I can produce the same from strips, such as shown in Fig. 1, which are then
formed into an annulus and the ends united, or not, to produce a leather washer for
the purpose described. In this case I proceed as follows: A strip of leather of
proper width and thickness is split into two pieces A B respectively, by a zig-zag
cut, as shown in Fig. 1, thereby producing on one of the edges of said pieces A B
serrations A' B¹, respectively. This cutting may be done with a knife, a suitable

page_text: cutter, or by a revolving cutter, the latter device being the most economical one.
I then form these strips into rings, as shown in Fig. 4, and finally unite the abutting
ends (or overlapping joints) if desired by cementing or by inserting staples CC, as
illustrated in Fig. 5, over the joint, though I do not confine myself to the latter
method inasmuch as the strips A B already form marketable articles which may be
cut to proper length by the purchaser and then bent into annular form and inserted
into the axle-box. The manufacture of wide washers from plain parallel strips of
leather is next to an impossibility owing to the rigidity of the material, while by
serrating one of the edges as described, these strips may readily be bent into proper
form. By spacing the serrations far enough apart I produce in the washer a series
of notches b, which may be of any width according to the angles of the serrations, and
they may be so arranged that the opposite sides of these notches will meet, or nearly
so, as shown in Fig. 5.
If desired the apertures a¹ may also be produced in these strips to form retaining
spaces for the lubricant, as heretofore described.
It will be observed that in carrying out this invention I need not necessarily sever
a strip into two portions A B, but may serrate a strip of proper width on one of
its edges, the exact shape of the serrations being immaterial. This strip may be
bent so that the serrations are either on the inner side of the washer or on the
periphery thereof, or both edges may be serrated, if desired, without departing from
my invention.
The washers hereinbefore described can be manufactured and sold at a price not.
exceeding that now paid for the usual axle washers, and with their superior advantages
will render the same of great service and utility to the purchaser.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. As an improved article of manufacture, a leather washer blank consisting of a
strip having serrations, as described, said strip being formed into an annulus, as and
for the purpose stated.
2. A leather axle-washer formed with lubricant retaining spaces therein, cubstantially
as described.
3. A leather axle-washer provided with lubricant retaining spaces in its edge thereof
as and for the purpose set forth.
4. A leather washer provided with serrations in its edges forming lubricant retaining
spaces, substantially as set forth.
5. A leather washer provided with serrations in one of its edges, to form lubricant
retaining spaces, as set forth.
6. A leather axle-washer having serrations in its edges and recesses in its body, to
form lubricant retaining spaces, as set forth.
7. A leather axle-washer having serrations in one of its edges and apertures in
its body to form lubricant retaining spaces as set forth.
Dated this 25th day of November 1890.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.