Improvements in Caps for the Axles of Carriages and other Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in Caps for the Axles of Carriages and other Vehicles.
I, ANDREW HOWAT, of 39 Bamford Road, Didsbury, near Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be
as follows :-
My invention relates to improvements in caps for the axles of carriages and other
vehicles and the object of my improvements is to lubricate the axles without removing
the caps.
The ordinary axle cap is made in one piece of metal and it is necessary to remove
such cap in order to lubricate the axle. By the frequent taking off and putting on
of the cap for this purpose it becomes a slack fit and loose on its axle bush and in
consequence the caps are frequently lost.
According to my invention I make the cap of say three pieces of metal; the first
or main portion is threaded to screw on to the axle and the other end is also threaded
on the outside to receive a cap with a hole in the end, and the main portion is also
threaded inside to receive a plug or valve which is connected by fins or ribs to an
enlarged collar which is threaded to screw into the interior thread on the main
portion of the cap. The plug or valve is surrounded by a leather or other washer
which can be changed from the outside when necessary.
To put the parts together the valve portion is screwed into the main portion and
the cap is screwed over the valve on to the main portion and then secured by sweating
or otherwise the hole in the cap coming over the washer on the plug and forming a
seat for it. In order to make a tight joint the plug can be turned by placing a
penny or other coin in the nick cut across it or in place of a coin and nick, any
suitable key may be employed.
In order to prevent the plug from shaking loose by vibration I may place a spiral
spring inside the cap confined within the main portion and the plug or valve; this
must be done before the cap is sweated on.
To lubricate the axle the plug is turned so as to leave an annular space between
it and the cap through which a quantity of lubricant can be poured into the cap and
on to the axle, when the plug can be turned in the opposite direction to make a
tight joint.
Dated this 8th day of July 1896.
H. B. BARLOW & GILLETT,
Agents for Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Caps for the Axles of Carriages and other Vehicles.
I, ANDREW HOWAT, of 39 Bamford Road, Didsbury, near Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, 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:-
My invention relates to improvements in caps for the axles of carriages and other
vehicles and the object of my improvements is to lubricate the axles without
removing the caps.
The ordinary axie cap is made in one piece of metal and it is necessary to remove
such cap in order to lubricate the axle. By the frequent taking off and putting on
of the cap for this purpose it becomes a slack fit and loose on its axle bush and in
consequence the caps are frequently lost.
According to my invention I make the cap of say three pieces of metal; the first
or main portion is threaded to screw on to the axle and the other end is also threaded
on the outside to receive a cap with a hole in the end and the main portion is also
threaded inside to receive a plug or valve which is connected by fins or ribs to an
enlarged collar which is threaded to screw into the interior thread on the main
portion of the cap. The plug or valve is surrounded by a leather or other washer
which can be changed from the outside when necessary.
In order to make a tight joint the plug can be turned by placing a penny or other
coin in the nick cut across it or in place of a coin and nick any suitable key may.
be employed.
. In order to prevent the plug from shaking loose by vibration I may place a spiral
spring inside the cap confined within the main portion and the plug or valve; this
must be done before the cap is sweated on.
In the accompanying drawings-
Figure 1 is an outside elevation, Fig. 2 a sectional elevation and Fig. 3 a plan of
my improved cap for the axle of a lorry, cart or similar vehicle, and Fig. 4 is a view
of the plug or valve detached.
Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 are similar views to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4 respectively showing
an alternative form of my improved cap for the axle of a carriage.
Referring first to Figs. 1 to 4, the body or main portion of the cap 2 is provided
with an internal thread 3 to screw on to the axle of the vehicle and the plug or
valve 4 which fits into and closes a hole in the centre of the end of the cap 2 is
connected by fins or ribs 5 to a collar 6 which is threaded to screw into the
internal thread 3 of the cap. The plug or valve 4 is surrounded by a leather or
other washer 7 and is turned by means of a coin or key inserted in a nick 8 cut
across it. A spiral spring 9 is compressed between the collar 6 and the end of the
cap when the plug 4 is screwed up to make a tight joint and thus serves to prevent
the plug 4 working loose.
To lubricate the axle the plug 4 is turned so as to leave an annular space between
it and the cap through which a quantity of lubricant can be poured into the cap 2
and on to the axle and when this has been done the plug 4 can be turned in the
opposite direction to make a tight joint and close the cap.
The only practical difference in the construction illustrated by Figures 5 to 8 is
that the cap 2 is adapted to screw into an axle bush instead of on to an axle and
for this purpose the body is slightly reduced in diameter where it is provided with
an external thread 10. Also the cap in this case is shewn made in two pieces 2
and 21 screwed together. To put the parts together the valve portion is screwed
into the main portion 2 and the cap 2' is screwed over the valve 4 on to the main

page_text: portion and then secured by sweating or otherwise the hole in the cap 2' coming over
the plug and the end of the cap forming a seat for the washer 7.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. In combination, a body or main portion, a cap or end piece either formed in
one piece with the body or as a separate part secured thereto, a valve portion
screwed inside the body and fitted to close a central hole in the cap, and preferably
with a spiral spring compressed between the valve portion and the cap all substantially
as and for the purposes herein set forth.
2. The constructions and combinations of parts embodying my improvements in
axle caps for vehicles substantially as and for the purposes herein described and as
shown on the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 5th day of January 1897.
H. B. BARLOW & GILLETT,
17 St. Ann's Square, Manchester, Agents for Applicant.