An Improved Axle Applicable to Common Road Carriages Drawn by Horse Power.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 23rd July, 1889-Accepted, 24th Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Axle Applicable to Common Road Carriages Drawn
by Horse Power.
:
I, WILL HENRY CLIFT, of Orchard House, Ludlow, in the county of Salop, Coach-
builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
The object of this my invention is to furnish a revolving tubular carriage axle
which shall revolve equally with the wheels, allowing the wheels to revolve cach at
the same velocity when the carriage is travelling along a straight road, and also
allowing the wheels to revolve at different velocities when the carriage is travelling
along a curved road, or turning round at an angle.
I effect my object in the following manner. By my invention I form the axle of
two metal tubes, one of which is of a proper size to revolve easily within the other.
Near to the one end of each tube is fixed a flange, which flange may be either made
in the solid with the tube or screwed or fastened upon it. Against this flange and
radiating from the tube the spokes of the wheel are placed, the ends of the spokes
being so shaped as to form sections of a circle, which circle is completed when the
spokes are placed in their positions against the flange. The spokes are held firmly in
their place by a flanged nut which is screwed upon the end of the tube, and which
bears against the fronts of the spokes. Bolts are fixed through from the flange to
the flanged nut and screwed up. The spokes being thus held firmly against the flange
causes the tube and the wheel to revolve together.
The rim or felloes are then put on, and the wheel finished in the ordinary manner.
The construction of the wheels forms no part of my invention.
The flange and flanged nut may be either perfectly vertical with the tube or dished.
so as to set the spokes outward from it, and any insulator such as leather, rubber,
paper, fibre, or like substance may be placed around the ends of the spokes to deaden
vibration.
The smaller tube is made of a sufficient length to pass through the larger tube, in
which it is then placed and secured, by a screwed out at the end or otherwise, so as to
revolve freely within it but not to withdraw from it. Caps are then screwed upon
each tube so as to close up the ends and prevent the oil escaping. The walls of the
inner tubo may be perforated to allow oil to pass from the interior of the tube into the
space between it and the outer tube.
Along the outside of the larger tube a small rib or bead is formed, to which the
bearings are attached. The bearings are distinct from the tube or axle and are
adjustable so as to take any position upon it, being secured in any desired position by
screws passing through the rib or bead aforesaid. The bearings consist of an inner
or central part which revolves with the axle, and on which ears or wings are formed
which are secured to the rib formed on the outside of the tube or axle ; and an outer
part which is attached by bolts or clips in the usual manner to the carriage which
the axle has to support. The inner part of the bearing revolves easily within the outer
part.
:
Thus each wheel revolves with the tube to which it is affixed, and the one tube
revolves upon the other and I thus effect my object, and by this my invention as
described I furnish an Improved Axle, applicable to common road carriages drawn by
horse power.
Dated this Twenty-third day of October 1888
WILL HENRY CLIFT.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Axle Applicable to Common Road Carriages Drawn
by Horse-power.
I, WILL HENRY CLIFT,. of Orchard. House, Ludlow, Shropshire, Coach Builder,
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:-
This invention consists of the improved tubular axle herein described for common
road carriages drawn by horse-power which axle will revolve equally with the
wheels allowing them both to revolve at the same velocity when the carriage is
travelling along a straight road and also allowing them to revolve at different
velocities when the carriage is travelling along a curved road or turning round at an
angle.
I will describe my invention by referring to the accompanying drawings of which
Fig. 1 represents in longitudinal section an axle constructed according to my invention
with parts of the wheels and bearings; Figs. 2 and 3 shew separate views of the two
end flanges or flanged nuts of the same by which the spokes of the wheel are held;
Fig. 4 is a cross section of the same; Fig. 5 is a front elevation of part of the axle
and one of the bearings of the same; Fig. 6 is a separate view of the collet and
Fig. 7 shews one of the caps of the axle separately; Fig. 8 is an elevation of part
of the inner tube of the axle showing the oil holes and Fig. 9 is a separate view of
one of the bearings.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the Figures.
In carrying out my invention I form the axle of two metal tubes marked
respectively a and b the tube being of a proper size to revolve easily within the
tube a.
The tube a is provided with a flange c and the tube is provided with a
similar flanged these flanges being secured on their respective tubes preferably by
screwing as shewn or they may be made solid with the tubes or fixed thereto in any
other convenient manner. Against these flanges and radiating from the tube the
spokess of the wheels are placed the ends of the spokes being shaped so as to form
sections of a circle (see Fig. 4) which circle is completed when the spokes are placed
in their positions against the flanges. In order to secure the spokes of the wheels
firmly in position I employ on each tube a flanged nut, these nuts being marked
respectively e and, which are screwed upon the ends of their respective tubes so as
to bear firmly against the front of the spokes. Bolts g pass through the flanged nuts
and flanges so as to more securely hold the spokes in place. The wheels are then
finished and the rims or felloes put on in the ordinary manner. The flanges c and d
and flanged nuts e and may either be perfectly vertical with the tubes or dished so
as to set the spokes outwardly from them and any insulating material such as leather
rubber paper or fibre marked h may be placed between the ends of the spokes and the
tubes so as to deaden vibration. In order that my invention may be well understood
I have found it necessary to describe the construction of the wheels as above but the
same forms no part of my invention. That part of the inner tube b on which the
wheel is fixed is by preference made solid the said solid part extending for a certain
distance within the outer tube so as to afford additional strength.
The inner tube b is made of sufficient length to pass through the outer tube a where
it is secured preferably by the screw i fitting inside the open end of the tube ba
collet shewn separately by Fig. 6 being provided between the head of the screw i
and the end of the outer tube a the other end of the outer tube a taking a bearing
against the flange d into which it is by preference recessed or any other convenient
means may be employed for securing the two tubes together so as to permit the inner
tube to revolve freely within the tube a but not to withdraw from it. A cap k is
screwed upon the ends of each of the nuts e and so as to prevent oil escaping.
The interior of the inner tube & forms a reservoir for oil which passes through holes
to the space between the inner and outer tube. Thus each wheel will revolve with the

page_text: tube to which it is fixed and the wheels with their tubes will be free to turn
independently of each other.
Along the outside of the outer tubo.a I prefer to provide a small longitudinal rib or
bead m for the purpose of attaching the bearings. Each of these bearings is distinct
from the tube a and is in the form of a collar marked p fitting thereon and revolving
with the tube a and which can be adjusted longitudinally to any required position
and fixed preferably by screws a passing through ears or wings o on the bearings and
through the rib or bead m. Each of the collars p is provided with an outer part q
in which it can freely revolve this outer part being attached by bolts or clips in the
usual manner to the carriage or vehicle which the axle has to support.
In my drawing 1 have shewn the bearings as provided with balls between the
parts p and q so as to reduce the friction but I do not confine myself or make any
claim to this as the balls may if preferred be dispensed with and the bearings made
plain.
In conclusion I wish it to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise
details herein described and illustrated as the same may be varied without departing
from the nature of this invention, but
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
1. The herein described improved tubular revolving axle for road vehicles, consisting
of an outer tube and an inner tube free to revolve within and projecting through
the said outer tube, one end of each of said tubes being adapted for fixing to a
vehicle wheel, the said tubes having means for preventing the inner tube from
sliding out of the outer tube, substantially as herein before set forth.
2. The herein described improved tubular revolving axle for road vehicles,
consisting of an outer tube and an inner tube free to revolve within and projecting
through the said outer tube, one end of each of said tubes being adapted for
fixing to a vehicle wheel, the said tubes having means for preventing the inner
tube from sliding out of the outer tube, and the said inner tube forming a lubricant
chamber the walls of which are perforated, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
3. The combination, with a tubular revolving axle of either of the kinds claimed
in the preceeding claims, of movable bearings fitting on the outer tube and provided
with means by which the said bearings can be fixed to the outer tube in any required
position, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
4. The combination with a tubular revolving axle of either of the kinds claimed
in claims 1 and 2, of flanged attachments secured to or formed with said tubes to
which the spokes of the wheels are fixed, substantially as hereinbefore set forth.
5. The construction combination and arrangement of parts forming the improved
tubular revolving axle for road vehicles substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 22nd day of July 1889.
CHARLES BOSWORTH KETLEY,
Agent for the Applicant.