Improvements in or relating to Caps for Wheel Axles to Facilitate Lubrication.
Year: 1896

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Caps for Wheel Axles to Facilitate
Lubrication.
I, ALFRED EDWARD APPLETON, Trinity Wharf, Tewkesbury in the County of
Gloucester, Builder do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to a new or improved construction cap for wheel axles to
facilitate lubrication thereof without it being necessary to remove the axle cap for
that purpose.
According to this invention the axle cap is provided with a central hole or
opening in its face through which the spout of an oil can or lubricating vessel
may be passed to insert the lubricant.
After the spout of the lubricating vessel is withdrawn the said hole is closed
automatically by means of a spring controlled slide bolt or rod, the head of which
euters the hole while a collar on the said rod forces a flexible washer against the
hole to prevent ingress of grit or escape of the oil.
The opposite end of the spindle is supported in a suitable bearing which may
consist of a boss, sleeve or equivalent screwed or otherwise fitted within the boss
of the axle cap.
A spiral spring encircles the rod and is compressible between the collar and
spindle bearing before named.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Caps for Wheel Axles to Facilitate
Lubrication.
I, ALFRED EDWARD APPLETON, Trinity Wharf, Tewkesbury in the County of
Gloucester, Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
[Price 8d.1

page_text: manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
This invention relates to a new or improved construction of cap for wheel axles
te facilitate lubrication thereof without it being necessary to remove the axle cap
as is now the case for that purpose.
According to this invention the axle cap is provided with a central hole or
opening in its face through which the spout of an oil can or lubricating vessel
may be passed to insert the lubricant.
After the spout of the lubricating vessel is withdrawn the said hole is closed
automatically by means of a spring controlled slide helt or rod, the head of which
enters the hole while a collar on the said rod forces a flexible washer against the
hole to prevent ingress of grit or escape of the oil.
The opposite end of the spindle is supported in a suitable bearing which may
consist of a boss, sleove or equivalent screwed or otherwise fitted within the boss
of the axle cap.
A spiral spring encircles the rod and is compressible between the collar and
spindle bearing before named.
The invention will be fully understood from the following further description in
reference to the accompanying drawing, representing in longitudinal section an
axle cap constructed in accordance with this invention, and parts adjacent thereto.
A represents the axle of a vehicle wheel, B the axle box tho outer end of which
is internally screw threaded to receive the externally threaded boss of the
uxle cap C, an ordinary leather washer D being interposed between the axle box
and the cap in the usual manner.
The above parts except the cap as hereinafter described, are and may be of the
usual and well known construction.
According to this invention an opening C is made in the face of the cap.
This holo is normally kept closed by the head E (or its equivalent) of a bolt
or slide rod E which is yieldingly pressed therein by a spiral spring located
between a collar on the rod and a boss or hearing F.
The latter is bored to receive the slide rod E which is arranged to move freely
therein, and is also provided with three, four or more externally threaded prongs
which allow the oil to flow between them from the axle cap and lubricate the
asle A.
A leather or other flexible washer I may be interposed between the collar E
and the inner surface of the cap surrounding the hole C so as to maintain the
Itter in a closed condition and prevent the ingress of dirt or foreign matter or the
escape of oil therefrom.
To lubricate the wheel axle A the attendant pushes the bolt head E' inwards
against the notion of the spring with the spont of his oil can and then supplies
the cap with oil in the usual way.
Immediately the oil can spout is withdrawn the spring forces the bolt head
again into the hole and automatically closes it.
The length of the hearing F is arranged so that there is no byeplay of the
bolt head when it is pushed inwards, it therefore always enters the hole to close
it when the oil can is withdrawn.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my sail
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. An axle cap for vehicle wheels having an opening in its face and provided
with a yieldingly arranged closing device for said opening substantially as
described.
2. An axle cap for vehicle wheels, provided with au opening in its face and a
sliding device for closing said opening adapted to yield under pressure to admit

page_text: the spout of a lubricating vessel and automatically close the opening upon the
withdrawal of the latter substantially as described."
3. An axle cap for vehicle wheels constructed, arranged and operating
substantially in the manner described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawing.
BOULT & WADE,
Agents for the Applicant.