IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLES AND AXLE-BOXES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Herbert John Haddan, of Kensington, Middlesex, for an
Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLES AND AXLE-BOXES A communication
to him from abroad by Egide Mers, of Bruxelles, Belgium,
•
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Herbert John Haddan at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 8th July 1882.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of Kensington, Middlesex,
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
AXLES AND AXLE-BOXES," a communication to me from abroad by Egide Mers,
of Bruxelles, Belgium.
This invention has for its object to simplify the construction of car-axles by
adapting them to an improved type of axle-boxes, which also prevents the escape
of oil. For this purpose I make the axle-box of one piece, of cast-iron, or other
suitable material, the main portion or bearing of which has a cylindrical bore for
the reception of the shank or pivot of the axle. The inner portion of the axle-box
(that which is turned towards the car) is made shorter and wider than the outer
portion or bearing, and has an inner flange at such a distance from the bearing, as
to form an annular oil chamber, while its outer face forms an abutment for a
wrought-iron or steel collar welded on the axle. The inside diameter or bore of
the said flange is sufficient to allow the front part of the axle to pass through it.
The inner face of the said collar on the axle is held in place by a ring projecting
into the cylindrical bore at the widened inner end or mouth of the axle-box, and
having an outer flange which rests against the inner face of the axle box. A nut
is screwed over the mouth of the axle-box and covers the flange of the ring, so as
to secure the latter to the axle-box. The annular surfaces with which the faces of
the axle collar come in contact are lined with leather or other packing material, and
the collar as well as the part of the axle situated between the collar and the shank
is provided with a circumferential groove for the admission of oil. The cylindrical
bore or bearing for the shank of the axle is limited by an inner flange leaving an
axial opening through which oil may be introduced, and on the outer side of the
flange the axle-box is closed by a screw cap. A stud resting with its head against
the outside of the flange may be screwed axially into the extremity of the shank,
in order to prevent the latter from sliding if the collar should become loose.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Herbert John Haddan in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
8th January 1883.
HERBERT JOHN HADDAN, of Kensington, Middlesex, "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AXLES AND AXLE-BOXES," a communication to me from abroad, by Egide Mers, of
Bruxelles, Belgium.
This invention has for its object to simplify and improve the construction of
car-axles by adapting them to an improved type of axle-boxes, which also prevents
the escape of oil. In the accompanying drawings which illustrate the invention,
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of an axle-box as applied to the axle.
Fig. 2 represents a modification.
The box proper is of cast-iron or any other suitable fusible material, Its
dimensions may vary according to requirements, and it is made in one piece.
The narrowest part A B, A' B¹, is slightly tapered at the outside, while the
interior which receives the journal, is preferably cylindrical. Two or three
centimetres from the extremity there is a first circular flange c c', d d projecting
inward. Between the inner edge d d' of this flange and the end M M of the
axle I provide a clearance of one or two millimetres or more. At its middle. part
the box is widened into a reservoir bf, b¹ f¹ intended to receive the lubricating
oil. To this part of the box corresponds a slight enlargement NP, N' P¹ of the
axle, and to the middle of this enlargement or shoulder I apply a circular
groove RR. Behind this enlargement I weld on the axle a collar or ring PQ, P¹ Q¹
having also a groove SS' in the centre. The oil reservoir is limited by a second
flange FF GG¹, the bore of which allows the enlargement of the axle to pass.
The box ends in a much larger cylinder G G¹h h' partly provided with an external 2
screw-thread, through which extremity the axle provided with its ring is introduced.
The collar abuts against the flange G G₁, from which it is only separated by a
leather washer intended to diminish the friction and to prevent the escape of oil.
A screw-threaded coupling H presses against the collar of the axle a ring H' made
in two pieces and which increases the tightness by means of a piece of leather.
A stud K connects the flange of this ring with the axle-box, and forces the ring
to follow the axle-box in its rotary movements. The inward projecting part of the
ring H¹ may be omitted, and the ring made flush with the face of the axle-box, as
illustrated by. Fig. 2. In this case the part C₁ (Fig 1) is replaced by a second
collar B¹ of the axle. The other end (mouth) of the axle-box is closed by means
of a cap A A¹, LL' screwed to the same. The contact-faces of the cap and the
axle-box are furnished with leather-washers A A¹, a a¹ and CO¹ cc. The cap may
be screwed very tight to the axle-box. It need hardly be observed that the
coupling H must be screw threaded in such a manner as to be further tightened by
the effect of the rotation of the axle-box. The screw-threads of the two similar
pieces at the opposite extremity of the axle must run opposite to those of the first
extremity. The lubricating oil is introduced through the orifice c c d d¹ by means
of an oil can. During the stoppage, owing to the axle being inclined outward, the
level of the oil will be so that the latter touches the reservoir at 6 and the edge of
the flange ccd d' at d. During the movement of the vehicle, the axle tends to
become again horizontal, whereby the oil is conducted into the reservoir. By the
effect of the rotation the oil touches the whole surface of the journal when flowing
to the outlet, where it comes into contact with the said edge d d', by which the
oil is maintained in the space reserved for it. If necessary I can facilitate this
continual movement of the oil by providing in the interior of the axle-box one or

page_text: more longitudinal or helical grooves. In this case I strengthen the axle-box either
by making the latter thicker or by providing it with external ribs.
The advantages of this system consist principally in the following.
a. Simplification in the construction of axles owing to the omission of the washer
and the two nuts hitherto used for securing this type of axle-boxes.
b. Consequently the diminution of weight which I estimate at 25 per cent, and
thereby the reduction of the cost of production.
c. The facility and efficacy of lubrication.
d. The solidity of the system
The norfent tinht of the ham ad
CLAIMS.
1. The combination with an axle-box, for the purpose of securing it to the axle
and preventing the escape of oil, of a split ring H resting against a collar of the
axle, and a cap H secured to the axle-box, substantially as described.
2. The combination of an axle-box with a split ring H' projecting into the mouth
of the axle-box against a collar PQP1Q¹of the axle and forming a cover over
the mouth of the axle-box, and a nut H screwed to the axle-box, substantially as
described
In Witness whereof I, the said Herbert John Haddan have hereunto est mo