CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY AXLE BOXES
Year: 1855

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Alexandre Tolhausen, of No. 7, Duke Street, Adelphi,
London, County of Middlesex, Sworn Interpreter at the Imperial Court.
of Paris, ..for the: Invention of "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY
AXLE BOXES: A communication from G. W. and T. C.. Geisendorff, .
United States:
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Alexandre Tolhausen at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
26th December 1855.
I, ALEXANDRE TOLHAUSEN, of No. 7, Duke Street, Adelphi, London,
County of Middlesex, Sworn Interpreter at the Imperial. Court of Paris, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS.
IN RAILWAY AXLE BOXES," being a communication from G. W. & T. C. Geisen-
dorff, United States, to be as follows:-
These improvements consist as follows:-Firstly, in place of having a flange.
cast to the front & upper edge of the axle box, & projecting down for the
purpose of holding the wedge & bearing to their places, we dispense with
the flange & make an opening in the top of the box, through which we drop
a loose lug, down into the box, & against. the wedge and bearing, thereby
holding them in their required position. The advantage of the loose lug.

page_text: over the permanent flange is, that when it is required to take the bearing out
of the box for repair, or any other purpose, the cap on the front or outside of
the box is removed, & the lug drawn out through the top of the box, which
leaves the bearing & the wedge free to be removed. Power is then applied to
raise the box sufficiently to loosen the wedge & bearing, so that they can be
removed;
whereas, if the box was provided with a permanent flange in the
usual way, it would be necessary to elevate the box from half an inch to an inch,
& the truck, as sometimes constructed, would require to be taken apart before
taking out the wedge & bearing. In addition to the above results, the lug
is made to perform another very important office by projecting down in front
of the axle, so that the end thereof can thrust against it to relieve the ends of
the bearing from the wear caused by the collar of the axle in its longitudinal
motion caused by the lateral vibrations of the cars.
Secondly, for the double purpose of excluding the dust & other matter from
the inside of the axle box, & preventing the loss of oil from the inner end
thereof, around the axle the box is provided with a flange, cast around the
opening through which the axle enters, & is furnished with a stuffing box
screwed on the inside of the flange; rings of leather are then cut to fit the
axle & placed between the stuffing box & the axle box, so that the leather is
forced against the axle, thereby closing the inner end of the axle box effectually
against the entrance of dust or escape of oil.
Thirdly, for the purpose of preventing the collection of oil on the back collar
of the axle, (which would have a tendency to soak & force through the leather
packing around it,) we attach to the inside of the axle box a semicircular
spring, the ends of which project up nearly to the horizontal diameter of the
collar, & spring hard against it, which scrapes & strips the oil from the collar
when in motion, & conducts it back into the box by the way of the spring,
& thus prevents it from wasting, by soaking through the leather packing
around the axle at the end of the box.
Fourthly, we provide the lubricating roller with a number of recesses under
the felt (attached to its surface), for the purpose of retaining oil, so that if an
accident should occasion the loss of oil from the box, the said recesses in the
roller would contain sufficient oil which would soak through the felt to lubricate
the axle until examined by the attendant.
Fifthly, for the purpose of adjusting the lubricating roller to the axle in the
course of its wearing, the frame in which the roller works is provided with a
cylindrical screw, which forces the roller up against the axle by means of a
spiral spring between the end of the screw & bottom of the bearing upon
which the roller revolves, yet the spring is sufficiently yielding to give, should

page_text: an accident occur with the pinion in the end of the axle or gear wheel on
the end of the roller; thus preventing breakage or otherwise deranging the
operation of the lubricating roller in its regular motion.
Sixthly, the manner of furnishing the lubricating material now chiefly used.
for that purpose, namely, dubbing (a material composed of tallow & oil), freely
& with certainty to the journals of railway axles, not only when said material
is rendered fluid by the heating of the axle, but to accomplish a more
desirable object, namely, its application thereto, when rendered solid by the
state of the weather, or at the moment of starting the cars after a long rest..
We further, by dispensing with flock, cótton, or wool, commonly used, prevent
the rolling of the same, arising from a dry box, & the raising thereby of any
filthy fluid or gritty substance deposited in the bottom of the box. All of
these desirable results we accomplish by giving a positive motion to the
lubricating roller by attaching thereto a cog or gear wheel, which receives its
motion by a pinion in the end of the axle.
We are well aware that journals have been lubricated by rollers in contact
with & operated on their peripheries by the journal, but such devices may
answer the purpose when oils are used, & those oils capable of standing the
severity of cold weather, but they by no means afford a sure mode of lubri-
cating when solid dubbing is used, as this material becomes congealed &
arrests the motion of the lubricator until melted by the friction & heat of a
dry journal..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Alexandre Tolhausen in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
19th June 1856.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ALEXANDRE
TOLHAUSEN, of No. 7, Duke Street, Adelphi, London, County of Middlesex,
Sworn Interpreter at the Imperial Court of Paris, send greeting..
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-sixth day of December, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Alexandre Tolhausen, Her special licence that I, the said Alexandre Tol-
hausen, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said
Alexandre Tolhausen, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any
time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter.

page_text: during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland;
the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "CERTAIN IMPROVE-
MENTS IN RAILWAY AXLE BOXES," a communication from G. W. and J. C.
Geisendorff; United States, upon the condition (amongst others) that: I, the
said- Alexandre Tolhausen, my executors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly
describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great
Seal-Patent-Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexandre Tolhausen; do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is:. to be: per:
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
"
statement:-
These improvements consist as follows:-Firstly, in place of having a flange
cast to the front and upper edge of the axle box, and projecting, down for the
purpose of holding the wedge and bearing to their placés; I dispense with the
flange and make an opening in the top of the: box, through which, I. drop &
loose lug down into the box and against the wedge: and bearing; thereby
holding them in their required position. The advantage: of the loose, lug. over
the permanent flange is, that when it is required to take the bearing out of the
box for repair, or any other purpose, the cap on the front or outside of the
box is removed, and the lug drawn out through the top of the box, which
leaves the bearing and the wedge free to be removed. Power is then applied
to raise the box sufficiently to loosen the wedge and bearing so that they can
be removed; whereas, if the box was provided with a permanent flange in the
usual way, it would be necessary to elevate the box from half an inch to an
inch, and the truck, as sometimes. constructed, would' require, to, be taken apart
before taking out the wedge and bearing.. In: addition to the above results,
the lug is made to perform. another very important office by projecting down
in front of the axle, so that the end: thereof; can thrust against it to relieve the
ends of the bearing from the wear caused by the collar of the axle, in its
longitudinal motion caused by the: lateral vibrations, of the cars..
Secondly, for the purpose of excluding the dust and other matter from the
inside of the axle box, and preventing the loss of oil from the inner end
thereof around the axle, the box is provided with: a flange; cast around the
opening through which the axle enters, and is:: furnished: with'a stuffing box
screwed on the inside of the flange; rings of leather. are then cut to fit the

page_text: f
axle, and placed between the stuffing box and the axle box, so that the leather
is forced against the axle, thereby closing the inner end of the box effectually
against the entrance of dust or escape of oil.
Thirdly, for the purpose of preventing the collection of oil on the back
collar of the axle, (which would have a tendency to soak and force through the
leather packing around it,) I attach to the inside of the axle box a semi-
circular spring, the ends of which project up nearly to the horizontal diameter
of the collar, and spring hard against it, which scrapes and strips the oil from
the collar, when in motion, and conducts it back into the box by the way of the
spring, and thus prevents it from wasting, by soaking through the leather
packing around the axle at the end of the box.
.
Fourthly, I provide the lubricating roller with a number of recesses under
the felt (attached to its surface), for the purpose..of retaining oil;, so. that
if an accident should occasion the loss of oil from the box, the said recesses
in the roller would contain sufficient oil which would soak through the felt to
lubricate the axle until examined by the attendant.
a
Fifthly, for the purpose of adjusting the lubricating roller to the axle in the
course of its wearing, the frame in which the roller works is provided with
cylindrical screw which forces the roller up against the axle by means of a
spiral spring between the end of the screw and bottom of the bearing upon
which the roller revolves, yet the spring' is sufficiently yielding to give, .should
an accident occur with the pinion in the end of the axle or gear wheel on
the end of the roller; thus preventing breakage or otherwise deranging the
operation of the lubricating roller in its regular motion.
Sixthly, the manner of furnishing the lubricating material now chiefly
used for that purpose, viz., 'dubbing (a material composed of tallow and oil),
freely and with certainty to the journals of railway axles, not only when said
material is rendered fluid by the heating of the axle, but to accomplish a more
desirable object, viz., its application thereto.when rendered: solid by the state
of the weather, or at the moment of starting the cars after a long rest...This
Invention further, by dispensing with flock, cotton, or wool, commonly used,
prevents the rolling of the same, arising from a dry box; and the raising
thereby of any filthy fluid or gritty 'substance deposited in the bottom of the
box. All of these desirable results are accomplished 'by giving a positive
motion to the lubricating róller, by attaching thereto a cog or gear wheel,
which receives its motion by a pinion in the end of the axle.
:
I am aware that journals have been lubricated by rollers in contact with
and operated on their perpheries by the journals, but such devices may.answer
the purpose when oils are used; and those oils capable of standing the severity

page_text: of cold weather, but they by no means afford a sure mode of lubricating when
solid dubbing is used, as this material becomes congealed, and arrests the
motion of the lubricator until melted by the friction and heat of a dry
journal.
Fig. A represents a front view of an axle box constructed according to this 5
Invention with the cap removed, which shows the internal arrangement of the
box.
1
Fig. B is a longitudinal sectional, élevation of the box, together with the
lubricating apparatus, which shows the connection of the different parts as
attached to the axle in section.
Fig. C is a side view, drawn separately from the box, of the lug which is
used for the purpose of holding the wedge and bearing to their places, and
also serves as a bearing for the end of the axle to play against, as before
.mentioned.
Fig. I is an edge view of the lug shown in Fig. C.
Fig. D is a transverse sectional view of the collar of the axle, showing the
spring for scraping and stripping the oil from the collar while in motion, to
prevent.its soaking through the leather packing around the axle.
Fig. E represents a front view of the box, showing the manner of attaching
the cap to the box in two pieces.
Fig. F is a longitudinal sectional elevation of the box, exhibiting the
lubricating apparatus, and showing an external view of its parts.
Fig. G is a back elevation of the box, showing a face view of the stuffing.
ring for holding the leather packing around the axle.
Fig. H is a front view of the box with the cap removed, showing as
transverse sectional view of the. lubricating roller, also the axle and its
attachments.
Fig. J represents a top view of the lubricating roller resting in its frame,
and drawn separate from the box. Similar letters or numbers of reference
indicate corresponding parts in the several Figs.
· 1, 1, represent the axle box made in form to suit the yoke and truck frame,
and for the reception of the lubricating apparatus, and provided with an
opening to receive the axle.. 2 is a wedge placed at the top and inside of the
box, against which the bearing 3 rests; 4 is the axle provided with a pinion 5
in its end, which works into the wheel 6 attached to the axle of the lubricating
roller 7, and thereby gives it motion for the purpose of carrying a fresh supply
of the lubricating material to the surface of the axle, for purposes before
stated. 8, 8, is the frame on which the roller revolves in the bearing 9, 9, the
frame 8 being held to its place by the ribs 10, 10, above and below it, which

page_text: are cast to the side of the box. The under part of the bearings 9, 9, are
provided with guides 12 cast with them, which enter the lower part of the
frame, and are furnished with spiral springs 13 for forcing the surface of the
roller against the axle in the course of its wearing.
15, 15, are three layers of felt cloth attached to the surface of the lubricating
roller for carrying the lubricating material to the surface of the axle by absorp-
tion as it revolves. 27, 27, are rings of metal placed on the ends of the
lubricating roller to lessen its friction against the axle; 14, 14, are recesses in
the roller under the felt for retaining a quantity of oil, which soaks through
the felt, so that should an accident cause a leakage from the box the said
recesses would retain sufficient oil to soak through the felt and lubricate the
axle until the necessary repairs are made.
11 is a cylindrical screw in the front of the frame 8, in which the guide
piece 12 attached to the bearing works; and against the upper end of this
screw the spiral spring 13 rests, by which the lubricating roller is moved up
and down. to adjust it to the wearing of the axle.
26 is a flange cast to the back of the axle box around the opening through
which the axle enters, and is provided with a stuffing box or ring 17; and
between the inside of the stuffing box and axle box there are rings of leather 18
placed and forced against the axle by the action of the stuffing box against
them, and thereby excludes the dust from the axle box and prevents the
loss of oil.
19 is the stripping spring attached to the inside of the axle box by means of
a screw, as shown in Figs. B and F, and the edge view of which may be seen
in the sectional view of the axle in Fig. D. This spring is used for stripping
from the collar of the axle the oil which collects on it while in motion, and
conducts it by way of the spring back into the box; this prevents the oil from
wasting by soaking through the leather packing around the axle. The ends
of the spring that clasp the collar are provided with points on their sides, and
incline up and project out between the inside of the leather packing and the
collar, as represented in Fig. F. The inclination given to the points of the
spring serves to direct the oil from the leather packing back into the box, and
the points being clasped by the packing serve to steady the spring.
21 represents the loose lug dropped into an opening in the top of the box
and in front of the wedge and bearing for holding them in their places, instead
of a flange cast to the box and projecting down to effect the same object. The
lug also projects down in front of the end of the axle, in order to give it a
bearing to wear against in its longitudinal motion, instead of bearing entirely
against the ends of the bearing. Fig. A represents by dotted lines the

page_text: distance the lug projects down over the ends of the axle; and Fig. B gives a
sectional view of the lug, showing its connection with the box, wedge; axle,
and bearing.
22 is a pin placed in the lug on the inside of the case to prevent its coming
out, as shown in Fig. B. 28 is a spring cover to the oil hole 25, and
represented 'in Fig. C, the oil hole being made through the lug 21; as shown
by dotted lines.):
16, 16, is the cap to the front of the box, and is made in two pieces, so that
when it is necessary to examine the inside of the box it can be done by taking
off the upper part of the cap, which will not interfere with the oil in the box.
The cap is joined together in such a way that the joint formed by the two
parts inclines inwards, and thus prevents the loss of oil by leakage caused by
its splashing against the inside of the сар.
20, 20, are flanges cast to the sides of the inside of the box, one on each
side, as represented in Fig. 'H, and in line with the axle, for the purpose of
preventing the oil from splashing up by the motion given it by the cars.
Having now set forth the nature of the said Invention as communicated to
me, I désire it to be understood that I do not confine myself to thé précise
details herein described; but I claim,
1st, the manner of holding the wedge 2 and bearing 3 to .their places,
and giving the end of the axle a wearing surface by means of the loose lug 21
attached to the axle box, as represented, substantially for the purposes before
mentioned.
2nd, the follower or stuffing box 17, as attached to the axle box for holding
the leather packing 18 around the axle to prevent the loss of oil, and also to s
exclude the dust from the axle box, for the purposes mentioned in the foregoing
Specification.
3rd, the spring 19, as applied to the collar of the axle in the manner repre-
sented in the accompanying Drawings, for stripping the oil from the collar
while in motion, and conducting it back into the box, substantially for the
'purposes before specified.
4th, the recesses 14, 14, made in the sides of the lubricating roller in their
application to the purpose specified, viz., for. retaining oil for lubricating the
axle by soaking through the felt, in case of a leakage from the box, until
the necessary repairs are made, substantially as set forth in the foregoing a
Specification:
5th, the combination of the cylindrical screw 11, guides 12, bearing 9, and
the spring 13, for adjusting and holding the lubricating roller to the axle, for
the purposes before specified..

page_text: 6th, I claim as an improvement, the giving a positive motion or rotation to
the lubricating roller by means of a pinion in the axle, in the manner and for
the purposes substantially set forth in the foregoing Specification.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexandre Tolhausen, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-six.
A. TOLHAUSEN. (L.S.)