Improvements relating to Axles and Axle-boxes.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Nov., 1896-Accepted, 16th Jan., 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to Axles and Axle-boxes.
I RONALD JOHN LIVINGSTONE HILDYARD, Gentleman, of Cue, Western
Australia, but temporarily of 37 Walbrook, London, E.C., 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 :-
The present invention has reference mainly to axles which are made hollow, so-
as to provide within them a reservoir for lubricant, and has for its primary object
the provision of means whereby the said reservoir and axle-box may be flushed
out or cleansed, when required, without removing the wheel. The improvements
further relate to the attachment and adjustment of the box of the wheel upon the
axle, and the exclusion of dirt and dust from the axle box.
In the accompanying drawing I have shewn an axle and axle box embodying.
my improvements, part thereof being in section.
A is the axle, provided with an internal chamber or reservoir B for lubricant ;.
C is the axle box (shewn in section), enclosing the axle A. The reservoir B is
charged through the plug-hole b, and the lubricant finds its way to the axle-box
through the open end of the axle, and through holes a pierced in the axle. The
axle-box, at its outer end, is closed, but it has the plug hole c furnished with a-
screw plug, which plug hole, when open, provides means for flushing out the
reservoir and axle box, when required, by hot water, kerosine, or other cleansing.
liquid, poured in at the hole b.
Upon the axle A is a coned collar D, which meets a correspondingly coned
surface d in the interior of the box C. The box C, at its inner end, is threaded
internally to receive a lock nut E. e is a recess within the nut E, to hold suitable-
packing. F is a washer, flat on the side next the end of the nut E, and coned on
the side next the collar D, against which it bears. G is a flange on the outside of
the nut E, and g g' are metal and leather washers between the said flange and the
end of the box C. f is a washer inside the nut next the coned washer F.
holes to receive a spanner by which the nut may be turned, and e** is a locking
pin driven through the nut into the head of the box C, and held by a spring, to-
prevent the said nut from coming undone.
e are
It will thus be seen that the box C, carrying the wheel can be adjusted on the
axles by means of the nut E, which, when screwed up, draws the coned
surfaces D and d together, and holds the box, and with it the wheel, more tighly
on the axle.
.
The exclusion of dirt and dust at the inner end of the box is effectually ensured
by the employment of the above described arrangement of washers and packing
between the lock nut E and the said box.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, 1 declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The arrangement of axle and axle-box hereinbefore described with reference.
to the drawing, wherein the axle is hollow to receive a lubricant, and wherein a
plug hole is provided in the closed axle box, to permit of the flushing and cleansing
of the axle and box without removing the wheel, in the manner set forth.

page_text: 2. For the adjustment and attachment of the wheel, and for the exclusion of
dirt from the axle box, the employment, as above described, of a nut on the axle
screwing into the end of the axle box, and co-operating with cone surfaces on the
axle and in the box, to adjust and secure the wheel, and co-acting with the packing
and washers to exclude dirt from the box, the said nut being retained in position
by a pin, as set forth.
Dated this 10th day of November 1896.
NEWTON & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.