IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE AXLE ARMS, AND IN THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF CARRIAGES OR WHEELED VEHICLES."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Offord, of 79, Wells Street, 67, George Street, and
92, Gloucester Road, in the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE AXLE ARMS, AND IN THE UNDER
CARRIAGE OF CARRIAGES OR WHEELED VEHICLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Offord at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 11th March 1880.
JOSEPH OFFORD, of 79, Well Street, 67, George Street, and 92, Gloucester Road,
in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING TO THE AXLE
ARMS, AND IN THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF CARRIAGES OR WHEELED VEHICLES."
My Invention relates partly to improvements in axles for carriages or wheeled-
vehicles, the said improvements being designed to afford a more strong, durable,
and efficient bearing for the wheels than has heretofore been practicable. The said
Invention also relates to improvements in the wheel-plates which are ordinarily
attached to the top bed of the under-carriages of wheeled vehicles to facilitate the
turning of the same.
The first part of my Invention relates to that class of axles which have their
ends or arms accurately turned to receive a bush or box which is secured to the
nave of the wheel, the said bush on its inner end abutting against a flexible washer
enclosed in a collar formed on the said axle, and secured against endwise displace-
ment by nuts screwed upon the end of the latter. In an axle of the class above
referred to, as heretofore constructed, the end of the axle is provided with right
and left handed screw-threaded portions, and is fitted into the bush in such a
manner that the nuts when screwed up over the said screw-threaded portions to
prevent endwise movement of the said bush are within-the-same. This construction--
however is found in practice to be very disadvantageous, for the reason that the
axle has to be considerably reduced in diameter and weakened at its ends where
the said screw threaded portions are formed and the nuts become loose, thereby
causing the wheels to rattle and accidents frequently to occur through the snapping
or breaking off of the said reduced ends and the consequent displacement or coming
off of the wheel.
According to my Invention, however, I obviate these defects in construction as
follows, that is to say:-I make the axle-arm or end adapted to receive the

page_text: aforesaid bush, preferably of wrought iron or gun-metal, of such a length as to
project beyond the outer end of the same when the said bush is in position, and
this outwardly extending portion is screw-threaded. Over this projecting portion
of the axle I pass a collar or collet which is provided with a bevelled or conical
inner surface adapted to fit against a corresponding surface on the outer end of the
bush, the said collar being similar to that heretofore used, with the exception that
instead of being of small diameter to be passed over the reduced portion of the
axle into the end of the bush or box it is of the same or nearly the same diameter
as the bush and engages with the outer end of the latter, whereby a greater bearing
surface to take up the end thrust of the wheel is obtained. This collar is secured
firmly in position against the end of the bush, preferably by a single screw-nut
instead of two nuts as heretofore employed, the said screw nut being fitted on the
screwed outer end of the arm of the axle, which screw-threaded portion is of the
same or nearly the same diameter as the axle itself; or the said axle-arm may, if
desired, be provided with right and left handed screw-threads and nuts, as in the
well known Collinge's axle, the said screw-threads and nut however being outside
the end of the bush instead of inside. In order to prevent the loosening of the
said nut when screwed up I form the same with a series of radial notches of
varying depth, and pass a key, cotter, or linch-pin through one of the said radial
notches and through a hole in the end of the axle. By the above described con-
struction I prevent any weakening of the axle, and as the screw-nut and collar are
on the outer end of the bush instead of being within the same when the said bush
is secured in position I obtain a greater length of bearing surface for the latter.
Over the said nut and collar I place a cap, which instead of being screwed into the
end of the bush as heretofore is screwed onto the screwed outer end of the same. To
prevent the endwise displacement of the wheel I screw upon the said screwed
portion of the bush and into contact with the nave of the wheel a collar or nut,
against which the inner end of the said cap abuts when screwed up, or the said
collar or nut may be dispensed with and the wheel secured upon the aforesaid
bush by wedging in the ordinary manner.
Another part of my Invention relates to that portion of the under-carriage of
wheeled vehicles termed the wheel-plates. Heretofore a single wheel-plate has
generally been used, the same being attached to the top bed of the under-carriage,
but according to my Invention I use two wheeled plates, one of which is attached
to the top bed and the other to the bottom bed of the upper plate being arranged
to embrace or cover the lower one. For this purpose the upper wheel-plate is
made trough-shaped in transverse section, that is to say, it is formed with two
downwardly projecting flanges extending around the same, and between these
flanges the lower wheel plate is placed and is free to turn. The downwardly
projecting portions of the said trough-shaped upper wheel plate prevent the
entrance of dust or rain between the said wheel plates, and in order to lubricate
and ensure the free and noiseless working of one plate within the other I prefer to
place within the upper plate and above the lower plate a ring or a series of segments
of flexible or any suitable packing material, which may be provided with recesses
to retain the grease or other lubricating material.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters, Patent filed
by the said Joseph Offord in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 10th
September 1880.
JOSEPH OFFORD, of 79, Well Street, 67, George Street, and 92, Gloucester Road,
in the County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND RELATING. TO THE AXLE-
ARMS, AND IN THE UNDER CARRIAGE OF CARRIAGES OR WHEELED VEHICLES."
My Invention relates partly to improvements in axles for carriages or wheeled
vehicles, the said improvements being designed to afford more strong, durable, and
efficient bearings for the wheels than have heretofore been practicable. The said
Invention also relates to improvements in the wheel-plates which are ordinarily
attached to the top bed of the under carriages of wheeled vehicles to facilitate the
turning of the same.
Figure 1 is a plan of an axle constructed according to my Invention, and shewing
at one end thereof the bush or box to which the nave of the wheel is secured, and
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section of a portion of the same drawn to an enlarged
scale.
Figure 3 is a transverse section on the line x, x, Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a front view of a portion of the under carriage of a wheeled vehicle,
shewing my improved wheel-plates applied to the same.
Figure 5 is a plan or top view of the lower wheel-plate and adjacent parts.
Figure 6 is a vertical section of the wheel-plates and under carriage on the
line y, y, Figure 5.
The first part of my Invention relates to that class of axles which have their ends
or arms accurately turned to receive a bush or box which is secured to the nave of
the wheel. This bush on its inner end abuts against a flexible washer enclosed in
a collar formed on the said axle, the aforesaid bush being secured against end wise
displacement by nuts screwed upon the end of the axle. In an axle of this class
as heretofore constructed the end or arm of the same is provided with right and
left handed screw-threaded portions, and is fitted into the bush in such a manner
that the nuts when tightened upon the said screw-threaded portions to prevent
endwise movement of the said bush are within the same. This construction
however is found in practice to be very disadvantageous, for the reason that the
axle has to be considerably reduced in diameter and weakened at its ends where
the said screw-threaded portions are formed, and the nuts become loose, thereby
causing rattling of the wheels and the occurrence of accidents through the snapping
or breaking off of the said reduced ends and the consequent displacement or coming
off of the wheels.
According to my Invention, however, I obviate these defects by the construction
shewn in Figures 1, 2, and 3 of the Drawings, in which a represents the axle, a¹
the-axle-arms-or-ends,-and.b. the_bush_or_box which is secured to the nave of the
wheel. The axle-arm or end a' is adapted to receive the bush b, which is preferably
formed of wrought iron or gun metal, and the said arm is of such a length as to
project beyond the outer end of the bush b when the said bush is in its position on
the axle-arm, and this outwardly extending portion is screw-threaded, as shewn
at a. Over this projecting portion of the axle I pass a collar or collet c, which
is provided with a bevelled or conical inner surface adapted to fit against a

page_text: corresponding surface 6¹ on the outer end of the bush 6, the said collet being similar
to that heretofore used, with the exception that instead of being of small diameter to
be passed over the reduced portion of the axle into the end of the bush or box b
it is of the same or nearly the same diameter as the bush, and engages with the
outer end of the latter, whereby a large bearing surface to take up the end thrust
of the wheel is obtained. This collet c is secured firmly in position against the
end of the bush, preferably by a single screw-nut & instead of two nuts, as heretofore
employed, the said screw-nut being fitted on the screw threaded outer end a³ of the
arm of the axle, which screw-threaded portion is of the same or nearly the same
diameter as the unscrewed portion of the axle-arm; or the said axle-arm may, if
desired, be provided with right and left handed screw-threads and nuts, as in the
well known "Collinge's" axle, the said screw-threads and nuts however being
outside of the end of the bush b, instead of inside of the same. In order to prevent
the slackening of the nut d when tightened or screwed up I form the same with a
series of notches & of different depth, and after bringing any two opposite notches
in line with the hole in the end of the axle I pass a key, cotter, or linch-pin e
through the said notches and hole, as shewn in Figure 3. By the above described
construction I prevent any weakening of the axle, and as the screw-nut d and
collet c are on the outer end of the bush 6 instead of being within the same when
the said bush is secured in position I obtain a great length of bearing surface for
the latter. Over the nut d' and collet c I place a cap f, which, instead of being
screwed into the end of the bush bas heretofore, is screwed on the outer end 62 of
the same. To prevent any endwise displacement of the wheel I fit upon the screw-
threaded outer portion b² of the bush b, and in contact with the nave of the wheel,
a collar or nut g, against which the inner end of the said cap abuts when screwed
up; or the said collar or nut g may be dispensed with and the wheel secured upon
the bush b by wedging in the ordinary manner.
Another part of my Invention, which is illustrated in Figures 4, 5, and 6, relates
to that portion of the under-carriage of wheeled vehicles termed the wheel-plates.
Heretofore a single wheel-plate has generally been used, the same being attached
to the top bed of the under-carriage, but according to my Invention I use two
wheel-plates h, i, one of which is attached to the top bed j and the other to the
bottom bed k, the upper plate h being constructed to enclose or cover the lower one.
For this purpose the upper wheel-plate / is made trough-shaped in transverse section,
as shewn in Figure 6, that is to say, it is formed with two downwardly projecting
flanges h¹, h', extending around its entire circumference, and in the groove between
these flanges the lower wheel-plate i is fitted with a capability of free movement
therein. The downwardly projecting portions or flanges h¹ of the upper wheel-
plate h prevent the entrance of dust or moisture between the said wheel-plates.
In order to lubricate and ensure the free and noiseless working of one plate within
the other I prefer to provide a ring or a series of segments of leather or other
suitable packing material. This packing material, when the wheel-plates are in
position, rest between the latter and within the groove of the upper wheel plate,
and is preferably secured to the plate i by countersunk rivets, as at m, and may be
provided with recesses to retain the grease or other lubricating material.
Having thus fully described my said Invention, and shown how the same may
be conveniently and advantageously carried into practice, I wish it understood that
I claim,-
First. An axle constructed with arms screw-threaded on their ends, which extend
beyond the bush whereon the nave of the wheel is secured, and which are provided
with the notched nut or nuts in combination with the collar or collet, substantially
as above set forth and for the purposes specified.
Second. The combination with the said bush of the cap, and the collar or nut
screwed on the outside of the same, substantially as above set forth and for the
purpose specified.
Third. In the under carriage of a wheeled vehicle the two wheel-plates attached

page_text: to the top and bottom beds, and so constructed that the lower plate is fitted to
work in a groove in the upper plate with or without the packing, substantially as
above set forth and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Offord, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Seventh day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and eighty.
JOSEPH OFFORD. (L.S.)