Improvements in Car-axle Boxes.
Year: 1891

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Dec., 1891
Complete Specification Left, 24th Aug., 1892-Accepted, 1st Oct., 1892
Improvements in Car-axle Boxes.
A communication from JOSEPH LOUIS PETITHOMME, of Oakland, in the County
of Alameda and State of California, United States of America, Machinist.
1. ALFRED JULIUS BOULT of 323 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
M.I.M.E., do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to improvements in journal-boxes used in connection
with railway car-axles. The object is to provide an oil-tight and dust-proof car-
axle box which shall require little or no attention after it is once put up, and may
be overhauled with ease and dispatch.
The box is provided at the rear or end through which the car-axle enters, with
an enclosure or recess extending from top to bottom and open at both ends. This
enclosure contains a dust-guard fitted around the axle and is made deeper than the
box to afford room for springs sufficiently elastic to ensure constant adjustment and
full wear of the dust-guard.
The dust-guard is composed of sundry pieces enclosed in a casing or open-ended
box made of sheet iron or other suitable material, and having central apertures
through which the axle journal is passed. Into this casing are inserted packing
pieces composed of some pliable substance. These are cut away in a semi-circle
aud lap-jointed so as to form a close-fitting and adjustable washer around the axle.
Both the packing pieces are slitted or grooved and engaged by similarly curved
metal plates, which give them more body and are gradually adapted to make a
smooth and even joint with the axle as the packing pieces wear away. Thus is
formed a washer or dust-guard composed partly of metal and partly of a softer
substance, a combination which ensures greater effectiveness and durability. The
metal plates are also wedge-shaped and thereby adapted to act as spreaders or
expanders for the packing pieces and the sides of the casing. The lower plate
may be either loose or rigidly secured to the casing as preferred.
The lapping pieces and spreaders embedded therein are made to closely embrace
the collar or shoulder of the car-axle journal through the medium of springs one of
which is located in the upper end of the casing and the other in the lower part of
the dust-guard enclosure. These springs are made of flat steel bars bent in a Z or
double Z, form and therefore highly compressible and relaxable occupying little
space when first applied but stretching afterwards in such a way as to force the
upper and lower halves of the washer to their bearings until almost completely
worn out.
-
The dust-guard should make a close joint with the main side of the box as well
as with the axle in order to have a journal-box really oil-tight and dust-proof.
This result is obtained by bevelling the outer ends of the metal plates or spreaders
and providing the adjacent springs with correspondingly bevelled bars. The
springs are thereby enabled to exert a side-pressure at the same time as a direct
one and consequently carry the washer towards the inner wall of its enclosure
while pressing it in the direction of the axle. Side-pressure is further. secured by
providing the upper bar with buttons projecting out of the casing at the rear and
applying a spring to the back of the casing at the lower part. The ends of this
back-spring and the buttons find a bearing upon the outer wall of the dust-guard
recess and they, therefore, help to press the dust-guard forward. Slots are cut
out for the, buttons in the back of the casing to allow the upper bar and its spring
freedom of action in the adjustment of the upper half-washer and also during the
occasional, upward movements of the car-axle.

page_text: Covers may be used to shield the dust-guard and its enclosure if desired. The
same could be utilized as bearings for the springs but it is preferable for this latter
purpose to use cross-bolts or split pins the upper one of which is passed through
slots cut in the sides of the dust-guard casing and the lower one fitted in the bottom
part of the dust-guard enclosure.
To ensure a still better joint with the side of the box the face of the dust-guard
is lined with packing which is made to bear against a joint strip on the inner wall
of the dust-guard recess. This joint strip runs all round the central opening
provided for the axle and readily works itself into the face packing.
The box has a lid hinged to its outer end. This lid is secured firmly in place
by a volute spring seated upon its face and controlled by an eye-bolt passing
through its centre and engaged by a hook set in a suitable slit in the upper part of
the cover and rigidly secured to the hinge-bolt. The spring is held in tension
and allows the opening of the lid only upon the turning of the hinge-bolt which is
rendered normally immovable by means of a lock-lever pivotally connected with it
and engaged by a catch on the edge of the box. A cap is placed over the spring
of the lid to protect it and prevent dust from entering the box through the hole
male for the eye-bolt. The upper end of the lock-lever is provided with an
extension and the top of the box with a corresponding catch adapted to keep the
open when oiling or renovating the waste with which the box is packed. To
do this the lock-lever is disengaged from the side catch, the lid raised, and the
lever swung sidewise on its pivot when the extension and top catch are brought
into engagement thereby acting upon the hinge-bolt and connections and holding
the lid open as long as desired.
lid
Dated this 2nd day of December 1891.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Car-axle Boxes.
A communication from JOSEPII LOUIS PETITHOMME, of Oakland, in the County
of Alameda, State of California, United States of America, Machinist.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,
Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, 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 :-
This invention relates to improvements in journal-boxes used in connection with
railway-car axles, and has for its object to provide an oil-tight and dust-proof
car-axle box which shall require little or no attention after it is once put up and
may be overhauled with ease and dispatch.
Referring to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this Specifi-
cation,―
Fig. is a sectional elevation of the whole box, showing the several new
features thereof.
Fig. 2 is a partly-broken perspective view of the dust-guard used at the rear
end of the box, and
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the fore part of the box and its lid.
The same parts are indicated by the same letters of reference in the three
views.
A represents the body of a journal-box, B a railway-car axle journalled therein,
and C a dust-guard enclosure or recess extending from the top to the bottom of
the box and open at both ends. This enclosure is made somewhat deeper than
the box to afford room for springs sufficiently elastic to ensure the constant adjust-
ment and full wear of the dust-guard. The end openings are provided to give

page_text: ready access to either end of the dust-guard whenever it is desired to replace the
wearing parts by new ones.
D is the dust-guard casing, which consists of an open-ended box made of sheet-
iron or other suitable material, and is placed in the rear enclosure of the box A
both having central apertures through which the axle-journal is passed. Into this
casing are inserted packing-pieces E E' composed of any pliable substance fit for
padding or stuffing. These are cut away in a semi-circle and lap-jointed, so as to
form a close-fitting and adjustable washer around the axle. Both E and E' are
slitted or grooved and engaged by similarly-curved metal plates FF, which give
them more body and are gradually adapted to make a smooth and even joint with
the axle as the packing pieces wear away. Thus is formed a washer or dust-guard
composed partly of metal and partly of a softer substance. The advantage gained
by this combination of a hard material, like metal, with packing easily yielding to
pressure is that a washer or dust-guard of this make is more effective and durable
than one made of either substance alone. The packing used singly wears out too
fast, while the metal alone cannot at first make a true joint if used in the rough
state; but combining the two materials secures at once the advantages derivable
from the pliancy and oil-absorbing power of the one and from the stiffness and
solidity of the other. The plates F F are wedge-shaped, substantially as shown,
and thereby adapted to act as spreaders or expanders for the packing pieces and
the sides of the casing. F', the lower plate, may be either loose or rigidly secured
to the casing as preferred.
The lapping-pieces and spreaders embedded therein are made to closely embrace
the collar or shoulder of the car-axle journal through the medium of springs G G
one of which is located in the upper end of the casing D and the other in the
lower part of the enclosure C. These springs are made of flat steel bars bent in
a Z, or double-Z, form, and therefore highly compressible and relaxable, occupying
little space when first applied, but stretching afterwards in such a way as to force
the upper and lower halves of the washer to their bearings until almost com-
pletely worn out. The dust-guard is thus used up to its fullest capacity, and need
not be renewed before other repairs are needed-such, for instance, as the refitting
of the journal-bearings.
The dust-guard should make a close joint with the main side of the box as well
as with the axle in order to have a journal-box really oil-tight and dust-proof.
This result is obtained by bevelling the outer ends of the metal plates or
spreaders F F and providing the adjacent springs with correspondingly bevelled
bars G G The springs are thereby enabled to exert a side-pressure at the
same time as a direct one, and consequently carry the washer towards the inner
wall of its enclosure, while pressing it in the direction of the axle. Side-pressure
is further secured by providing the upper bar G with buttons H H projecting out
of the casing D at the rear and applying a spring m to the lower part of the dust-
guard on the same side. The ends of this back spring and the buttons find a
bearing upon the outer wall of the dust-guard recess and they therefore help to
press the dust-guard forward. Slots II are cut out for the buttons H in the back
of the casing to allow the bar G2 and spring G freedom of action in the adjustment
of the upper half-washer, as also during the occasional upward movements of the
car-axle.
Covers J J may be used to shield the dust-guard and its enclosure, if desired.
The same could be utilized as bearings for the springs G G but it is preferable,
for this purpose, to use cross-bolts or split-pins K K' the upper one of which is
passed through slots L L cut in the sides of the casing, and the lower one fitted in
the bottom part of the dust-guard enclosure.
To ensure a still better joint with the side of the box, the face of the dust-guard
is lined with packing n which is made to bear against a joint-strip O on the inner
wall of the dust-guard recess. This joint-strip runs all around the central opening
provided for the axle and readily works itself into the face-packing.
33
P-represents the box-lid which is hinged to the outer end of the box so that it

page_text: will hang down and keep closed under ordinary circumstances. This, however, is
not sufficient to render the box dust-proof at that point, as, owing to the jolting of
the car when in motion, the lid will vibrate unless firmly secured in place. It is
therefore provided with a locking mechanism, which is made and applied as follows.
A spiral or volute spring Q is seated upon the face of P and put under the control
of an eye-bolt e passing through the centre of the lid.. A hook R set in a suitable
slit in the upper part of the cover and rigidly secured to the hinge-bolt T is
then made to engage the eye of the bolt a so that the spring will be held in
tension and allow the opening of the lid only upon the turning of the hinge-bolt.
The latter is rendered immovable by means of a lock-lever u pivotally connected
with it and engaged by a catch u on the edge of the box. Thus the lid is as
tightly shut as the. ordinary bolted covers and yet affords ready access to the box,
since no hammer or wrench is needed to unlock it, a simple move of the. lever being
sufficient for this purpose. A cap S is placed over the spring Q to protect it
and prevent dust from entering the box through the hole made for the eyebolt.
As it is desirable to have the lid keep open without holding it when oiling or
renovating the waste in the box, the upper end of the lock-lever is. provided with
an extension or catch adapted to engage a corresponding catch on the top of
the box. The lid being raised up the lever may be swung sidewise on its pivot and
the catches and w readily hooked together thereby acting upon the hinge-bolt and
connections and keeping the lid open as long as desired.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
..tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is,-
1. In a car-axle box, a washer or dust-guard composed of lap-jointed packing-
pieces, metal plates therein, and a casing for the same, substantially as set forth.
2. In a car-axle box, a washer or dust-guard composed of lap-jointed packing-
pieces, spring-actuated inetal plates therein, and a casing for the same, substantially
as set forth.
3. In a car-axle box, the combination of a washer or dust-guard, wedge-shaped
spreaders therein, and a casing for the same, substantially as set, forth.
4. In a car-axle box, the combination of a washer or dust-guard, a, casing
therefor, wedge-shaped spreaders in said washer or dust-guard, and springs acting
upon said spreaders, substantially as set forth.
5. In a car-axle box, the combination of lap-jointed packing-pieces, wedge-shaped
spreaders engaging slits in said packing-pieces, and a casing for the saine, sub-
stantially as set forth.
6. In a car-axle box, the combination of lap-jointed packing-pieces, a casing
therefor, wedge-shaped spreaders engaging slits in said packing-pieces, and springs
acting upon said spreaders, substantially as set forth.
7. In a car-axle box, the combination of a dust-guard, outwardly-bevelled plates
therein, and springs adapted to act upon the bevelled ends of said plates, sub-
stantially as set forth.
8. In a car-axle box, the combination of a dust-guard, outwardly-bevelled, plates,
therein, and spring-actuated bevelled bars bearing against said plates, substantially
as set forth.
9. In a car-axle box, the combination of a dust-guard enclosure, a joint-strip on
one side thereof, and a dust-guard bearing against said joint-strip, substantially as
set forth.
10. In a car-axle box, the combination of a dust-guard enclosure, a joint-strip on
one side thereof, a dust-guard, and a face-packing interposed between said joint-
strip and said dust-guard, substantially as set forth.
:
11. In a car-axle box, the combination of a dust-guard enclosure, a joint-strip
on one side thereof, a dust-guard, and a spring adapted to press said dust-guard:
against said joint-strip, substantially as set forth.
12. In a car-axle box, the combination of a dust-guard, a packing applied to one

page_text: side thereof, a joint-strip bearing against said packing, and a spring acting upon
the opposite side of said dust-guard, substantially as set forth.
13. In a car-axle box, the combination of a dust-guard, a joint-strip_bearing
thereon, outwardly-bevelled plates in said dust-guard, and spring-actuated bevelled
bars bearing against said plates, substantially as set forth.
14. In a car-axle box, the combination of a dust-guard, an outwardly-bevelled
plate therein, a spring-actuated bevelled bar bearing against said plate, and buttons
or projections adapted to exert a side-pressure on said bar, substantially as set
forth.
15. In a car-axle box, the combination of a dust-guard enclosure, a joint-strip
on the inner wall thereof, a dust-guard bearing on said joint-strip, an outwardly-
bevelled plate in said dust-guard, a spring-actuated bevelled bar pressing upon
said plate, and buttons or projections on said bar bearing against the outer wall of
said enclosure, substantially as set forth.
16. In a car-axle box, the combination of a dust-guard enclosure, a washer
composed of lap-jointed pieces therein, a casing for said washer, wedge-shaped
spreaders engaging slits in said lapping pieces, springs acting upon said spreaders
and the washer, a packing applied to one side of said casing, a spring applied to
the opposite side of the same, and a joint-strip on the inner wall of said enclosure
bearing against said packing, the outer wall of the enclosure serving as a bearing
for the ends of said last-named spring, substantially as set forth.
17. In a car-axle box, the combination of a dust-guard, bevelled plates therein,
correspondingly-bevelled bars bearing against said plates, springs acting upon said
bars, and cross-bolts or split-pins serving as bearings for said springs, substantially
as set forth.
18. In a car-axle box, the combination of a dust-guard enclosure, a dust-guard
therein, bevelled plates in said dust-guard, correspondingly-bevelled bars bearing
against said plates, springs adapted to act upon said bars, and covers over said
springs, substantially as set forth.
19. In a car-axle box, the combination of a hinged lid, a volute spring seated
upon the face thereof, an eyebolt passing through said lid and adapted to compress
said spring, a hinge-bolt, a hook connecting both said bolts, a lock-lever pivotted
to said hinge-bolt, and a catch for the free end of said lever, substantially as sct
forth.
20. In a car-axle box, the combination of a hinged lid, a volute spring seated
upon the face thereof, an eyebolt passing through said lid and controlling said
spring, a hinge-bolt, a hook connecting both said bolts, a lock-lever pivotted to
said hinge-bolt, an extension or catch on the upper end of said lever, and a corre-
sponding catch on the top of the box adapted to engage said extension or catch,
substantially as set forth.
21: In a car-axle box, the combination of a hinged lid, a lock-lever controlling
the same, and a catch adapted to be engaged by a side movement of said lever and
thereby keep said lid open, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 24th day of August 1892.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Agents for the Applicant.