Improvements in Axle Boxes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd June, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 6th July, 1894-Accepted, 11th Aug., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Axle Boxes.
I, DAVID JOHN MORGAN, of 16 Barry Dock Road, Barry, in the County of
Glamorgan, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide a better means of changing the brass
bearings in axle boxes than has hitherto been employed and also to allow of the
possibility of trueing up the axle bearing itself without removing the axle box or
the brass bearing. In order to do this I make the axle box in two parts or halves.
Each half has the usual vertical side grooves for the purpose of sliding up and
down in the horn plates. The top half has provision for taking the spring, oil box
and other necessaries. The lower half is capable of removal without interfering
with the top half. Projecting lugs or their equivalent are cast on to the sides of
each of the halves, through which bolts are passed to hold both parts together, a
projecting snug being cast on either part to fit into a recess in the other, for the
purpose of preventing side play. The brass bearing fits into the top half and rests
on the journal in the usual manner. To insert the brass, the wagon is slightly
lifted and the brass then passed up and around the axle journal. Horus are cast
on the brass for the purpose of keeping it securely in place. The bottom half of
the axle box by being screwed up against the brass helps to keep it in position.
The bottom half of the box acts as a grease reservoir and if necessary a spare
brass may be kept therein. Upon the top part of the box, a screw or screws may
be provided for the purpose of acting as a jack to lift the wagon when required.
This will obviate the necessity of carrying a screw-jack for such purpose. The
screws mentioned herein may be dispensed with when cheapness is a consideration.
The two halves of the box may be kept together by means of horizontal rods
passing through holes in projections in both top and bottom halves.
Vertical rods
may be put through both halves to prevent side play. In the event of the
possibility of the bottom half of the box being detached from the top one, projecting
horns on the top box, either cast on or detachable, may be placed to prevent the
axle getting out of position.
Dated this 2nd day of June 1894.
PLATY
r
ILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicant.
UOMI LEIE ST
Improvements in Axle Boxes.
I, DAVID JOHN MORGAN of 16 Barry Dock Road, Barry, in the County of
Glamorgan, Engineer, 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 :-
3
My invention relates to improvements in axle boxes, more particularly to those
of railway rolling stock, although it is not necessarily limited to the latter.
The object of the invention is to provide a better means for and method of
changing an axle bearing than those hitherto known and used, as well as to provide
for the axle bearing being trued up without it being necessary to disconnect either
the axle box as a whole or the bearing.

page_text: In order that my
vention and the best means of carrying it into effect may be
thoroughly understood, I will now describe it in detail, referring in so doing to the
accompanying figures which are to be taken as part of this Specification and read
therewith.
Figure 1 is a side elevation of an axle box made according to the present
invention, including the journal end of the axle.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional elevation, and
Figure 3 is a plan, both corresponding with Figure 1.
Figures 4 and 5 are side elevations of the disconnected top and bottom parts of
the box.
Figure 6 is a transverse section on the line 6-6 of Figures 1, 2 and 3.
Figure 7 is a front elevation, partly in section, of the axle through the journal,
the axle guard and the bearing.
a is the top and b the bottom part of the axle box. They are held together
partly by a nutted bolt c passed through a pair of horizontal lugs a', 6', the former
on the top part a and the latter on the bottom part b, the said lugs being opposite
each other and a pair of them with their bolt c on each side of the box, and partly
by the peculiar way in which the two parts a and b are fitted the one to the other.
As these two parts are uniform in horizontal section, it would be possible to make
them meet along the line of such section. But to do so would not meet the
requirements of my invention in this respect, for it is necessary to provide against
side play, and such provision is made by fitting the two parts to each other in the
following way. d is the meeting line between the parts in question. Referring to
Figure 1, it starts from the top edge of the box and taking a downward direction,
runs out of the top part a by the side of the lug a', after making two right angles
on its way. Starting again from the bottom edge of the part a and on the opposite
side of the lug, it takes an upward direction towards the top of the box, thereby
forming an extension or vertical lug e immediately above the lug a'. Leaving the
extension e, it describes an arc f towards the back of the box, turns in a horizontal
direction towards the back of the box, then vertically downwards, thereby
forming the extension 9 upon the bottom part b, and lastly horizontally again to
the corner of the box which it turns, running out at the hole in the back of the
box through which the axle passes. Further, the sides of the top part a are
provided with vertical flanges i which fit just within the sides of the bottom part b.
When the two parts a and b are brought together jin the way shewn in Figure 1,
the engagements of the extensions or vertical lugs e, in their corresponding
recesses e¹ in the bottom part b, of the extensions or vertical lugs g in the corre-
sponding recesses in the top part a and behind the ridges d (described further on,)
and that of the flanges within the bottom part b, effectually prevent either part
moving upon the other.
Additional holding devices may be made use of if desired, but I do not deem
them necessary. Such are a pair of nutted bolts j, j, which are passed downwards
through the top parts a and b at the back corners of the box, and a horizontal
nutted bolt which is passed through the four holes k¹ in the sides of the box
as well as through a tunnel 2 fast to the top part a. I wish to draw particular
attention to the fact that when the holding bolts described above are taken out,
the bottom part 6 can be removed clear of the axle as well as of all the adjacent
parts without interfering with any of them, and the journal end and bearing.be
fully exposed, because the meeting line is mostly above both of them.
1, are the usual vertical ridges one on each side of the box, and in which are
formed the necessary and well known grooves 1, 1, by which the box engages
with the horn plates. m is a recess formed on the top of the top part a for the end
of the spring to rest in. m is the usual hinged door to the grease box n.
This latter member of the axle box is formed in one piece with the top part a
and stands partly within it and partly within the bottom part 6, as is clearly shewn
in Figures 2 and 6.
o is the axle guard. It is a U shaped piece pendant from the top of the axle

page_text: box, to which it is made fast in any convenient way, e.g., by the bolt k. It stands
on each side of and below the axle journal at a short distance only therefrom. The
object of it is to act as a guard, to keep the axle end in its working position, in the
event of any accident happening to the lower part 6 of the axle box. I do not
regard this axle guard as an essential part of the invention and it may, for that
reason, be dispensed with altogether or may be supplemented or even replaced by
fixed lugs projecting laterally from the sides of the part 6 towards the axle and
presenting their free ends one on each side thereof.
is the bearing. Its under face is turned out as heretofore to the radius of. the
journal while its top face is hipped to fit into a corresponding recess in the under
face of the top part a as clearly shewn in Figures 6 and 7. p is a lug on each side
of the bearing, adapted to support the latter at the proper working height and in
the proper working position by standing just within the legs of the guard o, resting
upon shoulders o' formed for that purpose upon the inner sides of the said legs, and
further, held between the top and bottom parts of the axle box. Lateral
projections from the sides of the box adapted to engage with the bearing so far as
to prevent it moving sidewise may be provided if desired.
o, o² are grease ducts through the bottom of the grease box and the bearing to
the surface of the journal.
1
The tunnel may be cut away in the centre to allow of the grease moving
from the front of the grease box to the rear; or it may be dispensed with
altogether, the bolt k being recessed in the bottom of the grease box n.
A screw or screws, capable of jacking up the waggon as far as may be required
for renewing a bearing, may be fitted upon the top part a of the box. Such a
provision will obviate the necessity of relying upon an ordinary screw jack. To
renew a bearing, the waggon is jacked up, the bottom part 6 of the axle box taken
off, and the new bearing passed up on to its seat the shoulders o'. A spare
bearing may be kept in the bottom part 6 of the box.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is :-
:-
1. The combination of top and bottom part together constituting an axle box,
with means for holding them together, the bottom part being detachable from the
former as and for the purpose set forth.
2. The combination of top and bottom part together constituting an axle box
with means for holding them together, the adjacent edges of the two parts being
fitted with extensions and recesses respectively and the sides of the top part with
flanges, as and for the purpose set forth.
3. The combination of top and bottom part together constituting an axle box
with means for holding them together, the plane of junction passing through the
grooves and ridges in each side thereof by which the box is held to and by the horn
plates, as set forth.
4. The U shaped axle guard having shoulders adapted to receive the bearing.
5. The improved bearing having lugs projecting laterally and adapted to be held
thereby between the top and bottom parts of the axle box.
Da thin 4th ST1 1001
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
22, Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.