IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLE BOXES AND APPLIANCES APPERTAINING THERETO
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas North, of Hitchin, in the County of Hertford,
Gentleman, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLE BOXES AND
APPLIANCES APPERTAINING THERETO." A communication from abroad by
Owen Tomlinson, of Parel, Bombay, East Indies.
Sealed the 14th May 1878, and dated the 6th March 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas North at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th March 1878.
THOMAS NORTH, of Hitchin, in the County of Hertford, Gentleman. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AXLE BOXES AND APPLIANCES APPERTAINING THERETO." A commu-
nication from abroad by Owen Tomlinson, of Parel, Bombay, East Indies.
This Invention consists of further improvements in the new and improved axle
box and appliances appertaining thereto, of which a Specification dated 26
November, 1872, No. 3541, and also another Specification, dated 13th January,
1875, No. 130, have already been filed.
The further improvements consist,-
Firstly. Of an improved oil feeder, the object of which is to avoid the wastage
and abstraction of oil, and to enable oilmen or others attending to the oiling of the
axle boxes to ascertain at once whether further oil is required, and if so, to. enable
them to regulate the supply accurately by showing at once when the proper com-
pliment of oil has been introduced.
The following is a description of this portion of the Invention:-
An upright or other suitably shaped dam or weir is cast into the oil feeder. This
dam or weir acts as a weir between the hole into which the oil is poured and the
interior of the axle box, the level of the top of such dam or weir being below the
level of overflow.
The feeder with this weir in it may be made separately and fitted to axle boxes
already in use by any approved mechanical contrivance, such as a screwed, rivetted,

page_text: soldered, or other joint. The position of the feeder is in front of the axle box at the
lower part, this being probably the most convenient position, but if considered
preferable, it could easily be made on one of the sides of the box.
When the oil overflows this dam or weir from the interior of the axle box, the
oilman will at once know that the axle box is supplied with the proper quantity of
oil. The weir is, moreover, so situated as to prevent the insertion of a syringe or
other instrument by means of which oil is so frequently abstracted and stolen.
And the further improvements consist,-
Secondly. Of moveable sides or fillets in substitution for the permanent and fixed
sides cast on to the receptacle or groove in which the washers or dust plates are
fitted in some axle boxes now in use.
The object of these moveable fillets is that by the simple process of removing them
defective washers or dust plates can be withdrawn through the open sides of the
grooves, and others can be substituted without taking the box apart or removing it
from the axle. The renewal of the washers having been thus effected, it will only
remain again to fix the fillets; these can be fastened on by screws or other effectual
means.
And, Thirdly. The further improvements consist in the substitution of moveable
shoulders or interior projections for permanent and fixed shoulders or projections for
the purpose of forming packing or stuffing boxes; the object of having this moveable
is that the shell of the box may be cast in one instead of two parts, for if these
shoulders were not moveable, it would be impossible (if the box were cast in one
part to get it over the projecting collar of the journal. These shoulders are fastened
in position from the outside of the box by means of screws or studs.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Thomas North in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 5th September
1978.
THOMAS NORTH, of Hitchin, in the County of Hertford, Gentleman. "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AXLE BOXES AND APPLIANCES APPERTAINING THERETO." A commu-
nication from abroad by Owen Tomlinson, of Parel, Bombay, East Indies.
This Invention consists of further improvements in the new and improved axle
box and appliances appertaining thereto, of which Specification dated 26th
November, 1872, No. 3541, and 13th January 1875, No. 130, have already been filed.
And in order that the said Invention might be properly understood, I will pro-
ceed to describe the same, reference being had to the annexed Sheet of Drawings,
and to the letters of reference thereon, the same letters of reference indicating similar
parts in all the Figures.
Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of axle box made according to my plan.
Fig. 2, transverse sections at A, A, and B, B; Fig. 3, front elevation; Fig. 4,
sectional plan on line C, C; Fig. 5, plan of washer C
Fig. 6, half cross section and half end elevation of keep J and bearing K, in which
the latter is made with a T shaped head K² and lug K¹ at the back.
Fig. 7, longitudinal section of the above.
Fig. 8, half cross section and half end elevation of keep J and bearing K in which
the latter is constructed with lug K' at the back as before, but the sides are slotted
or grooved to receive a tongue piece J' on the keep J; D, dam or weir; D, the
feeder; D², shell of axle box; E, moveable sides or fillets for the removal of dust
plates or washers; E¹, screws for fastening the side E to axle box; F', inoveable
shoulders or projections; F¹, packing or stuffing boxes formed by the projections F;
G, washers or dust plates; H, groove in which the washers fit; 1, centre tongue in
bottom of groove H; H, groove for washers or dust plates G; J, iron keep; J¹, lug
on back of iron keep J; Je, tongue pieces at the back of iron keep J; K, bearing;
K', lug on back of bearing K; K², T shaped head of bearing K.
Having thus described the Drawings, the following are the particulars and descrip-
tion of the said Invention :-
Firstly. An upright or slanting dam or weir cast into the oil feeder in form or
principle similar to that shewn in the Drawing at D. This dam or weir D acts as a
weir between the hole into which the oil poured and the interior of the axle box,
the level of the top of such dam or weir D being below the level of the overflow.
The feeder D with this weir in it may be made separately and fitted to axle
boxes already in use by any approved mechanical contrivance, such as a screwed,
rivetted, soldered, or other joint.
In the axle box shewn in the Drawing the position of the feeder D¹ is in
front of the axle box (of course af the lower part), this being probably the most
convenient position, but if considered preferable, it could of course be made on one
of the sides of the box.
When oilmen (while replenishing the feeder D') perceives the oil overflows this
dam or weir D, he will at once know that the axle box is supplied with the proper
quantity of oil. The weir D is, moreover, so constructed as to prevent the insertion
of a syringe or other instrument by means of which oil is so frequently abstracted
and stolen.
The second part of my present Invention consists of making the shell D² of the
axle box in one piece instead of two parts bolted together as before, and at the same
time maintain all the principles and advantages of my former Patents herein-before
named; the method of attaining these ends are as follows, vis-Movable sides or
fillets E, made of either hard wood or metal, are substituted for the permanent and
fixed sides cast on to the receptacle or groove H in which the centre tongue I of irou is
cast, and the slot or groove in the wooden washers G or dust plates are fitted.

page_text: The object of these moveable sides or fillets E is that by the simple process of
removing them defective washers or dust plates G can be withdrawn through the
open sides of the grooves, and others can be substituted without taking the box
apart or removing it from the axle. The renewals of the washers or dust plates G
having been thus effected, it will only remain again to fix the fillets E; these can be
fastened on by screws E' or other effectual means.
Moveable shoulders or interior projections (shewn in the Drawing at F may be
substituted for permament and fixed shoulders or projections for the purpose of
forming packing or stuffing boxes F'. These movable shoulders may be made of
hard wood or metal, and fixed by means of screws F, or rivets, or the axle box may
have supports cast in it to carry the same. The object of having these shoulders or
interior projections F moveable is that they may be adopted with advantage to
axle boxes in present use for the purpose of receiving the blows from the axle when
shunting, sudden starting or stopping of trains, &c., the result being that the force of
such blows would be spent through the whole of the axle box, and thus prevent
collars of journals striking and breaking off the backs of axle boxes, which is at
present one of the chief causes of breakage of axle boxes in general use.
The principle of my improved iron keep, Patented 26th November, 1872,
No. 3541, is inadequately described to afford protection, the iron keep J (as shewn
separately at Figures 6 and 7) can be made with a lug J, so as to receive the
Tshaped head K2 of the bearing K; or, if preferred, the bearing K may (as shown
in Figures 8 and 9) be made with a groove in each side of it, into which grooves
the tongue pieces J2 at the back of the iron keep J projects and retains the bearing;
or it may be constructed with a dovetail head and a lug at the back as at present
shewn in the Drawing of the axle box, all of which principles I claim to be the
Inventor; for description of the advantages, see the above quoted Specification.
Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I declare that what I claim and desire to be secured
by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the oil feeder in form or
principle similar to or like the one shewn in the accompanying Drawing; the
principle of forming the groove in which the wooden washers or dust plates are
fitted with moveable sides, and still retaining a centre tongue cast in the lower part
of the washer groove; the slot or groove in the washer to fit the same; the.
shoulders or interior projections which may be loose or fixed, and the improved iron
keep, all substantially as above described and illustrated on the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas North, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Second day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-eight.
THOMAS NORTH. (L.S.)