Improvements in Axle Boxes and Bearings for Railway Carriages, Wagons, or the like.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Aug., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 29th May, 1894-Accepted, 14th July, 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Axle Boxes and Bearings for Railway Carriages,
Wagons, or the like.
I, WILLIAM RIGLEY of Forest Villas, Highbury Vale, Bulwell in the Borough
of Nottingham, Wagon Builder, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
This invention relates to the axle boxes and bearings of railway carriages wagons
or the like, and it has for its object improvements in such axle boxes and bearings,
so that the bearings and journals may be more readily examined and the former
removed with greater facility either for repair or to be replaced by new ones.
In carrying out this invention the exterior of the axle box may be of the usual
form, the interior being subdivided by a horizontal cross-stay or partition placed at
a suitable height and extending preferably the full length of the box.
The bearing formed of gun-metal or other suitable metal and carried on the
underside of and by the stay or partition, may be provided with lugs or projections
at each side which slide on ledges on the inner sides of the box which act as guide<
for the insertion of the bearing and prevent it from falling below that point.
When in its proper position the bearing is raised and studs formed on its upper
face fit into holes or recesses formed in the cross stay or partition; the studs on
the bearing pass preferably through the stay and are also formed with holes to
conduct the grease from the upper side of the stay or partition to the bearing.
If preferable the studs may be formed on the stay, or other convenient arrange-
ment may be employed for retaining the bearing in position.
The outer end of the box is provided with an opening extending from the top to
a distance below the cross stay or partition so as to allow of the inspection of the
bearing and journal and the withdrawal of the former if necessary.
This is readily
effected by raising the carriage or wagon so as to take the weight off the journal,
the bearing will then fall or may be pushed down on to the ledges and be withdrawn
through the opening.
The opening is provided with a door which may be hinged or pivotted to a lug
or the side of the box so as to turn in a plane parallel to the end of the box,
I preferably employ the latter arrangement as the door may be more readily adapted
to retain its position when closed without any fastener.
The space above the cross stay or partition may be employed as a grease box or
preferably I insert in this space a box or drawer in which the grease is placed; this
box or drawer is inserted through the opening at the end of the box and is retained
in position by the door.
When a box or drawer is employed it is provided at the bottom with holes or
openings which communicate with those in the bearing or stay or partition for
conducting the grease to the bearing.
The upper and outer end of the box is provided with an opening for examining
or filling the grease box, which opening is fitted with a door of the usual
construction.
With the foregoing arrangement the bearing and journal may be examined at
any time without the slightest trouble, and the former removed and refitted, or
replaced by a new one without removing the axle and wheels; the grease box or

page_text: drawer may also be readily removed when empty and replaced by a full one,
or filled in the usual way.
Dated this 29th day of August 1893.
W. P. THOMPSON & BOULT,
Of London, Nottingham, Liverpool, and Manchester,
Agents for the Applicant.
COMIDDIN DI MUITICATION.
Improvements in Axle Boxes and Bearings for Railway Carriages,
Wagons, or the like.
I, WILLIAM RIGLEY, of Forest Villa, Highbury Vale, Bulwell, in the Borough
of Nottingham, Wagon Builder, 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 axle boxes and bearings of railway carriages, wagons
or the like, and it has for its object improvements in such axle boxes and bearings,
so that the bearing and journal may be more readily examined and the former
removed with greater facility, either for repairs, or to be replaced by a new one,
and also to afford greater facility for renewing the supply of grease for lubricating
the bearing.
It will be best understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in
which :-
Fig. 1. is a longitudinal section, and
Fig. 2. a transverse section of an axle box constructed according to my
invention.
Fig. 3. is a side elevation,
Fig. 4. an end elevation, and
Fig. 5. a horizontal section taken immediately above the bearing.
Like letters indicate like parts throughout the drawings.
In carrying out this invention, the exterior of the axle box a, the loose bottom a¹
and the inner end a² may be of the usual form, the interior however is subdivided
by a horizontal cross stay or partition & placed at a suitable height and extending
preferably the full length of the box as shown.
с
The bearing c of gun metal, or other suitable alloy or metal, is carried on the
underside of the partition and is preferably provided on each side with lugs or
projections c¹ (see Figs. 2 & 5) adapted to slide on ledges e on the inner side of
the box a, when the bearing c is being moved in or out of the box, which
ledges act as guides for the bearing, and prevent it from falling below that point.
Stops el are also provided to engage with the lugs c¹ and prevent the bearing being
moved beyond the position at which it may be lifted into its place against the
partition b.
When the bearing is raised, studs f, f, formed on the underside of the partition b
fit into corresponding holes or recesses in the bearing c.
If preferred the studs fmay be formed on the bearing c recesses in this case
being formed in the partition to receive them.
b
The outer end of the box a is provided with an opening extending from the top
to a suitable distance below the partition 6 so as to allow of the inspection of the
bearing & journal and the withdrawal of the former when necessary. This is
readily effected by raising the carriage or wagon, so as to take the weight off the
bearing, it will then fall, or may be pushed down until the lugs c¹ rest on the
ledges e and then withdrawn through the opening.
This opening is provided with a door g, which may be hinged or pivotted, as
shown at h, to a lug h' on the side of the box a. The outer edge gl see Figs. 4 & 5,

page_text: b
may be bevelled and in the form of a segment of a circle of which the pivot h
is the centre, and fit into a corresponding shaped seat formed by the projection i.
The space above the partition 6 may be employed as a grease box, or preferably
1 insert in this space a loose box or drawer, 1, in which the grease is placed, this
box or drawer is inserted through the end opening and is retained in position by
the door when it is closed.
When a loose box or drawer j is employed it is provided with holes or openings j
(see Fig. 1.) which correspond with the positions of the passages f¹ in the studs f
on the partition b or bearing c.
The upper and outer end of the box a is provided with an opening for examining
or filling the grease box, and is fitted with a door of the usual construction.
With the foregoing arrangement, the bearing and journal may be examined at
any time without trouble, and the former removed and re-fitted, or replaced by a
new one without removing the axle; the loose grease box or drawer may also
be readily removed when empty and replaced by a full one or filled whilst in its
place in the usual manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. In an axle box, the combination with a partition or stay, such as 6 for
carrying the axle bearing of a loose box such as j for holding the lubricant,
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
2. An axle box with a partition or stay such as 6 carrying on the underside
the axle bearing c and a chamber above it to hold the lubricant, or a loose box or
drawer, such as, containing the lubricant, substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
3. In an axle box, the combination with a partition or stay such as b, and axle
bearing c, of studs such as f provided with holes or ducts for conveying the
lubricant to the face of the axle bearing c substantially as described and illustrated
in the accompanying drawings.
4. In an axle box, the combination with a partition or stay such as 6 for
carrying the bearing c of ledges e to engage with lugs c' substantially as and for
the purpose described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
5. The combination and arrangement of parts constituting the complete axle box
and bearing, substantially as herein described and illustrated in the accompanying
drawings.
Dated this 28th day of May 1894.
WILLIAM RIGLEY,
W. P. Thompson & Boult,
Agents for the Applicant.