Improvements in or relating to Divided Car-axles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st June, 1899-Accepted, 12th Aug., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Divided Car-axles.
I, FREDERICK MYERS, of 229, E. 32nd Street, New York, in the County and
State of New York, United States of America, Mechanical 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:-
This invention relates to divided car-axles, and the objects of the same are to
produce a device of this character which shall be comparatively simple in con-
struction, durable and efficient in use.
Another object is to provide means whereby each of the wheels upon a car axle
may have independent revolution, in order that a car rounding a curved track
may have its wheels travel at the required speed to prevent slipping on either
rail.
Another object of my invention is to furnish a tubular axle mounted upon a
solid shaft and divided centrally so that each wheel may revolve in unison when
travelling over a straight track and be permitted an independent revolution
when rounding curves.
I attain the objects referred to by means of the construction shown in the
accompanying drawing, which forms a part of this specification, and in which:―
Fig. 1 is a view in elevation and partial section of a car axle and wheels,
and showing my invention applied thereto.
Fig. 2 is a face or plan view of the cone-lock.
Fig. 3 is a similar view of the cone-support.
Fig. 4 is a central vertical section of the same.
Like numerals of reference designate like parts wherever they occur in the
several views of the drawing.
Referring to the construction shown in Fig. 1 of the drawing, the numeral 1
designates a shaft. This shaft is screw-threaded near its ends, as at 2.
A cone-support 3, is provided with a central screw-threaded bore 4, which fits
the threaded portion 2, of the shaft 1.
A detent, as for instance a stud or pin 5, projects outward from the outer face
of the cone-support 3 and a boss extends from the inner face of said support. A
cone-ring 7, is fitted to the boss 6, of the cone support, and may be permitted a
slight movement thereon if deemed advisable.
To lock the cone-support 3, against movement on the shaft 1, a locking disk 8,
is provided. This disk has a series of perforations or apertures 9, extending
around it near its periphery. A central aperture 10. in the locking disk has a
plane or flat wall 11. The shaft 1, is also squared to conform to the shape of
the aperture 10, at the point where the disk is permitted to slip thereon. By
means of this construction, the cone and its support may be adjusted to the
required degree upon the shaft, and when adjusted the locking disk is placed
against the support 3, and the stud or pin will pass through any one of the
perforations or apertures 9, with which it registers. A nut 12, is turned up
against the outer face of the locking-disk upon the threads 2, on the shaft. In

page_text: this way the cone, the cone-support, and the locking disk are held firmly to the
shaft 1, and these parts do not normally revolve, but when found desirable all
these parts may be moved around to assure a different position by placing a
wrench upon the squared end 13, of the shaft 1.
The revolving parts of the wheel and axle will now be described.
A tubular axle made in two sections 14, 14, is slipped over the shaft 1,
and is sufficiently larger than said shaft to easily revolve around it. The two
inner ends 15, of the tubular axle 14, 14, are brought together at a point sub-
stantially in the longitudinal center of the shaft 1. At points near the inner
ends 15, rings or collars 16, are rigidly secured to the tubular axle sections and a
split collar or clamp 17, surrounds the sections between the collars 16, to
unite the ends of said sections with just sufficient force to compel the two
sections to revolve in unison when the wheels are traversing a straight track, but
the force exerted by the collar 17, upon the sections 14, 14, is not sufficient
to hold said sections together when the wheels are rounding curves. The
collar 17, is recessed upon its inner face, as at 18, to reduce friction when the
two sections of the axle are travelling at different rates of speed, as when
traversing curved tracks, and said recess also serves to hold the lubricant.
At the outer ends of the tubular sections 14, 143, a flange 19, is rigidly secured
or formed therewith. The wheel center 20, is secured by a series of bolts 21,
to the flange 19. The aperture 22, in the wheel center 20, is of the same
diameter as the interior of the tubular axle sections 14, 14. An annular recess 23,
is formed in the outer face of the wheel center, and in this recess the ball-
race 24, is seated and between said ball-race and the cone-ring 7, the balls 25,
are placed.
It will be obvious from the foregoing that the wheels revolve upon the balls 25,
and since the connection between the tubular axle sections and the wheels
are of a fixed and rigid character, the axle sections revolve either in unison
or separately, depending upon the course or curvature of the track upon which
the wheels are travelling.
I am aware that there are many modifications as to details of construction
which may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of my
invention; therefore I do not wish to be restricted to the precise construction
shown.
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. A car-axle comprising a non-rotatable shaft, tubular sections through which
said shaft passes, car-wheels rigidly attached to the outer ends of said tubular
sections, a clamp surrounding the inner ends of said tubular sections and
adapted to hold the sections with sufficient force to secure either unitary or
independent revolution of the sections, said tubular sections being arranged to
rotate out of contact with the shaft, substantially as described.
2. A pair of car-wheels provided with ball bearings and secured at the ends
of tubular axle sections, a solid shaft passing through said sections, and
means for holding the inner ends of the tubular axle sections in proximity with
sufficient force to secure either unitary or independent revolutions of said sections
and wheels, substantially as described.
Dated his lat dan of Tu 1900