IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLE BOXES. AND IN MEANS OF SEGUIRING THE SAME UPON THE AXLE.
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Ebenezer Partridge, of Smethwick, in the
County of Stafford, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN AXLE BOXES. AND IN MEANS OF SEGUIRING THE SAME UPON THE AXLE.
"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Ebenezer Partridge at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 17th June 1870.
I, EBENEZER PARTRIDGE, of Smethwick, in the County of Stafford,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLE BOXES, AND IN MEANS OF SECURING THE SAME UPON THE
AXLE," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to an improved method of forming the aperture
by which the oil or other lubricant is to be admitted to the chamber
of axle boxes, and also to a special apparatus for securing the axle box
and wheel upon the axle, so that should the axle break the wheel is
prevented leaving the same.
The first part of my Invention is carried out as follows:-I form a
lump or projection on the inner edge of the axle box and tap a hole in

page_text: it at an angle to lead into the ordinary chamber or oil reservoir; the
aperture can be closed by a screwed pin, the head of which lies flush
with the edge of lump. By this method the screw can be removed to
replenish the oil by hand without removing the wheel, as is generally
the case.
My improvement in securing the axle box upon the axle consists in
the employment of a metallic coupling band or portion of a band,
which has pins or studs upon it, to be dropped into holes formed in the
collar of the axle and to take into an annular groove cut or otherwise
formed on the periphery of the box and on that part of it which is
outside the face of the nave. The band may be of a springy nature to
hold itself and the pins firmly in position, or it may be fastened in place
as found most convenient.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Ebenezer Partridge in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 16th December 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, EBENEZER
PARTRIDGE, of Smethwick, in the County of Stafford, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Seventeenth day of June, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said Ebenezer Partridge, Her special licence that I,
the said Ebenezer Partridge, my executors, administrators, and assigns,
or such others as I, the said Ebenezer Partridge, my executors,
administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no
others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term
therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AXLE BOXES, AND IN MEANS OF SECURING THE SAME UPON THE AXLE," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Ebenezer Partridge, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or
their, or one of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and

page_text: ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
was to be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal
Patent Office within six calendar months. next and immediately after the
date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Ebenezer Partridge, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thercof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, that is to say :-
My Invention relates to an improved method of forming the aperture
by which the oil or other lubricant is to be admitted to the chamber
of axle boxes, and also to a special apparatus for securing the axle box
and wheel upon the axle, so that should the axle break the wheel is
prevented leaving the same..
-My improvement in oiling the axle is carried out as follows:-I form
a lump or projection on the inner edge of the axle box and tap a hole
in it at an angle to lead into the ordinary chamber or oil reservoir, the
aperture can be closed by a screwed pin, the head of which lies flush
with the edge of the lump. By this method the screw can be removed
to replenish the oil by hand without removing the wheel as is generally
the case.
The next part of my Invention consists in securing the axle box upon
the axle by the employment of a metallic coupling band or portion of a
band which has pins or studs upon it to be dropped into holes formed
in the collar of the axle and to take into an annular groove cut or
otherwise formed on the periphery of the box and on that part of it
which is outside the face of the nave. The band may be of a springy
nature to hold itself and the pins firmly in position, or it may be fastened
in place as found most convenient.
The Invention will be well understood by referring to the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings.
Figure 1 is a view of an axle box such as is used in wheels of road
carriages and other vehicles, the rear part of it is provided with a lump a
through which a hole is drilled to form a passage to, lead; to the
journal or axle proper c, the journal being grooved in the usual manner
so that when the groove d is opposite the hole 6 a communication is
established with the oil cup or box e, Figure 2, which is screwed on its
outer end. The hole b is, as before stated, tapped or threaded so that a

page_text: screw pin or stud f can be inserted into it, and thus prevent the oil or
other lubricant escaping by it at any time. The object of this part of
my Invention is that axles can be lubricated at any time by simply
removing the screw pin fand pouring the lubricant in when it will flow
down the groove d in the axle, Figure 3, into the cup e, thus the tedious
operation of removing the cap and refilling it is avoided, besides the
damage often done to the screw thread by the spanner, it being necessary
to screw the cap up as tightly as possible to prevent it working loose.
By my method the cap e is screwed up at first, putting the wheel on as
seen in Figure 4, and may be never after removed for any purpose, it
may even be fastened on by solder or otherwise, as it is impossible for
any grit or dirt to get in, the other parts being all preserved by shields
or appliances to prevent it. :
The end of the axle g is threaded with right and left-handed screws for
the reception of the nuts and i, Figures 5 and 6, which bind against
each other and are thus prevented working loose.
The rear portion of my box is grooved on its exterior with an
annular groovej which takes under the lip k of the axle collar, socket,
or shoulder plate in the usual manner, as with axle boxes without a
groove. This axle collar or socket plate however I utilize by boring
or drilling holes m, m³, in it for pins or studs n, n, on a plate o, Figure 7,
to pass through and find a lodgment in the annular groove j for the
purpose of acting as a safeguard and to prevent the wheel leaving the
axle or vehicle should the axle break from any cause between the shoulder
and its outer end.
The depth or length of these pins n, n, is sufficient to prevent them
jumping up high enough to become disengaged from the socket lips,
but as a second security for the purpose the plate o is of springy steel
or other metal so that to get the pins into the holes the plate has to be
straightened a little to allow them to enter, after which the plate
contracts again and binds the pins in position. I have shewn the
annular groove as being of a rounded form and in most cases this will
be found preferable, as it leaves more metal at that end of the box than
if the groove were made square in form as shown at Figure 8, this form
of groove may, however, be used for vehicles of a light character, such
as trucks, light carts, or gigs, but for heavier vehicles or vehicles subject
to heavy work the rounded form will be found the best.
I have in part of my Invention referred to the oil hole as being closed

page_text: by a screw pin and of course it will be understood that the pin may have
any shaped head, and may project or not as deemed advisable, if there
be a head projecting it would turn with the wheel and be protected
from injury by moving inside the collar or socket l.
In Figure 4 I have shown both parts of my Invention as fitted to one
wheel, and it is thus that I prefer they should be used, but it is not
essential that both of them should be used so as each improvement is
complete in itself and can be arranged alone in any wheel or to any axle
as described.
And having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that I claim,--
Firstly. Forming an annular groove on the inner ends of axle boxes for
the reception of a coupling band, pins, or studs, in the manner and for
the purpose herein-before described and shown.
Secondly. I claim the employment of a spring plate with pins fitted
thereto, in the manner and for the purposes described.
Thirdly. I claim forming a lump on the inner ends of axle boxes, in
the manner and for the purposes described and shown.
And Fourthly. Forming a passage through axle boxes and preferably
at an angle for admitting oil or other lubricant to the axle, in the
manner herein-before described and shown.
In witness whereof, I, the said Ebenezer Partridge, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this Fifteenth day of December, One
thousand eight hundred and seventy.
TDAT
EBENEZER PARTRIDGE. (L.S.)