Improvements in or connected with the Wheels and Axles of Railway Rolling Stock.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Jan., 1895-4ccepted, 16th Mar., 1895
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with the Wheels and Axles of
Railway Rolling Stock.
1, JOSEPH WILloughby, of Erme House, Mutley, Compton Gifford, in the
County of Devon, 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 :-
My said invention relates to improvements in or connected with the wheels and
axles of railway rolling stock.
In railways, some very sharp curves or angles are met with, at crossings, points,
sidings, and other places, which, owing to the difference in the distance to be
travelled by the inner and outer wheels of a pair of wheels fixed with their axle,
necessitate one of the wheels slipping with relation to the rail upon which it is
running, thus causing a great amount of friction, and in case of a train travelling
at any considerable rate of speed, throwing a severe strain upon the wheels and
axle.
The wear and tear upon the rails is also very severe at such places and a heavy
cross strain is thrown upon the axle bearings with an increase of friction at those
parts.
Various devices have been suggested for obviating this defect but they have
not proved altogether successful.
Now, the object of the present invention is by a simple and inexpensive device
to obviate in a more satisfactory manner the defect above pointed out.
In carrying the invention into effect, the axle of the wheels is divided transversely
and at about the centre of its length, the wheels being fixed with the axle as
heretofore and the two lengths of the axle are at their meeting ends coupled by
means of a loose sleeve which covers the joint and embraces a considerable length
of the two parts of the axle.
This sleeve is interiorly provided with several grooves collars or flanges of
considerable depth engaging corresponding parts formed or provided on the two
parts of the axle so that any longitudinal movement of the two parts of the axle
with relation to each other is prevented and the proper guage of the wheels is thus
maintained whilst the sleeve efficiently keeps the two parts of the axle in proper
alignment and at the same time by reason of the closely fitting grooves and collars;
preserves the rigidity and transverse strength of the compound axle.
+
In order to facilitate its application to a divided axle, the sleeve is divided"
longitudinally into sections bolted together.
By this arrangement of parts, when the railway carriage is running in a straight
path and the wheels consequently have the same distance to travel, they will run
at an equal speed whilst upon running over a curve or angle the wheels will by
reason of the sleeve coupling run at differential speeds the sleeve coupling
permitting the independent movement of the wheels with relation thereto and to
each other, whilst at the same time all the advantages of the continuous axle are
maintained and the strain is not borne by any one point.
In order to take up longitudinal movement of the two parts of the axle in an
inward direction a loose distance or bearing piece is sometimes interposed between
the same.
0
And, in order that the said invention may be more clearly understood and readily
carried into effect, I will proceed aided by the accompanying drawings more fully
decoribe the same

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1. is an elevation of a pair of railway carriage wheels together with their
axle having the present invention applied thereto.
Figure 2. is a transverse section thereof taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 1.
Figure 3. is a plan partly in section of part thereof; one part of the sleeve being
removed in order to expose the axle.
Figure 4. is a similar view to Figure 3. but representing a slight modification,
In the several figures, in which like parts are indicated by similar letters of
reference, Figures 3. and 4, are drawn to an increased scale with respect to
Figures 1. and 2.
Referring to Figures 1 to 3. a. represents a pair of railway carriage wheels and
b. represents the axle which is fixed with the wheels in the ordinary manner.
The axle b. is divided trausversely thereof and at about the centre of its length,
into two parts which are at their meeting ends coupled by means of a sleeve c.
which covers the joint and embraces a considerable length of the two parts of the
axle b.
The sleeve c. is interiorly provided with a number of projecting rings c¹ of
considerable depth engaging corresponding groove 6' formed in the two parts of
the axle b. or, in lieu of forming grooves & in the axle b, collars or flanges might
be fixed thereon and corresponding grooves might be formed in the coupling
sleeve c.
The rings c¹ of the coupling sleeve c. are formed to closely fit the grooves 61 of
the axle and thus any longitudinal movement of the two parts of the axle with
relation to each other will be prevented by the projecting rings c¹.
The number of rings c' and grooves 6' employed will vary according to circum-
stances but the aggregate surface of contact should be sufficient to prevent undue
wear of the parts.
By this arrangement of parts, the correct guage of the wheels a. is always
*maintained whilst the coupling sleeve c. efficiently keeps the two parts of the axle b.
in proper alignment and at the same time in consequence of the deep and closely
fitting grooves and collars preserves the rigidity and transverse strength of the
compound axle whilst by reason of the sleeve being loose upon both parts of the
divided axle it is enabled to follow the differential movements of the two parts of
the axle and thus undue friction upon either part is avoided.
In order to facilitate the application to the divided axle b. of the sleeve c. the
latter is divided longitudinally into two or it might be more than two parts
provided with lugs through which are passed bolts by the aid of which the
two parts of the coupling sleeve are firmly connected together.
In the example given at Figure 4, the device is provided with means adapted to
take up any longitudinal movement of the two parts of the axle b. with relation to
each other in an inward direction consequent upon wear and to assist the rings and
grooves and for this purpose one or both parts of the axle b. is or are formed with
an axial stud or projection 62 upon which is mounted with capability of revolution
an apertured washer or distance piece 63 of elliptical shape or it might be of other
suitable form in transverse section and having for its object to present a bearing
surface of contact to the ends of the two parts of the axle b.
The employment of the washer or distance piece 3 also has the advantage that
in the event of the parts becoming worn a thicker washer 63 may readily be
introduced to compensate therefor.
It will be evident that in lieu of the apertured washer 63 mounted upon one
or both parts of the axle b. any other suitable loose distance piece may be
employed.
The action of the device may be described as follows:-
When the railway carriage is running in a straight path and the wheels a
consequently have the same distance to travel they will run at an equal speed and

page_text: the sleeve c. will revolve freely with the two parts of the axle b. whilst upon
running over a curve or angle the wheels a. will by reason of the axle b. being
divided into two parts coupled by means of the sleeve coupling c. run at differential
speeds the sleeve coupling c. permitting the independent movement of the wheels a.
with relation thereto and to each other whilst at the same time all the advantages.
of a continuous axle are maintained and by reason of the bearing surface afforded
by the several deep.grooves, and flanges or collars the rigidity of the axle is
preserved.
By means of this invention, a railway carriage is enabled to run with safety at a
greater rate of speed than heretofore over curves, points, crossings, and the like
whilst the wheels and the railway carriages and permanent way are subjected to
less wear and tear and by reason of the peculiar arrangement of parts coupling the
two lengths of the axle the latter are permitted greater freedom of movement than
heretofore but at the same time with the necessary rigidity.
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 a railway carriage axle divided transversely into two
parts, a coupling sleeve loose upon both parts of the axle and adapted to turn
therewith and connecting together with capability of independent revolution the
two parts thereof, and rings or grooves or the like upon the axle and corresponding
parts upon the interior of the coupling sleeve for preventing the independent
end way movement of the two parts of the axle and preserving the transverse
rigidity thereof, substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose
stated.
2. The combination of a railway carriage axle divided transversely into two
parts, a coupling sleeve loose upon both parts of the axle and adapted to turn
therewith and connecting together with capability of independent revolution the
two parts thereof, rings or grooves or the like upon the axle, corresponding parts
upon the interior of the coupling sleeve for preventing the end way movement of the
two parts of the axle and preserving the transverse rigidity thereof and a loose
distance or bearing piece located between the adjacent ends of the two parts
of the axle, substantially as herein shown and described and for the purpose
stated.
Dated this 25th day of January 1895.
VAUGHAN & SON,
Agents for the Applicant.