IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLE BOXES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Dillwyn Parrish, of Threadneedle Street, in the
City of London, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLE BOXES,"
-A communication from abroad by Davis Henry Dotterer, of
Philadelphia, in the United States of America.
Sealed the 5th April 1870, and dated the 8th October 1869.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Dillwyn Parrish at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th October 1869.
I, DILLWYN PARRISH, of Threadneedle Street, in the City of London,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN AXLE BOXES," to be as follows :-
These improvements refer to the axle boxes of railway and other
similar carriages, and consist, firstly, in a mode of fitting or hanging
axle boxes in the pedestals or horn plates by means of suspending them
on bearings or trunnions working in movable sliding plates having an
upright motion in the horn plates. By this mode the box must adjust
itself to the position of the journal irrespective of the relative position of
the pedestals or horn plates, and insure an equal bearing or distribution
[Price 8d.1

page_text: of the weight throughout the whole length of the bearing part of the
journal, preventing an unequal wear or strain upon any part of the
journal or bearing surface.
The first part consists in placing upon the outside of the box projec-
tions forming trunnions, which turn in recesses in movable plates, or
"vice versa," that is, the projections can be upon the plate and the
recesses can be in the shell of the box. The trunnions or the recesses
for them are placed upon the forward and hinder sides of the box, and
in such a position that a line passing longitudinally through the centre
of them will pass through the journal at or near its centre line, and the
corresponding recesses or projections in the movable plates are con-
structed to fit them, and to allow a free oscillating motion to the box.
The movable plates are secured in the pedestals or horn plates from
lateral motion either by being placed between flanges made upon the
horn or by a flange or flanges upon the horns fitting a corresponding
recess or recesses in the movable plates; they have however a perfectly
free perpendicular motion in the "horn plates," either between the
flanges of the horns or by the recesses in the movable plates working
against the flanges in the "horn plates."
Secondly. In a new construction of the roller which bears upon the
loose ring fitted in the axle box, as described in the Specification of a
Patent granted to William Edward Newton, bearing date the 29th day of
January 1862.
My improved roller is constructed as follows :-I make the body of it
hollow, and thus form a reservoir for lubricating material, which is
admitted to the reservoir through a hole or holes provided for the
purpose, into which stoppers may be placed or not.
holes leading from the internal flange so that the lubricant can flow
upon the axle or pin upon which it turns.
There are other
Thirdly. In the employment of a cap or socket placed over the end of
the axle or journal in order to receive the end thrust of the journal
and to prevent too much lateral motion, and also to establish perfect
equilibrium of the same in the boxes at all times. The cap which is
placed over the end of the journal is formed of metal and so constructed
that it may either form a perfect cap completely enclosing the end of the
journal or may only cover the end and portion of each side of it. It
may be cast or made with and form part of the outside case or shell of
the box, or be a separate piece held in position either by a recess made

page_text: in the case or be secured to it by bolts or other device. The object is to
receive the end thrust of the axle-and to prevent the journal having too
much lateral motion or play, which might arise from suddenly starting.
or stopping a carriage, from an impediment on the track, or from tightly
screwing up the breaks.
Fourthly. In the employment of plates of wood or other material so
constructed that by a spring or springs or other appliance they are self-
adjusting, and will at all times compensate for any wear either of them-
selves or that portion of the axle or journal which they touch, and thus
by continually clasping the axle or journal prevent the escape of oil or
other lubricating material along the axle; they also prevent the entrance
of dust and other foreign substance into the box.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent
filed by the said Dillwyn Parrish in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 8th April 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DILLWYN
PARRISH, of Threadneedle Street, in the City of London, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty.
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Dillwyn Parrish, Her special licence
that I, the said Dillwyn Parrish, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said Dillwyn Parrish, 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," partly communicated to me from abroad by Davis Henry.
Dotterer, of Philadelphia, in the United States of America, upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Dillwyn Parrish, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my,
or their, or one of their hands aud seals, should particularly describe
and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the

page_text: 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 Dillwyn Parrish, 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 thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereto annexed, that is to say:-
These improvements refer to the axle boxes of railway and other
similar carriages, and consist, firstly, in a mode of fitting or hanging
axle boxes in the pedestals or horn plates by means of suspending them
on bearings or trunnions working in moveable sliding plates having an
upright motion in the horn plates. By this mode the box must adjust
itself to the position of the journal irrespective of the relative position of
the pedestals or horn plates, and ensure an equal bearing or distribution
of the weight throughout the whole length of the bearing part of the
journal, preventing an unequal wear or strain upon any part of the
journal or bearing surface.
The first part consists in placing upon the outside of the box pro-
jections forming trunnions, which turn in recesses in moveable plates, or
"vice versa," that is, the projections can be upon the plate and the
recesses can be in the shell of the box. The trunnions or the recesses
for them are placed upon the forward and hinder sides of the box, and
in such a position that a line passing longitudinally through the centre
of them will pass through the journal at or near its centre line, and the
corresponding recesses or projections in the moveable plates are con-
structed to fit them and to allow a free oscillating motion to the box.
The moveable plates are secured in the pedestals or horn plates from
lateral motion either by being placed between flanges made upon the
horns or by a flange or flanges upon the horns fitting a corresponding
recess or recesses in the moveable plates. They have, however, a per.
fectly free perpendicular motion in the "horn plates," either between
the flanges of the horns or. by the recesses in the moveable plates
working against the flanges in the "horn plates."
Secondly. In a new construction of the roller which bears upon the
loose ring fitted in the axle box, as described in the Specification of a
Patent granted to William Edward Newton, bearing date the Twenty-
ninth day of January One thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.

page_text: My improved roller is constructed as follows:-I make the body of it
hollow, and thus allow a free passage for the lubricating material through
a hole or holes provided for the purpose. There are other holes leading
from the internal flange, so that the lubricant can flow upon the axle
or pin upon which it turns.
Thirdly. In the employment of a cap or socket placed over the end
of the axle or journal in order to receive the end thrust of the journal,
and to prevent too much lateral motion, and also to establish perfect
equilibrium of the same in the boxes at all times. The cap which is
placed over the end of the journal is formed of metal, and so constructed
that it may either form a perfect cap completely enclosing the end of the
journal, or may only cover the end and portion of each side of it. It
may be cast or made with and form part of the outside case or shell of
the box or be a separate piece held in position either by a recess made
in the case or be secured to it by bolts or other device. The object is to
receive the end thrust of the axle, and to prevent the journal having
too much lateral motion or play, which might arise from suddenly
starting or stopping a carriage, from an impediment on the track, or from
tightly screwing up the breaks.
Fourthly. In the employment of plates of wood or other material so
constructed that by a spring or springs or other appliance they are self-
adjusting, and will at all times compensate for any wear either of them-
selves or that portion of the axle or journal which they touch, and thus
by continually clasping the axle or journal prevent the escape of oil or
other lubricating material along the axle; they also prevent the entrance
of dust and other foreign substance into the box.
'The manner in which my Invention is carried into effect is representep
in the several Figures of the accompanying Drawings.
Figure 1 shews a detached view of the pedestals or horn plates, which
are to be attached to the outside longitudinal timbers of the carriage or
vehicle by bolts or nuts a, a, placed through the holes, as shewn. The
pedestal is composed of two side cheeks b, b, having an internal vertical
recess in each of them; these cheeks are connected at the upper part
by a web or plate c, which is flat on the top surface for the timber d to
rest upon, as represented. The front and back walls of the recess serve
as supports for the vertical motion of the sliding plates e, e, one of
which is shewn detached at Figure 2. These plates fit over trunnions f, f,
on the fore and hind sides of the axle box -g, and establish a freedom of

page_text: action to the oscillations or angles of the axle when one side rail is
lower or higher than the other, or when one wheel passes over a stone
or other hody upon one of the rails, or from any other cause.
The trunnions are shewn in Figure 3, which is a front elevation of
the axle box before referred to, and in the side and back views in
Figures 4 and 5 respectively, and also in the plan view, Figure 6. The
box is provided with apertures h, i, in its front for facilitating the
admission and withdrawal of a cap or socket piece ; and of a pin % of a
roller A which is fitted inside. Both apertures are covered by plates or
covers l, m, as seen in the front elevation, Figure 7, to protect the
roller, &c., from the entrance of dust and dirt, and also to prevent
the escape of oil or other lubricant from the bottom of the box, which
forms a reservoir.
In Figures 8 and 9 .I have shewn two sections of the axle box and
parts complete, one of them being at .right angles to the other. On
examination of these two Figures the parts will be seen in the relative
positions each of them occupy when fitted on or to a vehicle. The pin k,
Figure 10, which is retained on its aperture. and prevented revolving by
the feather o, supports the roller A, Figure 11, which is allowed to revolve
freely. This roller rests upon a band or flat ring of metal q, Figure 12,
which in its turn hangs upon the journal of the carriage axle, and
partakes of a revolution therefrom as the wheels rotate. The aperture h
is, as before mentioned, for the reception of a cap or socket which
receives the end thrust of the axle, and prevents lateral motion of the
same; it can be fitted in and held in place by the cover ; it has an
amount of play horizontally allowed it in the recess so that it does not
become bound. The ends of it are square and the central part of the
body rounded both top and bottom, as seen in Figure 12, so that it
rests upon its base in a perfect manner. It is also free to rise vertically
in the aperture within certain limits. The top of the box is covered
with a cap, so that all the rotary parts are kept free from dust and
dirt; the central portion of the upper surface of this cover is rounded,
the arc being struck from the centre of the trunnions; this rounded
portion carries a plate, as represented in Figure 13, which serves as a
bearing surface for the springs to admit of the pressure strain always
being on the central part of the axle box at whatever inclination the
box may be forced to take. The plate has. a stud t on it to hold the
spring in proper position. There is another stud on the under side of

page_text: the arch of the horn plates to hold the spring at its upper part. The
spring I prefer to employ is one made of vulcanized rubber, and of the
shape shewn in the Drawings; its sides are perfectly free, so that it
can be distended under the pressure of the weight put upon it to any
extent, but it is not absolutely necessary to employ the spring in the
position shewn, as I can carry a bar across the axle box, and let the two
ends of it bear against the under sides of two similar or other kind of
springs recessed into the cheeks of the pedestal or horn plates if I find
it convenient to do so.
I have in the first part of this description referred to the trunnion
plates being pierced for the reception of the trunnions, but I can if I
wish reverse this action, that is, the side walls of the box may be
pierced with holes for the reception of the trunnions, which in this case
would be upon the plates.
The inner face or back of the box is chambered for the reception of
plates of wood or other material u, Figure 14, which are caused to bear
upon and clasp the journal, and thus prevent the escape of oil, and also
assist to keep the interior of the box free from dust and other foreign.
matter. The plates are kept in contact with the journal by means of
springs v, v, as shewn.
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and
the manner in which I prefer the same should be performed, I wish it
to be understood that I do not confine myself to the special arrange-
ment of parts as herein-before described and shewn in the Drawings, as
many of the details can be easily altered without departing from the
Invention; but what I desire to claim is,―
Firstly. The mode of fitting or hanging axle boxes of railway and
other similar carriages within pedestals or horn plates in the manner and
for the purposes as herein-before explained and shewn.
Secondly. The employment of a roller in such axle boxes in the
manner and for the purposes before described.
Thirdly. The employment of a cap or socket on the end of the axle
for the purposes herein-before described.
Fourthly. The employment of spring plates in such axle boxes to
bear upon the axle to prevent the escape of oil or other lubricant, as
herein-before described.

page_text: And, fifthly. I claim the general construction of axle boxes and the
arrangements of the working parts, as herein-before described and repre-
sented in the annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Dillwyn Parrish, have hereunto set
hand and seal, this Eighth day of April One thousand eight
hundred and seventy.
Witness,
H. GARDNER,
166, Fleet Street,
London.
DILLWYN PARRISH. (L.S.)