IMPROVEMENTS IN RADIATING THE AXLES OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES
Year: 1869

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Marmaduke Wilkin, of 2, Saint James' Terrace,
Parish of Paddington, County of Middlesex, Gentleman, and John
Clark, of 10, South Street, Finsbury, in the City of London, in the
County aforesaid, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
RADIATING THE AXLES OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Marmaduke Wilkin
and John Clark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 29th April 1869.
We, MARMADUKE WILKIN, of 2, Saint James' Terrace, Parish of
Paddington, County of Middlesex, Gentleman, and JOHN CLARK, of 10,
South Street, Finsbury, in the City of London, in the County aforesaid,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN RADIATING THE AXLES OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES," to be as
follows:-
The object of this Invention is to use the lateral movement of the
center pair of wheels of a six-wheeled carriage to radiate the fore and

page_text: aft pairs of wheels to the centre of the curve round which the carriage
has to pass, and to reduce the friction of the bearings of the said
axles.
In carrying these improvements into effect we construct the carriage
longer and lighter than usual, and mount it upon six wheels instead of
four. The several pairs of wheels are fitted to bogie frames, which have
movement under the framing of the carriage, the center pair having
lateral movement to the extent of the versed sine of the curve, and the
fore and aft pairs, which are fitted with central fulcrum pins, move or
radiate round them, so that the line of the axles shall if produced meet
in the center of the curve. The bogie fitted to the center pair of wheels
is furnished with an elongated pole extending on each side to half the
wheel base and the fore and aft bogies are furnished with corresponding
poles on the inside to meet the aforesaid pole. The said poles are
securely stayed with iron tie rods. At their junction a metal joint is
made with a slotted eye to permit the end poles to radiate round the
said fulcrum pins. The framing of the carriage requires a novel con-
struction to suit the said bogies, and as such is much lighter than
similar structures we frame it in three compartments over the said
bogies, and brace the whole together by a longitudinal piece of timber
with bridged thrusts to support or stiffen it. In constructing the
bearings for the said axles we fit the axle box with internal annular
grooves, and the axle with a sheath with corresponding grooves. Into
the grooves thus formed, we fit small balls of an uniform size to fill up
the entire grooves, so that when the axle revolves in its box it
rolls round the said balls instead of sliding in friction bearings, as
heretofore.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, MARMADUKE
WILKIN, of 2, Saint James' Terrace, Parish of Paddington, County of
Middlesex, Gentleman, and JOHN CLARK, of 10, South Street, Finsbury,

page_text: in the City of London, in the County aforesaid, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-nine, in the thirty-
second year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said Marmaduke Wilkin and John Clark Her
special licence that we, the said Marmaduke Wilkin and John Clark,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said
Marmaduke Wilkin and John Clark, our 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 RADIATING THE AXLES
OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the
said Marmaduke Wilkin and John Clark, our executors or adminis-
trators, by an instrument in writing under our, or their, or one of
their hands and seals, should particularly describe and 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 we, the said Marmaduke Wilkin and John Clark,
do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
The object of this Invention is to use the latteral movement of the
centre pair of wheels of a six-wheeled carriage to radiate the fore and aft.
pairs of wheels to the centre of the curve round which the carriage has
to pass, and to reduce the friction of the bearings of the said axles.
In carrying these improvements into effect we construct the carriage
longer and lighter than usual, and mount it upon six wheels instead of
four. The several pairs of wheels are fitted to bogie frames, which have
movement under the framing of the carriage, the centre pair having
latteral movement to the extent of the versed sine of the curve, and the
fore and aft pairs, which are fitted with central fulcrum pins, move or
radiate round them, so that the line of the axles shall if produced

page_text: meet in the centre of the curve.
The bogie fitted to the centre
pair of wheels is furnished with an elongated pole, extending on cach
side to half the wheel base, and the fore and aft bogies are furnished
with corresponding poles on the inside to meet the aforesaid pole. The
said poles are securely stayed with iron tie rods. At their junction a
metal joint is made with a slotted eye to permit the end poles to radiate
round the said fulcrum pins. The framing of the carriage requires a
novel construction to suit the said bogies, and, as such is much lighter
than similar structures, we frame it in three compartments over the said
bogies, and brace the whole together by a longitudinal piece of timber
with bridged thrusts to support or stiffen it. In constructing the
bearings for the said axles we fit the axle box with internal annular
grooves, and the axle with a sheath with corresponding grooves. Into
the grooves thus formed we fit small balls of an uniform size to fill up
the entire groove, so that when the axle revolves in its box it rolls, round
the said balls instead of sliding in friction bearings, as heretofore.
We now proceed to describe our Invention more particularly, reference
heing made to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, and to which
Drawings the following explanation applies :-
EXPLANATION OF DRAWING.
The elevation and plan of the six-wheeled carriage is made to a scale
of three-eighths of an inch equal one foot, and of the parts in detail to a
scale of three inches to one foot.
Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 are side and end elevations of a six-wheeled carriage,
being the general application of our radial system. The carriage
framing, because it is supported in the centre by the middle bogie, is
made considerably lighter than ordinary frames of equal length, but may
be trussed with tie rods in the usual way when necessary.
In Fig. 4 we show the arrangement we prefer for stiffening the
framing latterally, the whole being bound and braced by tie bolts and
rods in the usual way.
Fig. 3 shows one end bogic and pair of wheels, and the centro bogie
and pair of wheels. The centre bogie frame has an elongated pole ar
guide bar a, a, extending to half the wheel base on each side, and
securely braced by the tie rods b, b. Each of the end bogies has a
corresponding guide bar a
braced, and their joint in the
similarly

page_text: centre are fitted with an elongated eye to permit the end bogies to
radiate on their pivot or fulcrum pins c, when the centre bogie is carried
transversely by the carriage passing round a curve in the line of railway.
The said bogie pin c is fixed in top and bottom metal plates attached to
the framing of the carriage (Fig. 4), and the end bogies have free move-
ment about the said fulcrum pin as guided by the pole or bar a' in
connection with the centre guide pole or bar. Each bogie frame is fitted
with bearing springs and axle guards in the usual way. d, d, are angle.
iron guides, which work against corresponding guides d, d, on the
framing (Fig. 4) to impart greater security to the bogie pin in the centre
to sustain shocks. Metal corner friction plates are interposed between
the bogie and carriage framing to facilitate the radiating movement, and
reduce the friction. The centre bogie has latteral movement under the
carriage frame to the extent of the versed sine of the are round which
the carriage has to pass; between it and the carriage framing at each
corner is inserted four or more balls or rollers, rolling in slides to reduce
the friction, and allow the latteral movement with the least resistance.
Vertical guide rollers e, e, are also fitted to roll along the framing to
secure a true latteral line, so as the guide pole or bar a, a, may regulate
the end guide poles a', a', correctly.
Fig. 4 is a half plan to show the general arrangement of framing we
use for securing latteral stiffness. The struts a, a, are arranged to afford
the requisite stiffness in the centre, so as the latteral movement of the
centre bogie will not affect the framing. The framing where it overlays
the bogie is arranged to give the bearings for the metal friction plates
alluded to under Fig. 3.
Figs. 5 and 6 are enlarged details of the axle box. At each end of the
axle, corresponding with the bearings of ordinary axles, we turn annular
grooves of any requisite number, and the box, which may be of cast
iron, we make in top and bottom halves, and fit with internal annular
grooves to correspond with those on the axle; into the cavity so formed
we place as many balls, which we prefer should be of chilled cast iron,
as will nearly fill the entire groove. In this arrangement when the axle
revolves the balls roll round the groove, and enable the axle to run
without lubrication, or lubricated to a very small extent compared with
bearings fitted with brasses in the usual manner.
To apply this part of our Invention to existing axles we turn off the
end collar, leaving only a very small ring or collar. We bore out a

page_text: bush or ferrule the diameter of the bearing, and as long as the old
bearing; we heat the said bush or ferrule, and pass it over the small
collar, which, when it shrinks on the bearing, fits tightly inside the
said collar, and is firmly secured in its place; we then turn it up with
the said annular grooves, and proceed as described above.
We find it necessary to secure the full advantages of our system of
radiating axles to fit one wheel fast upon the axle, and fit the other
wheel of the same axle loose upon the axle, but free to revolve as the
varying lengths of the outer and inner line of rails on curves makes the
different wheels travel over different distances. We are aware that this
has hitherto been done for a like purpose, but the details given in
Figs. 7 and 8 show our method of securing the wheels in their proper
guage. "a" is a collar forged on the axle on the inside of the boss or hub
of the wheel and turned up with the bearing. On the axle outside the
wheel we chase a screw of a fine pitch and screw a circular nut "6"
theron. We cut a gap in the side of said nut, and after the wheel
is placed in position and the nut screwed in its place, we shrink on, hot,
the retaining collar c, which, collapsing as it cools, effectively secures
the nut in its position against the shocks to which the wheel and axle
are subjected.
This part of our Invention may be used with advantage for ordinary
four-wheeled stock.
Fig. 9 is the centre buffer and draw spring arrangement we use; it is
formed of vulcanized india-rubber with intervening metal plates. Inside
the headstock is a plate a, against which the shoulder of the spindle
rests, so that when the buffer is compressed the plate slides upon the
side bolts b, and the shock is sustained by the bracket c. Fixed in
the bracket c is a ferrule d, with countersunk head, through which the
spindle slides freely when the buffer is compressed. On the end of the
spindle is a nut and cottar, so that when the draw link is pulled the nut
pressing on the ferrule d, and the said ferrule resting on the plate e,
compresses the spring for pulling. The shock is sustained by the
head stock.
Having thus described and ascertained the nature and object of our
said Invention, and explained and illustrated the means which we
propose to employ in carrying the various improvements into effect in
practice, we hereby further declare that we do not absolutely restrict
ourselves to the precise forms and arrangements of the carriage framing

page_text: and bogies, or of the parts given more fully in detail, as shown upon the
said Drawing, as they may be modified in both respects without
departing from the principles thereby illustrated, and upon which the
said improvements are based.
In witness whereof, we, the said Marmaduke Wilkin and John
Clark, have hereunto set our hand and scal, this Twenty-ninth
day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and sixty-nine.
MARMADUKE WILKIN. (L.S.)
JOHN CLARK.
(L.S.)
MARMADUKE WILKIN. (L.S.)
JOHN CLARK.
(L.S.)