IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMPOUND AXLE, HUB, AND WHEEL FOR RAILROAD CARS
Year: 1858

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Heman Gardiner, of the City of New York, in the
United States of America, Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMPOUND AXLE, HUB, AND WHEEL FOR RAILROAD
CARS."
Sealed the 20th May 1859, and dated the 20th November 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Heman Gardiner at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th November 1858.
I, HEMAN GARDINER, of the City of New York, in the United States of
America, Mechanical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE COMPOUND AXLE, HUB, AND WHEEL FOR
RAILROAD CARS," to be as follows :—
This Invention relates, firstly, to a mode of bringing the joints of compound
railway axles within the hubs of the wheels, and within the line of pressure
upon the wheels, the use of such axles being, as is well known, to afford an
independent axial motion to the wheels when running round curves; secondly,
the Invention relates to improvements in railway wheels. The main portion
of the axle is turned down to form a journal and head at its extremities, and
the other portions which constitute the complement of the axle are in like

page_text: manner turned down at their inner ends, while their outer ends form the
journals proper of the compound axle. The parts of the compound axle are
connected together by divided cylindrical coupling pieces, which fit over the
abutting ends of these parts, and have the same exterior diameter as the axle.
The coupling pieces are provided on their inner face with annular projections
for the purpose of entering the grooves turned in the abutting ends of the
parts composing the compound axle. The hub (when plate wheels are used
in connection-with this axle) is composed of three rings, which are secured
together by bolts passing through them and through the plates of the wheel.
In order to give the wheel a proper bearing on the axle, the inner ring is
made broad, so as to embrace both the main portion of the axle and the
coupling pieces. The middle ring has on both sides a square flange projecting
from its inner edge, on to which fit the plates of the wheel, and both the
outer and inner ring are rebated to fit against these flanges. On the outer
edges of the wheel plates flanges (horizontal or vertical and horizontal) are
formed to grip the tyrė, and keep it in its place when shrunk on; and the
further to secure the stability of the wheel, bolts are passed through from one
plate to the other near the periphery of the wheel. When the ordinary
construction of wheel is to be used with the improved compound axle, the hub
may be cast in one piece, provided the increased bearing surface be secured by
forming it with a lateral conical enlargement corresponding to the inner ring
of the hub above described.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Heman Gardiner in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
20th May 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I; HEMAN
GARDINER, of the City of New York, in the United States of America,
Mechanical Engineer, send greeting:
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twentieth day of November, A.D. One thousand
eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-second year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Heman Gardiner, Her special license that I, the said Heman Gardiner,
my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as 'I, the said
Heman Gardiner, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at

page_text: 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 of "Ix-
PROVEMENTS IN THE COMPOUND AXLE, HUB, AND WHEEL FOR RAILROAD CARS," upon
the condition, amongst others, that I, the said Heman Gardiner, by an
instrument in writing under my hand and seal, 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 I, the said Heman Gardiner, 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, that is to say :-
-
Firstly, in having the joints of the compound axle within the hub and within
the line of pressure upon the wheel, and in constructing and arranging the
parts constituting the hub in connection with a cylindrical sleeve or case (also
within the hub) over the joint, so as to hold the parts together with sufficient
strength, and so as to permit the wheels to turn independently of each other
and of the main part of the axle, when it is desired that they should do so, and
when not so desired, and for the most part to permit the two wheels and the
whole compound axle to make their rotation together.
And, secondly, in constructing the hub and combining the parts of the hub
and the plates so that the wheel plates are let into a mortice between the rings
constituting the sections of the hub, while the exterior edges of the wheel
plates are upset, so as to secure and hold the tire very firmly.
And, thirdly, in adapting a wheel constructed of a solid hub and in the
ordinary manner to the compound axle, with the joint within the hub.
In the accompanying Drawings, Fig. I. represents the compound axle, hub,
and wheel together, by a section through the centre of the wheels, wheel plate,
hubs, and axles, and the cylindrical sleeve or ring over the joints; Fig. II. is a
longitudinal section through the centre of the cylindrical parts, constituting
the sleeve or ring case which unites the joints; Fig. III. is an end view of the
same; Fig. IV. is a section through the centre or axis of the compound hub;
Fig. V. is an exterior elevation of the face of the wheel and end of the axle and
hub, and shews the heads of the bolts which secure the plates and hub
together. In all the Figures the same letters represent the same parts.

page_text: The main part of the axle between the hubs is solid, and is constructed like
any other railroad car axle, except when it is turned down at the ends to forni
the groove and head or flange; any ordinary car axle may be with slight
alterations converted to the purpose. The body of this part of the axle is
shewn at A, A, (Fig. I.) and the ends turned down to the groove and head or
flange at a, a. The other parts of the axle B, B, are constructed with
projecting journal b, b, the body of the part B being of the same diameter as
the main axle A, but the inner end of B is turned down with a groove or
rebate and a flange head 6" to correspond with the ends a, a, of the main
axle A. For the purpose of clutching and securing the axles B, B, to the
main axle, and at the same time to permit them to turn independently, the
cylindrical sleeve or coupling c, c, divided longitudinally into semi-cylindrical
segments, is placed over the parts a, a, and 6, 6, the interior of the cylindrical
case having projecting rings to fill the recesses or rebates in the axle ends, and
the outer surface being flush and of the same diameter as the main axle;
these parts are held in position together by the compound hub, the con-
struction of which as my wheel I will now describe. This hub is composed of
three parts or rings, designated in the Drawings as D, D¹, D". The inner
ring D is made externally of a partially conical shape; its interior diameter is
that of the axle A filling it closely, but so as to turn upon it when required;
it fits with nicety over part of cylindrical coupling sleeve c, and contributes to
hold it firmly in place; its inner face is flush with the inner wheel plate, and
fits it closely. Upon that part of the axle between the two wheel plates, and
flush with them, is placed the hub ring D', which covers the part of the
cylindrical coupling sleeve not covered by D, and also that part of B which is
of the same diameter as the main axle; and it is to be forced or swayed upon
axle B by pressure, so as to adliere to B with sufficient tenacity. The hub
jpiece D has a square flange projecting all round its inner or central edge at
both ends, which fits a corresponding square notch or rebate in D, as seen
at d, d, and a space is left flanged between D and D¹ to receive the inner
wheel plate, the centre of which rests upon a part of the flange of D'. The
flange in D¹ and rebate in D serve to break joint and add strength to the hub
and joint of the axle. The exterior wheel plate (F¹) rests upon the other
Hanged, and the exterior hub ring D", of the same exterior diameter as Di,
is made with a part of its inner face to shut over on d¹ like a box joint, and in
close contact with the exterior wheel plate. The other or central part of the
¡uner face of D' shuts upon the end of d¹, and also upon the axle B, which is
How reduced in diameter so as to be flush with the shoulder made by the

page_text: rebate in the axle. The exterior face of D is flat and smooth, and the opening
in the centre of it fits close to the reduced size of the axle at that part where
it covers it.
My improvements in the construction of the wheel are shewn in Fig. I., one
form of them in the wheel E, and are as follows:-The wheel is of two plates
of boiler iron F, F; the central parts of the plates are inserted between the
hub rings, as before described. The exterior edges or peripheries of the plates
are bent inwards at right angles towards each other, so as to leave an open
space between them all round, as seen at f.f. The tire G of the wheel is
rolled with a narrow flange or bead all round its interior face, so as that when
placed upon the wheel it will just fill the open space between f, f. In putting
the hub and wheel together for this form of my improvements, the hub ring D
is laid down and the interior wheel plate F is placed upon it, centre to centre,
then the hub ring D', then the tire is laid on to plate F (heated so as to
shrink in cooling), then the plate F, and then the exterior hub ring D', and
the parts are then secured together by the screw bolts 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, 6, 7, 8,
(Figs. I.-V.), the screws in the hub having their heads and ends counter-
sunk, the latter being upset like rivets. The. hub is then forced upon the
axle B, so as to be fixed and secured to it with the required tenacity in the
usual manner..
Another form of my improvement in the wheel is shewn in Fig. I., in the
other wheel G', in which the two edges of the plates are bent inwards at a
right angle so as to meet together, as shewn at h, h, and the exterior edges of
the plates are also extended or upset so as to form a lap upon the tire, as
shewn at i, i, and the whole is then bolted together and secured, as before
described..
:
When the compound axle and cylindrical sleeve or coupling are used
without the improvements on the wheel above described, but with the wheel
constructed in the ordinary manner of making hub and plates in one, the hub
need not be made in parts, but is cast solid, the change required being to make
the part of the hub shewn at D conical and projecting over the axle so as to
fit it and turn upon it, and also give an increased bearing D¹ of the hub, being
bored out so as to be immoveably fixed to B at its larger diameter when forced
or swayed upon it, the other part of the hub turning when necessary upon the
coupling and the main axle. Wheels and axles thus made and put together
will admit of the wheels turning independently of each other, but for the most
part will rotate together as one, and they are easily constructed and put
together, and will possess the required strength and durability.

page_text: Having thus described my improved axles, hub, and wheel, what I claim as
my Invention therein is as follows:-
First, I claim the peculiar construction of a solid hub, as described in com-
bination with the axle, divided or jointed within the hub and within the line
of pressure. upon the wheel, and with the cylindrical coupling or case, so
as to give the necessary bearings to the axle at the joint for strength and
security, and permit at the same time the independent rotation of the wheel
on the other, while for the most part and on straight lines of road all will
rotate together.
Second, I claim the construction of the compound hub in three rings or
parts as described, for receiving and securing the plates, and the manner of
constructing the outer edges of the plates, and the tire with a flange to fit
between the bent edges or rims of the plates, combining the two plates and
compound hub together, as described.
Third, I claim the manner of constructing the plates, and arranging and
combining them with the tire by the bending inwards at a right angle the
periphery or edges of the plates, so that they must face and sustain the tire
upon its interior surface, and to form also a lap or flange upon the side of the
tire, as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Heman Gardiner, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Eleventh day of March, in the year of our Lord

page_text: "various Departments of the State, and to substitute Declarations in lieu
thereof, and for the more entire Suppression of voluntary and extra-
judicial Oaths and Affidavits, and to make other provisions for the abolition
" of unnecessary Oaths."