IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR ATTACHING AXLES TO THE SPRINGS OR BODIES OF WHEELED VEHICLES
Year: 1884

page_text: I JOSEPH SHAW of Wilson Street Stockport Road Manchester in the County of
Lancaster Coach Builder do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR ATTACHING AXLES TO THE SPRINGS OR BODIES OF
WHEELED VEHICLES to be as follows:-
My said invention relates to the means, employed to connect axles, with the.
bodies of wheeled vehicles, and consists in a novel method of entirely insulating the
axles from the coach, body so as to neutralise or minimise the shocks and jars,
incidental to the use of such vehicles. In forming a coach axle to, which my
invention is applied I dispense with the usual lugs or flanges by which it is secured
to the usual axle block. To secure the axle to the springs I employ a box similar
in appearance to an inverted plummer block. In the case of a square. axle a square-
recess is formed in the said box so as to embrace the axle on three sides. A cover
is provided for the lower part and is secured thereto by bolts or screws when the
axle has been placed in the box. To prevent the axle from coming into contact at,
any part with the sides of the box I interpose a packing of india rubber, or other.
suitable elastic material of any desired thickness between the sides of the box and
the axle the said packing extending entirely around the axle and completely
insulating it from the box and superimposed carriage body. To prevent the said
elastic packing from moving sidewise in the box or spreading under pressure,
I provide a lip at the outside of the box which confines the packing laterally.
When the axle is placed in the said packed box and the cover scrowed firmly on,
the axle is securely held in position and by the absence of any direct metallic con-
nection betwixt the axle and the box the usual jars and shocks are prevented or
mitigated. Lugs or danges are formed at the upper part of the said box for
attaching it to the carriage body or springs.
1

page_text: DIECTIVATION,
I JOSEPH SHAW of Wilson Street Stockport Road Manchester in the County of
Lancaster Coach Builder do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN MEANS FOR ATTACHING AXLES TO THE SPRINGS OR BODIES OF
WHEELED VEHICLES' and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement and
accompanying drawings :-
"3
My Invention relates to the means employed to establish an elastic connection
between the axles of wheeled vehicles and the bodies in order to check the trans-
mission of shocks and jars to the said bodies. To this end I make the necessary
connection by means of vulcanised caoutchouc which surrounds the axle at each
point of connection and is enclosed within an axle box similar to a plummer block.
In order that my invention may be clearly understood I will refer to the accom-
panying sheet of drawings wherein Fig: 1 represents a front view of one of my
axle boxes and Fig: 2 a plan as it would appear if inverted from its working
position. In Fig: 1. the axle is represented in section by a and a portion of an
ordinary carriage spring by b. The axle box c is similar in form to an inverted
"plummer block" and is provided with lugs c¹ whereby the box is bolted to the
spring. The axle is made without the usual projecting lugs or flaps for connection
with the spring the base of the lugs c¹ taking their places. This simplifies the form
of the axle and lessens the cost of its production. The axle box is formed with a
recessed seating in which fits a step or packing piece of vulcanised caoutchouc d
which is shaped to fit three sides of the axle. The two ends of this elastic step.
project beyond the axle and between these ends is a second elastic packing piece e.
A section through the axle and packings is represented by Fig: 3. Upon this
piece e. a cap plate f. is applied and this is secured by means of bolts and nuts g.
whereby the elastic packing can be compressed so as to tightly fit the axle. The
two ends of the elastic step a project beyond the axle box and extend to the cap
plate so that both packings can be compressed by tightening the nuts. In Fig 2.
the axle box appears without the cap plate to show the form of the packing d.
which is represented in horizontal section. It will be seen that this packing is
moulded with lips d¹ which occupy the spaces between the axle and the metal
edges c² which keep the packing in position within the box. It will be seen that
the axle is so isolated from the metal box as that metallic contact between the
parts is impossible and that the connection being elastic or yielding the transmission
of shocks will be greatly checked whereby the springs and the coach body will be
greatly relieved from the destructive effects of rough roads. I have not found it
necessary to employ any collars or projecting parts on the axle to prevent endwise
movement within the boxes but I nick or "jag" the axle on the top and bottom
at the parts which are enclosed within the boxes so as to give the elastic packings
a better grip upon the axle.
:

page_text: 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 axle box c. the vulcanised caoutchouc packings d and e and the cap plate
for tightening the packings substantially as and for the purpose set forth and
indicated.
2. The employment for the purposes set forth of recessed axle boxes which are
secured to the ordinary springs and are provided with adjustable caps and fitted
with india rubber packings which entirely enclose the axle and prevent metallic
contact between the axle and the boxes substantially as set forth and indicated.
Doted this d
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