IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY AXLE BOXES AND BEARING SPRINGS
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Adam Dixon, of Smethwick, in the County of Stafford,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY AXLE BOXES
AND BEARING SPRINGS."
Sealed the 8th August 1854, and dated the 21st February 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Adam Dixon at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 21st February
1854.
I, ADAM DIXON, of Smethwick, in the County of Stafford, Engineer, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY
AXLE BOXES AND BEARING SPRINGS" to be as follows:-
This Invention relates entirely to that part of the details of the rolling
stock of railways comprehended between the framing and the wheels, and
consists, first, in the division of the bearing surface of the brass or metal step
into three or more distinct portions, one such portion or strip being directly
over the axial line of the journal, whilst the other two are disposed so as
to embrace the lower portion of the journal, each being set at an angle of
about one hundred degrees with the top brass. In this way the journal is
embraced closely by three narrow strips or ribs of metal running the entire
length of the bearing, the upper strip being permanently set in the axle box,
whilst the two lower ones are adjustable by screws or otherwise as the top
piece wears. This arrangement ensures the complete contact of the lubricating

page_text: matter with the rubbing surfaces, and prevents the usual disagreeable shake
and rattle of the bearings.
Second, to the supplying of the grease in axle boxes by means of drawers,
each drawer or grease chamber being fitted with a self-acting stamper or
presser for squeezing the lubricating matter against the journal surfaces. The
presser is set on a hinge, and when the drawer is pulled out the presser opens
upwards by the action; whilst on the return of the drawer the reverse move-
ment occurs, and the grease is thus pressed down to the rubbing surfaces.
Third, to a hydro-pneumatic bearing spring composed of one or more metal
cylinders, arranged with one or more upper chambers for the retention of air
and water, or either of them, as well as one or more lower chambers for a
similar purpose, both chambers having pistons or rams fitted to them for the
purpose of receiving the spring pressure of the retained water and air, and
conveying such pressure to the axle boxes. A good arrangement of this kind
is that wherein an upper small cylinder has bolted to its face or lower end a
large cylinder. The smaller cylinder receives the air pressure whilst the con-
centric ring between the two diameters receives the pressure of the water in
the lower chamber. The retention of the water is secured by a leather
embraced between the two-rams, and passing into the joints of the two
cylinders. Such springs may be used with any kind of axle boxes. It is
obvious that these improvements may be used either separately or in con-
junction with each other.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Adam Dixon in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st
August 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, ADAM
DIXON, of Smethwick, in the County of Stafford, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of February, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the seventeenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said Adam Dixon, Her special license that I, the said Adam Dixon; my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Adam
Dixon, my exccutors, administrators, or 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,

page_text: within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY AXLE
BOXES AND BEARING SPRINGS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the
said Adam Dixon, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Adam Dixon, 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,
reference being had to the accompanying Drawings, and to the letters and
figures marked thercon, that is to say:-
My said Invention relates entirely to that part of the details of the rolling
stock of railways comprehended between the framing and the wheels, and
consists,―
First, in the division of the bearing surface of the brass or metal step into
three or more distinct portions, one such portion or strip being directly over
the axial line of the journal, whilst the other two are disposed so as to embrace
the lower portion of the journal, cach being set at an angle of about one
hundred degrees with the top brass. In this way the journal is embraced
closely by three narrow strips or ribs of metal, running the entire length of
the bearing, the upper strip being permanently set in the axle box, whilst
the two lower ones are adjustable by screws or otherwise as the top piece
wears. This arrangement ensures the complete contact of the lubricating
matter with the rubbing surfaces, and prevents the usual disagreeable shake
and rattle of the bearings.
Second, to the supplying of the grease in axle-boxes by means of drawers,
each drawer or grease chamber being fitted with a self-acting stamper or
presser for squeezing the lubricating matter against the journal surfaces. The
presser is set on a hinge, and when the drawer is pulied out the presser opens
upwards by the action; whilst on the return of the drawer the reverse
movement occurs, and the grease is thus pressed down to the rubbing
surfaces.
Third, to a hydro-pneumatic bearing spring composed of one or more metal
cylinders arranged with one or more upper chambers for the retention of air
and water, or either of them, as well as one or more lower chambers for a
similar purpose, both chambers having pistons or rams fitted to them for the
purpose of receiving the spring pressure of the retained water and air, and

page_text: conveying such pressure to the axle boxes. A good arrangement of this kind
is that wherein an upper small cylinder has bolted to its face or lower end a
large cylinder. The smaller cylinder receives the air pressure whilst the
concentric ring between the two diameters receives the pressure of the water
in the lower chamber. The retention of the water is secured by a leather
embraced between the two rams, and passing into the joints of the two
cylinders. Such springs may be used with any kind of axle boxes. It is
obvious that these improvements may be used either separately or in com-
bination with each other.
And in order that my said Invention may be properly understood, I shall
now proceed to describe the several explanatory Figures on the Sheet of
Drawings hereunto attached.
Figure 1 on the Sheet of Drawings is a side elevation of an axle box and
bearing spring complete, as constructed according to my Invention; Figure 2
is a front elevation corresponding to Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a vertical
section taken at the line 1, 2, in Figure 2. Figures 4 and 5 are horizontal
sections respectively taken at the lines 3, 4, and 5, 6, in Figures 1, 2, and 3.
Figure 6 is a vertical section of the axle box drawn to an enlarged scale; and
Figure 7 is a section of the axle box, taken partly at the line 7, 8, and partly
at the line 9, 10, in Figure 6. The axle box is an iron casting A, formed
with a large central cavity for the axle journal B. In the top of the cavity is
a socket for a fixed bearing brass C, forming one of three brasses with which
the journal is provided, the other two D, being arranged to slide in recesses E,
cast in the lower sides of the axle box cavity. The brasses D, bear upon the
axle B, on opposite sides and in directions, making angles of about 100 degrees
with the top brass C. All three brasses bear upon the axle throughout the
entire length of the journal, and the lower ones D, are formed with end flanges
F, at their backs, which give them a more extended bearing upon the sides of
the recesses E. The top brass C, is immoveable, but the lower brasses D, are
each adjusted against the axle journal by a pair of screws G, working in a
wrought iron plate H, which abuts against the end of the recess E, and acting
upon a wrought iron plate I, fitted to the back of the brass. The front plate
and under cover are cast in a single piece J, and are bolted to the axle box, as
represented in the Drawings. The lubricating matter has access to the axle
journal on each side of the top brass C; and between this brass and each
of the lower brasses D, it descends through two side channels K, from a
species of drawer L, in which it is primarily deposited, the bottom of the
drawer being perforated for the passage downwards of the lubricating matter.
The drawer L is placed in a cavity formed for it in the top of the axle box,

page_text: pin Q on the
to turn' up, so
the pin Q also
The axle box A is
and it is provided with a handle M, by means of which it is drawn out when
necessary to be supplied with lubricating matter. Inside the drawer L is a
species of flap or presser N, which turns on a hinge O near the back of the
drawer, and which is provided with a leaf or catch piece P. On the drawer
being pulled outwards this leaf P comes in contact with a
inside of the cavity near its mouth, and this causes the flap N
that the lubricating matter can be introduced beneath it,
serving to prevent the drawer from being drawn out too far. On pushing the
drawer L back into its recess, the flap N is forcibly closed, and presses the
lubricating matter through the perforated bottom of the drawer, whence it
finds its way by the channels K, to the axle journal B.
formed with an annular groove round the journal hole at the back, into which
groove a caoutchouc washer R is fitted, to prevent the entrance into the axial
box of grit or other injurious matters. The caoutchouc washer R is held in
position by a spiral spring S, upon the axle, and acting between a pair of
wrought iron washers T, one against the boss U of the wheel, and the other
against the caoutchouc washer R. The axle box A is cast with the usual lateral
groove flanges V to slide upon the horn plates of the framing as ordinarily
used, or upon the vertical guide bars W according to the arrangement repre-
sented in the Drawings. A socket X for the bearing spring is also cast in the
top of the axle box A, this socket being of such a form as to suit the particular
kind of bearing spring adopted.
The spring bearing apparatus consists of two cast iron cylinders a, b, bolted
together and cast with suitable flanges c, by which they are bolted to the
timbers d of the carriage framing. The upper cylinder a, is of a smaller
capacity than the lower one b. The two cylinders are provided with rams e, f,
which are held together by a T headed bolt 9 passing through their centres,
and the lower end of the lower ram f rests in the socket X of the axle box
beneath. A washer h of leather or other suitable material is held between
the two rams e, f, and is entered into the joint between the two cylinders. It
is intended to fill the space above the washer h, in the large cylinder 6 with
water or compressed air, which is to be introduced by means of a force pump,
an aperture i being formed for this purpose in the side of the cylinder. In
front of the aperture i is a recess, into which is screwed a mouth and valve
piece j. This mouth piece is made tubular to receive the pipe K, of the force
pump, which pipe having a flange on its extreme end is firmly held in the
mouth piece by means of the tubular screw l. The inner end of the mouth
piece is turned conically so as to close the aperture i, when screwed up; a

page_text: communication being formed at other times with the pipe k by lateral openings
near the inner end of the mouth piece j.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I may observe in conclusion that I do not confine or restrict myself to
the precise details or arrangements which I have had occasion to describe or
refer to, as many variations may be made therefrom without deviating from
the principles or main features of my Invention; but what I consider to be
novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the
herein-before in part recited Letters Patent, is,-
First, the general arrangement and construction of railway axle boxes and
bearing springs as herein-before described.
Second, the application and use in railway axle boxes of three separate
bearing brasses placed apart from each other round the axle journal, as herein-
before described.
Third, the application and use in railway axle boxes of a drawer for supply-
ing the lubricating matter to the journal, such drawer being provided with a
self-acting flap or presser for pressing the lubricating matter down towards the
journal, as herein-before described.
Fourth, the application and use in railway bearing apparatus of two
cylinders arranged to act together as a compound fluid spring in the manner
herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Adam Dixon, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Nineteenth day of August, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
ADAM DIXON. (S.)