IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLE BOXES FOR THE BEARINGS OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK, AND OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Young, of Bunker Hill, in the County of Durham,
for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLE BOXES FOR THE BEARINGS OF
LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, RAILWAY ROLLING STOCK, AND OTHER SIMILAR
VEHICLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Young at the Office
“IMPROVEMENTS IN
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 10th January 1880.
JAMES YOUNG, of Bunker Hill, in the County of Durham.
AXLE BOXES FOR THE BEARINGS OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, RAILWAY ROLLING
STOCK, AND OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES."
This Invention relates to improvements in the arrangement and construction of
axle boxes for locomotive engines, railway carriages, railway trucks, and other
similar vehicles.
My improvements consist, first, in making the axle boxes in two parts divided
vertically, as shown in the Drawings hereto annexed.
Second, in providing a wrought iron wedge, and placing the same centrically in
the lower part of the box below the bearing.
The boxes may be made solid in two parts and fitted as shown, or they may
have recesses cast in them to receive bearing metal of suitable form and description
as may be desired, the object in view being to prevent a knock or blow occurring
upon either the journal or the box between the horn plates, and so enable the
bearings to wear much longer than the ordinary time.
The axle box being made in this way it is thrust down by the action of the
spring pin on each side of the shaft or bearing and acts as a wedge, and so prevents
any looseness or knock upon these parts, and this is obtained by self adjustment
without the aid of bolts, liners, or anything likely to work loose and give trouble.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
1
the said James Young in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th July 1880.
JAMES YOUNG, of Bunker Hill, in the County of Durham. IMPROVEMENTS IN
AXLE BOXES FOR THE BEARINGS OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, RAILWAY ROLLING
STOCK, AND OTHER SIMILAR VEHICLES."
This Invention relates to improvements in the arrangement and construction of
axle boxes for locomotive engines, railway carriages, railway trucks, and other
similar vehicles.
My improvements consist, first, in making the axle boxes in two parts divided
vertically in line with the longitudinal axis of the shaft, and working the same as
shown in the Drawings bereto annexed.
Second, in providing a wrought iron wedge with screw adjustment, and placing
the same centrically in the lower part of the box below the bearing to preserve the
parallelism of the box and tako up wear.
The boxes may be made solid in two parts or fitted with gun metal steps, as
shown, or they may have recesses cast in them to receive bearing metal of suitable
form and description as may be desired, the object in view being to prevent a
knock or blow occurring upon either the journal or the box between the horn
plates, and so enable the bearings to wear much better and very much longer than
the ordinary time.
The axle box being made in this way it is thrust down by the action of the
spring pin (when the spring is above or drawn down when the springs are under-
hung), on each side of the shaft or bearing and acts as a wedge, but yet moves
sensitively under the spring and does not stick, and so prevents any looseness or
knock upon these parts, such as are found with the old type of box, and this is
obtained by self adjustment without the aid of bolts, springs, liners, or anything
likely to work loose and give trouble.
And in order that my Invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into practice I will proceed to deserike the Di
Figures 1, 2, 3, and 4 slow separate views of an axle box (the nature of each of
which is written thereon) arranged and constructed in accordance with my
improvements.
The same letters apply to corresponding parts throughout the Figures.
a, a, are the two main pieces of the axle box extending in breadth to the full
length of the bearing, and also the full length from bottom to top of box as shown,
and may be each made in one piece of gun metal or phosphor bronze ready for
fitting together and boring out. Or the parts may be of cast iron or steel with a
recess suitable for receiving a gun metal step, or they may be each filled up with
suitable bearing metal, in which case each end of the recesses would require to be
slightly dovetailed to fasten the bearing metal.
The part y, y, inay be cast as shown in the Drawing, or this part may be left
open up to inside of flanges at each side of box, and closed in solid or by a
loose plate secured under the wedge nut at the bottom at z, z, the recesses being
filled with sponge in the usual way to assist in lubrication, or to collect the oil
which may fall from the bearing.
w is a wrought iron wedge of suitable taper and breadth which is drawn down
by the nuts n, n, to take up and adjust any wear in the bottom part of the box.
The top part of box being self adjusting under the pressure of the spring pin s
(which is slightly recessed into the boss d, d), requires no attention; o, o, are the

page_text: oil siphon pipes which communicate with the chamber c, such chamber extending
the full distance between the oil inlets, as shown.
b, b, are the gun metal steps when so fitted, and m, m, the flanges of same;
h, h, are half laps to prevent any opening occurring after years of wear where
sand or grit might get into the bearing; g, g, is the body of the box where it
engages the horns or guides, and f, f, are flanges for the sides of same; x is a
wrought iron washer spanning the wedge opening under nut n.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention and the manner of
performing or carrying the same into practice, I would remark that I do not
claim any of the mechanical parts separately which are well known and in
common use, neither do I limit myself to the exact form and arrangement of the
parts so long as the novel features of my Invention are retained, but what
I claim is,-
First. The improved arrangement and construction of axle boxes for the bearings
of locomotive engines, railway rolling stock, and other similar vehicles by forming
then in two parts, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein before
described and represented in the Drawings hereto annexed.
Second. The improved arrangement and application of the adjustable wedge w
to axle boxes, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore described and
shown in the Drawings annexed.
Third. The improved general arrangement and combination of mechanical parts
comprising the improved axle box and bearing, hereinbefore described and
represented in the Drawings hereto annexed.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Young, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this 26th day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight
hundred and eighty.
JAMES YOUNG. (L.S.)