IMPROVEMENTS IN APPA- DOD READING AND RUPPING PURPOSES
Year: 1854

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles De Bergue, of No. 9, Dowgate Hill, in the
City of London, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPA-
DOD READING AND RUPPING PURPOSES."
Sealed the 1st September 1854, and dated the 4th March 1854.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles De Bergue at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 4th
March 1854.
I, CHARLES DE BERGUE, of No. 9, Dowgate Hill, in the City of London,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR BEARING AND BUFFING PURPOSES" to be as follows:-
My first improvement in bearing apparatus has reference to the bearings of
the journals of railway and other axles, commonly known under the name
of axle boxes, and consists in making or constructing the brass or other suit-
able metal bearing or step, so that it shall itself form and constitute the
upper and principal portion of the axle box, and that the grease cup shall by
that means be formed in and become part of the actual brass or bearing, and
that it may also be made to form in itself the requisite projections at the back
and front of the box, which serve in connexion with the other parts to enclose
the journal, and to protect it from dust, mud, &c.

page_text: My second improvement in bearing apparatus has reference to the use and
application of axle boxes, constructed as firstly above set forth, and consists in
connecting or securing two or more of such axle boxes together (in a direc-
tion at right angles to the axles to which they are to be applied) by bars,
plates, rods, or other equivalent or suitable means, so as to maintain them in
their proper positions.
My third improvement in bearing apparatus has reference to the use and
application of the spindles, rods, guides, or framing of indian-rubber springs,
or helical or spiral or disc metal springs, and consists in so mounting or
arranging and disposing them, that the said spindles, rods, guides, or framing
shall also serve to form guides for keeping the carriages (to which such
bearing apparatus is applied) in the proper position upon or over the axles,
(in lieu of the ordinary horn plates or axle guards used for the purpose,) and
allow of the necessary play of the springs; and also in the adaptation to
such spindles, rods, guides, or framing of indian-rubber, leather, or other
suitable material, for the purpose of allowing a certain amount of play, and of
lessening noise and vibration.
My fourth improvement in bearing apparatus has reference to ordinary and
other axle boxes, and consists in constructing them with or adapting to them
vulcanized indian-rubber springs, or helical or spiral or disc metal springs (in
either case) immediately and directly over the axle box, by means of a saddle
or bridge over its grease cup, which is so formed as to support or carry the
spring above it, and is also so formed that it may rest upon the axle box in
such manner as to afford the requisite amount of play or movement upon it,
and also allow of the necessary access to the grease box for feeding it.
My improvements in buffing apparatus have reference to the cases or
framing of that description of buffers or buffing apparatus for carriages in
which vulcanized indian-rubber or metal springs are employed, to afford the
required elasticity, and are enclosed in telescopic or sliding cases or framing.
And my said improvement consists in so casting or making the two principal
pieces or parts of such cases or framing, as that the one may not only slide
within the other, but that they may also be properly held together by the form
of the pieces or parts themselves, instead of depending upon a central rod or
bolt for this purpose; and the manner in which I prefer to effect this part of
my Invention is as follows:-I cast or make the exterior case or framing with
a hole or passage completely through it, of a cylindrical or other form,
excepting that it is narrowed at the fore part by an internally projecting flange,
fillet, or ring or rings, and 1 cast or make the interior case, or plunger or

page_text: framing, with an externally projecting flange, fillet, or ring (this plunger being
inserted from the back). The two flanges, fillets, or rings serve to hold the
two cases together, and prevent the interior one from projecting beyond
the limit intended. In other respects the cases are made in any covenant
manner, according to the purpose for which the buffers or buffing apparatus
of which they form a part are intended.
My Invention further consists in any combination or combinations of the
above improvements.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Charles De Bergue in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th September 1854.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, CHARLES
DE BERGUE, of No. 9, Dowgate Hill, in the City of London, Engineer, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four, in the sixteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said Charles De Bergue, Her special licence that I, the said Charles
De Bergue, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I,
the said Charles De Bergue, ny 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 "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN APPARATUS FOR BEARING AND BUPPING PURPOSES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Charles De Bergue, 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 per-
formed, 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 Charles De Bergue, do hereby declare
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof (that is to say):
:-
My Invention comprises bearing and buffing apparatus for carriages, and
its nature has reference,-
Firstly, to the bearings of the journals of railway and other axles, commonly
known under the name of axle boxes, and consists in making or constructing
the brass or other suitable metal bearing or step, so that it shall itself form and
constitute the upper and principal portion of the axle box, and that the grease
cup shall by that means be formed in and become part of the actual brass or
bearing, and that it may also be made to form in itself the requisite projec-
tions at the back and front of the box, which serve in connection with the
other parts to enclose the journal, and to protect it from mud, dust, &c. &c.
Secondly, to the use and application of axle boxes constructed as firstly
above set forth, and consists in connecting or securing two or more of such
axles boxes together (in a direction at right angles to the axles to which they
are to be applied) by bars, plates, rods, or other equivalent or suitable means,
so as to maintain them in their proper positions.
Thirdly, to the spindles, rods, guides, or framing of indian-rubber springs,
or helical or spiral or disc metal springs, and consists in the adaptation to
such spindles, rods, guides, or framing of indian-rubber, leather, or other
suitable material, for the purpose of allowing a certain amount of play, and of
lessening noise and vibration.
Fourthly, to the cases or framing of that description of buffers or buffing
apparatus for carriages in which vulcanized indian-rubber or metal springs
are employed, to afford the requisite elasticity, and are enclosed in telescopię or
sliding cases or framing. And my said improvement consists in so casting or
making the two principal pieces or parts of such cases or framing, as that the
one may not only slide within the other, but that they may also be properly held
together by the form of the pieces or parts themselves, instead of depending
upon a central rod or bolt for the purpose.
Having thus set forth the nature of my said Invention, I will proceed to
describe the manner in which each part thereof is respectively to be performed,
and in which I believe it may best be carried into effect by the following
explanation of the illustrative Drawings.
The Drawing, No. 1, shews several views of my improvements in bearing
apparatus. Figure 1 is a half front view, and a half longitudinal section at
A, B, (in Figure 2,) of my improved axle box, applied to and connected with
the bearing spring of a railway carriage. Figure 2 is a transverse section

page_text: through C, D, (in the Figure 1.) Figure 3 is partly a plan view, and partly a
horizontal section through E, F, and also through G, H, in the Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a horizontal section through I, K, in the Figure 1. Figure 5 is a
transverse section through L, M, in the Figures 1, 3, and 6, which last Figure
is a section through N, O, in the Figure 5, showing the axle box fitted to the
bars or plates i and p, hereafter mentioned. The same letters refer to the same
parts in these six Figures. My improved axle box is composed mainly of two
principal portions, an upper box a and a lower box b. The upper box, or
journal or bearing a, is of brass or any other suitable material, which is also
so shaped as to form the hollow projection or grease cup a* on the top, and
also the projections a², a³, on the front and back respectively. c is a moveable
cover to the grease cup; d is the axle; e is an outer cover plate; and f, an inner
cover plate; both of which have recesses to receive the projections a² and a³
on the journal or upper box, and also the lower box, so as when fixed together
by means of the bolts g, g, to form a perfectly closed chamber or box to prevent
injury from dust, mud, or other substances, the exterior cover plate being pro-
vided with a small hole in it (and a sliding door or plate to it) for removing
the waste grease, and the inner cover plate being provided with a packing of
leather (as has been heretofore practised). The upper and lower boxes are
also held together by the hooked bolts h, h, which hook round those marked
9, 9, hereafter referred to. I connect or secure two or more of my improved
axle boxes together by continuous outer bars or plates i, but the manner of
applying them will be more clearly understood by a general description of the
whole of the parts represented in the Drawing. k is a part of the sole bar of
a carriage or waggon; 1, 1, are struts or framing (somewhat similar to ordinary
axle guards) firmly attached to the sole bar, and turned at their lower ends, as
shewn, for the purpose of carrying (or supporting) the plate m, which is firmly
attached to them, and is intended to steady them, and also for the purpose of
carrying or supporting the plates n, n, which are firmly attached to it, and
each of these plates is also firmly attached to the plate m.
The plates n, n,
are likewise attached to or connected with the spindles o, o, (one to each of
them respectively,) of the two systems of my already patented indian-rubber
springs represented in the Drawing, and perform the service of the common
horn plates or axle guards in ordinary carriages. The two systems of springs
are supported by the continuous outer bar or plate i, before mentioned, and
also by an inner bar or plate p, only just long enough to connect the two
systems of springs together. Both of these are saddled over the axle box, so
as to rest upon and firmly clip it, as shewn in Figure 6, and both are fitted

page_text: tightly to it, and are secured firmly to it by the bolts h, h, and also laterally
against its grease box a*, by bolts q, q. Their proper relative position is further
ensured by means of the separating or distance pieces or blocks s, s, which
work on the spindles o, o, and these are also secured firmly together by bolts
and nuts. There is a plate i on each of the two sides of the carriage, ex-
tending and similarly connected to the other axle or axles, and both these
plates are stiffened with timber to prevent buckling. The effect of this
arrangement is to maintain the axles parallel to each other. Iron rods or
other equivalent or suitable means may be substituted in place of the plates
or bars i, i.
I obtain a certain amount of lateral play in my springs, and also lessen noise
and vibration, by the following arrangement:-A hole or opening is cast or
formed in each of the blocks s to receive a bush, tube, or cup t, which is of
brass or any other suitable material; but this bush, which is fitted to and
slides upon
its spindle o, is not fixed rigidly into the said block, but the hole or
opening in the block is made large enough to receive the tube or cylinder u
(which may be made of indian-rubber or any other suitable material) between
the block s and the bush t, the indian-rubber cylinder u being compressed, but
at the same time allowing the required amount of play without the noise, which
would be produced by the contact of metal against metal.
The Drawing, No. 2, shews two views of my improved buffing apparatus,
arranged with my previously patented indian-rubber springs; Figure 7 being
a half longitudinal section through R, S, in Figure 8, and a half elevation,
and Figure 8 being a half transverse section through P, Q, (in Figure 7.) and
a half end elevation. In these Figures, a is the exterior case or framing, with
a hole or passage completely through it of cylindrical form, excepting that it
is narrowed at the fore part, and also at about the middle of its length by the
internal projecting flanges, fillets, or rings and a respectively; y is the
interior case, or plunger or framing, with the external projecting flange or
ring y cast or formed on its tail end, this plunger being inserted from the
back. The two flanges, fillets, or rings 2 and y* serve to hold the two cases
together, and prevent the interior one from separating or projecting beyond
the limit intended, quite independently of the central rod or bolt. In other
respects, the cases are made in any convenient manner, according to the par-
ticular or, precise purpose for which the buffers or buffing apparatus, of which
they form a part, are intended. The advantage of this arrangement is, that the
plunger cannot in any case drop out of the cylinder a without the buffer
being taken off from the buffer plank or other fixing. Instead of the indian-
b

page_text: rubber springs represented in the Drawing, helical or spiral, or any other
suitable description of springs, of steel or any suitable metal, may be sub-
stituted.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles De Bergue, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of September, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-four.
C. DE BERGUE. (L.S.)