CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN COLLIERY TUES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Henry Johnson and Thomas Johnson, of Dudley,
in the County of Worcester, Mechanical Engineers, for the Invention of
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN COLLIERY TUES."
Sealed the 1st September 1876, and dated the 18th March 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Henry Johnson and
Thomas Johnson at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th
March 1876.
GEORGE HENRY JOHNSON and THOMAS JOHNSON, of Dudley, in the County
of Worcester, Mechanical Engineers. "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN COLLIERY
TUBS."
Our Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described in the
construction of colliery tubs or waggons and fittings connected therewith,-
1st. Supplying the grease box by the opening of a lid similar to the manner
adopted in locomotives, but never yet to colliery tubs.
2nd. The circular hole in the wheel where it works upon the axle, having a series
of spiral or straight grooves or slots which take up the grease, and continuously
supplyling the axle when the wheel is in motion.
3rd. The short axle, the one end of which is secured in a box or socket, the same
being bolted to the tub; the wheel is then placed upon the spindle and the bracket
acts as a support and grease box.
And, 4th. The space gained by the bottom of the tub being below the axle.
And in order that this our Invention may be properly understood reference is
made to the annexed Drawing.
Fig. 1 shows end view of colliery tub or waggon shewing my improvements.
A is the frame or body of colliery tub or waggon, the bottom of which is situated
below the wheels; B is a short axle fixed at one end in the box or socket; C, the
other end in the support E, which boxes and supports are secured to the tub, the
wheel D is free upon this axle, and which wheel D has a series of spiral or straight
slots for supplying itself and axle with grease. The axle has a number of projections
at each end fitting into indentations in the box Cand support E, thereby preventing
it moving; the axis is permanent, the wheel revolving; E is the bracket or support
for the axle and bolted to the tub, as shown at F; G is the grease box as before
alluded to.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Henry Johnson and Thomas Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 13th September 1876.
GEORGE HENRY JOHNSON and THOMAS JOHNSON, of Dudley, in the County
of Worcester, Mechanical Engineers. "CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN COLLIERY
TUBS."
Our Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described and illustrated
in the accompanying Drawing in colliery tubs or waggons.
Figure 1 represents in side elevation, and Figure 2 in end elevation a flat
bottomed colliery tub or waggon containing part of our improvements; Figure 3 is
a longitudinal vertical section of one of the combined brackets and grease boxes
drawn of the full size; and Figures 4 and 5 are modifications of the same as herein-
after explained. The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several
figures of the Drawing.
a is the flat bottomed colliery tub or waggon made of wrought iron as usual. The
bottom of the said tub is strengthened and great rigidity given to it by means of
the central wrought-iron bar marked b, and the side angle or bars marked c, c,
rivetted to the said bottom. Besides serving to strengthen the bottom of the tub a,
the said bars b, c, c, also serve as draw bars to the tub rings, d, d, being suspended
to the ends of these bars. The ends of the bars where the rings d, d, are situated
are strengthened by rivetting plates on each side the said ends. To the ends of the
tub or waggon we connect pieces of L or channel iron marked e for the purpose of
securing thereto the wooden bumpers ff. Inside the tub and at the back of each
bumper we rivet a piece of flat iron for strengthening the tub at that part as
indicated in dotted lines. For supporting the axles of the wheels g, g, and for
lubricating the said axles we construct the brackets or supports and the grease
boxes hollow, and in one piece and of the sectional figure, best seen in the enlarged
view of one of the said brackets and grease boxes in Figure 3. The combined
brackets and grease boxes are marked h. The axle of the wheels works in the
lower cylindrical chamber or socket of the bracket, the upper chamber ³ con-
stituting the grease box. The said combined brackets and grease boxes are provided
with flanges h, 1, by which they are connected by means of the screw bolts i, i, to
the under side of the tub or waggon (see Figure 3). On the inside of the bottom
of the tub or waggon and opposite each bracket h, is a washer secured to the said
bottom by the bolts i, i, which fasten the said brackets in their places.
For the purpose of feeding the grease boxes h³ with grease through the bottom of
the tub or waggon a screwed hole is made in the middle of the washer, in which
hole a screw plug m is screwed, and a hole is also made in the bottom of the tub
which opens into the grease box h³. By removing the screw plug m the grease box
may be filled with, by proference, liquid fat or oil, but solid grease may be used.
The said screw plug m when driven home prevents access of dust to the grease
box ³. Or instead of filling the grease box 3 from the inside of the tub, as
represented in Figures 1, 2, and 3, the said grease box may be supplied from its
side by means of the hinged lid n, as represented in Figure 4, or by a side screw
plug p, as represented in Figure 5. We prefer to use the arrangements, Figures 4
and 5, when the brackets are applied outside the wheels, as shown in Figures 6 and 7,
but where the wheels are outside the brackets, the door n, Figure 4, and the screw
plug p, Figure 5, may be more conveniently situated on the sides of the brackets
opposite to those on which they are represented, as situated in the Drawing.
The internal construction of the combined hollow brackets and grease boxes will
be best understood by reference to Figures 3 and 4, where it will be seen that the
bracket is divided into two chamber h2, h3; in the lower cylindrical chamber or
socket, the axle of the wheels fits closely, and in the upper chamber ³ the oil or
grease is stored, the communication between the axle chamber and grease box or
chamber h³ being effected by means of a narrow longitudinal slit 5 between the two

page_text: chambers, the said slit being situated immediately over the highest point of the axle.
By means of the said narrow slit h³ the oil or grease is gradually supplied to the
rotating axle at its highest point and waste prevented. Or instead of a narrow
slit h between the two chambers h2, h3, a hole may be made in the division between
the two chambers with the same effect.
The brackets and grease boxes h, h, may either be fixed inside the wheels of
the tub or waggon, as represented in Figures 1 and 2, or outside the said wheels as
represented in Figures 6 and 7, the said Figures 6 and 7 representing a dished or
double bottomed tub or waggon containing our improvements.
In the said Figures 6 and 7, the axle brackets and grease boxes h, h, are
provided with side hinged lids n, n, as shown on a larger scale in Figure 4. The
dished bottom of the tub or waggon a is marked a² ². By means of the said
dished bottom the capacity of the tub is increased without increasing its height.
In the arrangement, Figures 6 and 7, the bumpers e, f, are constructed in the manner
described with respect to Figures 1 and 2, but the draw bars are differently con-
structed. In the said Figures 6 and 7, we make the draw bars at each end of the
tub or waggon of three straps q, 9, 7, (having eyes at their ends) which are rivetted
to the bottom of the tub or waggon. The said straps 7, q, q, are furnished with
rings as represented. The outside brackets and grease boxes h, h, in Figures 6 and 7,
are connected together, and great rigidity given to the lower part of the tub by
means of T or L shaped bars of iron marked ", the ends of the said bars being
dropped into and fixed in the brackets 8, 8, cast on the sides of the said brackets, as
best seen in Figure 6.
We prefer to strengthen each corner of the waggon or tub by means of internal
and external short pieces of bead iron rivetted in their places.
Having now described the nature of our Invention and the manner in which tho
same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that we do not limit ourselves
to the precise details herein described and illustrated, as the same may be varietl
without departing from the nature of our Invention; but we claim as our Invention
of certain improvements in colliery tubs,―
First. The construction and arrangement of the combined brackets and grease
boxes for supporting the axles of the wheels of the said tubs, and for lubricating the
said axles herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawing,
that is to say, making the said brackets hollow and with a double chamber, and
connecting them to the bottom of the tub, substantially as described and illustrated;
also supplying the grease or oil in the grease box or upper chamber to the lower or
axlo chamber or socket in the ways described and illustrated, and the arrangements
described and illustrated for supplying the grease or oil to the grease boxes, either
from the inside of the tub or from the outside of the brackets.
Secondly. The method described and illustrated of strengthening the bottoms of
the tubs and constructing the draw plates and bumpers of the tubs.
Thirdly. Dishing or sinking the bottom of the tub between the wheels for the
purpose of increasing the capacity of the tub, as hereîn-before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Johnson, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Eleventh day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
THOMAS JOHNSON. (L.S.)