Improvement in Car Axles.
Year: 1889

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd Sept., 1889-Accepted, 19th Oct., 1889
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvement in Car Axles.
Wo, JACOB EWART BLACKMORE, Brass Founder, and SAMUEL JACOB WAINRIGHT, Jr.,
Brewer, of the City of Pittsburg, in the County of Allegheny and State of Penn-
sylvania, U.S.A., do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement :-
Our invention relates to an improvement in Car Axles and consists in a divided
axle, coupled together at the center by means of two sleeves, plain or ribbed,
surrounding the said axle, and attached to a center piece by bolts, in a manner that
will permit the one wheel to revolve independent of the other, together with certain
other details of construction and combination of parts as will be fully described
hereinafter.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a front sectional elevation of a car axle, constructed in accordance with
our invention, the same being partly shown in elevation, the better to show its
working parts.
•
Fig. 2 is a face view of the center casting, to which the sleeves are attached.
Fig. 3 is a face view of the open washer, used for confining the axles within the
sleeves.
Fig. 4 is a front elevation of one end of the divided axle, showing the groove
in which the open washer is placed.
To put our invention into practice with an ordinary railway axle A, such as are
now in common use, the same is divided at the center and provided at each end
with a groove b. Over each of these portions of the axle A, is a metallic bushing c
which is driven rigidly into the sleeves in a manner that will hold the bushing c
stationary, and the internal surface bored or faced evenly. Over this bushing c is
placed a malleable or other metallic plain or ribbed sleeve d, provided with bearings e
at each end, and an outwardly projecting flange f, which fits against a circular central
casting g, and the whole coupled or attached together by a series of transverse
bolts h. A recess ; and opening k in the center of this piece g allows the ends of
the divided axle A to be secured therein, by means of an open washer 1, which has
a bearing against the ends of the sleeve d, and the side walls of the grooves b,
thereby preventing any movement of the axle A in the direction of its length.
In constructing an axle A, such as described, the bushings c are first put in
place in the sleeve d and finished, the grooves b formed in the axle A, and the
sleeves d and bushings slipped over the axle A; the washers are now fitted into
the grooves b, which locks the sleeves d in position.
The center piece g is loosely secured in place on the flanged end of one of the
sleeves d, by passing the bolts h through the flange f and the center piece g. The
other sleeve d is now placed into position and the several parts rigidly attached
together by means of the bolts h.
It will be seen that, by reason of this construction of an axle, the wheels may
revolve entirely independent of each other, which will greatly reduce the friction
on the same when traveling about sharp curves.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. In combination with a car axle A, divided at the center, the bushings c
secured in the sleeves d, the sleeves d having bearings e at each end of the same, and
provided with outwardly projecting flanges f, the central piece g, and suitable bolts h,

page_text: for coupling the same to the flanges of the sleeves d, and the open washers / fitted
into grooves formed in the ends of the divided axle A, as a means for preventing any
movement of the axle A in the direction of its length, substantially as set forth.
2. In combination with a car axle A, divided at the center, the sleeves d having a
flanged end, the center piece g having a recess j and opening k in the center of the same,
the grooves band open washers 1, substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 28th day of December A D. 1888.
Witnesses:
M. E. HARRISON.
J. A. HERRON.
JACOB EWART BLACKMORE.
SAMUEL JACOB WAINRIGHT, Jr.