AN IMPROVED CARRIAGE AXLE FOR COMMON ROADS, AS ALSO THE CLIP FOR UNITING THE SPRING OR SPRINGS TO THE SAME."AL SP
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Richards, of Birmingham, in the County of
Warwick, Coach Axle, Spring, and Irouwork Manufacturer, and.
Robert Grindle, also of Birmingham aforesaid, Commercial Repre-
sentative of the said Joseph Richards, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED CARRIAGE AXLE FOR COMMON ROADS, AS ALSO THE CLIP FOR
UNITING THE SPRING OR SPRINGS TO THE SAME."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Richards and
Robert Grindle at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with.
their Petition, on the 29th August 1866.
We, JOSEPH RICHARDS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Coach:
Axle, Spring, and Ironwork Manufacturer, and ROBERT GRINDLE, also of
Birmingham aforesaid, Commercial Representative of the said Joseph
Richards, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention for "As
IMPROVED CARRIAGE AXLE FOR COMMON ROADS, AS ALSO THE CLIP FOR UNITING
THE SPRING OR SPRINGS TO THE SAME," to be as follows (that is to say):-
Our improvements consist, firstly, in so forming axles that greater strength
with increased bearing surface may be afforded at the neck or part in contact

page_text: or that works in connection with the inner end of the axle box or bush, and
this we effect by forming a conical incline near the neck, which prevents the
wheel or box wearing away the leather washer commonly used for holding
and retaining the oil by which the same is lubricated, as well as preventing
the dirt from use working into the wearing surfaces of the axle and axle box
or bush. We form a corresponding angle in the axle box to the conical
bearing before referred to, from which it will be seen that when the axle box
(which forms the concentric centre of the wheel completing the same) is
placed fully on the axle the two inclined surfaces will be in complete contact,
where they will be retained by a corresponding portable annular conical bearing
placed on the outer end of the axle coming in contact with a corresponding
incline formed in the interior of the outer end of the axle box or bush, and
held in position by the usual screw, set screw, and pin. As a further security
for preventing the dirt or grit working into the joint before referred to we
form a flange around the neck of the axle overlapping the inner end of the
axle box or bush; or this annular flange may be formed separate of any
suitable metal, and applied to the axles in contradistinction to being formed
with the same. By these simple but important contrivances we obtain much
more additional strength than is obtained by the common and ordinary mode,
and by the conical surfaces being casehardened steadiness is ensured even
with long continued use. Axle boxes thus constructed we purpose invariably
making of wrought iron, which permits of their being made much smaller
and lighter than heretofore, thereby allowing a smaller nave in the wheel to
be used with them.
Secondly, our Invention relates to the clips for uniting or bolting carriage
axles to their springs, and consists in taking a small length of rod iron, and
after heating laying the same on a die or dies and striking it into an angular
form, or partially so, for clipping the square part of the axle, and so flattening
it out in its transverse section as not only to impart strength but to increase
the bearing surface. Clips thus treated may be passed through finishing dies
to make the angles more perfect, and may be planished or otherwise treated
to add extra finish to them, which (made by this process) will be uniform
and regular in weight and shape and much reduced in cost by the reduction
of labour.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed'
by the said Joseph Richards and Robert Grindle in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 28th February 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wė, JOSEPH
RICHARDS, of Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Coach Axle, Spring,
and Ironwork Manufacturer, and ROBERT GRINDLE, also of Birmingham
aforesaid, Commercial Representative of the said Joseph Richards, send
greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-ninth day of August, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto us, the said
Joseph Richards and Robert Grindle, Her special license that we, the said
Joseph Richards and Robert Grindle, our executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as we, the said Joseph Richards and Robert Grindle,
our executors, 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,
within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel
Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED CARRIAGE AXLE FOR
COMMON ROADS, AS ALSO THE CLIP FOR UNITING THE SPRING OR SPRINGS TO THE
SAME," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Joseph Richards
and Robert Grindle, by an instrument in writing under our hands and seals,
sborld 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 immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that we, the said Joseph Richards and Robert
Grindle, do hereby declare the nature of our said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement (that is to say):-
Our improvements consist in so forming axles that greater strength with
increased bearing surface may be afforded at the neck or part in contact or
that works close to or in connection with the collar or inner end of the axle
and axle box or bush, and this we effect by forming a conical incline rising
from the parallel of the axle towards the neck or collar, which not only pre-

page_text: vents the wheel or box wearing away the leather washer commonly used for
holding and retaining the oil by which the same is lubricated, but affords
much additional strength at this important part, as well as preventing the dirt
or grit from use working into the wearing surfaces of the axle and axle box
or bush.
We also form a corresponding conical or angular bearing in the
axle box to the conical bearing before referred to, from which it will be seen
that when the axle box (which forms the concentric centre bearing of the
wheel) is placed fully on the axle the two inclined surfaces will incline
towards the central parallel portion of the axle, and be brought in complete
contact by a corresponding portable annular conical bearing placed on the
outer end of the axle coming in contact with a corresponding incline formed
in the interior of the outer end of the axle box or bush, and held in position
by the usual screw, set screw, and pin. As a further security for preventing
the dirt or grit working into the joint before referred to we form a flange
around the neck of the axle overlapping the inner end of the axle box or
bush, or this annular flange may be formed separate of any suitable metal,
and applied to the axles in contradistinction to being formed with the same.
By these simple but important contrivances we obtain much more additional
strength than is obtained by the common and ordinary mode, and by the
conical surfaces being caschardened and capable of regulation steadiness is
ensured even with long continued use. Axle boxes thus constructed we
purpose invariably making of wrought iron, which permits of their being made
much smaller and lighter than heretofore, thereby allowing a smaller nave in
the wheel to be used with them; notwithstanding, cast-iron boxes may be
used in connection with our improved axle if so preferred.
Since applying for this Patent we have discovered that the clip mentioned
under the second head in our Provisional Specification is not altogether sub-
stantially new, and we elect rejecting it altogether from this our Complete
Specification than to retain it as a doubtful Invention; therefore we will
proceed to describe by aid of the Drawings hereunto annexed the Invention
as relating to the axle only.

page_text: receiving an annular conical-faced washer, represented in a flat view at
Fig. 2, which washer is held in position by set screws F and G, Fig. 3,
which is a part longitudinal section of Figure 1 united to the axle box II, and
secured there by the usual cap or box I screwed into it with, by preference, a
leather washer between the flange of the cap I and the outer end of the axle
box, which washer we have marked J. The annular washer at Figure 2 is
here shown in section, and on the top side of the axle box a longitudinal groove
is represented, not as a novelty but as a requirement to form an oil way for
lubrication; and for the same use the recess in the axle box marked Lis
used for holding oil or grease for lubrication. M is a small leather washer to
take a bearing in this part between the shoulder of the axle a and corre-
sponding shoulder of the axle box 6, the thickness of which should so assimilate
as to permit the inclines of the axle box c to be in complete contact with the
corresponding part of the axle marked d, which contact prevents frictional
wear on the leather washer, which consequently will endure for a long time
and not wear away, and from its absorbing the oil will become a gradual
lubricator, thus obviating the great objection of the use of a large leather
washer with its rapid wear as in ordinary constructed axles, as also a preven-
tion to end play, a great defect common to axles now in use; and this
contact of the angular parts c and d is effected, regulated, and maintained by
the corresponding angular part of the washer K marked e being kept in
contact with the angle of the axle box marked ƒ by means of the set screw F
and lock nut G. The conical angular surfaces both in the box and axle, as
also in the washer, we purpose casehardening, a process well understood by
manufacturers of this and like articles; notwithstanding steadiness is com-
pletely secured, for in case of wear the set screw F will tighten or properly
place the wearing parts again in complete contact; this is important, as we
obtain an increased bearing, perfect steadiness of action, less friction, and
no end play, which materially tends to prevent vibration and consequent
breakage. The collar C overlaps the outer surface of the axle box as bere
represented to prevent dirt or grit getting between the axle and inner surface
of the box.
Fig. 4 simply represents the box placed in position over the axle, as
exhibited in section in the last Figure; and as strength with reduced bulk or
compactness is desirable, we are by our improvements enabled to reduce
the axle box to the proportions here shown, which are full size, as suitable for
an ordinary carriage, and would enable the carriage builder to use a much
smaller nave in the making of his wheels than he could with any other

page_text: construction of axle now in use, as the stea liness of the wheel is ensured from
the contact of the inclined surface of the box with the inclined surface of the
axle near the collar, and not by contact with the large leather washer now
commonly used, which rapidly wears away by the friction of the wheels,
rendering the wheels liable to what is technically called end "play."
Fig. 5 represents a modification of our improvements as applied to an axle
commonly known in the trade as a mail axle, in which we are enabled to
obtain the advantages of the conical inclines as at N; and this modification
we have exhibited in a complete side view at Fig. 6, and part sectional view
at Fig. 7, to the extent of all the parts except the axle, as exhibited at
Figure 5. In this case the axle box is so constructed that a flange may be
formed at its inner end or lugs as here shown for screw pins to pass through
with corresponding washers abutting against the collar P, one of the collars
by preference being of leather marked Q, and the other of iron, steel, or
metal as preferred. The inner terminus of the axle box is reduced to a
keen edge for the purpose of embedding itself in the leather as at g, h, when
screwed up, and the inclines j and % are in contact by means of the screw pins
T and nuts U.
Thus we have a perfect adjustable bearing or contact of the angular
parts, as well as the parallel bearing of the axle through the box. This
arrangement enables us also to use with the same good effect as described at
Figure 3 the leather washer V, which instead of wearing away to thicken the
oil becomes saturated with it, and thereby continuing to lubricate until a fresh
snpply is required, but which would not be frequent, as the recess W forms a
chamber for holding, as it were, a supply. The box X in this as in the other
case forms no novelty and is simply screwed into the front end of the axle box,
having by preference the ordinary leather washer between, as its elastic
nature acts in some degree like a lock nut, preventing the cap freely
unturning.
Having thus given a general description of our Invention, and the manner
in which the same may be carried into effect, we wish it understood that we do
not claim any of the minor details here exhibited and described, provided the spirit
of our Invention be preserved; as, for instance, the direct angular line of the
conical part or neck of the axle may be deviated from and a curvilinear form
used, such as shown in dotted lines at Figure 5, or otherwise; but what we
claim as new and of our Invention, and wish protected under these our in part
recited Letters Patent is, the conical or inclined part or its equivalent forming
the neck of the axle or that part near the collar, as well as the corresponding

page_text: part working in connection with the same formed in the axle box as herein
described and exhibited.
In witness whereof, we, the said Joseph Richards and Robert Grindle,
have hereunto set our hands and seals, this Twenty-seventh day of
February, in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
sixty-seven.
Witness,
WILLIAM LOACH,
Clerk to James S. Cockings,
Patent Agent,
Birmingham.
(L.B.)
JOS. RICHARDS.
ROBERT GRINDLE. (L.B.)