IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLES AND AXLE BOXES AND IN SLEEVES FOR THE SAME
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine,.
Lake, & Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London,
for the Invention of "". IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLES AND AXLE BOXES
AND IN SLEEVES FOR THE SAME." -A communication from abroad by
C. W. M. Smith, of San Francisco, California, United States of
America.
Sealed the 6th June 1871, and dated the 17th April 1871.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lake at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and
Declaration, on the 17th April 1871, pursuant to the 9th Section of
the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.
5
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AXLES AND AXLE BOXES, AND IN SLEEVES FOR THE SAME," and have petitioned
Her Majesty to grant unto me, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, Her Royal Letters Patent for the same, and have made solemn
Declaration that it has been communicated to me from abroad by
C. W. M. Smith, of San Francisco, California, United States of
America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Robert Lake, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification under my hand
and scal fully describes and ascertains the nature of the said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed in and by the following
statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawing forming a
part of this Specification:-
My Invention relates to the combination and arrangement of a double
box nut and washer with the axles in such a manner as to secure
an automatic supply of the lubricating substance employed to all the
wearing surfaces for a greater length of time without attention or
the renewal of the said lubricating substance than has been hitherto
possible in the use of similar devices, and also to attain to a maximum
security against the collection of grit and dirt between the surfaces.
and the sticking fast of the boxes to the axle.
The object of the said Invention is to provide a combined box and
axle for vehicles, or sleeve for journals, which will run for a maximum
distance or length of time without attention and with a minimum of
wear and liability to derangement.

page_text: A is the axle; B is the inner box; C is the outer box; D is the nut;
E, F, G, are the washers.
It is a well-known fact that axles as generally constructed almost
invariably break at or near the shoulder a. To obviate this difficulty
the axle A is much enlarged at that part, and the shoulder a is forged in
one picce with the axle, and the whole finished or turned, as shewn at
Figure 2. The inner box B, and outer box C are of such configuration
as to correspond with and have a bearing upon the exterior surface of
the enlarged part of the axle, and upon the outer surface of the part
forming the shoulder a and upon each other, and when in position recesses
or spaces are formed for collars or washers E, F, G, and recesses or
spaces b, b, for retaining a supply of the lubricating substance. The
inner box B is provided with perforations, recesses, and longitudinal
grooves for the same purpose, but differs from all others in having the
expanded parts c, c', bearing upon and effectually lubricating the corre-
sponding parts of the outer box C, and the axle A.
The form of the outer box also admits of having feathers d, d',
as shewn in such a position as to be more casily fitted to the
hub, and affording greater security against turning therein than is
usual in boxes of ordinary construction. By this construction the
recesses and grooves in the box B. gather up and collect any dust
or grit that may find its way to the bearing surface. The washers
E, F, G, may be made of leather or some other suitable clastic
substance and serve the double purpose of preventing noise and the
entrance of grit or escape of the lubricant to or from the wearing
surfaces. The nut D is firmly screwed against the shoulder e and the
washers E, F, G, are made of just sufficient thickness to be slightly
compressed by the nut, and the said washers must be occasionally
renewed as they become worn.
'
When in operation the inner box B will usually revolve with the wheel
or outer box C, but if from the entrance of grit or any other cause undue
or excessive friction should arise between the box B and the axle, the
box B would adhere to the axle and the wheel and box C would
revolve around both, and the wearing be transferred to the outer surface
of the box B and the inner surface of the box C.
When constructed and intended as a sleeve for journals or axles
the bushing is made with holes or openings n connected by inner

page_text: is divided longituumany in naives, and when operation is kept
position by collars or bearings at the end of the shaft and the lugs o, o,
these lugs fit into depressions on the opposite half of the sleeve.
Between the lugs are spaces o, o', through which a more complete
lubrication is effected.
When this device is constructed in halves, as shewn, it can be used
under circumstances that would prevent its application otherwise, as for
instance, on journals, shafting, or axles having collars or flanges.
The perforations, spaces, and recesses, may all be filled with tallow
or some other lubricant solid at ordinary temperature, and which will
effectually lubricate the parts when cold, and if heat should be generated
by friction, the quantity of tallow melted will correspond with the
amount of heat generated, and thus increase or diminish the supply as
is required. The sleeve being recessed at the ends the collars or end
bearings will be acted on in the same manner as the other bearing
surfaces. The inner grooves serve. to convey and distribute the melted
lubricant equally to all parts of the surface of the journal. By this
means the lubrication is much more complete and perfect upon the
bearing surfaces and great security is obtained against the admission of
sand and grit that might otherwise find its way to the wearing parts,
but which is collected and retained in the grooves, recesses, and spaces,
or perforations.
Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to
me by my foreign correspondent, I claim,-
First. In combination with the outer box C and axle A having an
enlargement and shoulder a, the inner box B having the enlarged or
expanded parts c, c', bearing upon and lubricating the outer box. C and
axle A. and forming recesses b, b', substantially as specified.
Second. Dividing the sleeve or bushing longitudinally and holding it
in position when in operation by means of the lugs and recesses, sub-
stantially as described.

page_text: Third. The end recesses m, m, and the spaces o¹, o', in a lubricating
sleeve, as set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have here-
unto set my hand and scal, this Seventeenth day of April, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
one.
Witness,
E. C. JACKSON.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE. (L.S.)