IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY CARRIAGE AXLES
Year: 1874

page_text: .
ETTERS PATENT to Alexander Melville Clark, of 53, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the In-
vention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY CARRIAGE AXLES."-A commu-
nication from abroad by George Washington Miltimore, of Janesville,
in the County of Rock, State of Wisconsin, Moro Phillips and
Richard Henry Morris, both of Philadelphia, in the County of
Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, both in the United States of
America.
.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Alexander Melville Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition
and Declaration, on the 16th July 1874, pursuant to the 9th
Section of the Patent Law Amendment Act, 1852.

page_text: WHEREAS I am in possession of an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
RAILWAY CARRIAGE AXLES," 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 George Washington Miltimore, i
of Janesville, in the County of Rock, State of Wisconsin, Moro Phillips
and Richard Henry Morris, both of Philadelphia, in the County of
Philadelphia, State of Pennsylvania, both in the United States of America.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, do hereby
declare that the following Complete Specification, under my hand and
seal, 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 Sheet of Drawings,
and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say) :-
The object of this Invention is to provide a carriage so constructed]
and arranged as to allow each wheel a separate and independent revolving
movement, thereby facilitating the movements of the carriage in
rounding a curve, and compensating for any difference there may be in
the diameter of the wheels; and the Invention consists of a hollow
revolving sleeve axle upon which are loosely mounted the carriage
wheels, the said hollow axle being supported on and revolving round a
solid fixed axle, and so arranged as to revolve thereon simultaneously with
an independent revolving movement of the wheels.
It also consists in so combining the revolving sleeve or axle with the
fixed axle that the lubricating material is confined by means of a flexible
ring.
The Invention also consists of a novel oil feeder attached to the fixed
axle and in such an adjustment of the axle sleeve and bearers that the
friction caused by lateral motion is taken up on a bearing surface near
the centre of motion, and within the limits of the hollow sleeve or axle
where the oil is stored.
32
a provision for lateral motion.

page_text: Figure 2 is a section of Figure 1 looking to the right from the
line x, x.
Figure 3 is a side view of the flexible ring; Figure 4 is an edgo view
of the same.
Figure 5 is a cross section of Figure 3 on the line y, y. Similar letters
of reference indicate corresponding parts.
A, A, represent the rails of the track; B, B, the wheel; C is a
revolving sleeve axle made of either wrought or cast iron or other metal
as may be found most durable; D is a round solid fixed axle of either
steel or iron and not necessarily turned except at the journals. The
wheels are loosely mounted on the ends of the hollow axle C. The fixed
axle D is attached permanently to the carriage track by the bearers
E, E; Fis an annular chamber between the fixed axle D and the hollow
axle C. This chamber forms a reservoir for the lubricating oil. The oil
is introduced into this chamber through one or more orifices G through
the hollow axle. The oil may be introduced at the ends by means
of the oil cups H, H, in the pedestal bearers; it finds its way into the
chamber F by means of inclined holes I in the ends of the fixed axle.
J is the journal box of any suitable metal which is slipped into the ends
of the hollow axle and revolves with it on the fixed axle. The wheels
and hollow axle revolve together around the fixed axle except when the
distance travelled by the two wheels is varied by going round a curve or
when there is a difference in the diameter of the two wheels. In such
cases one or both wheels turn on the sleeve or hollow axle to the same
extent that one or both would be compelled to slip on the track had the
wheels been rigidly attached to the axle.
The weight of the vehicle is supported by a fixed axle while the
sleeve axle and bearers E, E, support the wheels in a perpendicular
position and hold them to the rails or gauge of the track.
K is a flexible ring which is preferably triangular in cross section,
made of raw hide and split, as seen in Figure 4, so that when it is
pressed against the end of the journal box J it will hug the fixed axlc.
The end of the box J is made concave, as also is the side of the
washer L. m is a spiral spring placed in a chamber at the end of
the hollow axle.
N is a cap which is screwed on to the end of the hollow axle and
holds the whoals against which tha anring vente no it is mungand

page_text: '
against the flexible ring. The cap, the spring, and flexible ring revolve
with the journal box and sleeve.
O is an oil feeder hinged to a recess R made in the fixed axle. This
feeder drops down by its own gravity: The oil is thrown by centri-
fugal force against the inner surface of the annular oil chamber and
forms a stratum of oil which is broken by the feeders, which causes it to
flow towards the boxes to lubricate the axle journals; some portions. of
the lubricating oils will work through the box and into the spring
chamber of the cap N.
The wheels on the sleeve axle are lubricated from this source by :
means of one or more oil passages P extending diagonally from
the base of the cap to the edge thereof, as indicated in the Drawing.
S and T are spaces left as a provision for lateral motion, the latter
being the smallest, so that all the friction caused by lateral motion shall
be confined within the space T. The lateral play of the sleeve and the
wheels on the axle is provided for by the space S between the bearer
and the back of the cap N, and the spaces T between the inner ends of
the journal boxes and the shoulders U of the fixed axle.
There will always be a slight revolving motion of one or both of the
wheels on the sleeve axle. This motion is equal to what the slip would 2
be were the wheels rigid on the axle as usual. This motion is trifling
and the wear at this point is scarcely appreciable, but that much slip and
consequent torsion would be destructive were the wheels rigidly attached
to the axle. The caps N confine the wheels to the sleeve axle while
at the same time they conduct oil for lubricating the wheels on the
sleeve, it being understood that the stationary axle. bearings and the
wheel bearings are separate and distinct parts, and lubricated by different
devices.
In conclusion I would observe that I do not confine myself strictly to
all the particular arrangements shown for lubricating the wearing
surfaces as I am aware that other ways may be devised for this purpose.

page_text: performing the same, I declare that what I claim as new and desire to
secure by Letters Patent is,-
1st. The combination of the fixed axle D, the hollow revolving sleeve
axle C, and the wheels B, B, loosely mounted thercon, substantially as
herein shown and described, and for the purposes specified.
2ndly. The annular oil reservoir F in combination with the fixed axle
D and sleeve axles C, substantially as and for the purposes described.
3rdly. The journal boxes J in combination with the fixed axle D and
sleeve axle C, as described.
4thly. The caps N by means of which the wheels are held on the
sleeve axle, substantially as shown and described.
5th. In combination with the annular oil reservoir F, the feeder O,
arranged to operate substantially as shown and described for the purposes
specified.
6thly. The spaces S and T, as a provision for lateral motion, sub-
stantially as described.
7thly. The spiral springs m and flexible ring Ķ, substantially as and
for the purposes described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alexander Melville Clark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Sixteenth day of July, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.
5
Witness,
HY. SWALES,
53, Chancery Lane,
London.
A. M. CLARK. (L.S.)