IMPROVEMENTS IN CAR AXLE BOXES AND ATTACHMENTS
Year: 1884

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COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I WILLIAM SEBASTIAN GRAFF BAKER & Citizen of the United States, residing
in the City of Baltimore and State of Maryland, U.S.A. Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN CAR AXLE BOXES
AND ATTACHMENTS", and in what manner the same is to be performed to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
The first part of my Invention relates to that class of journal boxes and pedestals
in which the journal box is fitted to move vertically and laterally within the jaws
of the pedestal, the box being arranged with a saddle on top in which rests
a suspending link.
In the Drawing Figure 1.is an end elevation of an axle box and adjacent parts
as if in position under a car. Figure 2 is a vertical section on the line 2. 2. of
Figure 1. Figure 3 is a side elevation of the box shewing one car spring in
elevation and Figure 4 is a view shewing on the right a face view of one half
of an annular, flanged and recessed metallic axle plate, and on the left.a face view
of one half of an annular projection of the car wheel
Referring to the letters on the Drawings A indicates an axle; B a wheel, C an
axle box; D a brass bearing; E a suspension link; F a grooved iron shoe or washer
supported by the link and upon which the spring carriage G, rests; H car springs;
I spring bolts and K a beam making part of a car frame to which the spring bolts
are secured. All of these parts so far as described are of ordinary construction
and, are only referred to by way of pointing out what is old the better to
distinguish what I deem to be new which I will now. describe.
First. Heretofore the spring bolts I which depend from the beam K in connection
with this class of boxes and have to sustain the strain of the swaying of the car
body, have been inadequately braced, and it has been found desirable to strengthen
them by an improved means of bracing. Accordingly I have designed a peculiar
bracket brace L provided with a central aperture so that it will slip over the outer
end of the axle box and also provided with bent arms M extending under the
springs and having holes to receive the lower ends of the spring bolts. This brace

page_text: is secured to the outside of the beam K by bolts or screws in any suitable way and.
serves to stay the lower ends of the spring bolts while it accomodates the axle
box and gives a better finish to the car. I prefer to make it as illustrated in one
piece; but it could be made in two parts; or two independent braces one on each
side of the box reaching to the lower end of each spring bolt might be employed
without departing from the substance of my improvement the main point being to
provide means connected with the beam or car frame for bracing or staying the
lower ends of the spring bolts.. I do not confine my Invention to the particular
mode illustrated of connecting or fastening the lower ends or bent arms of the.
brace with the lower ends of the spring bolts; but any ordinary or suitable means
may be employed although a screw nut N affords a good fastening.
Second. I provide the box C with an opening at the top through which the
forked key O, can be put in place to fit in the annular recess in the end of the axle.
This opening I cover by a cap P resting or fulcrumed at its inner end by means of
the bent end or lug X on the top of the box as well illustrated in Figure 2 and
held in place by the bolt or bolts Q which serve when screwed home to bring the
outer end of the cap down upon the top of the outer vertical wall of the box and
make an oil tight joint. The brass bearing D is inserted from the back end of
the box.
Third. I provide an annular plate R to encircle the axle between the box and an
annular projection S upon the car wheel. This plate is provided with recesses as
indicated in Figure 4, and say for example eight in number more or less. The
annular projection upon the wheel is provided with pins or lugs S¹-say four in
number to fit into alternate recesses in the plate. The remaining recesses in the
plate contain suitable coil springs T bearing upon the bottoms of their recesses in
the plate at one end and upon the face of the annular projection S, at the other
end. This plate is provided with segmental flanges U and between it and the box
is a suitable annular leather washer V.
From this description of the structure and arrangement of the parts it will be
seen that the springs will tend to brace the plate against the leather washer and
the washer against the inner end of the box. The pins within the recesses will
serve to turn the plate and with it the washer. The metal plate and washer
turning with the axle are made to fit tightly upon it. The result of this structure
is to produce an oil and dust tight joint affording thorough protection to the
journal of the car axle and the brass bearing within the box.
The next part of my Invention is illustrated in Figures 5. 6. 7. 8 and 9.
Figure 5 is an elevation partly in section of my improved axle box; Figure 6
an end view thereof; Figure 7 a section shewing the arrangement of washers, and
Figures 8 and 9 illustrate a modification of my improved lid.
The outer end of the box A is formed with an opening B the sides of which are
preferably inclined from top to bottom as shown. At the upper end of the opening
is a shoulder a. which extends transversely across the box. The top of the shoulder
is preferably on a somewhat lower plane than the top of the box and a transverse
channel c. is preferably formed between the shoulder, or rib and the portion b of
the box. The lid C is formed with a hooked end D the socket d. and shoulder d'.
'corresponding respectively with the shoulder a and channel c. on the box so that
when the lid is in position there will be a neat fit the top of the lid being parallel
with the top of the box.
The lower end of the lid is hinged on a pin E which is supported in brackets e.
on the box. On the outside of the lid are formed lugs F preferably elongated as
shown which are provided with slots f through which the hinge pin extends.
The slots are of sufficient length to allow the lid to be lowered to its locked
When thus raised the lid
position or raised sufficiently to clear the shoulder a.
When
may be swung back on its axle as illustrated by dotted lines in Figure 5.
the lid is closed it is held firmly in position by the set screw G which is carried
by a frame g hinged to the pin E. The screw works against a lug or bracket g¹
$
•

page_text: formed on the lid. When it is desired to open the box the screw may be loosened
and the lid raised and turned on its hinges as illustrated in Figure 5. The frame g
of course moves with the lid and finally abuts against the stop H. The details of
construction of my improved lid may be somewhat varied. In Figures 8 and 9
I have shewn a substitute for the set screw. It consists of an eccentric cam I
carried by a hinged frame i. The cam works against a bracket g formed on the
lid. The operation of the cam need not be described as it is merely a mechanical
equivalent or substitute for the set screw.
My improvements next relate to the formation and arrangement of the washers
which are interposed between the wheel and the box.
My present improvements consist in an annular metallic washer formed with
pins or dowels j which fit into sockets k in the wheel K. Alternating with the
dowels are coiled springs L which are secured to the washer in sockets and bear
against the face of the wheel and tend to hold the washer against the face of the
wheel. The washer J is preferably formed with segmental flanges ¹ into which
fits a fibrous washer that bears against the face of the box. The washer fits
neatly over the axle N and effectually excludes from the interior of the box dust
and other foreign matter. It is advantageous to form the dowels on the washer
instead of on the wheels because the dowels are then not so likely to be bent or
broken and it is more convenient to thus manufacture them and in case of breakage
a new washer may readily be substituted if necessary.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
First. The combination with a beam K and a spring bolt or bolts I of a brace L
rigidly secured to the beam and extending down past the axle box and rigidly
secured to the lower end of one or more of the spring bolts for the purpose
set forth.
Second. An axle box provided with an opening at the top in combination with
a cap P fulcrumed at its inner end by means of a lug X on top of the box and
screw bolts for bringing the outer end of the cap down upon the wall of the box to
form a tight joint.
Third. In combination with an axle box and wheel an annular plate R and
washer V constructed and arranged to revolve with the wheel,
Fourth. The combination of the wheel provided with an annular projection and
pins an annular recessed plate carrying springs a washer and an axle box C.
Fifth. The combination of the box, a hinged lid, a locking shoulder thereon, a
hinge pin carried by the box, a slotted bearing in the lid through which the
pin extends, and means carried by the box for holding the lid in its locked
position.
Sixth. The combination of the box, a lid hinged thereto, a locking shoulder on
the lid, a hinge pin carried by the box, and a slotted bearing in the lid through
which the pin extends and which permits the lid to have a slight vertical
movement to disengage the locking shoulder and then an outwardly swinging
movement to open the box.
Seventh. The combination of the box, a lid hinged thereto, a slotted bearing in
the lid, a swinging frame mounted on the box, and means carried by the frame
for holding the lid in position.
Eighth. The combination of the box, a vertically sliding lid, a locking shoulder
thereon, a frame mounted on the box, and means, carried by the frame for holding
the lid in its locked position.
Ninth. The combination of the box, a lid hinged thereto, a set screw and its
frame mounted on the box for. holding the lid in position.
Tenth. The combination of the box, the wheel, the dowel sockets thereon, the
washer interposed between the wheel and the box, and the dowels formed on the
washer which fit into the sockets in the wheel.

page_text: Eleventh. The combination of the box, the wheel; the dowel sockets therein,
the washer, the dowels formed thereon which fit into the sockets in the wheel and
the springs which are attached to the washer and bear against the face of the
wheel to hold the washer in position.
1872
Dated this 22nd day of January 1884.