Improvements relating to the Axles and Axle-boxes of Carriage Wheels.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 23rd Aug., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 28th Nov., 1890-Accepted, 24th Jan., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Improvements relating to the Axles and Axle-boxes of Carriage
Wheels.
I, EDUARD ACHILLES BREDENBERG, of Sundsvall, in the Kingdom of Sweden,
Merchant, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to the axles and axle-hoxes of carriage or cart wheels the
object being to render the movement of the vehicles light and easy without lubrication,
and the invention consists in an arrangement of balls between the bushing and the
axle itself, which balls prevent the wheel from coming in direct contact with the
axle so that when the wheel rotates there will be no sliding friction but only a rolling
friction.
In the accompanying drawing :-
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of an axle spindle and axle-box provided with balls
according to my invention.
Figure 2 is an end view of the same with the parts d and a shewn at the end of the
axle spindle in Figure 1 removed.
The balls are placed at both ends of the bushing and work in half round grooves,
formed in bosses or collars a, a¹ fixed upon the axle-spindle and in similar grooves
formed in sockets b, b1, inserted in the ends of the bushing. For preventing dirt
from getting to the balls a ring c is screwed into the inner socket and a cap d into
the outer socket b.
When the balls are to be applied, the wheel is taken off and as many balls as there
is room for are placed in the groove of the inner collar a'. The wheel is then put on
and the balls are placed in the groove of the outer socket b, the outer collar a is put
on, the nuts are screwed upon the end of the axle-spindle and the cap d is screwed in.
A small space is left between the bushing and the axle-spindle in order that the
bushing may only bear upon the axle-spindle through the medium of the balls, which
will rotate in their grooves as the wheel rotates. It will be evident that by my
improvements there is no sliding friction but only rolling friction, which latter
causes so little resistance, as is well known, that lubrication is rendered unnecessary.
Dated the 23rd day of August 1890.
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements relating to the Axles and Axle-boxes of Carriage
Wheels..
I, EDUARD ACHILLES BREDENBERG, a citizen of Sweden, residing at Sundsvall, in
the Kingdom of Sweden, Merchant, 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 :-
My invention relates to that class of axles or bearings for vehicles and the like,
wherein metal spheres or balls are interposed between the moving and stationary
parts, in order to reduce the wear consequent on the friction of the said parts, and
the object of my invention is to improve and simplify the construction of the
bearings.
In order to enable my invention to be fully understood 1 will describe the same by

page_text: reference to the drawings left with the Provisional Specification and also to the
accompanying drawings, in which :-
Figures 1 and 2 shew a form of my said invention applicable for ordinary vehicles
and
Figures 1, 2, 3 and 4 a mo lification especially adapted for use with railway carts
or wagons,
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a vehicle axle embodying my invention, and
Figure 2 is an elevation of the outer end of the same, the cap and collar being
removed therefrom in order to more clearly illustrate the position and arrangement of
the balls.
the axle.
a,
The axle and the wheel hub may be of any suitable construction. The axle is
provided with a circular flange a' at its inner end, and has at its outer end a removable
washer or collar held in place by nuts which are screwed upon the outer end of
The axle box consists of a metal bush, into the ends of which screw cup-shaped
end collars b, b', the former facing outwards and the latter inwards. In the outer face
of the flange a¹ on the axle is formed an annular groove or channel of semi-circular
cross section, and in the inner face of the collar b' on the bush is formed a like
channel or groove, these two grooves forming, when the parts are put together a
passage approximately circular in cross section.
The outer face of the collar bon the bush is formed with an annular channel or
groove similar to that in the collar, and in the collar or washer a on the axle is
formed a similar channel or groove; these grooves also coincide like those in the
collar and flange a' and form an annular passage which is approximately circular in
cross section.
In putting together the parts of my improved axle or bearing the balls are first
arranged within the groove in flange a¹ as many balls being placed therein as will fill
the same and the wheel is then applied. The groove in the collar b is then filled with
balls, as seen in Figure 2, and the collar a is put on the axle.
The nuts are now screwed on the end of the axle spindle until the washer fits snugly
upon the balls.
In order to prevent the entry of dust and dirt and consequent clogging of the balls
in their grooves or channels, I advantageously provide a screw cap or dust guard d
Figure 1 at the outer end of the axle spindle, which screws into screw threads in the
inner face of the collar b, and a screw collar c Figure 1 which screws into the inner
face of the collar at the rear end of the spindle.
Figures 1bis, 2bis, 3 and 4 show a modified arrangement of my invention especially
adapted for railway carts or wagons.
Figure 1 is a side view of the said modification,
Figure 2 an outer end view,
Figure 3 a longitudinal section on the line A B and
Figure 4 a cross section on the line C D.
The axle E and the flanges a, a' fixed upon the said axle are here rotating while
the bearing body c together with the collars b, b' arranged within it is fixed.
In order to facilitate the adjustment of the axle and the bearing the collars b, b¹ are
freely countersunk in the ends of the axle box or bearing body and have their
peripheral surfaces rounded; and between their inner sides and the axle box or
bearing body are rings of cork or india-rubber d, Figure 3 by means of which the axle
after having been put in motion can to a certain extent adjust the bearing.
The bearing body c, Figure 3, may be of cast iron, the flanges a, a¹, the collars b, b
and the balls are preferably of air-tempered steel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what 1
claim is :-
1. In a ball bearing the combination of the hub bush, provided with grooved end
collars, of. the axle provided with grooved end flanges, the grooves in said flanges and

page_text: collars coinciding when the parts are put together to form passages of approximately
circular cross section, and of balls in said passages, substantially as and for the
purposes set forth and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2.
2. The modified arrangement shewn in Figures 1bis, 2bs, 3 and 4 in which the
collars are entirely and freely countersunk in the ends of the bearing body and have
their peripheral surfaces somewhat rounded, rings of cork, india-rubber or the like
being interposed between the inner sides of the collars and the bearing body in
order to render an adjustment of the axle box or bearing possible after the axle is put
in motion, substantially as described.
Dated the 28th day of November 1890
G. F. REDFERN & Co.,
4, South Street, Finsbury, London, Agents for the Applicant.