IMPROVE- MENTS IN RAILWAY CARRIAGE AXLES
Year: 1855

page_text: Sealed the 18th September 1855, and dated the 19th March 1855.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION. left by the said John Smalley at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 19th March
1855.
I, JOHN SMALLEY, of Bishopgate, Wigan, in the County of Lancaster,
5 Accountant, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN RAILWAY CARRIAGE AXLES" to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to certain modes of forming railway carriage axles,
whereby the rotative velocity of the wheel at one end of the axle may be
greater or less than the rotative velocity of the corresponding wheel at the
other end of the said axle, both wheels being keyed on to the axle so as to
rotate therewith. These axles are, formed of separate parts, two of which fit
and turn within or upon each other, or within or upon a third part or sleeping
axle. The said parts are made hollow and solid and partially hollow and
partially solid for that purpose; in all cases, however, those parts of the axle
which carry and turn with the wheels are solid from the carriage bearing

page_text: journal end through the boss or nave of the wheel, the hollow parts occurring
only between the wheels, and for a space varying according as the axle is
formed with a hollow or solid sleeper, or without the same. When made in
two parts only one is made hollow from nave to nave, and the other solid from
nave to nave; the solid part is fitted into the hollow part so as to turn therein,
and both are held secure by a projecting flange on the hollow end, and a cap
which fits over the same, and is bolted to the nave of the wheel. One wheel is
keyed on to the solid axle and the other to the hollow one, the rotative motion
of each being independent of that of the other. Provision is made for lubri-
cation by means of a chamber and channel formed in the boss of the wheel,
and covered with a suitable cap. Provision is also made for the insertion of a
friction plate and bosses, between the solid and hollow parts, should the wearing
thereof render the same necessary.
When the axle is formed of two main parts and a sleeping axle (the main
parts being those upon which the wheels are keyed, and the sleeping axle that
upon which or within which the main parts turn), the two main parts may
either be made solid, and the sleeping axle hollow or partially so, or the main
parts may be made partially solid and partially hollow and the sleeping axle
solid. The respective parts are held in the required position by projecting
flanges and coupling caps, similar to those before mentioned. Provision is
made for the insertion of friction plate and bosses as before mentioned, and
also for lubrication by means of a channel thro' the main parts from the holder
or cap of carriage bearing journals respectively.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Smalley in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 19th s
September 1855."
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
SMALLBY, of Bishopgate,, Wigan, in the County of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Nineteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-five, in the nineteenth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Smalley, Her special licence that I, the said John Smalley, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Smalley, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree

page_text: 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAIL-
WAY CARRIAGE AXLEXS," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said'
John Smalley, by an instrument in writing under my hand and seal, should
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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Smalley, do hereby declare the
nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per--
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and description thereof, and in and by the Drawings accompanying
this Specification, together with the explanation applying thereto herein con-
tained, that is to say:-
My Invention relates to certain modes of forming railway carriage axles,'
whereby the rotative velocity of the near wheel (at one end of the axle) may
be greater or less than the rotative velocity of the off wheel (at the opposite
end of the axle), both wheels being keyed on the axle so as to rotate therewith.
By these modes of construction, the wheels on one side of the carriage are at
liberty to rotate independently of those on the opposite side, so that when
there is a discrepancy in the diameter of the wheels on the respective sides, or.
where the length of the track or path traversed by the near wheels is greater
or less than the track or path traversed by the off wheels of the carriage (as is
the case when passing round a curve), each wheel may adapt itself to the
particular rotative velocity required, and thus obviate the tortional strain upon
the axle and sliding of the wheels upon the rails consequent upon the mode of
construction hitherto in use, where each pair of near and off wheels are so
fastened to the axle that they cannot rotate independently of each other;
whatever be the inequality of their respective paths or tracks. By the modes
of construction under this Invention, the rails and rims of the wheels will not
be subject to the same amount of wear and tear as at present, as the wear and
tear would be confined to the axle boxes and journals of the axles, while the
alterations necessary to accomplish the same will not interfere with any part
of the existing stock (called the rolling stock of a railway), except as regards
certain parts of the wheels and 'axles, as the improved axles under this said
Invention are made in every respect like the present solid axles at the parts
that are connected to or with the carriage.

page_text: The improved axles are formed of separate parts, which fit and turn within
or upon each other or within or upon a sleeping axle. The said parts and
sleeping axle are made hollow and solid respectively, or partially hollow and
partially solid; for that purpose, in all in all cases, however, those parts of the
axle which carry and turn with the wheels are solid through the boss or nave of
the wheel, the hollow parts occurring only between the wheels. When the axle
is made in two parts only (the form which I prefer), one is made hollow from
nave to nave, or nearly so, and the other solid throughout, but in no case do I
make the solid part or hollow part of the axle which carries one wheel pass
through the opposite wheel, but terminate the same (when in two parts) at
each nave for keeping the wheels in proper gauge.
I form the end of the
hollow axle with a flange, upon which I fit a loose cap, and bolt the same to
the back of the nave of the wheel carried by the solid axle. When the axle
is made in more than two parts, I use a sleeping axle, and make the same
hollow or solid, as the case may require, and keep the wheels in gauge by
loose coupling caps. I make the journals (or carriage bearings) of the axles
outside or inside, or between the wheels, according to the gauge of the rails.
EXPLANATION OF THE DRAWINGS.
The Drawings accompanying this Specification are laid down to the geome-
trical scale of one inch and a half to a foot, and show three modifications of
the mode or manner in which the said Invention is to be performed.
Fig. 1 is an elevation, shewing one of the modes of constructing the said
compensating axles; and Fig. 2, a vertical section through the centre thereof,
shewing the details of the said construction. Similar letters of reference are
used in both Figs., so that one explanation applies to both.
This axle consists of three principal pieces or two semi-axles, and a sleeping
axle partially inserted into each. A, A, is a semi or half axle with the journal
at a; upon this axle is firmly keyed or fastened the wheel B, B. C, C, is the
opposite half axle (of which is the journal) with the wheel D, D, keyed on as
before. The ends of the two axles A and C meet under the centre of the
carriage, and are there connected together and strengthened by means of a
third part or sleeping axle (shown at Fig. 2), inserted into the open ends of
the half axles at their junction, thus making them capable of sustaining the
same weight upon the journals a and b as if the axle were solid, while the two
wheels B and D are free to rotate in opposite directions if necessary. To
maintain the gauge of the line, (or keep the wheels at the required distance
apart, the ends of the axles A and C are provided with flanges c & d; these
flanges or collars are clipped or secured by means of loose 'caps F and G,

page_text: which are fastened together by screws or bolts E. Between collars c & d a
friction plate fis introduced when necessary. At the ends of the sleeping
axle E are two recesses g & h, for the purpose of containing oil or other
unguent matter for lubrication, which is introduced through apertures in the
hollow of the semi-axle, and stopped by a small set screw or other usual
means.
Figs. 2 and 3 show an elevation and section, as before stated, and referenced
with similar letters, representing another mode of constructing the said
compensating axle, which also consists of three principal parts, (namely,). two
solid half axle, and a hollow axle extending from wheel to wheel, and in
which the two solid half axles are free to rotate. A, A, and C, C, are the
two half axles to which the wheels B, B, and D, D, are keyed or fastened,
as before described. a and b are the journals; E is the hollow axle, which
extends from the boss, of one wheel to the boss of the other, and into which
the half axles A and C are inserted, and extend to near the centre. At
each end of the hollow axle a collar c, c, is formed, and over this collar
the caps d, d, are fitted, and fastened to the bosses of the wheels B and D
by the screws or bolts . The rings or caps d, d, must be made in two
parts; between the. ends of the half axles A and C, a chamber is formed
for containing oil or other unguent mátter for lubrication, secured as before
stated. In this case the guage is maintained by the hollow axle and caps.
Figs. 5 and 6 show another plan of forming the said axles, and is that
which I prefer, as it consists of two principal parts only, namely, a hollow
half axle and solid half axle, the latter revolving when necessary in the
former between the bosses of the wheels, both axles, however, being solid
through the wheels. Fig. 5 is the elevation, and Fig. 6 the section; both
Figs. are referenced with similar letters, as before stated. A, A, is a solid half
axle, having the wheel B, B, fastened thereto; C, C, is the hollow half axle, to
which the wheel D, D, is fastened. a & b are the journals. The end of the
axle C, which comes against the wheel B, B, is formed into a collar c, over
which, previous to the wheel being keyed on, is fitted the cap d; this cap is
fastened to the wheel B by the screw bolts, and thus maintains the proper
guage; the boss of the wheel may be recessed to receive the collar or flange c;
if necessary. A recess f is formed and stopped, as before described, for
containing the lubricating material; a chamber and cap d may also be formed
at the boss of the wheel B. For lubricating the different parts (if necessary)
a shallow spiral groove may be cut along the axle, so that as it revolves, the
oil by its gravity keeping in the lower part of the hollow axle, will be forced
along, and thus always be present to lubricate the entire length of the axle, as

page_text: also the collars and other parts that especially require it. In the modes of
construction above referred to, the bearings are arranged on the outside of the
wheels. The dotted lines inside or between the wheels in the different Figs.
are intended to show the arrangement of bearings for the broad guage lines,
the outside journals being of course dispensed with.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and manner in which I
propose to perform the same, I would have it understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise forms, dimensions, and arrangements of the parts
represented and explained; what I claim is, the mode or modes of construct-
ing a compensating axle (or axle admitting different rotative velocities in the
near and off side wheel of the same axle), the said axle or axles being solid
through the wheels, which are keyed or otherwise fastened thereto, so as to
rotate therewith, as herein described and expalined, or represented upon the
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Smalley, have hereunto set my hand
JOHN (L.S.) SMALLEY.