Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 12th July, 1887. .
Specification Accepted, 16th Aug., 1887.
We JOHN MOMAN BROSIUS, Engineer, THOMPSON HARDIN JONES, Manufacturer,
and HARRY KROUSE, Broker, all of the City of Atlanta, Georgia United States of
America, 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 :-
This invention relates to the axles of wagons, the object being to so improve them
as to make them more substantial and at the same time adjustable and more easily
repaired when any part or parts shall be worn or broken, and to make the spindles
adjustable in length and also vertically, to bring the axes of the wheels to any desired
angle to the axle-tree.
The said invention comprises a channel iron axle-tree and adjustably connected
spindles, and other details, as hereinafter fully described.
In the accompanying drawings:-
Figure 1 is a rear view of one end of the axles of a four wheeled wagon showing
the axle-box in section.
Figure 2 is a central, longitudinal vertical section of one end of the axle, Figure 1,
showing neither the axle-box nor the nut, but showing an adjusting shim which is not
shown in any other figure.
Figure 3 is a top view of one end of the axle.
Figure 4 is a vertical cross-section through the spindle and axle-box on the line x, x,
Figure 1.
Figure 5 is a vertical cross-section on the line y, y, Figure 2, through the axle-tree.
The different details shown in the drawings, in which like reference marks refer to
corresponding parts are the channel iron axle-tree A, shown in all the figures; the
adjustable and removable spindle S, shown in all the figures; the axle-box B, Figures 1
and 4; the nut N, Figure 1; the clip C, the straps and the bolt 6, in Figures 1, 2, 3
and 4; the bolt b¹ in all the figures; the butting ring R and the plug P in Figures 1,
2 and 3; and the adjusting shim W, in Figure 2.
The axle A is provided with holes for the bolts 6 and 6¹ and may have as many
other holes as may be required for other purposes than for the passage of the bolts b
and b. That part of the axle that is composed of channel iron and that is not other-
wise filled may be filled with a block of wood or not, as desired. The reliance for
strength in any case, however, would be on the channel iron or steel as the case may be.

page_text: In sloping the axles of vehicles it is desirable to give them a slope in proportion to
the dish of the wheels, which is difficult to do as axles are ordinarily constructed, on
account of the lack of uniformity of the dish of different wheels. Especially is this
the case when the tires have been re-set. I provide for the variation in the dish of
the wheels by making the slope of the axle-spindle variable by means of the shim W,
which may be of any thickness and is inserted between the rectangular part of the
spindle and its top bearing in the channel at either the outer or the inner end of that
bearing as required. When the shim or wedge is in the outer end of the bearing
between the spindle and the channel iron, as shown in Figure 2, it is clamped and held
in position by the clip C and the straps s, which also holds the spindle at that end
rigidly in position, for which latter purpose it is used exclusively when the shim or
wedge is in the other or inner end of said bearing. On the re-setting of the tires
of the wheels the slope of the axle may be adjusted to bring the lower spokes of the
wheels to a vertical position; thus causing the tread of two opposite wheels to
remain the same distance apart as before the dish of one or both wheels was changed
by re-setting of the tires. The width of tread may also be changed by longitudinal
adjustment of the spindles, which adjustment is permitted by the slots in the
rectangular part of the spindles through which the bolts 6 and 6¹ pass.
The spindles S are preferably constructed of sheet metal, by being cut to the
required form and then bent, each having as shown a rectangular part to fit into
the channel iron and a tapering cylindrical portion on which the wheel runs.
In the
outer end is welded or brazed the iron plug P, as shown in Figures 2 and 3. This
plug is provided with a screw for the nut N or the nut and screw may be made in one
piece and be screwed into the spindle piece as a cap-screw.
The sheet metal in the
spindle may be so formed as to have a cold sheet joint lengthwise through the top as
shown by the line 1, Figures 3 and 4, without materially weakening the spindle.
The butting ring R is shrunk on or otherwise suitably fastened at the desired distance
from the end of the spindle, which prevents the opening of the cold-shut joint, as does
also the plug P, if welded or brazed in, and the contact of the sides of the rectangular
part of the spindle with the channel iron. The inner corner of the large end of the
axle-box is rounded to a radius of about the depth of the butting ring and the side of
this ring against which the box abuts conforms to it.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we claim is:-
First. A vehicle-axle consisting of a channel iron axle-tree to which are adjustably
attached spindles formed from sheet metal, substantially as described.
Second. In a vehicle-axle, the combination of the axle-tree A; the spindle S; and
the shims or wedges W, by means of which the axes of the wheels may be adjusted,
as described, and for the purpose specified.
Dated this 25th day of May 1887.