Further Improvements in Wheels and Axles for Railway and Tramway Rolling Stock.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Oct., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 27th July, 1889-Accepted, 31st Aug., 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Further Improvements in Wheels and Axles for Railway and
Tramway Rolling Stock.
I, EDWARD CROZIER SIBBALD MOORE, Major Royal Engineers of 26, Leyburn
Terrace, Dover in the County of Kent, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to provide axles for railway and tramway rolling
stock in which the strain of torsion shall be done away with by allowing the wheels
on the same axle to revolve with different velocities and at the same time to exclude
dust from the working parts.
The incidental advantages are, that the friction between the carriage and the line,
will be lessened thus reducing the traction power required and decreasing the oscilla-
tion of the carriages. It will also effect a great saving in wear and tear of rolling
stock and permanent way. It is proposed to effect these objects, by making the axle
in two pieces and providing special arrangements to enclose the working parts. One
of the wheels is attached to a solid, round iron axle (L.) as shewn in the drawing,
and which fits inside the corresponding cylindrical portion (M), which is similarly
attached to the other wheel. These two portions of the axle, are made as long as the
space, between the wheels will admit, and bearings (Y, Y) are provided, as shown in
the drawing at the extremity of the solid axle and also at its shoulder, under the end
of the cylinder.
Four brasses (B. B) are shewn in the drawing, for each of these bearings, inside
the cylinder, which can be tightened up against the shoulders of the solid axle by
wedge shaped projections on the inside of the metal collars (C. C.); the remainder
of the inside surfaces of these collars is made cylindrical and of the same size
throughout, so as to keep their centres, and to move freely in a longitudinal direc-
tion, parallel to the axis, and on the cylindrical portions of the axle at either end.
Nuts and bolts are shewn for retaining the collar, after the introduction of the brasses
through slots left for the purpose, and for tightening the bearings, by drawing the
wedges against the heads of the brasses as required.
The collars (C. () are made in two pieces bolted together, for facilitating the
introduction of the brasses &c.
Similar bearings are, used at both extremities of the solid axle.
The bearings are covered in with cylindrical covers (X. X) with made joints; a
gland and stuffing box (G,) at the end of the cylindrical axle, prevents any possibility
of dust entering between it and the solid axle. For the purpose of lubricating these
bearings, holes may be bored from the outer extremities of the axle, along the axis, so
as to admit grease from the grease box, a right angled turn being given to the holo
opposite each bearing; or the cylinders may be charged with a supply of oil, through
an oil hole in the side of the cylindrical axle. The oil would be retained by the
covers (X. X) and the gland (G.)
Each of the wheels may be made separately and secured to the improved axle in
the usual manner.
This arrangement admits of the ordinary bearings of railway plant being used, and
as only a differential motion would be possible between the solid axle and the cylindrical
one, and as all dust is excluded, but little attention would be requisite, and at the same
time extreme rigidity and strength would be secured.
30th October 1888.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Further Improvements in Wheels and Axles for Railway and
Tramway Rolling Stock.
I EDWARD CROZIER SIBBALD MOORE, Major Royal Engineers of 26, Leyburn
Terrace Dover, in the county of Kent 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:-
The object of this invention is to provide axles for railway and tramway rolling-
stock, so as to obtain the following advantages over those now in use: viz. :-
1st. To get rid of the dangerous strain of torsion in the present axle due to tho
wheels being rigidly keyed to it-a fruitful cause of broken axles and loss of life.
2nd. To enable the wheels to revolve independently of each other, and so get rid of
the constant skidding of the wheels which now obtains, thus effecting a large saving
in the traction power required, or a corresponding gain in speed.
The resistance on the straight is at present about 14 lbs. per ton at a speed of 30
miles an hour. probably increased by from 50 to 60 p. cent. by side winds &c., imper-
fections of road, &c.; there is also a further resistance when going round curves
dependant on radius, speed and wheel base. It is expected to economise the greater
part of this except the occasional friction of the flanges against the rails, so that
30 p. cent. of the combined friction of wheels & axles would not be an excessive
estimate of the probable saving which may readily be effected by the adoption of my
axles.
Such saving will be irrespective of the following incidental advantages which are
by themselves of considerable importance.
(a) Security from broken axles.
(b) Decreased oscillation, the coning of the wheels at present having the effect of
thrusting the carriage from side to side.
(c) Consequent increased comfort to the passengers.
(d) Decreased wear and tear of rolling stock.
(e) Ditto ditto permanent way.
(f) It will be possible to use curves of smaller radius-as the carriages will with
these axles be able to roll round the curve, without grinding and the danger of
mounting the outer rail.
() No alteration in the carriage is required-the ordinary bearings being used.
(h) Heating the bearings and waste of grease will be saved.
(i) Shorter and lighter carriages may be used with advantage.
It is proposed to effect these objects, by making the axle in two pieces, and
providing special arrangements to enclose the working parts.
One of the wheels is attached to a solid, round iron, axle (L) as shown in the
drawing left with the provisional specification; it fits inside the corresponding
cylindrical portion (M), which is similarly attached to the other wheel. These two
portions of the axle, are made as long as the space, between the wheels will admit,
and bearings (Y, Y) are provided, as shown in tho said drawing at the extremity of
the solid axle, and also at its shoulder under the end of the cylinder.
Four brasses (B, B) are shown in the drawing for each of these bearings, inside
the cylinder, which can be tightened up against the shoulders of the solid axle by
wedged shaped projections on the inside of the metal collars (C, C): the remainder of
the inside surfaces of these collars is made cylindrical, and of the same size throughout,
so as to keep their centres, and to move freely in a longitudinal direction, parallel to
the axis, and on the cylindrical portions of the axle at either end. Nuts and bolts are
shown for retaining this collar, after the introduction of the brasses through slots left
for the purpose, and for tightening the bearings, by drawing the wedges against the
heads of the brasses as required.
The collars (C, C) are made in two pieces, bolted together, for facilitating the
introduction of the brasses, &c.

page_text: Similar bearings are used at both extremities of the solid axle.
The bearings are covered in with cylindrical covers (X, ✗) with made joints; a
gland and stuffing box (G), at the end of the cylindrical axle, prevents any possibility
of dust entering between it and the solid axle.
For the purpose of lubricating these bearings, holes may be bored from the outer
extremities of the axle, along the axis, so as to admit grease from the grease-box, a
right angled turn being given to the hole opposite each bearing; or the cylinders may
be charged with a supply of oil, through an oil hole in the side of the cylindrical
axle. The oil would be retained by the covers (X, X) and the gland (G).
Each of the wheels may be made separately and secured to the improved axle in the
usual manner.
This arrangement admits of the ordinary hearings of railway plant being used, and
as only a differential motion would be possible between the solid axle and the
cylindrical one, all dust also being excluded, there would be very little wear and tear
between them; at the same time, extreme rigidity and strength would be secured.
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
claim is :-
1. The method of making the portion of the axle between the wheels, in two pieces
one working within the other, with bearings at either end, between the cylindrical and
solid portions of the axle, so that they bear on each other with the intervention of
brasses, but are free to revolve at different velocities.
2. The method of forming the bearings of brass, gun, or other metal passing
through slots in the cylindrical axle, so that they can ho tightened up by a collar
having wedged shaped projections on it for the purpose.
3. The method of enclosing the bearings so as to entirely exclude the dust by a
specially adapted arrangement of covers and glands.
4. The method of providing for the lubrication of these bearings by either charging
the axle cylinder with oil, or allowing grease to enter through axial oil holes from
the grease boxes.
Dated this 26th day of July 1889.