Improvements in Axles for Tram-cars.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 19th Sept., 1892-Accepted, 3rd Dec., 1892
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Axles for Tram-cars.
A communication from HUGO LAU, of Dresden-Altstadt, Saxony, in the Empire-
of Germany, Engineer.
I, ALFRED JULIUS BOULT, of 323 High Holborn, in the County of Middlesex,..
Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, 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 present invention relates to telescopic axles for tram-cars consisting of
two parts each carrying a wheel and one being capable of telescoping or sliding
backwards and forwards in the other so as to accommodate the axle to irregularities-
or deviations of the lines such as curves etc.
In such axies it is of great importance that the reciprocal shifting or sliding
movement of the axle parts does not exceed a certain limit. When passing over a
curve the relative displacement of the axle parts is proportionate to the radius of
the curve.
If the extreme limit of that displacement be accidentally exceeded by
too quick running, overcharge of the wagons, unequal distribution of a maximum
load, or the like, the flange of the wheel is jammed against the side of the rail and
sustains a side-pressure which ought to be prevented. This is avoided by limiting
the relative displacement of the axle-parts.
The telescopic axle consists of a solid part and a tubular part each of which
parts carries a wheel. If one part is provided with a flange and the other with a
socket joint or collar which latter overlaps the former leaving however sufficient
room for its action, the desired end, namely the limiting of the relative displace-
ment is obtained in the simplest and most efficient manner. For adaptation to
different circumstances the socket joint or collar must be suitably adjustable. Two
particularly suitable arrangements of the invention are represented in the
drawings.
The arrangement shown in Figs. 1 to 3 is the one to which the inventor gives
preference. The wheel a is rigidly attached to the tubular part and the wheel c
to the solid part d; d works inside the tubular part b. The free end of b has a
Hange over which laps the sleeve f. The sleeve fis in the shape of a nut which fits
the threaded part of the nave g of the wheel c. The space between the flange
and the nave determines the movability of the parts of the axles which can be
easily and exactly adjusted. One or more bolts which are parallel with the
axle serve with the latter to secure f from accidental rotation.
e.
In Fig. 4 the sleeve is not screwed on to the nave g, but is simply passed on to
it and secured in place by the bolts studs or the like i.
To prevent transverse strain on the bolts i caused by strong friction between.
the flange e and the sleeve f, the accidental rotation of the collar fon g may be
prevented by any suitable means such as a groove and "feather" or the like.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inveur--
tion, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, I declare that what I claim is,-
1. In telescopic axles for tram-cars the combination of a flange (e) on the
tubular part of the axle (6) with a sleeve (f) which overlaps the flange which
sleeve is arranged on the nave (g) of the wheel (c) rigidly connected with the
other axle part (d) and is kept in the desired position by means of one or more
screws parallel with the axle substantially as described and illustrated in the.
accompanying drawings.

page_text: 2. In telescopic axles for tram-cars the combination of the flange (e) on the
tubular part (6) of the axle with a sleeve such as overlapping the flange which
sleeve is screwed on the nave (9) of the wheel (c) secured to the second axle part (d)
substantially as described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 19th day of September 1892.
ALFRED J. BOULT,
Chartered Patent Agent.