MENTS IN THE PEDESTALS AND JOURNAL BOXES OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES
Year: 1858

page_text: IMPROVE
LETTERS PATENT to William Spence, of 50, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of
MENTS IN THE PEDESTALS AND JOURNAL BOXES OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES."-A
communication from Jacob Conradt Geisendorff, of Cincinnati, Ohio,
United States.
LMPROVE
County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the invention or
MENTS IN THE PEDESTALS AND JOURNAL BOXES OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES."—A
communication from Jacob Conradt Geisendorff, of Cincinnati, Ohio,
United States.
Sealed the 15th June 1858, and dated the 15th April 1858.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Spence at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
15th April 1858.
I, WILLIAM SPENCE, of 50, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
PEDESTALS AND JOURNAL BOXES OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES," (being a communication
from Jacob Conradt Geisendorff, of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States,) to be
as follows:-
This Invention consists, in the first place, in constructing the pedestal and
grease box respectively so as to admit of the latter being easily removed.
For this purpose the grease box is furnished with one or more lugs or pro-
jections on each side, which are intended to fit into vertical channels or
grooves in the pedestal, in the front plate of which are formed grooves,
through which the lugs or projections of the grease box will pass, and so
arranged in relation thereto as to confine the grease box within the pedestal
when the latter is down at its bearings, but to admit of its being withdrawn

page_text: therefrom when the pedestal is slightly raised so as to bring the lugs or
projections on the grease box into a line with the grooves in the front of the
pedestal.
The Invention consists, in the second place, in actuating the lubricating
roller by means of the concussions of the axle. For this purpose the roller is
mounted on a small shaft turning in bearings which rest on springs, and are
made to press on the lower side of the journal of the axle, so as to regulate
the pressure of the lubricating roller against the journal. On the same shaft
with the roller is keyed a ratchet wheel, and there are spring palls fixed to
a frame on opposite sides of this wheel, so that they may act on the wheel on
each side alternately, and thereby impart a slow intermittent rotation to the
roller upon each descent and ascent of the latter caused by a concussion of
the axle.
And the Invention consists, in the last place, in inserting in the opening
through which the axle enters the box what I call a "compensating washer,"
for the purpose-of-closing such opening against-the-escape of-grease and the
admission of dust. This washer is by preference composed of wood, but it
may be of metal. The upper and lower portions thereof fitting over and
under the axle are kept against the same by means of springs above and
below, also the central parts thereof have tongues formed on their edges,
which fit into grooves formed in the outer parts. The washer is made about
half an inch narrower than the interior of the box to allow for the play of the
axle, and prevent the washer from revolving therewith.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said William Spence in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
4th August 1858.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
SPENCE, of 50, Chancery Lane, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Fifteenth day of April, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight, in the twenty-first year of Her reign,
did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said William Spence, Her special license that I, the said William Spence, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said William
Spence, 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
THE PEDESTALS AND JOURNAL BOXES OF RAILWAY CARRIAGES," being a communi-
cation from Jacob Conradt Geisendorff, of Cincinnati, Ohio, United States,,
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said William Spence, 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 immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Spence, do hereby declare the.
nature of the 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, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the
letters and figures marked thereon (that is to say):-
.
This Invention of "Improvements in the Pedestals and Journal Boxes
of Railway Carriages" consists, in the first place, in constructing the pedestal
and grease box respectively so as to admit of the latter being easily
removed. For this purpose the grease box is furnished with one or more
lugs or projections on each side, which are intended to fit into vertical
channels or grooves in the pedestal, in the front plate of which are formed
grooves through which the lugs or projections of the grease box will pass,
and so arranged in relation thereto as to confine the grease box within the
pedestal when the latter is down at its bearings, but to admit of its being
withdrawn therefrom when the pedestal is slightly raised, so as to bring the
lugs or projections on the grease box into a line with the grooves in the. front
of the pedestal.
The Invention consists, in the second place, in actuating the lubricating
roller by means of the concussions of the axle. For this purpose the roller is
mounted on a small shaft turning on bearings which rest on springs, and are
made to press on the lower side of the journal of the axle, so as to regulate
the pressure of the lubricating roller against the journal. On the same shaft
with the roller is keyed a ratchet wheel, and there are spring palls fixed to
a frame on opposite sides of this wheel, so that they may act on the wheel on
each side alternately, and thereby impart a slow intermittent rotation to the
roller upon cach descent and ascent of the latter, caused by a concussion of
the axle.

page_text: And the Invention consists, in the third place, in inserting in the opening
through which the axle enters the box, what has been called a "compensating
washer," for the purpose of closing such opening against the escape of grease
or the admission of dust. This washer is by preference composed of wood,
but it may be of metal. The upper and lower portions thereof fitting over
and under the axle are kept against the same by means of springs above and
below, also the central parts thereof have tongues formed on their edges
which fit into grooves formed in the outer parts. The washer is made about
half an inch narrower than the interior of the box to allow for the play of the
axle, and prevent the washer from revolving therewith.
Such being the nature of the Invention, I will proceed to describe more
particularly in what manner the same is to be performed by reference to the
accompanying Drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a front view of the grease box and pedestal in their relative
positions when in use; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section thereof; Fig. 3 is a
transverse section of the box immediately in front of the washer; Figs. 4, 5,
and 6 are respectively perspective views of the pedestal, grease box, and
washer; Fig. 7 illustrates the manner of constructing the washer. In all
these several Figures the same letters of reference indicate corresponding
parts..
The grease box B is furnished externally with lugs 1, 2, 3, 4, (one or more
on each side,) adapted to occupy vertical channels or grooves 5 and 6 in the
pedestal. The flanges 7 and 8, which constitute the front wall of these
grooves, have notches 9, 10, 11, 12, agreeing in number with the flanges 1,
2, &c. These notched flanges are so arranged relatively to the lugs on the
box as to confine the box within the pedestal when the latter is down to its.
bearings, but so that on slightly raising the pedestal (see dotted lines in Fig. 1)
the notches are brought opposite the corresponding lugs, so as to admit of the
withdrawal of the box without disturbing any of the connections of the
carriage.
A represents the end of the axle, and A¹ the journal of the same; B is the
external case or grease box; C is the step or journal bearing. Secured in the
bottom of the box by cleats b, b, is a frame D, provided at each end with a
pair of cheeks d, which confine to a vertical path the journal boxes E of the
lubricating roller F. The roller F is so arranged that its lower portion is
immersed in the lubricating material at the bottom of the box B, while the
upper part is in contact with the under side of the journal A. By means of

page_text: spiral springs G, contained in sockets g in the frame D, the upper parts of
the boxes E are held up strongly against the axle A, A', and thereby limit the
pressure of the roller F against the journal A' to an extent sufficient to press
out the required amount of grease for lubrication, and at the same time to
protect the roller F from undue friction or strain. In reference to this
service the boxes E are called "guards" or "guage pieces."
His a ratchet wheel mounted on the front end of the roller shaft f; I, I';
are spring palls (of which there may be several) hinged or otherwise fastened
to the frame D, so as to work into opposite sides of the ratchet wheel H.
These palls act alternately in such a manner as to impart a slow intermittent
rotation to the roller F upon each descent and ascent of the latter, caused by
a concussion of the axle. Thus, when the roller F descends, the pall I' opposing
the descent of the ratchet wheel on that side, causes it to turn the distance of a
tooth or more, the other pall merely slipping over the backs of the teeth on the
opposite side of the wheel, and on the ascent of the roller a like partial rotation
of the wheel results from the resistance of the pall I. The required slow but
positive motion of the lubricating roller is thus provided by a simple arrange-
ment confined within the limits of the journal box.
The opening through which the axle enters the box is closed against the
escape of grease or the admission of dust by means of the contrivance called a
"compensating washer," and consisting of two small rectangular boards
J, K, about an inch thick, which by means of the tongues j and grooves k, and
also by the partitions n and o of the box, are confined to a rectilinear motion
toward and from each other. These boards are so formed at their meeting
edges as to present collectively a circular aperture L, corresponding to the
transverse section of the axle where it enters the box. The edges of the
aperture L are made to press against the axle by means of spiral springs m, or
other suitable means, so that as the boards wear they may be kept in the
required contact with the axle. The washer is made about half an inch
narrower than the interior of the box, to allow for the play of the axle, and to
prevent the former from revolving and being confined laterally by the partitions
n, o, of the box; the wear is very slight. Although metal may be used, wood
is preferred for the material of the washer, care being taken to present the ends
of the grain to the axle. In forming the washer of wood the middle portion
is made in a single rectangular piece J, K, (see Fig. 7,) having a tongue j
projecting from each vertical edge. The circular hole L for the axle is then
made, after which the piece is separated into two sections by cutting away the
parts indicated by dotted lines. The grooved guides 13 are then screwed fast
to the lower section, the upper section is inserted in the upper part of the

page_text: guides, and is secured in its place by a band of iron 14 uniting the tops of the
guides, which band forms a bearing or abuttal-for the upper springs m, m.
Having thus described the nature of the Invention communicated to me as
aforesaid, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would have it
understood that what I claim is,-
First, the construction of the .pedestal and grease box with notches and
lugs or projections for the ready insertion and withdrawal of the box as
described.
Secondly, the actuating of the lubricating roller of a railway carriage by
means of the concussions of the axle as described.
Thirdly, the guards E, springs G, ratchet wheel H, and palls I, I', or other
similar parts in the described combination with the lubricating roller F and
axle A, A', for the purpose described; and,
Lastly, the stationary "compensating washer" adapted and applied to the
rear aperture of the grease box as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Spence, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, the Twenty-seventh day of July, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-eight.
Witness,
GEO. BEDELL COULCHER,
50, Chancery Lane,
Law Stationer.
WILLIAM SPENCE. (L.S.)