AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN KINDS OF CARRIAGE AXLES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Wearing, of West Bromwich, in the County of
Stafford, Iron, Brass, and Malleable Iron Founder, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN KINDS OF CARRIAGE AXLES."
Sealed the 30th March 1880 and dated the 7th October 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Wearing at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 7th October 1879.
GEORGE WEARING, of West Bromwich, in the County of Stafford, Iron, Brass
and Malleable Iron Founder. "AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN
KINDS OF CARRIAGE AXLES."
My Invention has reference to axles of the kind called mail axles, that is, axles
in which the wheel is connected to the axle by screw bolts passed through the hub
or connected to the axle box, and also through an annular plate called the "back
plate," the said back plate rotating on the arm of the axle. A front plate is some-
times used for the heads of the screw bolts to bear upon. Against the inner face
of the said annular back plate a leather ring or washer, of the same size as the
said back plate, is placed for the edge of the head of the axle box to abut against.
My Invention consists in making the annular back plates of the axle boxes of
mail axles and the leather washers of the said back plates in the manner herein after
described, whereby that part of the leather washer usually situated external to the
head of the axle box is dispensed with, and the washers are without the usual holes
for the screw-bolts to pass through. Leather washers of about half the size of
ordinary leather washers may be used with my improved back plates without
diminishing the efficiency of the axle; considerable economy in the leather washers
is thus secured.
Instead of making the back plate of the axle box of a flat ring of metal I make
in that face of the said back plate, which is presented to the head of the axle box,
a seat or annular depression of a diameter a little greater than that of the head of
the axle box. The said seat is bounded or separated from the other part of the
plate by a rim or flange which projects above the level of the marginal part of the
back plate or the part external to the said seat. The bottom of the seat described
is at a lower level than the marginal part of the back plate, and the circumference
of the said marginal part is furnished with a rim or Hange for strengthening the
aid back plate.

page_text: In the marginal part of the back plate three equidistant holes are made through
which the screw bolts pass. In the annular seat described a leather ring or washer
is placed, the said washer having a superficial area nuch less than that ordinarily
employed, the said washer being nearly on a level with the top of the flange or rim
of the said seat. When the back plate is in use the edge of the head of the axle
box bears against the leather washer just within the flange or rim of the seat,
holding the said washer in the same manner as the said head bears against the
large leather washer ordinarily used.
Instead of using a ring outside the seat of the back plate for containing the holes
for the screw bolts to pass through equi distant ears, having holes in them, may be
made at the circumference of the said seat for the same purpose. I prefer however
to use the first described construction of back plate, as it is much stronger than that
last described.
Back plates constructed according to my Invention may be made of wrought iron
or steel, or of ordinary cast iron, or of malleable cast iron; but the said back plates
may be made of other hard and durable metal or metallic alloy.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said George Wearing in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 30th March
1880.
GEORGE WEARING, of West Bromwich, in the County of Stafford, Iron, Brass,
and Malleable Iron Founder. "AN IMPROVEMENT OR IMPROVEMENTS IN CERTAIN
KINDS OF CARRIAGE AXLES,"
My Invention has reference to axles of the kind called mail axles, that is, axles
in which the wheel is connected to the axle by screw bolts passed through the hub
or connected to the axle box, and also through an annular plate called the "back
plate," the said back plate rotating on the arm of the axlo. A front plate is some-
times used for the heads of the screw bolts to bear upon. Against the inner
face of the said annular back plate a leather ring or washer, of the same size as
the said back plate, is placed for the edge of the head of the axle box to abut
against.
My Invention consists in making the annular back plates of the axle boxes of
mail axles and the leather washers of the said back plates in the manner herein
after described, whereby that part of the leather washer usually situated external
to the head of the axle box is dispensed with, and the washers are without the
usual holes for the screw bolts to pass through. Leather washers of about half the
size of ordinary leather washers may be used with my improved back plates
without diminishing the efficiency of the axle ; considerable economy in the leather
washers is thus secured.
Instead of making the back plate of the axle box of a flat ring of metal I make
in that face of the said back plate, which is presented to the head of the axle box,

page_text: a seat or annular depression of a diameter a little greater than that of the head of
the axle box. The said seat is bounded or separated from the other part of the
plate by a rim or flange, which projects above the level of the marginal part of the
back plate or the part external to the said seat. The bottom of the seat described
is at a lower level than the marginal part of the back plate, and the circumference
of the said marginal part is furnished with a rim or flange for strengthening the
said back plate. In the marginal part of the back plate three equi-distant holes
are made through which the screw bolts pass. In the annular seat described a
leather ring or washer is placed, the said washer having a superficial area much
less than that ordinarily employed, the said washer being nearly on a level with
the top of the flange or rim of the said seat. When the back plate is in use the
edge of the head of the axle box bears against the leather washer just within the
flange or rim of the seat, holding the said washer in the same manner as the said
head bears against the large leather washer ordinarily used.
Instead of using a ring outside the seat of the back plate for containing the holes
for the screw bolts to pass through equi-distant ears, having holes in them, may
be made at the circumference of the said seat for the same purpose.
I profer
however to use the first described construction of back plate, as it is much stronger
than that last described.
I will now proceed to describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawings,
the manner in which my Invention may be performed.
Figure 1 represents partly in section and partly in side elevation, and Figure 2
in side elevation, a short bolt mail axle containing my improvement or improve-
ments; Figure 3 is a back elevation of the axle box; Figure 4 is an inner elevation
and side elevation of the back plate of the axle box detached; and Figure 5 is an
outer elevation of the said back plate.
a is the arm of the axle and 6 the barrel, and 6s the head of the axle box, fitted
in the hub of the wheel in the usual way; cis the back plate rotating on the arm a
of the axle, the wheel and axle box being connected to the axle through the said
back plate c by means of the screw bolts d and nuts e. In the said back plate c is
a seat or annular depression c³, formed in the plate by the annular rim or flange c³
(see Figures 1 and 4). Beyond the rim or flange c³ is a marginal part ct, the outer
edge of which is furnished with a rim for strengthening it as represented. In the
said marginal part three equi-distant holes cb, c, c³, are made, through which tho
screw bolts d, d, d, pass. In the annular seat c³ a leather ring or washer f is fitted
(see Figure 1), the said ring or washer having nearly the same diameter as that of
the head b² of the axle box, and being nearly on a level with the top of the flango
or rim of the seat as represented. When the back plate c is fixed to the head b
of the axle box by the screw bolts and nuts d, e, in the manner represented, the
edge of the axle box head 62 and the collar a³ of the axle take a bearing against
the leather washer fin the same way as when the large ordinary leather washer
is used.
The screw bolts d, d, d, are fixed in their places in the head 62 of the axle box
before the latter is fitted in the hub of the wheel by inserting the shoulders of the
said bolts in the slots in the snugs g, g, g, on the said head. The stems of the bolts
d, d, d, are made slightly taper longitudinally, and the slots of the sougs 9, 9, 9,
have a corresponding figure given to them, so that by inserting the narrow end of
the stem in the wide end of the slot in the snug und drawing the bolt forward,
the latter is by a wedging action held firmly in its place in the axle box.
The fitting of the screw bolts d, d, d, in their places in the axle box prior to the
fitting of the latter in the hub of the wheel is thereby facilitated, the wedging of
the axle box in the hub preventing any longitudinal movement of the screw bolts
in the slots of the snugs. Figure 6 represents in front elevation, Figure 7 in
section, and Figure 8 in back elevation a back plate constructed according to my
Invention, in which the ring outside the seat in the back plate is dispensed with
and a set of pierced ears is used in place of the said ring. In the said Figures 6,

page_text: 7, and 8, c is the back plate, c² is the seat for the leather washer, and h, h, h, aro
the ears pierced with holes for the screw bolts to pass through.
Although I have only represented my Invention as applied to a short bolt mail
axle, yet iny said Invention is equally applicable to long bolt mail axles. When
applied to long bolt mail axles the screw bolts extend from the front or outer end
of the axle box to the back or head thereof, and pass through the hub the heads of
the bolts bearing against the ordinary front plate.
Back plates constructed according to my Invention may be made of wrought iron
or steel, or of ordinary cast iron, or of malleable cast iron, or of other hard and
durable metal or metallic alloy.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the manner in which
the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my
Invention of "An Improvement or Improvements in certain kinds of Carriage
Axles,"
First. Making the annular back plates of carriage axles of the kind called mail
axles, and the leather rings or washers of the said back plates in the manner herein
before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings, whereby that part
of the leather washer usually situated external to the head of the axle box is
dispensed with, and the washer is without the usual holes for the screw bolts to
pass through, that is to say, making the back plate with an annular depression or
seat for receiving the leather ring or washer, the said depression or seat and leather
washer having about the same diameter as that of the head of the axle box, the
marginal part of the back plate being provided with equi-distant holes or with
equi distant ears, having holes in them for the screw bolts to pass through, sub-
stantially as described and illustrated.
Secondly. The combination with back plates of the kind claimed in the preceding
claim of slotted snugs on the head of the axle box for receiving the stems of the
screw bolts of short bolt mail axles, as described and illustrated in the accom-
panying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Wearing, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty third day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
Witness,
WILLIAM HENRY WEARING,
West Bromwich.
GEORGE WEARING. (L.S.)