Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Trueing Up the Wheels of Tram Cars and the like.
Year: 1899

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Trueing Up the
Wheels of Tram Cars and the like.
We, ISAAC FITCHEW CUTTLER, of Leahurst, Grovernor Road, St. Helens, in
the County of Lancaster, Tramway Manager, and HUGH SEBASTIAN KING, of
South Molton, North Devon, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object, the trueing up of the treads of the wheels
of tram cars and the like, by a combination of mechanism, arranged in such
a manner that, the treads of the wheels may be trued up without having occa-
sion to remove the wheels from the car or the like, and thus to materially
reduce the trouble and cost of trueing up the same.
In carrying out our invention, we form a base plate of suitable width for
the car or the like, and mount on each side of the said base frame two grooved
pullies some distance from each other, and of a section to receive the tread
and flange of the car wheels.
When the car wheels have worn out of truth, and it is desired to true up
the treads of the same, the car is secured and one end raised a distance to
allow of the introduction of the base frame, when the end of the car is lowered
and two of the wheels placed upon the before mentioned grooved pullies, the
axle blocks still remaining between the horns of the car truck, so that the car
wheels are supported at three points, and may be rotated in that position.
In the case of electric cars with the axles geared to motors, on applying the
electric current to the motor, the respective car wheels are rotated upon the
grooved pullies, the axle as before mentioned being retained by the blocks
between the car truck horns, and in order to true up the wheel treads, we fix
to each side of the base frame, an adjustable slide block preferably operated
by a screw, and on each slide block is formed a pocket for the reception of an
emery brick.
On rotating the wheels and axle, and applying the emery blocks under pres-
sure to the wheels, they are trued up without having occasion to remove the
axle and wheels from the car truck.
With cars drawn by horses or engines, the car wheels may be trued up by
the adjustable slide blocks and emery bricks in the manner as before described,
by rotating the car wheels and axle in any convenient manner; or in place of
the emery bricks, emery wheels may be utilized, secured to a shaft and sup-
ported by the before mentioned slide blocks, the said emery wheels being by
preference rotated in the opposite direction to that of the car wheels.
Dated this 27th day of September 1899.
JOHN WAUGH,
Agent, Sunbridge Chambers, Bradford.

page_text: Improvements in the Method of and Apparatus for Trueing Up the
Wheels of Tram Cars and the like.
We, ISAAC FITCHEW CUTTEER, of Leahurst, Grovernor Road, St. Helens, in
the County of Lancaster, Tramway Manager, and HUGH SEBASTIAN KING, of
South Molton, North Devon, Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement:―
This invention has for its object the truing up of the treads of wheels of
tram cars and the like, by a combination of mechanism arranged in such a
manner that, the treads of the wheels may be operated upon and made circum-
ferentially true, without having occasion to remove the wheels and axles from.
the ordinary axle boxes of the car, and thus to materially reduce the trouble
and cost of truing up the wheel treads.
To those persons acquainted with the working of tramways, it is well known
that the frequent and necessary stoppages to pick up and set down passengers
and to avoid collision with the ordinary vehicular traffic, also the descending
of gradients, necessitates the frequent application of the brake blocks to retard
or stop the motion of the car.
In consequence, flat places are worn upon the wheels with the result of dis-
comfort to the passengers, and an additional cost of maintenance of the car
and the rails and generally affecting the life of both.
With the facilities for removing the flats as hereinafter described, they will
be more frequently removed than hitherto, and thus the inconvenience to
passengers will be reduced, and the life of both the car and fittings and the
life of the rails will be prolonged.
In describing our invention in detail, reference is made to the accompanying
sheet of drawings in which,
Fig. 1, represents an elevation of a portion of a tram car truck or carriage
showing a wheel resting upon our apparatus ready for having the tread trued
up by grinding in the manner as hereinafter described.
Fig. 2, is a plan of a portion of our apparatus sufficient to show the construc-
tion of the same.
Fig. 3, is a detached sectional elevation of one portion of the apparatus
through line a, b, of Fig. 2. The other portion of the apparatus for grinding
the wheel tread at the opposite end of the axle is not shown in order to sim-
plify the drawings, as one is a duplication of the other.
Fig. 4, is an end view looking to the right of the apparatus, and
Fig. 5, is an end view looking at the opposite end of the apparatus-the last
three figures are drawn to an enlarged scale.
In carrying out our invention, we form a base plate A on each side of the
apparatus and connect same together in a suitable manner, such as by bars B
of such length, that the centre of the said base plates are about equal to the
gauge of the tram track (which vary in different localities) and in further
describing the invention, reference is only made to the apparatus employed for
grinding a wheel on one side of the car, as the apparatus for grinding the wheel
at the opposite end of the axle is as before stated, a duplication, both as regards
construction and the mode of operation.
Upon the base plate A are secured two brackets C and D respectively sup-
porting the grooved pullies E and F journaled thereon, the pullies being placed

page_text: some distance from each other and of a section to receive the tread and flange
of the car wheels G.
When the flanged car wheels such as indicated by G, commonly used on tran
car trucks have become worn out of truth, that is to say, flat places worn thereon
by skidding," and it is desired to "true up" the treads of the same, the car
is raised from the track level in any convenient manner such a height, as to
allow of the introduction of our grinding apparatus under the wheels G.
The wheels G are then lowered upon the grooved pullies E and F, the flanges G¹
of the respective wheels G engaging with the grooves in the pullies E and F,
the journals of the axle of the car still remaining in the ordinary axle boxes H
supported by the horns J of the car, so that the wheels G are supported at
three points, that is to say, upon the two grooved pullies E and F, and by the
axle boxes H between the horns J at each side of the car truck frame K.
Upon the base plate A is also secured a short gantry L fitted with a sliding
block M, operated by a screw N, and upon the sliding block M is a transverse
sliding block O operated by a screw P, the gantry L and sliding blocks M and O
forming what is generally called a compound rest, having longitudinal and
transverse movements.
To the transverse sliding block O, is secured a bracket Q prepared with a
recess into which is placed an emery block R, arranged with a groove S for the
reception of the car wheel flange G, the curved portion R of the emery block
being opposite to the tread of the car wheel G.
Our apparatus is especially applicable to electric cars in which the axle of
the car wheels G is coupled to an electric motor in any convenient manner,
so that on applying the electric current to the motor driving the wheels G rest-
ing upon the grooved pullies, and retained in position by the axle boxes H
between the car truck horns J, it will thus be seen, that on operating the
screw N in the direction for moving the emery block R into contact with the
rotating wheel G, and applying pressure thereto, the curved portion R¹ of the
emery block R grinds away the prominent places on the rotating wheel tread,
thereby truing up the same without having to remove the wheels from the
car, or disturb the axle boxes H from the position occupied between the horns J
of the car truck.
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 as our invention is:-
Apparatus consisting of grooved pullies E and F, upon which the car wheels
and axles in the axle boxes H are supported and rotated, in combination with
the emery block R, arranged and operated substantially in the manner and for
the purpose herein before set forth.