Improvements in or connected with Axles and Boxes for Road. Vehicles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 1st Feb., 1895-Accepted, 2nd Mar., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Axles and Boxes for Road.
Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM THOMAS, trading as Edwin Richards and Sons, of Portway Works,
Wednesbury in the County of Stafford, Spring and Axle Manufacturer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object to reduce the end way friction occasioned by the
turning of an axle box of a carriage, cart or other road vehicle upon the axle
thereof.
The above object is effected, according to this invention, by the interposition of
anti-friction balls between bearing surfaces by means of which the box is prevented
from moving end ways along the axle in one direction or in both directions.
In the case of an axle which is provided with means at its outer end to keep the
box properly back upon the axle, it is preferred to use the anti-friction balls at
each end of the box; but in the case of what is known as a "mail" axle there is
no end way bearing at the outer end of the box, and the balls are used at the inner
ends only and also, if desired, between the solid collar formed with the axle and a
loose collar employed for the purpose at the inner face of the washer which turns
at the back of the solid collar and through which the pins pass which hold the hub
of the wheel end ways upon the axle. The leather washer usually employed between
the solid collar and the turning washer is in this case inserted between the turning
washer and the loose collar.
In the case both of an axle and box in which the box is held back upon the axle
by means applied to the outer end of the axle, and of a "mail" axle and box, an
annular channel, preferably shaped as a segment of a circle in transverse section, is
formed both in the face of the shoulder of the inner end of the box which takes
the outward thrust of the vehicle and in the face of a metal washer, employed for
the purpose of this invention, which beds against the leather washer which is
placed, as usual, around the inner end of the portion of the axle which carries the
box, that is to say the portion of the axle which projects beyond the solid collar,
and the balls are placed in position to bear partly in the one groove and partly in
the other.
In the case of an axle and box in which the box is held back upon the axle by
means applied to the outer end of the axle, a curved recess is formed immediately
around the outer end of the central hole through the bearing portion of the box,
and a corresponding recess is formed around the inner end of a collet which is set
up by means of nuts screwed, respectively, upon right and left hand threads formed
on the outer end of the axle. The balls are placed to be partially within both the
recesses, and thus bear also against the surface of the axle. In lieu, however, of
forming the recesses as described, grooves for the balls may be formed in the outer
face of the box, and in the inuer face of the collet.
In the case of a "mail" axle and box in which balls are interposed between the
solid collar and a loose collar at the back thereof as described, a groove is formed
also in the opposing faces of the solid and loose collars, respectively, to receive
the balls.
Instead of forming a pair of grooves or recesses to receive a set of balls in any
of the cases above described in which balls are interposed between two endway

page_text: bearing surfaces, one of the bearing, surfaces for the balls may be formed plain and
a groove or recess be used only in the other surface.
Dated this 30th day of Anril 1894
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in or connected with Axles and Boxes for Road
Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM THOMAS, trading as Edwin Richards and Sons, of Portway Works,
Wednesbury in the County of Stafford, Spring and Axle Manufacturer, 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:—
This invention has for its object to reduce the end way friction occasioned by the
turning of an axle-box of a carriage, cart or other road vehicle, upon the axle
thereof.
The above object is effected, according to this invention, by the interposition of
anti-friction balls between bearing surfaces by means of which the box is prevented
from moving endways along the axle in one direction or in both directions; the
downward pressure of the axle being borne, as is usual with carts, carriages and
like vehicles, by the interior bearing surface of the axle-box.
In the case of an axle which is provided with means at its outer end to keep
the box properly back upon the axle, it is preferred to use the anti-friction
balls at each end of the box, but in the case of what is known as a "mail
axle there is no endway bearing at the outer end of the box, and the balls are
used at the inner end only, and also, if desired, between the solid collar formed
with the axle and a collar employed for the purpose at the inner face of the
washer which turns at the back of the solid collar and through which the pins
pass which hold the hub of the wheel endways upon the axle.
In order that the invention may be clearly understood, I will proceed to
describe the same, according to different applications thereof, by the aid of the
drawings herewith, of which
Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the centre of an axle and axle-box
of which the box is held back upon the axle by means applied to the outer end
of the axle, the illustration shewing the application of the invention in the case of
what is known as a "Collinge's" axle. The axle is shewn broken away a short
distance beyond the inner end of the axle box, for convenience of illustration.
Figure 2 corresponds to Figure 1, except that the outer end of the axle and
box is broken away and that the method of transmitting the endway pressure
from the inner end of the axle box to the solid collar around the axle is modified
from that shewn by Figure 1.
Figure 3 is a corresponding view to Figure 1, but illustrates the invention as
applied in the case of what is known as a "mail" axle and box.
Referring first to Figure 1, a is a curved recess formed immediately around the
outer end of the central hole through the bearing portion of the box A, and 6 is
a recess formed around the inner end of a collet c which corresponds in other
respects to the collet usually employed in a Collinge's axle. This collet c is set up
by means of the usual nuts de screwed, respectively, upon right and left hand
threads formed on the outer end of the axle. The balls fare placed to be partially
within both the recesses a and b. The collet c fits around a portion g of the axle
which is smaller than the main portion thereof around which the axle box A

page_text: turns, and a shoulder, which is preferably curved in section, is thus formed
between the portions of larger and smaller diameter of the axle, and the balls are
partially within the space formed by the shouldering and bear consequently
against the axle. The outward thrust of the axle box A passes thus entirely
through the anti-friction balls f to the axle B, and the friction of such thrust is
thus reduced to a minimum. In lieu of forming the recess a in a solid angle or
corner of the box A, as shewn, a deeper shoulder may be formed between the
outer end of the central hole through the bearing portion of the box and the
portion of larger interior diameter, and a semi-circular or nearly semi-circular
annular recess may be formed in the face of such shoulder, and the balls be placed
partially in such recess and partially in the corresponding recess of the collet c
formed to come opposite thereto. In such case it may be preferred to fit the
collet on a portion of the axle which is not reduced, or but very slightly reduced,
from the diameter of the main bearing portion thereof. Any convenient arrange-
ment of collar or collet capable of ready adjustment by means applied to the axle
itself may be used to provide the outer abutment for the balls f.
An annular channel j, preferably shaped as a segment of a circle in transverse
section, as shewn, is formed in the face of the shoulder k of the inner end of the
box A which takes the outward thrust of the vehicle. A similar channel is formed
in the face of a metal washer 1, employed for the purpose of this invention, which
beds against the leather or corresponding washer m which is placed as usual around
the inner end of the portion of the axle which carries the box and against the
solid collar n. Balls are placed in position to bear partly in the one channel
and partly in the other, as shewn. The outward thrust of the axle thus passes.
entirely through the balls p to the axle box A, and the friction of such thrust is
consequently reduced to a minimum.
Referring now to Figure 2, which illustrates modification of the means
described with reference to Figure 1 for reducing the friction of the outward
thrust of the vehicle:-A channel within which the balls p run is formed in the
shoulder of the axle-box as described with reference to Figure 1, but the
opposite channel instead of being formed in the face of a washer is formed in
the face of the solid collar n of the axle, and the washer m is placed within the
annular recess y formed in the face of the collar n, and the annular portion "
of the box A which is within the annular recess 9 beds against the leather
washer m.
It is preferred to use the anti-friction balls at each end of the axle-box, in
cases in which the axle-box is held back upon the axle by means applied to the
outer ends of the axle ; but such balls may, of course, be used at one end of the
box only, the endway thrust at the other end passing through bearing surfaces of
the usual or other convenient character.
Referring now to Figure 3, an annular groove s is formed in both the outer and
inner faces of the solid collar t of the mail axle B, and corresponding channels are
formed in the outer face of the shoulder k at the inner end of the axle-box A and
in the face which is towards the collar t of a washer u which is a turning fit around
the turned part a¹ of the axle. Sets of balls p are placed to run partly in the
channels of the collar t and partly in the channels of the shoulder k of the
axle-box and of the washer u. The washer u may be brazed to, and thus form
part of, the usual washer which turns at the back of the solid collar and through
which the pins c¹ pass which hold the hub of the wheel end ways on the axle.
The leather or corresponding washer d¹ is, in such case, firmly gripped between the
extreme inner end of the axle-box A and the washer b', as shewn. The washer u
may be separate from the washer 6', and the leather washer be interposed between
the washers u and b, in which case the inner edge of the axle-box surrounds the
washer u, and beds of course against a portion of the leather washer which projects
around the washer u.
Instead of forming a pair of grooves or recesses to receive a set of balls, in any
of the cases above described in which balls are interposed between two end way

page_text: bearing surfaces, one of the hearing surfaces for the balls may be formed plain,
and a groove or recess be used only in the other surface, as will be obvious.
In all cases to which this invention applies the downward pressure of the axle
is borne by the interior bearing surface of the axle-box, and the claims hereinafter
set out are restricted to such cases.
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 I
claim is :-
1. Means for reducing the friction of the outward thrust of the axle of a road
vehicle, which comprise anti-friction balls interposed between the solid collar of
the axle and an opposing face at the inner end of the axle-box, substantially as
described.
2. Means for reducing the friction of the outward thrust of the axle of a road
vehicle, which comprise a metal ring or washer which beds against the washer of
leather or corresponding material usually placed between the solid collar around
the axle and an opposing face of the axle-box, and balls placed between such metal
washer or ring and such opposing face of the axle box, one or both of the
opposing faces being formed with an annular channel to receive the balls,
substantially as described and shewn by Figure 1 of the drawings herewith.
3. Means for reducing the friction of the outward thrust of the axle-box of a
-road vehicle, which comprise a collar or collet around the outer end of the axle
capable of end way adjustment therealong by means applied thereto, and a set of
anti-friction balls placed between the inner face of such collar or collet and a
shoulder or opposing bearing surface of the axle-box, substantially as described
and shewn by Figure 1.
66 mail"
4. Reducing the friction of the outward thrust of the axle-box of a
axle of a road vehicle by the aid of anti-friction balls interposed between the
solid collar around the axle and the turning washer thercaround through which the
pins pass which hold the hub of the wheel endways upon the axle, whereby the puli
of the outward force of the turning washer is transmitted to the solid collar
through the medium of such balls, substantially as described.
5. Means for reducing the friction of the outward thrust of the axle-box of a
"mail" axle of a road vehicle, which comprise a metal ring or washer in position
between the solid collar around the axle and the turning washer therearound
through which the pins pass which hold the hub of the wheel endways upon the
axle (such metal ring or washer either forming part of the turning washer or being
separated therefrom by means of the usual washer of leather or corresponding
material), and a set of balls placed between the face of the solid collar and the
opposing face of such metal ring or washer, substantially as described and shewn
by Figure 3 of the drawings herewith.
Dated this 29th day of January 1895.
STEPHEN WATKINS,
Wolverhampton, Agent for the Applicant.