IMPROVEMENTS IN CARRIAGE AXLES AND BUSHES AND THEIR FITTINGS
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Dakers, of Aberdeen, in the County of Aberdeen,
· North Britain, Coach Builder, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
CARRIAGE AXLES AND BUSHES AND THEIR FITTINGS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Dakers at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th September 1880.
JAMES DAKERS, of Aberdeen, in the County of Aberdeen, North Britain,
Coach Builder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARRIAGE AXLES AND BUSHES AND THEIR
FITTINGS."
This said Invention relates to certain improvements in carriage axles and bushes,
and in fittings for the same, which are designed to render such more simple in
construction, much more durable, and more easily repaired than as hitherto
constructed and fitted.
Under one modification of the Invention each axle journal or bearing shoulder of
the axle is made of slightly smaller diameter than the axle arm, and is screwed
externally at its inner end, on which part a correspondingly screwed collar fits and ⚫
bears up against the axle arm. This bearing collar is bovilled on its outer edge,
and the inner end of the axle bush, which is enlarged to cover or surround the
screwed collar, is formed with a corresponding internal bevilled surface bearing
against that of the collar. The outer end of the axle bush is also bevilled internally
in the reverse direction, and a sliding collar with a corresponding bevilled edge is
fitted on the outer end of the axle to bear against this end of the axle bush to
retain it in position on the axle journal. This outer collar is not rigidly fixed on
the axle journal, but is capable of sliding on it, being kept pressed up against the
axle bush by means of a spiral spring surrounding the axle and kept under
compression between the collar and the screwed jam nuts on the extreme outer end
of the axle. This spring by yielding to a slight extent and allowing a slight motion
of the outer or sliding collar admits of a little lateral play of the axle bush on its
journal, and the strain on the axle and the wheel when the wheel receives a jerking
motion is thereby relieved. The usual oil cap is fitted on the outer end of the
axle bush to enclose the collar, spring, and jam nuts. The axle bush and nave of
•

page_text: the wheel are retained on the axle journal by means of a retaining bush passed
over the axle journal and fitted on the axle arm inside the nave before the inner
bearing collar is screwed on, this bush having a long bearing on the axle, and being
screwed like a cap on the inner end of the axle bush to retain it. A little play is
allowed between this inner bush and the screwed collar to allow of the yielding of
the spring and outer collar, but the screwed collar being of greater diameter than
the inner bush which fits on the axle arm, prevents the inner bush from coming
off, even should the axle journal be broken, so that in case of such an accident
the axle bush and wheel would still revolve on part of the axle and not break
away.
In another modification of the present Invention the outer sliding collar, spring,
and retaining jam nuts are dispensed with, and the inner screwed collar between
the axle bush and its inner retaining bush or screwed cap is formed with bevil
surfaces on both sides, or two separate collars bevilled on the opposite edges may be
used; and the axle bush with the nave of the wheel is kept in its position on the
axle journal by means of the bush or cap on the inner side of the screwed collar,
which cap is screwed on to the end of the axle bush to retain it, the bushes now
turning on the axle with the screwed collar as if in an internal groove in the axle
bush and retaining bush, so that the axle bush and wheel cannot come off the
-axle-by accident. The retaining_bush or cap may have a pinching screw or other
equivalent fitted to prevent its becoming loose on the axle bush.
-
-
The screw threads of the inner collar and on the axle shoulder are cut so that
the rotation of the wheel and axle-bush-when-the-carriage_is_in_motion only tends
to screw-up-the-collar-quite-tight_by_friction of the bush on the collar which are in
direct contact with each other, leather washers between the bearing surfaces-being-
in general dispensed with.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Dakers in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd March
1881.
JAMES DAKERS, of Aberdeen, in the County of Aberdeen, North Britain,
Coach Builder. "IMPROVEMENTS IN CARRIAGE AXLES AND IN BUSHES AND
THEIR FITTINGS."
This Invention relates to certain improvements in carriage axles and bushes, and
in fittings for same, which are designed to render such more simple in construction,
and much more durable, and more casily repaired than as hitherto constructed and
fitted.
According to one modification of this Invention each axle journal or bearing part
of the axle is made of slightly smaller diameter than the axle arm, and has a screw
cut upon it, upon which a collar is screwed, the same bearing up against the axle
arm; this collar is bevilled or tapered on both sides.

page_text: The inner end of the axle bush is enlarged to cover or surround the screwed on
collar, and is formed with an internal bevilled surface corresponding to the bevil
on the outer side of the collar for the latter to bear against. The bush at a
suitable distance from the end is bevilled internally in the reverse direction, and a
sliding collar with corresponding bevil sido is fitted ou the outer end of the journal
part of the axle, and bears against the bevil bearing near the end of the bush.
This latter sliding collar is not rigidly fixed on the journal, but is arranged to slide
upon it, and is kept pressed up against the bevil bearing near end of bush by
means of a spring, preferably a spiral spring on journal of axle, and kept
compressed against the outer side of the collar by screwed jam nuts on the extreme
outer end of the axle journal. This spiral spring is only sufficiently compressed by
the jam nuts to obtain the necessary pressure upon the collar and to leave space to
yield to a desired extent, and allow the collar to slide on the axle journal so as to
permit a slight lateral play to the bush on the journal of the axle, and thereby
relieve both the wheel and bearings from any dead shock or jerk. When the
carriage is in motion the inner side of the tapered screwed on bearing collar does
not come into action except when there is a sudden lateral strain, in which case it
is eased down on to its bearing by means of the spiral spring and sliding collar.
The axle bush and nave of wheel are assisted to be retained on the axlo journal
by means of a cap, through which the axle passes, and screwed on to the outside of
the inner end of the bush. This cap is bevilled internally for the inner side of the
tapered screwed on collar to bear against when there is any lateral strain sufficient
to overcome the spiral spring, as aforesaid. This cap is formed with an inner
prolongation or support for the axle arm to enable the wheel to continue to
properly revolve, and to prevent cap from being torn off bush if the axle should
break within the bush.
Instead of a double tapered screwed on bearing collar being employed, a collar
with only the inner side tapered might be used, and a second spring and sliding
collar with (preferably) tapored or bevilled side in reverse direction to the other
sliding collar can be used. This is placed upon the journal of the axle slightly in
advance of, that is, on the other side of the screwed on collar, against the outer
side of which the spring bears. There is a corresponding tapered bearing in bush
for this latter sliding collar to bear against. In event of two sliding collars and
springs being employed, the springs should be so set as to cause the bearing part
of the sliding collars to take all the work when the wheel is revolving; the inner
side of the screwed on collar being free from its bearing on the inside of the cap,
against which it is only intended to come by reason of some extra lateral strain.
Another modification of this Invention consists in dispensing with the sliding
collars and springs, and jam nuts, and employing only a screwed on collar, having
both sides bevilled or tapered in combination with the screwed on cap and
corresponding bevilled or tapered bearings in the inner end of the bush and insido
of cap. I have discovered that a double tapered bearing as described possesses great
advantages over the form of bearings usually employed. I prefer to make tho
screwed on collars and sliding collars of gun metal or brass.
The cap may have a pinching screw or other device to prevent the same from
becoming loose on the axle bush; but the means I prefer is to cut the threads of
the screws of cap, bush, and collar, so that the rotation of the wheel and friction of
the bearing when the carriage is in motion will tend to screw up the collar and cap
the tighter.

page_text: Figure 2 is a view of another modification of my Invention, partly in section
shewing journal of axle fitted with two sliding collars and two spiral springs with
the screwed on collar in the position it would assume when the carriage is in
motion. a is journal of action; b, screwed on bearing collar, having only the inner
side bevilled for bearing against cap upon sudden lateral strain; c, spiral spring;
d, sliding collar; e, second sliding collar; c, spring; and g, nuts; i, spaco to
reduce bearing; l, bush; m, cap screwed on outside of inner end of bush;
n, prolongation of cap to support axle arm.
Figure 3 shews another modification of my Invention, in which the sliding
collars and springs are dispensed with, and only the double tapered screwed on
bearing collar is used.
Figure 4, end view through line A, B, Figure 2; p, flat on journal of axle to
prevent collar d from turning with bush; there is a similar flat on other end of
journal for same purpose for collar e.
In applying my Invention, cap m is first placed upon axle arm, then the screwed
on tapered bearing collar is attached to the journal part, and if according to
Figure 2, afterwards the spiral spring c, then sliding collar d, then the bush is
placed upon the journal and cap m screwed on to bush; then sliding collar e is
slipped on the top of journal at outer end of bush, then spring c, then nuts f and g,
then split pin h, and the whole enclosed by suitable oil cap q
- Having now described the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be carried out, I would remark that I ain aware that it is not-new-
to close the inner end of a bush by means of a cap screwed on to same, and to this
alone I make no claim:-I-am-also-aware-that-it-is-not.new, in the broadest sense,
-to-employ-springs to relieve tho strain upon axle bearings, but what I consider
novel and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,-
-
Firstly. The formation of the cap m, that is, a cap for the purpose hereinbefore
described, having an axle arm support or prolongation n.
Secondly. The combination of a double tapered bearing collar k, made separate
from and attached to the journal of the axle, whether by screwing or otherwise,
and cap m, whether the cap m is made with the prolongation n or not, substantially
as hereinbefore described and shewn.
Thirdly. The application of a spring or springs acting upon a sliding collar or
collars upon the journal of the axle for the purpose of relieving dead shocks, all
substantially as herein before doscribed and shewn.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Dakers, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Sixteenth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.
JAMES DAKERS. (L.S.) ·