IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLES FOR RAILWAY AND TRAMWAY WHEELS
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Charles Denton Abel, of Southampton Buildings, Chancery
Lane, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
AXLES FOR RAILWAY AND TRAMWAY WHEELS." A communication from abroad
by Owen S. Flintoff, of Durban, Natal.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Charles Denton Abel at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th February 1879.
CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLES FOR RAILWAY AND TRAMWAY
WHEELS." [A communication from abroad by Owen S. Flintoff, of Durban,
Natal.]
This Invention relates to an improved construction of divided axles for railway
and tramway wheels, whereby each wheel together with the part of the axle on
which it is fixed can rotate independently of the other, in order when travelling
round curves to avoid the wear and tear of the wheel and rail which occurs when
both wheels are rigidly connected by their axle, owing to the outer wheel tending
to revolve faster than the inner one. The present Invention consists mainly in
forming the axle in two separate halves, and, after placing these in a frame so that
they are accurately in line, enclosing their inner meeting ends in a mould, into
which molten metal, such as iron or steel, is poured so as to surround the two ends
with a sheath or sleeve, which remains firmly attached to the end of the one half,
owing to this having been left in the rough, while the end of the other half is
rendered free to revolve in the sleeve by previously turning its surfaces bright, and
continuously rotating it while the sheath or sleeve is cooling and contracting
upon it.
For practically carrying out the said Invention, both parts have their outer ends
turned and finished for the reception of their wheels, while the inner end of the one
part is for a certain length left in the rough, having if necessary special roughnesses
or ribs formed upon it. The inner end of the other part is turned bright, having,
by preference, one or more circular rings or grooves turned upon, as also a tapering
shoulder at a point corresponding to the outer end of the before mentioned sleeve,
while its innermost end is formed as a small trunnion. Upon this trunnion is fitted
[Price 6d 1

page_text: a small steel socket, and upon the before-mentioned shoulder is fitted a steel ring,
the trunnion as also the shoulder being by preference case hardened. The end is
furthermore covered, by preference, all over or at one or more places with a certain
thickness of twine and clay or other material or compound, such as is used for cores
for casting, for a purpose to be presently mentioned. The two parts of the axle
thus prepared are, as before stated, placed in a frame which holds them so that
_their_axes_are_accurately in line. The inner ends are then enclosed in a mould, so
formed as to leave_a_space_all_round the axle corresponding in thickness and
configuration to the sleeve or sheath to be formed, which space is then run in with
-molten-cast-iron,-steel,-or-other-suitable metal. As the sheath solidifies_and_
cools the part of the axle which is to be rotatable therein is continuously turned
-round so as to prevent binding. The sheath having solidified it is removed with
the axle from the mould, and at the points where the rotatable part was covered
with a coating, as before described, a hole is tapped through the sheath, and such
coatings having been removed through the holes in the same way that cores are
removed from hollow castings, the spaces thus formed in the sheath are filled in
with molten white metal or gun metal and thus serve as ordinary gun metal
bearings surrounding the axle in which this revolves, and which may be lubricated
from time to time through the beforementioned holes drilled in the sheath.
the brasses become worn they may be melted by heating the sheath, and be then
run out, fresh molten metal being afterwards run in their place. Or in place of
this arrangement a tapering space is formed at the outer end of the sleeve in which
are fitted tapering brasses, and these are pressed inwards by means of an annular
gland screwed on to a screw thread formed on the axle, so that when the brasses
wear they are tightened up again by screwing up the gland, this being prevented
from unscrewing by a setting screw. Or, according to another arrangement, the
brasses are made in tapering wedge shaped strips fitted in corresponding longi-
tudinal recesses formed in the end of the sheath, and between each two strips a
wedge shaped key is driven so as to press the strips firmly against the axle, the
key being secured in any suitable manner.
When
Although it is preferred to form the sheath by casting in a mould as described,
yet it might also be made of wrought iron or steel stamped on the axle by means
of the hammer or hydraulic press and suitable moulds.
The parts of the half axle which run in the bearings formed in the sheath, as
described, are either case hardened, or they have an outer coating of steel welded or
otherwise secured thereon.
By constructing divided axles as above described, the conical form of the treads
of the wheels heretofore used may be dispensed with, and the treads may even be
made with a hollow curvature so as to take a greater bearing on the rounded
surface of the rail and thus considerably reduce the wear on both parts.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Charles Denton Abel in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 7th
August 1879. ⠀
CHARLES DENTON ABEL, of Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, in the
County of Middlesex. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLES FOR RAILWAY AND TRAMWAY
WHEELS." A communication from abroad by Owen S. Flintoff, of Durban,
Natal.
This Invention relates to an improved construction of divided axles for railway
and tramway wheels, whereby each wheel together with the part of the axle on
which it is fixed can rotate independently of the other, in order, when travelling
round curves, to avoid the wear and tear of the wheel and rail which occurs when
both wheels are rigidly connected by their axle, owing to the outer wheel tending
to revolve faster than the inner one. The present Invention consists mainly in
forming the axle in two separate halves, and, after placing these in a frame so that
they are accurately in line, enclosing their inner meeting ends in a mould, into
which molten metal, such as iron or steel, is poured so as to surround the two ends
with a sheath or sleeve, which remains firmly attached to the end of the one half
owing to this having been left in the rough, while the end of the other half is
rendered free to revolve in the sleeve by previously turning its surface bright, and
continuously rotating it while the sheath or sleeve is cooling and contracting
upon it.
In practically carrying out the said Invention, both parts have their outer ends
turned and finished for the reception of their wheels, while the inner end of the one
part is for a certain length left in the rough, having, if necessary, special roughnesses
or ribs formed upon it. The inner end of the other part is turned bright, having,
by preference, one or more circular rings or grooves turned upon it; as also a
tapering shoulder at a point corresponding to the outer end of the before mentioned
sleeve, while its innermost end is formed as a small trunnion. Upon this trunnion
is fitted a small steel socket and upon the before mentioned shoulder is fitted a
steel ring, the trunnion as also the shoulder being by preference casehardened.
The end is furthermore covered, by preference, all over or at one or more places
with a certain thickness of twine and clay, or other material or compound, such as
is used for cores for casting, for a purpose to be presently mentioned. The two
parts of the axle thus prepared are, as before stated, placed in a frame which holds.
them so that their axes are accurately in line. The inner ends are then enclosed
in a mould so formed as to leave a space all round the axle corresponding in thick..
ness and configuration to the sleeve or sheath to be formed, which space is then run
in with molten cast iron or steel or other suitable metal. As the sheath solidifies
and cools, the part of the axle which is to be rotatable therein is continually turned
round so as to prevent binding. The sheath having solidified, it is removed with
the axle from the mould, and at the points where the rotatable part was covered
with a coating, as before described, a hole is cast or drilled through the sheath, and
such coatings having been removed through the holes, in the same way that cores
are removed from hollow castings, the spaces thus formed in the sheath are filled
in with molten white metal or gun metal, and thus serve as ordinary gun metal
bearings surrounding the axle in which this revolves, and which may be lubricated
from time to time through the before mentioned holes drilled in the sheath. When
the brasses become worn they may be melted by heating the sheath and be then run
out, fresh molten metal being afterwards run in their place. Or, in place of this
arrangement, a tapering space is formed at their outer end of the sleeve in which
are fitted tapering brasses, and these are pressed inwards by means of an annular
gland screwed on to a screw thread formed on the axle so that when the brasses
wear they are tightened up again. by screwing up the gland, this being prevented
from unscrewing by a setting screw. Or, according to another arrangement, the

page_text: brasses are made in tapering wedge shaped strips fitted in corresponding longi-
tudinal recesses formed in the end of the sheath, and between each two strips a
wedge-shaped key is driven so as to press the strips firmly against the axle, the
-key-being.secured in any suitable manner.
Although it is preferred to form the sheath by casting in a mould as described,
yet it might also be made of wrought iron or steel stamped on the axle by means
of the hammer or hydraulic press and suitable moulds.
The-parts-of-the-half-axle-which-run-in-the-bearings-formed_in_the_sheath,.as.
described, are either-casehardened-or-they-have an outer-coating of steel welded.or
otherwise secured thereon. By constructing-divided-axles-as-above-described,-the-
conical form of the treads of the wheels heretofore used may be dispensed with, and
the treads inay even be made with a-hollow curvature so as to take a greater
bearing on the rounded surface of the rail and thus considerably reduce the wear on
both parts.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Fig. 1 is a general view of a divided axle joined by a cast sleeve according to this
Invention; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, to an enlarged scale, of the junction;
and Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the axle, giving an end view of the sleeve.
The end G of the one part of the axle is left rough; the end H of the other part is
carefully turned and polished, with a pivot end at h and two or more shoulders,
such as h¹, h. To the axle H are fitted two rings A2, A2, in which it can revolve.
Between those rings and outside the ring A2 the axle H is coated to the form of the
parts C and D with the material usually employed for loam cores, which may be
strengthened and tied together by twine or spun yarn embedded therein in the
usual way. The two axle ends G and H are heated and placed in a mould to the
form of the sleeve casting, care being taken that their axes are in one and the same
straight line. Molten metal, which may be iron, steel, or a strong alloy, is then
poured into the mould, and as it sets the axle H is turned round a few times to
prevent adhesion. When the metal of the sleeve is cold, the core material is cleared
out by suitable holes c, c, which are cored out in the casting. A little blacklead
and grease is run into the sleeve and then molten metal, suitable for bearings and
fusible at a moderately low temperature, is poured into the spaces C and D which
were occupied by the core material. Thus the end of the axle G has firmly clamped
upon it by shrinkage the sleeve B, in which the axle H is free to revolve, all end
play thereof being prevented by the metal in the sleeve bearing against its shoulders
and filling up the spaces and grooves within the sleeve: The metal D in the mouth
of the sleeve can be set up by the hammer and caulking tool so as to firmly fix the
axle and to take up wear; and in order more effectually to caulk it the mouth of
the sleeve may be cast with keyways or grooves, such as are shewn at d, d.
Fig. 4 is a general view of a divided axle having a forged or wrought sleeve;
Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section, to an enlarged scale, of the junction; and Fig. 6 is
a transverse section-of-the-axle,-giving-an-end-view of the sleeve. In these Figures.
the same letters are employed to indicate parts corresponding to those described
with reference to Figs 1, 2, and 3.
In this case the sleeve B is of wrought iron or steel welded or shrunk on the
end G of the one axle. A mandril having on it the rings A1, A2, and other inter-
mediate rings, such as A³, is introduced into the heated sleeve, which is then forged
or pressed so as to get these rings bedded firmly in its interior, leaving spaces C
and D. The mandril is then withdrawn, leaving the rings fixed within the sleeve.
The two rings A' and A² are then bored out truly with the axis of G so as to fit the
axle H. The sleeve is then warmed, and the axle H being greased is inserted into
the sleeve, whereupon the spaces left between the rings are filled with molten
bearing metal poured in through holes c; c, drilled or punched in the sleeve. Instead
of employing a solid mandril with rings A on it, a divided mandril without rings
may be used; the corrugations or irregularities on the interior of the sleeve being
shaped on moveable-cheeks of the mandril, which is taken out in pieces.

page_text: Having thus described the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my foreign correspondent,
I claim,-
Constructing an axle for a pair of railway or tramway wheels in two parts, the
one part having secured on it a sleeve, within which the other part is fitted to
revolve in bearing metal run into spaces between the axle and the sleeve, and
locked therein by shoulders on the axle and corrugations or irregularities in the
sleeve, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Charles Denton Abel, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fifth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy nine.
CHA. D. ABEL. (L.S.)