Improvements in and relating to Axies, a180 Axie-D Bearings for Vehicles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 8th Sept., 1894
Complete Specification Left 7th June, 1895-Accepted, 7th Sept., 1895
Improvements in and relating to Axies, a180 Axie-D
Bearings for Vehicles.
ади
I, WILLIAM LANDELL of 106 Trongate, Glasgow in the County of Lanark
North Britain Ironmonger do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
It relates to axles, axle-boxes and axle bearings for vehicles and has for its
objects:-
1st. To reduce the friction of their wearing parts.
2nd. To prevent wear and tear of axles.
3rd. To effect repairs in them with economy and speed.
4th. To economise the motive power required for propelling vehicles.
In carrying out this invention in connection with a heavy road vehicle such as
an omnibus each improved axle is made to work within ball bearings and has two
fixed collars or neck flanges thereon to which certain removable journals are
attached.
These fixed collars and the extremities of the axle on each side of them are
turned true by means of machinery and the outermost ends of the axle are stepped
smaller and smaller outwards to form various diameters and some of these
outermost parts are screw threaded for the attachment of ball supported journals.
Each end of the axle has one of these journals screwed thereon from the outer
end inwards until it is flush with the face of one of the fixed collars and is
keyed to that collar.
These two journals are somewhat trumpet shaped and placed with their largest
ends against the collars. Other two journals, similarly shaped are screwed upon
the axle oppositely to those first named. Each end of the axle thus furnished
is enclosed in a metal bush or axle-box of suitable shape to allow the axle and
These axle-boxes are
its journals to move freely therein without actual contact.
provided with lining belts or encasements at each extremity of suitable shape
for forming in conjunction with the trumpet shaped journals a chamber or race
within which steel balls revolve. When the balls are inserted within these cavities
and a back nut screwed upon each outer end of the axle a cap is fixed on the
Each
end of the bush or box and encloses the back nut and end of the axle.
axle-hox, enclosed within the nave of or otherwise attached to the wheel of the
vehicle is still further held in its position upon the axle by means of lateral
bolts passing through flanges upon each axle-box and through back plates fitted
up to those faces of the collars which confront each other: the bolts being drawn
up with screwed back nuts.
These journals and the end linings of the axle-box are by preference made of
cast steel or stee! forgings case hardened on their wearing faces, adapting them
for sustaining unimpaired contact with the steel balls. The axle itself has no
contact with the steel balls; the journals only which are screwed upon the axle
bear upon the balls and sustain the major part of the friction. The revolving
bushes bear a part of the friction but the journals bear the chief part.
Each axle-box or bush contains when made and fitted upon the axle as just

page_text: described two circular cavities furnished with steel bearing balls.
When the cap
and back nut are removed from the outer end of this axle and box the outer-
most journal can be quickly unscrewed and withdrawn from the axle, either
wholly or partially for repair, refilling with balls or other purposes. When this
has been done the lateral bolts can be unfastened and the axle-box removed
entirely from the axle and the innermost journal can then be removed by taking
out the key which unites it to the fast collar and unscrewing the journal from
the axle.
All the parts most liable to wear and tear and indeed every loose part above
described can thus be removed and replaced with rapidity and ease.
Washers of rubber steel or other material are inserted between the various back
nuts and adjacent parts for the purpose of adjusting the axle-box to the journals
and balls.
One or more oiling cups or tubes are provided for inserting lubricants to the
working parts without any necessity for taking off the caps or cover plates.
This invention is designed for combination with all kinds of vehicles for road
or rail with such slight modifications as metal or wooden wheels may necessarily
involve.
Dated this Seventh day of September 1894.
JOSEPH LOCKWOOD,
263 Argyle Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in and relating to Axles, also Axle-boxes and
Bearings for Vehicles.
I, WILLIAM LANDELL of 106 Trongate, Glasgow in the County of Lanark
North Britain Ironmonger 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 :-
It relates to axles, axle-boxes and axle bearings for vehicles and has for its
objects:
1st. To reduce the friction of their wearing parts:
2nd. To prevent wear and tear of axles:
3rd. To effect repairs in them with economy and speed:
4th. To economise the motive power required for propelling vehicles.
In carrying out this invention in connection with a heavy road vehicle such as
an omnibus each improved axle is made to work within ball bearings and has two
fixed collars or neck-flanges thereon, also certain removeable journals are attached
to it.
These fixed collars and the extremities of the axle on each side of them are
turned true by means of machinery and the outermost ends of the axle are stepped
smaller and smaller outwards to form various diameters and some of these
outermost parts are screw-threaded for the attachment of ball supported journals.
Each end of the axle has one of these journals screwed thereon from the outer
end inwards until it is flush with the face of one of the fixed collars and is keyed to
that collar.
These two journals are somewhat trumpet shaped and placed with their largest
ends against the collars. Other two journals, similarly shaped are screwed upon
the axle oppositely to those first named. Each end of the axle thus furnished is
enclosed in a metal bush or axle-box of suitable shape to allow the axle and its
journals to move freely therein without actual contact. These axle-boxes are

page_text: provided with lining belts or encasements at each extremity, of suitable shape for
forming in conjunction with the trumpet shaped journals a chamber or race within
which steel balls revolve. When the balls are inserted within these cavities and a
back-nut screwed upon each outer end of the axle a cap is fixed on the end of the
bush or box and encloses the back-nut and end of the axle. Each axle-box
enclosed within the nave of, or otherwise attached to the wheel of the vehicle is
still further held in its position upon the axle by means of lateral bolts passing
through front and back flanges upon each axle-box and through back plates fitted
up to those faces of the collars which confront each other: the bolts being drawn
up with screwed back nuts.
These journals and the end linings of the axle-box are by preference made of cast
steel or steel forgings case hardened on their wearing faces, adapting them for
sustaining, unimpaired, contact with the steel balls. The axle itself has no contact
with the steel balls: the journals only which are screwed upon the axle bear upon
the balls and sustain the major part of the friction. The revolving bushes bear a
part of the friction but the journals bear the chief part.
Each axle-box or bush contains when made and fitted upon the axle as just
described two circular cavities furnished with steel bearing balls.
When the cap
and back nut are removed from the outer end of this axle and box the outermost
journal can be quickly unscrewed and withdrawn from the axle, either wholly or
partially for repair, refilling with balls or other purposes.
When this has been
done, the lateral bolts can be unfastened and the axle-box removed entirely from
the axle and the innermost journal can then be removed by taking out the key or
keys which unite it to the fast collar and unscrewing the journal from the axle.
All the parts most liable to wear and tear and indeed every loose part above
described can thus be removed and replaced with rapidity and ease.
Washers of rubber steel or other material are inserted between the various
back-uts and adjacent parts for the purpose of adjusting the axle-box to the
journals and balls.
One or more oiling cups or tubes are provided for inserting lubricants to the
working parts without any necessity for taking off the caps or cover plates.
This invention is designed for combination with all kinds of vehicles for road or
rail with such slight modifications as metal or wooden wheels and rotating axles
may necessarily involve. It will be better understood if reference is made to the
accompanying drawings, in which ;
Figure 1, is a longitudinal view chiefly in elevation, shewing parts of an axle
formed and fitted with certain devices described in this Specification.
Figure 2, is a longitudinal view in section of the improved bush (axle-box) and
cap for use in combination with the axle shewn in Fig. 1.
Figure 3, is a longitudinal view in section shewing one end of an axle mounted
with moveable journals, axle-box (or bush) balls, oil cups tie-rods and other parts
referred to in the Specification.
Figure 4, is an enlarged view in section of a ball and its chamber and bearing
surfaces as herein described.
Figure 5, is an end view in elevation of an annular collar with dovetailed key
parts as described herein.
Figure 6, is a longitudinal view in section of the improved bush or axle-box
constituting the interior as well as an integral part of a flanged metal wheel ;
shewing also a loose cap therefor for combination with a fixed axle constructed as
shewn in Figure 1.
Figure 7, is a longitudinal view in section shewing one end of a rotating axle
mounted with moveable journals and flanged metal wheel, fixed (or non-rotating)
axle-box and other parts described in this Specification.
Similar letters of reference and numerals throughout these diagrams indicate
corresponding parts.
Upon the axle A Figs. 1 and 3 two annular collars or neck flanges a¹ are either
formed or fixed and each outer end of the axle is turned in steps a to aº, certain

page_text: portions thereof are screw-threaded for the reception of the back-nut a and the
journals Band . One or more keys, 12, by preference dovetailed, keep each trumpet
shaped journal B in position with its associate collar a'. The screws 6 Fig. 3
prevent the keys & from getting accidentally dislodged. A bush C, Figs. 2 and 3,
constructed of several parts and adapted for insertion within and bolting to the
nave or hub of a wheel encloses the end of the axle A and the other parts above
described in connection with Fig. 3. Each end of the bush C is lined with an
encasement e¹, 2, screw-threaded and united to the body of the said bush and
capable of removal therefrom and replacement at will. (The parts marked c¹
and of O, G section are not always made detachable but are sometimes cast as
integral parts of the bush C.) These encasements, c', c² are made of steel or other
suitable metal and are formed similarly to or of a form to correspond with the
trumpet shaped journals B and 6 Fig. 3. A cap a Figs. 2 and 3 is screwed into
the outer end of the bush C and is united to the nave of the wheel by bolts E.
A loose plate D, Figs. 1 and 2 is fitted upon each end of the axle A and in contact
with a neck flange (or collar) a'. The strong bolts E Fig. 3 unite the plate D to
the nave of the wheel passing through it and the cap c³.
In constructing these improved devices two annular cavities or chambers Fare
formed between the journals B and and the O, G parts marked c', c² (removeable
or otherwise) these cavities are for the reception of steel balls f1, Figs. 3 and 4
and oil cups c Fig. 3 are inserted within the nave and bush C for oiling these ball
chambers.
:
One important effect resulting from the O, G or trumpet shaped form of the
Journals Band and the parts (or encasements) c', c² of corresponding shape to
the journals is that the bails contained in the cavities F do not receive vertical
but oblique pressure, when a vehicle rests upon them as shewn by the dotted lines
in Figs. 3 and 4: this effect is due to the oblique or O, G foria of the bearing
surfaces of the ball race F. When a vehicle thus mounted is in motion the balls fi
are always revolving against the sloping or O, G sides of the cavity F and not
against the base or roof thereof. This diagonal pressure upon the balls has been
found by experiment to facilitate the starting of a loaded vehicle and it is easier
both to start and draw a loaded vehicle therewith than with ball bearings wherein
the pressure is vertical instead of diagonal. Greater sensitiveness and consequently
less friction is found to exist in this O, G or oblique construction of a ball race
in a ball beating bush combined with ball bearing journals and less motive power
proportionately is required to propel a vehicle which is furnished with them than
is required by one which has vertical bearing bushes and journals.
The constituent parts of these bushes and axles are quickly dismembered and
re-mounted the wear and tear thereof is sustained by the parts B, b, c, e² and fl
which are separable and capable of being quickly replaced. The axle A itself
does not sustain any wear and tear by friction from the balls: the removeable
(journal) parts thereof and balls bear it.
The dovetailed keys 62 shewn in Figs. 1, 3 and 5 prevent the possibility of the
trumpet shaped journals B moving from their places when once fixed and as
either the said journal B or its bush wears away one or more washers inserted
between them and the collar a¹ or plate D can be regulated to suit and compensate
the said wear and tear.
In a metal wheel D to d² Figures 6 and 7 for tramears or other vehicles the
bush C may be formed as an integral part of the nave or hub thereol as shewn in
Figure 6 instead of being separable from it and bolted to it as described herein in
connection with an omnibus wheel, or the said bush may be fixed to the vehicle
and the journalled axle A rotate within it as shewn in Figure 7.
I am aware that, previous to my invention axles for vehicles have been made
with their outer ends stepped into various diameters also with collars made or
fixed thereon and that wheels for vehicles and other purposes have been made
with ball bearings and oiling cups-it will therefore be understood that I do
not claim these things broadly as my invention.

page_text: 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:
First. The improved axle, axle-box and ball bearing for a vehicle substantially
as herein described with reference to the drawings or any mere modification
thereof, for the purposes specified.
Second. In an axle for a vehicle the combination therewith of the O, G or
trumpet shaped journal B or 6' substantially as herein described and drawn or any
mere modification thereof for the purposes specified.
Third. In an axle-box for a vehicle the combination therewith of a ball bush
with O, G, oblique or curvilinear bearing face c¹ or c³ substantially as herein
described and drawn or any mere modification thereof for the purposes specified.
Fourth. In a ball bearing for a vehicle the combination therewith of a ball-race,
cavity or chamber F made with oblique bearing surfaces B and c¹ or b¹ and c
substantially as herein described and drawn or any mere modification thereof for
the purposes specified.
Dated this Sixth day of June 1895.
JOSEPH
LOCKWOOD,
263 Argyle Street, Glasgow, Agent for the Applicant.