CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF AXLES FOR COACHES, CARTS, WAGGONS AND OTHER LIKE VEHICLES AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE SAID MANUFACTURE to be as follows:
Year: 1885

page_text: be Used in the said Manufacture.
We, CHARLES HENRY MARSHALL, FRANK SANDERS and NAYLOR SMYTHE, all
of the Aston Coach Iron Works, Aston, near Birmingham, Warwickshire, Coach
Ironwork Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of the said invention for
"CERTAIN IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF AXLES FOR COACHES, CARTS,
WAGGONS AND OTHER LIKE VEHICLES AND IN APPARATUS TO BE USED IN THE
SAID MANUFACTURE to be as follows:-
"
"
Our Invention bas reference to certain improvements in the manufacture of axles
for coaches, carts, waggons and other like vehicles and in apparatus to be used in
the said manufacture and it applies particularly to the shaping and finishing of
those parts of such axles as are known as the " flaps or seatings to which the
springs are attached. Our Invention can be applied to all kinds of "flaps'
forming parts of such axles whether they be what are known as "butterfly,"
"solid," "caulked" or other kinds of "flaps."
An ordinary method of finishing the " Haps" of such axles is by the use of hand
tools, that is to say, after the "flaps" have been shaped by forging their proper
distance from the "collar" on the axle and their contour or shape and size are
marked out and they are finished by chipping and filing.
Such hand tools necessitate a considerable expenditure of time and labour but by
our Invention we are enabled at a single operation to shape and finish or almost
finish the "flaps" and to regulate their proper distance from the "collar" on the
axle thereby effecting a saving in time and labour and producing a better and truer
finish to the "flaps" than heretofore.
For the purposes of our Invention we provide a bed of suitable shape having
transversely a slot or groove large enough for the axle to be operated upon to pass
through. The said slot or groove is preferably vertical and the bottom part thereof
is enlarged to such a size as will admit of the "flap" passing through when the
axle is withdrawn end ways as hereinafter described. At each side of the said slot
or groove we provide a bottom die such two bottom dies being opposite each other
and together of the same shape and size internally as the contour of the finished
flap." The opposite sides of the said bottom dies open out into the said slot or
Di 071
33.J

page_text: groove, and from their undersides we provide an opening into the said enlarged
bottom part of the slot or groove. The said bottom dies may be adjusted by
means of screws or wedges or by other suitable means. We provide a top tool of a
shape and size corresponding with the internal parts of the said two bottom dies
together and arrange for the said top tool to be moved to and from the said bottom
dies in suitable guides, preferably in a vertical direction, by means of a crank or
eccentric or by other well known means. At one or both ends of the said slot we
provide a gauge which may be moved to and from the said bottom dies and against
which when the axle is being operated upon as bereinafter described the "collar"
thereon abuts thereby regulating the distance of the "flap" from the said "collar."
We sometimes form the said gauge as part of one or both of the said bottom dies
or as part of the said bed.
The operation of the parts as above described is as follows:-The gauge having
been adjusted to its proper distance from the bottom dies and the top tool having
been raised the axle with the roughly shaped "flap" or "flaps" forged thereon is
placed preferably in a heated siate over the said bottom dies the collar on the axle
abutting against the gauge and the roughly shaped "Hap" covering the openings
in the bottom dies. The top tool now advances and forces the said "flap" into the
internal parts of the said bottom dies thereby finishing the "flap" to the required
shape and distance from the "collar" by cutting off the superfluous metal around
the edges of the same. The axle and "flap" may be removed from the bottom
dies by passing it into the enlarged bottom part of the slot or groove and then
drawing it endwise therefrom.
We sometimes provide two supports for the bottom dies which partly fill in the
distance between them and the bottom of the enlarged part of the slot or groove
and we so arrange such supports that they can be readily removed for withdrawing
the axle and readily replaced when an axle is being operated upon.
The enlarged bottom part of the slot or groove may be dispensed with and the
'flap" after being operated upon as above described may instead of being passed
through the bed for withdrawal as above described be withdrawn by simply being
raised from the bottom dies.
Each bottom die or top tool may be made either of a single piece of metal
or of two or more pieces of metal combined together as dies or tools for cutting,
punching or pressing purposes are now made.
On the accompanying drawing A is the bed provided with the slot or groove a¹
and carrying the two bottom dies B¹ B³ opening out into the slot or groovo a
C is the top tool. d is the gauge for regulating the distance of the "flap" from the
" collar."
E is part of a coach axle, e¹ is one of its "flaps" and e³ is one of the "collars."

page_text: be Used in the said Manufacture.
We, CHARLES HENRY MARSHALL, FRANK SANDERS and NAYLOR SMYTHE, all of
the Aston Coach Iron Works, Aston, near Birmingham, Warwickshire, Coach
Ironwork Manufacturers, 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, reference being had to the
accompanying drawing and to the letters and Figures marked thereon, that is
to say :-
Our Invention has reference to certain improvements in the manufacture of
axles for coaches, carts, waggons and other like vehicles and in apparatus to be
used in the said manufacture and it applies particularly to the shaping and
finishing of those parts of such axles as are known as the "flaps" or seatings
to which the springs are attached. Our Invention can be applied to all kinds
of "flaps" forming parts of such axles whether they be what are known as
"butterfly," "solid," "caulked or other kinds of "flaps."
An ordinary method of finishing the "flaps" of such axles is by the use of hand
tools, that is to say, after the "flaps" have been shaped by forging their proper
distance from the "collar on the axle and their contour or shape and size are
marked out and they are finished by chipping and filing.
"
Such hand tools necessitate a considerable expenditure of time and labour but
by our Invention we are enabled at a single operation to shape and finish or almost
finish the "flaps" and to regulate their proper distance from the "collar" on the
axle thereby effecting a saving in time and labour and producing a better and truer
finish to the "flaps" than heretofore.
For the purposes of our Invention we provide a bed of suitable shape having
transversely a slot or groove large enough for the axle to be operated upon to pass
through. The said slot or groove is preferably vertical and the bottom part
thereof is enlarged to such a size as will admit of the flap passing through when
the axle is withdrawn endways as hereinafter described. At each side of the said
slot or groove we provide a bottom die such two bottom dies being opposite each
other and together of the same shape and size internally as the contour of the
finished "flap." The opposite sides of the said hottem dies open out into the said
slot or groove and from their undersides we provide an opening into the said
enlarged bottom part of the slot or groove. The said bottom dies may be adjusted
by means of screws or wedges or by other suitable means. We provide a top tool
of a shape and size corresponding with the internal parts of the said two bottom

page_text: ales together and arrange for the said top tool to be moved to and from the said
'bottom dies in suitable guides preferably in a vertical direction by means of a
crank or eccentric or by other well known means. At one or both ends of the
said slot we provide a gauge which may be moved to and from the said bottom
dies and against which when the axle is being operated upon as hereinafter
described the "collar" thereon abuts thereby regulating the distance of the "flap
from the said "collar." We sometimes form the said gauge as part of one or both
of the said bottom dies or as part of the said bed.
"
The operation of the parts as above described is as follows:-The gauge having
been adjusted to its proper distance from the bottom dies and the top tool having
been raised the axle with the roughly shaped "flap" or "flaps" forged thereon is
placed preferably in a heated state over the said bottom dies the "collar" on the
axle abutting against the gauge and the roughly shaped "flap" covering the
openings-in-the bottom dies. The top tool now advances and forces the said
Alap" into the internal parts of the said bottom-dies-thereby-finishing the “flap”
to the required shape and distance from the "collar" by cutting off the superfluous
metal around the edges of the same. The axle and flap" may be removed from
the bottom dies by passing it into the enlarged bottom part of the slot or groove
and then drawing it endwise therefrom.
We sometimes provide two supports for the bottom dies which partly fill in the
distance between them and the bottom of the enlarged part of the slot or groove
and we so arrange such supports that they can be readily removed for with-
drawing the axle and readily replaced when an axle is being operated upon.
The enlarged bottom part of the slot or groove may be dispensed with and tho
"flap" after being operated upon as above described may instead of being passed
-through the bed for withdrawal as above described be withdrawn by simply being
raised from the bottom dies..
Each bottom die or top tool may be made either of a single piece of metal or of
two or more pieces of metal combined together as dies or tools for cutting, punching
or pressing purposes are now made.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawing represents an apparatus constructed
according to our Invention and part of a roughly forged axle having a "butterfly "
flap to be finished by the said apparatus; Figs. 2 and 3 shew the same parts as
Fig. 1 but in different positions as hereinafter described; Fig. 4 illustrates how an
axle is withdrawn from the bed illustrated by the preceeding Figures after being
operated upon; Fig. 5 represents in side elevation and Fig. 5* in front elevation
part of an ordinary press with which the tools represented by Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4
can be used; Fig. 6 is a plan and Fig. 7 an elevation of one half of the bottom
dies separately and Fig. 8 is a modified form of the same; Fig. 9 represents in
sectional elevations and plan a bottom tool for use when operating on axles having
"solid" or "caulked" flaps; Figs. 10, 11 and 12 represent parts of axles having
finished flaps of "butterfly," "solid" and "caulked" forms respectively; Fig. 13
shews in sectional elevations and plan a modified form of the bed of the apparatus
illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in all the Figures.
A represents the bed having a transverse slot or groove a large enough for the
axle E to pass through. The bottom part a² of the slot or groove a¹ is enlarged
to admit of the flap el passing through when the axle E is withdrawn endways
(see Fig. 4) as hereinafter described. B1, B2, are two bottom dies opposite each
other and together of the same shape and size internally as the contour of the
finished butterfly" flap e¹ and communicating underneath with the enlarged
part a of the groove a¹. The bottom dies B1, B2, can be adjusted and held in
position by means of the screws for wedges or other suitable means may be
employed for that purpose. C is a top tool corresponding in shape and size with
the internal parts of the bottom dies B1, B3, together and arranged to be moved
by any well known means to and from the bottom dies B1, B2, in suitable guides

page_text: for instance, as in the press partly illustrated by Figs. 5 and 5* by means of the
crank shaft M which gives motion to the slide N to which the top tool C is fixed.
d is a gauge capable of being moved to and from the bottom dies B¹, B², along the
rod and against which, when the axle is being operated upon as hereinafter
described, the "collar" e thereon abuts thereby regulating the distance of the
flap" e¹ from the "collar" e². Instead of the adjustable gauge d, and for the same
purpose, a fixed gauge may be employed and arranged to form part of one or both
of the bottom dies B1, B2, or part of the bed A as will be readily understood.
"
The operation of the parts above described is as follows:-The gauge d having
been adjusted and fixed at its proper distance from the bottom dies B1, B2, and the
top tool C having been raised (see Fig. 1), the axle E with the roughly shaped
"flap" c¹ forged thereon is placed, preferably in a heated state, (but it may be
similarly operated on when cold) over the bottom dies B1, B2, the "collar" e² on the
axle E abutting against the gauge d and the roughly shaped "flap" e¹ covering the
openings in the said bottom dies (see Fig. 2). The top tool C now advances and
forces the "flap" el into the internal parts of the bottom dies B1, B2, (see Fig. 3)
thereby finishing the flap e¹ to the required size and shape and proper distance
from the "collar" e² by cutting off the superfluous metal e³ around the edges of the
same. The axle E may now be removed by passing it downwards into the enlarged
bottom part a² of the slot or groove a¹ (see Fig. 3) and then drawing it end wise
therefrom (see Fig. 4).
When operating on long flaps we find it necessary to employ two supports g, g,
for the bottom dies B', B2, (see Fig. 9) which partly fill in the distance between
them and the bottom of the enlarged part a² of the slot or groove a¹. The action
of withdrawing an axle from the bed (see Fig. 4) displaces the said supports g, g,
which have to be replaced as shewn in Fig. 9 before another axle is operated upon.
"
In the bed and bottom tools illustrated by Fig. 13 the enlarged bottom part a
of the slot or groove a¹ is dispensed with the bed being made solid and the "flap
after being operated upon as above described is withdrawn by being simply raised
from the bottom dies instead of being passed through the bed for withdrawal as
above described with reference to Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4.
When operating on solid; caulked or other flaps the contour of the top and
bottom tools is made to match the required flap similarly as above described and
illustrated with reference to tools for operating on "butterfly" flaps and such tools
may be made either of a single piece of metal (Fig. 8) or of two or more pieces of
metal (Figs. 6 and 7) combined together as dies or tools for cutting, punching or
pressing purposes are now made.
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 is:
1. The improvements in the manufacture of axles for coaches, carts, waggons
and other like vehicles hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying
drawing, that is to say, operating on the flaps of such axles while in a heated or
cold state by means of tools which cut off the superfluous metal around the flap
and regulate its proper distance from the collar of the axle at a single operation as
hereinbefore described and illustrated.
2. The improved apparatus to be used in the manufacture of axles for coaches,
carts, waggons and other like vehicles hereinbefore.described and illustrated in the
accompanying drawing, that is to say, a top tool C and a pair of bottom tools B, B²,
all constructed in the several ways described and illustrated and arranged to operate
substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.
3. The combination with tools for shaping and finishing the "flaps " of axles as
set forth, of a gauge, so arranged that the proper distance of the "flap" from the
"collar" can be regulated and the flap shaped or finished at a single operation, as
herein set forth.

page_text: 4. The combination with tools for shaping and finishing the flaps of axles as set
forth, of a bed A having a transverse slot or groove a', a², shaped as described and
illustrated so as to allow of the finished flaps being passed through the bottom
shaping tools and then the axle being withdrawn endways therefrom as herein set
forth.