IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLES, AND IN FITTING WHEELS THERETO
Year: 1859

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Richard Archibald Brooman, of 166, Fleet Street,
in the City of London, E.C., Editor of the Mechanics' Magazine and
Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLES, AND IN
FITTING WHEELS THERETO."-A communication from abroad by M. Masson,
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Richard Archibald
Brooman at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 23rd May 1859.
I, RICHARD ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, E.C., Editor of the Mechanics' Magazine and Patent Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLES,
AND IN FITTING WHEELS THERETO," (communicated to me from abroad by
M. Masson, residing at Paris,) to be as follows:-
This Invention consists in forming axles for common road carriages in two
parts, and in fixing wheels thereto, in manner hereafter stated; for light
carriages the axle for each pair of wheels is formed in two lengths; one end of
each length terminates in a ball and the other end in a journal. There is a
broad shoulder formed on each length from the further side of which the journal
springs, and against which the nave of the wheel is to abut. The two spherical

page_text: ends are united by and revolve in a central bearing and oil box, held and con-
nected to the ordinary carriage springs by strong arms. Under or between the
springs there is another bearing, and oil box, in which a roller formed on the
axle revolves. To fix the wheels the nave is brought against the broad
shoulder, a nut is screwed on the outer end of the journal, and two or more
bolts are passed through the nave into the shoulder. For heavy carriages,
such as wagons, each axle is formed of two tapered lengths, terminating as
before in a sphere at the small end; but instead of the two lengths being
united in a central bearing; the spherical end of one length revolves in a box
under or in a line with the spring on one side, while the spherical end of the
other length revolves in a box under or in a line with the spring on the
opposite side; the two lengths thus cross each other.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Richard Archibald Brooman in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 23rd November 1859.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, RICHARD
ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of London, E.C.,
Editor of the Mechanics' Magazine and Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-third day of May, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine, in the twenty-second year of
Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
me, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, Her special licence that I, the said
Richard Archibald Brooman, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time
and at all times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and
lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom
of Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLES, AND IN FITTING WHEELS THERETO," (a
communication from abroad by M. Masson, of Paris,) upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, my executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or one
of their hands and seals, should particularly describe and ascertain the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be per-
formed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office

page_text: within six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed, that is to say:-
This Invention consists in forming axles for common road carriages in two
parts, and in fixing wheels thereto, in manner hereafter stated.
For light
carriages the axle for each pair of wheels is formed in two lengths; one end
of each length terminates in a ball or in a collar, and the other end in a
journal. There is a broad shoulder formed on each length, from the further
side of which the journal springs, and against which the nave of the wheel is
to abut. The two spherical or collared ends are united by and revolve in a
central bearing and oil box, held and connected to the ordinary carriage
springs by strong arms. Under or between the springs there is another
bearing and oil box, in which a roller formed on the axle revolves. To fix
the wheels the nave is brought against the broad shoulder, a nut is screwed on
the outer end of the journal, and two or more bolts are passed through the
nave into the shoulder. For heavy carriages, such as wagons, each axle is
formed of two tapered lengths, terminating as before in a sphere or collar at
the small end; but, instead of the two lengths being united in a central bearing,
the spherical end of one length revolves in a box under or in a line with the
spring on one side, while the spherical end of the other length revolves in a
box under or in a line with the spring on the opposite side; the two lengths
thus cross each other.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is a sectional elevation of an axle
constructed according to this Invention. The parts marked a, a', of the axle
are connected together, end to end, in a central or middle box b, which box
acts as a common bearing as well as a reservoir for oil. This box b is shown
in longitudinal vertical section at Figure 1, in horizontal section on an enlarged
scale at Figure 2, and in cross section at Figure 3. c, c, are washers formed
of caoutchouc, gutta percha, felt, or other suitable material, which are placed
at each end of the box, and compressed in such manner that the oil or grease
is prevented from spreading in a lateral direction. If any of the oil percolates
through, it comes upon the throat d, which is formed on the axle at each side
where it abuts against the box b. The axle is prevented from sliding in a
lateral direction by projections or flanches e, e', formed on each extremity, and
which work in journals f, f, which also forms reservoirs, for the purpose of

page_text: lubrication. One of these boxes is shown in longitudinal vertical section at
Figure 1, in longitudinal horizontal section on an enlarged scale in Figure 4,
and in cross section at Figure 5. The construction of these boxes f, f, is
almost similar to that of the central box b; c,.c, are the washers; d, the throat;
and e, e, are the internal projections, as before; an aperture, not shown in the.
Drawing, is provided for the introduction of lubricating material. Each
part a, a', of the axle is adjusted or fitted. to the nave of the wheel.in. the
manner shown at Figures 1 and 6...The.shoulder of the axle a is brought up
against the nave of the wheel, where it is held. in. position, by three or more
screws or bolts, one, 7, of which is shown at Eigure 6, which is a longitudinal
section of the nave of a whcel. with its journal h. This journal is inserted
with a flanched screw i; j is a cover or cap to prevent the admission of dirt
to the box. Each part of the axle is independent of the other, and, morcover,
each axle with its wheel turns together.
Figures 7 and 8 are views of wheels where the axle is composed of two
conical springs or tapered lengths p, the ends of which terminate in balls q, q,
which revolve in bearing boxes 'r, r,: whilst the opposite, ends are.received by
bearing boxes, r, fixed to the nave of the wheel,' in the manner shown at
Figure 6.
: . '
And having now described the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I declare, that I claim,
First, the construction of axles for common road carriages, by forming the
said axles in two parts, as herein-before described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings.
4
Second, the construction of axles with two tapered lengths, terminating in a
sphere at the small end, as herein-before described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings.
And, third, the method of attaching the naves of wheels to the axles herein-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying. Drawings..
In witness whereof, I, the said Richard Archibald Brooman, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of November, One
thousand eight hundred and fifty-nine.