IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY OR TRAMWAY CAR AXLE BOXES
Year: 1885

page_text: I NORMAN WEBBER CUTTER of Cleveland in the County of Cuyahoga and State
of Ohio United States of America Gentleman do hereby declare the nature of
my invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY OR TRAMWAY CAR AXLE BOXES,
and in what manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
The improvements in Car Axle Boxes above referred to, relate more particularly
to axle boxes for street railway cars and of that class of axle boxes provided with
antifriction rollers for the journal bearing. That the afore mentioned improvementa
may be fully understood, reference will be made to the accompanying drawings for
illustration in which Fig. 1, represents an end view of a car axle box with the end
plate detached that the interior of the box and the rollers therein may be seen
Fig. 2, is a plan view of the box, Fig. 3, is a longitudinal section through the
line x-x-Fig. 4, is an edge view of the end plate of the axle box. Fig. 5, is a
view of the inner side of the end plate-Like letters of reference denote like parts
in the several figures.
In the drawings A, represents the shell of the axle box, and B, B, portions of the
bousing by which the box is attached to a car. One end of the axle box is closed
by the end plate.C, which is secured to the housing by the bolts D.-Said plate,
however, may be an integral part of the shell or axle box, but it is preferred to
bave it a separate piece and secure it to the box as shown in the drawinga
The opposite end of the box is closed (either by an end wall, an integral part of
the box, or by a detachable plate) with the exception of a central opening E, 6g. 3,
through which to insert the journal end of the axle F, into the box between the
rollers a-as indicated by the dotted line b. in fig. 1,-H, is a metal lining covering
the whole circumferential interior surface of the axle box as shown in figa 1,
and 3, thereby producing an even, uniformly smooth and durable wearing surface
for the rollers to revolve on.
While the car is in motion, said rollers, (which as shown in fig. 3, are shorter
than the length of the box in its bearing part,) are subject to more or less end
thrust during their revolution in and around the axle box, resulting from the
lateral movement of the car and axle, as a consequence, the rollers become
displaced from a central bearing on the axle journal. To guide and readjust the
displaced rollers to their central position on the journal as shown in fig. 5, at each
of their revolutions around the journal, is the use of the ribs I and J, fig. 3,
respectively at each end of the axle box. Also said ribe prevent the ends of the

page_text: rollers from impinging upon the end plate while in bearing, which would create
friction and danger of twisting the rollers.-It will be observed in fig. 3, that the
rib J, is an integral part of the axle box, and that the rib I, is an integral part of
the detachable end plate, C, as seen in figs. 4 and 5, and that both of the ribs are
adapted to fit within the lining of the box as shown in fig. 3.-It will also be
observed that the said ribs are differential in width, they being wider at the
bottom, c, than at the top, at which place they merge in the plane of the end plate
and that of the box as seen in figs. 3, and 4, and furtheremore, it will be noticed
that the rib (or ribs) is not an entire circle or ring, there being a space between
the ends d, and, e, fig. 5.
The desired bearing position of the rollers is such as seen in fig. 3. In the event
that the upper or bearing rollers become laterally displaced while revolving around
in the axle box, they become readjusted by passing between the ribs, which brings
them at each revolution to the position in said fig. 3.
The removable end plate C is provided with a central boss c¹ of chilled metal an
integral part of the plate or it may be a separate piece and secured to the plate in
any suitable way.
Said boss is for the purpose of receiving the end thrust of the axle and prevent
undue wearing of the end plate and axle. At the lower side of the axle box, is a
waste receptacle K, fig. 3, having an open relation with the interior of the box by
means of the opening m, in the lining through which the waste, from the box falls
into the receptacle and is thereby prevented from clogging the movement of the
rollers The lining is prevented from turning around in the box by a lug L, fig. 5,
adapted to fit in a corresponding notch, n, fig. 1, in the edge of the lining. For
that purpose a lug may be at each end of the box if necessary.
As above remarked the herein described axle box, although designed especially
for street railway cars, may by a slight modification, of the housing be adapted to
other cars without changing the essential feature of the invention herein set forth.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
-
1". In a car axle box of the class provided with antifriction rollers, in combi-
nation with the said box, a continuous circumferential lining, consisting of any
suitable material, providing thereby a smooth uniform and durable bearing surface
for the entire circumferential surface of the rollers, substantially as described and
for the purpose specified.
2. In a car axle box, in combination with said box and antifriction rollers and
lining therein, the adjusting ribs I, and J, respectively located at each end of the
axle box for the purpose specified and in the manner substantially as described.
3". For cars, an axle box having at its underside and in open communication
with the interior of said box, a waste receptacle K, as and for the purpose specified.
4". Of the herein described car axle box, the removable end plate C, provided
with a boss, adapted to receive the end thrust of the axle, substantially as
described.
5. For car axles, the combination of the axle box A, continuous circumferential
lining, and rollers a, ribs I, and J, detachable end plate provided with a boss c¹,
and waste receptacle, constructed substantially as described and for the purpose
specified.