AN IMPROVED AXLE
Year: 1864

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Edward Gedge at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 1st
November 1864. A communication from abroad by Jean Baptiste
Legault, of Ferques, Department of the Pas de Calais, France.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of the Firm of John Gedge and Son, of No. 11,
Wellington Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED AXLE,” (a
communication to me from abroad by Jean Baptiste Legault, of Ferques,
Department of the Pas de Calais, France,) to be as follows:-
I propose to place on that part of an axle subject to wear, in other words
the rubbing surface, and on each side thereof a nut or convex projection in
form of wheel about three parts of an inch in height, and one to two inches in.
thickness or breadth; this projection gives me a solid immovable mass, as it
forms part of the axle. I place on the outer periphery of this convex pro-
jection the half of a concavity absolutely of the same dimension in its interior
as the projection; I fix this firmly by its two ends to the second axle-fixed to
the springs or to the side framing of the carriage, then I place the lower half
of the projection on the moveable axle on the other half of the concavity, and
attach or fix them by the two ends, as directed in respect to the first moiety.
By these means I diminish, by at least a third, the length of the rubbing
surface of the axle in the axle box, and fix in the most secure mariner the
carriage to the moveable axle, without danger from lateral or other shocks.
To facilitate the lubrication of this moveable axle I make on or in the upper

page_text: concave part a small opening communicating with the upper convex part in
such wise that whether the carriage be a van or waggon, heavily loaded, or
other vehicle, this operation is easily effected.
It is evident that the above described improvements are peculiarly applicable
to carriages when the roads are straight or slightly curved; but to render the
system applicable to all roads whatever I add the following arrangement to
the ends of the axle and in the boss or nave or box of the wheel. With
the part of the axle entering in the nave of the wheel I make a screw with its
end firmly fixed to the nave; I then make a channel for the screw. I would
observe that the box need be no longer than necessary to allow the formation
of this channel for the screw. At both ends of the axle I have a small square
end destined to receive a nut secured in position by a pin, the reason for
placing this nut is that it stops any excessive unscrewing of the wheel, and
prevents its leaving the axle. It also prevents the channel of the screw from
being driven in and consequently broken. The wheel being fixed upon the
axle, and the nut in its place, I cover the end of the axle with a cap to hido
the said nut and pin. This arrangement will in turning permit the wheel on
the inside of the curve to unscrew of itself, and either to remain still, or better,
to turn slowly while the opposite wheel advances. To obtain this result
a right and a left hand screw must be used. The whole will operate without
shock if care be taken to leave the screw to work easily in its channel. I add
without fear the screw forming the end of the axle to stop the wheel or hinder
it from making more than four or five turns, according to the length of the
screw channel. The turning finished, the unscrewed wheel resumes its course,
the screwing and unscrewing taking place mechanically or without assistance.
It should be understood that the box of the nave should have at each of its
ends a stop intended to adapt itself to the stop of the washer on one part, and
on the other to the stop on the axle, without which these improvements
would be very incomplete. I would observe that the screw and its channel
is not subject to strain as the whole of the load is borne on the projections
constructed on the axle.
The improved axle above described may be applied to railway vehicles as
well as to those running on ordinary roads.