IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF AXLES FOR CARRIAGES AND IN PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Constant Lones, and Jabez Lones, and
Charles Vernon, and Edward Holden, all of Smethwick, in the
County of Stafford, Axle-tree Manufacturers, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF AXLES FOR CARRIAGES AND IN
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Constant Loncs,
Jabez Lones, Charles Vernon, and Edward Holden, at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents, with their Petition, on the 21st
December 1872.
We, JOSEPH CONSTANT LONES, and JABEZ LONES, and CHARLES
VERNON, and EDWARD HOLDEN, all of Smethwick, in the County of
Stafford, Axle-tree Manufacturers, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF AXLES FOR
CARRIAGES AND IN MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED FOR THAT PURPOSE," to be as
follows:-
anufacture of axles for carriages consist in

page_text: axles called the collars.
The said collar consist of parts of larger
diameter than the arm and bed of the axle, and are situated between the
said arm and bed, the central enlarged part being of greater diameter
than the parts on either side of it. The central part is called the collar,
and the parts on either side of it are called the front and back collars.
In making the said collars according to our Invention we take a
faggotted bar of iron, and reduce the diameter of either end thereof,
leaving near the arm end of the bar a part or "round" of larger
diameter, from which enlarged part or "round" the collars of the axle
are made by compressing or upsetting the said "round." We prefer to
effect the compressing or upsetting of the "round" so as to make there-
from the central collar and the back and front collars by means of the
shaping and finishing machinery herein-after described; but other
machinery may be used for that purpose.
"
The reduction of the diameter of the bar for the purpose of leaving
the "round or enlarged part described may be effected by the use of
the machinery described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted
to Elias Lones, Joseph Constant Lones, John Lones, John Brettell,
Thomas Brettell, and Charles Vernon, on the 26th day of December 1865,
No. 3336, but the said reduction may be effected in any other convenient
way.
The machinery constructed according to our Invention for shaping
the "round" on the bar, and forming therefrom the collars of the axle,
is constructed and worked in the following manner :—! -The said machinery
consists essentially of two dies or tools, between which the round on the
axle is compressed or upset, the axes of the said dies being coincident.
One of these dies or tools is made in two parts, and constitutes a holding
die, by which the partly made axle is held, the said die also serving to
fashion the back collar of the axle. The said holding dic is carried in a
die box having a sliding motion on the bed of the machine, the motion
of the said die box and die being effected by screw boxes, to which the
die box is connected. The screws working in the said screw boxes are
driven by a train of toothed wheels from a hand wheel. The other die
or tool is of a cylindrical figure, and receives the arm of the axle, the
front part of the cavity in the said die having the figure of the front
collar of the axle. The said cylindrical die slides in guides on the bed
of the machine, and is driven forward by a lever acted upon by a cam on

page_text: the fly wheel shaft of the machine. By the operation of the said lever
and cam a series of blows is given to the said cylindrical die so as to
compress the "round" on the axle between it and the holding die.
"
"
The action of the machine is as follows:-The partly made axle being
placed in the machine the holding die is advanced by turning the hand
wheel so as to force the said dic against the "round on the axle, the
said "round" being situated between the said die and the "cylindrical"
or compressing die. By the advance of the said cylindrical or com-
pressing die, effected by the lever and cam described, the "round" on
the axle is compressed or upset between it and the other die. After
each blow of the compressing die the workman operating on the hand
lever slides forward the holding die, and thus brings the "round" on it
nearer to the compressing die. By the percussive action of the com-.
pressing die, and the sliding motion of the other die, the "round on
the axle is gradually compressed or beaten up between the two dies, and
the central collar, as well as the back and front collars, formed from the
said "round or enlarged part. The roughly formed central collar thus
made is finished by means of machinery constructed according to our
Invention, consisting of three rolls, a large upper roll and two smaller
bottom rolls. The upper roll is grooved to receive the central collar on
the axle, the said axle during the finishing operation being driven by
the said upper roll. The lower rolls have loose rollers upon them, the
said rollers forming grooves between which the central collar takes.
The bearings of the lower rolls are supported in a lever worked by a hand
lever, by means of which hand lever the requisite pressure can be given.
to raise the lower rolls to the upper roll. The axle being placed in the
lower rolls, they are raised to the upper roll so as to cause the central
collar on the axle to engage in the groove in the upper roll. By the
rotation of the said upper roll the axle is rotated, and the central collar
shaped and perfected by the operation of the lower rolls.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Joseph Constant Lones, Jabez Lones, Charles
Vernon, and Edward Holden, in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
17th June 1873.

page_text: HOLDEN, all of Smethwick, in the County of Stafford, Axle-tree Manu-
facturers, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of December, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in
the thirty-sixth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and suc-
cessors, give and grant unto us, the said Joseph Constant Lones, Jabez
Lones, Charles Vernon, and Edward Holden, Her special license that we,
the said Joseph Constant Lones, Jabez Lones, Charles Vernon, and
Edward Holden, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such
others as we, the said Joseph Constant Lones, Jabez Lones, Charles
Vernon, and Edward Holden, our 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 THE MANUFACTURE OF AXLES
FOR CARRIAGES AND IN MACHINERY TO BE EMPLOYED FOR THAT PURPOSE," upon
the condition (amongst others) that we, the said Joseph Constant
Lones, Jabez Lones, Charles Vernon, and Edward Holden, our executors
or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our or their
hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or them, should
particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Invention, and
in what manner the same was to be performed, and cause the same to
be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Jabez Lones, on behalf of myself and
the said Joseph Constant Lones, Charles Vernon, and Edward Holden,
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, that is to say :-
Our improvements in the manufacture of axles for carriages consist in
making, in the manner herein-after described, those parts of the said
axles called the collars. The said collars consist of parts of larger
diameter than the arm and bed, the central enlarged part being of greater
diameter than the parts on either side of it. The central part is called

page_text: the collar, and the parts on either side of it are called the front and back
collars.
In making the said collars according to our Invention we take a
faggotted bar of iron and reduce the diameter on either end thereof,
leaving near the arm end of the bar a part or "round" of larger dia-
meter, from which enlarged part or "round" the collars of the axle are
made by compressing or upsetting the said "round." We prefer to
effect the compressing or upsetting of the round so as to make therefrom
the central collar and the back and front collars by means of the shaping
and finishing machinery herein-after described, but other machinery may
be used for that purpose.
The reduction of the diameter of the bar for the purpose of leaving the
"round" or enlarged part described, may be effected by the use of the
machinery described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to
Elias Lones, Joseph Constant Lones, John Lones, John Brettell, Thomas.
Brettell, and Charles Vernon, on the Twenty-sixth day of December,
1865, No. 3336, but the said reduction may be effected in any other
convenient way.
39
The machinery constructed according to our Invention for shaping
the "round on the bar, and forming therefrom the collars of the axle,
is constructed and worked in the following manner :-The said machinery
consists essentially of two dies or tools, between which the round on tho
axle is compressed or upset, the axes of the said dies being coincident.
One of these dies or tools is made in two parts, and constitutes a holding
die by which the partly made axle is held, the said die also serving to
fashion the back collar of the axle. The said holding die is carried in a die
box having a sliding motion on the bed of the machine, the motion of the
said die box and die being effected by screw boxes. The screws working
in the said screw boxes are driven by a train of toothed wheels from a
hand wheel. The other die or tool is of a cylindrical figure, and receives
the arm of the axle, the front part of the cavity in the said die having
the figure of the front collar of the axle. The said cylindrical die slides
in guides on the bed of the machine, and is driven forward by a lever
acted upon by a cam on the fly wheel shaft of the machine. By the
operation of the said lever and cam a series of blows is given to the
cylindrical die, so as to compress the "round" on the axle between it
and the holding die.

page_text: The action of the machine is as follows:-The partly made axle being
placed in the machine the holding die is advanced by turning the hand
wheel so as to force the said die against the round on the axle, the said
round being situated between the said die and the cylindrical or .com-
pressing die. By the advance of the said cylindrical or compressing die
effected by the lever and cam described, the round on the axle is com-
pressed or upset between it and the other dic. After each blow of the
compressing die the workman operating on the hand lever slides for-
ward the holding die, and thus brings the round on it nearer to the
compressing dic. By the percussive action of the compressing die, and
the sliding motion of the other dice, the "round" on the axle is gradually
compressed or beaten up between the two dies and the central collar, as
well as the back and front collars formed from the said round or enlarged
part. The roughly formed central collar thus made is finished by means
of machinery, constructed according to our Invention, consisting of three
rolls, a large upper roll, and two smaller bottom rolls. The upper roll
is grooved to receive the central collar on the axle, the said axle during
the finishing operation being driven by the said upper roll. The lower
rolls consist of loose rollers in grooves, in which the central collar takes.
The bearings of the lower rolls arc supported in a lever worked by a
hand lever, by means of which hand lever the requisite pressure can be
given to raise the lower rolls to the upper roll. The axle being placed
in the lower rolls they are raised to the upper roll so as to cause the
central collar on the axle to engage in the groove in the upper roll. By
the rotation of the said upper roll the axle is rotated, and the central
collar shaped and perfected by the operation of the lower rolls.
..Having explained the nature of our Invention, we will proceed to
describe, with reference to the accompanying Drawings, the manner in
which the same is to be performed.
•
Figure 1 represents in elevation a partly made axle provided with a
"round"
or enlarged part from which the collars are to be made, and
Figure 2 represents the axle after the collars have been fashioned from
the said round or enlarged part..
"
In Figure 1 the "round or enlarged part is marked a, the said round
being situated between the arm 6 and bed c of the axle. The said
round a is made by taking a faggotted bar of iron of the diameter of the
said round, and reducing either end of the said bar so as to leave the said

page_text: round a. This reduction of the iron may be effected in various ways.
By subjecting the "round" or enlarged part a on the bar to a com-
pressing or upsetting action, the said round is converted into the central
collar d, back collar e, and front collar f, as illustrated in Figure 2.
The machinery which we prefer to use for compressing or upsetting
the round a so as to make therefrom the central, and back, and front
collars d, e, f, and also for finishing the roughly formed central collar d
is represented in the accompanying Drawings.
Figure 3 represents a side clevation; Figure 4, a longitudinal vertical
section; Figure 5, a plan; and Figure 6, an end elevation of the said
machinery; Figure 7 represents an end elevation of a portion of the
machinery; and Figures 8, 9, 10, and 11 are detached views of the dies
of the machine drawn to a larger scale.
The same letters of reference indicate the same parts in the several
Figures of the Drawings.
g, h, is the holding die, and i is the cylindrical or compressing die of
the machine, between which dies g, h, and i the "round" a on the axle is
compressed or upset. The holding die g, h, is made in two parts or halves.
The shape of the holding die g, h, is best seen in the separate views,
Figures 9, 10, and 11, Figure 9 representing in front elevation the two
halves g, h, of the die brought together for use; Figure 10, the upper
half h of the die detached; and Figure 11, a plan and section of the lower
half g detached. The upper half h of the holding die is provided with a
handle ³ for placing it on or lifting it from the lower half g of the die,
the said upper half h being engaged with the lower half g by studs at
k, k, entering corresponding recesses in the upper half h. The bottom g³
of the lower half die g is inclined, and the sides h³ of the upper half die h
are also inclined, the said inclined parts g³, h³, of the die g, h, fitting
against the inclined top and bottom of the die box, as hercin-after
described. The holding die g, h, has an internal angular figure for
receiving and holding the bed c of the axle, and the front 2 of the said
die has a recess in it proper to shape the back collar e of the axle. The
holding die g, h, is carried in the die box m, the said die box having a
sliding motion on a dovetail seat on the bed 6 of the machine. The
halves of the holding die g, h, are raised into the die box m, and held
therein in the manner herein-after described.

page_text: .
The compressing die i is represented in cross section and side elevation
drawn to a larger scale in Figure 8. The said compressing die i has
internally the figure proper to receive the arm 6 of the axle, and to
receive and shape the front collar f of the axle. The compressing die i
works upon a dovetail seat or guide n on the bed of the machine. 5
Motion is given to the die box m containing the holding die g, h, by screw
boxes q, q, actuated by the screws », r, the said screws having only a
rotatory motion. The said screws 1, 1, working in the screw boxes q, q,
are driven by the train of toothed wheels represented from the hand
wheels, that is to say, on the axis of the hand wheels is a pinion ₺ 1
which gears with the toothed wheels u, u, and the latter with the toothed
wheels w, w, on the axes of the screws r, r, (see Figure 6). By turning
the said band wheels the die box m, (carrying the holding dies g, h), can
be advanced towards the cylindrical or compressing die i.
The compressing die i is driven forward by the lever x, a³, turning on 1
the centre ³, the longer arm 23 of the said lever being acted upon
by the cam y (see Figure 3) on the fly wheel shaft z. The arm z of the
lever x, x, is raised so as to be out of action of the cam y by the coiled
spring 1. The part of the compressing lever x, x³, does not act
directly upon the cylindrical or compressing die i, but through the 2
"breaker" or separate piece 2, which is interposed between the said
compressing die and the lever. The shape of the breaker 2 is best scen
in Figures 3 and 5. The holding die g, h, is lifted into tho die box m,
and held therein by the hand lever 3, 3ª.
The action of the machine is as follows:-In the Drawing the machine 2
is represented in position for receiving the partly made axle, Figure 1.
The end of the machine is open at 3b, and through the said open end the
axle Figure 1, is introduced, the arm 6 of the axle being passed through
the dio box m, and made to take into the cylindrical or compressing
die į, the bed c of the axle seating itself on the lower half g of the 3
holding dic I. h. The upper half of the holding dic is next placed upon
the lower half g, as indicated in dotted lines in Figure 3, and the holding
die g, h, is now raised into the die box m by means of the forked arm 3ª
of the hand lever 3, 3º, the inclined bottom g³ of the lower half die g
travelling up the inclined bottom of the die box m and the inclined 3
sides ³ of the upper half die h abutting against the inclined top of the
said dio box m. The axle being thus held in the machine the hand
wheels is turned by one workman while the holding lever 3, 3*, is held

page_text: by another. By the motion of the hand wheels the screw boxes q, q, are
made to bear against the dic box m, and advance the said box and the
dics therein, and cause the "round" a on the axle held in the said dies
to bear against the end of the compressing die i, and push back the said
3 die i. By this backward movement of the compressing die i the
-breaker 2 acts upon the part of the lever x, x³, and causes the
depression of the longer arm x of the said lever. The arm of the
lever is now brought within the range of action of the cam y, which
cam lifts the said arm a³, and through the breaker 2 advances the com-
pressing die i; the round a on the axle is thereby compressed between
the said compressing die i and the die g, h, in the die box m. After eacli
blow of the compressing, die i the workman operating on the hand lever s
slides forward the holding die g, h, and thereby brings the round a on
the axle nearer to the compressing die i. Thus by the percussive action
of the die i and the sliding motion of the holding die g, h, the round on
the axle is gradually compressed or beaten up between the said two
dies and the central collar d, as well as the back and front collars c, f,
formed from the said round, as illustrated in Figure 2. By an exami-
nation of the Drawings it will be seen that while the central collar dis
being compressed between the two dies i and g, h, the back collar e is
being shaped or fashioned in the front recess 7 of the holding die g, h, and
the front collar fis being compressed in the recess of the compressing
dic i. After the collars of the axle have been thus roughly shaped the
pressure of the screw boxes g, g, on the die box m is relaxed, and the
lever 3, 35, being no longer held by the workman the parts assume the
positions represented in Figure 4, the die g, h, sliding out of the die
box m.
The fashioned axle may now be removed from the machine, and
another partly made axle of the form represented in Figure 1 substituted
therefor, which is subjected to the action of the machine in the manner
herein-before described. The roughly formed central collar thus made
is finished by the rolling machinery represented at the end of the fly
wheel shaft. The said rolling machinery consists of an upper roll 4 on
the fly wheel shaft z, the said roll being grooved to receive the central
collar d of the axle, and of two loose shaping rollers 5, 5, below the said
roller 4. The loose rollers 5, 5, turn on the fixed axles or spindles 6, 6,
carried by the lever 7, 7, turning on the centre 8. Each roller 5 has a
groove corresponding with the groove in the upper roll 4. The lever 7
carrying the loose rollers 5, 5, is raised to the upper roll 4 by the hand
lever 10; 11 is a support for tho axle during the rolling operation.

page_text: In finishing the central collar d by means of the rolling machinery
represented the axle is placed between the lower loose rollers 5, 5, the
central collar & being engaged in the grooves of the said rollers. By
now depressing the hand lever 10, the rollers 5, 5, and axle are raised to
the upper roll 4 and the central collar in the axle made to engage in 5
the groove in the said upper roll 4, as illustrated in Figures 6 and 7.
The end of the axle is supported by the support 11. By the rotation of
the upper roll 4 the axle is rotated and the central collar d shaped and
perfected by the operation of the lower rollers 5, 5.
Although we have represented the compressing or upsetting mechanism, 1
and the rolling or finishing mechanism combined in one machine, yet
the said rolling or finishing mechanism may be detached from the
compressing or upsetting mechanism.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the manner
in which the same is to be performed, we wish it to be understood that 1
we do not limit ourselves to the precise details herein described and
illustrated as the same may be varied without departing from the nature
of our Invention, but we claim as our Invention,―
Firstly. The improvements in the manufacture of axles for carriages
herein-before described and illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accom- 20
panying Drawings, that is to say, making the collars of the said axles by
taking a faggotted bar of iron and reducing the diameter of either end
thereof so as to leave near the arm end of the bar a part or “round” of
larger diameter, and compressing or upsetting the said "round" and
forming therefrom the collars of the axle, substantially as described and 2
illustrated.
Secondly. The improvements in machinery for compressing or
upsetting a round or enlarged part on the axle to form the collars
of the axle herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying
Drawings, that is to say, the combination of the holding die g, h, and 30
die box m with the cylindrical or compressing die i, the said dies g, h,
and i, and die box m being constructed, arranged, and worked, sub-
stantially as described and illustrated.
Thirdly. The improvements in machinery for finishing or perfecting
the central collar of the axle herein-before described and illustrated in 35
the accompanying Drawings, that is to say, the combination of a driving
upper roll with two bottom shaping rollers and the appliances for raising

page_text: and lowering the said shaping rollers, substantially as described and
illustrated.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jabez Lones, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of June, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-three.
Witness,
RICHARD SKERRETT,
Clerk to George Shaw,
Birmingham.
JABEZ LONES. (L.S.)