Improvements in the Manufacture of Axle Boxes and Apparatus for the Purpose.
Year: 1892

page_text: Date of Application, 28th May, 1892
Complete Specification Left, 25th Mar., 1893-Accepted, 13th May, 1893
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Manufacture of Axle Boxes and Apparatus for
the Purpose.
I, SAMSON Fox, of the Leeds Forge, New Wortley, Leeds, in the County of
York, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be aş
follows:-
:-
In the manufacture or construction of axle boxes for railway and other vehicles
according to this invention, suitable metal, such as mild steel or iron in the form of
plate or rolled sections, is bent to a tubular shape of appropriate cross section then
(having been heated if necessary) is by means of dies and pressure converted to
the form of the required axle box with grooves for axle guards or axle guards
and dust guards, seat, for spring, strengthening corrugations or other desired
formation.
The metal tube from which the axle box is to be formed may or may not be a
weldless tube and may be closed at one end so that such end may form one side or
end of the finished axle box. Or such end as well as other parts of the axle box,
such as a liner to form a grease box and the keep or lower part of the axle box, may
be made separately and be fixed to the other stamped or pressed parts to complete.
the formation of the axle box.
In an arrangement of apparatus for carrying out this method of formation of an
axle box, a male die intended to operate on the inner part of the tube is made in
pieces that are inserted into the tnbe through its open end and are adapted to be
forced apart by pressing or stamping in order to cause the exterior of the tube to
assume a form corresponding to that of the interior of an enclosing or surrounding
female die or matrix which may be made in one piece. The several parts of
the male die can afterwards be withdrawn from the open end of the axle box which
will subsequently serve for the admission of the axle journal and which end can
be flanged if desired and trimined to suit requirement.
As will be obvious the apparatus employed in carrying my invention into practice
can be variously modified.
By my invention plate metal axle boxes can be produced in a simple rapid and
economical manner.
البصير
.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
5 Improvements in the Manufacture of Axle Boxes and Apparatus for
the Purpose.
I, SAMSON Fox, of the Leeds Forge, New Wortley, Leeds, in the County of
York, Civil Engineer, 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:-
In the manufacture or construction of axle boxes for railway and other vehicles
according to this invention, suitable metal such as mild steel or iron in the form
of plate is bent to a tubular shape of appropriate cross section, then (having
been heated if necessary) is by means of dies and pressure converted to the

page_text: form of the required axle box with grooves for axle guards, or axle guards and
dust guards, seat for spring, strengthening corrugations or other desired formation.
The metal tube from which the axle box is to be formed may or may not be
a weldless tube, and may be closed at one end so that such end may form one side
or end-of the finished axle box, or such end, as well as other parts of the axle
box, such as a liner to form a grease box, and the keep or lower part of the axle
box, may be made separately, and be fixed to the other stamped or pressed parts
to complete the formation of the axle box.
In an arrangement of apparatus for carrying out this method of formation of
an axle box, a male die intended to operate on the inner part of the tube is made
in pieces that are inserted into the tube through its open end and are adapted to
be forced apart by pressing or stamping in order to cause the exterior of the tube
to assume a form corresponding to that of the interior of an enclosing or surrounding
female die or matrix which may be made in two or more pieces. The several parts
of the male die can afterwards be withdrawn from the open end of the axle box,
which will subsequently serve for the admission of the axle journal and which end
can be flanged if desired and trimmed to suit requirement.
By my invention plate metal axle boxes can be produced in a simple, rapid and
economical manner.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a vertical section; and Fig. 2 a sectional plan, illustrating apparatus
suitable for manufacturing axle-boxes with grooves for axle guards and seat for
spring, according to this invention, the several parts of such apparatus being shown
in the positions they occupy after pressing the sides of the axle box to the required
shape.
Fig, 2 is a similar view to Fig. 2 but showing the several parts of the apparatus
in the position they occupy before commencing the pressing operation.
I
Fig. 3 is a similar view to Fig. 1 but showing the several parts of the apparatus
in the positions they occupy at the completion of the pressing operation.
Figs. 4 and 5 are cross-sections on the line a b and c d respectively of Fig. 3..
Figs. 6, 7 and 8 show in plan, side elevation, and end view respectively, a tube
suitable for conversion into an axle box, and formed from a wrought iron or steel
plate of uniform thickness or from a rolled section the tube made from the latter
having thickened parts where the axle guard grooves are to be formed.
Figs. 9, 10 and 11 show in plan, side elevation and vertical section respectively
an axle box constructed according to this invention.
1
The apparatus shown comprises an expansible male or inner die, a fixed female
die or matrix, and means for operating the male die.
1, 2, 3 and 4 are four outer parts of the male or inner die the exterior of which,
when the parts are expanded corresponds in shape and dimensions with the interior
of the finished axle box. 5, 5ª are two intermediate parts that are arranged to slide
within the said outer parts. The top of the part 5 and the bottom of the part 5*
are parallel with each other and horizontal, and each has its sides inclined towards
each other as seen in plan so that when the said intermediate parts are forced in
the direction of the arrow a they will force the outer parts 1 and 2 away from the
remaining outer parts and 4 and form the sides of the axle box with groove for
axle guard as shown in Fig. 2. 5 5 are die blocks fitted to slide vertically in
suitable slots formed in the intermediate part 5 and of a width corresponding to
that of the space formed between the parts 2 and 3 when these are forced apart
laterally. The upper surfaces of these blocks correspond with the interior of the
required axle box at the parts opposite to which they come during the formation of
such axle box. jd is a similar die block fitted to slide vertically within a slot
formed in the intermediate part 5" and adapted to fill the space formed between the
lower parts 1 and 4 when these are forced apart and aid in conjunction with these
parts in forming the bottom of the axle box. 6 is a central or core picce the top
and bottom surfaces 6 and 6" of which are inclined to each other and against which

page_text: the intermediate parts 5, 5" and the die blocks 5° 5° 5d bear so that when it is moved
in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2) (after the parts 5 5ª have been moved in the
direction of the arrow a Fig. 2 into the position shown in Figs. 1 and 2) it will first
cause the die blocks 5° 5° and 5ª to slide vertically in their slots and fill the spaces
between the outer parts 2-3 and 4-1, after which it will separate the intermediate
parts 5, 5, together with the die blocks 5" 5° 5", in a vertical direction and move
the upper outer parts 2 and 3 away from the lower outer parts 1 and 4 and form
the top and bottom of the required axle box. The central or core piece
formed with lateral extensions 6° for the purpose of strengthening it.
may be
The female die or matrix, the interior of which is shaped to correspond with the
exterior of the required axle-box, is made in two parts 7, 7ª connected together at
the bottom by bolts 8 and cotters 9, and at the top by hinged bars 10 and cotters 11,
the arrangement being such that by removing the cotters 9 and 11 and turning
back the hinged bars 10, the two parts 7, 7 of the matrix can be separated to
permit of the withdrawal from between them of the pressed axle box. 12 is a plate
hinged or jointed at one end to one part (7) of the matrix and formed at the other
end with a hook 12" adapted to engage with a pin 13 fixed to the other part (7) of
the matrix. This plate serves to prevent endways movement of the outer parts 1, 2,
3 and 4 of the male die, and of the tube from which an axle box is to be made, but is
formed with an aperture 14 for the passage of the intermediate and central
portions 5, 5 and 6 of such die. 15 is a rectangular slide piece fixed to the upper
outer part 2 of the male die and fitted to slide in grooves in the top of the parts 3
of such male die, and serving in conjunction with a removable inwardly projecting
part 7 in the matrix, to form a recessed spring seat in the top of the axle box
when the intermediate part 5 and outer parts 2 and 3 are pressed upward, as shown
in Figs. 3 and 5. The projecting part 7 is formed with an enlarged upper part 71
that is firmly held upon shoulders 7 in the two parts 7 7 of the female die or matrix
during the pressing operation by a slide block 7' fitted to slide in grooves 7" formed
in the said parts 7, 7".
The intermediate and central portions 5, 5 and 6 of the male die may be caused
to move together or relatively to each other, as may be required from time to time,
to force the outer parts 1, 2, 3 and 4 apart, and also to operate the die blocks 5° 5° 5ª,
by any suitable or convenient means. In the example shown, each of the inter-
mediate parts 5, 5ª is connected to the piston rod 16 of a piston 17 arranged to work
in a hydraulic cylinder 18 the connection being effected by T-shaped pins 19 on
each part 5, 5ª entering corresponding slots in a flange 20 on the piston rod. The
core or central portion 6 is fixed on a rod 21 that is connected to a second piston 22
arranged to work in the said cylinder. The arrangement is such that assuming
both pistons to be near the centre of the cylinder 18 so that the piston 22 is at
about half stroke and the piston 17 at the end of its stroke to the left, corresponding
to the position of the male die shown in Fig. 2, then if water under pressure be
admitted to the left hand side of the piston 22 through a port 23, the two pistons
will move simultaneously to the right and cause the sides of the intermediate or
wedge like parts 5, 5ª to act laterally against the outer parts 1, 2, 3, 4 to form the
sides of the required axle box, fluid at the right hand side of piston 17 escaping at
this time through a port 24; and if water under pressure be admitted through.a
port 25 so as to pass between the pistons after they have completed their motion to
the right, the piston 17 will be caused to remain stationary, whilst the piston 22
will be moved to the left and cause the core 6 to act vertically against the inter-
mediate parts 5, 5, 5, 5, 5d to form the top and bottom of the axle-box. 26 is a
bed plate upon which the matrix and hydraulic cylinder are mounted.
The method of mauufacturing axle-boxes with apparatus of the kind described
is as follows:-
:―
A plate or blank or a rolled section of suitable metal such as wrought iron
or mild steel of convenient thickness, say one quarter of an inch thick is bent
whilst at a suitable temperature (it may be over a block) into a tubular shape

page_text: in a manner well understood, and its adjacent edges welded together so as to
form a tube of suitable shape, as for example into the shape shown in Figs. 6, 7
and 8 in which the tube 27 at that part where the grooves for axle guards are
to be formed, is made of greater cross sectional area than at the remaining
part. A tube 27 thus formed having been heated to a suitable temperature say
to a bright red heat, is placed whilst still heated, over the male die, the part 7 7ª of
the matrix having been first separated to allow this to be done, the intermediate
and central parts 5, 5ª and 6 moved back into the position shown in Fig. 2ª,
and the die blocks 5° 5° and 5" held in place whilst the tube is put in position.
Then the parts 7, 7 are moved together and secured by the bolts 8, bars 10;
cotters 9 and 11 and plate 12, the pistons 17 and 22 are caused to move
simultaneously to the right and into the positions shown in Fig. 1 so as to cause
the intermediate dies 5, 5ª to force the outer parts 1 and 2, away from the outer
parts 3 and 4 and thereby cause the sides of the tube 27, by pressure exerted
from the inside in an outward direction, to assume the shape of the inner side
portions of the matrix, thus forming grooves 28 (Figs. 9) for axle guards in
the two sides of the tube. During this movement of the outer parts of the
male die, the slide piece 15 moves transversely with the outer part 2 to which
it is connected so that its side portions bridge the gap formed between the
parts 2 and 3 when these are forced apart and form with the part 5* of the
intermediate part 5 and the adjacent upper portions of the parts 2 and 3 a
recess in the upper side of the male die to forin a spring seat. When the sides
of the tube have been thus pressed to shape, water under pressure is admitted
between the pistons, as before explained, to cause the central portion or core 6 to
move to the left and first force the die blocks 55° 8d outward into the spaces
between the parts 2-3, and 1-4 until their outer surfaces are flush with the
top and bottom of these parts, and then to also act against the intermediate
parts 5, 5 and move them simultaneously apart so as to force the outer parts 2
and 3 and die blocks 5° 5° away from the outer parts 1 and 4 and die block 5ª and
thereby press the top and bottom of the tube to the required shape, the top being
formed with a depressed spring seat 29 (Figs. 3 and 11). The pistous and attached
parts are then returned to the starting position shown in Fig. 24, slide block 7'
moved back and the projecting part 7° raised out of the spring seat, the parts 7, 7
of the matrix separated from each other, and the axle box removed from the
male die.
The axle box thus pressed to shape is, after the ends have been suitably trimmed
if necessary, ready to receive a liner to form a grease box and also a seat for a
journal brass, an end plate, grease box cover or other attachments as may be
required.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The manufacture of axle boxes in the improved manner hereinabove described
that is to say by converting suitable metal such as mild steel or wrought iron to a
tubular shape of appropriate form and afterwards subjecting the same to pressure
whilst at a suitable temperature between a female die or matrix the interior of
which corresponds with the external form of the required axle box and an
expansible inner or male built up die the exterior of which corresponds with the
internal form of the required axle box substantially as hereinabove described.
2. For the manufacture of axle boxes in the improved manner referred to in the
preceding claim, apparatus constructed arranged and operating substantially as
hereinabove described with reference to the example illustrated in the accompany-
ing drawings and comprisng a female die or matrix the internal form of which
corresponds with the external form of the required axle box, an expansible male die
made in parts capable of being caused to approach towards the inner surface of the

page_text: female die or matrix so as to press a metal tube placed between them to the
required shape of axle box, and means for moving outward the parts of the inner
or male die for the purpose mentioned as set forth.
Dated this 24th day of March 1893.
W. LLOYD WISE,
Per F. J. Brougham,
46, Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.