An Improved Method of Fitting Wheels on Axles for the Better Lubrication thereof, specially applicable to Colliery Trams.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Apr., 1890
Complete Specification Left, 16th Jan., 1891-Accepted, 21st Feb., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Fitting Wheels on Axles for the Better
Lubrication thereof, specially applicable to Colliery Trams.
We, WILLIAM PRICHARD, of Blaenclydach House, Clydach Vale, in the
County of Glamorgan, Mining Engineer, JOHN SNAPE, of Ashfurlong House,
Pontypridd, in the County of Glamorgan, Mining and Mechanical Engineer, and
THOMAS SHERRATT, of 4, Howard Terrace, Clydach Vale, aforesaid; Mechanical
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention consists in an improved method of fitting wheels on axles and is
designed to improve lubrication. It is specially applicable to the wheels and axles
of colliery trams and like vehicles.
According to this invention the axle, which is plain throughout, that is to say,
has no shoulders or collars, carries towards its outer end a cotter or flat arm which
is driven through a slot in the axle and projects beyond the periphery thereof to an
approximately equal extent at both ends.
This cotter or agitator is contained within an annular recess formed in the hub of
At the outer end the
the wheel for the reception of oil, grease or other lubricant.
hub is closed. When the axle with its lubricant agitator has been inserted in the
hub, the inner end of the latter is closed by a gland embracing the axle.
The body of this gland projects into the hub and the flange of the gland is bolted
to the inner end of the hub or to a flange or lugs provided thereon. The outer end
of the body of the gland closes the lubricant recess at the inner end and by bearing
against the cotter or flat arm prevents inward withdrawal of the axle.
As the axle rotates within the hub the lubricant is carried round about the
periphery of the axle by the ends of the flat arm passed, as aforesaid, through
the axle.
Consequently, the wheel and axle are more efficiently lubricated. The oil or
other lubricant is supplied to the annular recess in the hub either through a suitable
cup and orifice, or by removing the gland aforesaid.
11
A: 1900
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol Bank Buildings, Bristol, Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Method of Fitting Wheels on Axles for the Better
Lubrication thereof, specially applicable to Colliery Trams.
We, WILLIAM PRICHARD, of Blaenclydach House, Clydach Vale, in the
County of Glamorgan, Mining Engineer, JOHN SNAPE, of Ashfurlong House,
Pontypridd, in the County of Glamorgan, Mining and Mechanical Engineer, and
THOMAS SHERRATT, of 4, Howard Terrace, Clydach Vale, aforesaid, Mechanical
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 :-
This invention consists in an improved method of fitting wheels on axles and is
designed to improve lubrication. It is specially applicable to the wheels and axles
of colliery trams and like vehicles.
According to this invention the axle, which is plain throughout, that is to say,
has no shoulders or collars, carries towards its outer end a cotter or flat arm which
is driven through a slot in the axle and projects beyond the periphery thereof to a
approximately equal extent at both ends. This cotter or agitator is contained

page_text: within an annular recess formed in the hub of the wheel for the reception of oil.
grease or other lubricant. At the outer end the hub is closed. When the axle
with its lubricant agitator has been inserted in the hub, the inner end of the latter
is closed by a gland embracing the axle. The body of this gland projects into the
hub and the flange of the gland is bolted to the inner end of the hub or to a flange
or lugs provided thereon. The outer end of the body of the gland closes the
lubricant recess at the inner end and by bearing against the cotter or flat arm pre-
vents inward withdrawal of the axle. As the axle rotates within the hub the
lubricant is carried round about the periphery of the axle by the ends of the flat
arm passed, as aforesaid, through the axle.
Consequently, the wheel and axle are more efficiently lubricated. The oil or
other lubricant is supplied to the annular recess in the hub either through a suitable
cup and orifice, or by removing the gland aforesaid.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 represents a vertical section of a wheel for colliery trams constructed and
fitted on the axle in accordance with this invention.
Fig. 2 is an end view of one half of the wheel.
In the axle a, which is devoid of collars, is a slot into which is passed a cotter or
flat arm behind the gland e. The gland and cotter are applied to the axle before
it is passed into the lubricating chamber d in the hub of the wheel e.
After the
axle has been inserted in the wheel the gland c is bolted or rivetted to the flange el
of the wheel. The inner end of the axle a is received in a socket f formed in the
hub of the wheel. It will be seen that as the cotter or flat arm bis carried round
by the axle it agitates and so distributes the lubricant which may consist of grease,
oil or the like. The cotter or flat arm is prevented from leaving the slot into
The
which it is passed by pins g inserted in it and bearing against the axle a.
gland c receives most of the wear due to the rotation of the axle and when it is
required to remove the gland the bolts or rivets by which it is secured to the
flange e are loosened and the axle is then withdrawn and the cotter temporarily
removed.
The worn gland is then taken off and a fresh gland having been slid on the axle
the cotter is replaced and the axle again inserted in the hub. The gland is then
bolted to the hub.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is
=
Fixing. wheels to axles, more particularly in colliery trams, by means of a cotter
or flat arm such as passed through the axle behind a gland such as e bolted or
otherwise secured to the hub of the wheel, the hub being made in one piece with
the wheel and hollowed to form a chamber for the lubricant and furnished with a
socket such as to receive the inner end of the axle, substantially as hereinbefore
described and shown in the accompanying drawing.
Dated this 15th day of January 1901
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol Bank Buildings, Bristol, Agent.