IMPROVE- MENTS IN AXLES AND AXLE BOXES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Robert Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co.,
Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN AXLES AND AXLE BOXES." A communication from abroad by Josephi
Francis Pray, Daniel Alley Johnson, Benjamin Sweetser Pray, and Wheeler
Beers all of the United States of America."
led the 3rd November 1876, and dated the 18th September 18
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Robert Lako at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 18th September 1876.
WILLIAM ROBERT LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLES AND AXLE BOXES."
A communication from abroad by Joseph Francis Pray, Daniel Alley Johnson,
Benjamin Sweetser Pray, and Wheeler Beers, all of the United States of America.
The said Invention relates to the application of a spring to one end or both ends
or other portion or portions of an axle box, said spring or springs being placed
around the outside or inside of the box or at its end, and confined between a
shoulder and the nut or the collar of the axle, or between two shoulders, so that
rattling of the parts is avoided, and the wear greatly reduced, no washers being
required.
The said Invention also relates to an axle provided with a flange at its inner end
which fits over the end of the axle box and thus prevents the escape of the oil,
precludes the entrance of dust, and relieves the axle in the event of its becoming
cracked at the shoulder.
The said Invention furthermore relates to a sleeve or flange adapted to surround
the spring when placed around the outside of the inner end of the axle box, the
sleeve serving to protect the spring and exclude dirt. And the said Invention also
relates to providing the nut at the outer end of the axle with a flange, which
projects over the outer end of the axle box and serves to exclude dirt and prevent
the escape of the oil.

page_text: Figure 3 illustrates the application of a single spring to the interior of the axlo
box at its outer end.
Figure 4 illustrates the application of a single spring to the interior of the axle
box at its inner end.
Figure 5 illustrates the application of two springs outside the axle box, one at its
inner and one at its outer end.
Figure 6 illustrates a modification of the said Invention herein-after described.
A is the axle, the main portion a of which is square, and the outer portion
circular in cross section, forming a cylindrical journal b whose diameter is less than
the thickness of the square or main portion. At the junction of the inner end of
the journal with the square portion of the axle is a flange c, projecting from the
collar c¹, a socket being thus formed for the reception of the inner end of the cylin-
drical axle box B, which fits snugly therein. The outer end of the journal of the
axle is provided with a screw thread, over which turns a nut C, having a flange d
similar to that at c, which fits snugly over the outer end of the box B, the object
of the flange on the axle and that on the nut being to prevent the escape of the oil
and exclude dirt, each end of the box being provided with a recess e for the reception
of a stiff spiral spring D, which is thus kept in place within the box and serves to
prevent the concussion which would otherwise occur, a shoulder being formed
in each end of the box for the end of the spring to bear against, the recesses c in
the box also serving as chambers for containing the oil or other lubricating material,
and the flanges on the nut and axle also preventing its escape therefrom, while the
compression and expansion of the springs caused by the longitudinal movement
of the box B on its axle force the oil from the chambers and serve to distribute it
evenly over its surface. One of the most important advantages resulting from this
construction is that no washers whatever are required, while at the same time all
concussion and rattling of the parts are avoided, and the wear thus materially
reduced. A spring at one end only of the axle box may be used, as seen in Figures
3 and 4, or a single spring may be applied to the inside of the box at a point
intermediate between the ends thereof. In the event of the axle becoming cracked
at the shoulder the box will bear on the inside of the flange c, thus relieving in a
measure the strain on the axle. In Figure 5 the springs are shown as applied to
the outside of the axle box at both ends thereof, the spring at the inner end being
confined between an external shoulder 7 on the axle box, and the flange c of the
collar of the axle, while the spring at the outer end is confined between an
external shoulder on the axle box, and the nut C at the outer end of the axle.
At the inner end of the axle box is a sleeve or flange n (removable or not), which
fits over the spring on the outside of the inner end of the axle box and over the
flange c of the collar c¹ of the axle, this sleeve serving to exclude dust and preventing
the escape of the lubricating material. Instead of two springs being employed on
the outside of the axle box, as shown in Figure 5, a spring at one end only may
be used; and instead of having two springs applied to the inside or the outside
of the box one spring may be applied at one end to the inside of the box and
another spring to the outside of the box at the other end.
In Figure 6 the spring is represented as confined between two shoulders p, q, on
the interior of the axle box, the outer end of which is made removable for the
admission of the spring, a portion of the inner end of the latter abuts against
a shoulder formed by turning down the outer end of the axle.
Having thus fully described the said Invention as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim--
The application of a spring to one end or both ends or other portion or
portions of an axle box when placed either around the outside or inside of the box,
or at its end, and confined between a shoulder and the nut or the collar of the
axle, or between two shoulders as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
Also in combination with the axle A and axle box B the flange c as above set
forth and for the purpose specified.

page_text: Also the sleeve or flange n in combination with and adapted to surround the
inner end of the axle box B and spring D, as above set forth and for the purpose
specified.
Also the nut C, with its flange d in combination with the axle A, axle box B, and
spring D, as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Robert Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Eighteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six.
TIM DODT T
TV
TIZM ROB LAKE (I.S.)