Improvements in Axle Boxes and Shaft Bearings.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Nov., 1894-Accepted, 15th Dec., 1894
VUMILIE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Axle Boxes and Shaft Bearings.
I, ISBON METZGer, of Winfield in the County of Henry and State of Iowa,
United States of America, Farmer, 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 :-
My invention relates to improvements in journals of axles or shaftings and the
boxing or bearings therefor, and it is more particularly designed as an improvement
on the invention covered by U.S. Letters Patent No. 511,445 granted to me
Dec. 26, 1893, to which reforonce may be had for an understanding of features
common to both devices, not fully described herein.
The primary object of my present invention is to still further reduce the
liability of the oil splashing or running out of the journal box around the shaft
or axle, and at other places, and to prevent the sand and grit from entering
the box.
Another object of my invention is to simplify and improve the means of holding
and adjusting the abutment for limiting the end thrust of the axle or journal.
With these ends in view my invention consists in certain features of novelty in
the construction, combination and arrangement of parts by which the said object
and certain other objects hereinafter appearing are attained, all as hereinafter
described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and more particularly
pointed out in the claims.
In the said drawings,.
Figure 1 is a plan view of a car axle box wheel and journal, showing the upper
half or section of the box removed.
Figure 2 is a longitudinal section thereof taken lengthwise of the axle, the upper
half of the box being in place.
Figure 3 is a plan view of the lower half of the box showing a modified form of
means for holding the abutment in place.
Figure 4 is a detail sectional view taken on the line 4-4 Figure 3.
Figure 5 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view of a part of the box taken
through the door therein, showing the preferred form of means for sealing the
interstice between such door and the edge of the opening.
Figure 6 is a sectional view thereof taken on the line 6-6 Figure 5.
Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6 with the door removed.
Figure 8 is a modified form of journal or axle and a stationary box hereinafter
described, partly in section and partly broken away, and
Figure 9 is a transverse section thereof taken on the line 9-9 Figure 8.
Like signs of reference indicate like parts throughout the several views.
In constructing my axle or journal so as to prevent the oil from working or
splashing out through the axle opening in the box, I proceed upon the principle
that a liquid while on a rotating body will be driven by the centrifugal force to its
largest diameter before entirely leaving it. Hence I provide the axle or shaft at
the opening in the box with a number of conical or flaring flanges which have
their largest diameters arranged nearest the box or oil well so that any oil which
finds its way upon these flanges will be driven by the centrifugal force to the
larger edge of the flange before it drips off'; and in combination with the axle thus
formed I so form the edge of the opening in the box as to catch the oil as it flics
from the larger edge of the flango, and convey it back to the oil well.
Referring now more particularly to Figures 1 and 2, 1 is the lower half and

page_text: 2 the upper half of an ordinary car axle box, which halves are provided at their
inner ends each with one-half of the opening through which the axle or shaft
projects. The lower half of this box constitutes au oil well in which the enlarged
journal 3 dips, as shown in Fig. 2.
That portion of the axle 4 which projects into the box from tlie outer side of
the wheel 5 is formed integrally with or otherwise secured to the enlarged journal
and hetween the enlarged journal 3 and the wheel, it is provided next the wheel
with an enlarged flange 6 which is enclosed by a hood or groove 7 formed in the
upper and lower halves of the box. The purpose of this flange is to arrest the
grit and sand that might otherwise find their way into the box, and to the end that
the groove at the lower side of the box may not retain such grit and sand as
collect upon the upper side of the axle and fall into the groove, the lower half of
the groove is cut away as shown at 8 in Fig. 2, so that the grit carried around by
the axle will be dumped off into the groove and then slide out of the Intter.
Between the flange 6 and the journal 3 the axle is formed with a conical flange 9
whose larger diameter is located on the side next the journal 3; and on either sido
of the flange 9 is formed another flange 10, 11, respectively, which also flare in
the same direction as the flange 9, that is to say, their larger diameters are
arranged on the side next the journal 3. By this means a groove is constituted on
each side of the flange 9 and also a groove or reduced portion 12 is formed between
the inner edge of the flange 10 and the journal 3.
The upper edge of the box immediately over the edge of the flange 10 is provided
with a depending portion whose lower edge is triangular or A-shaped in cross
section so as to form a depending or drip point 13 immediately over the reduced
portion 12 and another drip point 14 between the flauge 9 and the edge of the
flange 10. Thus it will be seen that any oil which might splash upward against the
under side of the portion 12 will be arrested by the abrupt edge of the flange 10
and that portion which is carried up by the flange 10 by the centrifugal force will
be driven against the under side of the said A-shaped portion whence it will drip
from the point 13 back upon the portion 12 and thence rim into the oil well. Any
excess of oil which gets upon the flange 10 and runs towards the flange 9 will be
arrested by the latter, and collecting in the groovo constituted by these two flanges,
will drip off from the under side of the axle onto the incline surface 15 formed in
the lower half of the opening in the box which will lead the oil to a duct 16
extending back into the oil well. The lower inner side of this incline 15 is
bordered by an abrupt wall 17 which stands above the lower edge of the flange 9
so as to prevent the oil from splashing directly up onto the incline 15; and the
upper edge of the wall 17 is also inclined towards the latter immediately under the
larger edge of the flange 10 so as to catch the drippings from such flange and
convey the same back into the well.
Any oil which finds its way to the periphery of the flange 9 will either drip off
onto the incline 15 and run back into the well, or else it will be thrown by
centrifugal force to the larger edge of the flange 9 and if it leaves such edge, will
strike upward against the top of a recess 18 which is A-shaped in cross section and
arranged immediately over the flange 9 so as to constitute a drip point on either
side of such flange, one of such points being the same as the point 14, the other
being indicated at 19. The oil however which flics from the edge of the flange 9
will strike against the inner side of the recess 18 and consequently run down to the
point 14 and drip off onto the flange 10, whence it will either run down upon the
inclines 15 or 17 or else be thrown up and drip off of the drip point 13 back outo
the reduced portion 12 and thence into the oil well.
The upper edge of the opening in the box is also provided immediately over the
larger edgo of the flange 11 with a depending portion whose lower edge is
A-shaped in cross section so as to constitute on the outside, a drip point 20 and on
the inner side an incline surface leading to the drip point 19 which latter is
immediately over the groove constituted by the flanges 9-11. The purpose of the
drip point 10 'it will be seen is to catch any oil which might be thrown upward by

page_text: the flange 11 and drip it off into the groove between such flange and the flange 9
whence it will be cast upon the incline 15 which extends out under the flange 11.
The purpose of the point 20 is more for arresting the passage of grit which might
find its way over the edge of the flange 6 and strike downward towards the groove
between the flanges 9-11, it being observed that the poiut 20 intercepts a straight
line between the edge of the flange 6 and the inner edge of the flange 11. By this
means the grit which finds its way over the edge of the flange 6 will be cast
downward upon the flange 11 and will slip off either through the opening 8 or else
onto the incline 15, and if on the latter it will be washed by the oil back into the
bottom of the oil well where it will not affect the journal.
Arranged above the enlarged journal 3 is a bushing or bearing block 21 whose
upper side is rounded as shown at 21 in Figure 2 in order that the journal may
rock in a vertical plane independently of the box without losing perfect contact
with the bushing. This bushing or block 21 is held in place by means of the
rounded portion 21 fitting in a complementary seat or recess formed in the top of
the box.
23 is the abutment for limiting the end thrust of the journal or axle. This is
preferably made revoluble and "cousists of the enlarged end or head against which
the journal abuts, and a tapering end 24 which is arranged in a conical socket
formed in a cross head 25, the parts being so proportioned that the enlarged head
at the outer end will have a bearing against the side of the cross head while the
conical sides of the portion 24 and the inner end of such portion will bear against
the side and end respectively of the socket in the cross head; thus equally
distributing the friction and reducing the wear. The inner end of the portion 24
is provided with a stem 26 which passes through the cross head and carries a
But 27 whereby the revoluble abutment and cross head are secured together in
such a manner that the former may revolve with the journal. The end of the
enlarged journal 3 is provided with a projection 28 which is of the same diameter
as the opposing end of the abutment 23. The purpose of this is to prevent the
abutment from wearing a cavity in the end of the journal, which, when the journal
makes lateral movements independently, of the box, would strain and probably
damage the parts.
The ends of the cross head 25 are supported upon two blocks or lugs 29 arranged
on opposite sides of the lower half of the box; and such cross head is held up to
its work so as to rigidly resist the end thrust of the axle, by means of two screw
rods 30 which have their heads embedded in the inner end of the box and pass
through the ends of the cross head and carry, on the off-side of the cross head the
nuts 31 by means of which the cross head with its abutment may be adjusted
towards the journal. Ordinarily however, the abutment is so adjusted as to be
normally out of contact with the journal, but in close proximity to it so that the
slightest end thrust will be resisted while the great friction which would result from
continuous contact, is avoided. Located on the rods 30 between the inner end of
the box and the ends of the cross head are coil springs 32 whose purpose is to hold
the abutment normally away from the journal while at the same time permitting tho
abutinent to be adjusted towards the journal by simply manipulating the nuts 31,
the latter being provided with projections 33 which engage with pius 34 for
locking them.
35 is the door-way of the box through which access to the interior of the box
may be had. This door-way is preferably closed by means of the construction
shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7. In this form the edge of the box around the door-
way 35 is provided with a rib or feather 36 which extends around its lower edge
and also its two side edges. The door 37 is preferably constructed of a piece of
sheet metal having a groove complementary in shape to the rib 36, formed in its
lower side so that when the door is in position such groove will receive the rib and
form a tight joint to prevent the escape of oil and introduction of dust. This door
is attached to the box by means of a pivot bolt 38 which passes through its upper
edge and upon which bolt, interposed between the head thoreof and the undor sido

page_text: of the box, is a spring 39 which permits of longitudinal movement of the bolt
while holding it normally inward. This provides for the door 37 being raised at
its lower edge so as to disengage the groove therein with the rib 36 and thereby
permit the door to be turned to one side for uncovering the opening 35. To the
end that the rib 36 may not interfere with this movement of the door the portions
of such rib which are at the sides are tapered towards their upper ends as shown
in Figure 7.
In Figure 3 which shows a modified form for holding the abutment and cross
head, the lower half of the box is provided with a support 40 upon which the
reduced ends 41 of the cross head 25 rest and slide. At each end of each of these
supports 40 is formed a shoulder 42 and between these shoulders and the ends 41 of
the cross head are interposed a number of removable blocks 43-44 which are
preferably of different thicknesses. By this means it will be seen that when it is
desired to adjust the cross head it is only necessary to remove a block from one side
and place it on the other side of the end 41. By making the blocks of different
thicknesses I an enabled to effect the nice adjustment of the cross head by
exchanging the blocks on one side for those on the other.
The ends 41 of the cross head are slightly rounded as shown in Figure 3, and
the blocks 43, 44 are of such thickness as to leave a slight play between them and
the ends of the cross head, whereby the cross head may oscillato on a vertical axis
so that the abutment will remain squarely against the end of the journal notwith-
standing the lateral movement of the latter with reference to the box when
rounding curves.
The blocks 43-44 and cross head are held against vertical displacement by
means of bars 45 placed over them and secured to the shoulders 42; while the
blocks are held against lateral displacement by shoulders 46 on the cross head.
The attachment of the bars 45 is effected by providing one of the shoulders 42
with a boss 47 having a socket as shown in Figure 4, for the introduction of the
end of the bar 45, while the other end of the bar is secured by means of a bolt 48
passing through it and the other shoulder 42.
In the modified form of axle or shaft shown in Figures 8 and 9 the enlarged
journal 3 and the larger ones 9 10 of the conical flanges are formed separately
from the shaft or axle. This may be best done by first shrinking upon the inner
end of the axle 4 a sleeve of suflicient length to constitute both the journal 3* and
the flanges 9 10%. After this is done the sleeve is turned down preferably until
the axle 4 is cut into so as to form a groove 12 botween the edge of the flange 10
and the journal; and the flanges 9" 10" are also formed by turning down the sleeve
as will be understood, the flange 9a ou the outer side being slightly rounded instead
of straight like the edge of the flange 9 before described, for the purpose of giving
greater body to its outer edge and avoiding breakage. The axle or journal on the
outer side of the flauge 9 is then turned down to form the flange 11, and thus
constitute a groove between the latter flange and the flange 9 as shown. The
flange 11 is conical with its larger edge turned towards the journal, and between
the flauge 11 and the exterior of the box is formed an additional flange 6° whose
outer edge borders on a groove 49 into which the sand and grit are caught and
tilted out on the under side, the edge of the box immediately under such groove
being beveled as at 8, so as to avoid catching the grit as it falls; and from the
upper edge of this bevel 8 the edge of the box in the lower half of the opening
is beveled inward and downward so as to convey the oil back into the oil well.
The apex of these two bevels as at 50 however, extends above a straight line drawn
between the lower edge of the flange 6 and the lower edge of the flange 9 so as
to intercept the direct passage of grit and dust into the box. The flauge 6" is of
considerably less diameter than the main portion of the shaft or axle 4 whereby
the shoulder 4 is constituted which overlaps the edge of the opening in the box
and thus intercepts the direct passage of grit into the box over the flange 6º.
The upper edge of the opening over the flange 9 in this form of the invention
may be substantially complementary in shape to the edge of the flauge, but in both

page_text: forms the drip points 14 and 19 are constituted on both sides of the flange. The
edge of the box-opening over the flange 6 in this form is shown as A-shapo in
cross section, the purpose of which is the same as that of the groove or recess 7 in
the form first described.
Also in this form the lower end of the box immediately under the flanges 9" 10"
is provided with an upwardly extending partition or web 17", which rises above the
lower edge of the flange 9, there being an opening corresponding to the duct 16
Figures 1 and 2, formed between the partition 17" and the end of the box for
permitting the oil and grit falling from the flange 9* to descend to the bottom of
the box.
In this form of my invention which is best adapted for stationary shafting, the
described construction or form of box opening and axlo or shaft is duplicated at
the other end of the box as shown in Figure 8.
In the form of box shown in Figures 8 and 9 the lower section or half 51 of the
box is provided with a downwardly curved web 52 which extends from side to side
of the box as shown in Figure 9, and forms a scat for the journal 3*. Surrounding
the journal however is a divided bushing consisting of two parts 53-54. This
bushing provided on its exterior with a circumferential convexed bearing 55,
which is so supported upon the web or seat 52 that the ends of the bushing will be
free to rock up and down and from side to side, to permit of similar motions of the
shaft or axle should they occur, without destroying perfect contact between the
bushing and the journal 3. The convex bearing 55 of the bushing is preferably
located within a ring or band 56 of habbet or other suitable metal, let into the seat
or web 52 and the upper side 57 of the box.
The web 52 is of less length than the distance between the partitions 17" and
hence it will be seen the oil well thus constituted in the bottom of the box extends.
entirely under and around both ends of the journal 3". In order that the oil may
be more freely fed to the journal 3" whose lower edge is submerged in the oil, T
provide an opening 58 leading upward through the web 52 and the bushing so that.
the oil will constantly rise into contact with the journal at an intermediate point,
and in order that it may freely distribute itself throughout the length of the
journal from this point, I form a longitudinal groove 59 in the face of the lower
member 54 of the bushing. The oil may be supplied to the oil well through an
opening 60 closed by a hinged door as shown in Figure 9.
The upper member 53 of the bushing may if desired, be provided with a pin 61
fitting loosely in a cavity in the upper side of the box, to hold such section of the
bushing against nudue movement.
While I have been particular to describe the minute details of construction of the
devices shown, it will nevertheless be understood that I do not limit myself to
the same as they might be omitted or varied at pleasure without departing from
the spirit of my invention.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The herein described means for adjustably holding the abutment of the
journal or axle, substantially as set forth and shown.
2. An axle or shaft having flanges substantially as described in combination
with a box having drip points or flanges arranged in conjunction with the flanges
on said shaft or axle to catch the grit and oil, substantially as set forth and shown.
3. A journal box having an oil well and being of the form substantially as
described, in combination with a shaft or axle having the enlarged journal and the
flanges, substantially as set forth and shown.
4. The herein described improvements for feeding oil to the journal and bearing
of the bushing, substantially as set forth and shown.
5. A journal box having the feeding opening 35 in combination with the door 37
all constructed and arranged substantially as set forth and shown.

page_text: 6. The herein described improvements generally, in journals and boxes or
bearings therefor, substantially as set forth and shown.
Dated this 1st day of November 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.