IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY AXLE BOXES AND GUIDES
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Harold Williclm Widmark, of 13, Tamworth
Place, Redland Road, in the City of Bristol, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY AXLE BOXES AND GUIDES."
«
IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY AXLE BOXES AND GUIDES."
Sealed the 25th March 1875, and dated the 16th December 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Harold Wilhelm
Widmark at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
Petition, on the 16th December 1874.
I, HAROLD WILHELM WIDMARK, of 13, Tamworth Place, Redland
Road, in the City of Bristol, do hereby declare the nature of the said
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY AXLE BOXES AND GUIDES," to be
as follows:-
-
This Invention has for its object improvements in railway axle boxes
and guides.
In order that railway wheels may be able to travel truly round curves
the axles setting themselves in the directions of radii to the curves, I

page_text: construct the axle boxes and guides in the following manner :-The
guides fixed to the main frame are bored so that their surfaces form
parts of a cylinder of which the axis is vertical. These guides receive
between them an outer box of corresponding form, which is free to turn
in the guides partly round about its vertical axis, and the guides can
also rise and fall to the play of the springs. Into the outer box an
inner box is fitted; it is able to slide in a direction which is rectilinear
and horizontal, but inclined to the axle of the wheels. The sides of the
passage in the outer box are planed, and serve as guides for the inner
box to work in.
The boxes at the opposite ends of the axle are inclined in opposite
directions, so that when the wheels and axle deviate towards one side in
consequence of the curvature of the road the axle is simultaneously set
in an oblique position, one end being (in relation to the frame) advanced
whilst the other end is drawn back by the inclined forms of the outer
and inner axle boxes.
To give the axle a tendency to come back from its oblique position
when it is not constrained by the curvature of the line the top of the
inner box is formed with a double incline, and the top of the outer box
where it rests upon the inner is of a corresponding form. Radial axle
boxes of this construction are moro readily manufactured than axle
boxes of the same class which have heretofore been employed.
The arrangement may be varied by making the outer axle box to
slide through an oblique opening in the guide fixed to the frame, whilst
the inner box is made with cylindrical surfaces so that, it can partially 2
rotate about a vertical axis within the inner box which is bored to
receive it.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Harold Wilhelm Widmark in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 15th June 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, HAROLD
WILHELM WIDMARK, of 13, Tamworth Place, Redland Road, in the
City of Bristol, send greeting.
8

page_text: and horizontal, but inclined to the axle of the wheels. The sides of the
passage in the outer box are planed and serve as guides for the inner
box to work in.
The boxes at the opposite ends of the axle are inclined in opposite
directions, so that when the wheels and axle deviate towards one side
in consequence of the curvature of the road, the axle is simultaneously
set in an oblique position, one end being (in relation to the frame)
advanced, whilst the other end is drawn back by the inclined forms of
the outer and inner axle boxes.
To give the axle a tendency to come back from its oblique position
when it is not constrained by the curvature of the line, the top of the
inner box is formed with a double incline, and the top of the outer box
where it rests upon the inner is of a corresponding form. Radial axle
boxes of this construction are more readily manufactured than axle
boxes of the same class which have heretofore been employed.
The arrangement may be varied by making the outer axle box to slide
through an oblique opening in the guide fixed to the frame, whilst the
inner box is made with cylindrical surfaces so that it can partially
rotate about a vertical axis within the inner box, which is bored to
receive it.
Figure 1 is an elevation, partly in section, of a radial axle box and
guides constructed according to my Invention; Figure 2 is a horizontal
section; and Figure 3 a transverse vertical section of the same.
a, a, is the main frame, and b, b, are the guides bolted to it on the
inner side. The two guides form parts of the same casting, and at their
lower ends they are braced together by the bar 6'. The guides are bored {
out to a cylindrical form, and they receive between them the outer box c.
Through a passage be formed in the same casting with the guides the
supporting bar passes; it descends from the spring and bears on the
top of the outer box c. c¹ is a bar bracing together the two sides of

page_text: the outer box; d is the inner box, into which the brass journal dis
fitted; in this journal the axle rotates. Beneath the brass a receptacle
for oil is applied and secured by the pins d³, ds. On the top of the
inner box d three double inclines are formed. The central inclines d'
form a hollow on the crown of the box, whilst the outer inclines d³ are
in an opposite direction and form a ridge. e is a piece with similar
inclines upon it; it fits into the outer box, in which it is held im-
moveably; f,f, are oil passages to lubricate the surfaces between which
friction occurs.
Figure 4 shows in plan, partly in section, similar radial axle boxes
fixed outside the main frames a.
The action of the apparatus has already been explained. When in
consequence of a curve in the line of railway over which the wheels run
the wheels deviate from a central position, receding from one of the side
frames a and approaching the other, as is indicated in Figure 4, then
the oblique surfaces of the outer and inner boxes set the axle to an
inclined position in respect to the frame a, and radial to the curve of the
line of railway. The inclines d' and d' always tend to bring the wheels
back to a central position.
Figures 5, 6, and 7 show the modification of the arrangement in
which the inner box has the cylindrical curvature, and the outer box
and guides the oblique surfaces, which serve to throw the axle into an
inclined position.
Figure 5 is an elevation, partly in section; Figure 6 is a transverse
vertical section; and Figure 7 is a horizontal section.
As in the other Figures a is the main frame; b, b¹, b³, are the guides
and parts in connection therewith; c is the outer box; it has upon it
inclines cand e corresponding to the inclines d' and d³ in Figures 1
and 2. These inclines serve to bring back the axle to a central position.
e is a piece with similar inclines upon it. The supporting bar descending
from the spring bears on the top of the piece e, which in this case has
side flanges embracing the upper part. of the guide frame b. d is the
inner box with brass d'; and № is the receptacle beneath the axle. The
inner box d is able to turn within the outer box c, and the outer box
moves both vertically and obliquely in its guides b; f, f, are oil
passages.

page_text: What I claim is, the construction of railway axle boxes and guides
substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Harold Wilhelm Widmark, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Twelfth day of June, in
the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
five.