Improvements in or relating to Axles for Railway or similar Vehicles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 10th Dec., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 17th Aug., 1896-Accepted, 5th Dec., 1896
Improvements in or relating to Axles for Railway or similar
Vehicles.
A communication by DIRK VERSFELD, of Riversdale, in the Colony of Cape of
Good Hope, Solicitor.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON, F.C.S., M.I.M.E. of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester, both in the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham
in the County of Warwick and 31 High Holborn in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to axles for vehicles and embodies certain improvements
in construction hereinafter more particularly set forth.
In carrying the invention into effect, the axle which is preferably constructed of
steel, is divided into two parts in order that one wheel may revolve independently
of the other, but by means of projections to be hereinafter described the two parts
of the axle are held firmly in position and at the same time absolute safety from
falling out is ensured. Going more into detail my correspondent forms the
portions of the axle on which the wheels are fixed either round, square or any other
convenient shape in cross section. If made round, they should be provided with
feathers or projectious to prevent the wheels turning thereon. The usual collars
are formed on the axles to prevent the wheels working inwards, but in this case an
annular groove is cut on the inside of the collars to receive one end of a gun metal
bearing. The divided axle runs in a casing or cylinder which covers these collars,
thereby preventing any dust or sand getting to the bearings. Each half of the
axle is provided at its inner extremity, that is, where the two ends meet, with an
annular groove or recess adapted to engage with projections fitting in the middle
top bearing arranged in the casing or cylinder. These projections have each
a threaded bolt attached to it & passing through the casing to the outside.
By means of these bolts, the projections aforementioned can be made to enter the
grooves or recesses in each half of the axle, thereby holding them firmly in position
while allowing them to rotate, or such projections may be withdrawn by means of
the bolts in order to allow of the removal of either or both parts of the axle.
The casing or cylinder in which the axle revolves is preferably divided
longitudinally into two halves, the upper one of which overlaps the lower one
thereby preventing any dust or sand entering. Suitable lugs or flanges are formed
on each half whereby they are securely held together. The bolts passing through
the end flanges or lugs may take the form of clips which clip the springs of the
vehicle thereby serving the double purpose of holding the spring down onto the
casing and of connecting the upper with the lower half of the cylinder.
Suitable bearings are provided inside the latter, preferably one at each end and
in the centre so that the axle does not touch the outer cylinder, and lubricators
are fixed on the outer cylinder, consequently the friction is reduced to a.
minimum.
To fix the axle, it is first placed in position in the lower half of the outer casing
or cylinder, the other or upper balf is then put on and the bolts or clips passing

page_text: through the lugs on each half cylinder and over the springs of the vehicle are then
screwed up tight, the bolts also which are fixed to the aforementioned projections
are screwed down, causing the latter to enter the grooves or recesses in the inner
ends of each half axle, the axle being then ready for use. It will he necessary that
the cylinder and axle be so constructed that they have a proper bend downwards
as well as forwards in the same manner as the ordinary axle is set.
Dated this 0th day of Drarmhou 1905
improvements in or relating to Axies for kalway or similar
Vehicles.
A communication by DIRK VERSFELD, of Riversdale, in the Colony of Cape of
Good Hope, Solicitor.
I, WILLIAM PHILLIPS THOMPSON F.C.S., M.I.M.E. of The Agency for
Foreign Patent Solicitors, 6 Lord Street, Liverpool, and 6, Bank Street,
Manchester both in the County of Lancaster, 118 New Street, Birmingham,
in the County of Warwick and 322 formerly of 31 High Holborn, in the County
of Middlesex, 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 :-
This invention relates to axles for vehicles and embodies certain improvements
in construction hereinafter more particularly set forth.
In carrying the invention into effect, the axle which is preferably constructed of
steel, is divided into two parts in order that one wheel may revolve independently
of the other, but by means of projections to be hereinafter described the two parts
of the axle are held firmly in position and at the same time absolute safety from
falling out is ensured.
It is best described by the aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is an elevation of an axle made in accordance with my invention ;
Figure 2 a plan of part of same;
Figure 3 a bottom view of same;
Figure 4 a plan showing the top brasses removed.
Figure 5 a plan of one half of the axle ;
Figure 6 a plan of cover of axle.
In these A are the two halves of the axle and a those portions thereof on which
the wheels are fixed which can be made in any usual form, round, square, polygonal
or feathered and either parallel, conical or wedge-shaped. If made circular two
catches a' should protrude so as to prevent the wheel turning independently of the
axle after being wedge fast. B are collars on the axle. The cylinder outer
covering D is formed to cover over the collars B either wholly or partially as shown
so as to keep out dust or sand. In this cylinder D the two halves of the axle A
revolve. It is preferably made of wrought iron or mild steel. The upper half of
the cylinder is made preferably to overlap or be stepped into the lower in order to
prevent the introduction of sand or dust. E E are two grips holding the two
halves of the cylinder together by means of nuts screwed to their lower screwed
portions and the grips passing as shown through the lugs of both halves of the
cylinder. To these grips the springs may be attached. The gun metal or other
bearings Care fixed in the cylinder D in any desired manner. In these bearings C

page_text: the axle A revolves. They are preferably made in a separate piece from the
cylinder so that at any time they can be taken out and replaced when word. F is
a similar gun metal or other bearing in the middle of the cylinder shaped to suit
the ends of the two half axles A which are grooved at 6 to suit the protuberances/
of this bearing. These projecting parts can be made adjustable radially and can
be regulated in their exact position in this bearing by means of screws G, whereby
they can be pressed down into the grooves on axle A and thus wear allowed for.
By means of these screws also the projecting parts can be removed from the
grooves at the end of the bisected axle, and either half removed from the cylinder.
The axle revolves in the bearings C and F and touches the cover at no other point.
Hare iron blocks preferably formed in one with the cylinder, and so constructed
that the springs can properly rest on them, and be fastened down by means of the
grips E, already described. A similar iron block is cast on the cylinder below
and I are two similar lugs on the cylinder for uniting it over the central bearing.
J are oil holes into which any convenient lubricator can be fixed, K ornamental
heads to the axle.
In actual use the heads are first removed, the wheels driven or keyed on to the
axle A, which is then placed in position in the cylinder D and the two halves of
cylinder D bolted together. The springs are placed under the grips C before the
latter are bolted up. Chipping strips can, if desired, be placed along the chamber D
so as to take up wear from time to time. Among the advantages of this arrange-
ment are that the two halves of the axle can be revolved independently of each
other, thus ensuring greater safety round sudden curves and that the bearings are
extremely well covered from grit and dust.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me
by my foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The combination of two half axles to which the wheels are attached, having
collars such as B, and grooves or abutments at their central ends or otherwise, into
which are fitted bearings, and an enclosing cylinder carrying those bearings and
preferably overlapping the collars whereby the dust is prevented from entering.
2. In a built up axle, the arrangement of two half axles with grooves or slotted
collars-fitting corresponding slotted collars or grooves in the bearings, whereby
the gauge is accurately maintained substantially as described.
3. In a combination with a built up axle, the grips E for both holding the parts
of the cylinder together and for holding the springs on to the cylinder, substantially
as described.
Dated this 14th day of August 1896.
WM. P. THOMPSON & Co.,
Agents.