An Improved Axle Cap for Road Vehicles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Feb., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 6th Nov., 1894-Accepted, 8th Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Axle Cap for Road Vehicles.
I, JOHN DAY, of Ecilamy Lodge, Whitta Road, Manor Park, in the County of
Essex, Butcher, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention has for its object to provide a means whereby the axle of the
vehicle may be lubricated from time to time without the need of removing the cap
for that purpose, and I attain the said object by constructing a cap in such a
manner that the lubricant is passed through an aperture in the face thereof while
the said cap remains upon the axle, and I cover or otherwise close the said
aperture to keep out dust and dirt, and prevent the escape of the lubricant, in one
or the other of the manners hereinafter provided.
According to one method of carrying my invention into effect, I provide of any
suitable metal or alloy of metals, an axle cap of the usual external formation, and
capable of being screwed upon the axle in the way of such caps generally, the
front or outside face of which is plane, and in this I form a circular recess, and fit
within the said recess a circular metallic or other disc capable of being rotated
therein, for which purpose a grove may be formed in the said disc for the reception
of a screw driver or its equivalent, or a finger hold may be formed thereon for the
same purpose. The said disc has upon the centre of its back face a projecting pin,
which passes through a hole in the centre of the face of the cap, this forming the
pivot upon which the said disc rotates, and upon the said pin, within the cap, I
provide a suitable spring, the tension of which operates in keeping the disc closely
seated within its recess, a pin, nut or any suitable equivalent therefor, passed
through, screwed, upon, or otherwise connected to, the free end of said pin, may
serve to regulate the tension of the spring and retain the disc in position. A hole is
formed in any convenient part of the said disc, and a corresponding hole in the
face of the cap, and if the disc be rotated until these two holes are opposite each
other, the oil or other lubricant used, may be passed therethrough to the inside of
the cap, without removing the cap from the axle, and when this has been effected
the disc may be again rotated until the hole in the cap is covered thereby, the
spring before mentioned keeping the disc in this position until the wheel need
lubricating again, and I may, if desirable, provide a suitable cover capable of being
screwed or otherwise fixed upon the said cap, covering and hiding the said disc.
As a second or alternative method I may employ a semicircular disc in lieu of
the said circular disc, which may be mounted upon a similar pin or pivot, and
retained upon the cap in like manner, and the lubricating hole in the face of the
cap would be covered and uncovered by the said semicircular disc, when this, and
its spindle, was partly rotated, which, may be effected by the same means as that
provided for the circular disc in the previous method, and a like cover may be used
for enclosing the same.
As a third or alternative method I may provide a rectangular recess in the face
of the axle cap of dovetail form in cross section, and extending from the axial
centre thereof to the outer edge, the lubricating hole in the cap being within the
aid recess, and a metallic plate would be provided capable of sliding into the said
ecess and covering the lubricating hole, which may be retained in this position by
screw, pin, clip, or any suitable equivalent therefor. The same cover may also
c used with this device if necessary or desirable.

page_text: A fourth method consists in forming a hole in the centre of the face of the cap
preferably countersunk upon its inner end, and seated air tight in this, I may
provide a ball, pad or plug, which closes the said hole by the tension of a suitable
spring, and to lubricate the wheel, the said plug, ball, or pad, would be pushed
inwardly against the tension of the spring, by the insertion of the nose of the oil
can employed, upon the removal of which the said pad, ball, or plug, would
automatically again close the hole. The cover mentioned in the previous methods
may also be employed in this.
Dated this 6th day of February 1894.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
4, Moorfields, Fore Street, London, E.C., Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
An Improved Axle Cap for Road Vehicles.
1, JOHN DAY of Ecilamy Lodge, Whitta Road, Manor Park, in the County of
Essex, Butcher. 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 consists of a new or improved axle cap for road vehicles, and has
for its object to provide a means whereby the axle of a vehicle may be lubricated
from time to time without the need of removing the cap for that purpose, and I
attain the said object by constructing, of any suitable metal or combination of
metals, an axle cap, in such a manner, that the lubricant is passed through an
aperture in the face thereof while still in position upon the axle, and when sufficient
lubrication has by this means been deposited within the cap, Í cover or otherwise
close the said aperture, to keep out dust and dirt, and to prevent the escape of the
said lubricant, by one or the other of the methods and means hereinafter fully
described.
For the purpose of making my invention fully understood I have hereunto
appended a sheet of drawings, in which the same reference letters are used
throughout when referring to the same or like parts.
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved cap showing one method of con-
structing the same according to my invention, in which the lubricating aperture is
arranged to be covered and uncovered by a circular or other disc, capable of whole
or part rotation. In this view the said disc or part disc is removed.
Figs. 2 and 3 are front and side elevation respectively of a whole disc, while
Figs. 4 and 5 are like views of a part disc, adapted for use with Fig. 1.
Figs. 6 and 7 are vertical cross sections of my said cap, the former showing the
lubricating aperture open or uncovered, the latter showing the same closed or
covered, in both cases employing the whole disc Fig. 2.
Figs. 8 and 9 are front elevations of my improved cap illustrating a second
manner of constructing the same.
Figs. 10 and 11 are front elevation and vertical section respectively of another
method of construction.
Figs. 12 and 13 are front and side elevations respectively of another method,
while Figs. 14 and 15 are inner elevation and vertical cross section respectively of
a cover may employ in connection with either of the caps shewn but more
especially Figs. 12 and 13.
According to one method of carrying my invention into effect, I construct a cap
of the usual external formation, and capable of being screwed upon the box of the
wheel in the usual way, and shewn by A in Fig. 1, in the front or face of which I
form a circular recess B, which receives a circular metallic or other disc C (Figs. 2
and 3) capable of being rotated therein, for which purpose a groove or slot D may

page_text: be formed in the face thereof for the reception of a screw driver or its equivalent,
(which may be the edge of a small coin). Upon the centre of the back face of C
is fixed, or formed integrally therewith a projecting pin or stud E, which passes
through a hole F in the centre of the face of A, this forming the pivot upon
which C rotates, and upon the said projection E, within the cap A, I provide a
suitable spring, such as G, (Figs. 6 and 7) the ends of which abut against the
inner surface of the face of A, while its centre is retained in position upon the
reduced end E of E, by the means of nuts H H' screwed upon E' as at Fig. 6 if
this be threaded for the reception of these as at Fig. 3, and by which the tension
of G may be regulated, or the same fixation and adjustment of G may be effected
by forming holes J in E¹ as at Fig. 5, and passing through either of these a split
or other pin Kas at Fig. 7, or a split ring may be used in lieu of K. By this means
the disc C is kept closely seated in the recess B and pressing closely, and fluid
tight against the face of same.
A hole L is formed in any convenient part of the disc C, preferably in the
position shewn by Fig. 2, and a corresponding hole M in the face of A, and if the
disc C be rotated until the holes L and M are opposite each other as at Fig. 6,
the oil or other lubricant used may be passed through these to the inside of A,
without removing A from the wheel, and when this has been effected the disc C
may be partly rotated until the hole M in A is covered by the solid portion of C,
as shewn at Fig. 7, the tension of the spring & operating to keep C in this latter
position until the wheel needs lubricating again.
As an alternative method, I may, in lieu of a whole disc C, employ a half or
semicircular disc C as at Figs. 4 and 5, and the partial rotation of this may be
employed for covering and uncovering the lubricating hole M in A in like manner.
In Figs. 4 and 5 I illustrate the manner in which I may form upon the face of C
or C a finger hold O, in lieu of the slit or groove D previously mentioned.
In Figs. 8 and 9 I illustrate another method of constructing the said axle cap A,
according to which, and for the purposes of my invention, I locate the lubricating
hole M in the centre of the face of A, and arrange that this may be covered (as
at Fig. 8) and uncovered (as at Fig. 9) by a rectangular or other plate P, which
slides in a dovetailed recess R, formed in the face of A, and to facilitate the
raising and lowering or sliding of P in R, I may provide in the former a suitable
recess such as P', or the slot or groove D, or the finger hold O previously
mentioned, and P may be retained in its closed position as at Fig. 8, by a screw
or the like P, as therein shewn, or by a pin, clip or any suitable equivalent
therefor.
Or as a further modification, and when the lubricating hole M is located centrally
in the face of A as at Fig. 10, I may countersink this upon the inner end, and seat
fluid tight therein a ball, pad or plug S, capable of closing the inner end of M by
the tension of a suitable spring Gas at Fig. 11, and to lubricate the wheel, the
said portion S would be pushed inwardly against the tension of the spring G', by
the insertion into M of the nose or spout of the oil can employed, upon the
removal of which the spring G¹ would force the portion S against, and close up to
the inner end of, the hole M as shewn.
I have previously stated in my Provisional Specification, that I may employ a
cover or cap capable of being screwed or otherwise fixed upon the face of the said
axle cap
A in either or all of the methods of construction hereinbefore described,
and although I may omit the use of such in the methods of construction shewn by
Figs. 1 to 9, I prefer to use it in the method of constructing the cap A shewn by
Figs. 10 and 11, and when this is employed 1 prefer to remove a certain portion of
the periphery of the face of A, in order that the outer periphery of the said cover
may be flush with the outer surface of A. Such a cover is shewn in position
upon A by dotted outline in Fig. 11, which as before stated may be screwed or
otherwise fixed thereon. As a means of fixing the said cap upon A other than by
screwing, I form in the outer periphery of the face of A., an annular groove T as

page_text: at Fig. 13, the depth of which is also shewn by dotted outline in Fig. 12, and
extending from the said groove into the face of A. are two slots or openings V
and V, and at the left or right hand side of these (preferably the former) a
blockage is provided in the groove T, as shewn by W in Fig. 13, and in the dotted
outline of T in Fig. 12. The cap or cover XI prefer to construct as at Figs. 14
and 15, provided upon the inner surface of its rim with a pair of projections a a¹,
and centrally of its inner face with a pin or stud b surrounded by a resilient
washer c.
In placing the cover ✗ in position upon A, the projections a a' of the former
would engage with and freely pass through the openings V and V¹ in the
latter, and enter the groove T, when, if one half turn to the right be then
given to X, the projections a a¹ will pass around T until they abut against the
stops W, and if the groove T be slightly narrowed at this part, so as to bite
the projections a a', this will be sufficient to retain the cap X in position, but
a screw pin or clip may be used in addition for this purpose. When the cap X
is in position upon A, the pin of this would enter the lubricating hole M
of A, and its resilient washer cabut against the face of same as a further
precaution against leakage of the lubricant.
It will now be understood that by either of the methods of constructing an
axle cap according to my invention, the axle may be quickly and easily lubri-
cated without removing the cap, thus dispensing with the need of a coachman
or carman always carrying a spanner for removing the cap, should the axle
need lubricating, as hitherto.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is.
1st. As a means for lubricating the axles of vehicle wheels, without removing
the axle cap therefor, the employment of an axle cap constructed in either of the
manners herein set forth, or any desired combination thereof, substantially as
described and shown.
2nd. In an improved axle cap, the combination of a cap A, having upon its
outer face a circular recess B, and lubricating aperture M, and centrally a hole F
for the reception of the stud E, of a circular disc C, or half disc C', the former
capable of occupying the whole, and the latter one half of the recess B, when
retained therein by a suitable spring G, connected by nuts H H or pius K,
upon E of the stud E, and provided with a slot D, or thumb hold O, by which
either may be rotated when in B, so as to cover and uncover the aperture M, for
which latter purpose a hole L is provided in the disc C, connected and operating
with or without a cover X, substantially as and for the purposes herein described
and shewn by Figs 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings.
3rd. In an improved axle cap, the combination of a cap A, provided with a
central lubricating aperture M, arranged to be covered and uncovered by a
plate P, sliding within a dovetailed recess R in the face of A with or without
a cover X substantially as and for the purposes herein described and shewn by
Figs. 8 and 9 of the accompanying drawings.
4th. In an improved axle cap, the combination of a cap A, provided with a
central lubricating aperture M, capable of being closed by a ball, plug or pad S,
operated by the tension of a spring such as G', with or without a cover such as X,
substantially as and for the purposes herein described and shown by Figs. 10
and 11 of the accompanying drawings.
5th. In an improved axle cap, the combination of a cap A, provided with a
central lubricating aperture M, and having upon its outer periphery an annular
groove T, with stops or blocks W, and openings V V₁, the latter for receiving
projections a a¹ of a cap or cover X, before entering the groove T and engaging
with the stops W, by which the cap X is retained upon A, covering and closing

page_text: the aperture M, by means of a stud b, and resilient washer c, substantially as and
for the purposes herein described and shewn by Figs. 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the
accompanying drawings.
Dated this 6th day of November 1894.
GEO. THOS. HYDE,
1, Broad Street Buildings, Liverpool Street, London, E.C.,
Agent for the Applicant.