Improvements in the Means of Lubricating Axle, Shaft, and other Bearings, and in the Construction of the Journals
Year: 1884

page_text: Improvements in the Means of Lubricating Axle, Shaft, and
other Bearings, and in the Construction of the Journals
I THOMAS FREEMAN NOTT FINCH of Sidbury Works, Worcester in the County
of Worcester, Button Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my Invention
for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF LUBRICATING AXLE, SHAFT, AND OTHER
BEARINGS, AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE JOURNALS AND AXLES FOR
EFFECTING THE SAME" to be as follows:-
The objects of this Invention are to provide improved means of lubricating the
axles and boxes of wheels of vehicles of all kinds; the journals and bearings of
shafting and spindles of all kinds of machinery, and to reduce the consumption of
oil or other lubricant, and also to reduce the friction and consequent wear and tear.
My Invention consists essentially in providing receptacles or spaces for the oil,
and retaining the oil therein with little or no waste.
In using the word "oil" in this Specification it is intended to include other
lubricants.
In applying my Invention to the wheels of carriages, I enlarge the hole where
the arm of the axle enters the box to any convenient size, and 6ix a thick collar, upon
the arm to fit this enlarged cavity to half the depth of the cavity or thereabouts
leaving a space behind this collar for an oil chamber. The outer end of the arm is
also enlarged by having a thick collar formed thereupon. This collar is made with
holes running longitudinally through the same, to allow the charge of oil to pass
freely from the front to the back chamber. Between the front and back collars the
arm is of smaller diameter than the box, and this allows the oil to have access to
the back chamber. The hole in front of the box is only for convenience in
lubricating the same, which can be effected with great facility. The hole at the
end is plugged with an ornamental brass cap, or other suitable means of stopping
the same.
The shoulder end of the arm is hollowed out to form a second oil
chamber and butts against a shoulder provided at a short distance from the end of
the box. When necessary for providing additional strength and bearing surface,
I provide a third collar midway between the front and back collars before
described.

page_text: To prevent noise and exclude dust and confine the oil, box leathers are provided
as washers and held in position by metal flanges or otherwise.
In applying my Invention to journals and spindles of machinery I form an oil
chamber in the plummer block, and enlarge the central portion of the journal,
which enlargement enters a portion of the oil chamber, and thereby carries round
therewith a sufficient quantity of oil to lubricate the journal or bearing.
I do not confine myself to two or three collars, as in some cases, it may be
advantageous to increase their number, and also the number of pockets or other
receptacles for the oil.

page_text: I THOMAS FREEMAN NOTT FINCH of Sidbury Works Worcester in the County
of Worcester, Button Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature of my said
Invention for IMPROVEMENTS IN THE MEANS OF LUBRICATING AXLE SHAFT
AND OTHER BEARINGS AND IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE JOURNALS AND AXLES
FOR EFFECTING THE SAME and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
The object of this Invention is to provide means of lubricating axles and boxes
of wheels of vehicles of all descriptions; to reduce the consumption of oil or other
lubricants; to strengthen those parts of axles where strength is most needed,
thereby rendering such axles less liable to break; to give greater steadiness and
stability to the wheels in their action; to prevent oscillation or rocking of the
wheel through wearing away of the axle and box at the back of the same, and
consequently preserving the framework of the vehicle from premature destruction;
to afford a more expeditious means of lubricating the same, and also a means of
preventing the wear of the leather at the base of the hub by a screwed plug fixed
in the front of the box, which is screwed up against the end of the axle, thus
forcing the collar at the back of the axle up against the leather washer underneath
the back plate, which secures the axle to the wheel; and to prevent noise by the
action of the wheel by providing leather or other washers at the back and front or
ends of the box and bearings.
In carrying out my Invention I enlarge the back end of the axle box to any
convenient size, and fix a collar to the back end of the axle arm to fit this enlarged.
cavity in the box, hollowing out or cutting away the one side of this collar to form
a vessel for the lubricant. In some cases the collar is not hollowed out but so
shaped as to only partially fill up the recess in the box the remaining space being
left for the oil-A similar collar, but smaller is also fixed at or near the end of
the axle. Sometimes I fix other collars between these collars when extra strength
is needed.
The axle box at the smaller end is so formed as to provide a vessel for the
lubricant, a hole being cut in the same for the reception of a screwed plug or pin.
In the end of this plug a recess is formed for the reception of a pellett, either of
leather or any suitable material, which plug being screwed into its position forces
the pellett in the end of the plug up against the end of the axle and by this action
the collar at the back of the axle is forced against the leather washer at the base
of the hub or nave of the wheel.
In order to allow the oil to pass freely from the front of the box to the back,
semicircular holes or grooves are cut longitudinally in the collars of the axle, the
oil being easily applied by means of an ordinary oil can.
On the end of the plug is fixed the usual metal cap, which is so shaped as to
form a lock nut.
To the various axles, now in use this improved axle box may be applied, and
many of the above named advantages can be secured by means of the oil vessel
being in the end of the axle box, in preference to being in the cap, besides affording
a ready means of oiling without the necessity of removing the screws at the back
of the wheel. Also the plug in the end of the axle box with its leather pellett
in the end affords a complete and ready means of keeping the axle up against the
back washer-Thus the wheel running between two leather washers becomes
absolutely noiseless in practice.-By the use of this Invention wheels will continue
to run without re-oiling a much greater length of time than those fitted as at
present.

page_text: And in order that my said Invention may be more clearly understood, reference
is hereby made to the accompanying Drawings, in which similar letters of reference
indicate corresponding parts.
Fig. 1 is a section of my improved axle and box, and Fig. 2. is a plan view of
the arm and a portion of the axle with the spring plate attached thereto.
a is the ordinary hub of the wheel,-b is the arm of the axle, which is provided
with oil spaces cc, where the oil is retained, and is carried round by the rotation
of the box. Semi-circular or V channels c¹ c¹ are provided to enable the oil to
circulate and gain access to the whole of the parts requiring lubrication. d is a
metallic disc which is sunk into the back end of the hub, as shewn in section in
Fig. 1 and a back face view of which is shewn in Fig. 3. Bolts e e are inserted,
with square heads e¹ and nuts e² to retain the disc in position. f is the metallic
box, which is formed as shewn the front end being cut with an internal thread at n
to receive the screw plúg g and having a shoulder at f' against which the dished or
cupped flange b¹ is held.-g is a screwed plug with a key hole g¹ and cupped end g²
for holding the leather washer g3 (shaded black in Fig. 1). h is a nut which is
screwed on to g and acts as a lock nut. ¹ is a thin leather washer. is a thick
leather washer and d² is a cylindrical washer. These washers are for the purposes
of keeping out dust, retaining the oil, and preventing vibration-k k are holes to
receive the bolts k¹ (Fig. 2), which pass through the spring plate -This
spring plate is provided with vertical cheeks, m'm, which embrace the two sides
of the axle, and keep the plate firinly in position.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I would observe that
although I have in my Provisional Specification, described the application of my
Invention to journals and spindles of machinery, I hereby disclaim such application,
and I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The application to arms of axles of any suitable number of recesses c, c and
channels c c acting as receptacles for oil substantially as described and
shewn on the Drawings.
2. The special form of axle box f, shoulder f¹ and screwed end n herein before
described and shewn on the Drawings or any mere modification thereof.
3. The use and application of the leather discs and washers g³ and d² substantially
as and for the purposes herein before described and shewn on the Drawings.
4. The general combination and arrangement of the several and respective parts,
together forming my improvements in the means of lubricating axle bearings
substantially as herein before described and shewn on the Drawings.
Dated the 7th day of snout 7001