IMPROVED ABUTMENTS OR SUPPORTS FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE ORDINARY CASTORS USED IN FURNITURE AND OTHER ARTICLES, AND FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WHEELS AND AXLES OF THE CASTORS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO THE WHEELS AND AXLES OF WHEELBARROWS, TRAM CARS, AND OTHER VEHICLES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Reilly, of the Pomona Palace, Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, for the Invention of IMPROVED ABUTMENTS OR
SUPPORTS FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE ORDINARY CASTORS USED IN
FURNITURE AND OTHER ARTICLES, AND FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN THE WHEELS
AND AXLES OF THE CASTORS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE
TO THE WHEELS AND AXLES OF WHEELBARROWS, TRAM CARS, AND OTHER
VEHICLES."
Sealed the 18th April 1879, and dated the 23rd October 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Reilly at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd October 1878.
JAMES REILLY, of the Pomona Palace, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVED ABUTMENTS OR SUPPORTS FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE ORDINARY
CASTORS USED IN FURNITURE AND OTHER ARTICLES, AND FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE WHEELS AND AXLES OF THE CASTORS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO
APPLICABLE TO THE WHEELS AND AXLES OF WHEELBARROWS, TRAM CARS, AND
OTHER VEHICLES."
The object of the first part of my Invention is to prevent the breakage which
frequently occurs with the ordinary castor, and for this purpose I add to the castor
a foot or roller having its bottom end slightly above the floor when there is not
more than the average weight on the article but rests on the floor when there is
an overweight, and to insure stability I make the vertical centre of the foot or
roller in line with the axis of the bearing on which the bracket of the castor works,
thereby relieving the castor from the extra weight.
My improvements in connection with the wheels and axles consist in forming
recesses in the bosses of the wheels when they run loose on the axles and forming

page_text: projections on the axles, and also in forming recesses in the bearings and projections
on the axles when the wheels are fixed to the axles, the projections in both cases
being in the interiors of the recesses which contain oil or other lubricating matter
for self-lubrication, and when or where required the wheels are formed of two or
more pieces.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said James Reilly in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 23rd April
1879.
JAMES REILLY, of the Pomona Palace, Manchester, in the County of Lancaster.
"IMPROVED ABUTMENTS OR SUPPORTS FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE ORDINARY
CASTORS USED IN FURNITURE AND OTHER ARTICLES, AND FOR IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE WHEELS AND AXLES OF THE CASTORS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
APPLICABLE TO THE WHEELS AND AXLES OF WHEELBARROWS, TRAM CARS, AND
OTHER VEHICLES."
ALSO
The object of the first part of my Invention is to prevent the breakage which
frequently occurs with the ordinary castors, and for this purpose I add to the castor
a foot or roller, having its bottom cud very slightly above the floor when there is
not more than the average weight, but which rests on the floor when there is an
overweight, and to ensure stability I make the vertical centre of the foot or roller
in line with the axis of the pin or bearing on which the swivel and carrier arms of
the castor work, thereby relieving the castor from the extra weight.
My improvements in connection with the wheels and axles consist in forming
projecting bearings on the axles and recesses in the bosses of the wheels when they
run loose on the axles, and also in forming recesses in the bearings and projections
on the axles when. the wheels are fixed to the axles; the projections in both cases
having at their sides recesses or cisterns which contain oil or other lubricating
matter for self-lubrication, and when or where required the wheels are formed of
two or more pieces.
In order that my improvements may be clearly understood I give the following
particular description thereof, reference being had to the Figures on the accom-
panying two Sheets of Drawings and to the letters of reference inarked thereon,
and the Figures from 1 to 30 in Sheets 1 and 2 represent various forms and
arrangements of castors, each provided with a foot or roller, having its vertical
centre in line with the axis of the pin or bearing on which the swivel, carrier arms,
and roller work. In all the Figures of the castors a represents the socket or plate
used for fastening the castor to the leg of the chair, sofa, table, or other article;
b, the swivel and carrier arms; c, the ordinary runner or roller; d, the pin or
bearing on which the swivel works; e, the foot; and f, the roller used for sup-
porting any extra weight or strain to which the castor may be subjected, the
roller c working on a pin g rivetted to extended parts of the carrier arms b.

page_text: The external view, Fig. 1, and sections, Figs. 2 and 3, represent a castor in which
the support or abutment is the roller f, and in Figs. 4, 5, 6, and 7, the abutment
consists of the foot e, which is placed on the pin or bearing d and rivetted at the
bottom. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 represent arrangements in which the pin or bearing on
which the swivel and carrier arms work is fitted to and works in a socket / cast to
the plate a, the bearing pin d in Figs. 7 and 8 being kept in its place by the
entrance of the end of a small pin i into the groove k, or by allowing the end of
the pin to pass through the socket and be so rivetted to the washer 1 that the
swivel and parts connected with it can turn easily and steadily on the pin d.
Figs. 10, 11, and 12 are views of my improved castors suitable for bedsteads,
tables, sofas, or other large articles, the pins or bearings & on which the swivel and
carrier arms work being surmounted by larger parts m, which are fitted into the
legs and held by pins driven through holes n, the castor being also held to the
leg by screws passed through holes in the plate or socket a when desired.
Fig. 13 is a section, and Fig. 14 an outside view of a large castor, in which the
bearing for the swivel and carrier arms, the plate a and the foot e, are all cast in one
piece of malleable cast iron or other metal, and the swivel and carrier arms are
formed of two parts rivetted together.
Figs. 15 and 16 represent my improvements applied to the legs of metallic
bedsteads, the swivel and carrier arms in Fig. 15 working on a pin or bearing cast
in the leg, and having at the bottom an abutment or foot e rivetted or screwed to
the pin; and in Fig. 16 the swivel and carrier arms work on a pin or bearing
screwed into the leg, the head of the screw forming the abutment, foot, or support.
Fig. 17 is a section of a castor, having an abutment or foot so rivetted to the socket
that the swivel and carrier arms can turn upon it easily and steadily between the
socket and foot. Figs. 18 and 19 are views of a smaller castor, having a socket
bearing and foot made in one piece of cast metal, the swivel and carrier arms being
formed of two pieces rivetted or screwed together.
Figs. 20, 21, and 22 are views of other castors provided with my improved
abutments or supports, the foot in Fig. 20 being cast with the swivel and carrier
arms which work on a pin having an upper and larger part placed in a hole bored
in the leg of the chair or other article, and kept fast by pins passing through
holes n.
In Fig. 21 the abutment is the head of a pin or bearing rivetted to the
socket, and in Fig. 22 the abutment consists of a washer rivetted to the pin, the
upper part of which is entered into a hole in the leg of the chair or other article
and held by pins.
In
Figs. 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, and 30 are views of what may be called spring
castors provided with my improved abutments or supports, there being in Fig. 23 a
thick washer o of vulcanized india-rubber enclosed in a recess in the foot e. In
Fig. 24 a similar washer o is enclosed in a recess at the bottom of the socket.
Fig. 25 there is a strong spiral or helical spring p in the foot e. In Fig. 26 the
swivel and carrier arms are made of spring metal, so that the arms can be strong
and at the same time yield to an extra weight or strain. In Figs. 27 and 28 there
is in each a strong steel spring coated or galvanized with brass or other metal or
compound, as may be required. In Fig. 29 there is a spiral spring placed in a
socket fitted to the leg of the chair or other article, and in Fig. 30 the spring is
placed in a socket formed in the swivel b; or instead of placing the spring in a
socket I place it in a tube fixed to a plate screwed to the bottom of the leg, the
tube being placed in a hole formed in the leg.
In Fig. 31 I represent a leg of a chair or other article formed of several pieces
dowelled and jointed and held firmly together by a bolt 7 screwed or rivetted to
the swivel band bolted at the top by the screw and nut 8, the abutment being in
this case a ball c, but any of the abutments shewn in the previous Figures may be
employed, and any suitable number of pieces may be dowelled and bolted together.
When it is desired to use castors in which the axles and rollers or wheels can be
easily and effectually lubricated I enlarge the hole in the boss of the roller and
place in it an axle having a projecting bearing t hollowed or grooved in one or

page_text: more places, as shewn at Figs. 3 and 5 in Sheet 1; and at the sides of the projecting
bearings there are spaces or cisterns for the reception of oil admitted through
small passages, each provided with a screw v, there being, when required, washers
at the inner sides of the carrier arms to prevent the oil from escaping, the arms
being widened out to allow the entrance of the axle and afterwards closed.
Figs. 82, 83, 84, 35, 36, and 37, Sheet 2, are various views representing my
improved modes of lubricating the wheels and axles of tram cars, wheelbarrows,
and other vehicles. Figs. 32 and 33 represent a tram car wheel fixed to an axle
working in pedestals; Figs. 34 and 35, a tram car wheel running loose on a
stationary axle; and Figs. 36-and-37-represent-a-wheelbarrow wheel fixed to an
Laxle working in stationary bearings or pedestals. In Figs. 32 and 33 each end of
the axle has a projecting collar a' hollowed in the middle, and baving, at each side
spaces or cisterns containing oil or other lubricating matter. In Figs. 34 and 35
-the-stationary-axle-chas a projecting collar or bearing d' on which the boss of the
wheel works, and a projecting rim e' for preventing the wheel from moving sideways,-
there being a cover f¹ bolted to the boss by bolts g, and at each side of the
projecting collar or bearing there are spaces or cisterns containing oil. In Figs. 36
and 37 the axle ¹ of the wheelbarrow has at each end a projecting collar Ul having
a hollow in the middle, and at the side a projecting rim m¹ working at one side
against an inner surface of the pedestal, there being spaces or cisterns containing
oil or other lubricating matter. In all cases I have a hollow or recess in the axle
which sucks and distributes the oil, and in the larger bearings or pedestals there is
a channel of communication between the oil cisterns, and it will be found that by
these arrangements the wheels and axles can be lubricated in a very effectual
manner, thereby preventing a large extent of wear and tear, lessening labour, and
effecting great economy.
Having now described the nature and particulars of my said Invention, I desire
it to be understood that I claim :-First. The improved abutments or supports for
the protection of the ordinary castors used in furniture and other articles, as shewn
and described, or any modification thereof; and, Second. The improved contrivances
for lubricating the wheels of castors, tram cars, wheelbarrows, and other vehicles,
as shewn and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Reilly, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Twenty-first day of April, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-nine.
Witness,
CHAS. W. COLLINS,
Manchester.
(L.S.) JAMES REILLY.