IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY CARRIAGE AXLES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Clark, of 53, Chancery Lane, in the County of
Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY
CARRIAGE AXLES." A communication from abroad by George Washington
Miltimore, of Janesville, Rock County, State of Wisconsin, United States of
America.
Sealed the 23rd June 1876, and dated the 9th May 1876.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said William Clark at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 9th May 1876.
WILLIAM CLARK, of 53, Chancery Lanc, in the County of Middlesex, Patent
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY CARRIAGE AXLES." A communication
Agent
from abroad by George Washington Miltimore, of Janesville, Rock County, Stato
of Wisconsin, United States of America.
.
'
This Invention relates to such improvements in thint class of railway carriage axles
in which a stationary inner and a revolving outer wheel carrying axle or sleeve are
employed that the lubrication of the journal box from tho oil reservoir is accom-
plished to the exclusion of dust, the drip oil collected, and the journal box allowed
to oscillate in the stationary axle to conform itself to a true bearing throughout
according to the spring of the axle produced by the weight of the carriage.
The Invention consists of an air-tight oil reservoir of the pedestal box that is
connected by a longitudinal and vertical channel and vibrating feed pin of
the stationary axle with the revolving journal box. An oil-tight joint between the
pedestal box and stationary axle is formed by a cork disc, washer, and hollow screw
plug. The lateral motion is taken up between the nut and the stationary pedestal
block. The rotating journal box bears by a central annular convex part and slightly
inclined ends on the correspondingly shaped outer sleeve and ring to provide for
oscillating motion. The surplus oil is collected in a drip chamber by means of an
annular rim or bead of the closing nut of the outer axle. The outer axle or sleeve
is made of cast and wrought-iron sections combined.
In the accompanying Drawing which represents a central vertical section of the
improved railway carriage axle, A is the stationary axle, which is rigidly connected
with the spring or pedestal bearers or boxes B by horizontal locking pins a. 'C is
the revolving outer axle or sleeve which is made of a laterally connecting wrought-
iron section with end lips and wheel carrying sections cast thereon. The journal
D
•

page_text: box D revolves with the sleeve on the stationary axle, and is lubricated from an
air-tight oil reservoir E, of the pedestal box, the reservoir being connected with the
journal box by a horizontal channel b, and a vertical downward extending channel
6' of the stationary axle. The vertical channel b extends above the horizontal
channel, and feeds the oil by a vibrating and spring acted pin d to the journal. The
contact of the feeder pin with the revolving journal box during the motion of the
carriage keeps the pin continually in motion, and admits thereby the entrance of
small quantities of air into the channels, and through the same to the oil receptacle.
The vibratory motion of the feeder pin furnishes thus mechanically a small air
supply to the oil receptacle, and allows thereby the feeding of a corresponding
quantity of oil, which increases or decreases in proportion to the speed. When the
carriage is at rest the oil ducts or channels are filled with the oil, but the air supply
is discontinued, as the feeder pin is also in a position of rest, and supplies no air, so
that the oil is held suspended by the partial vacuum in the oil receptacle and pre-
vented from running out. The surplus oil of the journal box passes out through a
closing nut or cap F, screwed to the sleeve and encircling the axle. An annular
rim or bead e of the cap F conveys the drip oil into a chamber or receptacle B₁ of
the pedestal box below the axle, from whence it may be drawn off by a scrow plug.
An oil-tight joint is formed between the pedestal box and stationary axle by a
tapering cork disc f, washer f¹, and perforated screw plug f, preventing the oil
from passing in or out between the pedestal box and axle. A loose steel collar
or ring his placed on the stationary axle between the pedestal box and the revolv-
ing screw cap of the outer axle to provide for the wear caused by the lateral
motion of the carriage which is taken up between the pedestal block and screw cap
at that point. The journal box D is mado with a central convex part, and slightly
downward inclined or tapering end parts. The outer axle or sleeve rests thereon
by a corresponding annular concavity, and an outer ring i, of iron, brass, or other
material. The sleeve and ring are arranged adjoining to the annular concave parts,
with slight outwardly inclined parts, which form with the tapering ends of the
journal box narrow annular spaces that provide for the oscillating motion of the
journal box, when the weight of the carriage causes the springing of the inner axle.
The journal box is thereby always in full contact throughout its entire length with
the inner axle, and compelled to wear out evenly.
The lubrication of the carriage axle is accomplished in an economical manner, and
the wearing out of the journal box diminished by distributing the friction through-
out the length and circumference of the box, in consequence of tho oscillating motion
of the journal box.
Having described the nature of the Invention, and the manner of performing the
samo, I declare that what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is,―
Ist. As an improvement in railway carriage axles the combination of the inner
stationary axle having a horizontal and vertical oil duct or channel and vibrating
feed pin, with an air-tight oil reservoir of the pedestal box and with the revolving
journal box of the outer axle or sleeve, substantially as herein shown and described.
2nd. The combination with the pedestal box of the stationary axle having n
cork disc, washer, and hollow screw plug to form an oil-tight joint between tho
pedestal box and axle, substantially as herein shown and described.
3rd. The combination of the closing screw nut or cap of the outer revolving axle
or sleeve, said cap having an outer rim or bend with a drip oil chamber below the
stationary axle, substantially as herein shown and described.
4th. The combination of the revolving journal box having a convex annular part
and tapering ends, with the annular concaved and inclined revolving sleeve and
intermediate ring to provide for the oscillating motion of the journal box, substan-
tially as herein shown and described.
5th. The outer axle or sleeve made of a lateral wrought-iron section, and cast-
iron end sections, substantially as herein shown and described.
6th. The combination of the outer closing nut or cap of the revolving sleeve and
wheel, with the fixed pedestal block and a loose intermediate washer or ring to take

page_text: up the lateral motion between pedestal block and end of screw nut so as to remove
it from the journal box, substantially as herein shown and described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Clark, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Ninth day of May, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
W. CLARK (LS.)