IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLE BOXES FOR LOCOMOTIVES, RAILWAY CARRIAGES, WAGONS, AND OTHER VEHICLES RUNNING ON RAILS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Frederick Attock, of Newton Heath, near Manchester,
Superintendant of the Carriage and Wagon Department of the Lancashire and
Yorkshire Railway, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AXLE BOXES
FOR LOCOMOTIVES, RAILWAY CARRIAGES, WAGONS, AND OTHER VEHICLES
RUNNING ON RAILS."
Sealed the 23rd July 1878, and dated the 24th January 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Frederick Attock at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th January 1878.
<
FREDERICK ATTOCK, of Newton Heath, near Manchester, Superintendant of the
Carriage and Wagon Department of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway. IM-
PROVEMENTS IN AXLE BOXES FOR LOCOMOTIVES, RAILWAY CARRIAGES, WAGONS,
AND OTHER VEHICLES RUNNING ON RAILS."
I construct an axle box for the axles of locomotives, railway carriages, wagons,
and other vehicles, by preference in one casting, and open entirely at the front so as
to facilitate access to the axle and to the brass or other bearing, and to remove the
latter if necessary. The open front of this axle box is closed by a sliding shutter, or
a hinged door may be employed if deemed more convenient.
This construction of axle box is specially applicable for use with Somerset and
Hayes' Patent, No. 1030, dated 19 March 1875, axle lubricator, and permits of the
roller in the same being mounted in a separate metallic tray or box, which can be
removed bodily from the axle box.
It also affords greater facilities than heretofore for lubricating the axle with
grease, and of examining the axle, and removing any dirt or other obstruction
which may happen to enter the axle box along with the grease or other lubricant
employed.

page_text: Fig. 1 is a front and back exterior view of my improved axle box, the left half
being the front, and the right half the back view respectively; Fig. 2 is a transverse
section; Fig. 3, a side section; and Fig. 4, a plan, half in section, of the same axle
box, all drawn to a scale of about quarter size.
In all the views, A is my improved axle box, by preference formed of cast iron,
all in one piece, and with an entirely open front, as illustrated; B is the sliding
shutter for closing the front of the axle box, and by means of which ready access
is obtained to the axle C and to the brass or other bearing D, and to remove the
latter, if necessary. This shutter is kept tight by a small spiral spring d, pressing
against its top, as seen in Fig. 3,
Immediately behind the shutter B 1 arrange a pad E, capable of sliding up and
down in a separate groove, and the inner side of which is formed of felt or other
suitable material to prevent the escape of oil from the axle box.
This construction of axle box can be made applicable for use with Somerset &
Hayes's axle lubricator, and which is shewn in position in. the various views. The
weighted roller F (seen in sectional plan in Fig. 5) being in this case mounted in a
metallic oil tray or box G (seen removed in Fig. 6) so as to be bodily removable.
from the axle box; or the ordinary pad lubricator, seen in Fig. 7, can be used with
equal facility.
This arrangement of axle box also affords greater facilities than heretofore for
lubricating the axle with grease, and of examining the axle and removing any dirt
or other obstruction which may happen to enter the axle box along with the grease
or other lubricant employed; whilst the brass or other bearing D can be changed
by slightly lifting the axle box from below, and this without the necessity of
removing the axle box as heretofore.
Being all in one casting the necessity of bolting together and the use of expensive
fittings are avoided.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of this my said
Invention, together with the best methods with which I am acquainted for carrying
the same into practical effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details, relative proportions or dimensions of the axle box,
herein-before described, and illustrated on the accompanying Drawings, as the same
may be considerably varied without departing from the Invention, and that I
claim, the improved construction and arrangement of axle box, having an open front

page_text: fitted with a sliding, hinged, or other door, as and for the purposes herein-before
described, and illustrated on the accompanying Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said Frederick Attock, have hereunto set my
hand and seal,- this 23rd day of July, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.