US783055A - Lubricating device for vehicle-axles. - Google Patents

Description

No. 783,055. PATENTED FEB. 2l, 1905.

P. LE SUEUR. LUBRICATING DEVICE FOR VEHICLE AXLES.

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m Se@ /f/L/ E daf E WMM, C/w f@ Patented February 21, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

PHILIP LE SUIIUR, OF CALABASAS, CALIFORNIA.

LUBFHCATING DEVICE FOP! VEHICLE-AXLES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 783,055, dated February 21, 1905.

Application iiled October 28, 1903. Serial No. 178,833.

To @ZZ whom, it may concern,.-

Be it known that I, PHILIP Ln SUEUR, a citi- Zen of the United States, residing at Calabasas, in the county of Los Angeles and State of California, have invented a new and useful Lubricating Device for Vehicle-Axles, of which the following is a specification.

rIhis invention relates to a new and useful construction of a vehicle-axle; and the main object of the invention is to provide means whereby the lubricating composition may be supplied to the axle without removing the wheel from the axle' and without removing the retaining-bolt or outside hollow nut or other part, the construction being so designed that while accomplishing the foregoing the wheel may be as easily removed as when the vehicleaxle is ordinarily constructed. I

Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby the too rapid escape of oil from the outer oil-chamber to the inner oil-chamber is regulated by the size of the orifice in end of semiblind axle-box.

Another object is to provide a device of the character described which will permit of using either thin or thick oils or hard grease, as desired. l The present invention is of great value for wagons used in teaming in very hot countries, especially on mountain roads. The extreme heat in such places and violent chucking on the hilly roads causes oil to run like Water out of ordinary journal-boxes.

My invention enables hard grease to be employed as readily as oil, and the grease may be applied in a compact mass of considerable quantity, so that replenishment of the supply is not required with near the frequency necessai-y when using oil in hot districts.

Another object is to provide a construction simple in design which automatically closes the orifice for the introduction of oil, which is durable in use, which Will not get out of order, and which may be economically manufactured.

. Another object of my invention is to provide means whereby the full diameter of the axle may be flooded with oil.

Another object is to provide a construction which while possessing the foregoing advantages is very economical in use for the following reasons: first, that the vehicle can be effectively lubricated in one quarter the time required to lubricate any other improved vehicle on the market; second, that less oil is required for a given length of time to maintain the necessary lubrication than is required in axles of the ordinary construction, there being provision made for retaining oil in a quantity, so that it is fed to the axle continuously and is prevented from oozing away, as is the case of axles of the ordinary construction.

Another object is to provide a construction which effectually prevents dust or grit from entering the axle and injuring' the working parts, likewise preventing dirt from closing up the lubricating-slots.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention, and, referring to the same, Figure I is a longitudinal section through the device. Fig. 1I is a longitudinal section showing the preferred construction. Fig. III is a perspective view showing the preferred form of outer end of the axle-box. Fig. IV is a perspective view showing another form of outer end of the axlebox. Fig. V is a view of the outer face of the retaining devices, showing them in one position shutting off the outward escape of oil. Fig. VI is a similar view showing the parts in another position adapted for the admission of a supply of oil. Fig.' VII is a detail view of the outer face of the hollow nut. Fig. VIII is a plan View of the bolthead used in the form shown in Fig. II. Fig. IX is a perspective, with j.portions broken away, of the screw-collar used in Fig. I.

1 designates the axle, the outer end of which is drilled and tapped, as shown.

2 is a semiblind axle-box, preferably tapered, as shown, which fits snugly within the hub 3 and is prevented from turning' therein by means of radial projections 4.

The outer end of the axle-box 2 is provided with a lip 5, (see Figs. I and IV,) and `the'end of the axle I terminates short of the endof theaxle-box 2, thereby forming an oil-reservoir, Into which oil or grease may be introduced.

7 is a retaimng-bolt which screws Into the end of the axle 1. vided with an elongated smooth shank and is provided with a Aliangc 8. The iiange 8 is provided with a series of oilholes 9.

1() is a screw-collar, which is screwed onto the outer end of the axle-box 2 and is cupped on both faces, forming a central web 11. The web 11 is provided with an oil-hole 12, and 13 is a washer, of leather or other packing material, which is nested within the outer cupped portion of the nut 1() and lies closely against the web 11. The leather plate 13 is rendered non-turnable by pins 14, and in addition the walls of the screw-collar 16 are undercut slightly, as at 15, to receive the washer 13, which is sprung into place when assembling the parts of the nut, and hence -is easily replaced. The leather plate 13is provided with an oil-hole 16, which exactly registers with the oil-hole 12 in the web 11, and when the screw-collar 10 is screwed firmly into position over the end of the axle-box 2 the oil-box 12 is covered by the lip 5, and when the retaining-bolt 7 is screwed to position one oi its series of oil-holes 9 in its iiange 8 may or may not be in register with the oil-holes 16 and 12. Vhen it is desired to lubricate the axle, the screw-collar 10 is turned until the oil-hole is at the highest point of the hub. The bolt is also turned to bring one of the oil-holes 9 into register with the hole 16 in the screw-collar, when .the spout or an oil-can may readily be introduced and the axle Hooded with oil to its full diameter. After suiicient oil has been introduced the screw-collar 10 is tightened, which causes its oil-hole to be covered by the lip 5, thus preventing the escape of oil, and the bolt 7 is also tightened.

The leather plate 13 closely fits the shank of the retaining-bolt 7, so that the escape of oil from the bearing is impossible, and the ingress of dirt or grit into the bearing is also prevented, as the lip 5 covers the oil-hole 12.

A bearing-plate 16 is preferably mounted on the end of the hub to form a bearing-surface against the inner edge of the screw-collar 10.

Introduced between the end of the retaining-bolt 7 and the bottom of the hole in the end oi' the axle 1 is a bolt-stop 17, having a concave head which iits the convex end of the retaining-bolt 7 and forms a positive mechanical stop to position the bolt 7 when screwed home. A coil-spring 18 encircles the shank of bolt-stop 17 and presses against the head of the bolt-stop, thus forcing the screw-threads of the retaining-bolt tightly into engagement with the threads iin the axle, thus forming a novel bolt-lock and holding the retaining-bolt from turning accidentally or getting loose from the jar oi' the wagon.

19 is a washer which bears against the inner end of the axle-box 2, being resiliently pressed against the box 2 by a spring-washer 20. The two washers 19 and 2O are mounted Said retaining-bolt is prol in an adjustable shoulder 21.

The washers 19 and 20 and adjustable shoulder 21 are cov-A ered in another application o't` mine, filed October 28, 1903, Serial No. 178,834.

Figs. H and III show the preferred form of construction in which the end of the axle-box 2 has cast thereon a retaining-wall 22, which is centrally drilled and at one side, preferably its lower side, provided with an oil passage-way 23. Projecting from the retainingwall 22 is a standard 24, having a shield 25. A hollow nut 26 is screwed onto the end of the axle-box 2 and is provided with an oilhole 27, which when the nut 26 is screwed into place is covered by the shield 25, thus positively retaining the lubricant in the bearing when the oil-hole is brought to any point by the turning of the'wheel. The nut houses the head oi' the bolt 7. The bolt7 is screwed up, so that the face of the bolt engages the end of the axle-box. The position of the oil-hole 27 constantly changes as the wheel turns, and when the vehicle is stopped for oiling the oilhole 27 may be at the bottom, or it may be at the top of the hub or at an intermediate position. Obviously the oil-hole 27 should be preferably at or near its highest point when oil is to be supplied, so that the hollow nut will retain the oil as it is introduced. Therefore in oiling it' the oil-hole'is not sufficiently near the top the nut should be turned to bring it to that position, which brings its oil-hole 27 away from the shield 25, thereby permitting the spout of an oil-can to be inserted through the oilhole. After suiiicient oil has been introduced 'the nut 26 should again be tightened, so that the shield 25 closes the oil-hole 27.

A valuable feature of the present invention is that when the vehicle is standing still oil may positively be prevented from running out by turning each wheel to bring the slot 23 to its highest point. The proper point to which to turn the wheel may readily be determined by the oil-hole 27, which when the nut 26 is properly screwed home is diametrically opposite the slot 23 and being exposed is in plain View, so that when the wheel is turned to bring the oil-hole 27 to its lowest point the slot 23 will be at its highest point and oil cannot iow through the slot and out oi' the inner oil-chamber. Hence Athe oil is retained indefinitely' in the hollow nut. The interior of the nut 26 aii'ords additional space v-to retain the lubricant in connection with the oil-chamber 6, so that in the form shown in Fig. 2 a greater quantity of oil may be supplied at a given time than can be supplied to the form shown in Fig. 1. The size of' the slot 23 should be proportioned according to the character of oil used to regulate the iiow of the oil. A large heavy vehicle using thick oil would require a relatively larger slot than would a small light vehicle which used a thin oil. For the thick oils the slot should be rela- IOO IOS

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holdingI the axle-box tively large, and for the thin oils it should be Smaller.

The present invention is designed specially for use in the semitropical andV semi-arid l/Vestern States, where peculiar climate conditions exist. At midday in these regions the heat is so intense that oil runs ot an axle like water, while at night and early morning it is so cold that grease gets very hard. Hence in using my invention the inner lubricant-chamber in the axle-box is loaded with hard grease in the early morning. Then the hollow nut is screwed on and suflicient oil is introduced to bring it above the level of the retaining-bolt, the bolt-hole being designedly large to allow the free passage of oil. The traction and chuck of the wheel keeps the hard grease in the inner chamber away from the smooth shank of the bolt, enabling the oil from the hollow nut to have free access to the axle, Then when the great heat of the day sets in the melting grease keeps the axle lubricated and later opens the slot in the end of the blind axle-box, allowingfree ingress of oil from the hollow nut. Another important feature is that there are no minutely-small or intricate passages for the lubricant' which would clog with grease or thick oil or thin oil which had thickened by use, and the invention isA 'therefore of especial value for heavy vehicles using grease or thick oil. The thinness of the retaining-wall in which the slot 23 is located does not afford suiiicient lodgment for the accumulation of a deposit or permit gumming of the oil in the passage. The oil is fed slowly yet continuously to the axle, and the too free escape of oil at the extreme inner end of the axle-box is guarded against.

In order to lock the hollow nut 26 from turning by the jar, the periphery of its .iiange may have shallow notches 28, either one of which is engaged by a spring-finger 29, mounted in the hub and projecting therefrom.- The hole in the hub in which the spring-finger lies is enlarged or tapered near the outer face of the hub to permit of the spring-finger 29 freely springing to yieldingly lock the hollow nut 26. The outer end of the spring-finger 29 is preferably bent to enable the Springiinger to be readily grasped by the hand to release the hollow nut when the latter is to be turned into or out of place.

The solid retaining-bolt 7 obviously performs the double function of closing the central aperture in the retaining-wall 22 and of and attached parts in place on the axle. Thus when the retainingbolt is removed the hole gives ample space for the introduction of hard grease. The central aperture is designedly larger than the retaining-bolt to allow of the free ingress of oil from the auxiliary lubricating device-t'. e., the hollow nut-and being provided with means for the introduction of the heaviest oil far above the level of the retaining-bolt the escape of lubricant can be effected only by its traversing the axle-box, hence lubricating the ax e.

While I have sho'wn and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, it should be understood that various changes and modific-ations may be made therein without departing from the scope of the claims.

What- I claim isl. In combination, an axle, an axlebox thereon, the end wall of the axle-box having a central hole for the introduction of lubricant, said axle terminating short of the end of the axle-box, thereby chamber at the end of bolt detachably engaging the end of the axle, the shank of the bolt traversing the lubricantchamber and passing through the hole in the end of the axle-box, the head of the bolt being outside the axle-box, the bolt being removable to open the hole and allow hard grease to be put into the chamber, the bolt when in place preventing egress of the lubricant and also holding the axle-box on the axle.

2. In combination, an axle, an axlebox thereon, the end wall of the axle-box having a centralhole for the introduction of lubricant, said axle terminating short of the end of the axle-box` thereby forming a lubricantchamber at the end of the axle, and a solid bolt detachably engaging' the end of the axle, the shank of the bolt traversing the lubricantchamber and passing through the hole in the end of the axle-box, the head of the bolt being outside the axle-box, the bolt being removable to open the hole and allow hard grease to be put into the chamber, the bolt when in place preventing egress of the lubricant and also holding the axle-box on the axle,- the end wall`of the axle-box also having another smaller orifice for the passage of thinner lubricants, and means external of the axle-box and detachably fastened thereto for holding a supply1 of lubricant which may automatically feed into the inner chamber through the small orice.

3. In combination, an axle, an axlebox thereon, a hub on the axle-box, the outer end of the axle-box havinga retaining-wall, there being a space between the retaining-wall and the end of the axle forming a lu bricant-chamber, said retaining-wall having' a passage for lubricant, and a retaining-bolt passi ng through the retaining-wall into the axle, a hollow nut screwed to the axle-box, said hollow nut having an oil-hole.

4. In combination, an axle, an axlebox thereon, a hub on the axle-box, the outer end of the axle-box having a retaining-wall, there being a space between the retaining-wall and the end of the axle forminga lubricant-chamber, said retaining-wall having a passage for lubricant, and a retaining-bolt passing through forming a lubricantthe axle, and a solid IOO IIO

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the retaining-wall into theaxle, a hollow nut screwed to the axle-box, said hollow nut having an oil-hole, and means for closing said oilhole.

` In combination, an. axle, an axle-box thereon, a hub on the axle-box, the outer end ofy the axle-box having a retaining-wall, there being a space between the retaining-wall and the end of the axle, forming a lubricant-ch amber, said retaining-wall having a passage for lubricant,and a retaining-bolt passing through the retaining-wall into the axle, a hollow nut screwed to the axle-box, said hollow nut having an oil-hole, a standard projecting from the axle-box, there being a shield on the standard for covering the oil-hole in the hollow nut.

6. 'In combination, an axle, an axle box thereon, a hub on the axle-box, the outer end of the axle-box having a retaining-wall, there being a space between the retaining-wall and the end of the axle, forming a lubricant-chamber, said retaining-wall having a passage for lu bricant,and a retaining-bolt passing through the retaining-wall into the axle, and means for yieldingly locking said hollow nut.

7. 1n combination, an axle, an axle-box thereon, a hub on the axle-box, thel outer end of the axle-box having a retaining-wall, there being' a space between the retaining-wall and the end of the axle, forming alubricant-chamber, said retaining-wall having a passage for lubricant, and a retaining-bolt passing through the retaining-wall into the axle, said retaining-bolt havinga smooth shank traversing the lubricant-chamber.

8. In combination, an axle, an axle box thereon, a hub on the axle-box, the outer end of the axle-box having aretaining-wall, there being a space between the retaining-wall and the end of the axle, forming a lubricant-chamber, said retaining-wall having a pa'ssage for a lubricant, a hollow nut screwed to the axlebox, said hollow nut having' an oil-hole, and a bearing-plate interposed between the hollow nut and the face of the hub.

9. In combination, an axle, a semiblind axlebox thereon forming an oil-chamber between the end of the axle and the end of the semiblind axle-box, a hollow nut screwed to the end of the semiblind axle-box, the end of the semiblind axle-box'having passages for lubricant, and the hollow nut having an oil-hole.

10. 1n combination, an axle, a semiblind axle-box thereon forming an oil-chamber between the end of the axle and the end of the semiblind axle-box, a hollow nut screwed to the end of the semiblind axle-box, the end of the semiblind axle-box having passages for lubricant, and the hollow nut havingan oilhole, said oil-hole being near the periphery of said hollow nut.

11. ln combination, an axle, a semiblind Iaxle-box thereon forming an oil-chamber between the end of the axle and the end of the semiblind axle-box, a hollow nut screwed on the end of the semiblind axle-box, the end of the semiblind axle-box having' passages for` lubricant, the hollow nut having' an oil-hole, a solid retaining-bolt passing through the end of the semiblind axle-box with its shank traversing the lubricant chamber, the shank of the bolt being smooth.

1Q. In combination, an axle, an axle-box thereon, the outer end of the axle-box having a retaining-wall, there being' a space between the axle end and retaining-wall, said retaining-wall having passages for lubricant, a hollow nut having' an oil-hole screwedto said axlebox and designedly supplied with means for a circular motion from its inner surface for the purpose set forth.

13. In combination, an axle, a semiblind axle-box thereon, there being a lubricantchamber between the axle end and extreme end of the semiblind axle-box, the semiblind axle-box having in its end passages for lubricant, a hollow nut screwed to said axle-box and having an oil-hole near its periphery, said hollow nut being designedly supplied with means for a circular movement substantially as set forth and 'for the purpose specilied. 14. In combination, an axle, the outer end of which is recessed axially and internally screwthreaded, an axle-box on the axle, the outer end of which is partly closed, a hub on the box provided with a `bearing-plate, a bolt through the plate and the end of the box and into the recess in the end of the axle, and means in the bore to lochv the bolt against aecidental removal.

1n testimony whereof l have hereunto signed my name, in the presence of two subscribing' witnesses, at Los Angeles, in the county of LosAngeles and Stateof California, this 21st day of October, 1903.

PHI L11 1) LE SUEUR. ldfitnesses:

Gnoonn T. HAexLnY, JULIA TowNsuND.

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