US788651A - Vehicle-axle. - Google Patents

Description

No. 788,651. PATENTED MAY 2, 1905, G. A. LAMBERT.

VEHICLE AXLE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB.19, 1904.

` 2 SHEEfTS-SHBET 1.

iw" HAWAII QW hummm PATENTED MAY 2, 1905.

G. A. LAMBERT.

VEHICLE AXLE.

APPLICATION FILED IBB. 19, 1901;.

@Wou/Le IFA atnted May 2, 1905.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. LAMBERT, OF ANDERSON, INDIANA.

VEHICLE-AXLE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 788,651, dated May 2, 1905.'

Applicatoniiled February 19,1904. Serial No. 194,357. i

, drawings, in whichm Figure l is a side elevation of an axle embodying my lnventron; Fig. 2, a transverse section on the line 3 3 on Fig. l; Fig. 3, a

similar view on the lines 3 3 on Fig. 1; Fig. 4, a transverse section showing the channels at each side filled in with half-round bars of wood or other material and the flanges bent over upon the same; Figs. 5 and 6, transverse sections showing the manner of constructing the axle of two sheets of metal; Fig. 7, a detail horizontal section showing the manner in which a bolt is passed between the thicknesses of the web; Fig. 8, a view of the blank from which the axle is constructed; Figs. 9 and 10, respectively, a plan and a side view of another form of axle; and'Fig. l1 a transverse section showing another manner of arranging wood or other fillings in the channels. Fig. 12 is 4a diagram of one of the two blanks employed in constructing an axle like that shown in Figs. 5 and 6.

rlhe object of the invention is to produce a light strong axle having a substantially I formation in cross-section which may be readily tapered at its ends for the reception of the skeins and without sacrificing the I formation, as more fully hereinafter set forth.

As stated, the axle is approximately I shape in cross-section and is constructed of sheet vmetal, preferably steel, folded on the longitudinal lines shown in Fig. 8, the flanges belng composed of two thicknesses and the web portion of three. The layers of the anges,

6, the two edge portions of thek sheet terminate and overlap in the web, thereby leaving no rough edges or sharp corners exposed, the edges of the flanges being rounded by the act of folding the metal.

The taper at each end of the axle is obtained by tapering the web portion, its width being gradually reduced from thev proper points toward the respective ends, as shown in Fig. l, and at these tapered portions the flanges are curled toward each other to make a substantially cylindrical portion at each end for the reception of the skein or spindle or to serve itself as the spindle, To obtain the desired taper at the ends of the web, the sheet is tapered at each end, and the lines on which the folds that mark the web are lnadeare converged toward the ends, as shown at l, 2, and 8 in Fig. 8. If desired, however, the "iianges also may be tapered in width toward the ends of the axle in like manner, as shown in Fig. 9.

If desired, the fianges along their entire length may be bent over upon the rounded surfaces of half-round bars of wood or other material laid in the channels, thereby imparting a nice iinish to the axle, as shown in Figs. i and 1,1, or, as shown in Fig. 5, the flanges may be made wide enough to abut along their outer edges when they are thus bent over. As also shown in Figs 5 and 6, the axle may be made of two sheets, each'of which is folded on four lines, as shown in Fig. 12, so that its edge portions form the web; The edge portions of one sheet interlock witlrand overlap the similar parts of the other sheet, thereby making a four-ply web. As shown in Fig. 6, the extreme edge portions of the sheet may be carried out under the top flanges and riveted to give additional strength. With this manner of making the axle it can be made very light in comparison with its strength, and the required taper may be given to it without sacrificing the highly desirable I formation or weakening it by cutting its ends or mutilating it in any other manner. As shown in Figs. 9 and 10, the ianges may be bent over and made to abut their entire length instead of simply at the tapered spindle portions, as shown in Fig. 1.

It is known that an axle of I shape in crosssection is the ideal shape for strength and lightness, and the reason why it has not come into extensive use is that it has been taken for granted that an axle of that type could not be manufactured in any other manner than by taking an ordinary rolled beam and bringing its ends to a taper by objectionably mutilating it or possibly subjecting it to an expensive forging operation. It is therefore the object of this invention to obviate the drawbacks to the adoption of this highly-desirable form of axle, and I accomplish this object in the manner set forth herein.

I propose stamping or folding the blank by means of dies whose Walls and working faces shall be properly tapered to give the desired taper to the finished axle. In this Way the Web alone or the flanges alone, or both, may be tapered, as the exigencies may require, and as this may be accomplished with but a few operations of the dies and bending-tools the production of the axles will be rendered comparatively inexpensive after the die is once made.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-d l. An axle constructed of sheet metal folded longitudinally to form a central web and oppositely-extending anges at the upper and lower edges thereof, the web and flanges consisting of two or more plies or thicknesses.

Q. An axle constructed of sheet metal folded longitudinally to form a central web and oppositely-extending anges at the upper and lower edges thereof, the web and ianges consisting of two or more plies or thicknesses lying closely in contact, and means for fastening the plies or thicknesses together.

3. An axle constructed of sheet metal folded longitudinally to form a central web and oppositely-extended flanges at the upper and lower edges thereof, the web and ianges consisting of two or more plies or thicknesses, the parts of the plies constituting the end portions of the web being tapered, so that the ends of the axle shall taper.

4. An axle constructed of sheet metal folded longitudinally to form a central web and oppositely-extending flanges at the upper and lower edges thereof, the web and lianges consisting of two or more plies or thicknesses, the parts of the plies constituting the end portions of the web being tapered, so that the ends of the axle shall taper, the iianges at these tapered portions being curled toward each other to form the tapered spindle portions.

5. A sheet-metal axle consisting of sheet metal folded longitudinally to forrn a central web and oppositely-extending top and bottom flanges, the edge portions of the metal being overlapped in the web portion, and means for fastening the plies or thicknesses constituting the web together.

6. A sheet-metal axle constructed of two sheets tapered at their ends and fold ed 'on longitudinal lines to form a central web portion 4and oppositely extending top and bottom flanges, the edge portions of the sheets being y overlapped to form the web and being fastened together.

7 An axle constructed of sheet metal folded longitudinally to form a central web and oppositely-extending top and bottom fianges, the web and flanges being constructed of two or more thicknesses and the flanges at the ends of the axle being curled toward each other to form spindle portions.

8. An axle constructed of sheet metal folded longitudinally to form a central web and oppositely-extending anges at the upper and lower edges thereof, the web and flanges consisting of two or more plies or thicknesses, the thicknesses of the web being separated and bent laterally at intervals to form bolt-passages down through the axle.

In testimony whereof I hereunto aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses, this 16th day of February, 1904.

GEORGE A. LAMBERT. lVitnesses:

IDA KIRK, CLARICE HETZLER.

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