Identifier: treatiseoncarria01felt (find matches)
Title: A treatise on carriages : comprehending coaches, chariots, phaetons, curricles, whiskies, &c. : together with their proper harness, in which the fair prices of every article are accurately stated
Year: 1796 (1790s)
Authors: Felton, William Debrett, John, d. 1822
Subjects: Carriage and wagon making Carriages and carts
Publisher: London : Printed for and sold by the author, and by J. Debrett ... (and 5 others)
Contributing Library: Getty Research Institute
Digitizing Sponsor: Getty Research Institute

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SECT. 2. AXLETREES.

THE axletree of a carriage is made in one entire piece, and is fixed quite acrofs the carriage; that part between the wheels is called the bed, and that which goes through the wheels, the arms, which fliould be made perfectly round, and fomewhat ftronger at the fhoulder than at the end, which is moftly fcrewed to receive a nut, through which and the axletree the lince-pin pafles, to keep all tight. The nuts are made with a collar at the face, and a temporary collar or waflier is driven on to the back of the arms, which forms two flioulders for the wheel to wear againfV, and helps to preferve the greafe from running out, and to prevent dirt from getting in.

The axletrees are the principal or only fupport of the carriage, on which every attention and care fliould be paid to the feleftion of good iron, and to fee that they be well wrought, and of fufficient ftrength, rather going to the extreme than to rifle the life of the paflenger by the overfetting of the carriage^ which moftly happens when an axletree breaks. By the axletrees alfo the wheels are re- gulated to any width at bottom, to fuit the track of the roads in which they are to run, and are confined to the carriage by means of clips, hoops, and bolts, which are all defcribed in plate XI.

The fhape of the axletree between the fhoulders varies according to the situation they are placed in, or the form of the timber with which they are united ; thofe are the moft firm that are flat-bedded in the timber.

THE AXLETREE BOXES.

THOSE are frequently called long pipe or wheel-boxes ; they are long cafings fitted clofe to the arms of the axletrees, and fecurely fixed in the 'wheel-ltocks, or naves ; they are ufually made of wrought fheet iron, of a fubftance pro- portioned to the weight of the carriage: their ufe is to contain a fupply of greafe, to prevent the efFefts of fri6lion, and affift the wheels in their motion. Thefe fucceeded the fhort caft-iron boxes, which, to carriages of this fort, are to- tally out of ufe, they being injurious to the axletrees by cutting them at thofe parts they wear againft, fo as to occafion a frequent lin- ing of the arms, now never neceflary on that account.

There are many forts of axletrees and boxes invented various ways, for the following pur- pofes : viz. for containing a longer fupply of greafe or oil, to be more durable, to fecure the wheels, and to leffen the draught.

Some of thofe inventors even pretend, that all thefe advantages are combined in one axle- tree ; but the generality of thefe inventions extend to the advantage only of retaining a fupply of oil, and wearing a greater length of time than the others; but as it would not be jufl to give any partial decifion on the merits of either, to the prejudice of the owners, by attend- ing to the following obfervations on each, affifl:-. ed by the reprefentation in plate x, the reader will be enabled to judge for himfelf.

In order to render the information complete, concerning each figure of the different axletrees in the plate, they are reprefented with each end or arm in different views : the one end fhews the axletree and the box whole, and feparate from each other; the other reprefents the axle- tree, with its box, nuts, and caps united, hori- zontally cut through the middle, for the purpofe of Ihewing the infides thereof.

THE COMMON AXLETREE AND BOX.

Fig. 1. The common fort of axletree and box is most generally ufed, being fimple and cheap, in comparifon with the others ; the box is what only wears, and is frequently obliged to be refit- ted to the arms, otherwife they give to the wheel, while in ufe, an unfteady motion, and foon ex- hauft their fupply of greafe. Thofe, if well fit- ted, will contain their fupply for about one week's regular ufe, or a journey of one hundred miles. They wear at the rate of one fet of boxes to every two fets of wheels ; and require, in that time, to be twice or thrice taken out of the wheels, and refitted to the axletree arms.

A. The arms of the axletree, which are made round, but rather of a conical form ; ftrongeft at the back or fhoulders a; tapering to the lince end by which is fcrewed for a nut, and alfo has a fmall hole for a lince-pin c, which prevents the nut from coming off: at the body end is a collar or wafher i, for the back of the wheel-ftock to wear againft.

B. The box whole and half shewn. This box is made of sheet iron, proportioned in fubftance to the weight or fize of the axletree, having the shutting edges e welded in a ridge, which fecures the box in the wheel.

C. The nut, which has a broad face f, to lie flat againft the wheel, and is tapped or fcrewed to receive the fcrew end of the axletree; each of thofe nuts turn on the fcrew the fame way the wheel goes, and have a notch g for the lince-pin to pafs through, for the purpofe of fecuring the nut from turning off.

THE PATENT ANTI-ATTRITION AXLETREE AND BOX.

Fig. 2. THE advantages which this axletree and box are pretended to poffefs over the common fort, are very great, principally lying in the great relief given to the draught, the retention of oil, the cafe with which it is replenifhed, the great fecurity for holding on the wheels, and their durability. Thofe axletrees, if made with the fecurity for the wheels, need no nut or lince-pin, as in thofe on the common principle.

D. The arm of the anti-attrition axletree re- prefented whole at b'oth ends, to give the differ- ent views of the refervoir, the ftrap wafher, and rollers, with the box on each arm, as horizontally cut through the middle. Thofe axletrees at bottom are reduced from a perfetl round, and grooved to receive two rollers c f, on which the weight of the carriage is borne, in order to faci- litate the motion. Thefe rollers form the cir- cumference of the bottom of the axletree, which is reduced to make the weight reft only on them.

E. The refervoir, or concealment for the oil, being clofely fitted and fixed by three bolts d d d, on the back of the wheel-ftock ; containing the oil within three recefles e e e, which oozes through fmall channels on to the arm of the axletree, which it fupplies for a confiderable time : it is made of caft metal, and has a cap /projecting behind, which prevents the dirt from getting in.

F. The wheel-fecurity, or ftrap-wafher; this has a collar^, which is placed within the wheel, between the refervoir and ftock, and has, fixed to the collar, lugs or ftraps h hy which extend backwards fome diftance on the bedded part of the axletree, where it is fixed by a nut-fcrew : by means of this "ftrap-waflier, the wheel is Se- cured to the bedded part of the axletree.

G. The cap, which is alfo fixed on the front part of the wheel-ftocks by three bc^ts d ; and by means of a fcrew-plug /', the axletree and refer- voir is replenifhed with oil.

H. The box, which is of the fame form as the common box, only made of a very hard metal, of a thicknefs proportioned to the weight of the carriage ; this alfo {hews how the axletree is fup- ported on the rollers, and prevented from bearing on the arms.

THE PATENT CYLINDER AXLETREE AND BOX.

Fig. 3. The advantages of this axletree and box over the common fort, are principally in the length of time they wear ; the filent and fteady motion they preferve to the w^heels; the advantage of retaining the oil to profecute a journey of two thoufand miles, v;iLhout being once replenifhed.

Thofe axletrees and boxes have gone through fome confiderable improvements fince their ori- gin, and have met with fuch encouragement, that it has induced other perfons to copy them fo nigh as fcarcely to admit a decifion in favour of either, except that experience has proved in the one what can only be fuggefted in the other; but, from every circumftance. they appear to poffefs the fame advantages.

I. The axletree arm, made as perfectly cylin- drical as poffible, and of a peculiar hard furface; the middle a reduced, to contain the oil neceffary to feed the axletree at the two bearings h b^ having a fhouldcr Cy againft which the wheel-box takes its bearings; the adjoining collar J is groov- ed for a wafher, to preferve the oil, and prevent noife in its ufe, with a rim t on the collar of the axletree, to anfwer the ufe of a cuttoo. The end /is double fcrewed, to receive two nuts for fecuring the wheel ; the one fcrcw turns the way of the wheel, the other the referve, and is meant as an additional fecurity to prevent the wheel coming of.

K. The box fhewn whole, and horizontally cut through the middle, which is made of a very hard metal, nicely polifhed, and fitted to the arms ; having a rccefs g at the back part, for containing there a fupply of oil ; having back and fore end proje£lions hh\ the back one fits clofe to the rim of the collar, which it covers ; the fore one projc6ls without the furface of the wheel-ftock, and is fcrewed on the infide, to re- ceive the fcrew of the cap.

L. The cap, which covers the nut, and re- ceives the wafte of oil, is moflly made of brafs, and fcrewed on, or in the box, and againft the front of the wheel-ftock. This form of cap is ufcd to all but the common axletree.

THE NEW PATTERN AXLETREE AND BOX.

Fig. 4. This new invention has fome ingenious evafions of the patent, but encroaches fo much upon its principle as to make it unneceffary to beflow further obfervation on them ; but where they are different, a fufficient defcription is given in the plate ; and its references will convey as much information as is confiltent with impartiality.

M. The arms, made as perfect1y cylindrical as poflible, of a hard furface, having a fhallow flute or groove at a on the top, for the oil to be conveyed to the extremity of the axletree, which jt continually fupplies.

The collar or fhoulder ^ is made conical for the wheel box to wear againft, having a fmall groove alfo at c, for receiving a leather to pre- vent noife in ufe; a leather waflier is alfo applied between the box and fhoulder; it has alfo a double-fcrewed end dy to receive the nuts, which are alfo fcrewed on reverfe to each other : in the form of this fcrew there is alfp a little difference made, only as a deviation from the copy.

N. The box fhewn as whole and horizontally cut through the middle. This box is alfo made of a very hard call metal, nicely fitted and polifhed within. The recefs for the oil at e is the fame with the laft, asalfo are its projeftions/ for the fame purpofe exactly, except the back fhoulder, which is bevelled to fit the conical collar.

THE NEW PATTERN AXLETREE, WITH DOUBLE CASE BOX.

Fig. 5. This new invention, the novelty of which lies in the box, is for the fame purpofes as the two laft, to contain a fupply of oil, and wear perfect for a greater length of time, than the common axletree and box. This, in the conftruftion, differs much from the reft, but the want of time to prove its fufficiency prevents any certain recommendation.

O. The arms of this axletree are made in the fame manner as the common fort, but cafe hard- ened, with a fmgle fcrewed end a, having a brafs collar by with a deep groove r, to receive the projeding end of the outward cafe box which runs therein, and prevents dirt getting between the axletree and box.

P. The outer box or cafe, with the wearing box within, reprefentcd whole, and horizontally «ut to flicw the principle of ir.

Q. The inner or wearing box {hewn apart, previous to fixing it in its cafe. This box is made cafe hardened on the infide, and hts cloi'ely to the axletree arms ; they arc made fliorter than the cafe or outer box, to admit the projeftion b b at each end for the fame purpofes as the laft, having two collars or bearings c c, which fit clofc to the inner furface of the outer box, between which two bearings and boxes at d d the oil is contained, which oozes through two fmall holes €y at the back end of the box, on to the axletree arms.

Thefe two boxes, after being made feparate, are welded or brazed to each other ; the oil is fupplied at the back through a fmall hole f. which is plugged with a cork or fcrew.

R. The collar, made of brafs, is fixed on the back part of the axletree arms, having a groove gy in which the back projeftion of the outer box is to run, for the purpofe of preventing dirt from getting in.

Each of thofe three laft axletrees have peculiar wrenches to take off the nuts and caps with, and which are always included in the price with them.

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