GB628681A - Improvements in or relating to axle assemblies for rail vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

628,681. Railway vehicle axles. CROMPTON, PARKINSON, Ltd. Aug. 8, 1947, No. 22020. Convention date, Nov. 29, 1940. [Class 103 (vi)] [Also in Group XXXI] An axle assembly for a rail vehicle comprises an axle shaft having journal bearings at each end and a further bearing between the journal bearings, a driven gear mounted on the shaft, and a housing for the shaft formed in two sections one of which has a driving-gear rotatably mounted therein adapted to engage with the driven gear when the sections are joined together. Means are provided for releasably securing the further bearing against axial movement relative to the other housing section. Both housing sections have portions receiving said journal bearings which portions are smaller in diameter than the remainder of the sections so as to enable the sections when detached from each other to be removed from the shaft, on releasing the securing means, without having to remove the journal bearings. An axle 1, carrying wheels 2 and running in bearings 13, 4 is driven through a coupling 20, a gear 17 and a gear 3 fixed on the axle 1. The bearing 4 is prevented from moving axially relative to the axle by the gear 3 and a fixed sleeve 6. The axle, bearings and gears are enclosed in a housing formed in two parts 9, 11, fixed together by bolts 10a. The left-hand part 9 has a reduced portion 14 engaging the left-hand bearing 13 and a flanged portion 10 which is fixed to the part 11 by the bolts 10a. The flanged portion has a sleeve 7 mounted therein to engage with the bearing 4 and prevent radial movement thereof. The bearing 4, and thus the axle 1, is prevented from axial movement relative to the part 9 by a ring 8a secured to the flange by bolts 8 which also secure the sleeve 7. The right-hand part 11 has a reduced portion 14 engaging with the right-hand bearing 13, a portion 15 housing bearings 16 of the driving gear 17, a sump 12 having a recess 12a, and a cylindrical portion which receives the bolts 10a. The reduced portions 14 facilitate the removal of the parts 9, 11, from the axle 1 without having to remove the bearings 13, 4, and the recess 12a is provided in order to allow clearance for the inner bearing 16 over the right-hand bearing 13 when the part 11 is removed. Lubrication is effected by the gear 3 splashing oil in the sump 12 and causing an oil mist. Oil which passes through the bearing 4 to the left-hand bearing 13 returns to the sump 12 through channel-ways 31, Figs. 1 and 2, while oil for the gear 17 is returned by a channel-way 30, Fig. 2. Oil seals 22 are provided at each end of the axle.