Ax′le-gage.
A tool by which the spindle is so adjusted in relation to the axle-tree, as to give the required swing and gather. The swing is adjusted to give the downward inclination, and the axle is bent to conform to this guide. The gather is given by the adjustable standard. The swing is the outward inclination of the top of the wheel, and is to meet the requirements of the conical axle, so that the bottom edge of the spindle shall ride about horizontal. Were the spindle destitute of swing, the wheel would ride outward, bearing heavily against the linch pin or nut. The gather is the forward inclination of the spindle relatively to the general line of direction of the axle-tree. It is to bring the forward edge of the taper spindle into a direction nearly transversely across the vehicle, so as to prevent the riding out of the wheel against the hub, which would result from placing a wheel on a conical spindle without gather. Fig. 503 shows a somewhat different form of the gage, in which the concave end of the sliding gage is placed on one spindle, and the other spindle set by the adjustable bars. [202] |
| Axle-gage. |
