The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-10-08
NUMBER l2---vOLUME 5.
Adhesion of Looomos,. wheel. By Magnetism

Aonekon OF Locomotive Wheels py magnetism.
AS was announced in recent number
of the Rerier, an engine has been fitted
up on the Central Railway of New Jersey
with magnetic driving wheels, and on
Thursday last series of trials was made,
under the direction of Major Edward W.
Serrell, in presence Of the Master Me-
chanic Mr.. Crossman) and other officers
of the road, and number of gentlemen
interested in railways.
The results of the trials may be very
briefly stated as follows: tll
By mems of the magnetist the adhe.
sion is increased seventy five to eighty
per cent, without adding one ounce to the
actual weight of the engine.
The trials were made on the engine
Lebanon" which weighs 21is tons, and
it was found that the power required to
slip the wheels was equal to that which
would have been necessary to do so if the
engine had been loaded with a dead
weight of eighteen tons beyond her own
weight, and the force which gave this
increase of adhesion weighed nothing at
all. As many readers may not understand
the nature of this arrangement, although
it has in part been described in the Re.
vie0, the following may be interesting:
The front driving wheels of the engine
are surrounded by a coil Of copper wire
traversely, and this coil consists of two
hundred and eighty eight turns, forming a
helix of about six inches high and three
inches thick. The wires of which this is
composed are insulated from one another,
and the whole are made damp proof with
India-rubber and suitable casing.
The wheel PLAYS through the helix,
either end Of it being sustained by the
frame of the engine, and the helix is so
curved that its center-line represents an
arc of circle, of which the diameter OF
the wheel is equal to the radius. The
lower surface of the helix comes within
about two and half inches from the track
at the apex, and twelve or fourteen inches
above it at the ends. The wheel comes
within about half an inch from the inside
of the helix all round, but does not touch
it anywhere. The inside of one coil is
connected with the outside OF the other
by wire the same size as the remainder
of the helix.
In order to induce magnetism in the
wheels the helces are connected to bat
terry on the engine. The one used on the
Lebanon" is composed of four square
cells, each cell containing ten zinc and ten
platinized lead plates. The zinc plates
are twelve inches square, and the lead
ones are proportioned according to the
rules laid down by Smees. -E.-. u
Sulphuric acid "a. O.; S. o. l, watei
20, is used to excite action.
Between the battery and the helices, II
the circuit of the current, "closer" il
placed in the cab of the engine, accessible
to the engine-man, by which, on turning {
handle in one direction or the other, eithe
or both of the wheels are msgnetized
separately or together, or neither of them
as required, and magnetometer Is SO ar
ranged as to indicate, somewhat similar tc
a steam gauge, when the acid in the bat
terry requires replenishing. 1t is proposed
in order to make the whole apparatus al
convenient as possible, to have suitable
tank at the water stations to supply thu
aci lulated water, which is to be KEEP
properly mixed and ready for use, and b.
means Of a small hose Of rubber to convey
it into the battery.
The apparatus is simple, economical il
use, and easily fitted to any old or nev
engine, and is no more likely to get out o
order than any other part of the locomo
tive. 20 ' ta' I'D ''''
The objects of this invention are to en-
able light engines TO draw as much q
heavier ones now do; to enable the engin
to ascend sleeper grades, and to make reg
ular time or slippery track, all of whic
will save in the wear and tear Of the ma
chinery. The number Of engines in use
to do the same business, will be lessened
no sand is required to prevent the wheel
Slipping, the bridges will not be strained S
much, and above all, the superstructur
will be saved the enormous weight an
spec of our present engines. .. ,...
While the trials were being made, th
I various persons present expressed gres
interest in the success Of the experiment.
One engineer said, if he had had "ths
thing" ON his engine the night before, b
should not have been kept out on the roa
, four hours after his time in the cold 70,
, Another said, he could have gone TO th
{ iair'if he had had it on his machine, b,
D hat he could not get in, the track was {
blamed slippery" every one could see
was destined to do all that its friends b.
; speak for it. When the magnetism W;
D shut of, the wheels would slip and Il
|, engine cease to draw; when it was aga
! applied, by merely turning small, bra
! handle, the wheels would stop slippir
: and take hold, and draw with the who
!, power Of the steam capacity of the e
gine.-Rdilwdy Re,ieto. ,I i9, sd ~e5
v. :. w.,