AN IMPROVED STEAM MOTOR FOR TRAMWAYS AND OTHER RAILROADS
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Felix Gendebien, of Brussels, Belgium, Engineer,
for the Invention of " AN IMPROVED STEAM MOTOR FOR TRAMWAYS AND
OTHER RAILROADS."
Sealed the 20th December 1875, and dated the 24th September 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Felix Gendebien at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 24th September 1875.
I, FELIX GENDEBIEN, of Brussells, Belgium, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention for "AN IMPROVED STEAM MOTOR
FOR TRAMWAYS AND OTHER RAILROADS," to be as follows:-
My Invention relates to various improvements applicable to motors
or locomotives for tramways and local or branch lines of railway, and
consists―
1st. In the application to a motor for tramways, and in. general to
vehicles propelled by an inanimate motive power of engines of high
speed and with several cylinders, such for example as 3 cylinder
engines, on what is known as Brotherhood's systom, the motion of these

page_text: engines is transmitted to an intermediate axle without a wheel but
coupled by rods to the wheels of the engine, the transmission of tho
motion of the engine to the intermediate axle being effected either by a
screw acting upon a worm wheel or by the intervention of toothed
gearing. The arrangement may be applied either to an ordinary
tramway car, or to a vehicle running on branch or local lines of railway,
or to a vehicle mounted on two trucks arranged on what is known as
the American system, or to a special traction locomotive engine attached
to independent vehicles, or in any other similar manner.
2ndly. In constructing and arranging surface condensers in the
following manner:-The tubes situate in the interior of the condenser
are vertical, and the air circulates inside the tubes which form a
chimney, the circulation of the air in the tubes being somewhat rapid
in consequence of the heat to which it is therein exposed. The con-
densor is capable of being taken apart with facility, that is to say, the
whole of the interior can be taken out and the necessary cleaning and
repairs effected, without unrivelting the internal tubes which are all
removed together with their tube plates. The discharged steam should
traverse the series of tubes before reaching the chimney, this steam is
cooled and condensed on the way, the water falls back in the form of
spray and the portion of the steam which is not completely condensed
but which is moist, is rendered invisible by the reheating which it
undergoes in the chimney of the steam generator through which it
passes before being discharged into the atmosphere. The feed pump of
the generator has its suction pipe connected with the lower part of the
condenser, and the generator is thus continually supplied with hot
water, and when the condensed water is insufficient for the supply, water
is admitted to that part from an auxiliary reservoir, which is heated
from below by the steam discharged from the cylinders and before this
steam reaches the condenser.
3rd. In the employment of a small fly wheel, which being situated
upon the shaft of the engine, regulates its action and maintains a
continual contact between the teeth of the gearing so as to avoid shocks
or concussions. A break is applied to this fly wheel which may be
actuated from either end of the engine by means of pedals.
In carrying out this Invention the motor may consist of a special
truck hauling an independent vehicle, it may moreover be mounted on

page_text: the vehicle itself, which is then carried on a greater number than two
pairs of wheels, arranged so as to pass round curves of small radius.
According to the arrangement which it is preferred to employ, the
locomotive or traction engine forms an independent vehicle by itself,
consisting of a steam boiler of any suitable construction, such for
example as that known as Belleville's system, or a reservoir of super-
heated water on what is known as Lamm's system, or any other suitable
generator of motive force by steam or gas, which boiler or other
generator is arranged by preference at one side of the carriage near one
end, with the condenser herein-before described and the coal bunker or
receptacle for fuel, and a reservoir or tank for a supply of water heated
in the manner herein-before described arranged opposite to it on the
other side, the condenser being placed opposite the generator and the
receptacle for fuel arranged under the tank at the side of the condenser
next to the engine.
An engine of high speed with several cylinders, such for example as
that constructed according to the system known as Brotherhood's,
herein-before referred to, is placed at the other end, and being suitably.
connected with the Belleville boiler or other generator drives a shaft
carrying a pinion gearing into a toothed wheel, which must be of
suitable proportionate diameter, so as to reduce the relative number of
revolutions made by the intermediate shaft upon which it is mounted
to correspond to the speed at which the vehicles for propelling the
carriage are required to travel, say about 4 to 1. This intermediate
shaft is connected with the propelling or driving wheels, travelling on
the rails by means of connecting or coupling rods and cranks, and the
crank shaft of the engine is provided with a fly wheel and break, acting
in the manner herein-before described, the break being worked from
either end of the locomotive by suitable pedals and connections provided
for that purpose. The connecting pipes between the engine are provided
with a regulating valve, also capable of being manipulated from either
end of the locomotive. By means of these arrangements the whole of.
the conditions requisite for a motor for tramways are fulfilled, that is to
say, the motor is noiseless, it emits no smoke, it is. capable of passing
over curves of the smallest radius and of travelling with equal facility
and without danger in either direction.
•

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Felix Gendebien in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 8th March 1876.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, FELIX
GENDEBIEN, of Brussells, Belgium, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-fourth day of September, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in
the 39th year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and succes-
sors, give and grant unto me, the said Felix Gendebien, Her special
license, that I, the said Felix Gendebien, my executors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Felix Gendebien, my
executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and all times thereafter during
the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
“An Improved STEAM MOTOR FOR TRAMWAYS AND OTHER RAILROADS,” upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said Felix Gendebien, my
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed,
and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within
six calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Felix Gendebien, do hereby declare
the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the
following statement, reference being had to the accompanying Drawings
and to the letters and figures marked thereon, that is to say:-
My Invention relates to various improvements applicable to motors
for tramways and local or branch lines of railway, and consists,―
1st. In the application to a motor for tramways and in general to
vehicles propelled by an inanimate motive power of high speed multiple
cylinder engines, such for example as 3 cylinder engines on what is

page_text: known as Brotherhood's system, the motion of the engines is transmitted
to an intermediate wheelless axle coupled by rods to the wheels of the
engine, the transmission of the motion of the engine to such inter-
mediate axle being effected either by a screw acting upon a worm wheel
or by the intervention of toothed gearing. The arrangement may be
applied either to an ordinary tramway car or to a vehicle running on.
branch or local lines of railway or to a vehicle mounted on two trucks
arranged on what is known as the American system or to a special
traction locomotive engine attached to independent vehicles, or in any.
other similar manner.
2ndly. In constructing and arranging surface condensers in the
following manner :-The tubes situate in the interior of the condenser are
vertical and open at both ends for the circulation of air in their interior,
the tubes thus form a flue or chimney, the circulation of the air therein
being rendered sufficiently rapid in consequence of the heat to which it
is exposed. The condenser is capable of being taken apart with facility,
that is to say, the whole of the interior can be taken out and the
necessary cleaning and repairs effected without unrivetting the internal
tubes, which are all removed together with their tube plates. The
discharged steam passes amongst and in contact with the tubes before
reaching the chimney, the steam is thus cooled and condensed on the
way, the water falls back in the form of spray, and the portion of the
steam not completely condensed, but which is moist, is rendered invisible
by the reheating to which it is subjected in the chimney of the steam
generator through which it passes before being discharged into the
atmosphere. The feed pump of the generator has its suction pipe con-
nected with the lower part of the condenser so that the generator is
continually supplied with hot water. When the water of condensation
is insufficient for the supply, water is admitted to that part from an
auxiliary reservoir which is heated from below, by the steam discharged
from the cylinders, and before such steam reaches the condenser.
3rdly. In the employment of a small fly wheel upon the shaft of
the engine in order to regulate its action and maintain a continual
contact between the teeth of the gearing, thereby preventing shocks or
concussions. A break is applied to this fly wheel which may be actuated
from either end of the engine by means of pedals.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall
now proceed to describe as an example a motor constructed in accordance

page_text: therewith; the motor may either consist of a special truck hauling an
independent vehicle, or it may be mounted on the vehiclo itself, which is
then carried on a greater number than two pairs of wheels arranged so
as to pass round curves of small radius.
Sheet 1 of the accompanying Drawings illustrates the general
arrangement of the steam locomotive or traction engine; and Sheet 2
shows the details of the condenser.
In Figures 1, 2, and 3 (Sheet 1), which are respectively a side
elevation, sectional plan, and end view, I have shown an inexplosible
steam boiler or generator. A, B, C, D (Figure 2), A', A", B', B",
(Figure 1), 0¹, C", B, B (Figure 3), constructed on what is known
as Belleville's system. The engine may be actuated either by an
ordinary steam boiler or by a reservoir of superheated water, on what is
known as Lamm's system or by any other generator of power by steam
or gas. In E, F, I have shown the shaft of a three cylinder Brotherhood
engine, the motion of which is transmitted to an intermediate axle G, H,
by means of toothed gearing in such a manner as to reduce the speed in
the proportion of, say about 4 to 1. The motion is transmitted to the
wheels of the carriago from the axle before mentioned by the intervention
of connecting rods.
The small fly wheel V situate on the axlo of the engine regulates its
motion and establishes a constant contact between the teeth of the
gearing so as to avoid shocks. K is the regulator valve of the engine
which can be manipulated from either end of the vehicle or carriage by
means of the rods K, I, K, J; L are the handles of the break apparatus
which can be worked from either end of the vehicle; M the couplings
for the vehicles to be bauled; N, O, P is the curved frame plate;
Q, R is a brake applied to the fly wheel of the engine, and which can
be worked from the two extremities of the engine by the pedals S, T.
The details of the condenser are shown in Sheet 2 of my Drawings, in
which Figure 1 represents a side elevation, and Figure 2, a plan. A, B,
C, D, (Figure 2), A', A", B', B" (Figure 1), is the coal bunker or
receptacle for fuel; E, T, G, H, a reservoir of water heated from below
by the steam discharged from the motive cylinders I, J, K, L (Figure 2)
I³, J¹, J", 1ª (Figure 1) is a reservoir capable of being taken apart
traversed internally by vertical tubes in which air is allowed to circulate
so as to cool the internal metal surface, whereby the steam is condensed
against the external surface of the tubes and falls in the form of spray

page_text: to the bottom of the condenser. By means of these arrangements the
conditions requisite for a motor for tramways are fulfilled, that is to say,
the motor is noiseless; it emits no smoke; it is capable of passing over
curves of the smallest radius with equal facility and without danger in
either direction.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or
carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is,―
First. The application to motors for tramways and other like purposes
of high speed multiple cylinder engines, such for example as three
cylinder engines, on what is known as Brotherhood's system, the motion
being transmitted from the engine to a wheelless axle arranged
parallel to the axles of the vehicle by the intervention of an endless
screw and worm wheel or toothed gearing, substantially as herein-before
described.
Second. The employment of surface condensers having tubes open
at both ends for the passage of air, substantially as herein-before
described.
Third. The application and use of a fly wheel for maintaining the
teeth of the gearing constantly in contact, substantially as and for the
purposes herein-before described.
Fourth. The combination in a motor for the purposes before mentioned
of high speed multiple cylinder engines, of the peculiar surface condenser
and of a fly wheel mounted upon the engine shaft or axle, all arranged
together and in conjunction with the other parts of the motor, and
operating substantially as herein-before described and illustrated by my
Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Felix Gendebien, have to this
my Specification set my hand and seal, this Second day of
March. One thousand eight hundred and seventy-six