IMPROVEMENTS IN. TRACTION : ENGINES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES AND WHEELED CARRIAGES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Phillips-Smith, of Hereford, in the County of
Hereford, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN. TRACTION
: ENGINES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE TO LOCOMOTIVE
ENGINES AND WHEELED CARRIAGES,"
Sealed the 25th January 1867, and dated the 28th July 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Phillips-Smith at
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th July 1866.
.....
I, JOHN PHILLIPS-SMITH, of Hereford, in the County of Hereford, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TRACTION ENGINES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO. APPLICABLE TO
LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES AND WHEELED CARRIAGES," to be as follows:-
1.47
The first part of this Invention is intended to prevent such engines from
running away in the event of part of the engine driving gear breaking whilst
ascending or descending an incline. In order to prevent an engine from
running backwards after such accident whilst ascending an incline I propose
to key a ratchet wheel on the driving axle, and to attach a dog or ratchet to
the frame, so that the axle can revolve forwards, but immediately upon its
attempting to run backwards it is stopped by the dog falling into the teeth of
the ratchet wheel. When it is desired to back the engine the driver must
lift the dog out of the ratchet wheel. This arrangement is automatic, but
only acts in one direction. This part of my Invention is equally applicable
to locomotive engines and to wheeled carriages. If it be desired to stop the
Pine 871

page_text: running away of the engine in either direction in the event of the engine or
driving gear breaking I attach a dog, stop, or bolt to the framing, and
connect the same with a lever in such a way that by pulling or pushing the
lever the driver can throw out the dog or bolt and lock the driving wheels
or axle.
The second part of my improvements in traction engines consists of a
peculiar arrangement of the engine itself, whereby no part of the engine is
placed on the top of the boiler as hitherto practised. 1 place the two
cylindersinside the main framing and below the boiler, and bolt them strongly
to a transverse frame, the centre lines of the said cylinders being parallel to
the longitudinal centre line of the main frame. The crank shaft is also placed
below the boiler, being parallel to the axle of the travelling wheels, which it
actuates by means of a spur pinion and spur wheel. The whole of the
working parts of the engine being thus placed below the boiler and fastened
to the main frame, the necessity for bolting or rivetting brackets or other
fixtures to the boiler, which is a frequent cause of leakage, is thereby dispensod
with, besides which the engine and gearing work much more steadily, and
I am enabled to place a steam dome of large size on the top of the boiler, and
thereby ensure a good supply of dry steam and prevent priming.
Engines of this construction may also be used for drawing implements for
the cultivation of land by the addition of a shaft or axle, on one or each end of
which outside the main framing is a drum for coiling the rope, the said shaft
or axle being supported in suitable bearings attached to the main frame and
driven direct from the crank shaft by a spur wheel and pinion.
The engine may also be adapted for pumping purposes by attaching centri-
fugal pumps on to the shaft above described in place of the rope coiling drums.
The shaft for carrying these pumps or rope coiliug drums I prefer to place
parallel to the crank shaft, and between it and the cylinders, by which
means I have the whole of the working strain immediately in the centre of
the engine.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Phillips-Smith in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th January 1867.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
PHILLIPS-SMITH, of Hereford, in the County of Hereford, Engineer, send 3
greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six, in the thirtieth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,
the said John Phillips-Smith, Her special licence that I, the said John
Phillips-Smith, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said John Phillips-Smith, executors, administrators, and assigns,
should at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at 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 "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRACTION ENGINES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE
ALSO APPLICABLE TO LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES AND WHEELED CARRIAGES," upon the
condition (amongst others) that I, the said John Phillips-Smith, my exe-
cutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under my, or their, or
one of their hands and seals, 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 aud immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John Phillips-Smith, 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 in writing, and on reference to the accompanying Sheet
of Drawings, that is to say:-
The first part of this Invention is intended to prevent such engines from
running away in the event of part of the engine or driving gear breaking
whilst ascending or descending an incline. In order to prevent an engine
from running backwards after such accident whilst ascending an incline I
propose to key a ratchet wheel on the driving axle and to attach a dog or
ratchet to the frame, so that the axle can revolve forwards, but immediately
upon its attempting to run backwards it is stopped by the dog falling into the
teeth of the ratchet wheel; when it is desired to back the engine the driver
must lift the dog out of the ratchet wheel; this arrangement is automatic, but
only acts in one direction. . This part of my Invention is equally applicable to
locomotive engines and to wheeled carriages. If it be desired to stop the
running away of the engine in either direction in the event of the engine or
driving gear breaking I use two ratchet wheels with their teeth reversed, or I
attach a dog stop or bolt to the framing and connect the same as a lever in

page_text: such a way that by pulling or pushing the lever, the driver can throw out the
dog or
bolt and lock the driving wheels or axle.
The second part of my improvements in traction engines consists of a
peculiar arrangement of the engine itself, whereby no part of the engine is
placed on the top of the boiler, as hitherto practised. I place the two cylinders,
inside the main framing and below the boiler, and bolt them strongly to. a..
transverse frame, the centre lines of the said cylinders being parallel to the
longitudinal centre line of the main frame; the crank shaft is also placed.
below the boiler, being parallel to the axle of the travelling wheels, which it.
actuates by means of a spur pinion and spur wheel, or an endless chain and
stud wheels. The whole of the working parts of the engine being thus placed.
below the boiler and fastened to the main frame the necessity for bolting or
rivetting brackets or other fixtures to the boiler, which is a certain cause of
leakage is thereby dispensed with, besides which the engine and gearing
work much more steadily, and I am enabled to place a steam dome of large
size on the top of the boiler,and thereby ensure a good supply of drysteam and
prevent priming.
Engines of this construction may also be used for drawing implements for
the cultivation of land by the addition of a shaft or axle, on one or each
end of which, outside the main framing, is a drum for coiling the rope, the
said shaft or axle being supported in suitable bearings attached to the main
frame, and driven direct from the crank shaft by a spur wheel and pinion.
The engine may also be adapted for pumping purposes by attaching
centrifugal or other rotary pumps on to the shaft above described in place of
the rope coiling drums. The shaft for carrying these pumps or rope coiling
drums I prefer to place parallel to the crank shaft, and between it and the
cylinders, by which means I have the whole of the working strain immediately
in the centre of the engine.
Such being the nature and object of mysaid Invention for "Improvements
in Traction Engines, Parts of which Improvements are also applicable to
Locomotive Engines and Wheeled Carriages," I will now proceed to describe
more in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed
or carried into practical effect. And in order that the same may be distinctly
understood have annexed hereunto two Sheet of Drawings illustrative
thereof, and have marked the same with figures and letters of reference
corresponding with those in the following explanation thereof, that is to say:-
The first part of my Invention is illustrated on Sheet One of the annexed
Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a plan view, Fig. 2 a side elevation, and Fig. 3
an end view of the arrangement of apparatus, which I propose to employ for

page_text: the purpose of stopping the engine from running backwards in the event of
any part of the driving gear of the engine breaking whilst ascending or
descending an incline.
a, a, represents part of the driving axle, and b, b, one of the travelling
wheels. Upon the axle a, a, I key or otherwise fasten a ratchet wheel c, c,
and to the main frame d, d, I attach a dog or ratchet e, e, which catches in
the teeth of the ratchet wheel, and thus prevents it from running backwards.
In some cases I key a second ratchet wheel c on the shaft with its teeth in the
reverse direction, and affix a second dog or ratchet el to the main framing;
this arrangement is not automatic, and in the event of an accident the
attendant drops either dog into gear, according to which direction the engine
is inclined to run away. A modification of this arrangement is shewn in end
view at Fig. 4 and side view at Fig. 5. In place of a ratchet wheel a
plate
ff, provided with a certain number of holes formed horizontally 'through the
same in which a bolt g, y, fits is keyed on the axle a, the bolt g,g, may be
pressed forward into either of the holes or withdrawn therefrom by means of
the lever h, h. When it is desired to stop the engine the attendant pulls the
lever h, h, towards him, which thrusts the bolt g, g, forwards into the first
hole that presents itself, and the engine is immediately locked.
Figure 6 shows another modification of the same in which a vertical sliding
bolt i, i, is used in connection with a plate k, k, having notches in the
periphery.
The second part of my Invention is shewn on Sheet 2 of the Drawings, in
which Fig. 7 is a plan view and Fig. 8 a side clevation of my improved
arrangement of traction engine with the boiler and its appurtenances removed.
It will be seen that the two cylinders a, a, are placed inside the main
framing b, b, and beneath the boiler, being firmly bolted to a transverse
frame c, c, and having their centre lines parallel with the longitudinal centre
line of the main frame. d, d, is the crank shaft of the engine, which is also
placed beneath the main framing b, b, and is supported in suitable bearings;
one end of this crank shaft drives the axle of the travelling wheels e, e, by
means of an endless chain f,f, and a stud wheel and pinion; the other end of
the same shaft drives the shaft g, g, on each end of which outside the main
framing is keyed a hauling drum h, h, the motion being communicated from
one shaft to the other by means of the spur wheel and pinion i, i; when
desired a centrifugal or other rotary pump may be substituted for one or both
of the coiling drums h, h. It will be understood that by means of the clutches
i,j, either the travelling or the hauling or pumping gear may be thrown in or
out of gear with the crank shafts and the drums; h, h, are also loose on the

page_text: shaft 9, 9, and either one or the other is alternately connected thereto by a
clutch, as may be required.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention for
"Improvements in Traction Engines, Parts of which Improvements are also
applicable to Locomotive Engines and Wheeled Carriages," together with
the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into
practical effect, I would remark in conclusion that I claim as my Invention,
Firstly, the methods, shewn and described with reference to Sheet 1 of the
Drawings, of stopping or preventing an engine from running backwards
or from running away in the event of part of the engine or driving gear
breaking, or any mere imitation or modification thereof.
And, secondly, I claim the general construction and arrangement of the
engine (as shown and described with reference to Sheet 2 of the Drawings),
whereby I am enabled to place all the working parts of the engine beneath
the main frame, to dispense with all fastenings or attachments to the boiler,
and to drive both traction and cultivating shafts direct from the crank
shaft of the engine without any intermediate gear, and at the same time to
throw all the working strain in the centre of the engine.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Phillips-Smith, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-sixth day of January, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-seven.
J. PHILLIPS-SMITH. (L.8.)
Witness,
BRISTOW HUNT,
Sol. & Patent Agent,
1, Serle St., Lincoln's Inn.