Improvements in the Construction of Rolling Stock.
Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 30th July, 1888
Complete Specification Left, 26th Apr., 1889-Accepted, 27th July, 1889
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Rolling Stock.
I, SAMSON Fox, of the Leeds Forge, Leeds, in the County of York, Engineer and
Ironmaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
Rolling Stock such as Carriages, Wagons, open or closed Trucks, Bogoys, and other
similar vehicles used on railways, tramways or common roads are ordinarily con-
structed of heavily framed timber and metal work involving a large amount of dead
weight.
Now any invention has for its object to produce rolling stock equally strong and
commodious but much lighter and less costly than such as above referred to. For
this purpose I construct the underframes and bodies of thin plates or sheets of metal
such as iron or steel rendered stiff or rigid by pressing, flanging indenting, buckling,
embossing or corrugating, such parts being suitably combined to form my improved
vehicles according to the purposes for which they may be intended.
The sides or soles may be made either with or without the axle guards (but I prefer
to make them in one piece) and may be flanged either inside or outside, having
suitable indented recesses for the admission of buffer springs and other details used in
the construction of rolling stock such as above referred to. The axle guards are
stiffened against lateral action by suitable flangings and indents, bucklings, cuboss-
ments or corrugations. The headstocks or buffer beams and other longitudinal and
transverse parts are constructed of metallic plates having in parted to them tho
characteristics abovementioned, and in order to render the said underframing rigid
in a rectangular sense without the use of diagonals or struts such as are placed in
timber framed vehicles, I provide in some cases narrow headstocks made of metallic
plate and having all-round or trough-like flanging, their hollow sides being placed
either inside or outside. In other cases i provide a broad transverse tie or ties flanged
to a trough-like shape and to which the soles are attached. Such transverse tie or ties
may be placed either with the bottom of the trough or the flange uppermost. If pre-
ferred the bottom may have an opening, thus forming a rectangular open and flanged
frame.
The sides, ends, bottom and top of the improved vehicles I also make of thin
metallic plates or sheets formed with indented, buckled, embossed, or corrugated
panels, or ridges and grooves so as to render them strong and rigid while securing
lightness with strength and durability.
Dated this 28th day of July 1888.
THOS. EDWIN CRAVEN,
Agent for the Applicant.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Construction of Rolling Stock. .
I, SAMSON Fox, of the Leeds Forge, New Wortley, Leeds, in the County of York,
Engineer and Ironmaster, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
Rolling stock such as Carriages, Wagons, open or closed Trucks, Bogeys, and other
similar vehicles used on railways, tramways, or common roads, are ordinarily constructed
of heavily framed timber and metalwork, involving a large amount of dead weight,
the drawing of which either on rails or common roads necessitates considerable
expenditure of power.
Now my invention has for its object the production of rolling stock which whilst

page_text: equally strong and commodious shall be much lighter and less costly than such as above
referred to. For this purpose I construct the underframes and bodies of my vehicles
as hereinafter described, of thin plates or sheets of metal such as iron or steel, rendered
stiff or rigid by forming them with flanges, indents, bucklings, embossments or
corrugations produced by pressing or stamping in male and female dies, and suitably
combining such parts in the construction of my improved vehicles according to the
purpose or purposes for which the respective vehicle or carriage may be intended.
The soles or sides may be made with or without the axle guards, (but I prefer to
make them in one piece) and may be flanged either inside or outside, having suitable
indented recesses for the admission of buffer springs and other parts used in the
construction of rolling stock such as above referred to.
The axle guards are stiffened against lateral action by suitable flangings and indents,
bucklings, embossments or corrugations. The headstocks or buffer beams and other
transverse and longitudinal parts are constructed of metallic plates having imparted to
them as set forth, the characteristics above mentioned ; and in order to render the
anderframing rigid.in a rectangular sense, without the use of diagonals or struts such
as are employed in timber framed vehicles. I provide broad transverse ties (transomes).
flanged to a trough like shape and to which I attach the sills or frame-plates. If
preferred the bottoms of such broad ties may each have an opening or openings therein
tbus constituting a rectangular open flanged frame formed in one piece of metal.
Other detail parts usually constructed of heavily framed timber and metal I also
make as hereinafter described of thin metallic plates (say iron or mild steel), such as
bogey frames, bolster beams, draw beams, brake beams, central swivel plates and other
parts capable of being constructed cheaply by my system of flanging, embossing and
so on, in suitably formed male and female dies, which is an important departure from
the usual practice in the construction of rolling stock generally.
The bodies or upper parts of rolling stock I also construct of thin metallic plates
such as mild steel flanging, buckling, embossing, indenting or corrugating the same
..so as to render them strong and rigid while at the same time rendering the vehicle
light.
Carriages of great length when of timber construction require to be strengthened
longitudinally by truss bolts and other devices to render them sufficiently rigid to
withstand the various strains to which they are sometimes subjected; these additions,
besides increasing the weight of such carriages also increase the cost.
Now by my improved construction of the underwork of such long vehicles of flanged
metallic plates as hereinafter described, I obtain the necessary strength and rigidity
combined with lightness and economy in cost compared with the constructions heretofore
usually adopted. And in order that the nature of my invention and the manner of
carrying it into practical effect may be fully understood, I proceed to describe it more
in detail, with reference to the annexed illustrative drawings, in which each example
has the same letters of reference applied to a given part in each of the several views
in which that part is shewn..
•
Fig. 1. Sheet 1. shews in longitudinal sectional elovation part of a flanged metallic
underframe.
Fig. 2. is a part plan of such an underframe.
Fig. 3. is a transverse sectional elevation on the line B. B. of Fig. 2. shewing the
indentation a, in the sill of the flanged frame plate, and
Fig. 4. is a sectional elevation at A, A, and C, C, the latter being at the horn
plates D.
E, is an embossment around each horn plate to give lateral stiffness thereto. b, is the
headstock or buffer beam, c, is a transome or tie-piece between the two sills and of
which there are a number in the length of the framework. d, is one of a series of
longitudinal stays extending from each headstock b to the transomes c.-e, is a broad
box-like longitudinal stay between the transomes c. The whole of these parts are
constructed of thin metallic plates rendered stiff or rigid by forming flanges around
them by pressing or stamping in male and female dies as horeinabove referred to, and
afterwards rivetting together.

page_text: Fig. 17, is a front elevation of an improved metallic brake beam produced by
pressing or stamping plate metal such as mild steel in male and female dies of suitable
configuration.
Fig. 18, is a plan.
Fig. 19, is an end elevation.
Fig. 20, is a transverse section at F, F, in Figs. 17, and 18, shewing a strap B, and
plate C, embracing the beam at this part (avoiding bolt holes) for the connection
thereto of the usual actuating mechanism. It will be seen that the ends A, A, of the
brake beam are elongated transversely for the reception or connection thereto of
brake-blocks D, which are attached thereto by cotters E, E, and thus by avoiding bolt
holes in the beam its full strength is maintained.
Fig. 21, shews in end elevation the brake-beam and the manner of attaching
the brake blocks D, as previously referred to. The whole is suspended in the manner
usual with such apparatus.
Fig. 22, shews in plan my improved metallic draw-beam, which like the above
described brake beam is of "box form," such form being obtained by pressing or
stamping metallic plate in suitable dies.
Fig. 23, is a front view looking at the open side.
•
Fig. 24, is a transverse section of the same at G, G.-1 produce this draw-beam
with flanges H, H, for not only imparting additional strength thereto but also for
affording greater bearing surfaces against a transome or other part or parts of the
underframework of a vehicle than would be offered by the thin edges alone of the
beam without such flanges, whether such part or parts of underframework be of
wood or iron. This improved draw-beam is pierced at I, for the admission of
the draw-bar, and also at J, near the ends, for the eyebolts of supplemental drag-links
to pass through.
Bogie frames, being part of rolling stock, as generally constructed of a combination
of timber and- metal,-are-necessarily very heavy and costly. I obviate these
disadvantages by constructing my improved Bogie-frames-of-light-plate-metal-such.as
mild steel. A sectional elevation of such a bogie frame is shown in Fig. 8, Sheet 2,
in connection with an under-frame of long type. Figs. 25, 26, and 27 further
illustrate such a bogie frame, Fig. 25 being a side elevation, Fig. 26, a plan and
Fig. 27, a half end elevation.
I construct the wheel pieces D, D, or those parts having the horn plates of this or
other forms of bogies hereinafter referred to by pressing or stamping in accordance
with the process described in the specification of Letters Patent granted to me
October 29th 1885, No. 13019, and December 1st 1886. No. 15687.
After the parts D; D, have been pressed to form, the ends are bent at right
angles and joined together by flanged "butt-plates " D3, D3 and rivets, so that
the said wheel pieces looking at them in plan are of rectangular form with rounded
corners.
Flanged transomes R 1, R1, are fixed across the centre of the said wheel pieces
and upon them is fixed the lower part S of my improved central swivel plate.
A plate T, is attached at each end of and upon the said transomes R. 1, and the
wheel pieces D, D. A diagonal piece U, is fixed at each internal corner of the
framing; these maintain the rectangularity of the frame. Provision is made in
the parts U, for connecting the bearing springs thereto.
Fig. 28. Sheet 5. is an elevation partly in section, and Fig. 29, is a plan, shewing
a modification in the construction of a bogie frame according to my invention.
The lower
The wheel pieces D, D, are made by pressing as above referred to.
flanging (from the bottom of and between the horns K, to K, and from the bottom
of the horns at L, L, to the ends), is on the inside of the wheel piece D. The upper
flange D1, is on the outside of wheel pieces D, and is of considerable breadth so as
to have lateral strength and rigidity.
Flanged tie pieces M, connect the two wheel pieces at the ends.
Flanged. transomes N, one at each side of a central bolster Q, connect the said
wheel nienne at this nort

page_text: Between the said transomes N, N, and each end picce M, M, are flanged longitudinal
ties 0, 0, 0, 0, and short cross tie pieces P, P, P, P, connecting the latter to the
wheel pieces D, D.-Q, is the central bolster supported upon springs in a similar
manner to that in a Pullman Car Bogie; and upon it is fixed the lower part S of my
improved central swivel plato.
On Sheet 6, is illustrated another modified form of Bogie frame according to my
invention and is designed for a freight car, the wheel pieces, which have the form
of "trussed. framing" being better adapted for carrying heavy weights than the
Bogie frames above referred to.
Fig. 30, is a side elevation with the half A. in section.
Fig. 31, is a half plan with the part corresponding to "A" Fig. 30, in section.
Fig. 32, is a sectional elevation through or at one of the axle boxes and horn-
plates.
The wheel pieces D, which are provided with tie pieces E, for connecting them
together at their ends, are made of plate metal (mild steel preferred). The tie
pieces E, are flanged all round so as to embrace the ends of the wheel pieces D, to
which they are rivetted.
In the centre of the length of each wheel piece I from an opening D 1, for the
reception of a spring bolster F, this opening being flanged, by preference at the
outside of the wheel pieces D, and the spring bolster F, placed therein and secured
by rivets.
The spring bolster therefore takes a bearing direct upon the body of the wheel
pieces D, and not merely upon the projecting flange of the opening that receives it. The
spring bolster F, is of trough form; its upper edges F 1, between the wheel pieces D,
are turned outwards so as to give lateral strength and rigidity to it, and its bottom
part has a flanged opening F2, which imparts strength in a vertical direction.
The said bolster F, at each end contains springs G (herein shewn of spiral form)
upon which the truck bolster H rests.
This bolster I also make of a stamped or pressed metallic plate (by preference of
mild steel), of trough form, flanged all round; (the flanges in the middle being
deeper than at the ends) and connected by a bolster cross tie I, which is also of a
trough shape stamped or pressed to form. There is an opening I 1, in the centre of
the cross tie I, to give access to the king-bolt around which the swivelling of the
truck takes place.
Upon the truck bolster H, is mounted the lower part S, of my improved central
swivel plate.
Fig. 33. Sheet 7, shews in side elevation with part A, in section, a complete truck,
the underframing constructed of thin metallic plates stamped or pressed to form by
the process hereinabove referred to, and with the body of similar material and flanged
in a similar manner to ensure rigidity, and joined together by rivetting or otherwise.
The floor which may also be of flanged metallic platos is here shewn of wood which
for some kinds of merchandise may be more suitable. The truck is constructed for
opening both at the sides and the bottom.
Fig. 34, is a plan of the same partly in section and
Fig. 35, is an end view partly in section, a, a, are the metallic sides and ends ;-
b, the flanges for imparting the necessary stiffness thereto and by which the parts are
joined together; c, c, are side doors, d, d, are trap doors in the floor.
Fig. 36, Sheet 8, shews a complete truck or wagon in side elevation, with the part A,
in section, the underframing being of metallic plate stamped or pressed to form by
the process hereinbefore referred to.
Fig. 37. is a plan with one half of the body removed.
Fig. 38, an end view with one half of the body and underframing in cross-
section.
The body (also being of metallic plate pressed or stamped in the same manner) is
of the hopper type and suitable for minerals and other materials.
The sides and ends a, are made in parts with flanges b, at their junction and rivetted,
so arranged as to reuder them sufficiently rigid ; c, c, c, c, are trap doors and form

page_text: the floor; d, d, are parts forming the end slopes of the hopper, and e, è, the side
slopes,, is my improved drawbeam partly in section, and 9, 9, are axle guards made
in separate parts as previously referred to.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The construction in the several ways hereinabove described and shewn in the
drawings, of underframes and bogies for rolling stock, of plates pressed to form with
flanges as set forth.
2. The construction of Trucks or Wagons having bodies or underframes
of plates pressed to form with flanges as described and shewn in Figs. 33 to 38
inclusive.
3. As a new article of manufacture central swivel plates for Bogie Cars, formed of
plate metal by pressing or stamping in male and female dies substantially as described
and shewn.
4. The improved metallic brake beam for freight or passenger cars or coaches, or
for bogies and for other kinds of rolling stock, produced by pressing or stamping
plate metal into box form by means of male and female dies substantially as described
and shewn in the drawings annexed.
5. The improved metallic draw beam for rolling stock produced by stamping or
pressing plate metal into box-form by means of male and female dies substantially as
hereinabove referred to and illustrated for the purpose specified.
6. The construction of axle guards in separate parts of plate metal cut to form and
flanged by pressure or otherwise as shewn.
Dated this 25th day of April 1889.