IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE TRACTION ENGINES
Year: 1866

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Daniel Kinnear Clark, C. E., of 11, Adam Street,
Adelphi, in the County of Middlesex, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS
IN LOCOMOTIVE TRACTION ENGINES."
Sealed the 21st December 1866, and dated the 28th June 1866.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Daniel Kinnear Clark
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
28th June 1866.
I, DANIEL KINNEAR CLARK, C.E., of 11, Adam Street, Adelphi, in the
County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE TRACTION ENGINES." to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in locomotive traction
cngines.
In constructing a locomotive traction engine the principal framing is com-
posed of two parallel longitudinal frame plates of iron or steel. At the front
end these frame plates are connected by transverse plates, with which is com-
bined an upright frame; or it may be a hollow shaft constructed of angle iron,
or of angle iron and plates, wherein is arranged the steering apparatus and gear
for steering the carriage by a vertical shaft or spindle. The hinder part of
the main frame is constructed of transverse frame plates with angle iron, and
a foot plate which connect the two longitudinal frame plates together. The

page_text: boiler which is fixed to and carried by the main framing. is
similar to an ordinary tubular locomotive boiler. The axle or shaft of the
driving wheels is situated forward of the fire-box of the boiler, and so as to
throw as much weight as is required on such axle or shaft. The fore part of the
carriage is supported by a pair of wheels which are on a shaft or axle, which
is connected to the lower end of a vertical shaft or spindle; and the fore
wheels are arranged to have a locking motion in order to steer or guide the
carriage. The framing. steam boiler, steam cylinders, water tanks, and other
parts connected therewith, are for the most part carried by the main driving
wheels by the aid of springs, which are applied in the ordinary manner, but
the vertical play of the axle boxes or bearings of the driving wheels is con-
trolled by blocks of vulcanized india-rubber at top and bottom. The two
steam cylinders are fixed in an inclined position to the main framing. one on
each side, and near the fore end thereof. The piston rods of the two steam
cylinders give motion to a shaft below the boiler, from which shaft motion is
communicated to the second shaft by means of two pairs of toothed wheels,
so as to give two speeds. The second shaft carries differential gearing, and
is on the same horizontal line with the shaft or axle of the driving wheels.
The two toothed wheels of the driving gear on the second shaft or axis which
give motion to the driving wheels by means of pinions on the second shaft,
which take into wheels thereon, are combined together by a framing or a hollow
chamber in which is contained the differential gearing, and such
framing or hollow chamber is situated on such second shaft intermediate of its
two end bearings. Friction connections may be applied to the differential
gear to act as a brake to its motions. In some cases I apply friction driving
wheels or rollers over and bearing on the driving wheels, or on rollers attached
to them. The engines may be arranged to drive the two driving
wheels separately, or the combined power of the two steam engines may be
applied to drive the two driving wheels. Friction couplings may be applied
to the second shaft to admit of the yielding of the driving wheels or gearing
when over strained. The vertical shaft or spindle may be actuated by any
suitable gearing to steer the carriage. I employ two screw shafts with screw
nuts and links for this purpose. On either side of the frame and
forward of the driving wheels is a water tank fixed to and carried by the
frame, and in rear of the driving wheels there is on each side a coal box or
receptacle for fuel.
When a worm wheel is employed in steering apparatus the wheel is made of
two similar parts or halves, in order that when the teeth became, worn the
wear is compensated by setting up the parts slightly, so that the parts of the

page_text: teeth of one part will come slightly in advance of their corresponding parts of
the other part, and the driving screws are also formed in two parts to obtain
a like result.
In some cases I employ sand boxes containing sand or other appropriate
material which can be delivered on the road in front of the wheels to prevent
their slipping.
In order to diminish the noise of the blast I subdivide the blast of the
exhaust steam into several jets, which may either be delivered direct into the
chimney, or be provided with a special passage for each jet by dividing
the base of the chimney into as many passages us there are iets
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said Daniel Kinnear Clark in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
28th December 1866.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, DANIEL
KINNEAR CLARK, C.E., of 11, Adam Street, Adelphi, in the County of Middle-
sex, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of June, 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
Daniel Kinnear Clark, Her special licence that I, the said Daniel Kinnear
Clark, my executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as
I, the said Daniel Kinnear Clark, my 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 LOCOMOTIVE TRACTION ENGINES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Daniel Kinnear Clark, my executors or
adininistrators, 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 and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Daniel Kinnear Clark, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the follow-
ing statement thereof, that is to say:
This Invention has for its object improvements in locomotive traction
engines.
boiler, and so as to
The fore part of the
shaft or axle which
In constructing a locomotive traction engine the principal framing is com-
posed of two parallel longitudinal frame plates of iron or steel. At the front
end these frame plates are connected by transverse plates with which is com-
bined an upright frame, or it may be a hollow shaft, constructed of angle iron,
or of angle iron and plates, where is arranged the steering apparatus and gear
for steering the carriage by a vertical shaft or spindle. The hinder part of
the main frame is constructed of transverse frame plates with angle iron and
a foot plate which connect the two longitudinal frame plates together. The
boiler, which is fixed to and carried by the main framing, is
similar to an ordinary tubular locomotive boiler. The axle or shaft of the
driving wheels is situated forward of the ure-box of the
throw as much weight as is required on such axle or shaft.
carriage is supported by a pair of wheels which are on a
is connected to the lower end of a vertical shaft or spindle, and the fore
wheels are arranged to have a locking motion in order to steer or guide the
carriage. The framing. steam boiler, steam cylinders. water tanks, and other
parts connected therewith are for the most part carried by the main driving
wheels by the aid of springs, which are applied in the ordinary manner, but
the vertical play of the axle boxes or bearings of the driving wheels is con-
trolled by blocks of vulcanized india-rubber at top and bottom.
The two
steam cylinders are fixed in an inclined position to the main framing, one on
each side and near the fore end thereof. The piston rods of the two steam
cylinders give motion to a shaft below the boiler, from which shaft motion is
communicated to the second shaft by means of two pairs of toothed wheels,
so as to give two speeds. The second shaft carries differential gearing, and
is on the same horizontal line with the shaft or axle of the driving wheels.
The two toothed wheels of the driving gear on the second shaft or axis which
give motion to the driving wheels by means of pinions on the second shaft,
which take into wheels thereon, are combined together by a framing or a hollow
chamber in which is contained the differential gearing, and such'
framing or hollow chamber is situated on such second shaft intermediate of its
two end bearings. Friction connections may be applied to the differential
gear to act as a break to its motions. In some cases I apply friction driving
wheels or rollers over and bearing on the driving wheels or on rollers attached
to them. The engines may be arranged to drive the two driving

page_text: wheels separately, or the combined power of the two steam engines may be
applied to drive the two driving wheels. Friction couplings may be applied
to the second shaft to admit of the yielding of the driving wheels or gearing
when over strained. The vertical shaft or spindle may be actuated by any
suitable gearing to steer the carriage; I employ two screw shafts with screw
nuts and links for this purpose. On either side of the frame, and
forward of the driving wheels is a water tank fixed to and carried by the
frame, and in rear of the driving wheels there is on each side a coal box or
receptacle for fuel. When a worm wheel is employed in steering apparatus
the wheel is made of two similar parts or halves in order that when the teeth
became worn the wear is compensated by setting up the parts slightly, so that
the parts of the teeth of one part will come slightly in advance of their corre-
sponding parts of the other part, and the driving screws are also formed in two
parts to obtain a like result.
In some cases I employ sand boxes containing sand or other appropriate
material which can be delivered on the road in front of the wheels to prevent
thein alinnine
in section, of the locomotive traction engine herein described; the platforms
are supposed to be removed in Figure 2.
A, A, are the longitudinal frame plates; B, B, the locking or steering
frame; C, the steering spindle supporting the bearing spring D, and free to
play vertically through the double lever E, to which motion for steering is
given by the pair of screws F, F, with nuts G, G, and links H, H. The
screws are geared together by the pinions I, I, and turned by the hand wheel
J, so that the nuts traverse the screws in opposite directions and give the
necessary angle to the lever E, the spindle C, and the axle of the fore wheels,
which is embraced by the base of the spindle; K, the engineman's platformi
with draw spring L; M, the barrel of the boiler; N, the fire-box; 0, 0, the
forc or steering wheels; P, P, the steam cylinders, which with their slides
and connections are of the ordinary construction; Q, the crank or first shaft
carrying the loose pinions R, R, one or other of which may he engaged with
the shaft by means of the sliding clutch S, with any of the usual appliances
for working clutches; T, the second shaft carrying two toothed wheels U, U,
in gear with the pinions R, R, by means of which two speeds are obtained;
W, a cylindrical chamber uniting the wheels U, U, and containing the dif-
ferential gear consisting of four mitre wheels X, X, Y, Z, all geared together,

page_text: of which X, X, are upon a transverse spindle a with bearings in the chamber
W, and carried round by it; Y and Z.. are on the second shaft T, and give
bearings for the wheels U, U, upon their naves; Y is keyed fast on the shaft,
Z is loose on the shaft, and is permanently engaged by its clutch-formed nave
with the sleeve b, which is in one piece with the pinion c and runs loose on
the shaft T; the opposite pinion d is keyed fast on the shaft T; the pinions
c, d, gear into the circular racks e, e, fixed on the driving wheels f, f; thus,
whichever of the wheels U, C, with its pinion R is engaged with the first
shaft the revolving motion is communicated through the chamber W and the
wheels X, X, to the wheels Y, Z, the pinions c, d, the circular racks e, e, and
the driving wheels, ; and by means of self-acting differential motion the
revolutions of the outer driving wheel are increased, and those of the inner
driving wheel diminished, in turning curves of any radius, in such proportion
as to prevent any slipping or dragging of the wheels on the road, and con-
sequent waste of power; so that the engine may tun with equal facility in
straight lines or curves; g, g, are the driving axle boxes between guides on
the frame plates A, A; I is one of the bearing springs resting on the axle box
through the rod i; k, k, are blocks of vulcanized india-rubber, one above and
one below the axle box, fitting easily, but without play, between the axle box
and two bearing surfaces or brackets on the frame plates, so that whilst the
bearing spring carries all the weight over the axle, vertical play of the axle
box between the guides is checked or limited by the check prings of india-
rubber so as to prevent any injurious strain on the gearing arising from
excessive vertical play; 1, 1, the two water tanks; m, m, the two coal boxes;
n, n, covering plates to cover in the wheels and to unite the coal boxes and
tanks.
Figure 3 shows an arrangement in which a still greater inclination is given
to the steam cylinders P, P, and the frame plates A, A, and the steering
wheels O, O, are piaced nearer to the driving wheels f, f, than in Figure 1.
Figures 4 and 5 show a method of communicating motion to the driving
wheels by means of friction driving wheels or rollers over and bearing upon
the driving wheels, in substitution for the circular rack and pinion; 1, f, the
driving wheels; q, q, the rollers; and r, the axle of the rollers. The motion of
the pistons may be communicated to these rollers in any of the usual modes,
or by the intervention of gearing with or without a differential motion; instead
of the driving wheels separate wheels or rollers of smaller diameter con-
nected with them may be employed to bear the friction rollers. The frictional
or rolling surfaces may be either smoothed or grooved to increase the frictional
adhesion between them.

page_text: The Invention above described may be varied in its details yet remaining
substantially the same. The steam boilers of any other form may be employed
instead of boilers of the ordinary locomotive form; the water tanks may be
constructed in one or more sections, and placed directly upon the boiler;
where one speed only is required, and only one toothed wheel (U, Fig. 2) is
combined with the differential motion, a plain disc may be placed in the
room of the second toothed wheel U; the check springs above and below the
driving axle boxes may be of steel or other elastic material instead of india-
rubber; one steam cylinder only may be employed insicad of two cylinders,
and made to work on an overhung crank, as shown in Figure 2, or on a crank
formed between the bearings of the crank axle; the steering gear may be
worked from the foot plate behind the boiler by any of the usual means of
connection instead of in front.
What I claim as constituting my Invention is,-
First, the general arrangement and combination of the frame, machinery,
steering gear, boiler, tanks, and coal boxes, substantially as herein described.
Second, the horizontal or nearly horizontal disposition of the driving axle
and driving gear (under the barrel of the boiler and forward of the fire-box
when of the ordinary locomotive type) in combination with the steam cylinders
and their connections inclined forwards and upwards with the framing which
carries them, so as to have room beneath them for the locking or steering
motion that the steering wheels and axle may be placed as far back as may
be nearer to the driving wheels and axle than when the cylinders are fixed in
the horizontal line of the driving axle in order to quicken the steerage, by
which the engine more promptly obeys the steersman, and to make a shorter
and lighter engine, and to effect a better distribution of the weight upon the
wheels.
Third, the grouping together of the differential motion with the two toothed
wheels of the driving gear on the second shaft, uniting these two toothed
wheels by a frame or a hollow chamber, and so forming a receptacle to hold
the differential motion.
Fourth, the application of two screws and nuts to give motion to a vertical
steering spindle by means of levers and links for the locking motion.
Fifth, the division of screw nuts, worm wheels, or worms employed to move
the steering gear into two parts which can be let together to take up the wear
so as to prevent injurious oscillation or concussion by reason of looseness of
the working parts.
Sixth, the application of check prings of india-rubber or other elastic

page_text: material above and below the driving axle boxes to control their vertical
play.
Seventh, the means of communicating motion to the driving wheels of
locomotive traction engines by the adhesion of friction wheels or rollers instead
of circular racks and toothed pinions.
In witness whereof, 1, the said Daniel Kinnear Clark, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Twenty-eighth day of December, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and sixty-six.
D. K. CLARK. (L.S.)