IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES
Year: 1881

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 21st February 1881. A com-
munication from abroad by Charles Bass Clark, of Detroit, Michigan, United
States of America, Manufacturer.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES."
A communication from abroad by Charles Bass Clark, of Detroit, Michigan,
United States of America, Manufacturer.
This Invention relates to that class of locomotives which are driven by the
frictional contact of one or more pairs of upper driving wheels with one or more
pairs of lower running wheels that rest upon the rails.
The object of driving locomotives in the manner just stated has been to increase
the running speed without increasing the number of the reciprocations of the
pistons, and also to so arrange the parts that the centre of gravity of the locomotive
will not be so elevated as to render it liable to jump the rails in turning curves.
There is however a defect in this class of locomotives, which defect causes the
running wheels to slip upon the rail at the start, caused by the friction of the
driving wheels, and as the rail wheels unquestionably slip at such times, they will
therefore be liable to slip in ascending steep grades.
;
It is the object of the present Invention to obviate such defect in the aforesaid
class of locomotives, and to such end the present Invention comprises, first, the
combination in a locomotive in which the running wheels that rest upon the rail
are driven by frictional contact with elevated driving wheels of the steam cylinders,
the pistons, piston rods, and pitmen, with the elevated driving wheels and the
running wheels interposed between the driving wheels and the rails, and connected
together in pairs by connecting rods to prevent their slipping upon the rails
secondly, the combination in a locomotive in which the running wheels that rest
upon the rails are driven by frictional contact with the elevated driving wheel of
the elevated driving wheel connections between said wheels and the piston, and a
pair of running wheels connected together by connecting rods, the said running
wheels being in frictional contact with the driving wheel in the manner hereinafter
stated; and, thirdly, the combination in a locomotive with the elevated driving
wheels actuated by the pistons through suitable connections, of the running wheels
interposed between the driving wheels and the rails, said running wheels being

page_text: connected by connecting rods to prevent slipping, and being provided with a larger
and a smaller tread, the former of which rests upon the rails and receives motion
by the frictional contact of the latter with the driving wheels.
In carrying the said Invention into practice the steam cylinders and pistons and
the truck wheels of the locomotive may be of any approved or known construction;
an elevated driving wheel is secured upon each end of the driving axle, and the
usual axle boxes are provided for the driving axle, these boxes being supported by
suitable framework. The running wheels bear and run upon the rails, and as
usual are fixed to their respective axles. These wheels are all preferably formed
with two treads, the larger of which runs upon the rails, while the tread of smaller
diameter, which is formed on one of the faces of the wheel, supports the elevated
driving wheel which is in contact with the treads of two of these running wheels,
it being understood that the same arrangement is observed on both sides of the
locomotive. There are two running wheels on each side of the locomotive coupled
by a rod, and the connection of said running wheels when taken in combination
with the described means for imparting a rotary motion to the running or rail
wheels constitutes the essential feature of my said Invention..
The running or rail wheels are driven solely by frictional contact with the
elevated driving wheels, and by connecting said running wheels together in
pairs in the manner set forth the liability of said running wheels to slip on the
rails will be so lessened as to practically avoid such objectionable feature, which if
the running wheels were not so connected will invariably occur.
By this
arrangement of the wheels the driving wheel has a double frictional contact with
the rail wheels which is a great advantage, inasmuch as less power is required to
apply pressure for bringing the wheels in closer contact to prevent slipping, and
the strain or impingement is better distributed than heretofore, which results are
largely in favor of the durability of the working parts of the locomotive; moreover
the driving wheel is brought lower down, and hence the centre of gravity of the
driving wheels with its axle and bearings is so much depressed as to add great
stability to the locomotive when running at high speed or in rounding curves.
The principal weight of the boiler and frame depending from the axle of the
elevated driving wheels, it follows that the latter will keep in close frictional
contact with the rail wheels, and the latter being joined by the connecting or
coupling bars or rods, it is evident that I produce a combination providing for the
highest speed and efficiency attainable in this class of locomotives.
The frictional tyre or rim of the wheels may be turned plain, curved, or in any
form which shall best answer the ends of this Invention.
The distance apart of these running wheels will depend upon the class of work
for which the locomotive is designed. If, for example, they are so set apart as to
admit of the adjustment of the driving wheel to some extent between them, the
frictional bearing of the drivers upon the same will be greater, since the driver will
be in effect wedged between the running wheels.
It is not absolutely necessary however in carrying my Invention into effect that
the driving wheel should bear upon both of these running wheels, as I may provide
an arrangement in which a driving wheel bears upon one running wheel at each
side of the locomotive, while said running wheel is connected by a connecting or
coupling rod with a second running wheel arranged at about the usual distance in
rear thereof. I prefer, however, arranging the running wheels in closer proximity,
so that both will come in contact with the driving wheel, since such arrangement
facilitates the turning of curves in the road in addition to the advantages heretofore
stated.