IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ROLLING STOCK OF RAILWAYS PROAL TRAMS, ALSO PARTLY APPLICABLE TO ORDINARY VEHICLES
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John William Grover, of No. 9, Victoria
Chambers, Westminster, in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ROLLING STOCK OF RAILWAYS
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John William Grover
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 10th March 1870.
I, JOHN WILLIAM GROVER, of No. 9, Victoria Chambers, Westminster,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE ROLLING STOCK OF RAILWAYS
AND TRAMWAYS, ALSO PARTLY APPLICABLE TO ORDINARY VEHICLES," to be as
follows:-
My improvements have reference, firstly, to an improved construction
of that system of railway and other carriages wherein the body is
supported by wheels at each end only, which wheels are arranged to
assume more or less radial positions on passing round curves.

page_text: My Invention consists in arranging at or near each end of the carriage
a frame or truck carrying one or more pairs of wheels and pivotted on
pins situated at or near the centre of the trucks, the two trucks of the
carriage being coupled together by means of two rods or struts passing
respectively diagonally across from a point of the one truck on one side
of the centre line of the carriage to a point of the other truck situated
at an equal distance on the other side of such centre line. The rods or
struts are hinged to the trucks at such points so that when the wheels of
the one truck are caused to assume a radial position on passing round a
curve the other truck is caused by the diagonal coupling to assume a
corresponding radial position. If the one truck has two pairs of wheels
and the other only one the stability of the former is imparted to the
latter by the cross coupling; if both trucks have only one pair of wheels
they are arranged as near as possible to the ends of the carriage, and
when a train of carriages are used they are connected more or less rigidly
and with or without the use of intervening buffers to the contiguous
truck of the next carriage, thus forming virtually a four-wheel truck,
or the axles are maintained in the radial position by passing the draw
bar, screw, coupling shaft, or pole (as the case may be) to the centre of
the front of the truck so that the traction force of the motor in front
tends to keep the front axles nearly radial, and the retarding force of
the following carriage (if any) keeps the hind axle nearly radial. Instead
of coupling the two trucks by rigid diagonal struts or ties the same
effect may be produced by coupling them together by means of chains
passing diagonally round pulleys fixed to the trucks or by means of rigid
arms or poles projecting from each truck and geared together by a pin
and slot or by toothed segments.
One advantage of my above-described improved system consists in
this, that whereas in the ordinary "bogies" the wheel base of the one
bogie is the measure of its stability, in my arrangement the measure of
stability is the sum of the wheel bases of all the bogie trucks coupled
together in one train. Also the "bogie" system is obtained in a train
having only two axles to each carriage as usual.
Where trains of carriages are employed to pass round S curves it would
be advisable in one or more of the centre carriages to leave out the diagonal
cross couplings, the coupled twin trucks thus becoming bogies having two
pivots on each of which the ends of two adjacent carriages work. In some
cases the diagonal couplings might with this arrangement of bogie even

page_text: be omitted altogether, except perhaps in the last carriage of a train. In
order to allow of the proper adjustment of the swivelling truck next to
the engine or tender this may be provided with a buffer beam with
buffers and a draw bar capable of turning on a pin situated in advance
of the rear end of the engine so as to permit of the buffer beam adjusting
itself to the radial position of the carriage truck. The draw bar may in
this case be conveniently connected to the centre of the spring acting
on the buffers. I propose also to employ the cross coupling system to
the buffers alone, the end of each diagonal rod being hinged to the buffer
beams which turn on a centre pivot.
My before-described system of diagonal coupling may in some cases
also be carried out by dispensing with trucks altogether and connecting
the two diagonal rods or struts direct to the axles of the wheels or to
the horn plates.
My improved system is applicable not only to railway carriages, but
also, and with great advantage, to vehicles running on tramways and on
common roads.
Another part of my Invention has for its object to enable the weight
upon the driving wheels of a locomotive to be increased at will to a
certain extent for ascending steep gradients, and consists in causing the
front carriage or tender, as the case may be, to be lifted by means of a
mechanical, hydraulic, or steam power so as to cause a portion of the
weight thereof to be borne by the wheels of the engine. Thus the engine
may be provided with a powerful lever, the one end of which is con-
nected by links to the front end of the carriage or tender (as the case
may be), while the other end of the lever is capable of being so actuated
by a screw spindle that the lever is caused to lift the carriage or tender
somewhat as before described without however lifting the wheels off the
rails.
O SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John William Grover in the Great Seal Patent Office.
on the 9th September 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WILLIAM GROVER, of No. 9, Victoria Chambers, Westminster, in the
5 County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.
on the 9th September 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
WILLIAM GROVER, of No. 9, Victoria Chambers, Westminster, in the
35 County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, send greeting.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Tenth day of March, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-third
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and
grant unto me, the said John William Grover, Her special licence that
I, the said John William Grover, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said John William Grover, 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 THE ROLLING
STOCK OF RAILWAYS AND TRAMWAYS, ALSO PARTLY APPLICABLE TO ORDINARY
VEHICLES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said John
William Grover, my executors 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 and immediately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said John William Grover, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement thereof, reference being had to the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawings and to the figures and letters marked thereon,
that is to say :-
.
My improvements have reference, firstly, to an improved construction
of that system of railway and other carriages wherein the body is
supported by wheels at each end only, which wheels are arranged to
assume more or less radial positions on passing round curves.
My Invention consists in arranging at or near each end of the
carriage a frame or truck carrying one or more pairs of wheels, and
pivotted on pins situated at or near the centre of the trucks, the two
trucks of the carriage being coupled together by means of two rods or
struts passing respectively diagonally across from a point of the one
truck on one side of the centre line of the carriage to a point of the
other truck situated at an equal distance on the other side of such centre
line. The rods or struts are hinged to the trucks at such points so

page_text: that when the wheels of the one truck are caused to assume a radial
position on passing round a curve the other truck is caused by the
diagonal coupling to assume a corresponding radial position. If the
one truck has two pairs of wheels and the other only one the stability
of the former is imparted to the latter by the cross coupling; if both
trucks have only one pair of wheels they are arranged as near as possible
to the end of the carriage, and when a train of carriages are used they
are connected more or less rigidly, and with or without the use of inter-
vening buffers to the contiguous truck of the next carriage, thus forming
virtually a four-wheel truck, or the axles are maintained in their radial
position by fastening the draw bar, screw coupling shaft, or pole (as
the case may be) to the centre of the front of the truck, so that the
traction force of the motor in front tends to keep the front axles nearly
radial, and the retarding force of the following carriage (if any) keeps
the hind axle nearly radial. Instead of coupling the two trucks by
rigid diagonal struts or ties the same effect may be produced by coupling
them together by means of chains passing diagonally round pullies
fixed to the trucks, or by means of rigid arms or poles projecting
from each truck and geared together by a pin and slot or by toothed
segments.
One advantage of my above-described improved system consists in
this, that whereas in the ordinary four or more wheel bogie carriage
the wheel base of the one bogie is the measure of its stability, in my
arrangement the measure of stability is the sum of the wheel bases
of all the bogie trucks coupled together in one train; also the bogie
system is obtained in a train having only two axles to each carriage as
usual.
Furthermore whereas the system of swivelling four-wheeled bogie
trucks has hitherto involved eight wheels to each carriage, and generally
other systems of radiating the axles have involved six wheels at least
to each carriage, now by my system the advantages of the bogie trucks
and radiating axles can be conferred on four-wheeled carriages.
In order to allow of the proper adjustment of the swivelling truck
next to the engine or tender this may be provided with a buffer beam
with buffers and a draw bar capable of turning on a pin situated in
advance of the rear end of the engine so as to permit of the buffer beam
adjusting itself to the radial position of the carriage truck. The draw
bar may in this case be conveniently connected to the centre of the

page_text: spring acting on the buffers. I propose also to employ the cross coup-
ling system to the buffers alone, the end of each diagonal rod being
hinged to the buffer beams which turn on a centre pivot.
My improved system is applicable not only to railway carriages, but
also and with great advantage to vehicles running on tramways and on
common roads.
Another part of my Invention has for its object to enable the weight
upon the driving wheels of a locomotive to be increased at will to a
certain extent for ascending steep gradients, and consists in causing the
front carriages or tender as the case may be to be lifted by means of a
mechanical hydraulic or steam power, so as to cause a portion of the
weight thereof to be borne by the wheels of the engine. Thus the engine
may be provided with a powerful lever, the one end of which is connected
by links to the front end of the carriage or tender (as the case may be),
while the other end of the lever is capable of being so actuated by a
screw spindle that the lever is caused to lift the carriage or tender
somewhat as before described without however lifting the wheels off the
rails.
Having thus set forth the nature of my Invention, I will now proceed
more particularly to describe the manner of performing the same, for
which purpose
shall refer to the accompanying Sheet of Drawings, in
which Figures 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 shew general arrangements and con-
structive detail of my before-described improved system.
Figures 1 and 2 shew diagram plans of my system; Figure 3 shews a
side elevation of an engine and carriages; and Figure 4 shews a plan of
the under framing thereof. 9, 9, are the axles, which are secured in
bogies or trucks k, k, k, k, centreing at a by a pin which passes through
a member or centre beam of the carriage frame e, e, e, e. Under this
carriage frame and connecting the opposite corners of each pair of bogies
or trucks is provided an arrangement of chains or links to give the axles
an equal and contrary motion. I prefer the arrangement of two
diagonal ties b, c, b, c, which may by preference be slotted at the ends.
To produce the requisite stability the contiguous trucks of two carriages
are coupled at d, which coupling should, however, allow of some play,
and buffers are employed at f so as to keep them apart and to equalize
errors in passing from a curve to a straight part of the line. In Figure 2
the diagonal ties b, c, are secured immediately over the axles, whereby
the distance of the centres a, a, under each carriage from cach other is

page_text: always constant; this Figure also shews at the points f, f, the operation
of the buffers in assisting to effect complete radiation of the trucks and
axles, but in cases where the points 9 do not coincide with b and c
allowance must be made in the carriage frame for the points a, a, under
each frame to approach each other by slotting the holes in the carriage
frames or fitting them with india-rubber rings, as indicated at Figure 4.
h, h, h, are small rollers working in plates attached to the trucks k, k, k, k.
On the carriage frame roller paths are provided to bear upon these rollers;
these roller paths are seen on the sides of the carriage frame at j, and
they may though not necessarily be made slightly hollow in the centre,
so that the axles may tend to return to their central position. This
tendency of the axle to be normally at right angles to the carriage frame
may be still further promoted by springs or any other suitable means as
indicated at x, Figure 4. The plates ; may be provided as shown on the
Drawing, with horns or stops at the ends so as to prevent the trucks from
swivelling beyond a certain point during single shunting or in accidents
on the railway. To prevent the shocks in shunting from disturbing the
centre pins a, a, auxiliary supports are provided either rigidly fixed to
the centre beam of the carriage frame as shewn in dotted lines at
(Figures 4 and 6), or provided with a spring so as to yield somewhat as
at , (which will also assist in righting the bogie). Stops on the
trucks k, k, at m, m, may also be provided so as to assist in preventing
undue radiation in the axles.
I do not claim the above-described auxiliary contrivances as part of
my present Invention. The couplings d, d, of the trucks should be
provided with either a spring or slotted hole, so that in any backing or
shunting strains should come entirely on the buffers f,f. Where two or
more carriages are coupled together on my system the axles are
maintained in their position by the system of coupling, buffing, and
cross bracing, but where it is proposed to run one carriage alone with
an engine it is desirable that the buffing and draw bar arrangements at
the tail of the engine should be constructed so as to radiate the axles of
the carriage. Such an arrangement is shewn in Figures 3 and 4; n being
a centre pin in the engine frame; o, a draw bar pivotted thereto at ono
end, and to the carriage at d at the other end; p is a spring secured to
that draw bar and moving freely therewith, and at either end pressing
behind two buffers q, q. Although this arrangement is desirable, yet in
practice it will generally be found sufficient to make the tail board of the

page_text: engine to turn upon a centre pivot to which a coupling might take place
loosely.
Figures 7 and 8 shew two arrangements which may be adapted for
street tramways, carriages, or vans. In Figure 7 the letters apply as
before, only as the curves traversed must necessarily be very sharp the
points a, a, will approach each other and therefore a long slot r must
be provided in the carriage frame, which slot may be fitted with a
spring so as to tend to bring the axles back into the normal position.
The pole of the carriage can be transferred to the truck at the opposite
end to that shewn if desired. Figure 8 shews another arrangement
for effecting a similar result and avoiding the slot in the carriage
frame. a, a, are kept equidistant by pins rigidly fixed in the carriage
frames attached to the trucks k, k, are poles t which extend under the
carriage frame, and are connected at u by a pin in one and a slot in
the other, the pin being in this case also acted upon by a spring for
the above-named purpose; this connection may also be made by two
small arcs of toothed gearing or by chains. In Figures 7 and 8, where
the horse is the motor and consequently there are no buffers to assist
in maintaining the stability of the axles and the proper radiation, it
is necessary that the pole & should be nearly rigidly connected with
the truck k or with the axles, so that the horses will lead the axles as
in an ordinary vehicle on a common road, with this difference however
that the radiation given to the forward axle is immediately communi-
cated to the hinder axle.
Figures 9, 10, 11, and 12 shew applications of my system. In the
arrangement shewn in plan and elevation at Figures 9 and 10 the two
foremost axles support an engine and form a four-wheeled bogie, the
trailing axle g, a, g, of the hinder two-wheeled bogie being caused to
radiate by the diagonals b, c. The carriage body may either rest
upon the four-wheeled engine bogie over one axle, as in Figure 9, or
between both axles, as in Figure 11, in which latter case the fire-box of
the engine might be made circular in plan. Figure 12 shews how two
four-wheeled bogies may be connected together by diagonal ties so that
their stability may be mutually increased by connection.
Figures 13 and 14 shews a plan and side elevation of another appli-
cation of this system wherein a centre bogie of four wheels is connected
to two equidistant two-wheeled bogies by the diagonal ties. The
centre four-wheeled engine may support an engine V, the carriage

page_text: bodies e, e, also resting and pivotting upon it at or nearly over the
centre of each axle. Figure 3 shows a pin and staples w or other
suitable catch by which the trucks k may be rigidly bolted to the
carriage frame when desired in single shunting. I do not however
claim this arrangement as part of my present Invention.
In order to increase the weight and adhesive power of the engine
when ascending very steep inclines I propose to adopt the arrange-
ment shewn in Figures 6 and 6*. A is the tail board of the framing of
carriage to which a short projecting
the engine, e is the frame of the
arm B is secured; C is a stirrup passing under this arm and capable
of being raised by the screw D which is worked by the hand gear E,
and which bears upon the engine frame A by the supports F. The
operation for increasing the weight upon the engine driving wheels G
and relieving the nearest carriage wheels H of their load would be
by lifting the carriage frame e by the stirrups C worked by the handle E.
The wheel H would not be lifted from the rail, but the weight upon
it by the springs would be relieved. It would be advisable to make the
pin a long enough to allow for this.
Having thus described the nature of my Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, I wish it to be understood that I
do not limit myself to the precise arrangements thereof as shewn on.
the accompanying Drawing, as these may be variously modified without
departing from the nature of my Invention. Also I am aware that
the contiguous bogie trucks of two carriages have before been coupled
together, and also that the two outer axles of one carriage have been
connected together so as to cause the radiation of the one axle to effect
the radiation of the other axle (though not in the manner described by
me, nor have these features been employed in combination as herein-
before described), I do not therefore claim the above features generally,
nor do I claim the various arrangements of combined engine and
carriages herein-before described except in so far as concerns the appli-
cation of my system of coupled bogies thereto; but what I claim is,—
First. The method of supporting a railway carriage or wagon upon
two swivelling frames or trucks close to its ends, which frames or trucks
contain the axles and turn on pins situated at or near their centres,
and are connected together at opposite corners by two diagonal coupling
rods or equivalent appliances, whilst the contiguous trucks of two
carriages are so closely coupled together as practically to form one four

page_text: or more wheeled bogie truck, substantially as herein-before set forth,
the great advantage of such system being that whilst the benefit of
great stability is obtained by the wheels being kept as far as possible
from each other under the carriage they support, yet the advantages of
the shortest possible wheel base are obtained, so that sharp curves may be
traversed.
Second. The method of diagonal connection in combination with
intercoupled two or more wheeled bogies, whereby the measure of
stability of each bogie is rendered more or less equal to the sum of the
wheel bases of all the bogies coupled together in the train, substantially
as herein-before set forth.
Third. The arrangement whereby nearly complete radiation is con-
ferred upon the axles by the combined action of the buffers, central
coupling of the trucks, and diagonal couplings, as shewn in Figure 2.
Fourth. The application to vehicles for common roads of the system 1
of two swivelling trucks or axles coupled by two diagonal coupling rods,
Figure 7, or by the poles as in Figure 8, both in combination with
the slots, with springs, and nearly rigid horse poles for guiding the
axles, as described.
Fifth. The method of transferring a portion of the weight of the 2
first carriage or tender to the engine by lifting the former slightly by
means of a mechanical hydraulic or steam power situated upon the
engine.
In witness whereof, I, the said John William Grover, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Ninth day of September, in the 2
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy.