THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE WHEELS OF CARRIAGES, WAGGONS, TRUCKS, AND OTHER ROLLING STOCK IN USE ON RAILWAYS, EXCEPTING THOSE OF BREAKS AND LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, WHEREBY THE TRACTION POWER OF THE LATTER 18 RELATIVELY GREATLY INCREASED
Year: 1866

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Reinhold Edward Kaulbach at
"the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
20th January 1866.
I, REINHOLD EDWARD KAULBACH, of No. 9, Grove Road, St. John's
Wood, in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention for "THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE WHEELS OF
CARRIAGES, WAGGONS, TRUCKS, AND OTHER ROLLING STOCK IN USE ON RAILWAYS,
EXCEPTING THOSE OF BREAKS AND LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, WHEREBY THE TRACTION
POWER OF THE LATTER 18 RELATIVELY GREATLY INCREASED," to be as follows:-
A modification of the wheels of carriages, waggons, and other rolling
stock in use thereon, but not of those of engines or breaks; such modifi-
cation consisting in a diminution of the adhesive surface of the wheels
of the aforesaid carriages, waggons, and other rolling stock, and conse-
quently of their friction upon the rails, whereby the adhesion and traction
power of the locomotive engine are proportionally increased. This is
accomplished by shaping the tyres of the wheels as shewn in Fig. I., m, o,
1, n, of the accompanying Drawing; m, o, l, being a very fine egg shape, so
that the bearing of each wheel upon the rail is reduced almost to a mere
point o; the curve l, n, serving to strengthen the flange. The tyres thus
shaped should be made of steel, hardened iron, or a combination of the
two, or any metal that may be deemed most appropriate. The thickness
of the tyre is denoted by the line A, B, Fig. I., and ought to comprise the
flange, but that is optional. In its application to existing wheels it is

page_text: heated and shrunk on in the usual manner, while the felloe of the wheel is
bevelled off at m, to meet it on the line A, B. On the other hand it is
desirable to render the principle more effective, that the working surface
of the rail should be perfectly flat, in order to augment as much as possible
the adhesion of the driving wheels.
The advantages to be derived from this Invention are:-
1. A decrease of at least ten or fifteen per cent. in the adhesion of every
carriage so fitted, while an equal increase of traction power is acquired by
the locomotive engine.
2. That it necessitates no addition or modification whatever of the
engine itself, the tyres of its wheels remaining square, as shewn in Fig. II.,
so as to bear as much as possible on the rail R.
3. That it can be applied with ease to all existing wheels, and might be
gradually worked in with the rolling stock so that the cost of its intro-
duction would not be felt.
4. A very great saving in rails, as the point of adhesion running only
on the centre or strongest part of the rail would thereby effect a large
reduction in the annual wear and tear.
5. A very important lessening of the noise occasioned by the rapid
running of long trains.
6. A proportionate diminution of vibration when crossing bridges.
7. While the velocity of trains could be accelerated, the power of
stopping them would also be greatly facilitated.
8. A very great saving in fuel, as less power would be required on the
one hand, or fewer engines on the other, to do the same amount of work
that is now demanded.
9. Promptitude in getting a train into motion, and thence a great saving
of time.