IMPROVE- MENTS IN TRACTION ENGINES AND OTHER LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES DRIVEN BY MEANS OF GEAR WHEELS."
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Greig and Gustav Achilles, both of the Steam
Plough Works, Leeds, in the County of York, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TRACTION ENGINES AND OTHER LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES DRIVEN BY
MEANS OF GEAR WHEELS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Greig and Gustav
Achilles at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th August
1876.
DAVID GREIG and GUSTAV ACHILLES, both of the Steam Plough Works, Leeds, in
the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRACTION ENGINES AND OTHER Loco-
MOTIVE ENGINES DRIVEN BY MEANS OF GEAR WHEELS."
This Invention has for its object improvements in traction engines and other loco-
motive engines driven by means of gear wheels.
The body of the engine is connected with the axle boxes of the axle of the main
driving wheels through springs, and in order that the play of these springs may not
interfere with the proper action of the gear wheels, we arrange the axle to pass
through a hollow or tubular axis of sufficiently large internal diameter to allow of
the free play of the axle within it as the springs deflect This hollow axis is able
to rotate in bearings formed for it on the body of the engine, and it has keyed upon
it a spur wheel driven by a pinion on the crank shaft of the engine.
The connection between the hollow axis and the axle which passes through it is
formed by means of a block contained within the hollow axis. The block has an
oblong slot through it, and the axle which is square at this part fits the slot, but the
Blot being oblong the axle can slide along it in one direction to the extent of the
play of the springs. The block is connected with the hollow axis by means of two
horns formed upon it on opposite sides, and these horns are received into holes
made to fit them in the sides of the hollow axis. The horns on the block can slide
a distance through the holes in which they are held sufficient to provide for the
play of the springs, and this motion or freedom is at right angles to that given by
the oblong slot in the block.
We would remark that the method of giving motion from the engine to the
hollow axis is capable of much variation so long as the connection between the hollow

page_text: axis and the axle within it is made, substantially in the manner described, so as to
allow freedom in two directions at right angles to the full extent of the play of the
springs.

page_text: Bection, The block m is provided with two horns m³, m³, these horns are square in
section and are received into openings formed to receive them in the sides of the
hollow axle i, and in these holes the horns are able to slide a distance exceeding the
play of the springs. The block m as is shown also has a rectangular hole in it
through which the axle a, which is square at this part, passes, and it also is able to
slide in the hole a distance exceeding the play of the springs but in a direction at
right angles to that in which the block m is able to move within the hollow axle i.
Thus the connection between the axle a and the hollow axle i opposes no obstacle
to the free play of the springs in any position of the axle, and yet the rotary motion
of the hollow axle is transmitted to the axle.
Figure 3 is a vertical section of another arrangement similar to that described,
but with differential gear admitting of the main wheels being simultaneously driven
at different speeds.
Figure 4 is a transverse section showing more clearly the method of connecting
the hollow axle i and the main axle a so that the former may drive the latter
without interfering with the free play of the springs. The spur wheel in this case
is adapted to receive the block m within it, and the block is held by its horns m²
as before. In place, however, of the axle itself sliding in a slot or opening in the
block m, another block n does so, and this block is not fast on the axle but is
connected with it by the gear work of the differential gear, consisting of bevilled
pinions n¹ carried by the block n of a bevilled wheel o keyed upon the axle, and
another similar wheel p which is fast to one of the driving wheels b, which wheel
is itself loose on the axle whilst the other wheel b is fast thereon.
Figure 5 is a vertical section of another arrangement similar to that last
described, but with some modifications in the method of connecting the main axle a
and the hollow axle i, and in other features, the end attained being as before to
allow of such motion between the main axle and the hollow axle through which it
passes as will permit of the free play of the springs whilst at the same time rotary
motion is communicated from the one to the other. The spur wheel k is not in this
case fixed upon the hollow axle i but it is mounted on a boss on the frame h, and
the hollow axle i is connected to it by means of a universal joint, of which a front
view is shown at Figure 6. q is a ring which is secured to the wheel k by its two
trunnions q¹, q¹, and the ring is free to turn about its trunnions through a small
angle. The hollow axle i is in turn fixed to the ring q. Its end enters within the
ring and pins are inserted through the ring and into the end of the hollow axle,
they serve as pivots on which they may swivel Thus the hollow axle g is free to
incline at a small angle in any direction from the axis of motion of the wheel k.
The hollow axle i is jointed at i¹ to a continuation i¹¹ which fits closely around the
main axle a. The part is expanded at its outer end and has a block i fitted
into it adapting it to carry the pinions 8, 8, which are in gear with the two bevilled
wheels o and p, the one keyed upon the axle a and the other upon one of the main
wheels b which is capable of turning on the axle a The joint at i¹ is made with⚫
interlocking projections, causing the parts i and i" to rotate simultaneously, although
allowing in other respects the necessary freedom of motion.
q
Figure 7 shows another modification of our Invention in which the main wheels
b are provided with a ring of spur teeth, and they are driven by pinions in gear
with these teeth. In this case the provision for the play of the springs is made by
providing a hollow shaft around the shaft of these pinions, and not around the main
axle as in the other examples. The Figure represents a vertical section taken in the
plane of the main axle The main axle a does not turn in the axle boxes e, e, and
both of the wheels b are free to turn on the axle: a', a¹ are the rings of driving
teeth on the main wheels, they are in gear with the pinions t on the shaft u.
bearings of the shaft u are carried by arms v, v, mounted upon the bosses of the
main wheels b, and there are stops or guides in connection with the frame h of the
engine which maintain the arms v approximately in a vertical position.
These
stops or guides are not indicated in the Drawing. w is the hollow shaft having its
bearings on the engine body and having a spur wheel w¹ upon it in gear with a
The

page_text: pinion driven by the engine
This spur
wheel is similar in construction to the
wheel in Figure 3, and carries within it the differential gear by an arrangement
of blocks corresponding to those marked m and n in that Figure.
Another method is to connect the spur wheel w¹ in Figure 7 with the shaft u by
means similar to those indicated in Figure 5 for connecting the spur wheel k with
the axle a.
Having thus described the nature of our said Invention and the manner of
performing the same, we would have it understood that we claim,―
First. The construction of traction engines and other locomotive engines driven
by means of gear wheels in such manner that the play of the springs without
deranging the gear is provided for by transmitting the motion of the engine to the
wheels through a hollow axle or shaft, and another axle or shaft passing through
such hollow axis with the requisite freedom, substantially as described.
Second. The construction of traction engines and other locomotive engines driven
by means of gear wheels, substantially as herein described and illustrated by the
annexed Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Gustav Achilles, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Twenty-second day of February, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
GUSTAV ACHILLES. (L.S.)