IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES FOR TRAMWAYS AND RAILWAYS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Morgan (Secretary of the Inventors' Patentright
Association, Limited), of 20, Cockspur Street, Charing Cross, Westminster, in
the County of Middlesex, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE
ENGINES FOR TRAMWAYS AND RAILWAYS." A communication from abroad
by Daniel McIntosh Reid, of Assensole, in the Empire of India.
(Void by reason of the Patentee having neglected to file a Specification in
pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent.)
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Morgan at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th July 1881.
THOMAS MORGAN (Secretary of the Inventors' Patentright Association, Limited),
of 21, Cockspur Street, Charing Cross, Westminster, in the County of Middlesex.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES FOR TRAMWAYS AND RAILWAYS."
communication from abroad by Daniel McIntosh Reid, of Assensole, in the Empire
of India.
A
The aim of this Invention is the construction of a light locomotive that will
admit of the efficient working of tramways by starting and stopping more quickly
and running at a steadier speed than horse power could give. The boiler is vertical,
and is about 4 or 5 feet in height, and consists only of a round fire box, which
has a series of direct heating surface vertical tubes arranged round it, passing from
an auxiliary water space at the bottom of the boiler up through the fire box, and
into the roof plate in the ordinary way. The use of these direct heating surface
tubes adds so much to the steam generating power of the fire box as to admit of
indirect heating surface tubes being entirely dispensed with, and consequently of a
much smaller and lighter boiler being employed for the power of the engine.
auxiliary water space at the bottom of the boiler is used as a fire bar frame.
admits of every inch of fire box and tube surface being employed. Above the roof
plate there is a steam and water space of about one foot in depth, through which
the fire door and chimney flue pass, there being one or two small holes at the sides
[Price 2d.1
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page_text: through which fire irons can be used. The fire door being on the top of the boiler
and the fuel on the same level, the working of the engine is simplified, and it
admits of one man attending to all with ease. A shovel not being required in
firing a small door is sufficient; the chimney flue being also comparatively small,
there remains, notwithstanding their position, ample steam and water space over
the roof of the fire box. There is a smoke burning fire brick suspended from the
roof plate between the fire door and chimney hole. A. light square frame with
two light plates fixed about a foot from the side plates as inside framing compose
the body of the engine. The boiler is fixed to the two inside frame plates. Two
of the wheels are a little smaller than the ordinary tram car size, the other two,
being the driving wheels, are larger. The engines are coupled to each side of one
of these wheels, the cylinders being fixed to the outside and inside of the two
frame plates of one side only above one of the small wheels. The valve chests
being between the out and inside framing, the valve gearing is also arranged there,
the eccentrics being close to each side of the driving wheel, while outside and
inside the two framing plates of the same side are situated the two driving cranks.
The machinery of the engine being compact it is easily encased and protected from
dust. All the wheels are on the ordinary independent tramway principle, but
there is a coupling on the axle of the driving wheels that admits of the adhesion
of the two wheels being employed when the rails are slippery. The engine pushes
the car in the rear, and is by a simple arrangement under the control of the
conductor who rides in front of the car, and can shut off steam and apply the steam'
brake from there in, say, a second. The starting of the engine is also under the
conductor's control. The engine man has a second regulator valve under his
control, by which he can stop or regulate the engine when slipping, etc.; but while
either of the regulator valves are shut, steam is shut off from the engine. The
engineman can arrange his engine so as to be able to leave it for a few minutes,
and take the place of the conductor while fares are being collected, or he can look
out from his engine where he has the same control over it. The steam brake is
composed of a horizontal cylinder, from which there is an arrangement for the car
brake as well as the engine brake being applied by it. Ordinary tram cars without
any alteration are suitable, but an alteration might be effected with advantage,
that is, to have the car wheels arranged so that one could be advanced on the outside
rails of sharp curves, or when passing through points, which when horse power
is employed require the car to be pulled to the side; this can by a simple arrange-
ment be also placed under the control of the conductor. The wheel base of the
engine being very short, and its wheels also being all independent of each other,
the sharpest curves are no impediment to it. The engine only requires to be
shunted to the rear of its car at the end of its trip; it does not require to be turned.
The driving wheel has two bearings, one on each of the framing plates; the
opposite wheel has the same.
The chief points in the Invention are-
(1st.) The form of the boiler in having the fire door and chimney flue through
the roof.
(2nd.) The application of direct heating surface, vertical tubes admitting of
indirect heating surface tubes being dispensed with.
(3rd.) The engines being connected with one wheel only, with a coupling on the
axle to admit of the adhesion of two being employed when necessary.
(4th.) The arrangement which admits of the conductor having full control of the
engine while riding in front of the car with the engine working in the rear.