IMPROVEMENT IN RATTIAN WORD ADD
Year: 1861

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Bowns, of the Viaduct Works, Earlstown,
Warrington Junction, in the County of Lancaster, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENT IN RATTIAN WORD ADD "
Sealed the 14th February 1862, and dated the 11th September 1861.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Bowns at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
11th September 1861.
I, JOHN BOWNS, of the Viaduct Works, Earlstown, Warrington Junction,
in the County of Lancaster, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAY WHEELS AND RAILWAY BRAKES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention has for its object improvements in railway wheels and
railway brakes.
In constructing railway wheels, according to one part of my Invention, the
exterior of the tyre is made as heretofore with a projecting flange; the interior
737
of the tyre is made with a dovetail projection, thus
extending all
round the inner face of the tyre. The spokes of the wheel are composed of

page_text: two discs or rings of wrought iron or steel, one being on one side of the wheel,
and the other on the other side; the rings are divided radially into segments,
and the central portion of ench segment is cut away to lighten the wheel. The
larger or outer circumference of each of the segments is turned up at an angle
to fit into the dovetailed projection on the inside of the tyre; the smaller or
inner circumference of each of the segments of rings is also turned up to fit
in recesses on each side of the boss, and the segments are connected to the
boss by means of rivets or bolts passing through the boss and through the scg-
ments. The outer edges of the segments on the opposite sides of the wheel
are drawn towards each other by bolts and nuts, and are thus caused to nip
the dovetailed projection on the inside of the tyre. On each side of the wheel
a ring of metal is placed between the heads of the bolts and nuts and the seg-
ments; these rings are also divided radially into two or more parts, and the
faces of the rings which are against the segments are made to fit to them.
The diameter of the rings, which act as spokes, is a little less than the inner
diameter of the tyre, so that the tyre can expand or contract freely. In place
of the segments which act as spokes being made to nip a dovetailed projection
on the inside of the tyre, the inner face of the tyre may be formed with a
dovetail recess, and the outer circumference of the segments to be made to
enter the recess and be held there by means of wedge-shaped segments of rings
being forced by screws and nuts in between the segments on the opposite sides
of the wheel. Each segment is acted on by a separate screw, and the screws
screw into pieces let into the boss of the wheel, and when screwed up are pre-
vented from turning by lock nuts.
In order to apply tyres to wheels formed in the ordinary way, that is to say,
with an outer rim or ring around them; the outer rim is formed according to
my Invention, with a dovetail projection upon it; the inner face of the tyre is
also formed with a dovetail projection. The exterior diameter of the projection
on the rim of the wheel is made less than the interior diameter of the dovetail
projection around the tyre, and the tyre is connected to the wheel by two
rings, one on each side of the wheel; the inner faces of these rings are made
with a double incline, so that they would appear in section thus
so as to fit into projections on the wheel and on the tyre. The rings on the
opposite sides of the wheel are drawn towards each other by bolts and nuts,
and are thus caused to nip the dovetail projections on the wheel and tyre, tho
bolts passing through the space between the projection on the wheel and the
projection on the tyre.
It will be seen that in each of the methods above described of forming a
?

page_text: wheel, the tyre is always drawn inwards towards the centre of the wheel, in
place of being extended, by being shrunk on in the ordinary manner.
In constructing railway brakes according to my Invention, the wooden
blocks which are to be pressed against the wheel are each supported at their
centre by a rod or pin, supported by means of links from the framing of the
carriages; each rod passes across the carriage and serves to support two
wooden blocks, one on each side of the carriage, and the rods thus serve to
keep the blocks at an equal distance from each other. The blocks are capable
of turning on the rods, so that when one face of the block is worn away, the
block may be turned round and another face of the block be turned towards
the wheel. The rods which support the wooden blocks are connected by
means of rods or links with the shorter arms of the brake lever, and when the
rods are pressed by the brake lever towards the wheel, the blocks being able
to turn on the rods or pins adapt themselves to the wheel whether the carriage
is heavily laden or not, which is not the case when the wooden blocks are sup-
ported and actuated in the ordinary manner.
When applying brakes to waggons or trucks, the wooden blocks are carried
by the short arms of the brake levers, as is usual; but in place of the blocks
being rigidly fixed to the arms, they are arranged so. that they can turn on pins
carried by them..
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent, filed
by the said John Bowns in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 11th
March 1862.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN
Bowns, of the Viaduct Works, Earlstown, Warrington Junction, in the County
of Lancaster, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eleventh day of September, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-one, in the twenty-fifth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me, the
said John Bowns, Her special licence that I, the said John Bowns, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said John
Bowns, 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

page_text: Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN. RAILWAY WHEELS
AND RAILWAY BRAKES," upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
John Bowns, 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 Bowns, do hereby declare the
nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thereof, that is to say:
This Invention has for its object improvements in railway wheels and
railway brakes.
In constructing railway wheels, according to one part of my Invention the
exterior of the tyre is made, as heretofore, with a projecting flange. The
interior of the tyre is made with a dovetail
projection, thus
extending all round the inner face of the tyre. The spokes of the wheel are
composed of two discs or rings of wrought iron or steel, one being on one side
of the wheel, and the other on the other side. The rings are divided radially
into segments, and the central portion of each segment is cut away to lighten
the wheel. The larger or outer circumference of each of the segments is
turned up at an angle to fit into the dovetailed projection on the inside of the
tyre. The smaller or inner circumference of each of the segments of rings
is also turned up to fit in recesses on each side of the boss, and the segments
are connected to the boss by means of rivets or bolts passing through the
boss and through the segments. The outer edges of the segments on the
opposite sides of the wheel are drawn towards each other by bolts and nuts,
and are thus caused to nip the dovetailed projection on the inside of the tyre.
On each side of the wheel a ring of metal is placed between the heads of the
bolts and nuts and the segments. These rings are also divided radially into
two or more parts, and the faces of the rings which are against the segments
are made to fit to them. The diameter of the rings, which act as spokes, is
a little less than the inner diameter of the tyre, so that the tyre can expand or
contract freely. Figure 1 is a side view, and Figure 2 a transverse section,
of a wheel so constructed. a is the nave of the wheel; it is grooved all round
at a', a', to receive the discs b, b, which are secured to it by rivets c. The

page_text: outer edges of the discs 6 are bent inwards to embrace the dovetail pro-
jection d¹ of the tyre d. The discs 6 are made in segments, and portions of
them are cut away to lighten the wheel, and form spokes. e, e, are rings,
which fit against the discs 6 close up to the tyre. Each of these rings is
made in two or more segments, as may be most convenient. f.f, are bolts
and nuts, which firmly bind together the discs b, the tyre d, and the rings e.
In place of the segments, which act as spokes, being made to nip a dove-
tailed projection on the inside of the tyre, the inner face of the tyre may be
formed with a dovetail recess, and the outer circumference of the segments be
made to enter the recess, and be held there by means of wedge-shaped
segments of rings being forced by screws and nuts in between the segments
on the opposite sides of the wheel. Each segment is acted on by a separate
screw, and the screws screw into pieces let into the boss of the wheel, and
when screwed up are prevented from turning by lock nuts. Figure 3 is a front
view, and Figure 4 a transverse section, of a wheel so constructed. The
nave a and discs 6 are fitted together and secured by rivets c, as before; the
outer edges of the discs are bent outwards in place of inwards, and fit into a
dovetail recess d¹ in the tyre d. 9, 9, are wedge-formed segments between
the discs 6; they are pressed outwards by screws h, so as to cause the discs
firmly to hold the tyre. The segments are forced outwards by turning the
screws, the nuts i of which are fitted into conical recesses in the nave. jare
lock nuts, to prevent the screws turning, as they otherwise might be caused to
do by vibration in travelling.
In order to apply tyres to wheels formed in the ordinary way, that is to
say,
with an outer rim or ring around them, the outer rim is formed, according
to my Invention, with a dovetail projection upon it. The inner face of the
tyre is also formed with a dovetail projection. The exterior diameter of the
projection on the rim of the wheel is made less than the interior diameter of
the dovetail projection around the tyre, and the tyre is connected to the wheel
by two rings, one on each side of the wheel. The inner faces of these
rings are made with a double incline, so that they would appear in section
thus
so as to fit into the projections on the wheel and on the
tyre. The rings on the opposite sides of the wheel are drawn towards each
other by bolts and nuts, and are thus caused to nip the dovetail projections on
the wheel and tyre, the bolts passing through the space between the projection
on the wheel and the projection on the tyre. Figure 5 is a front view, partly
in section, and Figure 6, a transverse section of a wheel of ordinary con-
struction, with a tyre secured thereto in this manner. The periphery or rim

page_text: of the wheel is turned to a dovetail form, the broader end of the dovetail being
outwards. The tyre is of the same form as that shewn at Figures 1 and 2.
a, a, are rings, with inclines formed on them to fit both the dovetail on the
periphery of the wheel and the dovetail projection on the tyre; these rings
being drawn together by screws and nuts b, b, connect the tyre securely to
the wheel. The spokes of the wheel are shewn to be held together within
the nave by a wrought-iron ring, upon which the nave is cast.
Figure 7 is a side view, and Figure 8 a transverse section, of a wheel of
somewhat different construction, but in which the tyre is similarly secured.
The spokes care secured together by casting upon them the nave e, and
by welding them to the ring d, which is of dovetail form.
has a tyro fastened to it by rings a, and screws and nuts b, as
and 6.
The ring d
in Figures 5
It will be seen that in each of the methods above described of forming a
wheel the tyre is always drawn inwards towards the centre of the wheel, in
place of being extended by being shrunk on in the ordinary manner.
In constructing railway brakes according to my Invention, the wooden
blocks, which are to be pressed against the wheel, are each supported at their
centre by a rod or pin supported by means of links from the framing of the
carriages. Each rod passes across the carriage, and serves to support two
wooden blocks, one on each side of the carriage, and the rods thus serve to
keep the blocks at an equal distance from each other. The blocks are capablo
of turning on the rods, so that when one face of the block is worn away the
block may be turned round, and another face of the block be turned towards
the wheel. The rods which support the wooden blocks are connected by means
of rods or links with the shorter arms of the brake lever, and when the rods
are pressed by the brake lever towards the wheel, 'the blocks being able to
turn on the rods or pins, adapt themselves to the wheel whether the carriago
is heavily laden or not, which is not the case when the wooden blocks are
supported and actuated in the ordinary manner.
Figure 9 is a side view of a portion of a railway
applied to it, arranged according to my Invention;
transverse sections; Figure 12 is a plan of the same.
frame of the carriage; b, b, are wheels; d, d, are the brake blocks; theso
are connected together in pairs by the rod e, e, each of which is attached to
the two blocks employed to press on the two wheels on the same axles on
opposite sides of the carriage. The blocks dare capable of turning freely
about the rods e, and are suspended by links f, f, which are each jointed at
ono end to the block, and at the other to the frame a of the carriage. g is
carriage with a break
Figures 10 and 11 are
a, a, is a portion of the

page_text: an axis carried by the brackets h, h, which are also bolted to the frame of the
carriage, and g', g³, are short arms on the axis g; they are connected by pin
joints both with the links i and the blocks d. The blocks are pressed against
the wheels when required by means of the arm j, keyed on the axis, 9, which
is then drawn upwards by a screw and nut, as is usual in railway brakes, or
in other convenient manner.
When applying brakes to wagons or trucks, the wooden blocks are carried
by the short arms of the brake levers, as is usual, but in place of the blocks
being rigidly fixed to the arms they are arranged so that they can turn on
pins carried by them. Figure 13 is a portion of a side view, and Figure 14
a portion of a transverse section of such an arrangement.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Bowns, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fifth day of March, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and sixty-two.
JOHN DOWNS. L.S.)