IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING ⚫ AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER FOR DRIVING OR PROPELLING LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, TRAMWAY CARS, CRANES, AND OTHER TRAVELLING MACHINES AND VEHICLES, AND IN THE APPARATUS OR MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN OR CONNECTED THEREWITH.
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Alexander George Ross, of Newcastle-on-Tyne,
Consulting Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING
⚫ AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER FOR DRIVING OR PROPELLING LOCOMOTIVE
ENGINES, TRAMWAY CARS, CRANES, AND OTHER TRAVELLING MACHINES AND
VEHICLES, AND IN THE APPARATUS OR MACHINERY EMPLOYED THEREIN OR
CONNECTED THEREWITH.
"
ed the 23rd June 1876, and dated the 12th April 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Alexander George Ross
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th April 1876.
JOHN ALEXANDER GEORGE ROSS, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, Consulting Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN OBTAINING AND APPLYING MOTIVE POWER FOR DRIVING OR
PROPELLING LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES, TRAMWAY CARS, CRANES, AND OTHER TRAVELLING
MACHINES AND VEHICLES, AND IN THE APPARATUS OR MACHINERY EMPLOYED
THEREIN OR CONNECTED THEREWITH.
"
My Invention relates to an improved mode of obtaining and applying motive
power for driving or propelling locomotive engines, tramway cars, travelling cranes,
and other travelling machines and vehicles, and consists in the use of an air or gas
accumulator or accumulators for working the engine or machine through the
medium of water or other incompressible fluid, such accumulator or accumulators
being carried on the moving carriage or on a tender connected with the same.
The air accumulators are in the first instance to be charged by pumps in the
ordinary way with air and water to a high pressure, say for example, up to one ton
The water or
per square inch, or to any other degree as may be deemed advisable.
other incompressible fluid is then allowed to escape and work the hydraulic engine
or machine, whereby the necessary machinery is driven, the exhaust water being
returned to a tank on the carriage. Pipes charged with water supplied from a
natural or artificial head are to be laid, such pipes being provided with cocks and
jointed pipes at certain distances so as to replenish (in the travelling accumulators)
the water used by the engine or machine, the air being retained in the vessels

page_text: simply as an accumulator of power. In case of emergency however after the
expenditure of the water part of the air may be used.
In lieu of this arrangement separate pumping stations may be adopted, and in
some cases the pump or accumulator at the stations may be worked or lifted by
the water pressure in the town mains or by other means, and when the pressure in
the main is sufficiently high for the purpose required this pressure water may
charge the travelling accumulator direct.
The engine or machine may be made of different powers by rams, pistons,
gearing, or other means so as to adapt it to the requirements of the work and the
changing pressure given out by the air accumulator.
The travelling air accumulator may be charged from fixed machinery by speed
ropes or other suitable means through pumps on the crane or other travelling
machine.
The pressure of the air may also be modified by regulating the quantity of air
acting on the water by a valve and lever.
A portion of the power expended may be restored by the reverse action of the
engine or machine pumping back against the accumulator pressure the exhaust
water from the cistern either by the utilization of inclines and the momentum of
the carriages, or as for example, in travelling cranes by means of the falling load or
otherwise.
In the case of travelling cranes and machines of comparatively limited range the
travelling air accumulator may be dispensed with, long jointed pipes for air, water,
or steam attached to the travelling machine, and connected with the source of
power being substituted. These pipes may wind on a drum or be suspended,
having rollers near the middle of their length.