AN IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SPEED OF TRAINS ON RAILWAYS, AND IN ASSISTING THE LOCOMOTIVE ENGINE AND TRAIN IN ASCENDING AND DESCENDING INCLINED PLANES
Year: 1863

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Moritz Meisel, of 14, Park Walk, West Brompton,
in the County of Middlesex, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "AN
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SPEED OF TRAINS ON RAILWAYS,
AND IN ASSISTING THE LOCOMOTIVE ENGINE AND TRAIN IN ASCENDING AND
DESCENDING INCLINED PLANES."-A communication from abroad by Carl
Schouberszky, residing at St. Petersburgh, in the Empire of Russia.
Sealed the 2nd October 1863, and dated the 23rd July 1863.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION filed by the said Moritz Meisel at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition and Declaration,
on the 23rd July 1863, pursuant to the 9th Section of the Patent Law
Amendment Act, 1852.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MORITZ
MEISEL, of 14, Park Walk, West Brompton, in the County of Middlesex,
Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the Invention for "AN
IMPROVED APPARATUS FOR REGULATING THE SPEED OF TRAINS ON RAILWAYS, AND IN
ASSISTING THE LOCOMOTIVE ENGINE AND TRAIN IN ASCENDING AND DESCENDING
INCLINED PLANES," (communicated to me from abroad by Carl Schouberszky,
a person resident at St. Petersburgh, in the Empire of Russia,) and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say:-
The Invention relates to an improved apparatus for regulating the speed of
trains on railways, and in assisting the locomotive engine and train in
ascending and descending inclined planes.

page_text: proceed to describe the best means I am acquainted with for carrying the
same into practical effect, reference being had to the illustrative Drawing
hereunto annexed, and to the numeral figures and letters of reference marked
thereon, similar letters of reference denote corresponding parts in each Figure
where similar parts appear or can be seen at each of such said Figures
respectively, as follows:-
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING.
Figure 1 shows one half as an end elevation, the other half as a transverse
section of the improved apparatus, taken through the line X, X, in Figure 2;
Figure 2 represents one half as a longitudinal elevation, the other half as a
longitudinal section of the same, taken through the line Z, Z, Figure 1;
Figure 3 shows one half in plan of the same; Figure 4 shows an end
elevation, and Figure 5 a side elevation of another plan; Figures 6, 7, and 8
are side elevations showing various modifications of the improvements having
the same object in view; the said Figures will be herein-after more particularly
described.
A, A, represents the fly wheels, the rims or tires of which I prefer to make
of wrought iron or cast steel, and in one piece; the rims or tires are attached
to the central boss or nave B, B, by means of wrought-iron plates C, C,
secured to the rim or tire by means of angle iron a, a, and rivets or bolts, the
plates C, C, being secured to the boss or nave by means of bolts or rivets;
D, D, is the shaft or axle to which the fly wheels are secured; the axle of the
fly wheel is supported by and in contact with the tires of the wheels E, E,
(axle boxes not being required for the shaft D, D,) the axles of the wheels
E, E, are placed in suitable bearings b, b, allowing of a vertical motion for
the inequalities of the road, the tires of the wheels E are in contact with the
tires of the driving wheels F, F, F. It will be readily understood by the
practical mechanic that by giving motion to the fly wheels A, A, it will by
the adhesion of the boss or nave B', B', on the tires of the wheels E, E, give
motion to the said wheels in the direction of the arrows, as shown in the
Drawing, the tires of the said wheels E, E, being at the same time in contact
with the tires of the driving wheels F, F, F, and thus imparting motion to them
also, and vice versa, the driving wheels being set in motion will impart motion
to the fly wheels; by the above means toothed wheels and the friction
attendant on the ordinary bearings for the fly wheel shaft are dispensed with;
the driving wheels are so arranged that the weight of the fly wheels shall
bear equally on each. The advantages in this improvenient are that from the

page_text: great velocity or momentum given to the fly wheels they are capable not only
of equalizing the inequalities of the motive power and of resistance, but they
will collect the mechanical power in longer intervals, and give out afterwards
in ascending inclines. The driving wheels are kept in their proper position
by means of an iron frame F', which is fitted with buffers and the necessary
arrangements for coupling the waggons or carriages to it. To prevent the
shocks which the driving wheels may receive from the inequalities of the road
baving an injurious effect on the fly wheels, the axle boxes of the large
driving wheels have a horizontal space to move in the frame, which is filled up
with india-rubber or other elastic material, the centre driving wheels are fitted
with axle boxes in the ordinary way. To stop the train when the fly wheels
are in motion to raise the wheels E, E, out of contact with the tires of the
driving wheels F, F, F; this is done by wedging up the axles boxes b, b, by
means of the wedges c, c; for loading the wheels in this case equally I apply
the balance levers d, d.
Figures 4 and 5 are an end and side elevation showing another arrange-
ment, the fly wheel axle in this case bearing on the tire of the driving wheel;
Figure 6 shows the fly wheel axle placed between and in contact with the tires
of the driving wheels.
Figure 7 shows another arrangement where the fly wheel axle is bearing on
the tire of the driving wheel; this plan is found advantageous for railroads
which have gradients only for short distances.
Figure 8 is another arrangement, in which I employ a steam cylinder for
the purpose of setting this apparatus in motion in ascending long inclines;
the mechanical effect of the fly wheels would not be sufficient therefore in this
plan; the steam for the cylinder is supplied from the locomotive engine.
Having thus stated the nature of the Invention, and the mode of carrying
the same into operation, I would remark that I do not intend to limit or
confine myself to the precise details of construction above described and
represented, but reserve to myself the right of making such modifications as
are consistent with the character of the said Invention, which I hereby declare
to consist in the use and application of fly wheels for equalizing the speed of
railway trains whilst moving on inclines, the axis of the fly wheels being put
in motion by friction wheels.
The advantages offered by this apparatus consist in enabling the engine to
draw much heavier trains upon the existing railroads than has heretofore been
the case.
Secondly, the construction of new railroads with steeper gradients without
diminishing the length of trains, by admitting steeper gradients there will be

page_text: a great saving in earthwork, bridges, viaducts, and tunnels, and the length of
roads can be shortened, so that the cost of construction would be rendered
cheaper. This apparatus has also the advantage of modifying the velocity of
a train in descending gradients, and facilitating the ascending of inclines.
In witness whereof, I, the said Moritz Meisel, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Twenty-second day of July, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and sixty-three.
Witness,
WILLIAM BÜNGER.
MORITZ MEISEL. (L.S.)