IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON- STRUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL, ROAD, TRACTION, AND PORTABLE STEAM ENGINES, AND TRAMWAY LOCOMOTIVES
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Thomas Aveling, of Rochester, in the County of
Kent, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CON-
STRUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL, ROAD, TRACTION, AND PORTABLE STEAM ENGINES,
AND TRAMWAY LOCOMOTIVES."
Sealed the 4th October 1870, and dated the 8th April 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Thomas Aveling at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the
8th April 1870.
I, THOMAS AVELING, of Rochester, in the County of Kent, Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN
THE CONSTRUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL, ROAD, TRACTION, AND PORTABLE STEAM
ENGINES AND TRAMWAY LOCOMOTIVES," to be as follows:-
The object of my Invention of improvements in the construction of
agricultural, road, traction, and portable steam engines and tramway
locomotives is to construct these engines in a simpler and more economical
way than heretofore and at the same time to render them more durable.
To this end I adapt to each side at the fire-box end of the boiler a

page_text: strong wrought-iron horn plate which is rivetted to the boiler and projects
beyond the end of the fire-box and carries a strong cast-iron vertical
framing in which are made the bearings for the shafts of the wheels,
whereby the rotary motion of the crank shaft is transmitted to the
axle or shaft of the running wheels below.
In carrying out my Invention I place at the upper end of this cast-
iron framing, which is bolted to the projecting parts of the horn plates,
the bearings for the crank shaft, instead of mounting this latter in
bearings on brackets which are bolted on to the body of the boiler. The
crank shaft carries (at one end) a fly band wheel, and at the other a
toothed pinion which gears into a toothed wheel on an intermediate
shaft mounted in bearings in the cast-iron framing immediately below
the crank shaft. A pinion on the opposite end of this intermediate
shaft gears into and drives another toothed wheel on the axle of the
running wheels. This axle turns in bearings at the lower end of the
cast-iron framing so that the bearings of the three shafts are combined
in one rigid framing, and are in the same vertical line or nearly so and
none of them are bolted directly to the boiler, and as the wrought-iron
horn plates will take all the thrust from the piston acting on the crank'
shaft it will be evident that the boiler is not so liable as heretofore to
be damaged by the working of the machinery.
I sometimes find it convenient to connect the bracket or bearings
which carry the crank shaft by means of tie rods to the steam cylinder
so as to render these parts firm and unyielding.
It will be evident that this improved construction of travelling engine
may be used either on tramways, or on common roads, or for any purposes
for which traction, road, or portable engines have heretofore been employed
or are applicable.

page_text: WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of April, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-
third year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said Thomas Aveling, Her special licence
that I, the said Thomas Aveling, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said Thomas Aveling, 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, usc,
exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and
Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF AGRICULTURAL, ROAD, TRACTION, AND
PORTABLE STEAM ENGINES AND TRAMWAY LOCOMOTIVES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said Thomas Aveling, 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 Thomas Aveling, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the same
is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by
the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings hereunto
annexed, and to the letters and figures marked thereon (that is to
say) :-
The object of my Invention of improvements in the construction of
agricultural, road, traction, and portable steam engines and tramway
locomotives is to construct these engines in a simpler and more econo-
mical manner than heretofore, and at the same time to render them
stronger and more durable.
In the accompanying Drawings I have shown the way in which I effect
this object.
Fig. 1, Sheet 1, is a side elevation of so much of a traction or
locomotive engine as will be necessary to explain the nature of my
Invention Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the same. At each side of the
fire-box end of the boiler is fixed a strong wrought-iron horn plate a, a, a',

page_text: which is rivetted to the boiler 6 and fire-box c, and projects at a¹ beyond
the end of the fire-box. These projecting horn plates carry a strong
cast-iron vertical framing d, d, Fig. 2, in which are made the bearings
for the crank shaft e, and for the axles of the wheels f,f', whereby the
rotary motion of the crank shaft e is transmitted to the axle or shaft g,
of the running wheels below.
In carrying out my Invention I place at the upper end of this cast-
iron framing & (which is bolted to the projecting parts of the horn
plates a, a,) the bearings e¹ for the crank shaft e, instead of mounting
this latter in bearings on brackets which are bolted on to the body of the
boiler, as is now the usual practice. The crank shaft e carries (at one
end) a fly band wheel not shewn in the Drawing, and at the other a
toothed pinione which gears into a toothed wheel fon an intermediate
shaft mounted in bearings in the cast-iron framing d immediately below
the crank shaft e. A pinion f¹ on the opposite end of this intermediate
shaft gears into and drives another toothed wheel g' on the axle g of the
running wheels. This axle turns in bearings at the lower end of the
cast-iron framing d, so that the bearings of the three shafts are
combined in one rigid framing, and are in the same vertical line or nearly
so, and none of them are bolted directly to the boiler or fire-box. It
will be evident that as the wrought-iron horn plates a, a, will take all
the thrust from the piston acting on the crank shaft e the boiler and
fire-box will not be so liable as heretofore to be damaged or strained by
the working of the machinery.
Fig. 3, Sheet II., is a side elevation, and Fig. 4 an end elevation of
part of a locomotive or traction engine shewing a modification of the
arrangement just described. In Fig. 3 it will be seen that the right-
hand side of the horn plate is carried straight up the full length instead
of being cut off in a curve as in Fig. 1. The cast-iron framing d in
Figures 1 and 2 is dispensed with and the bearings of the crank shaft,
also the bearings f, ƒ³, of the intermediate shafts as well as those of the
lower shaft g are bolted to the projecting parts of the horn plates as
shewn at Fig. 4. Any other parts of the working mechanism may be
secured to the upper part of the horn plates (which are increased in area
at this part for the purpose), so that as much as possible the boiler may
be relieved from all torsion or strain.
I would remark that I sometimes find it convenient to connect the
bracket or bearings which carry the crank shaft by means of tie

page_text: rods to the steam cylinder so as to render these parts firm and
unyielding.
It will be evident that the improved construction of travelling engine
above shewn and described may be used either on tramways, or on
common roads, or for any purposes for which traction, road, or portable
engines have heretofore been employed or are applicable.
Having now described my Invention of improvements in the con-
struction of agricultural, road, traction, and portable steam engines
and tramway locomotives, and having explained the manner of
carrying the same into effect, I claim as the Invention secured to me
by Letters Patent as aforesaid, the adaptation to the boiler and fire-box
of portable or locomotive or traction engines of the projecting side horn
plates a, a, for the purpose of carrying the bearings of the shafts of
several of the working parts so as to relieve the boiler and fire-box from
undue strain and torsion as herein set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Thomas Aveling, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, the Thirtieth day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy..
THOMAS AVELING. (L.S.)