Means for Reducing Friction Between Wheels of Vehicles, such as Tramcars, Railway Carriages or Trucks, and the like, and the Metals or Rails on which they Run.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 30th July, 1894-Accepted, 1st Sept., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Means for Reducing Friction Between Wheels of Vehicles, such as
Tramcars, Railway Carriages or Trucks, and the like, and the
Metals or Rails on which they Run.
We ROBERT BARTON of 89 St. Michael's Road, Northampton, Manufacturer
and SAMUEL LOADER GAMBLE of 89 Kettering Road, Northampton Fruit
Salesman do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
It is found that the friction and consequent loss of speed ensuing from the contact
of the wheels of railway carriages or trucks, tramcars or like vehicles with the
metals or rails on which they run is considerably reduced when such metals or rails
are in a wet or damp state such as after a shower of rain.
Now the object of our invention is to provide means for enabling those in charge
of the vehicle or vehicles to which such means are applied to supply water or other
fluid to the peripheries of the wheels so that in dry weather or on certain portions
of the track these may be kept damp and a similar effect be produced as though
the metals or rails were kept continually or intermittently in a wet state and for
this purpose we fix in a convenient position in or upon each car, carriage or truck
a tank or receptacle (or a number of such) for water or other suitable fluid which
shall be conveyed by pipes or tubes to various portions of the car, carriage or truck
and preferably to positions immediately over the wheels; these pipes or tubes are
supplied with taps or cocks or like devices capable of regulation and adjustment (or
the means for regulating the supply to the wheels may be located at or near the
tanks or receptacles) and if desired these may be controlled by any well known
arrangement from a certain point in charge of the guard or conductor or in the case
of a railway train by the engine driver and particularly where automatic breaks
are in use when the same mechanism might be utilized.
It will be seen that when a small amount of fluid is allowed to trickle down or
fall upon the periphery of the wheels the friction will be materially lessened and
greater speed obtained or the traction power may be reduced.
Dated this 27th day of October 1892.
POPPLEWELL & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Means for Reducing Friction Between Wheels of Vehicles, such as
Tramcars, Railway Carriages or Trucks, and the like, and the
Metals or Rails on which they Run.
We, ROBERT BARTON of 89 St. Michaels Road Northampton Manufacturer and
SAMUEL LOADER GAMBLE of 89 Kettering Road Northampton Fruit Salesman
do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement:—
It is found that the friction and consequent loss of speed ensuing from the
contact of the wheels of railway carriages or trucks, tramcars, or like vehicles with
the metals or rails on which they run is considerably reduced when such metals or
rails are in a wet or damp state such as after a shower of rain.
Now the object of our invention is to provide means for enabling those in charge
P71

page_text: of the vehicle or vehicles to which such means are applied to supply water or other
fluid to the peripheries of the wheels so that in dry weather or on certain portions
of the track these may be kept damp and a similar effect be produced as though
the metals or rails were kept continually or intermittently in a wet state, and for
this purpose we fix in a convenient position in or upon each car carriage or truck a
tank or receptacle (or a number of such) for water or other suitable fluid which
shall be conveyed by pipes or tubes to various portions of the car carriage or truck,
and preferably to positions immediately over the wheels. These pipes or tubes are
supplied with taps or cocks or like devices capable of regulation and adjustment
(or the means for regulating the supply to the wheels may be located at or near
the tanks or receptacles) and if desired these may be controlled by any well known
arrangement from a certain point in charge of the guard or conductor.
It will be seen that when a small amount of fluid is allowed to trickle down or
fall upon the peripheries of the wheels the friction will be materially lessened and
greater speed obtained or the traction power reduced.
The foregoing description explains the object of our invention which may be
applied by various well known methods to different vehicles but in order to more
fully shew its operation and as it would act in regard to the wheels say of a tramcar
we have attached to this Specification a sheet of drawings on which:
Figure 1. is a skeleton side view of a part of a tramcar shewing the tank and
pipes on one side.
Figure 2. is a perspective view of a tank suitable for the purpose shewing a
portion of the pipes and Figure 3. is a plan of the tank with pipes and connections
(partly in dotted lines).
The tanks containing the liquid to be discharged in small quantities upon the
peripheries of the wheels may be conveniently fixed under the seats of a vehicle
and as shewn in Figure 1 beneath the seat A of a tramcar and supported above
the flooring so as to enable the outlets N N¹ from such tank to discharge by
gravitation a portion of the contents upon the top of the wheels D. D. We prefer
to form our tanks E when placed in this position with central division plate F
so forming two compartments but this plate is not of the same height as the sides
and ends of the tank so allowing the two compartments to be filled from one
inlet G. The liquid may thus be turned on so as to trickle on to the front or rear
wheel only if desired and on ascending a hill will not entirely leave either end of
the tank so ensuring a constant flow through one or other outlet or pair of outlets L L'
or M M¹.
We also place at suitable angles other division plates or diaphragms J. J. J. J.
extending across the tank but having spaces between their bottom edges and the
floor of the tank so as to allow the fluid to pass and having also holes K through
which the fluid may circulate the object of these perforated plates being to prevent
sudden rush of fluid to either end of the compartment or of the tank.
The tank is filled through inlet G by a connection_to_any source of supply and
is delivered into distributing pipe K through outlets L. L' or M. M' and thence to
small outlets N. N¹ over the wheels, controlling taps may be fixed say at O. O¹ or
may be placed on outlets N. N' arranged to be turned by hand separately by the
conductor or other person appointed or the whole may be placed under control of
driver or conductor without his leaving his place on the car by means of any well
known mechanical devices-or the tanks may be placed at each end of car within
reach of driver or conductor and the pipes so arranged as to lead over the wheels and
discharge liquid thereon. The tanks may be connected by pipes one inlet sufficing.
The lids are closed down tightly and air vents provided.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. Reducing friction caused by the travelling of the wheels of vehicles over
metals or rails by means of liquid applied to the said wheels, and liquid being

page_text: contained in receptacles carried on the vehicles in such manner that a continuous
or intermittent stream may be directed through suitable leads (controlled by driver
or conductor) to the peripheries of the wheels substantially as hereinbefore
described.
2. The means for reducing friction caused by the travelling of the wheels of
vehicles upon metals or rails substantially as herein before described with reference
to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 25th day of July 1894.
POPPLEWELL & Co.,
32, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.