IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY WHEELS AND IN RAILWAY TURNTABLES, WHICH LATTER IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO CERTAIN SHAFTS OR AXLES DRIVEN BY STEAM OR OTHER MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1848

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, WILLIAM
BAKER, of Edgbaston, near Birmingham, in the County of Warwick, Civil
Engineer, and JOHN RAMSBOTTOM, of Longsight, near Manchester, in the
County of Lancaster, Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent under the Great Seal of the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, bearing date at Westminster, the Twenty-first day of
December last, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto
us, the said William Baker and John Ramsbottom, our exors, adiñors, and
assigns, Her especial licence that we, the said William Baker and John
Ramsbottom, our exors, adiñors, and assigns, or such others as we, the said
William Baker and John Ramsbottom, our exors, admors, or assigns, should
at any time agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times
during the term of years therein expressed, should and lawfully might make,
use, exercise, and vend, within England, Wales, and the Town of Berwick-
upon-Tweed, our Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF RAILWAY
WHEELS AND IN RAILWAY TURNTABLES, WHICH LATTER IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE
TO CERTAIN SHAFTS OR AXLES DRIVEN BY STEAM OR OTHER MOTIVE POWER;" in
which said Letters Patent is contained a proviso obliging us, the said William
Baker and John Ramsbottom, by an instrument in writing under our hands

page_text: and seals, particularly to describe and ascertain the nature of our said Invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, and to cause the same to be
enrolled in Her Majesty's High Court of Chancery within six calendar months
next and immediately after the date of the said recited Letters Patent, as in
and by the said Letters Patent, reference being thereunto had, will more fully
and at large appear.
NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, we, the said
William Baker and John Ramsbottom,. do hereby declare the nature of our
said Invention to consist,―
First, in a peculiar construction of railway wheels, which renders the
outer rim or tire less liable to fly off when broken, and supersedes the
necessity of fastening the outer rim or tire by rivets to the other portions of
the wheel.
Secondly, in certain improved combinations and arrangements of cones,
cylinders, or spheres, revolving and travelling freely between two surfaces, for
giving greater support and rigidity to the moveable tops of railway turntables
when carriages are passing over them, and for reducing friction when applied
to certain shafts or axles driven by steam or other motive power.
And in further compliance with the said proviso, we shall now proceed to
describe the manner in which the said Invention may be performed, and in
order that it may be fully understood, we shall refer to the thrce Sheets of
Drawings hereunto annexed, which are made to the various scales marked
upon them.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
In Sheet 1, Fig. 1 represents a front elevation of our improved railway
wheel, and Fig. 2 is a section of the same.
In Sheet 2, Fig. 3 represents a plan view of a turntable with some of our
improvements applied thereto. The table top is broken away to shew the
internal construction. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation, and Fig. 5 is an elevation
not in section of Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a plan view of part of a turntable shewing
another modification of our improvements. Fig. 7 is a section of the same,
and Fig. 8 represents a section on an enlarged scale of part of the turntable
shewn in Figs. 3, 4, and 5.
In Sheet 3, Fig. 9 represents a plan view of a turntable with other parts of
our improvements applied thereto. The table top is also broken away to shew
the construction of the parts beneath. Fig. 10 is a sectional elevation of the
samo Fig. 11 is a plan view of a portion of the lower part of a turutable

page_text: constructed according to another modification of our improvements. Fig. 12
is a sectional elevation of Fig. 11, with the table top in its place. Fig. 13 is
a plan view of part of a turntable of the largest class constructed for the
adoption of our improvements. Fig. 14 is a sectional elevation of the same
turntable to which our improvements are applied. Fig. 15 represents a
sectional elevation of part of a horizontal shaft and bearing, with our improved
method of reducing the friction when the strain comes endwise, as for instance
in the propeller shaft of a steam-boat. Fig. 16 is a sectional elevation of
part of a vertical shaft working in a footstep, to which our improvements aro
applied; and Fig. 17 is a plan view of the footstep shewn in Fig. 16.
In Figs. 1 and 2, a represents the tire of our improved railway wheel, which
is provided on its inner circumference with a shallow dovetailed recess; b are
the spokes, made of angle iron; they are bent into the shape shewn in the
Drawing, and the nave c is cast around their inner ends in the usual manner.
On referring to Figure 2 it will be seen that there are two sets of arms or
spokes, and that they are set further apart near the boss than they are near
the tire, the object of this is to increase the lateral strength of the wheel.
After the spokes are cast into the nave they are clamped together near their
outer circumference, so that when the tire is shrunk on the inner portion of
the dovetailed recess may pass over the outer edges of the angle irons forming
the spokes. The clamps are then removed and the spokes expand so as to
fill up the recess in the tire. The space between the spokes is then filled up
by the pieces d, which are retained in their places by hammering up the inner
edges of the angle irons, or by rivets passing through them. Although we
prefer to construct our improved wheels of ordinary angle iron, we do not
limit ourselves to making use of iron of that particular description so long as
the outer edges of the iron forming the spokes be made to fit into the dove-
tailed recess in the tire in the manner above described, the object being to
secure the tire firmly to the spokes without the aid of rivets passing through
the tire.
In Sheet 2, Figures 3, 4, and 5, represent one of our improved turnables
applicable to a main line of railway. In these views, e is the table top; f, the
bottom plate; and g, the outer segments or rim which protect the turntable
from the ballast and pavement by which it is surrounded, and also support the
ends of the rails h, which form part of the permanent way. The upper
surface of the bottom plate f is cast with any convenient number of grooves,
in which are placed the spheres i, and the under surface of the table top e is
provided with corresponding grooves, and is supported by the spheres i. The

page_text: number of grooves and the number of spheres placed in the grooves may be
varied at discretion, but we prefer to have the external groove almost full of
spheres and the others about half full; by this means we ensure almost perfect
solidity at the edge of the table, and a sufficient number of bearing points in
the other parts. The grooves in which the spheres i rotate are made with a
larger radius than the radius of the balls, as seen in the detached view,
Figure 8, so as to diminish the working surface of the balls upon the top
and bottom plates. The bottom plate f, and the outer rim g, are bolted or
spiked down on to the sleepers k, which are bedded in coarse or broken ballast.
In the bottom platea greater number of holes are cast than are required
for spiking down, the additional number are intended for the drainage of the
turntable. It will be necessary to bore holes through the sleepers k corre-
sponding to the holes for draining, and the water will make its escape through
the ballast. The pockets are cast to the segments or rim g, and are provided
for the purpose of affording means for the removal of dirt and dust which
penetrates between the table top and the segments. The attendant scrapes
the dirt and dust into a heap facing either of the pockets 1, and then draws
up the inclined plane seen in Fig. 5 by the aid of a small scraper. The
pockets are covered by lids, as shown in the Drawing.
it
Figs. 6 and 7 represent part of a turntable constructed according to another
modification of our improvements; the table top m is in this instance sup-
ported by the cones or cylinders n, which revolve in suitable grooves made for
their reception, as has been herein-before described. The bottom plate o is
provided in the centre with a cup to receive the stud or contre pin p, cast to
the table top in, as clearly shown in the section, Fig. 7. In Sheet 3, Figs. 9
and 10 represent a turntable of about sixteen fect diameter. In these views
the table top wis put together in two pieces, for the purpose of affording
greater facility in conveying the same from one place to another, and the lower
portion of the turntable is made with grooved rings, in which the spheres or
balls revolve instead of casting the whole in one plate, as in the turntables
before described. The largest of these rings may be bolted together in two or
more pieces, if found convenient. In other respects this turntable is very
similar to the turntables previously described, and it is therefore unnecessary
to enter more particularly into the details which are distinctly shown in the
Drawing.
Another modification of our improved method of supporting the table top
is shown in Figs. 11 and 12; in these views the smallest groove containing
the balls or spheres is only made large enough for a single row of the said balls,

page_text: but the other grooves are wide enough to contain two rows of balls when
placed in a diagonal position one towards the other. In this turntable we
have only shown four circular grooves for containing the balls which support
the table top, but in this, as well as in all the other turntables herein
described, the number of grooves and the number and size of balls, cones,
or cylinders in them, must be regulated according to the diameter and the
particular object for which the turntable is intended.
In Figs. 13 and 14 are shown another mode of constructing turntables.
The table top is formed of any suitable number of segments bolted together,
as shown in the Drawing, and further secured by means of a wrought-iron
hoop y, which encircles the segmental flanges cast on the inner ends of the
segments forming the table top. The bottom plate is composed of the metal
rings z fixed on a suitable foundation as herein-before described, or in
any other
convenient way. The cones, cylinders, or spheres herein-before referred to for
supporting the moveable tops of the turntables may be cast in sand or in iron
moulds, but we prefer the latter; and in order to save the expense of turning
the grooves in the upper and lower portions of the turntables, and also the
cones, cylinders, or spheres placed between the said grooves, we propose to
put the various parts of the turntable together, and to grind them by
introducing sand and water, and giving a rotary motion to the table top
until the surfaces of the various parts are sufficiently true for practical
purposes.
In Fig. 15, A represents in section part of a horizontal shaft supposed to
be subjected to a considerable strain in the direction of the arrow, and our
improved method of reducing friction in such cases. B is a shoulder made on
the said shaft, and C is a steel or other hard metal ring fixed on the shoulder B.
The shaft A works in a bearing D, which is also provided with a ring E; these
rings C and E have one or more circular grooves turned in them, and into
these grooves the balls or spheres F are placed. The number and size of
grooves and balls must be regulated according to circumstances. When the
longitudinal strain comes on the shaft, and the shaft begins to rotate, the
balls F will revolve round the rings C and E, and also round their own axes,
in the same way as the balls which support the table tops of the turntables
herein-before referred to. The lower portions of the rings C and E must be
immersed in oil, which will be carried round by the motion of the shaft and
balls.
In Figs. 16 and 17, we have shown an improved mode of reducing the
friction of vertical shafts, such as are employed in cotton mills, and in other

page_text: places where heavy gearing is required. G is the end of the shaft, and H is
a steel or other hard metal plate fixed to it. I is a footstep, in which are
turned several grooves containing the balls. J, the footstep, is partially filled
with oil, blacklead, or other lubricating substance, as shown in the Drawing,
and the lower surface of the plate H, or of the shaft end when the plate H is
dispensed with, is provided with grooves corresponding to those in the footstep.
Although in describing our improvements applicable to certain shafts or axles
we have only shown the method of using spheres or balls, we wish it to be
understood that cones or cylinders may in some cases be substituted in their
place, but we prefer the use of spheres.
Having now described the nature of our Invention, and the manner of per-
forming the same, we declare that we claim as of our Invention,―
First, the improved construction of railway wheels herein-before described,
and the improved combinations and arrangements of cones, cylinders, or
spheres revolving and travelling freely in one or more grooves provided for
their reception, in the manner and for the purposes herein-before described.
And this our Invention being, to the best of our knowledge and belief, entirely
new, and never before used within that part of Her said Majesty's United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland called England, Her Dominion of
Wales, and Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, we do hereby declare this to be
our Specification of the same, and that we do verily believe this our said
Specification doth comply, in all respects, fully and without reserve or disguise,
with the proviso in the said herein-before in part recited Letters Patent
contained; wherefore we do hereby claim to maintain exclusive right and
privilege to the said Invention.
In witness whereof, we, the said William Baker and John Ramsbottom,

page_text: AND ALSO BE IT REMEMBERED, that on the Twentieth day of June,
in the year of our Lord 1849, the aforesaid John Ramsbottom came before our
said Lady the Queen in Her Chancery, and acknowledged the Specification
aforesaid, and all and every thing therein contained and specified, in form
above written. And also the Specification aforesaid was stamped, according
to the tenor of the Statute made for that purpose.
Enrolled the Twenty-first day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and forty-nine.