Ix- PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND COUPLING OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES
Year: 1872

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Edward Slaughter and Alfred Louis Sacré, Civil
and Mechanical Engineers, of Bristol, for the Invention of "Ix-
PROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND COUPLING OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Edward Slaughter and
Alfred Louis Sacré at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents,
with their Petition, on the 4th May 1872.
We, EDWARD SLAUGHTER and ALFRED LOUIS SACRÉ, Civil and
Mechanical Engineers, of Bristol, do hereby declare the nature of the
said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND COUPLING OF
LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES," to be as follows:-
This Invention has for its object to connect two locomotive engines
for the purpose of working them together. The engines are arranged
with their fire-boxcs towards each other with a sufficient distance

page_text: between them to give room for a platform for the stoker and driver.
The frames of each engine end close by the back of the fire-box and
the platform for the men is carried by a stiff connecting frame which
couples the two engines, being jointed to them at the centre of their
wheel bases. The engines are therefore free to take the proper position
on a curve without causing great friction and undue strain on tyres.
At the back of the fire-boxes there are springs with slides bearing upon
the connecting or coupling frame, having for its object to transmit the
vertical strains or shocks which are so injurious to engines with short
wheel bases to the connecting or coupling frame, and through that
to the centres of the wheel bases, so that the shocks will not fall
on one pair of wheels only; the fire-box end of the engine may
.also be the heaviest, in which case the connecting frame will carry
the surplus weight to the centres of the wheel bases. "The coke
boxes, tank, and house for the men may be on the connecting frame,
so that the variation of water and fuel will not affect the distribution
of weight.
.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Edward Slaughter and Alfred Louis Sacré in the
Great Seal Patent Office on the 4th November 1872.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, EDWARD
SLAUGHTER and ALFRED LOUIS SACRÉ, Civil and Mechanical Engineers,
of Bristol, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fourth day of May, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two, in the thirty-
fifth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto us, the said Edward Slaughter and Alfred Louis Sacré,
Her special license that I, the said Edward Slaughter and Alfred Louis
Sacré, our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the
said Edward Slaughter and Alfred Louis Sacré, our exccutors, adminis-
trators, and assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others,
from time to time and at all times thereafter during the term therein

page_text: expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, 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 CON-
STRUCTION AND COUPLING OF LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES," upon the condition (amongst
others) that we, the said Edward Slaughter and Alfred Louis Sacré,
our exccutors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our
or their hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or
them, 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 Scal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
•
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Alfred Louis Sacré, on behalf of
myself and the said Edward Slaughter, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed,
to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement thercof, that is to say :—
•
This Invention has for its object to connect two locomotive engines
for the purpose of working them together. Tlic engines are arranged
with. their fire-boxes towards each other with a sufficient distance
between them to give room for a platform for the stoker and driver.
The frames of each engine end close by the back of the fire-box and
the platform for the men is carried by a stiff connecting frame which
couples the two engines, being jointed to them at the centre of their
wheel bases. The engines are therefore free to take the proper position
on a curve without causing great friction and undue strain on tyres.
At the back of the fire-boxes, there are springs with slides bearing upon
the connecting or coupling frame, having for its object to transmit the
vertical strains or shocks which are so injurious to engines with short
wheel bases to the connecting or coupling frame, and through that
to the centres of the wheel bases so that the shocks will not fall
on one pair of wheels only. The fire-box end of the engine may
also be the heaviest, in which case the connecting frame will carry
the surplus weight to the centres of the wheel bases. The coke
boxes, tank, and house for the men may be on the connecting frame,
so that the variation of water and fuel will not affect the distribution
of weight.

page_text: DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS.
Figure 1 is a sectional elevation of a narrow gauge engine adapted i
to be coupled with another similar engine by a frame which this
Figure also shews, and which passes from the centre of the wheel
base of one engine to the centre of the wheel base of the other;
Figure 2 is a plan in section; and Figuro 3 is a transverse section of the
same.
'
a, a, is the main frame of the engine, it is supported by springs upon
the axle boxes of two pair of coupled wheels. This frame a carrics the
boiler and the working parts of the engine, which are represented in the
Drawings so clearly that no detailed description of them is necessary;
b is a bridge plate connecting the two side frames a, and upon it at the
centre of the wheel base the semi-globular stud.c is firmly fixed. This
stud receives the cap d, which is bolted to the end plate of the coupling
frame e, and a divided ring on the under side prevents the cap lifting
off the stud. The end plate of the coupling frame projects on either
side over the main frame a, and has fixed to it the side girders e³, and
these at their other ends are similarly fixed to the other end plate of the
coupling frame, the cap d of which embraces the globular stud in the
centre of the wheel base of the other engine. Between the engines
the coupling frame carries the platform f, and the cabin f¹ may be
built on the platform to shelter the men. The platform also carrics coal
boxes f,f. The fire-box ends of the engines are also connected with
the platform through springs, but so as not to interfere with motion
in an horizontal plane of the one part in respect to the other; g, g, are
spring links passing through the flange f³ of the platform f, and also
through the slotted holes a** in the angle iron bracket a¹ fixed upon the
main frame a. The links are secured by nuts at their ends, and they
carry the blade springs g' which bear upon a surface prepared for them
upon the upper side of the flange f³ and also the india-rubber disc
springs g² which act against the under side of this flange.
What we claim is the method of coupling a pair of locomotive engines
by means of a coupling frame connecting the centre of the wheel base
1

page_text: of one engine with that of the other and free to play between these
points, substantially as described.
We also claim the method of constructing and coupling locomotive
engines, substantially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Alfred Louis Sacré, have hereunto
set my hand and seal, this 27th day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-two.
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