IMPROVEMENTS IN ROAD LOCOMOTIVES OR TRACTION ENGINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Box, of Uffington, in the County of Berks,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROAD LOCOMOTIVES OR
TRACTION ENGINES."
Sealed the 7th October 1876, and dated the 12th May 1876.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Box at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 12th May 1870.
WILLIAM BOX, of Uffington, in the County of Berks, Engineer.
IN ROAD LOCOMOTIVES OR TRACTION ENGINES."
"IMPROVEMENTS
My Invention has for its object an improved mode of transmitting motion from
the countershaft underneath the boiler of a road locomotive or traction engine to
the driving wheels of such engine, whereby increased facility is afforded for
mounting the engine upon springs, and for the passage round sharp angles or
corners.
In order to effect these objects I fix on the countershaft a crank or crank disc,
which I connect by means of a connecting rod with a crank disc fast on the driving
axle of the engine, whereby motion is imparted to such axle.
The driving wheels are fitted loosely upon the axle, to which they are connected
by means of a friction strap passing round the disc on the axle and attached to the
driving wheels, the motion imparted to the axle being transmitted to the driving
wheels through the intervention of the friction strap.
This arrangement admits of the requisite spring action or separation between the
boiler and the wheels, and further facilitates the passage of sharp corners or angles,
one of the driving wheels continuing in motion whilst the other is stationary, its.
disc turning within the strap.

page_text: My said Invention has for its object an improved mode of transmitting motion
from the countershaft underneath the boiler of a road locomotive or traction engine
to the propelling or driving wheels of such engine, whereby increased facility is
affordod for mounting the engine upon springs, and for the passage round sharp
angles or corners.
In order to effect these objects I fix on each end of the countershaft a crank or
crank disc, which I connect by means of connecting rods with crank discs fast on
opposite ends of the driving axle of the engine, whereby motion is imparted to
such axle.
The driving wheels are fitted loosely upon the axle, to which they are connected
by means of friction straps passing round the discs on the axle and attached to the
driving wheels, the motion imparted to the axle being transmitted to the driving
wheels through the intervention of the friction straps.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood I shall now proceed
more particularly to describe the saine, and for that purpose shall refer to the severnl
Figures on the annexed Sheet of Drawings, the same letters of reference indicating
corresponding parts in all the Figures.
Figuro 1 of the accompanying Drawings represents a side elevation of a road
locomotive or traction engine with my Invention applied thereto; and Figures 2
and 3 aro transverso sectional elevations of the same.
a is the countershaft situate beneath the boiler b, and driven by means of the
train of gearing c or otherwise from the main shaft d. On each end of the counter-
shaft a there is fixed a crank or crank disc (a crank c being shewn on one side and
a crank disc c¹ forming part of the train of gearing c on the opposite sido in my
Drawings), which cranks or crank discs I connect by means of connecting rods f,f,
with crank discs g, g, fast on opposite ends of the driving axle h, whereby motion
is imparted from the countershaft a to the axle h. i, i, are the driving wheels, which
are mounted loose upon the axle h, but are connected thereto by means of friction
straps k, k, passing round the discs g, g, on the axlo h, and attached to the driving
wheels i, i, at 1, l, the motion imparted to the axle h in the manner herein-before
described being transmitted to the driving wheels i, i, through the intervention of
the friction straps k, k.
By means of my Invention I am enabled to carry or suspend the boiler upon
springs, two of which I have shewn at m, m, in ny Drawings, as the mode of
driving admits of the requisite spring action or separation between the boiler and
the wheels. The method of connecting the driving wheels to their axle also faci-
litates the passage of sharp corners or angles, as it admits of the required variation
in the speed of the two driving wheels, one of the wheels continuing a motion at
the desired speed, whilst the disc of the other wheel partially turns within its cor-
responding friction strap.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used or carried into
effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider to be novel and original,
and therefore claim as the Invention secured to me by the herein-before in part
recited Letters Patent is, imparting motion to the propelling or driving wheels of
road locomotives or traction engines from the countershaft through the intervention
of outside connecting rods and of crank discs fast on opposite ends of the axle of
such wheels, the motion being transmitted from the axle to the wheels by means of
friction straps surrounding the discs and connected to the wheels, substantially as
and for the purposes herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Box, have to this my Specification set
my hand and seal, the Thirtieth day of October, One thousand eight hundred
E
WILLIAM BOX. (LS.)