IMPROVE- MENTS IN TRUCKS, WAGGONS, OR VEHICLES FOR RAILWAY PURPOSES
Year: 1853

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Murphy, of Newport, in the County
of Monmouth, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN TRUCKS, WAGGONS, OR VEHICLES FOR RAILWAY PURPOSES."
Sealed the 27th August 1853, and dated the 28th February 1853.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Murphy at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on
the 28th February 1853.
I, JAMES MURPHY, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRUCKS, WAGGONS, OR VEHICLES FOR RAIL-
WAY PURPOSES" to be as follows:-
The principle of my Invention is so simple and apparent as to be
at once understood by perusal of the few following lines.
It consists, firstly, in making the upper portion or body of the vehicle
separate from the under portion or frame work thereof, connecting the
two portions (framing and body) by means of a centre pin, plates,
friction rollers, et cetera, thereby enabling the body of the vehicle to
traverse and revolve upon the framework to any extent required.
Secondly, I purpose, by means of a screw lever or other mechanical
means, to obtain the power of drawing these vehicles closer together

page_text: during motion (or vice versa) from the interior, instead of, as now per-
formed, the exterior of such vehicies.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said James Murphy, in the Great Seal Patent
Office, on the 27th August 1853.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I,
JAMES MURPHY, of Newport, in the County of Monmouth, Civil
Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-eighth day of February, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three, in the
sixteenth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto me, the said James Murphy, Her especial licence
that I, the said James Murphy, my executors, administrators, and
assigns, or such others as I, the said James Murphy, 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, use, exercise, and
vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, my "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRUCKS,
WAGGONS, OR VEHICLES FOR RAILWAY PURPOSES," upon the condition
(amongst others) that I, the said James Murphy, by an instrument
in writing under my hand and seal, 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 imme-
diately after the date of the said Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said James Murphy, 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, reference being had to the Drawing hereto
annexed, and forming part of this my Specification.

page_text: The nature of my Invention consists in making the upper portion or
bodies of trucks or waggons used on railways, (for carrying articles of
such lengths as require the support of two trucks or waggons,) to revolve
on a centre pin, bolt, or other similar means upon the framework. And
the reduction of friction of the body upon the framework is effected by
the use of friction plates, rollers, or blocks, which are inserted interme-
diately between such body and framing, in such number and at such
distances from the centre point as may be required. Stops are attached
to the body of the waggon to prevent it moving on the framework
when the vehicle is used singly as a mineral, goods, or luggage waggon:
these stops may be so placed as to allow the body to traverse a limited
distance, if required; or, being entirely removed, the body will revolve
the whole circle. Also in the means of drawing up or tightening the
connecting chain between a pair of these waggons when loaded, which
is performed by a rack attached to the coupling or drawing hook, eye
bolt, or shackle, and placed in the interior of the waggon, which rack
is moved backwards or forwards by a pinion, the axle of which is
carried transversely to one or both sides of the waggon, and terminating
near the outside of the framework by a square or capstan head, or other
suitable shape, so that the pinion axle may be turned by a bar or handle,
thereby acting on the rack, and so drawing up or slacking out the draw
hook. In order to secure the hook and chain when so drawn up, one or
two eye bolts or plates are fastened to a transverse bearer of the waggon.
When the chain is drawn tight, and the hook or shackle drawn up to its
place, a bolt is put through holes made both in the eye bolts or plates
and the hook bar for the purpose, and the chain is thereby secured. A
number of holes may be made in the draw-bar attached to the rack and
hook, which will allow of the chain being drawn to any required strain.
Or I tighten the chain by a thread being formed on that part of the
draw-hook bar inside the framing to take a nut, which is placed in the
centre of a pinion or toothed wheel, and this being acted upon by an
endless screw attached to a transverse bar, will effectually tighten the
chains to any degree required. The screw pinion and the transverse
bar are secured in their places by ordinary means.

page_text: The first portion of my Invention is represented at Figures 1, and 2,
on the accompanying Drawing: Figure 1, being a plan of the under
framing of a railway waggon or truck, and Figure 2, is a longitudinal
section of the same. a, b, c, d, shews the outer framing, and e, f,
transverse bearers, to which is bolted a support of iron or other material,
through which the centre pin g, passes. h, i, Figure 2, shews the body
of the truck constructed separately from the framework a, b, and turning
freely on its centre by means of the pin g, and resting on friction rollers
K1, K2, K3, K4, K. 5, K 6.
The second part of my Invention is shewn at Figures 3, and 4:
Figure 3, being л portion of the under framing b, d, Figure 1, with
my new arrangement appended thereto; and Figure 4, is a longitudinal
section, through the line a, b, Figure 3. 1, 1, is a transverse axle, on
which and at the centre is placed a pinion m, in the teeth of which
work in the horizontal rack n; to this rack is affixed the draw-bar o,
on each side of which are two eye bolts p, p, attached to the transverse
bearer b, d, after the chain has been tightened or drawn up by means
of the axle rack and pinion; a pin q, is passed through the eye bolts
and the draw-bar at p, o, p. The pin q, q, may be used in the inside
of the transverse piece b, d, as dotted in at 7, without the use of eye
Another mode of accomplishing the same object is shown at Figures 5,
and 6: Figure 5, being a plan, and Figure 6, a vertical section through
C, D, Figure 5. b, d, is the transverse bearer; o, the draw bar, on
which a thread is cut as at S; this screw works in a nut at the centre
of the pinion t, acted upon by the worm u, of the transverse axle l, l.
bolts.
A certain action is observed to take place with timber waggons on
a badly maintained railway; the rails, timber, or other long articles
carried on two trucks, by the ends of the articles so carried chafing and
abrading the extreme or outer ends of the waggons. To obviate this
destructive working on the outer ends of the waggons referred to, the
outer end may be made detached from the other parts of the body,
and secured by strong bars on each side of the waggon to a point about
the centre of the body; the outer ends in this case being free, will
remain perfectly steady against the ends of the load, while the carriage
rises or falls to the inaccuracies of the railway.

page_text: The advantages to be obtained by the use of waggons made on this
principle, are those of enabling the load or articles requiring the trucks,
such as timber, rails, &c., to be placed in close contact with the outer
ends of the waggons, and thereby rendering it impossible that the loads
can be driven through the adjoining ends of the next carriages or trucks,
dispensing with the use of a detached moveable bolster or transverse
supporter for the load. The body revolving on the framework enables the
waggons to travel over curves, which they cannot do with the present
ordinary bolster. This waggon may be used as a mineral or goods
waggon, when not required for timber; and the door at one or inner
end being hinged, enables it to be let down or turned back in two
halves to join the sides of the waggon, as occasion may require.
Having now described the nature of my Invention, and the means
by which it is carried into practical effect, I would observe that none of
the parts of machinery or apparatus herein mentioned are new, when
taken separately, but only as and when combined and for the purposes
of my Invention; nor do I claim the sole use of any of such parts,
except in such combination; but what I do claim as of my Inven-
tion is,―
Firstly, the adaptation of the body of a vehicle, revolving in the
whole or in part on its under framing, by the means, in the manner,
and for the purposes herein-before described or set forth.
Secondly, the mode or apparatus in or by the use of which the
connecting chains of railway trucks or vehicles are drawn up, tightened,
or otherwise arranged, as herein-before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Murphy, have herein-before
affixed my hand and seal, this Twenty-seventh day of August,
One thousand eight hundred and fifty-three.
30 Witness, J. P. ROVERE,
JAMES MURPHY. (L.S.)
8, Cambridge Villas, Walham Green.