IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES FOR TRAMWAYS And Light RaILWAYS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Hawthorn Kitson, of Leeds, in the County of York,
Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES FOR
TRAMWAYS And Light RaILWAYS."
Sealed the 24th September 1878, and dated the 25th March 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Hawthorn Kitson at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 25th March 1878.
JOHN HAWTHORN KITSON, of Leeds, in the County of York, Engineer.
PROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES FOR TRAMWAYS AND LIGHT RAILWAYS."
"IM-
This Invention relates to a peculiar combination or arrangement of the driving
gear of locomotive engines for tramways and light railways, and has for its object
the facilitating the more complete enclosure and protection of the working parts
from mud, and the bringing of such parts within easier access and control of the
driver.
In carrying out the said Invention a pair of inverted steam cylinders (oscillating
or otherwise) are employed, carried either by special supports on a bogie frame, or
attached directly to the sides of the boiler, which is by preference of the upright
class, and placed in the centre or otherwise of the bogie frame.
The piston rods of the engine cylinders act directly, or through connecting rods,
upon an intermediate crank shaft situate between and parallel to the two axles of
the bogie, the said intermediate shaft being coupled to both pairs of wheels, thus
rendering the whole four wheels available as driving wheels, whilst dispensing with
outside coupling rods, and admitting of the working gear being completely boxed
in or protected from mud and dirt. The said combination of vertical cylinders and
intermediate driving shaft coupled to two driving axles permits moreover of the
introduction of springs between the driving axles and the bogie frame, which
would not be practicable if the vertical piston rods worked directly upon the
driving axles themselves.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John Hawthorn Kitson in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
25th September 1878.
JOHN HAWTHORN KITSON, of Leeds, in the County of York, Engineer.
PROVEMENTS IN LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES FOR TRAMWAYS AND LIGHT RAILWAYS."
"IM-
My said Invention relates to a peculiar combination or arrangement of the
driving gear of locomotive engines, more especially intended for tramways and
light railways, and has for its object the facilitating the more complete enclosure
and protection of the working parts from mud, and the bringing of such parts
within easier access and control of the driver.
In carrying out my Invention a pair of steam cylinders (oscillating or other-
wise) are employed, carried either by special supports on a bogie frame, or attached
directly to the sides of the boiler, which is by. preference of the upright class, and
placed in the centre or otherwise of the bogie framc.
The piston rods of the engine cylinders act directly, or through connecting rods,
upon an intermediate crank shaft situate between and parallel to the two axles of
the bogie, the said intermediate shaft being coupled by coupling rods to both pairs
of wheels, thus rendering the whole four wheels of the bogie available as driving
whoels, whilst dispensing with outside coupling rods, and admitting of the working
gear being completely boxed in or protected from mud and dirt. The said, com-
bination of vertical cylinders and intermediate driving shaft coupled to two driving
axles permits morcover of the introduction of springs between the driving axles
and the bogie frame.
And in order that my said Invention may be fully understood, I shall now
procced more particularly to describe the same, and for that purpose shall refer to 2
the Drawing annexed, which represents a side view of the general arrangement of
the working parts of my improved tramway or light railway bogie engine.
A is the bogie frame mounted on the four, driving wheels B, B, and carrying
suitable standards or supports C. D represents one of two or more vertical
cylinders carried by the said standards; or the said cylinders may if desired be g
attached to the boiler (not shown in the Drawing), which should by preference be
of the vertical class, and be mounted in the centre of the bogie frame Å.
The piston rods E may be fitted with the usual slide blocks, and be connected by
connecting rods F with cranks G on the intermediate crank shaft H.working in
bearings in the bogie frame, or the cylinders may be oscillating, and the piston rods g
connected direct to the intermediate crank shaft without the intervention of the
connecting rods F.
I, I, are the coupling rods for coupling both pairs of carrying wheels B with the
intermediate shaft, the bearings of the axles of such wheels (which are thus rendered
driving wheels) being mounted on springs, as is well understood.
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 I do not claim broadly the use in
locomotive engines of an intermediate driving shaft transmitting motion to two
driving axles, as I am aware that such an arrangement has been proposed in conjunc
tion with a complex arrangement of spur gearing, which would not be practicable in
the particular class of engine to which my improvements apply, but what I
consider to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured to
ine by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the peculiar combination
and arrangement of two or more vertically disposed steam cylinders working on to 5
an intermediate crank shaft mounted in a bogie frane, and coupled by rods to the

page_text: carrying wheels of the bogie in order that the moving parts of the engine may be
more accessible, and its working may not be influenced by the action of the bearing
springs, as herein-before described, and illustrated by my Drawing.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Hawthorn Kitson, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this 21st day of September, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
JOHN HAWTHORN KITSON. (L.s.)