IMPROVEMENTS IN TRACTION AND OTHER ENGINES
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Joseph Ruston, of the City and County of Lincoln,
Engineer, for the Invention of " IMPROVEMENTS IN TRACTION AND OTHER
ENGINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Joseph Ruston at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th December 1876.
JOSEPH RUSTON, of the City and County of Lincoln, Engineer.
IN TRACTION AND OTHER ENGINES."
"IMPROVEMENTS
This Invention relates to improvements in traction and other engines, and,―
Firstly. To improvements on the ordinary compensation driving gear of traction
engines. Ordinarily when the resistance of the two driving wheels is found to be
wholly unequal by reason, as is usually the case, of one wheel passing over ground
softer than or different to that over which the other is passing, it has been necessary
in order to lock the compensating gear to stop the engine and then apply the means
of locking. By my Invention the compensating gear may be locked while the
engine is in motion. For this purpose I employ strong pins, or a pin in connection
with a clutch on the driving shaft, so that by means of a lever conveniently placed
for that purpose the pins or pin may be readily passed through holes in the two
bevel wheels, thus locking them together and compelling them to move as one.
The pins or pin may in like manner be withdrawn at pleasure.
$
My Invention relates, secondly, to an arrangement whereby the steam may be
taken from the high and dry end of the boiler, when by reason of the engine going
up or down hill the boiler inclines and the water consequently flows to the lower
end thereof. This I accomplish by taking the steam to the cylinder through two
apertures near to and opposite one another in the direction of the length of the
boiler. One faces towards each end of the boiler, and communicates with a pipe
leading to that end. Between these apertures is an equilibrium valve (or valves)
so balanced that it will fall towards the lower end of the boiler, closing the aperture
facing that end and opening fully the one facing the higher end of the boiler, thus
causing the steam to pass to the cylinder from that end. To render the action of
the equilibrium valve (or valves) sensitive it is connected by a pin or pins passing

page_text: through slots in the casing to the upper ends of two levers, one on each side, such
levers being centred at their lower ends and loaded with weights. When these
levers are upright both apertures for the steam are partly open.
My Invention relates, thirdly, to improvements in the governors of traction and
other engines. As ordinarily constructed, with the moving weights entirely above
the spindle bearing, the vibrations to which the engine is subjected during
travelling or ordinary working render the governor subject to unnecessary wear.
My Invention consists in placing the greater portion of the moving weights below
this bearing in ring or any suitable form, thus avoiding wear and ensuring
steadiness and true action.
My Invention relates, fourthly, to an improved means of locking and unlocking
the reversing gear. This has been effected hitherto by means of a small thumb
piece or catch-lock lever attached to the reversing lever, a method attended with
inconvenience. According to my Invention the unlocking is effected by means of
a foot lever or treadle in convenient proximity to the driver, thus leaving the
reversing lever free to be firmly grasped and definitely operated by one hand.
My Invention relates, fifthly, to improvements in apparatus for determining the
height of the feed water in the water tank. For this purpose I employ a float
floating on the surface of the feed water, and from it lead a light rod up a vertical
tube placed handily for observation. An ordinary hand rail standard may be
utilised for this purpose. The top of the float rod may either project above the
tube or work up and down through a vertical slot therin. Its height of course
indicates the height of the feed water.
My Invention relates, sixthly, to improvements in the steering mechanism.
According to my Invention I attach to the axle of the front or steering wheels two
segments of a circle, and work the steering chains round these so that they always
pull at a tangent. By preference, I cast these segments in one piece with the
ordinary metal turn plate. The operation is thus inore reliable since the chains
always have the same leverage.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by the
said Joseph Ruston in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 6th June 1877.
JOSEPH RUSTON, of the City and County of Lincoln, Engineer.
IN TRACTION AND OTHER ENGINES."
"IMPROVEMENTS
This Invention relates to improvements in traction and other engines.
And in order that my Invention may be clearly understood and readily carried
into effect, I will proceed to describe the same with the aid of the accompanying
Drawings, reference being had to the letters and figures marked thereon.
My Invention relates, firstly, to improvements on the ordinary compensating
driving gear of traction engines. These improvements are illustrated in Figs. 1
and 2 of the accompanying Drawings, in which Fig. 1 is an end or back elevation
(partly in section) of so much of a traction engine as is necessary to clearly
illustrate my Invention; and Fig. 2, a face view of the compensating gear with
my improvements attached and with the road wheel removed. Ordinarily when
the resistance of the two driving wheels is formed to be unequal by reason (as is
usually the cause) of one wheel passing over ground softer than or different to that
over which the other is passing, it has been necessary in order to lock the com-
pensating gear to stop the engine and then apply the means of locking. By my
Invention the compensating gear may be locked while the engine is in motion.
For this purpose I employ strong pins (or a pin) A in connection with a clutch B
on the driving shaft C, so that by means of a lever D conveniently placed for the
purpose the pins (or pin) may be readily passed through holes or slots E in the two
bevel wheels F and G, thus locking them together and compelling them to move as

page_text: one.
The pins (or pin) A may in like manner be withdrawn whilst the engine is
in motion, thus unlocking the compensating gear.
My Invention relates, secondly, to an arrangement whereby the steam may be
taken from the high and dry end of the boiler, when by reason of the engine going
up or down hill the boiler is inclined and the water consequently flows to the lower
end thereof. This part of my Invention is illustrated by Figs. 3, 4, and 5, of the
accompanying Drawings; Fig. 3, being a longitudinal section on the centre line of
the boiler and of my improved apparatus; Fig. 4, a transverse section at the centre
line of Fig. 3; and Fig. 5, a view of detail; A is the top plate of the boiler; B
and C are two steam collecting pipes extending from the chamber D (into the
opposite sides of which one end of each is respectively screwed) to the opposite ends
of the boiler; E is the steam pipe leading to the cylinder, and also communicating
with the chamber D which is attached to the top plate of the boiler. Opposite the
entrances of the pipes B and C are two valves F and G coupled so that they will
move together, and likewise so that as one shuts the other opens. Between the
heads of the valves is a block H, and against and together with this block the valves
are coupled by means of a coupling block I, as shown in the Drawings. These
valves are so balanced that they will fall towards the lower end of the boiler, closing
the aperture of the collecting pipe leading to that end, and opening that of the one
leading to the higher end, and so admitting the steam from that end to the chamber D
whence it passes to the cylinder. To render the valves sensitive they are attached
by a pin passing through block H, and through slots in the sides of chamber D, to
the upper ends of two levers J (one on each side), centred at their lower ends and
loaded at their upper ends, with weights. When these levers are upright both
apertures for the steam are partly open. The coupling block I is shewn detached
at Fig. 5. The valves F & G may instead be so arranged that they may be
actuated by hand by means of a screw, hand wheel, or lever attached to them, and
arranged in any convenient position on the boiler.
My
My Invention relates, thirdly, to improvements in the governors of traction and
other engines. As ordinarily constructed, with the moving weights entirely above
the spindle bearing, the vibrations to which the engine is subjected during travelling
or ordinary working render the governor subject to unnecessary wear.
Invention consists in placing the greater portion of the moving weights below this
bearing in ring or any suitable form, thus avoiding wear any ensuring steadiness
and true action. This part of my Invention is illustrated at Fig. 6 of the accom-
panying Drawing, where A, A, are the moving weights above the spindle bearing;
and B, the weight below this bearing. The details are evident from the Drawing
and requires no further description.
My Invention relates, fourthly, to an improved means of locking and unlocking
the reversing gear. This has been effected hitherto by means of a small thumb
piece or catch-lock lever attached to the reversing lever, a method attended with
inconvenience. According to my Invention the unlocking is effected by means of
a foot lever or treadle in convenient proximity to the driver, thus leaving the
reversing lever free to be firmly grasped and definitely operated by one hand.
This part of my Invention is illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of the accompanying
Drawings, where K is the foot lever centred at k, the rear end of which lever is
attached to a vertical rod L, passing upwards through guides to the catch bar M.
On the upper side of the catch bar are notches, into which a bar across the top of
vertical rod L enters when the rod is forced down by the helical spring N. When
the foot lever is depressed its rear part is thereby raised, lifting rod L out of he
notches in catch bar M, and thereby liberating it and allowing it to be operated by
the reversing lever, after which and when the foot has been removed the rod L is
immediately forced down and, enters the said notches, and so locks the catch bar in
the position required.
My Invention relates, fifthly, to improvements in the steering mechanism. This
part of my Invention is illustrated at Figs. 7, 8, 9, and 10 of the accompanying
Drawings, in which Fig. 7 is a plan; Fig. 8, a longitudinal section on the centre

page_text: line of Fig. 7; and Figs. 9 and 10, views of modifications of detail. I attach to the
axle of the front or steering wheels two segments A, A, of a circle, and work the
steering chains B, B, round these, so that they always pull at a tangent. These
segments I prefer to cast in one piece with the ordinary metal turn plate C, as
shewn. The operation of steering is thus more reliable since the chains always
have the same leverage. The method of attaching the chains to the segments is
evident from the Drawings. Figs. 9 and 10 illustrate a modification of the method
of attaching the chains, Fig. 9 being a plan, and Fig. 10 a section at a, b, Fig. 9.
The attachment bolt is there shewn passed through a vertical pin, which as it can
revolve in its bearings allows the attachment bolt to adjust itself to the direction
of the pull.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention, and the manner in which the same is to or may be performed, I claim
as my Invention to be secured by the herein-before in part recited Letters Patent,
the improvements in traction and other engines, substantially as herein-before set
forth and described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Joseph Ruston, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourth day of June, One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-seven.
JOSEPH RUSTON. (L.S.)