IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO LOCOMOTIVE AND TRACTION ENGINES AND BOILERS
Year: 1881

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis William Webb, of Crowe, in the County of
Chester, Mechanical Engineer, for an Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN
OR APPLICABLE TO LOCOMOTIVE AND TRACTION ENGINES AND BOILERS."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis William Webb at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th March 1881.
FRANCIS WILLIAM WEBB, of Crewe, in the County of Chester, Mechanical
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO LOCOMOTIVE AND TRACTION
ENGINES AND BOILERS."
My improvements consist in making locomotive engines capable of working
either compound or simple, and obtaining the adhesion of two pair of wheels
for traction without the usual coupling rods. I make the engine by preferonce
with three cylinders, two with outside connections, and one with inside connections.
The outside pair of cylinders I prefer to place behind the leading carrying wheels
or bogie, as the case may be, and connect them to the pair of wheels usually placed
behind the fire box, and which are sometimes in a four wheel coupled engine,
coupled by coupling rods to the pair of driving wheels in front of the fire box.
The last named pair of wheels I carry on a cranked axle, to which I attach the
connecting rod or rods of the inside cylinder or cylinders, and when desiring to
work compound I prefer to take the steam first into the pair of outside connected
cylinders, and then exhaust into a chamber which may be made part of the boiler
(but separated from the high pressure steam and water in the boiler), or I exhaust
into a chamber or receptacle in the smoke box formed of tubes or otherwise, and
from this chamber or receptacle I pass the steam on to the inside cylinder or
cylinders, and then exhaust in the ordinary manner; but the steam may be worked
the reverse way, that is, with the high pressure in the inside, and low pressure in
the outside cylinders, the cylinders in this case being proportioned accordingly.
Tho steam and exhaust pipes are or may be so arranged that steam may be taken
to any or all the cylinders from the boiler, all or any of the cylinders then
Price 1

page_text: exhausting into the air direct or through condenser pipes in the tank or tender,
and then to the air.
The pair of wheels with the cranked axle is or may be made to have a side or
radial motion so as to facilitate working round curves, and when more wheels than
two pairs are coupled the other wheels are or may be placed behind the first
mentioned pair of wheels to which the outside cylinders are connected, and
coupled in the usual manner with coupling rods. Any ordinary form of valve
gear is or may be used, but for this particular arrangement prefer gear similar
to that for which Letters Patent were granted to David Joy, dated the 9th March
1879, No. 929.
The second part of my Invention consists in giving a slight cross movement to
slide valves while working in the usual way by having guides for the valves to
work against, the position of which guides will be made to vary with every position
of the reversing levers, or other reciprocating part of the engine to which the
guides are or may be connected so as to prevent the grooving of the face of the
valves, which is often a great source of trouble and expense, the present improved
arrangement being a substitute for that arrangement in which the guide is
controlled by a spring and the varying pressure of the steam, described in the
Specification of Letters Patent granted to me, numbered 3289, and dated the
21st August 1879.
Thirdly. My Invention relates to boilers, and consists in forming one or more
open sided gussets to give elasticity, and allow the fire box to expand and contract
with the tubes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Francis William Webb in the Great Seal Patent Office on the
3rd September 1881.
FRANCIS WILLIAM WEBB, of Crewe, in the County of Chester, Mechanical
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR APPLICABLE TO LOCOMOTIVE AND TRACTION
ENGINES AND BOILERS."
Firstly. My Invention consists in improved combinations and arrangements of
locomotive engines by which they are rendered capable of working either compound
or simple, and whereby the adhesion of two pairs of wheels for traction is obtained
without the usual coupling rods.
1
I make the engine with three or four, but by preference with three cylinders,'
two outside and one inside the framing. I prefer to place the outside cylinders
behind the leading carrying wheels or bogie, as the case may be, and to connect
their pistons with cranks at right angles to each other placed on the ends of the
axle of the pair of wheels which are usually placed behind the fire box, these
wheels having been hitherto in some cases coupled by coupling rods to the pair of
driving wheels on an axle in front of the fire box; but instead of so coupling them
I carry the last named pair of wheels on a cranked axle to which the piston or
pistons of the inside cylinder or cylinders are connected.
When desiring to work compound I prefer to take the steam from the boiler
first into the pair of outside cylinders, which are connected, as before stated, to
drive the same axle, and cause the exhaust steam from these cylinders to enter a
chamber, which may be a part of the boiler, but made separate or partitioned from
the high pressure steam and water in the boiler; or I cause the steam from the
outside cylinders to exhaust into a chamber or receptacle in the smoke box formed
of tubes or otherwise, and by either of these arrangements the exhaust steam from
the first pair of cylinders is more or less re-heated.
From the exhaust pipes, chamber, or receptacle I convey the steam to the valve
chest of the inside cylinder or cylinders, from which it finally exhausts and escapes
into the atmosphere in the ordinary manner.
But though I prefer to work the steam as explained it may be used the reverse
way, that is, the steam direct from the boiler may be first worked in the inside
cylinder or cylinders, the exhaust steam from these high pressure cylinders passing.
on after being re-heated, as above explained, to the outside or low pressure
cylinders, and from thence into the atmosphere. In both modes of working the
steam above described the capacity of the high and low pressure cylinders are
properly proportioned one to the other to give the desired expansion of the steam,
as is well understood.
The steam and exhaust pipes are or may be so arranged that steam is or may be
taken direct from the boiler to all or any of the cylinders, and all or any of the
cylinders so supplied with steam direct from the boilers may exhaust directly into
the atmosphere, or through any ordinary condenser pipes in the water tank or
tender, and from thence into the air.
The cranked axle of the pair of wheels driven by the inside cylinder or cylinders
is or may be made to have a side or radial motion so as to facilitate the working.
round curves, or the axle of the front or leading pair of wheels is or may be made
to have lateral or radial movement instead of such movement being arranged in the
cranked axle.
When locomotives are required with more adhesion than can be obtained from
two pairs of wheels, then the additional driving wheels are placed bebind the
wheels hereinbefore mentioned as driven from the outside cylinders, and the,

page_text: additional wheels are coupled with the last named in the ordinary`manner by
coupling rods.
Any ordinary form or construction of valve gear is or may be used and combined
with locomotive engines arranged as above described, but for my improved com-
bination I prefer to employ gear similar to that for which Letters Patent were
granted to David Joy, dated the 8th day of March 1879, No. 929.
The second part of my Invention consists in giving a slight cross movement or
in giving a slight change in the position of ordinary slide valve or valves at a right
angle to the line of movement in which they work, either at the time the valve or
valves is working in the usual way, or when stationary by employing a guide or
guides for the valve or valves to work against, which guide or guides are so
arranged and acted upon that they will give a slight lateral movement or change
of position to the valve to vary its position with every position of the reversing
levers or other reciprocating part of the engine with which the said guide or guides
are or may be connected.
The object of this arrangement is to prevent the valve face from being grooved,
which is often a great source of trouble and expense.
The arrangement above described is a substitute for that in which the guide
acting upon the valve is controlled by a spring and the pressure of the steam, as
described in the Specification of Letters Patent granted to me, and numbered 3289,
and dated the 21st August 1878.
Thirdly. My Invention relates to boilers, and consists in forming one or more
open sided gussets to give elasticity and allow the fire box to expand and contract
with the tubes.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly in section, Fig. 2 an end elevation, and
Fig. 3 a plan section illustrating one modification under the first part of my
Invention.
The parts to be particularly referred to are only represented diagramatically or
by single centre lines.
The above described Figures represent a locomotive with two pairs of carrying
wheels on independent or uncoupled axles, and with a radial carrying axle in front
according to my Invention. a are two outside cylinders, the piston rod a¹ of which
are jointed with connecting rods a² that are attached to cranks a³ on the driving
wheels a' behind the fire box (a), the cranks on this axle being set at right angles
to each other.
The axle 6 in front of the fire box is cranked (see Fig. 3) for a connecting rod 6'
attached to the piston rod 62 of a single cylinder 63 carried in the middle of the
framing of the engine. If desired this axle may be double cranked at right angles
for two inside cylinders.
The piston rods and their guides and the connecting rods are or may be of
ordinary construction.
The valves and valve gear may be of ordinary construction, but I prefer, and
have indicated in Fig. 1, valve gear similar to what is known as "Joy's valve
motion," herein before referred to, as it is simple and leaves space for long journals,
which I prefer to form on the axles.
For the valve of each outside cylinder there is separate gear formed by a lever c,
one end of which is jointed to the connecting rod a³; the other end can slide freely
in a tube or guide c¹ mounted on a pivot or on trunnions upon the framing, so as to
swivel freely to the motion imparted by the said lever c.
Jointed to the lever c is one end of another lever c³, or it is a double lever, one
on each side of the lever c, and this single or double lever c³ is also jointed near its
other end to a slide block c³, which can slide up and down in the curved slot in a
circular block c* arranged to be oscillated in a bracket carried on the framing by a
connection with the reversing lever, which is attached to an arm or lever co secured
to or formed on the circular block. That end of the lever c³ projecting past the
joint with the slide block c³ is jointed with the rod c connecting it with the valve
spindle c7 to be actuated.

page_text: A similar arrangement of mechanism is employed for working. the valve of the
inside cylinder b³, except that in this case the lever c corresponding to the lever c
for the outside cylinders does not slide in a swivel tube, but its end is jointed to
one end of a radius rod cs, the other end of which is jointed to the framing.
There is one reversing shaft d in suitable bearings on the framing, having an
arm upon it, jointed at one end with a rod d² (represented by a dotted line),
which at the other end is jointed with an ordinary reversing lever or screw, or other
arrangement.
The reversing shaft d has also two arms d³ upon it, one for the valve gear of
each outside cylinder, which arms are each connected by a rod d with the arm c³
from each circular block o'.
And the reversing shaft d has another arm d³ which is connected by a rod de
with the arm o from the reversing block for the valve of the inside cylinder, the
connecting rod to the valve spindle of this cylinder being represented by the
line c³.
In the modification shown by Figs. 1, 2, and 3 the steam passes from the boiler
through the smoke box tube plate into a T branch e, with which pipes e¹ are
joined, one of which passes on each side in a curve close or nearly close to the
casing of the smoke box, and then each pipe bends to a horizontal position and
passes to and is jointed with the steam chest of its respective outside high pressure
cylinder a.
The exhaust pipes f from the outside high pressure cylinders (a) pass horizontally
to the smoke box, then each ascends vertically, keeping about to the curve of the
casing of the smoke box, and passes round and then descends to the valve chest of
the low pressure inside cylinder (65), each pipe thus passing round the smoke box,
and forming a separate junction with the valve chest.
The exhaust from the low pressure cylinder passes from it up the blast
pipe fx, between the two exhaust pipes f from the high pressure cylinders (a).
Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation and Fig. 5 a sectional plan which illustrate another
mode of conveying the steam from the boiler to the high pressure cylinders and
from the latter to the low pressure cylinder or cylinders.
The steam from the boiler, according to this modification, is taken to the outside
high pressure cylinders a, as herein before described in reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 3,
and the exhaust steam from the high pressure cylinders is taken by pipes ƒ hori-
zontally, but when the pipes have arrived near the smoke box one exhaust pipe is
crossed over and branches into the other, which passes forward into the smoke box
and ascends close or nearly so to the tube plate and passes through it, and then
through a horizontal pipe f¹ suspended in the steam space of the boiler, and then
out through the tube plate into the smoke box, and down close to the tube plate
by a pipe f³ to form a junction with the valve chest of the low pressure inside
cylinder 6³.
Fig. 6 is an end elevation illustrating an arrangement according to my Invention
when two inside low pressure cylinders 6s are used in place of one cylinder.
The cranks of the two low pressure cylinders are set at right angles to each
other, and the exhaust steam from the outside high pressure cylinders after being
reheated more or less, as explained, is or may be connected to the valve chest of
the low pressure cylinders, so that the exhaust steam from each of the high pressure
cylinders will pass solely to one of the low pressure cylinders, or the exhaust steam
from both high pressure cylinders is or may be made to pass to a valve chest
common to both low pressure cylinders.
By the arrangements described in reference to Figs. 1, 2, and 3, the driving
wheels are only coupled together by their adhesion to the rails, and by the low
pressure cylinder or cylinders (when working compound), being dependent for
their supply of steam upon the high pressure cylinders, but the cranks of the high
pressure cylinders will always be in a position to start the engine, and the low
pressure cylinder will also act, except when on the centre, when, after a slight
movement has been made, the low pressure cylinder will also assist in starting the

page_text: engine, but when two low pressure cylinders are used both high and low pressure
cylinders will always be in a position to start the engine. There is or may be a
pipe and valve or cock provided between the steam in the boiler and the valve
chest or chests of the low pressure cylinder or cylinders, which cock or valve may
be opened by a convenient handle to allow a supply of steam direct from the boiler
to pass to the valve chest of the low pressure cylinder or cylinders at starting
before the first stroke of the high pressure cylinder or cylinders has taken place,
and this temporary supply of steam may be allowed to pass through a valve to
reduce its pressure if desired.
Fig. 7 is a detached sectional elevation showing an arrangement of valve which 1
is or may be used in combination with the other arrangements, hereinbefore
described under the first head of my Invention, for causing the low pressure
cylinder or cylinders to be supplied either with steam direct from the boiler or
from the exhaust of the high pressure cylinders, and for causing the exhaust steam
from the latter to pass directly to the atmosphere when steam direct from the 1
boiler is supplied to the low pressure cylinder or cylinders.
In the illustration 63 is supposed to be a part of the low pressure cylinder, of
which 6 is the valve box.
The lid to this valve box is formed with ports and passages and with a valve
facing and slide valve 65 with a spindle 6° for actuating it passing through a stuffing
box, and then connected by a rod or lever,. shaft, and rods with any convenient
lever or screw handle for moving the slide valve to and fro.
Steam direct from the boiler is brought by a pipe to a branch on the valve chest
at 6'. Its pressure then acts to press the slide valve 65 against its facing.
In the position in which the valve b³ is shown steam direct from the boiler is ?
passing to the low pressure valve chest.
The exhaust steam from the high pressure cylinders is brought by the pipes
to branches from the cavity 68, and in the position in which the valve is shown in
full line it passes through the cavity of the valve 65 into the passage 6º, and from
thence is conveyed by a passage or pipe to the exhaust port of the low pressure
cylinder or cylinders, or to the blast pipe.
When the slide valve 65 is moved to the opposite extreme to that in which it is
shown (as in dotted line) the port supplying direct boiler steam to the low pressure
valve chest, and the port to the exhaust passage 6º are covered or closed, but
another port is opened between the cavity 68 for exhaust from the high pressure
cylinders to the valve chest of the low pressure cylinder or cylinders.
With this arrangement of valve 6s all the cylinders may be worked either by
steam direct from the boiler or upon the "compound" system, and can be readily
changed from one to the other at pleasure.
This arrangement of valve 65 is or may also be used for starting the engine and
for admitting a temporary supply of steam direct from the boiler to the low pressure
cylinder or cylinders for starting the engine.
Fig. 8 represents a side elevation of a locomotive according to the first part of
my Invention, as illustrated by Figs. 1, 2, and 3, when a third pair of driving
wheels are used coupled by ordinary coupling rods in the usual manner with the
axle driven from the outside cylinders a.
Fig. 9 is a sectional elevation illustrating the second part of my Invention.
The valve or valves in this Figure are supposed to work to and fro in a
horizontal direction with the faces of the valves in a vertical position.
There is a T piece g arranged to slide up and down through a stuffing box in 1
the side of the valve chest.
The edge of the valve h rests and slide on the horizontal part of the Ṭ piece, so
that when the stem of the T piece is moved up and down through the stuffing
box the lateral position of the valve upon its facing will be changed accordingly.
To the outer end of the T piece a lever g¹ is jointed, having its fulcrum carried
at g; the other end of the lever is jointed to one end of a rod g³, which at the

page_text: other end is jointed to an arm gª from the reversing shaft gº, which by an arm g”
and rod g7 is connected with the reversing screw or lever handle.
It will thus be seen that with every change in the position of the reversing
screw or handle the valve will work on its facing in a slightly different position,
which will prevent the destructive grooving action.
When two valves are worked back to back the same T piece will serve for both
valves if the cross piece is made broad enough.
When the valves are not worked with their faces in a vertical plane the T piece
is or, may be arranged to work in a groove formed on the edge of the valve or
an arm from the T piece is or may be made to extend across the valve to carry
a cross piece to rest against the other edge of the valve, so that the valve will be
moved both ways with the movements of the stem of the T piece in or out of the
valve chest.
Or a spring is or may be used on one side to keep the valvo against the
T piece.
The T piece is or may be connected by any suitable arrangement of mechanism
with the reversing gear.
Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate the third part of my Invention for providing elasticity
to allow the fire boxes of boilers to give way to expansion and contraction.
One gusset is shown, but two or more may be used if desired.
The fire box is made in two parts with a short space between, which is connected
by a gusset j.
The edges of the fire box and gusset are secured by rivets, both heads of which
are accessible from the exterior of the fire box.
Stays between the fire box and external shell may if desired be screwed in the
latter at one end, and into a bar or plate extending across the gap in the sides of
the fire box in the interior of the gusset, but not being secured thereto, except at
one side when desired, which arrangement will permit of movement in the two
portions of the fire box when contracting or expanding.
I have now particularly described the nature of my Invention, and the modes of
carrying it into effect, and claim as my Invention,―
Firstly. The combination of locomotives with two pairs of driving and carrying
wheels, driven separately, one pair being driven from two cylinders and the other
from one or two cylinders, one set of cylinders working steam direct from the
boiler, and exhausting to the other cylinder or cylinders, the axles of the two pair
of driving wheels being uncoupled, substantially as hereinbefore described and
illustrated by the Drawings.
Secondly. The combination of locomotives as described under the first claim
with arrangements for re-heating more or less the exhaust steam from the high
pressure cylinders before the steam is used' in the low pressure cylinder or cylinders,
substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by the Drawings.
Thirdly. The combination of locomotives as described under the first claim when
combined with valve arrangements for readily changing the working of the engine
from the compound to the simple, or vice versa, substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated by Fig. 7 of the Drawings.
Fourthly. The combination of locomotives with two pairs of driving and carrying
wheels and one pair of front carrying wheels on a radial axle or a set of bogio
wheels, together with valve gear similar to "Joy's" motion, and arrangements for
re-heating the exhaust steam, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
by Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive of the Drawings.
Fifthly. The combination of locomotives as described under the first or fourth
claims (or both claims) when an additional pair of driving wheels are added coupled
by ordinary coupling rods, as herein before described and illustrated by Fig. 8 of
the Drawings.
Sixthly. The arrangements for changing the position of slide valves of steam
engines by connecting the same with some part of the engine which has motion

page_text: imparted to it, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated by Fig. 9 of
the Drawings.
Seventhly. The mode of permitting expansion or contraction of the fire boxes
of boilers, by constructing them with one or more gussets formed and connected
with the edges of the fire box, substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated
by Figs. 4 and 5 of the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis William Webb, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Third day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty one.