IMPROVEMENTS IN BOILERS AND WHEELS FOR LOCOMOTIVES AND OTHER VEHICLES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Francis William Webb, of Crewe, in the County of
Chester, Mechanical Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
BOILERS AND WHEELS FOR LOCOMOTIVES AND OTHER VEHICLES, PARTS OF
WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
Sealed the 24th April 1878, and dated the 20th February 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Francis William Webb at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th February 1878.
FRANCIS WILLIAM WEBB, of Crewe, in the County of Chester, Mechanical
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOILERS AND WHEELS FOR LOCOMOTIVES AND
OTHER VEHICLES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES."
Firstly. My improvements in boilers relate to the mode of forming the hole for
the fire-door in the fire-box of locomotive and other boilers, the edges of which are
liable to become burnt away in the ordinary mode of forming such orifices, and my
Invention consists in blocking or forming the edge of the orifice of the inner or
copper fire-box so that the plate will bend outwards at an angle to the front of the
fire-box, and in blocking or bending the edge of the orifice of the plate of the outer
These two bent
fire-box to the same angle, first blocking or bending it inwards.
edges of the inner and outer fire-boxes are rivetted together, a ring or plate of iron
being secured on the inside by the same rivets to protect the copper from wear.
Secondly. My Invention relates to the mode of staying the fire-boxes of loco-
motive and other boilers, and consists as follows:-Instead of using solid screwed
rods as hitherto I employ tubular stays of any suitable metal fixed in taper holes,
the larger size of the taper hole being inside the inner box and outside the shell of
the fire-box, the two ends of the stay being also rivetted over to give further hold
of the plates. The interior of the stay is then filled up by a bolt, with or without
a taper neck at the head end of the bolt, and with or without a taper ferrule at

page_text: the nut end of the bolt, which is then screwed home to give additional security
against the tube stay being drawn out of either plate. The tube stay is strong
enough to resist the strain by itself, even without the bolt, and instead of bolts a
taper plug may be driven into each end of the stay to close it and prevent it from
drawing out of the plates if desired.
Thirdly. My Invention relates to fusible plugs for locomotive and other boilers,
the object being to arrange such plugs so that when they begin to fuse a small hole
only will be formed at first, which may draw attention to the shortness of water
and give time in the case of locomotives to get to a convenient place where the
plug may be replaced; and my Invention consists in forming fusible plugs, so that
a small taper plug of hard metal will be cast in the centre of the fusible metal, the
point or small end of the plug being inside the boiler. When the plug begins to
fuse the central plug will fall out and leave a small hole, through which the water
or steam will pass. The central plug may be made of metal more fusible than that
forming the exterior of the plug, or a small hole may be formed in the centre of the
fusible metal, coming about, say, two-thirds through the axis of the fusible metal
plug, so that when one third of the metal is fused there will be a small hole formed
to give notice by an escape of steam or water, or both, as above explained.
Fourthly. My Invention relates to the mode of forming the joint of cylinder
covers and valve chest covers, for locomotives and other engines, and between
pipes, covers, and lids for other purposes, and consists in forming a dovetail groove
in the face of the cover, or in one of the parts which is to form a joint with another
part, and inserting a ring in this dovetail, formed by preference of small copper or
lead tubing, which ring when the lid is screwed tight compresses the ring, so as to
make it fit into the dovetail, and bed firmly against the flange of the cylinder or
other article between which and the lid or cover a joint is to be made. Soft metal
of other section may be used, shaped to crush and enter the dovetail groove, so as
to be retained therein.
Fifthly. My Invention relates to means for securing tires on the rims of the
wheels, so that they cannot come off, or be removed only by turning or cutting a
part of the tire away, and my Invention consists in forming the tire with an under
cut or hook projection all round on one side, which when upon the rim of the wheel
fits and hooks a lip or projection all round the edge of the rim of the wheel, and in
forming a groove in the inner cylindrical face of the tire, and a corresponding
groove coming exactly opposite in the outer cylindrical face of the rim of the
wheel, so that when a ring is placed in the groove in the rim of the wheel, and is
held temporarily by clamps until the tire is passed over, such ring is or may then
be allowed to expand to fill the groove in the tire and partly fill the groove in the
rim. The space in the groove in the rim of the wheel left vacant is or may be
then filled in by molten lead, type, or other suitable metal, which can be forced in
a fluid state, or plaster of Paris, or other suitable material may be used. A slot may if
desired be formed opposite where the two ends of the ring come, through which
slot a staple formed piece may be driven to keep the two ends of the ring apart,
the staple piece bending when driven home, so as to expand and catch upon the
edges of the groove, so as to be incapable of coming out by accident, or of being
withdrawn, except by being cut away The ring formed in one piece, or in two or
more segments, may be forced outwards by set screws in the rim of the wheel if
desired.

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
19th August 1878.
FRANCIS WILLIAM WEBB, of Crewe, in the County of Chester, Mechanical
Engineer. "IMPROVEMENTS IN BOILERS AND WHEELS FOR LOCOMOTIVES AND
OTHER VEHICLES, PARTS OF WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER
PURPOSES."
Firstly. My improvements in boilers relate to the mode of forming the hole for
the fire-door in the fire-box of locomotive and other boilers, the edges of which
holes are liable to become burnt away in the ordinary mode of forming such
orifices, and my Invention consists in blocking or forming the edge of the orifice
of the inner or copper fire-box, so that the plate will bend outwards at an angle to
the front of the fire box, and in blocking or bending the edge of the orifice of the
plate of the outer fire-box to the same angle, first blocking or bending it inwards.
These two bent edges of the inner and outer fire-boxes are rivetted together; a
ring or plate of iron or steel may be sccured on the inside by the same rivets to
protect the copper from wear.
Secondly. My Invention relates to the mode of staying the fire-boxes of loco-
motive and other boilers, and consists as follows:-Instead of using screwed rods,
as hitherto, I employ tubular stays of any suitable metal fixed in taper holes, the
larger size of the taper hole being inside the inner box and outside the shell of the
fire-box, the two ends of the stay being also rivetted over to give further hold of
the plates. The interior of the stay is then filled up by a bolt, with or without a
taper neck at the head end of the bolt, and with or without a taper ferrule at
the nut end of the bolt, which is then screwed home to give additional security
against the tube stay being drawn out of either plate. The tube stay may be
made strong enough to resist the strain by itself even without the bolt, and instead
of bolts a taper plug may be driven into each end of the stay to close it and prevent
it from drawing out of the plates if desired.
Thirdly. My Invention relates to fusible plugs for locomotive and other boilers,
the object being to arrange such plugs so that when they begin to fuse a small
hole only will be formed at first, which may draw attention to the shortness of
water and give time in the case of locomotives to get to a convenient place where
the plug may be replaced, and my Invention consists in forming fusible plugs, so
that a small taper plug of hard metal will be cast in the centre of the fusible
metal, the point or small end of the plug being inside the boiler. When the plug
begins to fuse the central plug will fall out and leave a small hole, through which
the water or steam will pass. The central plug may be made of metal more
fusible than that forming the exterior of the plug, or a small hole may be
formed in the centre of the fusible metal metal, coming about, say, two-thirds through
the axis of the fusible plug, so that when one-third of the metal is fused there
will be a small hole formed to give notice by an escape of steam or water, or
both, as above explained.
Fourthly. My Invention relates to the mode of forming the joint of cylinder
covers and valve chest covers. and other joints for locomotive and other engines
and boilers, and between pipes, covers, and lids for other purposes, and consists
in forming a dovetail groove in the face of the cover, or in one or both of the
parts which is to form a joint with another part, and inserting a ring in this
dovetail; formed by preference of small copper or lead tubing, which ring when the
lid is screwed tight compresses the ring, so as to make it fit into the dovetail and bed
firmly against the flange of the cylinder or other article between which and the lid
or cover a joint is to be made. Soft metal of other section may be used, shaped
to crush and enter the dovetail groove, so as to be retained therein.
Fifthly. My Invention relates to means for securing tires on the rims of wheels, so
that they cannot come off or be removed only by turning or cutting a part of the tire

page_text: away, and my Invention consists in forming the tire with an undercut or hook
projection all round on one side, which when upon the rim of the wheel fits and
hooks upon a lip or projection all round the edge of the rim of the wheel, and in
forming a groove in the inner cylindrical face of the tire, and a corresponding
groove coming exactly opposite in the outer cylindrical face of the rim of the
wheel, so that when a ring is placed in the groove in the rim of the wheel, and is
held temporarily by clamps until the tire is passed over, such ring is or may then
be allowed to expand to fill the groove in the tire and partly fill the groove in the
rim of the wheel. The space in the groove in the rim of the wheel left vacant is
or may be then filled in by molten lead, type, or other suitable metal, which can
be forced in a fluid state, or plaster of Paris or other suitable material may be
used. A slot may if desired be formed opposite where the two ends of the ring come,
through which slot a staple formed piece may be driven to keep the two ends of
the ring apart, the staple piece bending when driven home, so as to expand and
catch upon the edges of the groove, so as to be incapable of coming out by accident
or of being withdrawn, except by being cut away.
Fig. 1 is a sectional view illustrating the mode of carrying out the first part of
my Invention. a is the inner or copper plate of a fire-box bent outwards; b, the
outer plate or shell of the fire-box, bent, as shown, to form a joint with the bent
part of the inner plate; c is a plate rivetted to the lower part of the fire-hole to
protect the copper.
Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section, Figs. 3 and 4 end views of the stay and bolt of
one modification; and Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section, and Figs. 4 and 6 the end
views of another modification, illustrating methods of staying locomotive and other
fire-boxes according to the second part of my Invention. In these illustrations
a is the inner plate, and b the outer plate of the fire-box; c, the tubular stay, formed
and rivetted over the plates at the ends, as shown; and d, the bolts to give additional
security.
Fig. 7 is a sectional view, and Fig. 8, a plan, illustrating the mode of constructing
fusible plugs according to the third part of my Invention. a is the bush for the
plug, which screws into that part of the boiler over the fire or furnace; b, the
fusible metal inside the bush; c, a cone plug in the centre of the fusible metal, as
shown, which will drop out when the metal below it is fused, and leave a small
hole in the fusible metal remaining in the bush a.
Fig. 9 is a sectional view illustrating the mode of carrying out the fourth part
of my Invention. a is a part to which another part b is to be connected, the joint
between them to be made tight. In one part (the part 6 in this case) an undercut
or dovetail groove is cut, and in this groove a ring of tubular soft metal, such as
copper or lead, or compound metal is placed, so that when the two parts are bolted
together the ring will be compressed and made to enter the dovetail groove and
take the form shown in Fig. 9. The air left and enclosed in the tubular ring gives
a slight elasticity, which keeps the joint tight, even after the parts have been very
frequently taken apart.
Fig. 10 is a sectional view of the rim and tire of a railway wheel; and Fig. 11
is a side view of part of a rim and tire, illustrating the mode of carrying out the
fifth part of my Invention. a, the rim; b, the tire; the mode of securing the
tire b to the rim a will be readily understood; c is a ring which fits in the groove
turned in the rim and tire, and is free to expand when the grooves are opposite
each other; d is soft metal or other material forced in to fill the space left vacant
by the expansion of the ring c in the groove in the tire; e is a key or staple driven
into a hole at the side of the rim and tire, so as to force apart two small pieces of
metal ff, inserted to fill up the space between the ends of the ring c when
expanded and keep them apart, or the key or staple may be made wide enough to
fill the whole space.
I have now particularly described the nature of my Invention, and the modes of
carrying the same into effect, and claim as iny Invention,―

page_text: Firstly. The mode of constructing the hole for the fire-doors in fire-box boilers,
substantially as herein-before described, and illustrated by the Drawing.
Secondly. The modes of staying fire-boxes of boilers, as herein-before described,
and illustrated by the Drawings.
Thirdly. The construction of fusible plugs in the manner and for the purpose
herein-before described.
Fourthly. The mode of forming joints of cylinder covers, valve chests, pipes,
covers, lids, and where joints have to be made between two surfaces by the com-
bination of a compressed tubular ring retained in a dovetail groove, as herein-before
described, and illustrated by the Drawing.
Fifthly. The mode of securing tires on the rims of railway wheels, as herein-
before described, and illustrated by the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said Francis William Webb, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Fourteenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
TEX
F. W. WEBB. (L.S.)