IMPROVE- MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAY ENGINES DRIVEN BY GAS
Year: 1884

page_text: I ROBERT WILSON of 18 Exchange Street Manchester in the County of
Lancaster Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAY ENGINES DRIVEN BY GAS" to be as
follows:-
This invention, relates to the construction of engines to be used upon tramways
and to be driven by gas the principal feature of the invention being that I propose
to use gas compressed into a receiver for supplying the engine so that a sufficienț
quantity of gas to last for several hours can be carried.
Another important feature of the invention is that the gas engine can always be
driven at a constant speed to develope its full powers whilst the tramway engine
may be both started and stopped gradually so as to enable it to overcome the vis
inertia in the one case, and momentum or impulse in the other, the full power and
speed of the gas engine being unaffected, thus the full motive force is available for
ascending steep gradients or taking unusually heavy loads at low speeds at reduced
velocities.
The compressed gas is contained in a receiver of cylindrical or other suitable
form, being pumped into this under pressure to any safe amount either by fixed
plant or pump attached to the engine at the depôt from which the engine starts or
at any convenient station on the road. In connection with this compressed gas
receiver is a small gasometer or gas holder (or holders) weighted to the ordinary
working pressure and into which the compressed gas is admitted, the quantity
being governed automatically and expanded to keep up a constant supply, as it
is from this gas holder or holders that the supply is drawn for working the gas
engine, which may be of any suitable known construction. It is proposed to use
one gas holder to supply the gas for the explosive mixture and the other gas holder
to supply the gas for the ignition flame. This is to avoid sudden fluctuation in
pressure objectionable for the flame supply. To prevent vibration of the movable
portion of the holder from the action of uneven roads on the springs the motion
may be checked by attaching a small cylinder fitted with a piston working in oil
or water with which the cylinder is filled, a small hole or holes are made through
the piston to enable the liquid to pass slowly from one side to the other when gas
•

page_text: is taken out of or allowed to enter the holder. This will check any sudden
vibration as the fluid will not pass quickly enough through the holes in question.
The crank shaft of the gas engine by means of a pair of bevil wheels drives an
inclined shaft upon which is keyed a long conical pulley the shaft being inclined
at such an angle to the horizon that the upper surface of the cone shall be in a t
horizontal line. Above this cone is mounted a shaft which may be tubular and
upon which is mounted a friction pulley so as to turn with it and at the same time
to be capable of sliding thereon; this pulley runs in contact with the cone above
named, adbesion being obtained by means of weight spring or springs or screwed
rod, passing upon the bearing of the shaft.
At the smaller end of the fixed cone is a small loose cone and in the inside of
the shaft if made tubúlar is a screwed rod by turning which by means of a hand
wheel or other convenient plan the friction pulley may be moved either on to the
loose cone or along the fixed cone from the smaller to the larger diameter thereof
or vice versa. If the shaft upon which the friction pulley can slide is made solid"
then the sliding motion is obtained by means of a screwed rod or rode attached by
convenient method to the friction wheel:-There is provided a special form of
bearing to allow for adjustment for wear of the friction wheel on the cone without
affecting the gearing.
A bevil wheel on this friction wheel shaft drives by a smaller wheel a transverse
shaft on which are mounted loosely two bevil wheels facing each other and both
gearing into the same bevil wheel which is attached by a collar to the train
engine cross frame so that it 'transmits motion to a short vertical shaft through the
medium of a key and keyway admitting of this shaft sliding in this wheel. This
shaft being connected to a cross beam attached to the sliding axle boxes on the
-lower end of this shaft is a bevil wheel geared into a wheel keyed upon the inain
axle. This arrangement allows the axle, boxes to rise and fall with the springs
without affecting the gearing. The tram engine wheels may be coupled together
by connecting or what are technically termed coupling ends. Between the two
loose bevil wheels on the transverse shaft above mentioned is a sliding friction
clutch by means of which either wheel may be locked fast to the shaft to drivè
either backwards or forwards as may be required.
An atmospheric brake may be provided, the air for which would be compressed
by means of a pump worked by the crank shaft of the gas engine or other
convenient plan-this same pump may be used for compressing the gas into the
receiver if no fixed plant is available for so doing. The gas necessary to do this
work would be supplied to the gas engine by means of a re-movable tube attached
to a convenient supply other than the above mentioned gas holder or holders,
should these not contain gas at the time.
The compressed air for the brake would be contained in a convenient sized
receiver fitted with a relief valve which would allow the superfluous air compressed
when the engine is in motion to escape through a pipe expand into and cool the
water in the tanks provided for circulation of water through the jackets of gas
engine and pump cylinder jackets A governor may be fitted to the tram engine
which in the event of excessive speed. being attained would by means of gearing
and clutches move the friction wheel upon the cone pulley until a proper speed was
attained, Should the tram way engine owing to its descending an incline acquire
a velocity greater than that which the gasunotor would give through the gearing,
the governor would move the friction pulley off the driving onto the loose cone and
at the same time cause the friction wheel to actuate a lever which would apply
the brake, before the friction wheel had reached this point under the circumstances
named it would on account of its position on the driving cone have driven the gas
engine through the gearing at a higher velocity than its noruial speed, consequently
a second small governor supplied to the gas motor would shut off the gas supply
and power would cease to be developed by the gas engine and when the friction
wheel was moved on to the loose cone by the first named governor driven by the
1

page_text: tram engine, the gas engine would cease to be driven in excess of its speed thus
allowing it by the action of its own governor to regain its normal conditions of
speed and gas supply, ready for application of full power when required. It will
be evident that by means of the above described gearing and apparatus the
tramway engine is at all times under thorough control of the driver, and at the
same time it is impossible for the driver to exceed a given speed for which the
engine may be designed.
The gas motor may be kept in motion during the short stoppages of the tram
way engine for taking up and putting down passengers, but at the end of the
journey if the detention is to be for some time it may be stopped, being again set
in motion before the journey of the tramway engine again commences.
When the tramway engine is at rest the friction wheel is in contact with the
loose cone at the small end of the fixed cone.
"
When the driver wishes to start he turns the screwed rod by means of the hand
wheel or other convenient arrangement, moving the friction wheel onto the smaller
end of the fixed cone which will then commence to drive the bevil wheels and turn
the main axle at a slow speed with the full power of the gas engine so as to
gradually overcome the vis-inertia of the machine and load thus avoid any sudden
and unpleasant motion as the driver keeps on moving the friction wheel towards
the larger end of the fixed cone the speed will gradually increase until the limit
or desired speed is attained.
In like manner when stopping the driver moves the friction pulley in the
reverse direction gradually or otherwise on to the loose cone the. movement onto
the loose cone may as before stated cause the brake to be applied, should a sudden
stoppage of the tramway engine be necessary to avoid accident, the friction clutch
upon the transverse shaft before mentioned. may be instantly thrown out of gear
and the brake applied.
GEORGE DAVIES,
Agent for the Applicant,
4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.

page_text: .
.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
I ROBERT WILSON of 18 Exchange Street Manchester in the County of
Lancaster Engineer do hereby declare the nature of my invention for "IMPROVE-
"and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement :—
MENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF TRAMWAY ENGINES DRIVEN BY GAS
This invention relates to the construction of engines to be used upon tramways
and to be driven by gas, the principal feature of the invention being that I propose
to use gas compressed into a receiver in the manner hereinafter explained, for
supplying the engine, so that a sufficient quantity of gas to last for several hours,
or for one days work, can be compressed into the storage reservoir and carried by
the tramway engine.
Another important feature of the invention is that the gas engine can always run
at a constant speed to develope its full power, whilst the tramway engine may bo
both started and stopped gradually so as to enable it to overcome the vis incrtio
in the one case, and the momentum or impulse in the other the full power and
speed of the engine being unaffected, thus the full motive force is available for
ascending steep gradients at reduced volocities or for taking unusually heavy loads
at low speeda.
Such being the nature and object of my said invention' I will now proceed to
describe the manner in which the same is to be performed or carried into practical
effect, and in order that the invention may be more readily described and clearly
understood I have annexed hereunto four sheets of drawings illustrative thereof
and have marked the same with. figures and letters of reference corresponding with
those in the following explanation thereof. In sheet 1 of the drawings Fig 1 is a
longitudinal section of a tramway engine to be driven by gas according to my
invention and Fig 2 is a half end elevation of the same. And in Sheet 2 of the
drawings, Fig 3 is a partial transverse section and Fig 4 a sectional plan view of
the same.
The compressed gas is contained in a receiver or storage reservoir a a of a
cylindrical or other suitable form, being pumped thereinto under pressure to any
safe amount, either by fixed plant (or by pumps bb sec Fig 4 attached to and
worked by the engine itself) at the depôt from which the engine starts, or at any
convenient station on the road. In connection with this compressed gas receiver-a a is
a small gasometer or gas holder (or gas holders) cc which is weighted to the ordinary
working pressure and into which the compressed gas is admitted by a tube d d, the
quantity being governed automatically by means of a valve e cand as it is admitted
it expands so as to keep up a constant supply as it is from the gasholder co that
the supply is drawn for working the gas engine ff which may be of any suitable
known construction. It is proposed to use one gasholder c for the explosive
mixture and the other c¹ (see plan view Fig 4) to supply the gas for the ignition
flame. This is in order to avoid sudden fluctuations in pressure which would be
objectionable for the flame supply.

page_text: To prevent vibration of the movable portion c* of the gasholder from the action
of uneven roads upon the springs, this motion may be checked by attaching a small
cylinder g, g, fitted with a piston working in oil or water with which the said
cylinder g, g, is filled; a small hole or boles being made through the piston to
enable the liquid to pass slowly from one side to the other when gas is taken out
of or allowed to reenter the holder c. c this will check any sudden vibration, as the
fluid will not pass quickly enough through the holes in question.
.
The crank shaft. h of the gas engine by means of a pair of bevil wheels i i
drives an inclined shaft jj upon which is keyed a long conical pulley k. k. the
shaft j. j. being inclined at such an angle to the horizon that the upper surface of
the cone k. k. shall be in a horizontal line, Above this cone k. k. is mounted a
shaft l. l, which may be tubular, and upon which is mounted by means of a long
key or feather, a friction pulley m. m. so as to turn with it, but at the same time
to be capable of sliding longitudinally thereon.
This pully m. m. runs in contact with the cone k. k. above named, adhesion
being obtained by means of a weight, spring or other equivalent pressing upon the
bearing n. n. of the shaft.
In the drawing (Fig. 1.) the bearing n. n is shown provided with an air
cylinder n* n* above and a spring o, o below.
When the tramway engine is running, and also when stopped, further use is
made of the gas motor f. f. (which is always, running) to compress air and deliver
it into a receiver p. p. (see Fig 4) at such a pressure as may be required to make
the brakes and driving arrangement most effective. When the pressure exceeds
this limit the compressed air escapes through a safety or relief valve q. q. into the
water tanks r. r. provided for cooling the gas engine cylinders. The compressor b. b.
as used for the pumping of the gas into the reservoir a. a. is utilized for this
purpose. The compressed air also acts upon the piston s. 8. in the cylinder above
the bearing of the shaft l. l. so as to give the requisite amount of friction of the
pulley m. m. on the cone k. k. to drive the shaft ..
•
This pressure can be relieved at once by a valve t. t. provided for that purpose
when the spring o. o. below lifts the pulley m. m. of the cone k. k. and thus enables
the driver to stop the tramway engine by this means alone.
"
At the smaller end of the cone k, k. is a small loose cone * and the pulley m. m.
is held in a forked carriage u. u. working on a slide 'v. v. and connected to a screwed
rod w. w by turning which, by the hand wheel x at its end, or by other
convenient means the friction pulley m. m. may be moved either on to the loose
cone * or along the cone k. k. from the smaller towards the larger diameter thereof
or vice versa.
A bevil wheel y. y. on the friction wheel shaft l. l. drives by a similar wheel a
transverse shaft z. z. on which are mounted loosely two bevil wheel 1. 2 facing each
other and both gearing into a second bevil wheel 3. 3 which is attached by a collar
to the cross frame of the tramway engine so that it transmits motion to a short
vertical shaft 4. 4 through the medium of a key and keyway admitting of the
sliding of this shaft 4. 4. through the said wheel. The shaft 4. 4. is carried by a
cross beam attached to the sliding axle boxes 5. 5 and on the lower end of this
shaft is a bevil wheel 6. 6. geared into a similar wheel 7. 7. keyed upon the main
axle 8. 8 which carries the running wheels.
This arrangement allows the axle boxes 5. 5 to rise and fall with the springs
without affecting the gearing. The tramway engine wheels may be coupled
together by connecting, or what are technically termed coupling rods.
Between the two loose bevil wheels 1 and 2 on the transverse shaft z. z. is &
sliding friction clutch g. g. by means of which either the wheel 1 or the wheel 2
may be locked fast to the shaft to drive either backwards or forwards as may be
required.
An atmospheric brake 10. 10 is also provided worked by a piston in the brake
cylinder 11. 11. the air for which is supplied from the compressed air receiver p. p..

page_text: The brake may also be applied by hand by means of a screwed rod as indicated by
the contre line 12. 12 in Fig 1.
Should the gas engine overrun its normal speed or the speed of the tramway
engine from any circumstance exceed the rate allowed by regulations, the following
arrangement (or governor) worked automatically, or by hand, will relieve the.
weiglit on the second or friction wheel shaft 1, 1, and at the same moment apply the
brake 10. 10 to the road wheels, the said brake stopping on until the car stops
unless relieved by the driver. On two arms carried by a boss keyed on the
shaft l. 7. is a swivelling ring, 13, 13 which when the tramway engine is stationery
or is only running at its normal speed is held in the diagonal position shewn in
Fig 1 and 4 by a link 14 which is connected to the lower end of a lever 15
(see Fig 1.) the upper end of which lever is attached to a double cone 16 sliding on
a key on the screwed rod w. w. before named, Should the tramway engine owing
to its descending an incline acquire a velocity greater than that which the gas
motor would give through the gearing, the centrifugal force thereby developed
would cause the governor ring 13. 13 to assume a position at right angles to the
shaft and in doing so it would by means of the lever 15 force the double
cone 16 into contact with the cone 17 keyed on the shaft L. 1. which would cause
the screwed rod w. w. to revolve and move the forked carriage w. w. and friction
pulley m. m. towards the smaller end of the cone k. k. When the forked
carringe to. w. has arrived at this point.a projecting finger 18 thereon comes against
a lever and opens the valve t. t. above mentioned thus lifting the friction
wheel m. m. off the driving cone k. k. and at the same time applying the compressed
air brake.
When the Engine is at rest or working at its normal speed the double cone 16
is held out of contact with the cone 17 by means of a spring 19 This cono 16 can
also be moved in and out of gear as required by the driver by means of the hand
gear 20, 20.
It will be evident that by means of the above described gearing and appliances
the tramway Engine is at all times under thorough control of the driver and at
the same time it is impossible for the driver or the tramway Engine to exceed a
given speed for which the Engine may be designed.
The gas motor may be kept in motion during the short stoppages of the tramway
engine for taking up and setting down passengers but at the end of the journey if
the detention is to be for some time it may be stopped being again set in notion
before the journey of the tramway engine again commences.
When the tramway engine is at rest the friction wheel m. m. is in contact with
the loose cono k* at the small end of the driving cone.k. k. and when the driver
wishes to start he turns the screwed rod w. w. by means of the hand-wheel x. x.
(or other convenient arrangement,) moving the friction wheal m. m on to the
smaller end of the driving cone k. . which will then commence to drive the bevil
wheels and to turn the main axle 8. 8. at a slow speed with the full power of the
gas engine so as to gradually overcome the "vis inertia" of the machine and load,
thus avoiding any sudden and unpleasant motion. As the driver keeps on moving
the friction wheel m. m. towards the larger end of the driving cone k. k. the speed
of the tramway engine will gradually increase until the limit or desired speed is
attained.
In like manner; when stopping, the driver moves the friction pulley m. m. iu
the roverse direction gradually or otherwise on to the loose cone k* and this
movement on to the said cone will as before stated cause the brake to be appliod,
Should a sudden stoppage of the tramway be necessary to avoid accident the
friction clutch upon the transverse shaft before mentioned may be instantly
thrown out of gear and the break applied either by the screwed rod or by the
compressed air,
The exhaust from the gas Engine will be led into an exhaust box 21. 21, and
from thënce by a pipe 22, 22 into a box 23. 23. fitted with deflecting or baffle

page_text: plates to minimise the sound of working; and from the deflecting box it may pass
into à receiver at the top of the car in which it may be stored and allowed to
escape at the end of a journey or other convenient time, or it may be conveyed
through a pipe so as to be delivered at the back end of the car or at any other
convenient place.
•
Instead of making the friction gear for transmitting the power of the gas Engine
to the driving axle in the form of a long cone and friction wheel as above
described I prefer especially for heavy work to employ grooved friction pulleys of
graduated diameters for this purpose as illustrated on sheets 3 and 4 of the
annexed drawings. In this case. I employ grooved friction pulleys 24. 24
and 25. 25 instead of the cone k. k. and friction. wheel m. m. the said grooved
friction pulleys being made of graduated diameters any of which may be put in
gear according to the speed at which the tramway engine is required to run, The
power is transmitted from the crank-shaft h. h. of the gas, engine. by the bevil
wheels 26. 26. to the shaft 27. 27 in which is fixed a long key upon which slides a
sleeve or hollow shaft 28. 28. having fixed upon it the series of grooved friction
pulleys 24. 24 of various sizes, the wheels engage similar friction pulleys 25. 25,
upon the shaft 29. 29 Any of these friction pulleys may be put into gear
according to the speed desired, The arrangement for moving the sleeve or hollow
shaft 28. 28. longitudinally will be a screwed rod and appliances similar to those
described with reference to 'Sheets 1 and 2 for sliding the friction pulley m. m.
along the shaft l. 1.
The shaft 29. 29. is so mounted that it can be moved laterally so as to take the
friction pulleys 24 and 25 out of gear and put them in gear again by an arrangement
similar to that marked on Sheet 1 and before described and this same arrangement
is utilised for putting weight or pressure upon and removing the same from such
friction wheels and also for communication with the brake cylinders either
automatically or by hand or by both combined as in the former case.
From the shaft 29. 29 the power is transmitted through a set of bevil
wheels 30. 30 to a shaft 31. 31. upon which is a wheel or drum 31* driving a pitch
chain or belt 32. 32 which is in direct communication with the axles 8. 8. of the
road wheel, These chains or belts 32. 32. will also take up any vibration of the
car in relation to the axles by reason of inequalities in the road. In connection
with the set of bevil wheels 30. 30. on the shaft 29. 29. is arranged a clutch motion
as before for stopping the tramway Engine suddenly and for reversing.
The gas Engine gasometers compressors and air reservoirs will be similar to those
previously described with reference to sheets 1 and 2 and with the exception of
the alteration of the friction gearing above described the same description will
answer for sheets 3 and 4.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is
First. In a tramway Engine driven by gas the improved driving arrangement,
substantially as shown and described, consisting principally of a long cone and
adjustable friction wheel whereby I am enabled to drive the gas engine always at
a constant velocity and to stop and start the tramway engine gradually and to vary
the speed thereof as required.
•
Secondly. The alternative driving arrangement substantially as hereinbefore
described with reference to sheets 3 and 4 of the drawings wherein grooved friction
pulleys of graduated diameters are employed in place of the smooth cone for the
same purpose.
Thirdly. The automatic governor substantially as described and illustrated,
consisting principally of a swivelling centrifugal ring, sliding bush lever, and
friction cones whereby any abnormal increase in the speed of the tramway engine
is caused to act directly upon the frictional driving gear in such a way as to reduce
the speed to the normal velocity.

page_text: Fourthly. The compressed air cylinder for giving pressure to the friction gear
and the spring or air cylinder for relieving the same when driving contact is not
required.
Fifthly. The automatic atmospheric brake substantially as described and
illustrated.
.
Sixthly. The arrangement substantially as described and illustrated for utilising
the surplus compressed air for the purpose of cooling the water in the tanks in
connection with the cylinders of the gas engine and air compressor.
Seventhly. The construction and use substantially as described and illustrated of
the exhaust box with deflecting or baffle plates for absorbing or deadening the
sound produced by the exhaust.
Eighthly. The combination with the moveable portion of the gas-holder of a
tramway engine driven by gas, of a piston working in a cylinder filled with oil or
other liquid, to prevent undue vibration of the same from the action of uneven
roads.
Ninthly. The general construction and arrangement of the whole apparatus
constituting an improved tramway engine to be driven by gas substantially as
hereinbefore described and illustrated by the drawings annexed.