IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM CARS OR VEHICLES ROLLING ON RAILS, WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE IN PART TO LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES
Year: 1875

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Marie Leon Buret de Longague, of Brussels,
in the Kingdom of Belgium, Civil Engineer, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM CARS OR VEHICLES ROLLING ON RAILS, WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE IN PART TO LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES."
Sealed the 3rd August 1875, and dated the 8th June 1875.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Marie Leon Buret
de Longagne at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
his Petition, on the 8th June 1875.
I, MARIE LEON BURET DE LONGAGNE, of Brussels, in the Kingdom of
Belgium, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM CARS OR VEHICLES ROLLING ON RAILS, WHICH
IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE IN PART TO LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES," to be as
follows:-
My Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described in
the construction and arrangement of the parts of steam cars or vehicles
intended to run on tram or other railways.

page_text: According to my Invention a suitable framework of wood or iron, or
both combined, is mounted upon the two axles of the wheels of the
vehicle by means of axle guards, oil boxes, and suitable springs. The
said frame upon which is affixed a passenger or other car or carriage,
carries also a suitable boiler, coal or coke box, water tank, and other
necessary accessories of the boiler. One each side of the said frame
and inside the wheels is a longitudinal plate herein-after called the
gauge plate of the axles. These plates are provided with guard plates
and brasses which take on to the axles and serve to keep them parallel
one to the other.
The steam engine giving motion to the car or vehicle is mounted
under the said vehicle on a frame connected to and supported by the
wheel axles so that the said engine is entirely independent, and the
vibrations caused by its action are not transmitted to the car or vehicle.
The wheel axles may be coupled so as to increase the amount of
adherence on the rails, and the wheels are so mounted on their axles
that they may be either connected thereto so as to revolve with their
axles, or they may be disconnected therefrom so as turn upon them,
thus enabling the car or vehicle to readily move on curves of small
radius. The wheels are provided with suitable brakes to arrest their
I motion when required. When a one-cylinder engine is used to drive the
car or vehicle, suitable mechanism, herein-after described, actuated
either by steam power or by hand, is applied to move the driving wheels
over the dead point of the crank.
The steam boiler, which may be of any suitable description, is by
preference provided with a smoke consuming furnace and the other
usual accessories, and in the furnace is a waste steam chest or chamber
into which the exhaust and other steam from the engine escapes,
expands, and is dried and superheated. The said waste steam chest or
chamber is composed of a metal box or shell placed in the furnace, in
which box or shell suitable pipes or partitions cause the waste steam to
circulate and absorb the heat from the furnace, and finally to escape:
into a suitable flue from which it passes into the chimney.
If preferred by a suitable valve box or otherwise the exhaust steam
from the engine may be made to escape partially or wholly into
the water tank; and afterwards the steam not condensed by the feed
water may be made to pass into the waste steam chest herein-before
described.

page_text: The ash-pan instead of inclining downwards from the back of the
fire-box toward the face inclines downwards from the face of the fire-
box toward the back, and a plate in front of its fore end leaves an
aperture for the entry of air.
The boiler may be mounted in a special compartment formed to
receive it in the middle of the car or vehicle, and the water tanks may
be placed between the wheel axles, but I prefer that the steam boiler
should be mounted at one end of the bearing frame behind the
passenger compartments, the water tank being affixed at the other end
of the said bearing frame so as by its weight to counterbalance to some
extent the weight of the said boiler. The boiler compartment is
separated from the passenger compartment of the vehicle by a suitable
partition, and the said boiler compartment is provided with a suitable
roof and guard rails round the back and sides. In the floor is a treadle
for working the brakes and at the same time closing a throttle valve in
the steam pipe, which throttle valve partially shuts off the steam from
the engine whenever the brakes are put on; thus enabling the engine
driver to partially shut off the steam and put on the brakes in one
operation. A screw apparatus is also connected with the brakes, in order,
if necessary, to lock the brakes completely. And in the said boiler
compartment are situated so as to be readily accessible to the engine
driver all the lever handles or means for varying the action or position
of the different parts of the boiler and engine, and for connecting and
disconnecting the wheels to and from their axles, and] (when a one-
cylinder engine is used) for moving the cranks over the dead point.
The boiler may be either mounted rigidly on its platform or on the frame,
or it may be mounted on trunnions or axes, so as to maintain its proper
position whatever be the inclines upon which the vehicle is running.
If preferred a steam boiler or reservoir of hot water unprovided with
a furnace may be substituted for steam boilers or generators of different
construction.
The steam engine to give motion to the vehicle may be of any suitable
description, and composed of one, two, or more steam cylinders. When the
vehicle is to carry passengers on a comparatively level road I prefer to
use a single cylinder. The said steam engine is mounted on a supporting
frame of rectangular or other suitable shape composed of longitudinal
and transverse plates or bars of iron rivetted together. Each end of tho
said frame is carried by one of the wheel axles, one of the frame ends

page_text: having upon it two supporting brackets or heads, one on each side, pro-
vided with suitable bearings, in which the said axle is free to rotate.
From the other end of the frame projects a single central supporting
bracket or head, which by suitably formed bearings embraces a spherical
boss or projection formed or affixed on the middle of the said axle, and is
kept in position by a bolt traversing the two arms of the said bracket or
head. The effect of this arrangement is to allow of the axles turning to
a certain extent round their centre line horizontally or vertically without
straining or twisting the engine frame. The engine may be made to act
directly upon one of the wheel axles, which in that case would be
cranked to receive the connecting rod head, but I prefer to transmit the
power of the engine to the said axle through an intermediate crank
shaft mounted in bearings formed in the frame between the cylinder
and axle, and (when only one steam cylinder is used) having affixed to
each of its outer ends a fly wheel to equalize the motion of the engine,
and carry the crank over its dead point. The motion of the said crank
shaft is communicated to the wheel axle by means of a toothed pinion
upon the crank shaft gearing with a similarly toothed wheel upon the
axle. The teeth of the said wheel and pinion may be of any suitable
kind or shape, but I prefer that the said teeth should be segments of a
screw formed on the periphery of the wheel and pinion, so as to be
constantly in contact one with the other. As the steam engine is inde-
pendent of the frame carrying the boiler the steam and exhaust pipes
are made elastic or pliable. The brasses of the crank shaft are made in
three separate parts, the lower part covering about one-sixth of the shaft
journal, and the two others each about 5/12th of the same. The said
brasses are contained in boxes rivetted to the plates of the frame. In
order to compensate for the wear of the said brasses tapering keys having
screwed stems are inserted between them and the sides of the bracket,
and press the side brasses against the shaft, being forced upwards to
the required extent by means of nuts upon their upper ends. The
lower brass is raised by screws passing through the lower side of the
bracket.

page_text: The apparatus for connecting or disconnecting the wheels to and from
their axles is as follows:-The wheel naves traversed by the axle journals
are provided with suitable internal brasses, and round the middle of each
of the said journals is formed a rectangular rib which engages with
the said brasses, and prevents the wheels from working off their axles
when disconnected therefrom. The wheel naves are further supported
in position by an iron ring keyed upon each of the journals.
Each of the car wheels is provided with apparatus, as herein-after
described. Upon the axle is keyed, next to the wheel, a pulley, round
the periphery of which is formed a triangular groove, in which groove
engages a brake composed of a steel belt covered internally with wood.
Upon the nave of the wheel is mounted an iron collar formed with a
projecting arm or stop. One end of the said brake belt is bolted to the
said iron collar, and the said belt after passing round the groove pulley
is connected at its other end to the collar, arm, or stop, herein-before
described, by means of an adjustable screw, pin, or rod provided with
screw nuts by which the tension of the brake belt may be regulated as
required.
Upon the spoke plate of the car wheel, between the nave and rim, is
mounted upon a suitable axis a star wheel having four teeth disposed in
the form of a Maltese cross, and upon the nave or centre of the said star
wheel is formed or affixed a stud or projection of an elongated elliptical
shape slightly flattened at the ends. The arm or stop, to which the end
of the brake is connected, abuts against the said stud or projection, and
when acted upon by the smaller end of the said stud or projection, that
is to say, in the direction of its longer axis, the said arm or stop locks
the brake and connects the car wheel firmly to the grooved pulley and to
its axle, but when the said arm or stop abuts against the smaller axis
side of the said stud or projection the brake is released, and the car
wheel is disconnected from its axle.
In order to bring the said stud or projection into either of the
positions herein-before described, the said star wheel is caused to per-
form a quarter of a revolution upon its axis. For this purpose a bolt is
mounted in a suitable slide in the gauge plate of the wheels. The said
bolt is provided at one end with a friction roller, and at its other end is
connected to one arm of a bell-crank lever, the other end of which lever
is by suitable means connected to a rod or lever within the reach of the
enginedriver,

page_text: When the said bolt is caused to advance it comes in contact with one
of the teeth of the star wheel above described, and from the rotation of
the car wheel the said star wheel is caused to perform a quarter of a
revolution, thereby changing the position of the elliptical stud or
projection upon it, and, as the case may be, either locking or releasing
the brake and connecting or disconnecting the car wheel to or from its
axle, as herein-before described. When the said slide bolt has acted
upon the star wheel it comes in contact with an inclined surface upon
the car wheel and is repulsed thereby and caused to resume its normal
position in the gauge plate, such motion being facilitated by a spring on
the said gauge plate. Each of the car wheels being provided with
separate connecting and disconnecting apparatus it will be readily
understood that two or all the bearing wheels may be connected or dis-
connected as required. Or the connecting and disconnecting apparatus
may be as follows:-Upon the side of each wheel is mounted a short
hollow cylinder closed on the outside by a suitable plate or cover, and
upon the wheel axle is affixed a socket projecting over the nave of the
wheel. To the outside of the said socket, round and above the nave, is
jointed a series of arms extending to the inner surface of the said
cylinder. Each of the said arms is formed with a head made to press
when required against the inner surface of the cylinder. The outer or
upper side of each of the said heads being curved so as to form two arcs
of circles, one described with the same radius as the inner surface of the
cylinder and the other described from the axis upon which the said arm
is jointed. Each of the said arms is provided with a lever or tail which
projects behind it, so that when pressed upwards or from the centre of
the wheel the said tails will cause the arms to rotate partially upon their
centres and remove their heads out of contact with the cylinder. The
said arms are arranged in pairs round the inside of the cylinder so that
they face each other, and the tails of two of the said arms project
toward one another so as to be actuated by the same means.
Each pair
of arms is provided with a suitable spring, which tends to push them
apart and thus bring the outer curve of the heads against the cylinder
and thus lock the wheel to its axle.
The wheels are unlocked and disconnected from their axles by the
following arrangement:-Upon the socket affixed to the axle is mounted
a clutch capable of sliding toward or from the wheel. Upon the said
clutch are arms projecting toward the wheel.
The ends of these arme

page_text: The action of the said pawl or finger upon the ratchet wheel causes
the said wheel, and with it the axle upon which it is keyed, to rotate
partially, at the same time communicating such partial rotatory motion
to the crank shaft of the steam engine so as to bring the crank over the
dead point. A similar result may be obtained by using, in place of the
steam cylinder pawl and ratchet wheel herein-before last described, a
wedge jointed to and actuated by a lever so as to press when required
upon the surface of a plain or grooved pulley keyed on the crank shaft,
the said lever, which is affixed upon the crank shaft by one end, is by its
other end jointed to a rod or bar which may be actuated by the engine
driver.
The arrangements herein-before described for supporting the steam
engine for connecting and disconnecting the wheels to and from their
axles, and for expanding, drying, and superheating the waste steam
from the engines, are also applicable to locomotive and traction
engines.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said Marie Leon Buret de Longagne in the Great Seal
Patent Office on the 6th December 1875.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, MARIE
LEON BURET DE LONGAGNE, of Brussels, in the Kingdom of Belgium,
Civil Engineer, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her Letters
Patent, bearing date the Eighth day of June, in the year of our Lord
One thousand eight hundred and seventy-five, in the thirty-eighth year
of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant
unto me, the said Marie Leon Buret de Longagne, Her special license
that I, the said Marie Leon Buret de Longagne, my executors, admini-
strators, and assigns, or such others as I, the said Marie Leon Buret de
Longagne, my executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time
agree with, and no others, from time to time and at all times there-
after during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully might
make, use, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great
Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM CARS OR VEHICLES ROLLING ON RAILS,

page_text: WHICH IMPROVEMENTS ARE ALSO APPLICABLE IN PART TO LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES,"
upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said Marie Leon
Buret de Longagne, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said
Letters Patent.
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said Marie Leon Buret de Longagne, do
hereby declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascer-
tained in and by the following statement thereof, that is to say :-
My Invention consists of the improvements herein-after described in
the construction and arrangement of the parts of steam cars or vehicles
intended to run on tram or other railways.
According to my Invention a suitable framework of wood or iron, or
'both combined, is mounted upon the two axles of the wheels of the
vehicle by means of axle guards, oil boxes, and suitable springs. The
said frame, upon which is affixed a passenger or other car or carriage,
carries also a suitable boiler, coal or coke box, water tank, and other
necessary accessories of the boiler. On each side of the said frame and
inside the wheels is a longitudinal plate, herein-after called the guage
plate of the axles. These plates are provided with guard plates and
brasses, which take on to the axles, and serve to keep them parallel one
to the other.
The steam engine giving motion to the car or vehicle is mounted under
the said vehicle on a frame connected to and supported by the wheel
axles, so that the said engine in entirely independent, and the vibrations
caused by its action are not transmitted to the car or vehicle. The
wheel axles may be coupled so as to increase the amount of adherence
on the rails, and the wheels are so mounted on their axles that they may
be either connected thereto so as to revolve with their axles, or they may
be disconnected therefrom so as to turn upon them, thus enabling the
car or vehicle to readily move on curves of small radius. The wheels
are provided with suitable brakes to arrest their motion when required.
When a one-cylinder engine is used to drive the car or vehicle suitable

page_text: mechanism, herein-after described, actuated either by steam power or by
hand, is applied to move the driving wheels over the dead points of the
crank.
The steam boiler, which may be of any suitable description, is by
preference provided with a smoke-consuming furnace and the other
usual accessories, and in the furnace is a waste steam chest or chamber,
into which the exhaust and other steam from the engine escapes,
expands, and is dried and superheated. The said waste steam chest or
chamber is composed of a metal box or shell placed in the furnace, in
which box or shell suitable pipes or partitions cause the waste steam to
circulate and absorb the heat from the furnace, and finally to escape into
a suitable flue, from which it passes into the chimney.
If preferred the exhaust steam from the engine may be made by a
suitable valve box or otherwise to escape partially or wholly into the
water tank, and afterwards the steam [not condensed by the feed
water may be made to pass into the waste steam chest herein-before
described.
The ash-pan instead of inclining downward from the back of the fire-
box toward the face inclines downward from the face of the fire-box
toward the back, and a plate in front of its fore end leaves an aperture
for the entry of air.
The boiler may be mounted in a special compartment formed to
receive it in the middle of the car or vehicle, and the water tanks may
be placed between the wheel axles, but I prefer that the steam boiler
should be mounted at one end of the bearing frame behind the
passenger compartments, the water tank being affixed at the other end
of the said bearing frame, so as by its weight to counterbalance to some
extent the weight of the said boiler. The boiler compartment is separated
from the passenger compartment of the vehicle by a suitable partition,
and the said boiler compartment is provided with a suitable roof and
guard rails round the back and sides. In the floor is a treadle for
working the brakes, and at the same time closing a throttle valve in the
steam pipe, which throttle valve partially shuts off the steam from the
engine whenever the brakes are put on, thus enabling the engine driver
to partially shut off the steam and put on the brakes in one operation.
A screw apparatus is also connected with the brakes in order if necessary
to lock the brakes completely. And in the said boiler compartment are

page_text: situated so as to be readily accessible to the engine driver all the lever
handles or means for varying the action or position of the different parts
of the boiler and engine, and for connecting and disconnecting the
wheels to and from their axles, and when a one-cylinder engine is used
for moving the crank over the dead point. The boiler may be either
mounted rigidly on its platform or on the frame, or it may be mounted
on trunnions or axes so as to maintain its proper position whatever be
the inclines upon which the vehicle is running.
situated so as to be readily accessible to the engine driver all the lever
handles or means for varying the action or position of the different parts
of the boiler and engine, and for connecting and disconnecting the
wheels to and from their axles, and when a one-cylinder engine is used
for moving the crank over the dead point. The boiler may be either
mounted rigidly on its platform or on the frame, or it may be mounted
on trunnions or axes so as to maintain its proper position whatever be
the inclines upon which the vehicle is running.
If preferred a steam boiler or reservoir of hot water unprovided with
a furnace may be substituted for steam boilers or generators of different
construction.
The steam engine to give motion to the vehicle may be of any
suitable description, and composed of one, two, or more steam cylinders.
When the vehicle is to carry passengers on a comparatively level road I
prefer to use a single cylinder. The said steam engine is mounted on a
supporting frame of rectangular or other suitable shape composed of
longitudinal and transverse plates or bars of iron rivetted together.
Each end of the said frame is carried by one of the wheel axles, one of
the frame ends having upon it two supporting brackets or heads, one on
each side, provided with suitable bearings in which the said axle is free
to rotate. From the other end of the frame projects a single central
supporting bracket or head, which by suitably formed bearings embraces
a spherical boss or projection formed or affixed on the middle of the said
axle, and is kept in position by a bolt traversing the two arms of the
said bracket or head. The effect of this arrangement is to allow of the
axles turning to a certain extent round their centre line, horizontally or
vertically, without straining or twisting the engine frame. The engine
may be made to act directly upon one of the wheel axles, which in that
case would be cranked to receive the connecting rod head, but I prefer
to transmit the power of the engine to the said axle through an inter-
mediate crank shaft mounted in bearings formed in the frame between
the cylinder and axle, and (when only one steam cylinder is used)
having affixed to each of its outer ends a fly wheel to equalize the motion
of the engine and carry the crank over its dead point. The motion of
the said crank shaft is communicated to the wheel axle by means of a
toothed pinion upon the crank shaft gearing with a similarly toothed
wheel upon the axle. The teeth of the said wheel and pinion may be
of any suitable kind or shape, but I prefer that the said teeth should be

page_text: segments of a screw formed on the periphery of the wheel and pinion so
as to be constantly in contact one with the other. As the steam engine
is independent of the frame carrying the boiler, the steam and exhaust
pipes are made elastic or pliable. The brasses of the crank shaft are
made in three separate parts, the lower part covering one-sixth of the 5
shaft journal, and the two others each about 12ths of the same. The
said brasses are contained in boxes rivetted to the plates of the frame.
In order to compensate for the wear of the said brasses tapering keys
having screwed stems are inserted between them and the sides of the
bracket, and press the side brasses against the shaft being forced 1
upward to the required extent by means of nuts upon the upper ends.
The lower brass is raised by screws passing through the lower side of
the bracket.
The engine is enclosed in a box or chest provided with suitable doors
or apertures, and affixed to the gauge plates of the axles.
]
Suitable rail guards provided with brushes or other clearing means
are also affixed to the guard plates in front of the wheels to remove
from the rails any mud or obstacle which may be in the way.
The apparatus for connecting or disconnecting the wheels to and from
their axles is as follows:-The wheel naves traversed by the axle 2
journals are provided with suitable internal brasses, and round the
middle of each of the said journals is formed a rectangular flange or rib
which engages with the said brasses and prevents the wheels from
working off their axles when disconnected therefrom. The wheel naves
are further supported in position by an iron ring keyed upon each of the
journals.
Each of the car wheels is provided with apparatus, as herein-after
described. Upon the axle is keyed next to the wheel a pulley, round
the periphery of which is formed a groove, in which groove engages a
brake composed of a steel belt covered internally with wood. Upon the 3
nave of the wheel is mounted an iron collar formed with a projecting
arm or stop, one end of the said brake belt is bolted to the said iron
collar, and the said belt after passing round the grooved pulley is con-
nected at its other end to the collar, arm, or stop herein-before described
by means of an adjustable screw pin or rod provided with screw nuts by 3
which the tension of the brake belt may be regulated as required,

page_text: Upon the spoke plate of the car wheel, between the nave and rim, is
mounted upon a suitable axis a star wheel having four teeth disposed in
the form of a Maltese cross, and upon the nave or centre of the said star
wheel is formed or affixed a stud or projection of an elongated elliptical
shape slightly flattened at the ends. The arm or stop to which the end
of the brake is connected abuts against the said stud or projection, and
when acted upon by the smaller end of the said stud or projection (that
is to say in the direction of its longer axis), the said arm or stop locks
the brake and connects the car wheel firmly to the grooved pulley and
to its axle; but when the said arm or stop abuts against the smaller
axis side of the said stud or projection the brake is released and the car
wheel is disconnected from its axle.
In order to bring the said stud or projection into either of the
positions herein-before described the said star wheel is caused to
perform a quarter of a revolution upon its axis. For this purpose
a bolt is mounted in a suitable slide in the gauge plate of the wheels.
The said bolt is provided at one end with a friction roller, and at its
other end is connected to one arm of a bell-crank lever, the other end
of which lever is by suitable means connected to a rod or lever within
the reach of the engine driver. When the said bolt is caused to advance
it comes in contact with one of the teeth of the star wheel above
described, and from the rotation of the car wheel the said star wheel
is caused to perform a quarter of a revolution, thereby changing the
position of the elliptical stud or projection upon it, and as the case
may be either locking or releasing the brake, and connecting or
disconnecting the car wheel to or from its axle, as herein-before
described.
When the said slide bolt has acted upon the star wheel it comes in
contact with an incline upon the car wheel, and is pushed back thereby,
and caused to resume its normal position in the gauge plate, such
motion being facilitated by a spring on the said gauge plate. Each
of the car wheels being provided with separate connecting and dis-
connecting apparatus it will be readily understood that two or all the
bearing wheels may be connected or disconnected as required. Or the
connecting and disconnecting apparatus may be as follows:-Upon
the side of each wheel is mounted a ring or short hollow cylinder closed
on the outside by a suitable plate or cover, and upon the wheel axle
is affixed a socket projecting over the nave of the wheel. To the

page_text: outside of the said socket, round and above the nave, is jointed a series
of arms extending to the inner surface of the said ring. Each of the
said arms is formed with a head made to press when required against
the inner surface of the ring. The outer side of each of the said heads
being curved so as to form two arcs of circles, one described with the
same radius as the inner surface of the ring, and the other described
from the axis upon which the said arm is jointed. Each of the said
arms is provided with a lever or tail which projects behind it, so that
when pressed upward or from the centre of the wheel the said tails
will cause the arms to rotate partially upon their centres, and remove
their heads out of contact with the cylinder. The said arms are
arranged in pairs round the inside of the ring, so that they face cach
other, and the tails of two of the said arms project toward one another
so as to be actuated by the same means. Each pair of arms is provided
with a suitable spring which tends to push them apart, and thus bring
the outer curve of the heads against the ring, and thus lock the wheel
to its axle.
The wheels are unlocked and disconnected from their axles by the
following arrangement:-Upon the socket affixed to the axle is mounted
a clutch capable of sliding toward or from the wheel. Upon the said
clutch are arms projecting toward the wheel. The ends of these arms
are inclined or angular, so that when the said clutch is moved toward
the wheel its projecting arms engage with the tails of the locking arms
of the ring and cause the said locking arms to rotate partially on their
centres, removing their heads from contact with the ring, which is then
free to rotate independently of the locking apparatus, and the wheels
are thus disconnected from their axles. By removing the clutch from
contact with the wheel the locking arms are released, and by the action
of the springs hercin-before described are again pressed against the
ring, thereby connecting the wheel upon its axle.
The coupling of the wheels is effected as follows:-Upon each axle
is keyed a suitable extensible pulley, round which pulleys passes a
leather band or belt made of several thicknesses of leather firmly con-
nected together so as to be nearly inextensible; or if preferred the
axles may in some cases be cranked and connected together by con-
necting rods, or a metal chain, or a cord or band made of fibrous
material may be used for the purpose in connection with suitable
pulleys.

page_text: When a one-cylindered engine is used it becomes necessary to provide
means for turning the crank over the dead point when starting, should
the crank be then in that position. For this purpose I use a steam
cylinder mounted on the engine frame. In the said cylinder works a
suitable piston, and to the end of the piston rod is jointed a pawl or
finger projecting forward so as to take into the teeth of a ratchet wheel
keyed either upon one of the driving wheels or upon the driving axle. A
suitable spring presses the said pawl or finger downward so as to made
it readily engage with the teeth of the said ratchet wheel when the said
pawl or finger advances toward the said wheel. When the piston has
nearly completed its forward stroke a pin or projection on the side of the
said pawl or finger comes into contact with an inclined plane or bar
affixed to the engine frame, and slides along its inclined surface raising
the pawl or finger from the ratchet teeth on to a curved plate or spring,
along which the said pin or projection slides during the return motion
of the piston, thus preventing the noise and wear of the parts which
would be caused by the pawl or finger sliding over the ratchet teeth
in its return motion. The valves of the said cylinder are actuated by
hand by means of suitable levers and rods under control of the engine
driver.
'
The action of the said pawl or finger upon the ratchet wheel causes
the said wheel, and with it the axle upon which it is keyed, to rotate
partially, at the same time communicating such partial rotatory motion
to the crank shaft of the steam engine so as to bring the crank over
the dead point. A similar result may be obtained by using in place of
the steam cylinder pawl and ratchet wheel herein-before last described a
wedge jointed to and actuated by a lever so as to press when required
upon the surface of a plain or grooved pulley keyed on the crank shaft,
the said lever, which is affixed upon the crank shaft by one end, is by its
other end jointed to a rod or bar, which may be actuated by the engine
driver.
The arrangements herein-before described for supporting the steam
engine, for connecting and disconnecting the wheels to and from their
axles, and for expanding, drying, and superheating the waste steam
from the engines are also applicable to locomotive and traction engines.
Having explained the nature of my Invention I will proceed to
describe with reference to the accompanying Drawings the manner in
which the same is to be performed.

page_text: Figure 1 represents in side elevation partly in section part of a steam
car or vehicle constructed according to my Invention, the steam engine
and passenger or other carriage carried by the said vehicle being
omitted; Figure 2 is a plan of the same, partly in section, showing a
single-cylinder engine applied to the said vehicle; Figure 3 is a front
view of the same, partly in section, exhibiting the boiler and some of the
parts connected therewith; Figure 4 is a cross section of the same taken
behind the axles

page_text: left hand wheels to or from their axles; g¹ is a lever for actuating the
pet-cocks of the engine; 93 is a treadle acting on a perforated throttle
valve in a suitable valve box upon the steam pipe fi to reduce the
speed of the engine; 9³ is a treadle actuating a throttle valve in the
exhaust pipe as herein-after described; 9 is the feed water pipe leading.
from the water tank c' to an injector or other suitable feeding apparatus
not represented in the Drawings.
cis a lever for actuating the steam cock; c³ is the ash-pan, which, it
will be seen, instead of inclining downward from the back to the front
of the fire-box, inclines downward from the front toward the back of the
fire-box, the plate c³ leaving an opening for the admission of air. The
boiler c may, if preferred, be placed in the middle of the vehicle, and
the water tank c* between the axles, but I prefer to mount the boiler c
at one end of the frame as shown, and the water tank at the other end
of the said frame. In the furnace c* is a steam chamber into which the
exhaust and other steam from the engine enters, and there expands and
is dried, superheated, and decomposed before escaping into the chimney.
The said steam chamber consists of a chest c' extending around the sides
and back of the furnace c³, and divided into two compartments by a
partition c³, so that the exhaust steam enters first into the lower compart-
ment, then passes round the sides of the furnace, then rises into the
upper compartment, and having absorbed heat from the furnace, becomes
decomposed and escapes in a gaseous state into the chimney.
Figures 14 and 15 represent a longitudinal and horizontal section
respectively of another arrangement of the exhaust steam chest or
chamber herein-before described. In the said Figures 14 and 15 c* is the
furnace; B, B', B', are three tubes arranged one above the other, and
communicating alternately one with the other by means of cast-iron
caps C, C, D, so that the steam from the pipe B³ enters the lower tube B,
and passing along to the end D of the said tube rises into the tube B¹,
and then returning along the said tube B¹ to the end 0¹ ascends into the.
tube B³, and escapes into the chimney through a tube B'. h, h, are the
gauge plates of the axles. Their shape is best seen in Figure 9. The
said gauge plates h, h, rest upon the axles 6, 6', by means of axle guards
h³, h¹, and brasses h², h³, and to the said gauge plates are attached rail
guards provided with brushes ³ to remove from the rails any mud or
obstruction which may be upon them.

page_text: -
The engine may be of any suitable description, either rotatory or
reciprocatory, but it is an important feature of my Invention that the
engine is to be supported solely by a suitable frame resting upon the
two axles of the wheels, so as to be entirely independent of the.
vehicle.
The engine may be of any suitable description, either rotatory or.
reciprocatory, but it is an important feature of my Invention that the
engine is to be supported solely by a suitable frame resting upon the
two axles of the wheels, so as to be entirely independent of the
vehicle.
In Figures 2 and 4 I have represented the application of a single
cylinder engine.
Figure 6 represents in plan the application of a double cylindered
engine.
Figure 5 represents in elevation either a one or a two-cylinder
engine.
The engine is mounted on a rectangular frame i, i, consisting of
longitudinal and transverse plates or bars rivetted together. Each end.
of the said frame is supported by one of the axles b, b¹. Upon the
axle bit rests by means of the two supporting brackets ¹, ², provided
with suitable bearings in which the said axle 6 is free to rotate. Upon
the other axle 6' it is supported by a single central supporting bracket
or head, which by suitably formed bearings embraces a spherical boss
or projection & affixed upon the middle of the axle 6', and is kept in
position by a bolt traversing the two arms of the said bracket or head.
The effect of this arrangement of the frame i is to allow of the axles 6, 6',
turning to a certain extent round their centre line vertically or hori-
zontally without straining or twisting the frame i.
In Figures 2, 4, and 5, j represents the steam oylinder; 1, the steam
pipe, the exhaust pipe, which pipe opens into the pipe leading to
the water tank c' on one side, and to the exhaust chamber co on the
other; is a throttle valve actuated from the treadle g³ through the
rod for the purpose of regulating the passage of the exhaust steam to
the chamber cº; and j³ is a pipe conducting the steam not condensed in
the water tank to the pipe j³, from which such steam passes into the
chamber co.
The engine might be made to act directly upon the axle 6, which in
that case would be cranked to receive the head of the connecting rod,
but I prefer that the action of the engine be transmitted to the said
axle through an intermediate crank shaft k mounted in bearings in the
frame i. The said shaft k receives motion from the connecting rod k¹,

page_text: and upon the said shaft k are mounted an excentric and two fly
wheels k, k, which may be omitted when a double cylindered engine is
used. The motion of the crank shaft k is communicated to the axle 6 by
means of a pinion 1, the teeth of which gear into the teeth of a wheel A
upon the axle b. The teeth of the said wheel and pinion may be of any
suitable kind or shape, but I prefer that the said teeth should be helicoid,
that is, segments of a screw formed on the peripheries of the wheel and
pinion, so as to have increased contact and prevent shocks. As the
steam engine is independent of the frame a carrying the boiler the steam
and exhaust pipes are made elastic or pliable.
The brasses of the crank shaft bare by preference made in three
separate parts, the lower part covering about of the shaft journal,
and the two others each about of the same. The said brasses are
contained in boxes rivetted to the plates of the frame i. In order to
compensate the wear of the said brasses tapering keys with screwed
stems are inserted between them and the sides of the box, and press the
side brasses against the shaft, being forced upward to the required extent
by means of nuts. The lower brass is raised as required by screws
passing through the lower side of the box.
Figure 10 represents in section, and Figure 11 in side elevation a
wheel provided with connecting and disconnecting apparatus con-
structed according to my Invention for the purpose of connecting or
disconnecting it at pleasure to and from its axle. The said apparatus
may be applied to each of the four bearing wheels, as seen in plan at
Figure 2. The wheel nave is provided with internal brasses m, m, in the
middle of which brasses engages a flange m' formed round the axle
journal for the purpose of preventing the wheel from working off the
journal when disconnected. Upon the axle is keyed a cast-iron pulley m³,
in the periphery of which is a triangular groove. The said pulley m²
revolves necessarily with the axle b. Upon the nave of the wheel is
mounted an iron collar formed with a projecting arm or stop m², to
which is affixed by means of an adjustable screw pin or rod m³ one end
of a brake me consisting of a steel belt covered internally with wood, which
brake me engages in the groove in the pulley m². The other end of the'
said brake is bolted to the arm or stop m². Upon the spoke plate of the
wheel, between the nave and rim, is mounted upon an axis n a star
wheel n' having four teeth disposed in the form of a Maltese cross. Upon
the said star wheel n¹ is formed or affixed a steel stud or projection n³ of
:

page_text: an elongated oval shape, slightly flattened at its ends. The arm or
stop m' locks the brake me and firmly connects the wheel to the grooved
pulley m² and to the axle b, but when the said arm or stop m' abuts
against the smaller axis of the stud or projection n², that is to say, at
right angles to the position represented, the brako is released and the
wheel b³ is free to move on its axle. In order to bring the said stud or
projection n³ into either of the positions herein-before described, the star
wheel n' is caused to pérform a quarter of a revolution upon its axis.
For this purpose a bolt n³ (Figure 2) is mounted in a slide on the gauge
plate h. The said bolt is provided at one end with a friction roller, and
at its other end is connected to one arm of a bell-crank lever n*, the
other arm of which lever n* is connected
handle of which is within reach of the driver.
.
to a rod, the end or
When the said bolt n³ is
of the teeth of the star
caused to advance it comes in contact with one
wheel n', and from the rotation of the wheel 62 the star wheel is caused
to perform a quarter of a revolution, thereby changing the position of
the oval stud or projection m², and, as the case may be, locking or
releasing the brake me and connecting or disconnecting the wheel to or
from its axle. After acting on the star wheel the bolt n³ comes in
contact with an incline n³ upon the wheel, and is repulsed thereby and
caused to resume its normal position in the gauge plate h, such motion
being facilitated by a spring nº, Figure 9. Each of the wheels b
being provided with separate connecting and disconnecting apparatus,
two or all the said wheels may be connected or disconnected simul.
taneously as required.
Another connecting and disconnecting apparatus of my Invention is
represented in Figures 7 and 8 of the Drawings. Figure 7 being an
elevation, and Figure 8 a plan partially in section. b, b', are the two
axles, and 6º, 6º, are the two wheels. Upon the side of each wheel is
mounted a short hollow cylinder o closed on the outside by a plate o¹
and upon each axle 6, 61, is affixed a socket o' projecting over the nave
of the wheel. To the outside of the said socket, round and above the
nave, a series of arms p are jointed on pins p¹. The said arms p
extend to the inner surface of the cylinder o, and each of the said arms
is formed with a head p³ made to press when required against the inner
surface of the cylinder o. The heads p are curved so as to form two
arcs of circles, one described with the same radius as the inner surface
of the cylinder o, and the other described from the axis upon which the

page_text: said arm is jointed. From the back of each of the arms p projects a
lever or tail p³, so that when pressed upward or from the centre of the
wheel the said tails p³ will cause the arms p to rotate partially upon
their centres and remove their heads p³ out of contact with the
cylinder o. The said arms p are arranged in pairs round the inside of
the cylinder o so that they face each other; and the tails p³ of two of the
arms p project one toward the other. Each pair of arms p is provided
with a suitable spring o³, which tends to push them one from the other,
and thus bring the outer curves of the heads p² against the cylinder o
and thus lock the wheel to its axle, which is the normal state. The
arrangement herein-before described may, however, if preferred, be
reversed.
The wheels are unlocked and disconnected from their axles by the
following arrangement:--Upon the socket o' affixed to the axle is
mounted a clutch of capable of sliding toward or receding from the
wheel. Upon the said clutch o' are arms of projecting toward the
wheel. The ends of the arms o³ are inclined or angular, so that when
the said clutch is moved toward the wheel its projecting arms o³ engage
with the tails p³ of the locking arms p, and passing under them cause
the said arms p to turn on their centres p¹ removing their heads p² from
contact with the cylinder o, which cylinder o and the wheel to which it
is attached are then free to rotate independently of the locking appa-
ratus, and the wheels are thus disconnected from their axles. By
removing the clutch o* from contact with the wheel, the locking arms p
by the action of the springs o³ are again pressed against the cylinder o,.
thereby connecting the wheel to its axle. Motion is given to the clutch
o by means of a bell-crank lever o* mounted on the gauge plate h, one
arm of which lever of is made to embrace the clutch, while its other arm'
is jointed to a rod o' within the reach of the engine driver. Motion
may if preferred be given to the clutch of by means of a screw arrange-
ment within the said clutch.
The coupling of the wheels is effected by means of an extensible
pulley keyed on each of the axles 6 and 6¹, Figure 2, at 63, 6*. Round
each of the said pulleys 63, 6, passes a band or belt 65 made of several
thicknesses of leather, firmly bound together so as
to be nearly
inextensible, or if preferred the axles may be cranked and the cranks be.
connected together by connecting rods, as shown by dotted lines at
66, 67, and 68, Figure 2, or a chain, or a cord, or a band made of suitable

page_text: fibrous materials may be used for the purpose in connection with
suitable pulleys.
•
When a one-cylindered engine is used it becomes necessary to provide
means for turning the crank over its dead point when starting should
the crank be then in that position. For this purpose I use a small
steam engine represented in longitudinal section at Figure 13, and in
cross section in Figure 12. The said engine consists of a steam cylinder
q mounted on the engine frame i, as seen at Figure 2. In the said
cylinder works a piston q', and to the end of the piston rod q' is
jointed at q' a pawl or finger q³ projecting forward, so as to take into the
teeth of a ratchet wheel » keyed either upon the axle or the crank
shaft. When the piston q' advances the pawl or finger q³ engages with
one of the teeth of the ratchet wheel r, and causes the said wheel and
the shaft or axle upon which it is keyed to perform a partial revolution,
thus moving the crank over its dead point. When the piston q' has
nearly completed its forward stroke a projection 25 upon the side of the
pawl or finger q³ comes in contact with an inclined plane r¹ affixed to
the engine frame, and slides along its surface, raising the pawl or finger
q from the ratchet teeth. When the piston q' has completed its
forward stroke the projection q³ is near the top of the inclined plane
and during the return motion of the piston the said projection q' slides
over the inclined plane ², thus keeping the pawl or finger q³ from contact
with the ratchet wheel during the whole backward stroke of the piston
q', and preventing the noise and wear of the parts which would be
caused by the pawl or finger q3 sliding over the ratchet teeth in its
return motion. The valve qª which admits steam to the cylinder q is
actuated by means of rods and levers under control of the engine
driver.
In Figure 10 is represented an improvement in the construction of the
outer journals of the axles, and in the axle boxes of such journals the
outer journal 8 of the axle b is made cylindrical, and revolves in a cast
iron axle box. 8', provided inside with bearings made of brass or other
suitable metal 83. The said axles box 8¹ is embraced by the arms of the
guard plate, and supports the belt of the bearing spring of the car
being provided with an oil cap 8, through which oil is fed on to the
journal. The bearing 83 which is formed with a flange & is passed into
the axle box z¹ from the front, and the said flange & rests against the
cast-iron box. To close the said box on the outside and keep it on its

page_text: axle without using the ordinary screw caps, I form in that part of the
journal which projects in front of the box a groove or depression 86, in
which fits a projecting rib on a collar s¹, which collar is made in two
halves which fit on to the end of the journal. The two halves of the
said collar s' are secured together by means of a ring or belt 88 fixed in
position by two screws 80, 8°.
In order that the motion of the vehicle be completely under the
control of the engine driver, I use apparatus herein-after described, to
allow him to put on the brakes and cut off the admission of steam to
the engine simultaneously by means of a lever and screw and two
treadles. The said apparatus is represented in elevation in Figure 16,
and in plan in Figure 17. The said apparatus may be mounted upon
the floor of the vehicle or in any other suitable position; t is one of the
brackets supporting a shaft t, on which shaft is affixed the lever
actuating the brakes t³ and a crank arm &, connecting the rod of the
brakes with that of the valve u, Figure 1, which valve u is a throttle
valve mounted in a box on the steam pipe. The said valve u according
to the position in which it is placed either opens the steam passage or
nearly closes it, so as to slacken the speed of the engine and cause
the vehicle to move on as slowly as if drawn by horses at a walking
pace.
Upon the shaft. t, Figures 16 and 17, is keyed an arm t, to which
are attached two treadles and to. The treadle when depressed
causes the shaft t¹ and lever arm to turn partially on their axis, the
treadle is jointed to the arm t, and is connected by means of the rods
v, v¹, and a bell-crank lever v³ to the moveable bearing v³, herein-after
described. To the lever at its upper end is affixed an iron fork t,
to which is jointed the tubular box 8, in which passes the endless
screw °, supported by the fixed bracket t, and which may be rotated
by means of a land wheel ("; v³ is a brass bearing forming half of a
screw box, the said bearing having portions of screw threads formed in it
so as to gear with the screw f.
The said half screw box v³ is capable of motion in an aperture formed
in the under side of the box 18, and by its lower side it is attached to a
bolt, pressed upward by a spring v³, so as to cause the half screw
box to engage with the screw ; as long as the half screw box v
engages with the screw to the lever cannot change its position unless
caused to move by the action of the screw ; but if the treadle to be

page_text: pressed down the bolt v* and half screw box v³ will be drawn down from
the said screw,
and the box to will then be free to slide upon the screw t³,
and the levert when acted upon by the treadle to will turn upon its
centre, causing the crank arm 3 to rotate partially so as to put on the
brakes and partially close the throttle valve u simultaneously.
The apparatus last described enables the engine driver by pressing
down the two treadles t³, to, instantly to retard or to stop the motion
of the vehicle, but when it is required to put on the brakes to their full
extent the driver by removing his foot from the treadle to causes the
half screw box v³ to engage with the screw to, and by then rotating the
hand wheel to the brakes are completely locked.
The arrangements herein-before described for supporting the steam
engine, for connecting and disconnecting the wheels to and from their
axles, and for expanding, drying, superheating, and decomposing the
waste steam from the engine, are also applicable to locomotive and
traction engines.
Having now described the nature of my Invention and the manner of
performing the same, I wish it to be understood that I do not confine
myself to the precise details herein-before described and illustrated in
the accompanying Drawings, as the same may be varied without
departing from the nature of my said Invention, but I claim as my said
Invention,―
Firstly. The general combination and arrangement of the parts of
steam carriages or vehicles, essentially as herein-before described and
illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Secondly. Supporting the engine or engines of such vehicles upon
the axles of the wheels by means of a frame having two or several
parts bearing on one axle, and by preference only one supporting part
on the other axle, essentially as hercin-before described and illustrated
in the accompanying. Drawings, whatever be the kind of engine
employed and whether its action be transmitted directly or indirectly to
the wheel axle.
Thirdly. Communicating the motion of the engine or engines to the
driving axle of steam vehicles (when such motion is not to be com-
municated directly thereto) by means of an intermediate shaft, having
upon it a toothed pinion gearing with a corresponding toothed wheel

page_text: upon the driving axle; the teeth of the said wheel and pinion being
either segments of a screw or otherwise formed, essentially as herein-
before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Fourthly. The chamber for drying, expanding, superheating, and
decomposing the waste steam from the engine previously to its escape
into the chimney, essentially as described and represented, that is to
say, a chamber chest or combination of pipes placed in the furnace of
the boiler and disposed so as to cause the steam to circulate and absorb
heat from the furnace and be decomposed before escaping into the
chimney.
Fifthly. The combination and adaption of parts constituting the
apparatus herein-before described, for stopping or retarding the carriage,
the said apparatus being actuated by treadles for putting on the brakes.
and cutting off partially or totally the admission of steam to the engine
generally in one operation, the brakes being locked if required by means
of a screw, essentially as herein-before described and illustrated in
Figures 16 and 17 of the accompanying Drawings.
Sixthly. The supplementary engine herein-before described and illus-
trated in Figures 12 and 13 of the accompanying Drawings, for carrying
the crank over its dead point when a one-cylindered engine is used.
Seventhly. The application or adaption of gauge plates to the axles of
steam vehicles, essentially as herein-before described and illustrated in
the accompanying Drawings.
Eighthly. The combination, adaption, and arrangement of parts
constituting the apparatus herein-before described with reference to
Figures 7, 8, 10, and 11, of the accompanying Drawings, for connecting
and disconnecting the wheels of steam vehicles to and from their
axles.
Ninthly. The arrangement for coupling together the axles of steam.
vehicles by means of extensible pulleys and bands or belts, essentially as
herein-before described and illustrated in the accompanying Drawings.
Tenthly. The arrangements of the levers or means of varying the
action or position of the different parts of the engines, boiler, and
apparatus essentially as herein-before described and illustrated in the
accompanying Drawings.

page_text: Eleventhly. The application of the arrangements herein-before described
for supporting the engine, for connecting and disconnecting the wheels,
and for expanding, drying, superheating, and decomposing, partially or
wholly, the waste steam from the engines to locomotive engines,
tramway carriages, and trucks and traction engines, whether the motive
power for driving the same be produced by fire, gas, or otherwise.
In witness whereof, I, the said Marie Leon Buret de Longagne,
have hereunto set my hand and seal, this Third day of December,
in the year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and
seventy-five.
L. BURET DE LONGAGNE, IG³. (L.s.)