Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 20th Apr., 1887
Complete Left, 19th Jan., 1888
Complete Accepted, 24th Feb., 1888
I, FREDERICK JOHN BURRELL of St. Nicholas Works, Thetford Norfolk Engineer,
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :-
In Engines having a countershaft placed above the main axle I mount the spur-
wheel driving the countershaft upon a fixed tube extending across the top or front of
the Boiler and projecting through the horn plate on one side, and on the other side
connected to a fixed box in which a square block slides up and down forming the
bearing for the countershaft at one end. The other end of the countershaft projects
through the hollow tube & has a T end which fits into a gimbal pivotted to the outside
of the said spurwheel & forming a universal joint. The sliding block is attached to
the main axle bearing by a link and the main axle bearings are both free to slide up
and down in guides. The weight of the Engine is taken by springs attached to the
main axle bearings, so that by this arrangement, the countershaft bearing being coupled
to the main axle bearing on the same side as the last motion gearing they both slide
up and down without altering the distance between the centres of the gearing, and
whereas the spurwheel driving the countershaft being mounted upon the hollow tube
(in such a manner as to avoid overhanging strain on the spur wheel bearing) and
connected by means of the universal coupling to the shaft; the action of the springs,
can in no way be affected by the transmission of power through the gearing; thus
avoiding the tendency in other engines of making the boiler the fulcrum for
forcing the springs up or down. If desired I may use a flexible coupling to connect
the countershaft to the spur wheel instead of the gimbal. The hollow tube being
carried quite across forms a solid support to the horn plates of the engine and a
substantial central bearing for the spurwheel which revolves upon it. And its use in
connection with the above mentioned method of driving relieves the horn plates of all
buckling and twisting tendency resulting from driving strains.
T
1
SA 1007
·
FREDERICK JOHN BURRELL.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Traction and Tramway Engines.
I FREDERICK JOHN BURRELL of St. Nicholas Works Thetford in the County of
Norfolk, Engineer do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement :-
In Engines having a countershaft placed above the main axle, I mount the spur
wheel driving the said countershaft upon a fixed tube extending across the top or
front of the boiler, and projecting through the horn plate on one side, and on the other
side connected to a fixed box in which a square block slides up and down, forming the
bearing for the countershaft at that end. The other end of the countershaft projects
through the hollow tube and has a T end which fits into a gimbal pivotted to the
outside of the said spur wheel and forming a universal joint. The sliding block is
attached to the main axle bearing by a link, and the main axle bearings are both free
to slide up and down in guides. The weight of the engine is taken by springs
attached to the main axle bearings, so that by this arrangement the countershaft
bearing being coupled to the main axle bearing on the same side as the last motion
gearing, and whereas the spur wheel driving the countershaft being mounted upon
the hollow tube (in such a manner as to avoid overhanging strain upon the spur wheel
bearing) and connected by means of the universal coupling to the countershaft; the
action of the springs can in no way be communicated to the spur wheel, thus in no
way being affected by the transmission of power through the gearing, and so avoiding
the tendency in other engines of making the boiler the fulcrum for forcing the springs
up or down. If desirable I may use a flexible coupling to connect the counter shaft
to the spur wheel instead of the gimbal.
The hollow tube being carried quite across forms.a solid support to the horn plates
of the engine and a substantial central bearing for the spur wheel which revolves upon
it and its use in connection with the above method of driving strengthens the horn
plates against all buckling and twisting resulting from driving strains. Instead of
the hollow fixed tube being extended across the engine and connected to a fixed box
on the other side, it may be made without an extension and be held sufficiently rigid
by the use of stays or gusset plates.
Fig. 1 is a transverse section, and Fig. 2 is a part longitudinal section of a geared
Traction engine mounted on springs and arranged according to my invention.
Fig. 3 is an end view of the gimbal or universal joint.
In Fig. 1. A is the crank-shaft of the engine, from which motion is communicated
to the countershaft B by means of pinions gearing into the spur wheel C. The spur
wheel C revolves upon the fixed tube D and is connected to the countershaft B by
means of the gimbal or universal joint E. The other end of the countershaft is carried
in a bearing F free to move up and down in the box G. The bearing F is connected
by the link H to the axle box J (which is free to slide up and down in guides S
secured to the horn plates X) so that they both rise and fall together as the engine

page_text: rides up and down upon the springs L. On the countershaft B is fixed a pinion M
which gears into a spur wheel N and so communicates motion in the usua! manner to
the road wheels P of the Traction engine. The pinion M and spur wheel N are
prevented from altering the distance between their centres and so getting out of gear
by the link H and have also sufficient clearance at the sides of the teeth, to allow of
the sideway motion caused by the action of the engine on the springs. The axle
box K is also free to slide up and in guides secured to the hornplates X, its motion in
no way altering the distance between the centres of the gearing. In Fig. 1 the
tube D is shown with an extension Q carried across the engine and bolted to the box G
which is fastened to the horn plate X, thus forming a solid bearing for the spur
wheel C and a substantial stay between the horn plates ✗, and effectually preventing
them from being twisted or buckled by the strains thrown upon them. I do not
confine myself to this construction and may use stay or gusset plates or other suitable
means to give the necessary stiffness to the horn plates X and solidity to the bearing
of the spur wheel C; also any other form of flexible coupling may be substituted for
the universal joint; also instead of the boss of the spur wheel C revolving upon the
outside of the fixed bearing D, it may be made to revolve inside it. It will be seen
that engines can be mounted on springs according to my Invention without
differing materially in general arrangement from the type of traction engine in
common use.
Having now described and ascertained the nature of my said Invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed. I would observe in conclusion,
that do not claim broadly in geared Traction and Tramway engines mounted
on springs, the use of shafts driven through universal joints or similar contrivances,
as I am aware that such arrangements have been used before in connection
with hollow revolving shafts, but have been too complicated and have not attained
the object set forth in this Invention. But what I do claim is-
1st. In geared Traction and Tramway Engines mounted on springs and having the
counter shaft over the main axle-Coupling one of the main axle bearings to the
counter shaft bearing on one side of the engine, and connecting the opposite end of
the countershaft by a flexible coupling to a revolving spur wheel mounted loosely
upon a fixed tube or bearing, so constructed as to form a solid bearing for the spur
wheel and a substantial stay to keep the horn plates rigid.
2ndly. In geared Traction or Tramway Engines mounted upon springs. The
combination and arrangement of parts for the purpose set forth, substantially as
described and illustrated by the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 18th day of January 1888.
FREDERICK JOHN BURRELL.