Im- PROVEMENTS IN RAILWAYS AND IN THE ENGINES AND CARRIAGES TO RUN THEREON
Year: 1870

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John Henry Johnson, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields,
in the County of Middlesex, Gentleman, for the Invention of "Im-
PROVEMENTS IN RAILWAYS AND IN THE ENGINES AND CARRIAGES TO RUN
THEREON." A communication from abroad by François Maurice
Marin, of Paris, in the Empire of France.
Sealed the 16th December 1870, and dated the 21st June 1870.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John Henry Johnson
at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition,
on the 21st June 1870.
I, JOHN HENRY JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County
of Middlesex, Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of the said Inven-
tion for "IMPROVEMENTS IN RAILWAYS AND IN THE ENGINES AND CARRIAGES
"
TO RUN THEREON,' a communication to me from abroad by François
Maurice Marin, of Paris, in the Empire of France, to be as follows:-
:-
This Invention has for its object to enable the engines and carriages
of a train to traverse sharp curves with facility, which is a great desi-
deratum in railway traffic.

page_text: For this purpose it is proposed to furnish the outer portion of the
middle of the curve with an exterior section of rail at a somewhat wider
gauge. This outer section of rail is also somewhat higher than the inner
enc, and upon these two rails which form a wider gauge along the curve
run certain additional running wheels with which the engines and
carriages are provided (two in front and two behind). These running
wheels converge from the middle towards each other at the ends of the
engine or carriage, so as to adapt themselves to curves at either side of
the railway. It will thus be seen that at the outer portion of the curve
the carriage will run upon the additional running wheels only, which
will thus adapt themselves to sharp curves where the additional high
rail is situate, and cause the engines and carriages to traverse them
readily, but these additional running wheels will at other portions of the
line be suspended in the air and become inoperative.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said John Henry Johnson in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 21st December 1870.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, JOHN HENRY
JOHNSON, of 47, Lincoln's Inn Fields, in the County of Middlesex,
Gentleman, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Twenty-first day of June, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy, in the thirty-fourth
year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said John Henry Johnson, Her special license
that I, the said John Henry Johnson, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said John Henry Johnson, my
executors, administrators, or assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter 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 Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN RAILWAYS AND IN THE ENGINES AND CARRIAGES TO RUN THEREON,'
munication to me from abroad by Francois Maurice Marin, of Paris,
,,
a com-

page_text: in the Empire of France, upon the condition (amongst others) that I,
the said John Henry Johnson, by an instrument in writing under my
hand and seal, 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 John Henry Johnson, do hereby
declare the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in
and by the following statement, reference being had to the Drawings
hereunto annexed and to the letters and figures marked thercon
that is to say :-
It is well known, that in order to reduce as much as possible the
expenses of railways, one of the principal points to be arrived at is to be
able to apply curves of small radius. This has occupied the attention
of many engineers, and if attained would render great service in localities
where for this reason railways have not been hitherto constructed.
Various plans have been proposed for effecting the object referred to,
but they have not been carried into effect as they necessitated a con-
siderable modification in the existing systems of railways. Now the
object of the present Invention is to obviate this inconvenience and at
the same time to fulfil the desired conditions.
For this purpose it is proposed according to this Invention to furnish
the outer portion of the curve with an exterior section of rail at a some-
what wider guage. This outer section of rail is also somewhat higher
than the inside rail of the curve. Upon the outside rail which with the
inside one forms a wider gauge along the curve run certain additional
running wheels, with which the engines and carriages are provided (two
being situate in front and two behind). These running wheels converge
from the middle towards each other at the ends of the engine or carriage
so as to adapt themselves to curves at either side of the railway. It
will thus be seen that at the outer portion of the curve the carriage will
run upon the additional running wheels only, which adapt themselves
to sharp curves where the additional high rail is situate, and cause the
engines and carriages to traverse them readily, but these additional
running wheels will at other portions of the line be suspended in the air
and become inoperative.

page_text: In the Drawings annexed four of the additional wheels or rollers G, G¹,
are employed which are placed symmetrically towards the ends of the
vehicle outside the side frames H, which carry the axles of the ordinary
wheels. As the traverse of the rollers is only at intervals and always
exceedingly short, they will be amply sufficient for this
The
purpose.
axes of these rollers are not placed parallel to the axles, that is to say,
they are not like the latter disposed at right angles to the rectilinear
direction of the line. The axes 9 which carry the rollers G corres-
ponding to the outer curve B of the line converge towards the centre of
this curve so as to be in about a normal direction when passing over it,
but curves may be traversed of a greater radius than that which is
mathematically indicated by the intersection of a prolongation of the
converging axes. The axes g' which receive the rollers G' are also so
disposed as to converge towards the centre of the external curvo
which would join the line when running in the opposite direction.
In both cases these axes turn in bearings h adapted to iron supports I
which are firmly secured to the side frames H, and when required, to
the end cross pieces L of the engine or vehicle. They may also, if
considered necessary, be provided with flat or spiral springs to give
them the desired elasticity.
It will be readily understood how with this addition the train traverses
curves. As soon as the locomotive arrives at the end of the straight
line the first of the front rollers passes on to the elevated curved rail B.
The fore truck of the engine is brought within the curve by the
direction of the fore roller, the axis of which is in or about the direction
of the radius; the corresponding hind roller soon completes the action
of the former. They thus carry the whole of the outer side of the
engine, the wheels of which no longer follow the rail, since it is dis-
pensed with at this part. These wheels then turn freely, being suspended
and kept in motion by the rotation of their axles whilst the opposite
wheels continue to run on the inner rail D. On leaving curves the
wheels resume their function and the rollers cease to act. The same
effect is produced in all the vehicles which follow the engine.
It is true that in the engine only one half the wheels transmit the
5 tractive force while traversing the curve since the other half are elevated
above the line, but by reason of the slight radius of curvature its
length is necessarily very short, consequently, the impetus acquired by
the speed of the train on the straight line compensates to a considerable

page_text: extent for the animation of power when the engine experiences during
this brief interval.
It is necessary to observe that the application of the additional rollers
does not involve any alteration in the engines and vehicles which meet
existing requirements, and may always work in the same manner on all
lines. The rollers may, however, be so applied to wagons as to be
capable of being removed and replaced at will, for the purpose of intro-
ducing them into arsenals, docks, and such-like places.
In some cases, in order to reduce the load on the additional rollers,
their number may, if considered necessary, be increased, and they may
be coupled in pairs, for example, in lieu of their being isolated as shewn
in the Drawing. It may be considered advantageous to couple them more
particularly when they are made of small diameter. The angle formed
by the direction of the converging axes effects the change in the direction
of the vehicles, and compels them to follow a curved line; the action
is but momentary. When not passing round sharp curves the rollers
remain inactive and are suspended above the line of way without
causing more inconvenience than the steps or guards. In all the
straight portions of the line or in curves of a large radius the train
proceeds without having recourse to the action of the converging rollers.
When the locomotives or the other vehicles have more than two pairs
of wheels, the axles of which are required to be parallel, it is essential
that only the four extreme wheels and the additional rollers should be
provided with flanges whilst the intermediate wheels are furnished with
cylindrical tyres without any projecting flange in order to admit of
their moving laterally round curves where a lateral displacement is
necessary.
:-
The following advantages are obtained by the use of this system,
viz Considerable economy is effected in the construction of the linc,
as by the introduction of junction curves of small radius heavy works a
are dispensed with, which it is necessary to carry out in order to keep
as near to the surface of the existing soil as possible. This system may
be employed in new, unproductive countries, where it is necessary to
construct in a short time extensive lines in order to accelerate the
establishing of an important communication. It may also be employed a
in local and branch lines and on private branches for arsenals, docks,
works, quarries, coal mines, and such-like places.

page_text: In the case of branch lines a great portion if not the whole of
the rolling stock might be taken on hire from the contiguous main
line, and the company be thus relieved from the burden of advancing
funds which in some cases are considerable. A considerable saving will
be effected by loading goods direct at the place of production without
the necessity for transferring them in order to send them to their
destination, as is now necessary in the majority of cases.
Having now described and particularly ascertained the nature of the
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is or may be used
or carried into effect, I would observe in conclusion that what I consider
to be novel and original, and therefore claim as the Invention secured
to me by the hercin-before in part recited Letters Patent is, the appli-
cation to a line of railway of junction curves of small radius composed
of an additional outer rail fixed at a higher level than the others, and
the use of the same in combination with moveable additional wheels
or rollers on the engine and rolling stock for the purpose of traversing
sharp curves with facility, substantially as herein-before described and
illustrated by the Drawings.
In witness whereof, I, the said John Henry Johnson, have to
this my Specification set my hand, the Twenty-first day of
December One thousand eight hundred and seventy.