IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM CARRIAGES, AND IN ADAPTING WHEELS FOR COMMON ROADS TO RAILWAYS
Year: 1865

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Richard Archibald Brooman at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his Petition, on the 10th
July 1865. A communication from abroad by Joseph Alphonse Loubat,
of Paris, France.
I, RICHARD ARCHIBALD BROOMAN, of 166, Fleet Street, in the City of
London, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for
"IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM CARRIAGES, AND IN ADAPTING WHEELS FOR COMMON
ROADS TO RAILWAYS," to be as follows:-
Steam carriages constructed according to this Invention are distinguished
from those hitherto used by, the following points:-1st, the power of the
engine is transmitted by a chain to the driving axle, which is provided for the
purpose with a chain wheel, and is straight instead of being bent or cranked;
2nd, the back wheels are carried by a movable carriage which permits of
their turning on a poll bolt; 3rd, steering apparatus is fitted at the front
and at the back to guide the carriage according to the curves of the road;
4th, shocks are deadened by caoutchouc packing or springs interposed between
the frame of the body and the frame which supports the compartments for the
passengers or goods. The last named frame is placed over the body frame,
and the caoutchouc packing is placed between and around their edges.
Gudgeons fitted in the frames, or rods jointed at one end to the upper and

page_text: at the other end to the lower frame, keep the two frames in the same plane.
The driving power is at the front of the carriage, and is by preference com
posed of two coupled steam cylinders receiving their steam from one generator,
The piston rods of the two cylinders are connected by links to two cranks
mounted on an auxiliary shaft, which carries a chain wheel. A chain passes
round this wheel, and round another chain wheel on the axle of the front
driving wheels; this axle is straight, Towards the rear of the carriage is the
movable axle carrying two other wheels. On the middle of this axle & diso is
fitted, at the centre of which a vertical pivot rises to the centre of a second disc
fixed to the upper frame. This arrangement allows of the back carriage turning
as on a pivot like the poll bolt of ordinary carriages to follow the curves of the
road.
The turning is produced by the driver by means of steering apparatus
composed of a hand wheel mounted on a vertical rod, an enlarged part
of which receives the ends of two chains; these chains, guided by pulleys,
extend and are attached to rings or hooks on each side of the movable axle.
According as the driver turns the band wheel so will the back carriage be
directed.
A similar steering apparatus may be fitted to the rear of the carriage,
The driving axle is mounted on bearings, and the position can be regulated
according to the tension of the chain. To allow the carriage to run upon
rails I bolt to the tyre of each wheel segmental bands, so as to form a flange.
When the carriage is intended to run on ordinary roads the flange is removed.
This method of adapting common road wheels to railways is applicable both to
steam and other carriages.
The turning of the carriage on a poll bolt, as before described, may be
produced by gearing and an endless screw.