IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING ATMOSPHERIC ENGINES." STATIONARY AND LOCOMOTIVE.
Year: 1879

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by William Wilson Harwood at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 23rd October 1879.
WILLIAM WILSON HARWOOD, of Manfield, in the County of York, Engineer.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN SELF-ACTING ATMOSPHERIC ENGINES."
STATIONARY AND LOCOMOTIVE.
In the self acting atmospheric railway locomotive the carriage of the engine
consists of two pair of driving wheels situated behind a bogy carriage, which
support a pair of slide-valve cylinders on a bed plate, placed in position to act.
through a. cross head and crank rod on the crank of the nearest driving wheel on
each side of the engine outside the wheels.
By means of a crank rod the rear pair of driving wheels are connected, which
are furnished with cranks acting outside the wheels.
.
Over the slide valve cylinders is placed another plate which carries the air chest.
and the lever screw, compressing multa double acting atmospheric slide valve pump
which consists of a cylinder constructed with compartments, and furnished with
taps and ports working in small blocks cast on the outside of the cylinder. Each
end of the cylinder is furnished with a flange.
The divisions between the compartments are fitted with stuffing boxes through
which the piston rod works carrying a piston in each compartment..
On the side of the pump next the air chest are small blocks cast on the outside of
the pump, one at each end, and one over the edge of each partition, with a port
opening into the pump on each side of each partition, and at each end of the pump
fitted with a weak spiral spring. Each of these boxes is covered. with a plate
fastened to a flange on each side of the box; into this cover is screwed the end of a
pipe. All these pipes terminate in one of the same diameter which leads to the air
chest, and is fitted with a spiral spring just outside the air chest.
By the means of the three pipes running into one the pressure of the three pipes,
one from each compartment, unite their force to open the part in the single pipe
which opens into the air chest.
Therefore if the working pressure be 60 lbs. per square inch, a pressure of a little
over 20 lbs. in each will exert a pressure of over sufficient to open the port into the
air chest if all the pipes be one inch in diameter. .

page_text: The resistance is 60 lbs. while the united force from the pump is a little over 60 lbs.
Therefore the power required to work the pump is in proportion to the number of
compartments, and the relative size of the pump and slide valve cylinders, and the
difference in size of the resistance and force pipes from the pump to the air chest.
Through the pipes to the air chest the air is delivered at the end of each stroke.
As soon as the pressure exceeds 20 lbs. to the square inch, the force down each
pipe exceeds 20 lbs. and the air chest tap opens, while on the other side of each of
the three pistons the atmosphere presses with a force of 15 lbs. to the square
inch, therefore supplying three fourths of the working power of the pump.
On the same level and on the other side of the pump is a dovetail plane
extending the length of the pump, having the centre flange cut away. In this the
slide valve works on the outside of the pump by the means of a rod which is
worked by the pump piston rod.
The slide-valve ports open into the pump in the centre of each compartment, and
each port is furnished with a valve.
By means of the slide-valve the pump is rendered double acting. Suppose the
pump to be at the stroke and the slide valve is then over the port, as the piston
commences the return stroke it drives the air before it in each compartment. The
valve remains over the port till the edge of the piston covers it; the stroke is then
half accomplished, and while the edge of the piston is passing over the port of the
piston rod acting on the slide-valve rod uncovers the port to the side from which the
piston started. As soon as the port is opened the air from the atmosphere rushes in
and fills the vacuum, and exerts a pressure of 15 lbs. to the square inch over the
area of the piston in each compartment. At the end of the stroke the air is
delivered into the air chest through the weak spring ports, and as soon as the air
has passed the pressure on the other side closes the port. As the stroke is finished
the action of the piston rod closes the slide valve port and the stroke commences as
before, and when the stroke is half accomplished the port is uncovered to the side
from which the stroke began to admit a fresh supply of air.
But in order to fully utilize the pressure of the atmosphere, a valve constructed
of a tube and cap, which is placed at the bottom of the pump in each compartment,
at each end so arranged that as soon as the stroke is completed and the piston
commences to return a vacuum is produced in each compartment, and the pressure
of the atmosphere opens the valve at the bottom, and the air rushes in and fills the
vacuum; but as soon as the slide valve port is opened the pressure being equalized,
the port closes and the stroke continues, the air entering through the slide valve
port till the stroke is finished. By this means the pump compresses the entire length
both backward and forward.
Either one or a pair of slide-valve ports can be used in each compartment.
Where two are used they are placed half the thickness of the piston from each end
of each compartment, and when the piston finishes the stroke the piston rod
uncovers the port at the end at which the piston is, and while the edge of the
piston is over it and covers the port at the other end, and when the stroke returns
and the edge of the piston passes the port the air rushes in. By this means the air
enters through the slide-valve port when the piston has traversed half the thickness
of itself.
The pump piston rod head is furnished with projections which act on arms of the
slide valve rod. When one valve is used for each compartment, a projection acts
on an arm of the slide valve rod, and a toothed projection acts on a pinion which
uncovers the port at half stroke; the shaft of the pinion is furnished with a crank
which is attached to the slide-valve rod. When two slide-valves are used in each
compartment, a projection acts on an arm of a shaft which carries another arm
which is attached to the slide valve rod. The arm which is attached to the
slide valve rod is longer than the arm acted on by the piston rod; the shaft
which carries the arms work in a bearing; the end of the slide-valve rod works
through a guide. Or the valves can be worked by an eccentric on a shaft
worked by the pump rod, and furnished with a small wheel to overcome the

page_text: dead point. The slide valve can be worked by a single self reversing eccentric
which is fitted on the shaft but not keyed to it; the eccentric is furnished with a
projection on each side. When the eccentric is in the highest position, the centre of
the projection is vertical to the centre of the shaft. The shaft is furnished with
two projections in line with each other, one at the top, and one at the bottom of the
shaft on each side of the eccentric, sufficient on one side of the centre to allow for
half the thickness of the eccentric projection, the top shaft hub being in contact
with the eccentric hub on both sides of the eccentric; suppose in the forward
motion the eccentric is in the highest position and the pump crank in the further-
most position, if the engine is reversed the crank will descend to the lowest
position, and the shaft projection will leave the eccentric projection, and the
eccentric will remain inactive, meanwhile, the lower shaft hub will ascend to the
highest position and come in contact with the eccentric hub; the crank is then in.
the nearest position, and the reverse is complete, the crank following the eccentric
both in the forward and backward motion. When the slide-valve rod is worked by
an eccentric there are two single eccentrics used; one is used for the forward motion,
and one for the backward motion of the engine, and the eccentrics are reversed by
the parallel reversing handle and a small ring handle. The arrangement consists of
a crank shaft which is worked by the pump piston rod, and also furnished with a
crank at right angles to the crank worked by the pump piston rod, which is worked
by a rod attached to the top of a rod which has its lower end attached to a crank
on the main axle placed at right angles to the crank, which works the pump lever
by a crank rod; by this arrangement there is no dead point, and when the engine
is reversed the pump eccentric shaft is reversed in any and every position; the
eccentrics are placed on the shaft at opposite positions.
The end of each eccentric rod is attached to a guide plate equal in length to the
stroke of the eccentric, and works on a guide plate standard, and each has a socket
hole in it. The end of the slide is furnished with a cross piece loose, which is
attached to a short rod which is attached to a loose arm on the end of the rod
worked by the reversing shaft crank. In attaching the slide valve rod the cross
piece enters the socket of the eccentric guide plate, in one eccentric in the forward
motion, and the other in the backward motion.
The end of the pump piston rod is fastened to a screw which carries a toothed
wheel on the other end resting on a broad toothed wheel, which is worked by a
wheel carrying a lever.
The screw works through a fixed female screw so arranged that by the means of
screws the threads can be tightened as they wear.
The broad toothed wheel is made to act on the screw cog by means of the lever
wheel which acts on a bevelled toothed wheel on its axle, the wheel which carries.
the lever having the toothed part bevelled in order to cause the lever to act parallel
with the side of the pump.
. By moving the lever the wheel turns the broad toothed wheel in which the screw
cog rests, and it turns the screw cog, and working the screw the cog is drawn along.
the top of the broad wheel by the screw working in the fixed female screw, and
drives the piston rod of the pump. By moving the lever backward and forward
the screw cog travels backward and forward along the top of the broad wheel,
screwing the screw backward and forward through the female screw, and causing
the backward and forward motion of the pump.
The construction of the screw is such as to give it great strength, and arranged
in a way to admit of the threads being tightened by the means of the feeding
female screw threads; the screw will wear for several years. The end of the pump
lever is attached to a crank on the main axle by a crank rod. The rotatory motion
of the crank is converted into the progressive motion of the pump lever, which
causes the progressive motion of the pump. The end of the screw is fastened to the
end of the piston rod to admit of the screw turning without turning the piston rod.
At the end of the screw a guide rod is fastened in like manner to guide the screw in
a straight line, the guide rod working through a guide. placed in position. The.

page_text: pistons and stuffing boxes are furnished with straps which expand in the pistons,
and diminish in the stuffing boxes of the piston, and slide valve rods of the pump,
and slide valve cylinders, so arranged that the pistons can be stuffed with greased
hemp with a strip of metal in its midst, by compressing a small quantity of air
inside the strap; it expands as the stuffing wears. The hemp being well greased,
there is always oil on the edge of the stuffing.
The stuffing boxes are stuffed in the same way, the air being on the outside of
the strap; it diminishes as the stuffing wears. By this arrangement the stuffing will
wear for several years.
The air chest consists of a tubular or egg end reversed chest placed by the side
of the pump and receives the pipe from the pump. Its purpose is to store up the
power ready for action at any time. At the rear end of the pump and air chest
is the driver's platform, and is on a level with the bed plate of the pump and air
chest. An iron plate covers the rear end of pump and air chest extending the
breadth of the engine, and from the driver's platform to the top of the engine;
through this plate the starting and reversing shafts work by handles on the driver's
side of the plate. The feed pipe rises up perpendicular from the air chest, then
turns horizontal, and descends into the centre of a horizontal pipe in which the
reversing gear works.
The starting tap is placed in the horizontal part of the feed pipe and worked by
the starting shaft on the top of the horizontal part. The starting shaft works by a
screw through the plate at the rear end of the air chest, and carries a crank which,
by a rod, works the taps on the top of the pump.
The taps on the top of the pump are so arranged that when the starting tap is
opened they are shut; these taps are so arranged that the starting tap can be closed
to one fourth of the extent without opening the taps on the top of the pump, but
as soon as the starting tap is closed the pump taps are open to their full extent.
This arrangement of the pump and starting shaft avoids a superfluous .charge of
air in the air chest, making bursting almost impossible, as the air is never pumped
in when the slide valve cylinders are out of action, as when the engine is descending
an incline and the cylinders are thrown out of action all the air which enters the
pump escapes through these taps, and thus avoids excess pressure in the air chest.
But as soon as the starting tap is opened these taps are closed, and the pump at
once becomes active.
The reversing motion of the engine is effected by the means of four taps working
in pairs in a horizontal pipe.
The feed pipe from the air chest enters this pipe in the centre. The cylinder
feed and exhaust pipes enter on each side of the centre pipe midway between it
and the end of the pipe.
The taps are placed one on each side of the centre pipe and one at each end
hetween the place where the cylinder pipes enter and the open end of the pipe; all
four taps are attached to the parallel reversing handle shaft and are worked in pairs.
In the forward motion the tap on the right side of the centre pipe and between it
and the pipe from the cylinder is open, and the tap between the left end of the pipe
and the place where the other pipe from the cylinder enters is open, and the other
two taps are closed. When the starting tap is opened the air rushes down the
feed pipe into the reversing pipe, and through the open tap and down the cylinder
pipe, which divide and carries the air to both cylinders, and after entering the
cylinder and acting on the piston escapes up the exhaust pipe to the reversing
pipe, and out through the open tap out of the open end of the pipe.
By moving the parallel reversing handle these pair of taps are closed and the
other pair opened, and by opening the starting tap the air rushes into the reversing
pipe and through the open tap and down what was before the exhaust pipe, which
divide and carry the air to both cylinders, which enters on the inside of the slide
valve through the block of the cylinders, and after acting on the piston escapes
into the chest on the outside of the slide valve and up what was before the feed
pipe, and through the open tap out of the open end of the reversing pipe. When.

page_text: the taps are reversed, if the piston in one cylinder be at the end of the stroke the
piston on the other cylinder is at half stroke, so that the air acts on the other side
of the piston, and the eccentric, which is at the position furthermost from the
cylinder, on the air being reversed returns underneath instead of over the top of
the driving shaft..
The other eccentric which works the slide valve in the other cylinder is at the
bighest position and just at the lead of the cylinder. The air first acts on the piston
in the cylinder at half stroke, and when the piston rod reverses the motion of the
crank axle, the other eccentric, instead of travelling forward, travels backward
and at once closes the ports and opens the other two, and both cylinders are in
action instantly and the reverse is complete, and will act thus until the taps are
again reversed. In every other position the pistons act simultaneously. The
reversing shaft is furnished with a screw which works through the plate in the
rear of the air chest.
The use of the screw in the starting and reversing shaft prevents slipping.
The fittings of the air chest consist of a spring screw. safety valve, and a spring
ratchet pressure guage, and an ordinary whistle.
The spring screw safety valve consists of a circular piece of metal with a tube
plug constructed of a short tube with a block end in a port in the centre, and
carries an arm which rests on the block end of the tube valve plug; the end of the
arm is attached to a spring having its fulcrum on the end of a screw working in
an upright pipe; by raising or lowering the fulcrum by the means of the screw the
strength of the valve is increased or decreased.
The spring rachet pressure guage consists of a tube carrying a dial at one end,
while the other turns at right angles and screws into the rear end of the air chest.
This tube contains a spring carrying a toothed plate which acts on a pinion in the
centre of the dial and forms the axle of the hand of the dial, and as the air acts on
the spring the pressure is pointed out on the dial.
The driver's platform extends three feet backward from the rear end of the air
chest and the fittings are placed at the rear end of the air chest and within reach
of the driver.
The part of the engine in the rear of the driver's place consists of a ballast truck
resting on the driving wheel shafts or bearings which enable the shafts to turn in
them. This truck is used to carry ballast in the shape of minerals, or otherwise
loaded to gain weight to enable the driving wheels to act on the plate when
drawing a heavy load. The ballast truck can either be loaded. with ballast in
proportion to the load and inclines, or .with minerals or otherwise.
The fore and rear end of the engine carriage is furnished with air buffers so
arranged that by compressing air into a compartment in the end of the buffer
beam, in which a piston end of the buffer works through a cover, the air is com-
pressed through a tap on the side of the compartment furnished with a cap which
prevents the escape of the air.
All the wearing parts to be of steel, or other metal, working on iron or other
metal bearings.
The bearings consist of a thick oblong plate placed in a slot cut for the purpose
in a standard. One end of the bearing rests against the shaft, so arranged that
by the means of screws the bearings can be tightened; by this arrangement of the
bearings the friction is greatly reduced. The arrangement of the bearings admit of
the bearings being renewed without stopping the engine, and they will wear for
several years.
In order to first start the engine before the pump is attached to the driving
shaft, and before the tap rod on the top of the pump is attached to the starting
shaft, close the taps on the top of the pump, and by the means of the lever hand
pump a small quantity of air into the air chest; when sufficient has been pumped
in, which will be shewn by the pressure guage, attach the lever crank rod to the
main axle crank, and open the taps on the pump, and attach them to the starting
shaft, then open the starting tap, and the same action will close the taps on the top.

page_text: of the pump, and the engine will at once be set in motion, the pump commencing
action with the cylinders, and the pressure will increase in the air chest till the
working pressure is attained, it then remains uniform throughout the entire period
of action. The power required to work the pump is in proportion to the size of
the pump, and the number of compartments, together with the number of threads
on the screw, and the length of the lever.
In an ordinary self acting atmospheric railway locomotive of 160 horse power,
with a pump 30 inches in diameter, and with three compartments, and a stroke
ten and two thirds of an inch in length, and with a leverage of about 17 inches,
and threads 21/2 inches thick,
The slide valve cylinders being 15 inches in diameter, and working at a pressure
of 60 lbs. per square inch, the power required to drive the pump is about 2 horse
power, and one third deducted for friction and other resistance of the engine will
leave an active power of over 100 horse power, the engine standing on a bed plate
7 feet by 8 feet, and the entire length of the engine carriage, including the ballast
truck, which is 13 feet long, is about 24 feet, the ballast truck and driving place
extending two thirds of the entire length of the engine carriage.
All bearings of the crank pins and axles are furnished with oil cups; the female
screw is also furnished with an oil cup; all frictional parts run in oil, and the
whole of the engine is worked by the starting and reversing handles.
After the air chest is once filled it remains full so long as the engine lasts,
supplying a continuous source of power through the pump, which supplies the air
as fast as is required to maintain the uniform working pressure of the engine.
The self acting atmospheric stationary engine consists of a bed plate, which
carries either a single or a pair of slide valve cylinders, and a lever screw com-
pressing multa double-acting atmospheric slide valve pump arranged as in the
locomotive, except that the lever wheel is toothed on the edge and works at right
angles to the pump, which can be placed in any position, and attached to the
driving shaft as in the locomotive.
By a separate arrangement called the multiplying motion, which consists of
a crank shaft carrying a small belt wheel, which is worked by a multiplying wheel
on the main axle."
By attaching the wheel on the multiplying shaft to the main shaft by a short
strong belt, and by attaching the pump lever crank rod to the crank on this shaft
the working power of the engine is doubled, while the pump requires double the
power to work it. The engine is otherwise the same as before said in self acting
atmospheric horizontal or vertical engines.
In horizontal stationary or marine self acting atmospheric engines of 3,000 or
4,000 horse power the pistons and stuffing boxes feed for several inches in the
pump and slide valve cylinders.
All bearings and other parts in proportion, and will work for upwards of half a
century with a moderate supply of oil, and occasional tightening of the bearings, and
other parts of the engines.
The power required to drive the pump varies with the size of the pump, and
the number of compartments and the thickness of the threads on the screw.
But when the number of compartments is the same as the pressure in atmos-
pheres, and the area of the slide valve cylinders half that of the pump, and the
threads 2 inches thick, and the leverage about 17 inches, the power involved in
working the pump is of the full power of the engine, or 1 horse power in 423
horse power is involved in working the pump, the atmosphere supplying 18th of
the motive power of the pump. If the area of the pump be the same as the slide
valve cylinders half the power is required to work the pump, or if the spring in
the discharge ports be half the strength the power required to work the pump is
only one half the aforesaid power.
Therefore the greater the diameter of the pump to that of the slide-valve
cylinders the more power is required to work it, while the nearer they are in size
the less power, involved in working the pump..

page_text: The pump can be worked under various circumstances with the lever combined
with the screw, or with the lever without the screw, or with the screw without the
lever, or by rotating the male or female screw, or otherwise. In the aforesaid
proportions a lever of the first or second order can be used without the screw, and
attached to the pump piston rod, and by a short parallel rod a short distance from
the fulcrum, and the end of the lever attached to the crank on the main axle by a
crank rod, as aforesaid, and the power involved in working it then is about 1 horse
power in 30 or 60 horse power, and when applied direct 1 horse power in 16 or
32 horse power is involved in working the pump.
But with the aforesaid leverage and number of compartments aforesaid, and
with the threads on the screw 6 inches thick instead of 2 inches thick, and the
screw three times diameter, the power involved in working the pump is 1 horse
power in about 160 horse power, all other parts same as aforesaid under the various
circumstances. When eccentrics are used to work the slide valves in self acting
atmospheric stationary engines the arrangement is the same as in the locomotive,
except the arrangement to avoid a dead point, which is different, through the main
axle being at right angles to the pump eccentric shaft. The arrangement consists of
a shaft on bearings, and furnished with a bevelled cog wheel which is worked by a
bevelled cog on the main shaft ; the shaft is furnished with a crank which is attached
to a rod lever at the bottom, and by a crank rod the top end of this rod lever
is attached to a crank on the pump eccentric shaft, as in the locomotive, and other-
wise the arrangement is the same as in the locomotive. On a projection on the slide
valve rod the end of a small rod is attached which terminates in a ring at the rear
end of the pump. In the forward motion of the engine the cross piece on the slide
valve rod is in the socket of one eccentric guide plate.
When the engine is reversed the cross piece is drawn out of the socket, and
its other end coming against the guide plate of the other eccentric draws the slide
valve by the ring till the hole is reached, and the cross piece will enter, and the
reverse is complete.
The above can be used in engines of small or large size, or great or small horse
power, and either direct acting or otherwise. In the direct acting engine the pump
piston rod is attached to a crank on the main shaft by a crank rod, as in the slide
valve cylinders, and the pump eccentrics are placed on the main shaft, as in the
slide valve cylinders. The self reversing eccentric can be used instead of the
aforesaid pair of eccentrics. The slide valve rod is fitted with a tension spring
arranged to cause the slide valve to work easily. but firmly against the face of the
air ports.
The tension spring consists of a frame bolted to a flange cast on the slide valve
plane, and furnished with a plate attached to a short rod and carrying a small
roller furnished with a rubber, band; the rod is passed through a spiral spring and
through a hole in the top of the frame, the spring being between the top of the frame
and the roller plate; the roller acts on the slide valve rod by the means of the spring.
Two tension springs are used for one pump, or more or less; the strength of the
tension spring varies with the strength of the engine. The aforesaid tension.
spring can be used for stationary or locomotive atmospheric engines, and applied
to self acting atmospheric engines, direct acting or otherwise, and to engines of
great or small horse power, and all. the afore-mentioned principles, piece, or parts
to be used and applied as herein specified and in combination with the afore
mentioned elements.
A small hand lever screw compressing double acting slide valve air pump to be.
used for filling the air buffers and stuffing boxes or otherwise used. All the crank
pins of the stationary or locomotive self acting atmospheric engines are self.
tightening lock nutted crank pins; in this arrangement the crank pins are screwed
into the crank to project a little on the other side, which is turned down to less in
diameter and thread the reverse way to the screw; on this projection is screwed a
plate with two or four holes in it, into which two or four small screws are screwed
into the back of the crank which prevents the plate, from unscrewing; by this.

page_text: arrangement the crank pin cannot work loose, as when it looses in the crank it
tightens in the plate, and when it loosens in the plate it tightens in the crank.
The lock nut is a nut with a small hole drilled in it and tapped, into which a
small screw is screwed; by this arrangement the nut cannot unscrew or get loose,
and the nut cannot be removed without first removing the small screw.
All the cranks strong and in proportion in both stationary and locomotive self
acting atmospheric engines.
The cranks of the self acting atmospheric railway locomotive engine driving
wheels are oval and of great strength.
The self acting atmospheric road locomotive is similar to the self-acting atmos-
pheric railway locomotive, except that the wheels are arranged for running on the
road or other places, and the fore wheels are furnished with a turn plate which is
turned by the double acting chain safety steering gear. The self acting atmos-
pheric road locomotive consists of an engine carriage supported on four wheels, and
fitted with a lever screw compressing multa double acting atmospheric slide valve
pump and air chest with parallel reversing gear, arranged as in the atmospheric
railway locomotive with bearings and other parts.
The slide valve cylinders are placed underneath the engine between the fore
and rear wheels; the air chest is placed over the cylinders by the side of the pump.
The cylinders' driving shaft is situated underneath the rear of the engine before the
rear or driving wheels' axle and worked by a pair of slide valve cylinders, and is
fitted with a small cog wheel which acts on a large toothed wheel on the rear
wheels' axles, the small wheel turning several times to one turn of the large wheel;
either one or two such wheels can be used securing one or two different speeds.
The fore part of the engine rests on the turn plate of the fore wheels; the fore
or steering wheels' axle shaft is furnished with a strong projecting block cast on
the top on each side of the turn plate and furnished with a ring. On the fore part
of the engine and close to the end of the turn plate is placed two small flanged
wheels. The double acting chain safety steering gear consists of a shaft carrying
a wheel and a small toothed and flanged wheel placed at the rear of the air chest,
and attached by a chain to a small toothed and flanged wheel on a shaft placed
close to the rear end of the turn plate at the fore end of the engine. The bottom of
this shaft is furnished with a broad small wheel flanged, and is on the same level
as the ring on the block on the fore axle shaft; on the same level at the fore end of
the turn plate another small flanged wheel is placed. A chain is attached to the
ring and wound round the broad flanged wheel at the rear end of the turn plate,
and then carried forward round the small flanged wheel at the fore end of the turn
plate and back to the ring on the shaft. Another chain is fastened to the other
ring and round the broad flanged wheel, and round the other small flanged wheel
at the fore end of the turn plate, and back to the ring.
By this arrangement the steering gear is double acting, the fore wheels can be
turned either one way or the other way without spinning the wheel and without
the chain slacking, therefore insure greater safety, and enable the engine to travel
at a great speed with perfect safety.
The driver's place is situated at the rear of the air chest. The part over the
rear wheels' axle consists of a trunk. By the arrangement of a handle the rear
wheels can be thrown out of gear, and by a separate shaft placed on the trunk and
furnished with a fly wheel and attached to the driving shaft, the shaft which
carries the fly wheel is worked by a wheel on a shaft which is worked by the main
axle cog.
•
By the means of the transfer handle the rear wheels can be thrown out of action
and the fly wheel shaft brought into action, and the engine can then be used
as a stationary engine.
The aforesaid self acting atmospheric road locomotive can be used as a stationary
and locomotive engine.
The self acting atmospheric road locomotive is 13 feet entire length, and 46.
horse power; the power involved in working the pump is one fourth horse power,

page_text: and one third for friction leaves an active power of 30 horses; the guage of the
wheel is 4 feet 8 inches; an ordinary break can be used, or the reversing motion
can be made to act as a brake. All the aforesaid elements constitute the self
acting atmospheric engine used as a locomotive, stationary, and marine engine or
otherwise used and applied.
The expense of working the self acting atmospheric engine is very small, as there
is nothing required to produce the power created by the motion of the engine
without any other agent except the pressure of the atinosphere, which the con-
struction and arrangement of the engine converts into an active power.
The power is generated by the atmosphere through the pump just as steam is
generated in a boiler by the heat applied to it. By the power being generated by
the atmosphere there is no expense and the power is inexhaustible, and require no
coal or fire, water or steam, multitubular or other boilers, tender or fire place, no
stoker, smoke box, or chimney, and also dispenses with a number of fittings,
together with the extra pair of eccentrics used in the steam engine.
The self acting atmospheric engine is perfectly and entirely self acting, creating
its own power without any other agent except the pressure of the atmosphere,
which the construction and arrangement of the engine converts into a substantial
active power which is limited only to the strength of the material, and supplies a
continuous source of power by its action.
The utility of the self acting atmospheric engine will effect a saving of con-
siderably over one hundred and twenty million pounds per annum in the United
Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in fuel, labor, and material.