IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAMWAY CARRIAGES WHEN PROPELLED BY STEAM OR OTHER MOTIVE POWER
Year: 1874

page_text: ETTERS PATENT to David Greig and Robert Burton, both of the
Steam Plough Works, Leeds, in the County of York, for the Inven-
tion of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAMWAY CARRIAGES WHEN PROPELLED BY
STEAM OR OTHER MOTIVE POWER."
Sealed the 23rd October 1874, and dated the 9th May 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Greig and
Robert Burton at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with
their Petition, on the 9th May 1874.
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We, DAVID GREIG and ROBERT BURTON, both of the Steam Plough
Works, Leeds, in the County of York, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRAMWAY CARRIAGES WHEN PRO-
PELLED BY STEAM OR OTHER MOTIVE POWER," to be as follows:―
In the propulsion of tramway carriages by steam or other motive
power it is found, as with locomotives on railways, that the adhesion of
the driving wheels to the rails when ascending inclines is not sufficient
to propel the carriage forward, and our improvement consists in the

page_text: application of an auxiliary or helping wheel or wheels to be brought
into contact with the road at the discretion of the attendant; this wheel
or wheels which are in connection with the driving shaft or prime mover
are brought into contact with the road by a lever or screw or any other
suitable means to make it bear a part of the weight of the carriage, and
thus secure a greater grip on the road.
The auxiliary wheels may have india-rubber or other flexible or elastic
tyres or surfaces, by which with but light pressure they will have great
adhesion.
We construct such tramway carriages with locking gear in order that
if a, carriage runs off the rails it may be got on again with greater
facility, and in some cases we construct such tramway carriages with
differential gear attached to the driving wheels in order that when
turning curves both wheels may have their full driving power instead of
one wheel skidding on the rails which is the result when both wheels
are rigidly secured to the axle.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said David Greig and Robert Burton in the Great
Seal Patent Office on the 9th November 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, we, DAVID
GREIG and ROBERT BURTON, both of the Steam Plough Works, Leeds,
in the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Ninth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand éight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-
seventh year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said David Greig and Robert Burton,
Her special license that we, the said David Greig and Robert Burton,
our executors, administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the
said David Greig and Robert Burton, our executors, administrators, and
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,

page_text: and Isle of Man, an Invention for "IMPROVEments in TramwAY CARRIAGES
WHEN PROPELLED BY STEAM OR OTHER MOTIVE POWER," upon the condition
(amongst others) that we, the said David Greig and Robert Burton,
executors or administrators, by an instrument in writing under our or
their hands and seals, or under the hand and seal of one of us or them,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said Inven-
tion, 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 David Greig, on behalf of myself
and the said Robert Burton, 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
thereof, that is to say
-
In the propulsion of tramway carriages by steam or other motive
power it is found, as with locomotives on railways, that the adhesion of
the driving wheels to the rails when ascending inclines is not sufficient
to propel the carriage forward, and our improvement consists in the
application of an auxiliary or helping wheel or wheels to be brought into
contact with the road at the discretion of the attendant; this wheel or
wheels which are in connection with the driving shaft or prime mover
are brought into contact with the road by a lever or screw or any other
suitable means to make it bear a part of the weight of the carriage and
thus secure a greater grip on the road.
The auxiliary wheels may have india-rubber or other flexible or elastic
tums on sunfroes hy which with hut light pressure they will have creat

page_text: The letters in each view refer to the same parts. A is an ordinary
tramway car; B, B, are the ordinary wheels which run on the rails; C is
the auxiliary or helping wheel which is covered on its face with an
india-rubber or other flexible tyre. This wheel C is mounted loose on
the axle D and is driven by pitch chains, as shewn, or by any other
suitable arrangement of gearing. The axle D is mounted at each end
in eccentric bearings, the axle ends having eccentrics keyed fast at each
end in line with each other; one of these eccentrics has cast upon it a
worm wheel E into which a screw F is geared, this screw is keyed on the
shaft G; this shaft G is caused to revolve by turning the hand wheels H, H,
one being placed at each end of the car. These hand wheels, screw, and
worm wheel attached to the eccentric on the end of the shaft D are
provided so that the conductor or driver may by turning the hand wheels H
in either direction cause the shaft D to turn round in its bearings, and
by this means the auxiliary wheel C may be brought into contact with
the road and thus secure a greater amount of adhesion.
We claim the construction of tramway carriages propelled by steam
or other motive power with auxillary or helping wheels, substantially as
described.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Greig, have hereunto set
my hand and seal, this Fourth day of November, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four.
DAVID GREIG. (L.S.)