IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM TRAM CARS
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Hughes, of Leicester, in the County of Leicester,
for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN STEAM TRAM CARS."
Sealed the 13th May 1879, and dated the 20th November 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Hughes at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th November 1878.
HENRY HUGHES, of Leicester, in the County of Leicester.
STEAM TRAM CARS."
"IMPROVEMENTS IN
My Invention relates to improvements in steam tram cars, whereby they are
rendered more convenient for passengers, and the arrangement of the engine and
driving gear is much simplified, and increased facilities are provided for turning
the car round at the end of each journey.
In carrying out my Invention I arrange the engine at the fore end of the car,
and separate it from the passenger compartment by any suitable partitions, this end
of the car being by preference supported on four wheels, whilst the other end may
be carried by two wheels, which may if required be of larger diameter than the
wheels at the fore end. I prefer to employ a single steam cylinder arranged
vertically, the piston of which imparts rotary motion by means of a connecting
rod and crank to an intermediate shaft supported in bearings between the two
axles of the two sets of fore wheels, or in any other convenient position, such
motion being transmitted to the said axles by means of any suitable arrangement
of gearing.
Or I may transmit motion from the engine shaft to the axle or axles by means
of a belt or belts and pulleys, and may use a change pulley or pulleys, so as by

page_text: varying the relative size of the pulleys to obtain increased power in ascending an
incline.
During
In order to enable the car to be turned round when required, as for example at
the end of each journey, I employ at the centre of the car at the underside thereof
a steam ram, consisting of a piston, which works in a cylinder, and of a head,
which under the action of steam is capable of being brough into contact with the
ground, so as to enable the car to be raised bodily and then turned round.
the normal working of the car steam from the boiler is admitted to both sides of
the ram piston, which is made of reduced area at the upper side, so that the
pressure beneath will preponderate over the pressure above and retain the ram
elevated. When however it is required to turn the car the steam is exhausted
from the lower side of the piston, and the steam pressure acting upon the upper
side thereof thus depresses the ram, causing its head to take a bearing upon the
ground and raising the car bodily, when it may be turned round with facility.
The head of the ram may be covered with india rubber or other suitable soft
material, so as to enable it to obtain a level footing.
It is also proposed to employ at each extremity of the car a bearing roller, which
is capable of being lowered on to the ground or raised at will by means of a screw
and lever or otherwise, so as to enable the car when in its elevated position to be
balanced with precision. by lowering one or other or both of the bearing rollers, and
adjusting them as circumstances inay render necessary.