An arrangement of the parts of a locomotive engine, possessing considerable novelty, was patented by Mr. Benjamin Hick, of Bolton, in Lancashire, on the 8th of October, 1834. The preceding figure affords a side 'elevation of the machine, with such portion as could not be readily explained otherwise in sec tion ; a is the ash-pit, b the fire-place, opening above into a dome c, of the boiler d d, and surrounded by water; the external figure of the boiler is that of a vertical cylinder; and as the dome c occupies the centre, the water chamber is for the most part of an annular form • this annulus has passing through it vertically, numerous tubes open at each end, for the smoke and heated gases to •pass from the furnace throughout the body of water, into the due e above, and thence into the chimney g. The draft through the furnace is increased, by in troducing the induction steam pipe k, from the engine into the throat of the chimney, where a jet of steam is thrown upwards, in the way now commonly practised. f is the steam chamber, enveloped in the heated gases that ascend from the furnace, which are made to impinge upon it with greater force, by the introduction of a plate of iron shaped like an inverted funnel ; i is the steam pipe, which conveys the steam from the chamber f, into the valve boxes k, worked by a series of levers at I, that are put in motion by bevel gear, and a crank motion partly introduced. It is now to be clearly understood, that there are three steam cylinders vs, but as they are all in a row, only one can be seen in our view ; each of these cylinders is provided with suitable valves, and work ing gear, to admit the steam on the top only of each of the pistons, at the time of the descent of each, and to allow of its escape on their ascent. The bottom of each of the cylinders is open, and the piston rods a, are jointed to the bottoms of the pistons, the latter being steadied in their motions by small lateral rods passing through guide holes. The three piston rods act directly upon a three. throw crank, the equi-diatant positions of which in the circle cause the pistons to continue their reciprocating action, and the crank its rotative motion, with uniformity. Fast and slow motions, and clutch boxes for varying the speed, are provided in the- usual way. In our diagram is shown a pinion o, on the crank axis, driving a wheel on the axis of the running wheels.
The patentee especially claims under his patent, the combination of two or more cylinders, each having its lower end open, so that the steam shall press only upon the upper surfaces of the pistons, and communicate its power to the crank shaft, or running wheels, in a downward direction only : which he eon.
eiders will cause a greater adhesion between the wheels and the rail, and less vibration to the carnage, than when the power is applied to the wheels in an upward and downward, or a forward and backward direction, alternately.
The wheels applied to this locomotive also possess some novelty, and are claimed under the patent right. They may be briefly described to consist of a east-iron nave, duly formed and turned, to receive the edges of discs of plate iron, in lieu of spokes ; the felines or external rings being fixed to the discs by first expanding their circumference by heat, and allowing them afterwards to contract, so as to receive the edges of the discs in grooves turned to receive them. The several parts are afterwards secured by bolts, screws, rivets, and
keys, in a manner too well understood to need description.
Some improvements of considerable originality have been proposed by Mr. Robert Whiteside', a wine merchant, of Air, in Scotland, for which he obtained a patent, dated the 20th of November, 1834. The object of his first improvement is, to obtain a firm connexion between the moving and the moved parts, or between the steam engine, and the axle of the wheels which move the carriage. In order to perform this effectually, the springs usually placed over those wheels are placed in them; and to prevent the twisting force of the machinery from tearing them out, two quadrangular framing' are attached to the wheels, which will be explained with reference to the cut on the following page. c, d, is the outer circumference of the wheel, formed of iron : the spokes are riveted, or otherwise fastened, to the tire at one end, and at the other, either riveted to a flat ring, or screwed to one which is thickened in parts to receive the screw. The central space of this ring varies according to the play intended to be allowed to the springs; in the present instance, it is eight inches diameter. The points, a, b, c, d, are equidistant from each other. Between • and a, and k and d, are placed two rods, which must be firmly attached to the rim of the wheel at both ends, and parallel to each other. On these rods traverses a quadrangular iron framing, e, f, g, h, by means of rings which embrace the rode. On this framing, e, f, g, h, slides another frame, of the same nature, in a direction at right angles to that of the first, but instead of the rings, as in the first, being attached to rods, and the cross bars i and j, they are affixed to a plate of iron, in the centre of which is a hole, to allow of an axle-box passing through. The box is bolted to the afore said plate (by means of a flanch, cast along with it), and passes through the hole or opening in the centre of the wheel, so that one end of the springs may be fastened to it, and the other end to the circumference of the wheel. • The whole wheel may then be covered over on each side, with a thin iron plate, to preserve the frames, &c. from the wet and dust, taking care, at the same time, to allow in the inside plate, a hole of sufficient size (say eight inches diameter) for the axle to play : this hole may be covered over with a piece of water-proof cloth, connected water-tight, on one part to the axle, and on the other to the inside covering-plate. The patentee observes, that springs have been before placed in, or adapted to, wheels; but he confines his claim to the application of the two quadrangular frames, as above described, for preventing the strain of the power applied to propel the same coming on to the springs. Another im provement included under this patent, relates to a method of reducing the friction of rotary engines, by placing the lubricating fluid in one or more reservoirs, under a pressure a little superior to the force of the steam, which presses upon the piston, for the purpose of forcing it into every crevice, and between all the moving parts of the engine, where there is a liability of leakage of steam, so as to prevent both the loss of steam when these pans wear, and the reduction of friction to its minimum. The arrangements for this pur pose we have not space to describe.