GB478168A - Improvements in or relating to steam driven locomotives - Google Patents

Abstract

478,168. Steam locomotives. SUPERHEATER CO., Ltd. April 28, 1937, Nos. 12101. and 12102. Convention dates, April 28, 1936 and Aug. 11, 1936. [Class 79 (i)] A locomotive is provided with a plurality of independent driving units each comprising a pair of driving wheels 1, a pair of cylinders 4 with their axes inclined to the horizontal, and a crankshaft 3 arranged at substantially the same level as the driving-wheel axle and coupled thereto by cranks and coupling rods 10, each crankshaft having double crankpins subtending an angle equal to the angle which the cylinders make with the horizontal, and one pin of each double crank being connected by a rod 8 to the engine crosshead while the other pin is connected by rod 10 to the driving wheel. Each crankshaft 3 may be in front of its driving wheel as shown in Fig. 1, or it may be behind the wheel. In the construction shown the cylinders 4 are connected by pipes 7, 11 to main steam and exhaust pipes 5, 9. Each cylinder is bolted at 25 to a cradle 24 forming part of a cross member 16 having four lugs 20 bolted at 22 to the locomotive frame and forming a bracing member for the frame. The crosshead guide 40, Fig. 6, is bolted to a bracket 26 either formed on the cylinder bearer 16 for the next axle, as shown in Fig. 3, or separately secured to the frame. The crankshaft 3 rotates in bearings 34 in a casting 30 bolted to the frame and is provided at each end with two crankpins 38, 36 arranged at an angle, the outer pins 36 being engaged by the connecting rods 8, and the inner pins 38 being connected by rods 10 to the driving-wheel cranks. Each pair of driving wheels may be fixed on their common axle or they may be independently mounted. The cylinders, crankshaft and driving wheels of each unit may be readily removed for repair or renewal.