US130875A - Improvement in - Google Patents

Description

' l 2Sheets--Sheet1- S. SKILLMAN.

Improvement in Locomotive-Engines.

NO 130,875 Patented Aug. 27, 1872.

2Sheets.-Sheet2. S. SK l L LM AN.

Improvement in Locomotive-Engines. No'. 130,875, Patented Aug. 27, 1872.

Uivrrnn STATES SIDNEY SKILLMAN, OF JERSEY CITY, ASSIGNOR TO IIIMSELF AND H. B. DUNHAM, OF NEWARK, NEV JERSEY.

IMPROVEMENT IN LCCGMQTWE-ENGHJES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. h, dated August 27, 1872.

v lBe it known that I, SIDNEY SKILLMAN, oi Jersey City, in the county of Hudson and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Locomotive-Engines, of which the following is a specification:

Some parts of my invention are applicable only to that class of engines known as dummies. I will describe it as so applied. It is important that the work be as compactly put together as may be, and, at .the same time, allow convenient access to all the parts for cleaning, oiling, and repairs. My invention provides for this by a novel arrangement of the parts, in which one of the chief features is the placing of the guides or slides in or over the space between the drivin g-wheels. I make thehouse or protecting` covering over the whole structure easily removable, and I provide very simply and eiciently for facilitating the turning of the structure or short curves, and the distribution of the weight on a long wheelbase.

The following is a description of what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

The accompanying drawing forms a part of this specification.

Figure lis a general side elevation. Fig. 2 is a plan view of a portion. Fig. 3 is a plan view of another portion, the latter being the lower portion at the front or right hand; and

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section through the cylinder on the left or further side of the machine, the cylinder and connections on this side being the same, but in the reversed position.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the iigures.

The drawing represents the novel parts with much of the ordinary parts. A is the fixed frame-work of the machine, and to simplify the description I will letter, as a part of the framework, the boiler and some of the other ordinary fixed parts. I support the boiler and stii'en the frame-work at the sametime byinclined braces, which make the boiler really a portion ofthe frame-work. There is nothing novel in the construction or use of the boiler, or in the transporting and introduction of the water, or in the manufacture of the steam. The cylinder is of about double the ordinary length, with a partition in the middle, which makes it, in

effect, two cylinders placed end to end. There are two pistons, one for each part, and the piston-rods therefrom pass out through stuifing-boxes in the opposite ends of the duplex cylinder thus produced. They are connected by aframe outside', so that they are compelled to act together and transmit their force to the mechanism through a single connecting-rod. The two ends of the cylinder aremarked, respectively, B1 and B2. The corresponding pistons are marked C? C2, and the piston-rods c1 c2. The frame which connects them is rectangular, and is denoted by D. There aie two complete sets of parts, and two slide-valves marked, respectively, E1 E2. They are connected together, so that they are both moved by a single valve-stem, e, and are so arranged that both may work with their full f'orce when required, or each may work with steam acting only on one side of its piston, so as to economize steam on levels or on descending grades. The entire house over the works is removable by taking out a series of bolts which connect its lower edge iirmly to the frame-work A around the exterior of the mechanism. M is the house; and m m are the bolts passing' through an angle-iron border, as shown by M. The iiooring comes just inside, as shown by A1, and serves to sustain the base of M laterally. To remove the house the bolts m are loosened and removed, and then the cab or house may be lifted by any suitable tackle and the structure run out from under it. Assumin g the structure to be moving toward the right, the forward pair of driving-wheels is marked H and the rear pair G. They are connected by side rods, but there is no equalizing-lever between them. The power of the engine is applied directly to the rear drivers, and thence transmitted in part to the forward drivers. I attach much importance to the construction and arrangement of the connections.A The piston-rod c1 extends backward past the front drivers and is fixed to a cross-head, F, which traverses in stout guides L mounted above the space between the drivers G and H. The connecting-rod is marked O. I have shown the long duplex cylinder in an inclined position; but this is not essential. It is only of prime importance that the cylinder shall be forward of or beyond the drivers, and that the will warrant the expenditure.

Q y remar/5 piston-rod shall be sufciently long and stiff to reach past the drivers, and that the crosshead F shall work in the space between the drivers or above such space, so as to allow the connecting-rod to be of proper length, provide a proper space for the reciprocation of the cross-head, and allow the drivers to be placed at a moderate distance apart with little inclination of the cylinder. The entire arrangement, as shown, makes a remarkably compact structure, while any desired amount of room is provided for the extraordinary cylinders. N in dicates a pair ofsupportingwheels, smaller than the drivers, and aiding to support the weight of the front of the machine, which, by the'peculiar features employed, involves necessarily a considerable weight. P is an equalizinglever, and Q is a niassive spring. The same construction being adopted on each side, with or without equalizing across at one end, and a liberal provision being made for a lateral movement of the truck-frame a, which carries the bearings of the wheels N, the frame and its contents turn on the central pivot a which connects it to the frame A in the rear of the wheels N, and thus adapt the wheels to any ordinary curves. I can, if desired, provide means like those described in the patent to Levi Bissell, dated August 4L, 1857, for causing the trucks to lift the frame A and its load as it moves to one side or the other 5 but I do not consider such a provision important. I propose to put such a twowheeled truck, as N n, at each end instead of one end of the dummy, when the advantage In such case I shall equalize from the drivers Gr to the truck on the left, but shall not of course attempt to equalize across, except at one end. My dummy is adapted to run in either direction, and may have all the modern or any suitable attachments for performing the other functions not involved in this invention.

Some of the advantages due to certain features ofthe invention may be separately enumerated as follows: First, by reason of the fact that the guides L are within or over the space between the drivers Gr and H and the cylinder nearly horizontal in front, I am able to place the drivers in their proper positions with ordinary or any other cylinders, and to connect side rods with the piston-rod close to the drivers, which cannot be done by any ordinary arrangement. This arrangement also provides better for the pump Which may be bolted directly to the frame, as shown. Second, by reason of the provisions M m for removing the house, I can repair and replace parts with greater facility. Third, by reason of the truck-wheels N and truck-frame n, pivoted to the frame A at the point a, with provisions for lateral movement and for equalizin g between this truck and the drivers H, as shown, I am able to efficiently support the front end of the structure, including the long cylinders B1 B2 and their connected works, while allowing the wheel-base to accommodate itself to curves.

I claim as my inventionl. rlille arrangement of the cross-heads F to work between the drivers G H, and to serve relatively to the piston and cylinder and to the side rods, as herein specified.

2. The removable house M fitting upon and confined to the frame A, by the bolts m, as specified.

3. The combination, with drivers G H and duplex cylinders B1 B2 and their connections, as shown, of truck-wheels N and frame a, pivoted at a, and the equalizingmeans P, all arranged for joint operation to form a compact and flexible dummy, as specified.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my name in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SIDNEY SKILLMAN.

Witnesses:

THOMAS D. S'rn'rsoiv, ARNOLD HOERMANN.

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