US2592733A - Railway locomotive structure - Google Patents

Description

8 Sheets-Sheet 1 mm 0C a QC m R A i o N o Q m g "on J. 0 "on 03 on Q mo m I :T; i i r- I m/ 6 1 .3 %M\ M ATTORNEY April 1952 H. M. PFLAGER RAILWAY LQCOMOTIVE STRUCTURE Filed July 25, 1945 April 15, 1952 PFLAGER 2,592,733

RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE STRUCTURE Filed July 25, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR- HARRY M. PFLAGER ATTORNEY April 15, 1952 H. M. PFLAGER 2,592,733

RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE STRUCTURE Filed July 25, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. HARRY M. PFLAGER QM @MA AT TOR NEY April 15, 1952 H. M. PFLAGER RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE STRUCTURE Filed July 25, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 R E :G m mF P Wu. M Y R R A H FIG] ATTO R NEY April 1952 H. M. PFLAGER RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE STRUCTURE Filed July 25, 1945 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG. IO

JNVENTOR. HARRY M. PF LAGER Q ATTORNEY April 15, 1952 H. M. PFLAGER RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE STRUCTURE 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed July 25. 1945 II IlklLll j P h JTi IITII l I l I I! ll 3 Q INVENTOR. HARRY [VLPFLAGER an M ATTORNEY .April 15, 1952 H. M. PFLAGER 2,592,733

RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE STRUCTURE Filed July 25, 1945 a Sheets-Sheet v "'4: 92 a I lI/L:

FIG. I8. I i l I INVENTORZ g4 HARRY M. PFLAGER 9.5

BYQW W ATTORNEY A ril 15, 1952 H. M. PFLAGER RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE STRUCTURE 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed July 25, 1945 FIG. I9.

V/Xififi I:

INVENTOR- HARRY M. PFLAGER FIG. 20.

ATTORNEY Patented Apr. 15, 1952 2,592,733 RAILWAY LOCOMOTIVE STRUCTURE Harry M. Pilager, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to General Steel Castings Corporation, Granite City, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application July 25, 1945, Serial No. 606,993

The invention relates to railway rolling stock and more particularly to locomotive structure in which one or more steam turbines are operatively connected to the running gear.

In the usual steam locomotive, the driving wheels have the power transmitted to them by means of reciprocating pistons and main connecting rods and side rods, thus requiring that inside journals be used and that the wheels be counterbalanced to take care'of the revolving weights on the crank pins and the forces due to reciprocation of the piston, piston rod, and the connecting. main crank and side rods; which construction is heavy and difiicult to maintain in service."

Heretofore, locomotives have been designed with-power units for one or more wheel and axle units, such as steam turbines, engines with reciprocating pistons, or electric motors, and in other cases locomotives have been designed with steam turbines to operate a jack shaft having a crank and with main rod connections between the crank on the jack shaft and cranks on each driving wheel. Locomotives have also been designed with the turbine mounted on the underframe and the drive shaft extending from the turbine and journalled. on the journal boxes with a drive gear placed on the axle. This latter arrangement has the advantage of not producing any unbalanced revolving forces on the driving wheels which must be counterbalanced, as is the case of driving wheels with cranks. Such an arrangement,;however, calls for a great amount of unsprung weight on each axle.

The main object of this invention is to provide a turbine locomotive that has a substantially rigid frame on which are mounted the turbine and the mechanism connecting same to the running gear of the locomotive, so that the turbine and the drive mechanism which transmits power from the turbine to the running gear will be securely maintained in their normal operating positions at all times, and to drive each driving wheel separately so as to maintain a uniform driving torque on all axles regardless of irregularities in the track, and

also to carry all these parts on the spring borne underframe.

Another object is to simplify the locomotive underframe structure and to provide the same with the necessary elements for mounting the running gear and turbine drive.

Another object is to connect the turbine drive to each of a plurality of wheel and axle assemblies substantially independently of the other wheel and axle assemblies.

Another object is to combine the turbine and boiler support structure to protect the turbine so as to maintain a more uniform operating temperature. i

These and other objects are attained by the structure illustrated in the accompanying drawings, inwhich l 14 Claims. (Cl. 105-38) Figure 1 is a side view of a railway locomotive bed or underframe mounted upon a four-wheel forward truck, eight driver wheel and axle assemblies and a steam boiler, turbines, and operating mechanisms connecting the turbines and the driver wheel and axle assemblies.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the forward portion ofthe locomotive shown in Figure 1 drawn to an enlarged scale and better illustrating details of the construction.

Figure 3 is a top view of one longitudinal half of the portion of the locomotive indicated in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a vertical transverse section, the left hand side of the figure comprising a section taken on the line 44 of Figure 2 and the right hand side of the figure comprising a section through the opposite half of the locomotive taken on the line 4a -4a of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line 55 of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of a detail of another iorm of the invention in which the turbines are mounted within the boiler support.

Figure 7 is a vertical transverse section through the structure shown in Figure 6 and is taken on the line 1-1. of Figure 8. V

Figure 8. is a top view and horizontal section taken on the line 88 of Figure 7.

t Figure 9 corresponds to Figure 6 but illustrates another form of the invention in which turbine frames or housings are combined with the boiler support.

Figure 10 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line lill0 of Figure 9.

Figure 11 is 'a side elevation of the forward portion of a structure embodying another form of the invention in which the turbine is positioned forwardly of the boiler support.

Figure 12 is a side elevation of the forward portion of a structure embodying another form of the invention in which a single turbine is mounted within the boiler support and is operatively connected to laterally spaced operating drive shafts each connected to the drivers at one side of the locomotive.

Figure 13 is a top view of astructure shown in Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a vertical transverse section taken on the line I4-l4 of Figure 12.

Figure 15 is a side elevation of the forward portion of a structure embodying another form of the invention in which the drive shafts and turbines are positioned outwardly of the driving Wheels.

Figure 16 is a top view of one longitudinal half of the structure shown in Figure 15.

Figures 17 and 18 are vertical transverse sections taken on the corresponding lines of Figure V Figure 19 is a top view of the forward portion of a structure embodying another form of the locomotive embodying a plurality of turbines are ranged in series longitudinally of the locomotive and each connected to a corresponding group of driving wheels.

Figure 22 is a similar elevation illustrating another arrangement in which a single turbine is connected to all of the driving wheels at one side of the locomotive but is positioned between two of the drivers at the same side of the locomotive.

All forms of the invention embody the common feature of a locomotive bed or underframe adapted to be mounted upon a series of Wheel and axle assemblies and adapted to support a steam turbine operatively connected to the wheel and 1 axleassernblies. Preferably the parts of the underframe which position the axle boxes and mount the turbine and support the boiler and, carry the drive shaft comprise an integral structure of cast and sidemembers consisting of hollow sections,

as best shown at 3 in Figure 5, and at the forward portion of the-locomotive these side members merge with the central member, as indicated at 3a in Figure 4. Transverse hollow connections 4 (Figure 3) are spaced apart longitudinally of the locomotive and unite members 2 and 3 and accommodate the upper portions of the driving wheels 5 which are mounted upon axles 6 provided with outside bearings and journal boxes I,

which are slidably received in pedestals 8 depending from member 3. Springs 9 yieldingly support the underframe on boxes I through a series of hangers iii and equalizers H, as are well known posed side by side and here shown as having legs i8 resting directly upon the central box section member 2 and legs !9 resting on brackets 20 projecting outwardly from the inwardly offset end portions 3a of side member 3.

Integral with central member '2 are upstanding parts 26 supporting a drive shaft 22 extending lengthwise of the locomotive and fitted with a plurality of worms 23 each associated with a worm wheel '24 forming part of a quill drive for a respective wheel and axle assembly. Forwardly "and rearwardly facing elements on parts 2| oppose cooperating elements on the shaft'and resist its tendency to move axially because of the thrust of the worms against the worm wheels. Each quill drive further comprises a. sleeve 25 surrounding the associated axle d and projections 26 extending laterally from wheel 24 and fitted with thrust elements 21 received in suitable openings in the corresponding driving wheel 5. Sleeve 25 is journalled in a bearing 28 integral with and a 4 depending from underframe member [2 and providedwitha detachable cap 28a. When caps 28a and pedestal tie'bars 8a. are removed, the wheel and axle assemblies, including sleeves 25 for worm wheels 24, may be dropped from the underframe. Couplings 29 connect turbines I! to drive shaft 22 and connect the successive sections of the drive shaft to each other. A steam supply pipe 30 extends from boiler It to each turbine l1. Exhaust passages 31, 32 lead from the turbines through boiler support [4, IE to the smoke box portion of the boiler. Preferably, the portions 32 of the exhaust passages are formed integral with boiler support webs I4, l5 and merge with each other, as best shown in Figure 4.

With this'arrangement, the cast underframe holds the turbines, drive shafts and their gearing, quill driving mechanisms and the wheel and axle assemblies in desired relation to each other. The efficiency of a steam turbine may be utilized to advantage andv the difficulties usually associated with the reciprocating piston type of locojmotives, including counterbalancing and 'cross balancing. of the drivers, is avoided. Outside bearings for the drivingiwheels may be used, thus providing greater stability and rendering the. axle boxes, springs and associated parts more accessible. The narrowing of the underframe at the forward portion over the front truck and the rel atively high positioning of the turbines permit the use of a four-wheel engine truck with outside journal bearings, which isdiflicult or impossible toinstall with the usual reciprocatingtype of steam cylinders positioned at the sidesof the 10- comotive and at the level of the driver axles.

Different embodiments of the principal features referred to above are shown in the other drawings. In that form of the invention shown in Figures 6-8 the underframe includeshollow longitudinal members 40 corresponding to those previously described and upright walls 4| extending longitudinally of the underframe and upright walls 42" extending transversely of the underframe and an arcuate web 43 forming a support for mounting the said end of the boiler 44. Upright walls 4| and 42 are spaced to enclose the turbines 45 and exhaust passages 46 integral with web 43 lead from the turbines to the smoke box exhaust stack 41. The turbines are operatively connected to the drive wheels (not shown) by shafts 48 corresponding to the drive shafts previously described.

Transverse Walls 43 of the boiler support are provided with openings to accommodate the application and removal of the turbines and these openings may be closed by removable cover plates 49 if so desired The boiler support is reinforced by ribs 4la integral with walls 4| and extending downwardly and beyond the mounting for the turbines and merge with the lower portions of underframe sections 40.

Figures 9 and 10 illustrate another form of the invention in which the frames of'the turbines are formed integral with the walls 61 and 62 of the boiler support and with the exhaust passages 63 and all these parts preferably are cast with the main longitudinal hollow members 64 of the underframe.

Figure 11 illustrates another form of the invention in which the turbine 10 is placed forwardly of the boiler support H and the turbine shaft 12 extends from the turbine along side the boiler support, where it enters a transmission or clutch box i3 arranged to deliver power from I shaft 12 to a driver operating shaft 14. The

underframe longitudinal members include pads I5 and I1 for mounting the turbines and the clutch boxes and the boiler support walls II include integral exhaust passages I8.

In the form of the invention shown in Figures 12-14, a single turbine 80, larger than those previously described, is mounted centrally of the underframe 8| and is enclosed by the boiler support upright walls 82 integral with the underframe and having detachable side walls 83 providing for the application and removal of the turbine laterally of the underframe. The single turbine shaft 80 leads into a centrally positioned transmission mechanism 85 positioned at the rear of the boiler support and provided with gearing to laterally spaced drive shafts 86 mounted on the underframe and operatively connected to the drive wheels.

In all of the above described structures the drive shafts are positioned inwardly of the wheels. Figures 15-18 illustrate another form of the in vention in which the drive shafts are positioned outwardly of the wheels. In this structure the underframe 90 includes a center hollow portion, as previously described, and hollow wheel pieces 9| at the inner sides of the wheels and another hollow side member 92 positioned outwardly of the wheels and provided with depending parts 93, for journalling stub shafts 94, which mount worm wheels 95 operatively engaging the drivers 95. Parts 91 extend upwardly from side mem ber 92 and form bearings for the drive shaft 98 and end thrust bearings for the worms 99.

The turbines I00 are supported upon brackets IOI formed integral with the underframe, similar to the brackets shown in Figure 4, but extending laterally of the underframe a greater distance to accommodate the wider spacing of the turbines.

,Figures 19 and illustrate another form of the invention in which all'of the assemblies of driving axles H0 and their wheels III are actuated by a single turbine H2 and drive shaft I I3. The turbine H2, its transmission H4 and, the drive shaft H3 are positioned at one side of the longitudinal center line of the locomotive and the worm wheels H5 associated with thedrive shaft worms I are nearer to the driving wheels I I I at one side of the locomotive than the driving wheels at the opposite side of the locomotive. Each worm wheel is part of a quill drive structure, including a sleeve I I6 journalled in a bearing I 11 formed integral with the central portion H8 of the underframe and supplemented by a removable cap H9. Each quill drive also includes a disk I20 fixed to the corresponding axle H0 and adapted to be engaged by projections I2I on the corresponding worm wheel I I5.

With this arrangement and the corresponding narrowing of the drive mechanism, the driving axles maybe provided with inside journal bearings I22, thus distinguishing this structure from those previously described. This makes possible the use of a narrower underframe and the side members I23 are shown as of channel section instead of box section as in the structures previously described.

Figure 21 illustrates another form of the invention in which a plurality of turbines I and I3I are arranged in series longitudinally of the locomotive, each being connected to an individual group of drivers I32 and I33 respectively. A steam supplyline I34 leads from the boiler I35 to the turbines and an exhaust passage I36 leads from the turbines to the smokebox (not shown). In

this arrangement, the turbine I30 is spaced substantially from the front end of the locomotive and corresponding boiler support, the drive shaft I31 associated with each turbine is substantially shorter than in the arrangement previously described, and the individual turbines are smaller than where a single turbine is provided for all of the driving wheels at each side of the locomotive or for all of the driving wheel and axle assemblies. The underframe I38 includes integral portions I39 for mounting the turbines, and portions I40 for journalling the drive shafts and resisting the thrust of the drive shaft worms I4I.. Preferably the underframe will include a boiler support (not shown) corresponding to those previously described.

Figure 22 illustrates another arrangement in which a single turbine I50 is provided for all the drive wheels l5| at one side of the locomotive but is positioned substantially rearwardly from the front end of the locomotive and betwen two of the driving wheels to which it is connected. With this arrangement, drive shafts I52 and I53 extend in opposite directions from the turbine. In other respects, the structure corresponds to the left hand turbine arrangement shown in Figure 21.

All of the structures described above embody one or more of the general objects set forth in the introductory portion of the specification, and it is to be understood that these detailed structures are illustrative only and that the arrangements may be varied other than as shown and described. The exclusive use of thosemodifications of the invention coming within the scope of the claims is contemplated.

What is claimed is:

1. In a railway locomotive, an underframe with fixed pedestals, a series of wheeled axles having journal boxes at the outer sides of the wheels and slidable vertically in said pedestals, a spring structure supporting said underframe from said wheels, a drive for each wheeled axle including a worm wheel journalled in said underframe and having a vertically flexible operative engagement with the adjacent wheeled axle mounted on the underframe, and means for driving said worm wheels comprising a turbine with drive shaft mounted on the underframe with worm connection to said worm wheels.

2. In a railway locomotive underframe con structed and arranged to be mounted on a series of driving wheel and axle assemb1ies,side members extending longitudinally of the underframe over all of said assemblies and provided with depending pedestals each adapted to receive and mount one end of one assembly, a structure for supporting the underframe load extending longitudinally of the underframe intermediate and spaced from said side members, and transverse members merging with said structure and side members, parts of the underframe being aligned with each pedestal transversely. of the underframe for mounting a drive shaft extending lengthwise of the underframe for operative connection with a plurality of the assemblies.

3. A railway locomotive underframe as described in claim 2, which includes elements associated with the drive shaft mountings and adapted to resist axial thrust of a drive shaft supported on said mountings.

4. A railway locomotive underframe as described in claim 2 in which the intermediate load supporting structure includes mountings for quill driving devices aligned with the transversely of the underframe.

5. In a railway locomotive underframe constructed and arranged to be mounted, at least in part, on a plurality of driving wheel and axle assemblies, a series of elements along the underframe for supporting a' steam boiler, a support near one end of said series of boiler support ele-. mentsfor supporting a fire box, a part near the other end of said series of boiler support elements for supporting a steam engine, parts alongside'said series of boiler support elements for mounting a drive shaft extending from-said steam engine transversely of the axles of said assempedestals blies, and parts alongside said. series of boiler 6. A railway locomotive main frame including rigid parallel spaced members extending longitudinally of the frame, pedestals depending from one of said members for slidably receiving driving wheel and axle assemblies movable vertically relative to the underframe, drive shaft mountings on-the other of said members, above the level of the tops of said pedestals and spaced longitudinally of the underframe, mountings on the latter of said members below the level of the tops of said pedestals for mechanisms. oper-atively connecting said assemblies to the drive shaft, and a. mounting on the frame in substantial alignment with said drive shaft mountings for a shaft-operating engine, said members, pedestals and mountings forming integral parts of said underframe.

7. In a railway locomotive, a plurality of driving wheels, axles therefor, axle bearing boxes mounted on said axles, springs onsaid boxes and a locomotive rigid main frame carried on said springs,'a driving shaft extending transversely of said 'axles and positioned inwardly of the locomotive from said wheels and journaled in aligned relatively fixed mountings on said frame adjacent all of said axles, and a flexible driving connection directly made between said shaft and each of said drivingwheels independently of the wheel axle and accommodating relative vertical movement of the drive shaft andthe driving wheels. 7

8. Ina railway locomotive frame, a main load carrying member extending throughout a major portion of the length of the frame, a relatively short member extending longitudinally of the frame and spaced outwardly from said main member, one of said members being provided with a plurality of spaced axle, box receiving pedestals, andthe other of said members being provided with drive shaft bearings inwardly of the frame from said pedestals at one side of the frame and aligned longitudinally of the locomotive and adjacent each of said pedestals.

9. A railway locomotive frame as described in claim 8 in which the member provided with drive shaft bearings also is provided with a drive shaft engine mounting.

10. In a railway locomotive, a plurality of driving wheel and axle assemblies, springs thereon, an underframe mounted on said springs and comprising side memberswith depending pedestals associated with said assemblies, 2. loadsupporting portion of the underframe extending longitudinally thereof intermediate and spaced from said side members, and transverse frame members merging with said portion and side members, parts of the underframe being aligned transversely of the underframe with each pedestal, a drive shaft extending lengthwise of the locomotive and journaled on the underframe, and individual connections between said drive shaft and said assemblies. I

11. In a railway locomotive u'nderframe, pedestals constructed to slidably mountwheel and axle assemblies, structure forming an upwardly facing boiler support spaced longitudinally of the underframe from said pedestals and forming axle assemblies, a rigid boilersupport spaced from said pedestals, rigid brackets extending out wardly of the underframe abreast of said boiler support and forming an engine mounting alongside of said support, rigid bearings for a drive shaft spaced apart longitudinally of the underframe adjacent to said pedestals and tosaid engine mounting, and rigid mountings adjacent said bearings for operating mechanisms 'connecting the assemblies and the shaft.

14. In a railway locomotive, an underframe with fixed pedestals, a series of wheeled axles having journal boxes at the outer sides of the wheels and slidable vertically in said pedestals. spring structure supporting said underframe from said wheels, a drive for each wheeled axle including a worm wheel journalled in said under-- REFERENCES CITED I The following references are of record 'in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 364,881 Wood June 14, 1887 1,444,952 Cowin Feb, 13, 1923 1,534,275 Leathers Apr. 21, 1925 1,582,698 Siegfried Apr, 27, 1926 1,757,242 Fraser May 6, 1930 1,850,290 Schneider Mar. 22, 1932 1,883,357 Fageol Oct. 18, 1932 2,024,688 Gray Dec. 17, 1935 2,070,895 Gray Feb. 16, 1937 2,272,679 Ostermann Feb. 10,- 1942 2,527,281 Varcoe Oct. 24;,1950

FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 771,074 France July 16, 1934 76,762 Switzerland May -1, 1918

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