Engineers and Mechanics Encyclopedia 1839: Railways: Frederick Andrews

An arrangement for a locomotive carriage was patented in December 1826, by Frederick Andrews, of Stamford Rivers, in Essex; the peculiarities in which consist, first, in employing a single steering wheel in front of the carriage, the axis of which revolves in two lateral bars of a framing that connects it to the axletree of the fore wheels, and thereby turns the latter with it. To give effect to this steering wheel, the framing is designed to carry luggage, or other sufficiently heavy article. Another arrangement of the inventor's, consisted in employing a pair of engines working upon pivots or trunnions, so that by their vibrations the piston rods might be directly connected to the throws of the crank, and adapt their inclinations to the varied motion of the latter.

The other arrangements will be easiest understood by reference to the annexed cut. a shows a vertical section of a cylindrical boiler; c is the furnace, the heated matters from which pass longitudinally under the boiler, and then return to the front through a central flue 8, before it enters the chimney, not shown. Transversely through the centre of the boiler there is a tubular passage, open at each end, Through which the axis of the wheels g-g passes, sufficient space being made in that tube for the cranked portions f-f of the axis also to pass through.

The piston rods being connected to the throws of the crank, it of course causes them to revolve, and with them the wheels by which the carriage is propelled. The boiler is suspended by stout iron arms to a frame above, which forms a pact of the general frame, and is supported upon springs; the furnace c is suspended to the boiler by straps, the sides of which are lined by a series of horizontal tubes, in connexion with the boiler, which serve the double purpose of intercepting lateral radiation, and of assisting in the generation of vapour. Although some of these arrangements may be without practical advantage, they mark a considerable degree of ingenuity in a gentleman residing in a retired part of the country. It will be observed that it was not until after the sealing of this patent that Mr. Gurney fell upon using his pilot wheels and trunnion engines.

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