LOCOMOTIVE ENGINE. 463 



so as to pull without side strain when the height is altered from the use of another 

 tender or other cause. The draw links W W are left free to move in any direction, 

 in order to allow for the play of the springs of the engine and tender, and the oblique 

 direction of the pulling round a curve ; when they are disconnected from the tender 

 they can also drop down upon the edge of the plate b". The draw-pin V is re- 

 quired to be strong to resist the great strain to which it is subjected ; it is most 

 strained when running down a considerable inclination, as the engine is not then 

 constantly pulling, but the train often pushes against it, and a continued succession of 

 violent jerks on the pin are produced in opposite directions ; instances have occurred 

 of the draw-pin breaking under these circumstances in engines where it was not 

 made strong enough for its length. 



Splashers, d" d", are fixed over each of the wheels to catch the dirt thrown up by 

 them ; those for the middle wheels are of brass and are ornamented, the others of 

 sheet iron, and they are fixed by small stays on to the boiler and the outside 

 frame. 



INSIDE FRAMES. Four wrought iron frames, Y' Y', (Plates XC. and XCI.,) are 

 fixed between the smoke-box and fire-box ; to afford additional strength to the engine 

 by securing firmly the back plate of the smoke-box, in which the cylinders are fixed, 

 and which has to bear the whole strain of the working of the engine. These inside 

 frames have also bearings in them for the cranked axle, and hold it steadily against 

 the action of the connecting rods, by which it is strained alternately in opposite 

 directions. The frames Y' Y' are 3^ inches deep, and three quarters of an inch 

 thick ; they are attached to the smoke-box and fire-box by means of T shaped pieces 

 of iron, which are riveted on to their inner and side plates, and are bolted to the 

 ends of the frames ; the two middle frames are made to approach each other, and are 

 welded together at the back end, so that there are only three bearings on the cranked 

 axle. On to the four frames are fixed the piston rod guides, A' A', by means of 

 pieces of angle iron, as before explained. The frames have to be inclined upwards 

 towards the fire-box, in order to pass above the cranked axle. 



The construction of the inside bearings of the cranked axle is shown in figs. 41, 

 42, 43, and 44, to double the scale, or 1-| inch to the foot. Figs. 41 and 42 are 

 side and end elevations ; fig. 43 is a horizontal section through the centre of the 

 bearing ; and fig. 44, a plan of the top. The frame, A A, is increased at the bearing 

 to 2^ inches thick, the upper part, B, is 11^ inches wide, and the lower part is 

 formed into a fork, CC, 10 inches long, the sides tapering an inch and a quarter in 

 width. A tube, D D, is fitted between them, having a bolt passed through it by 

 means of which the two sides of the fork are held firmly together. Two iron 

 wedges, E E, are fitted accurately to the sides, so that their inner faces are parallel 



