Luttermöller axle
Encyclopedia
Steam locomotives with several axles or wheelsets connected to one another by coupling rods are not able to negotiate tight curves well. In order to assist such locomotives, the manager of the Orenstein & Koppel factory in Berlin
, Dr. Luttermöller, built the axle system named after him.
With this system, the outermost of several sets of successive driving wheel
sets are not connected by coupling rods to crankshaft
journals on the outside of the wheels, but by cogwheels
located in the centre of the axles. The axles are housed in the locomotive frame
such that they are able to move at right angles to the axis of the rails to a certain degree, likewise the cogwheels are able to slide relative to one another. In this way curves can be negotiated with less friction being generated.
For the Hamburg Harbour
railway with its tight curves, the ten-coupled steam locomotive
s of Class 87
were built with Luttermöller axles, front and rear. The 16 locomotives of this class were however retired again as early as 1954, because they tended to overheat at higher speeds and could therefore only be used for shunting duties.
A five-axled, metre gauge, steam engine with the Luttermöller system was procured by the private South Harz Railway (Südharz-Eisenbahn; Braunlage - Walkenried - Tanne) in 1928 from Orenstein & Koppel with operating number 61.
It proved itself so well on the winding route, that in 1930 two Mallet locomotives, built in 1925, were converted to the Luttermöller system by Henschel (operating numbers 56 and 57). Henschel had to obtain a licence from Orenstein & Koppel to use Luttermöller axles.
Luttermöller axles found further use on narrow gauge lines, e.g. in Java (Indonesia).
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, Dr. Luttermöller, built the axle system named after him.
With this system, the outermost of several sets of successive driving wheel
Driving wheel
On a steam locomotive, a driving wheel is a powered wheel which is driven by the locomotive's pistons...
sets are not connected by coupling rods to crankshaft
Crankshaft
The crankshaft, sometimes casually abbreviated to crank, is the part of an engine which translates reciprocating linear piston motion into rotation...
journals on the outside of the wheels, but by cogwheels
Gear
A gear is a rotating machine part having cut teeth, or cogs, which mesh with another toothed part in order to transmit torque. Two or more gears working in tandem are called a transmission and can produce a mechanical advantage through a gear ratio and thus may be considered a simple machine....
located in the centre of the axles. The axles are housed in the locomotive frame
Locomotive frame
A locomotive frame is the structure that forms the backbone of the railway locomotive, giving it strength and supporting the superstructure elements such as a cab, boiler or bodywork. The vast majority of locomotives have had a frame structure of some kind...
such that they are able to move at right angles to the axis of the rails to a certain degree, likewise the cogwheels are able to slide relative to one another. In this way curves can be negotiated with less friction being generated.
For the Hamburg Harbour
Hamburg Harbour
-External links:* * Port of Hamburg: Facts, figures, and outlook* * Currently under construction in the HafenCity* *...
railway with its tight curves, the ten-coupled steam locomotive
Steam locomotive
A steam locomotive is a railway locomotive that produces its power through a steam engine. These locomotives are fueled by burning some combustible material, usually coal, wood or oil, to produce steam in a boiler, which drives the steam engine...
s of Class 87
DRG Class 87
The German Class 87 was a standard goods train tank locomotive with the Deutsche Reichsbahn-Gesellschaft . It was specifically designed by the firm of Orenstein & Koppel for use in Hamburg Harbour. The harbour lines had minimal curve radii of only 100 m and high train loads to be moved. The...
were built with Luttermöller axles, front and rear. The 16 locomotives of this class were however retired again as early as 1954, because they tended to overheat at higher speeds and could therefore only be used for shunting duties.
A five-axled, metre gauge, steam engine with the Luttermöller system was procured by the private South Harz Railway (Südharz-Eisenbahn; Braunlage - Walkenried - Tanne) in 1928 from Orenstein & Koppel with operating number 61.
It proved itself so well on the winding route, that in 1930 two Mallet locomotives, built in 1925, were converted to the Luttermöller system by Henschel (operating numbers 56 and 57). Henschel had to obtain a licence from Orenstein & Koppel to use Luttermöller axles.
Luttermöller axles found further use on narrow gauge lines, e.g. in Java (Indonesia).