IMPROVE- MENTS IN PROPELLING CARRIAGES
Year: 1845

page_text: TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, GEORGE
DUCKETT BARKER BEAUMONT, of Twickenham, in the County of Middlesex,
send greeting.
WHEREAS Her present most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by
Her Royal Letters Patent under the Great Seal of Great Britain, bearing
date at Westminster, the Eighth day of May, in the eighth year of Her
reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors, give and grant unto me,'
the said George Duckett Barker Beaumont, my exors, adiñors, and assigns,
Her especial licence, full power, sole privilege and authority, that I, the
said George Duckett Barker Beaumont, my exors, adiñors, and assigns, or
such others as I, the said George Duckett Barker Beaumont, my exors,
adiňors, or assigns, should at any time agree with, and no others, from time
to time and at all times during the term of years therein expressed,
should and lawfully might make, use, exercise, and vend, within England,
Wales, and the Town of Berwick-upon-Tweed, my Invention of "IMPROVE-
MENTS IN PROPELLING CARRIAGES;" in which said Letters Patent is contained
à proviso that I, the said George Duckett Barker Beaumont, shall cause
a particular description of the nature of the said Invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be enrolled in Her said 'Majesty's
High Court of Chancery within six calendar months next and immediately.
after the date of the said in part recited Letters Patent, as in and by the
same, reference being thereunto had, will more fully and at large appear.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that in compliance with the said proviso, 1, the said
George Duckett Barker Beaumont, do hereby declare that the nature of my
said Invention, and the manner in which the same is to be performed, are fully
described and ascertained in and by the following description thereof, reference
being had to the Drawings hereunto annexed, and to the figures and letters
marked thereon (that is to say):-
My Invention relates to improved means of draught by mechanism, and
such mechanism is applicable, not only to a level or horizontal path or way,
but to cases where the path or way inclines longitudinally from the level, and
(as shewn at Figures 1, 2, & 3) to cases where the surface of the path or way
is not smooth but interrupted by depressions and eminences; and Figures 4
and 5 shew the Invention adapted to cases where the surface is smooth but
inclines longitudinally from the level. The apparatus may be put in motion
by any suitable power. The instruments by which I obtain the lift or leverage
to produce progressive motion do not rub on, press into, or adhere to the surface
of the ground, the weight being sustained by wheels, as hereafter described.
In Figures 1, 2, and 3, a, a, a, are a series of arms turning on an axis c; each
of these arms is divided into two parts a, a¹, so that the one part may slide
towards and from the axis c. To the end of each of these arms is hung, by a
pivot, a block w, as shewn; and it will be seen by the Drawing that there
are three of such blocks constantly resting on the ground (though this number
may be varied), which is allowed by the capability the arms have of lengthen-
ing and shortening, the object being to have as extended a surface as possible
on which the bearing wheels may rest.
Figure A is a Diagram shewing by dotted lines the different positions
assumed by any one of the arms a; c, c, c¹¹, indicating the centre of the arms
at three different times as the carriage passes along a road or way, and shewing
the lift or step of one of such arms over the fixed point or pivot b. The dotted
curve e, e, e, shews the successive places of the part a', connected to the block..
In taking a step, various forms of these divided arms may be used, as shewn at
Figures 1, 1, 1, 1°; there may be a screw formed partly in the parts a', so
as in some measure to break the shock of the blocks in coming to the ground.
in which case each of the arms a must turn on a swivel, or there must be a
ball formed on the outer end of the part of the arm a¹ and a socket in the
blocks. In Figures 1 and 3, f, f, are friction wheels attached to a frame g, g,
which is connected by springs to the frame d, the frame g, g, being boxed into
and working only vertically in the frame d. j and k are toothed wheels, the
former fixed on the axle c, and the latter on an independant axle, and com-
municating with the prime mover.

page_text: Figures 4 and 5 shew an arrangement of my Invention adapted to working
on a rail or smooth path. J is a toothed wheel, working over rackwork 6 on
the blocks w. The successive blocks are on both of their sides chained
together. The frames g, d, are in this arrangement combined into one frame,
instead of two separate frames g and d, as in Figures 1, 2, and. 3. Motion
may be given to the axis of the wheel J, or the wheel J may be driven by
means of an intermediate wheel k, as in Figures 1, 2, and 3. The blocks are
carried round a divided frame (indicated by red lines) fixed to the frame d, the
blocks being connected by endless chains. The frame is open or discontinued
where the blocks are on the ground and at work, and the curve is flattened on
each side of this opening under the toothed wheel.
Note. With respect to the wheel k, by which I communicate motion to
the main axle c, or to the toothed wheel j on the same axle, always in an are
corresponding to that described by the lever in taking a step; this I call the
"overlift." If the connecting shaft from the prime mover were to carry the
axle c round with it in its circle of revolution, it would break the axle or the
gear in the effort to lift the weight or any part thereof when on an inclined
path or way and when the throws of the driving cranks are near a horizontal
position or near there maximum of vertical action, as I have repeatedly proved
in experiments by the machinery under consideration; and if the shafts or
cranks from the double cylinders of a steam engine were applied immediately
to the axle at c, they would, in passing the centres or horizontal position,
alternately discontinue their action on the axle, and give it a vibratory or
lateral motion or oscillating movement, all which is prevented by the inter-
mediate wheel k. . Instead of toothed wheel, drums and bands. or riggers may
be applied in some cases. On the level, instead of two axles and gear as
above, lateral movement or oscillation may be prevented by bringing the piston
rods from the two cylinders close side by side, so as to bear nearly in the
centre of the driving axle. In meeting depressions or holes, the block or lever
arms attached thereto are guided over a shelf on the fixed frame, as at f¹,
Figure 8, where there are projections or pins which slide over the shelf or
guide f¹. To turn curves in the path for an easy radius, a guide wheel in
front is used in the ordinary way. Another is also fixed behind to guide when
the machine is backed or retrograded. These guide wheels may be shipped or
loosened when not required to support or guide the carriage. In order that
the carriage may turn without skidding, or dragging the blocks laterally in
the direction of the tangent of the curve to be turned, the arms are allowed
room to move laterally in the blocks or in the socket in which the arms slide,
so that the carriage may diverge from the line of the block or blocks that are

page_text: for the time pressed on the ground. The system of arms may be either used
in pairs or singly in a frame or carriage.
In the above description, the size and breadth of the tire of the carriage
wheel, as well as the width of the blocks working under the levers or arms,
will be adapted to the path or way, they being broader in proportion to the
looseness of the same, as also in proportion to the power and weight of the
engine.
In witness whereof, I, the said George Duckett Barker Beaumont, have
hereunto set my hand and seal, this Eighth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and forty-five.