IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE STEAM ENGINES
Year: 1882

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to George Radford Mather Mechanical Engineer of
Wellingborough in the County of Northampton, for an invention of
IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE STEAM ENGINES
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said George Radford Mather at
the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 30th March 1882.
GEORGE RADFORD MATHER, Mechanical Engineer, of Wellingborough, in
the County of Northampton, "IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE STEAM ENGINES,"
My said improvements relate to Portable Steam engines, of the Vertical Boiler
type, and have for their object the affording of increased facilities in construction
of two, three, and four wheeled portable engines.
I fit two wheels of equal diameter to the crank shaft, one only being usually
fitted, and I so fit such wheels that, when the engine is working, one or both
wheels are fast on the shaft, and one or both wheels assist in carrying the crank
over the dead points, thereby serving as a fly-wheel, or fly-wheels.
I also, for the purpose of travelling, preferably so fit such wheels to the crank
shaft, that one or both of them can be made to revolve upon, but independently of,
the crank shaft and of each other, by means of couplings, clutches, keys, pins, or
any other suitable gear, although, if desired, both wheels may be firinly fixed to
the crank shaft when the engine is travelling.
In the case of two-wheeled portable engines, I place the crank shaft in a line, or
nearly so, with the centre of gravity of the mass, when tipped for travelling, in'
order to reduce the strain upon the shaft horse, and render its traction easy.
In the case of three or four wheeled portable engines the centre of gravity is
suited to the wheel base.
I so fit the horse shafts of two wheeled portable engines that such shafts are not
only adaptable to purposes of traction, but may be also utilized as struts in
preventing oscillation and vibration, by placing one end of each shaft firmly
on the ground, at a distance from the base plate, when the engine is at work.
By the above described arrangements I am able to use one or both wheels on the
crank shaft as fly wheels, and both as road wheels, bearing all, (in the case of two
wheeled portable engines), or a certain portion, (in the case of three or four wheeled
portable engines), of the weight of the engine and boiler, when being drawn upon
the highway or other road.
If desired one of the wheels on the crank shaft can be taken off when the engine
is at work.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said George Radford Mather in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 29th September 1882.
George Radford MATHER, Mechanical Engineer, of Wellingborough, in the
County of Northampton, "IMPROVEMENTS IN PORTABLE STEAM ENGINES,"
My said improvements relate to portable steam engines, of the vertical boiler
type, and have for their object the affording of increased facilities in construction
of two, three, and four wheeled portable engines.
I fit two wheels of equal diameter to the crank shaft, one only being usually
fitted, and I so fit such wheels that, when the engine is working, one or both
wheels are fast on the shaft, and one or both wheels assist in carrying the crank
over the dead points, thereby serving as a fly wheel or fly wheels.
I also, for the purpose of travelling, preferably so fit such wheels to the crank
shaft, that one or both of them can be made to revolve upon, but independently of,
the crank shaft and of each other, by means of couplings, clutches, keys, pins, or
any other suitable gear, although, if desired, both wheels may be firmly fixed to
the crank shaft when the engine is travelling.
In the case of two wheeled portable engines, I place the crank shaft in a line, or
nearly so, with the centre of gravity of the mass, when tipped for travelling, in
order to reduce the strain upon the shaft horse, and render its traction easy.
In the case of three or four wheeled portable engines the centre of gravity is
suited to the wheel base.
I so fit the horse shafts of two wheeled portable engines that such shafts are
not only adaptable to purposes of traction, but may be also utilised as struts in
preventing oscillation and vibration, by placing one end of each shaft firmly on
the ground, at a distance from the base plate, when the engine is at work.
By the above described arrangements I am able to use one or both wheels on the
crank shaft as fly wheels, and both as road wheels, bearing all, (in the case of two
wheeled portable engines), or a certain portion, (in the case of three or four wheeled
portable engines), of the weight of the engine and boiler, when being drawn upon
the highway or other road.
If desired one of the wheels on the crank shaft can be taken off when the
engine is at work.
Having thus particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
Invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I claim :-
1. The method of, and means and arrangements for, utilising the ordinary axle
or shaft, and flywheel or fly wheels, of portable steam engines, when travelling
from place to place, as and for the supporting axle or shaft and travelling wheel or
wheels thereof, substantially as herein before described.
2. The adaptation of the horse shafts of portable steam engines to the steadying
of such engines when at work, in the manner substantially as herein before
described.
In witness whereof I the said George Radford Mather' have hereunto set
my hand and seal this twenty seventh day of September in the year of
our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighty two
GEORGE RADFORD MATHER (L.S.)