Improvements in and relating to Horse Engines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Improvements in and relating to Horse Engines.
I, ALFRED HENRY CROCKFORD, of 76, Lowfield Street, Dartford, in the County
of Kent, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to horse-engines or apparatus for utilizing the tractive
power of horses or other draught animals in the production of rotary motion, by
means of an endless track passing over guide-rollers or drums, and my said
invention comprises various improvements whereby the efficiency, durability and
convenience of such apparatus are considerably increased.
An important feature of my said invention consists in an improved construc-
tion of the chains for connecting the boards or the like forming the moving
track. The chain-links are all made identical and interchangeable, and so that
the boards can be readily attached to the said links in such a manner as to
connect the chains together. For this purpose each link is made with two
side bars or plates united by means of a central stay or distance-piece, and
with eyes or bolt-holes at its ends to receive the pivot-pins or joint-pins for con-
necting the links together, the distance between the inner surfaces of the side-
bars or plates at one end being equal to or slightly greater than that between
the outer surfaces of the said bars or plates at the other end, so that the narrow
end of one link will fit into the wide end of the next link and can be pivotally
secured thereto by means of a suitable pivot-pin or joint-pin.
The said pivot-pins or joint-pins are also adapted to receive running-wheels
whereby the weight of the movable track and that of the animal or animals
thereon are supported on fixed surfaces or girders forming part of the frame of
the apparatus. These wheels are mounted on roller-bearings which are formed
in a very simple and efficient manner. For this purpose a bearing of suitable
diameter is provided in the centre or hub of the wheel to form the outer running
surface or race for the rollers, the inner running surface or race therefor being
formed by the surface of the joint-pin or pivot-pin above mentioned. If desired,
however, the said pins can be provided with a bush or sleeve of the same length
as the roller-bearing and which, in assembling the parts, is placed in position
together with the series of rollers, before introducing the pins, so as to prevent
displacement of the said rollers and consequent difficulty in inserting the pins
when the parts of the track have to be assembled in a horizontal position. Other
suitable means may, however, be employed for this purpose. The said joint-
pins can be secured in position in any suitable manner, for example, by means
of set-screws passing partly into the eyes in the links and partly into the said
pins.
The said links are, moreover, provided with lateral lugs having holes therein
to
the like can be inserted
hold
through which bolts, coach-screws or
wooden planks 01' the
in position the
like forming the surface of
the track These planks or the like hre preferably made of

page_text: such width that they will abut closely against each other when in a horizontal
position and so form a continuous surface to receive the feet of the draught
animal or animals, and of such thickness that the supporting-wheels will project
a short distance beyond the running-surface so as to also serve for supporting
the track when returning on the under side for which purpose they run on a
surface forming part of the frame of the apparatus. The said upper and lower
surfaces for receiving the supporting-wheels, are preferably formed on the girders
or beams connecting the bearings of the drums or sprocket-wheels over which
the endless track passes at each end of the apparatus. The said planks or the
like may be made of suitable length to form a moving track of sufficient width
to permit one, two or more animals working side-by-side, and can be supported
by two, three or any other suitable number of chains.
The said drums or sprocket-wheels are preferably made with suitable recesses
to receive projections formed on the under side of the links around the eyes
receiving the joint-pins, and also, if desired, between the said pins. I also
provide a band-brake adapted to act on a brake-drum or surface on one of the
sprocket or driving-shafts of the apparatus, the actuating lever of this brake
being provided with a rope or the like whereby the brake may be applied from
a distance. Or, if desired, both of the said sprocket-wheel shafts can be pro-
vided with band-brakes as above mentioned.
The framework of the apparatus is preferably provided with road-wheels
whereby it may be conveniently transferred from place to place, and with flaps
which are adapted to be brought into position to raise the road-wheels from
the ground and to themselves support the apparatus with the track either hori-
zontal or at any desired inclination. For this purpose the said flaps may be
hinged at one end to the frame of the apparatus and be provided with are-
shaped racks and worms, perforated quadrants or other suitable devices whereby
they may be held in any desired position, the ends of the frame being lifted by
jacks or in any other suitable manner.
A traction-bar or beam is also provided at one end of the apparatus which
receives the pull of the draught-animals through the medium of a spring, elastic
cushion or the like.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in and relating to Horse Engines.
I, ALFRED HENRY CROCKFORD, of 76, Lowfield Street, Dartford, in the County
of Kent, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to horse-engines or apparatus for utilizing the tractive
power and weight of horses or other draught animals for the production of
rotary motion by means of an endless travelling floor or track passing over
wheels or drums and my said invention comprises various improvements whereby
the efficiency, durability and convenience of such apparatus are considerably
increased.
An important feature of my said invention consists in an improved construc-
tion of the links of the driving-chains which connect together the boards or

page_text: is employed, are made of the same length as the wheel-hub, and in assembling
the parts, are placed in position in the wheel E before introducing 'the said
wheel between the links C and inserting the pin C. The rollers will then be
held in position longitudinally by the inner surfaces of the links. The sleeve E³
facilitates the insertion of the said pin. It is, however, not absolutely necessary,
as the rollers can be so arranged that the upper half of the group thereof,
when they are placed in the wheel, will form an arch and the rollers will retain
each other in position while the wheel is being introduced between the sides of
the links. The pivot-pins C are held in position by means of set-screws G
inserted in tapped holes formed partly in the links C and partly in the pins C+
as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6, or they may be secured by any other suitable
means.
The boards are made of suitable length to form a moving track of sufficient
width to permit of either one animal working singly or two or more animals
working side by side, and may be supported by two or more driving-chains,
according to the width of the track, the said boards 1) being continuous and
secured as above described to all of the chains employed, so that they serve as
the means for connecting the said chains.
The sprocket-wheels B1, B2 are made with flanges having formed therein
recesses or depressions B5 into which the curved undersides of the links C will
fit as they pass around the said wheels, and notches B6 in which the bosses at
the ends of the links will engage so as to form a driving connection between the
chains and sprocket-wheels.
In addition to the sprocket-wheels B', B2, the shaft B³ is provided at one end
with a driving pulley L and at the other end with a governor-brake.
This governor-
brake, as shown in Figure 8, consists of a wheel M preferably made with four
radial arms or spokes and keyed to the shaft 133; portions of the rim between
the said spokes are removed at two places on opposite sides, and are replaced
by curved arms M pivoted at M to lugs formed upon two of the spokes of the
said wheel M. The two remaining spokes, of the said wheel are provided with
lugs to which are pivoted at N1 bent levers N provided with adjustable weights N²
and acted upon by adjustable springs N3, the short arms of the said levers N
being provided with studs that engage in slots in the curved arms M¹. The
outer faces of the two remaining portions of the rim and of the said arms M¹
are turned so that, when in their normal position, they will fit more or less
closely within a fixed ring P, firmly secured to the frame A around the said
wheel M, by screws or the like. The weighted levers N2 are normally held in
position by the springs N³ so that their centre of gravity lies as
practicable to the centre of the shaft B³. When the shaft B³ is rotated, the
weighted levers N have a tendency to move outwards so as to cause the arms M¹
to be forced against the ring P and thus act as a brake. The weights N2 can'
be adjusted along the levers N, or the tension of the springs N³ varied so that
the restraint of the said springs will be overcome for any particular speed of
the shafts. By this arrangement the animal or animals upon the endless track
are not so liable to be thrown down or injured by the racing of the apparatus
when the working load is thrown off or a belt breaks.
near
ав
I also provide a brake-drum R, Figure 9, upon one or both ends of the shaft B
and a brake-band R¹ actuated by a hand-lever R2 pivotally mounted on a con-
venient part of the frame A. A rope R³ may, if desired, be attached to the
hand-lever R³ to permit of the brake being applied from a distance.
The enclosure for the animal or animals is provided with one or more trac-
tion bars Q,
or
admit the animal
animals, and
removable
to
SO that
the
apparatus
fur-
can be
nished with means, such, for example, as hooks Q, for attaching
the traces of the animals thereto,
actuated by traction alone when the movable track is in a horizontal position,
or by both the traction and weight of the draught-animals when the track is in
an inclined position. The said hooks Q3 or their equivalents are preferably pro-

page_text: vided with an elastic cushion or spring. As shown in Figure 3, the shank of
the hook Q passes through a hole in the bar Q and is provided with a cambered
spring Q3. Similar hooks or other attachments Q are provided at one end of
the frame, to which the traces are secured when the apparatus is to be transported
from place to place. The apparatus may also bo provided with a pole or shafts
for the attachment of the draught animal or animals.
In order to support the apparatus in an inclined position with the road-wheels
clear of the ground, flaps or supports S are hinged or pivoted to the frame A,
so that they can be folded beneath the said frame, or turned down into the posi-
tion shown. These flaps are provided with suitable means for securing them in
either their operative or inoperative position.
When the apparatus is to be used with the track horizontal, suitable supports
are to be placed beneath the frame A at each end thereof.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is:-
1. The improved driving-chain wherein the links are all made identical and
interchangeable, with bosses to engage in notches in the sprocket-wheels and
with lugs to receive screws or bolts for securing the boards or planks forming
the endless floor or track, substantially as hereinbefore described.
2. The combination, with the pivot-pin connecting the chain-links, of a
running-wheel mounted thereon and provided with a roller-bearing in which
the rollers are equal in length to the hub of the said wheel so that they will
be retained in position by the sides of the chain-links, substantially as described.
3. The employment of girders or rails beneath both the upper and lower parts
of the endless travelling floor or track so that the latter will be efficiently sup-
ported during both its forward and return movements, as above set forth.
4. The combination, with driving-chains formed of the peculiarly-shaped
links herein before described, of boards or planks extending across the same and
secured to the lugs on the said links so as to form the connection between the
said driving-chains, substantially as described.
5. An apparatus of the kind or class hereinbefore referred to, wherein a single
pair of road-wheels is employed in conjunction with folding supports or legs for
supporting the apparatus when in operation, substantially as described and for
the purnose specified.
6. The improved apparatus constructed substantially as described with refer-
ence to the accompanying drawings and operating as, and for the purposes, above
specified.
Darcu
ՆԱՆ 1 Ն Ա O ԵՄՆԵՈՄԵ ADVO.
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.