IMPROVEMENTS IN TRACTION ENGINES AND SELF-MOVING OR AGRICULTURAL LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to John McLaren, of the Midland Engine Works, Jack Lane,
Hunslet, in the Township of Leeds, in the County of York, and Henry
McLaren, of the Midland Engine Works, Jack Lane, Hunslet, in the Township
of Leeds, in the County of York, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN
TRACTION ENGINES AND SELF-MOVING OR AGRICULTURAL LOCOMOTIVE
ENGINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said John McLaren and Henry
McLaren at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 20th February
1880.
JOHN MCLAREN, of the Midland Engine Works, Jack Lane, Hunslet, in the
Township of Leeds, in the County of York, and HENRY MCLAREN, of the Midland
Engine Works, Jack Lane, Hunslet, in the Township of Leeds, in the County of
York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRACTION ENGINES AND SELF MOVING OR AGRICULTURAL
LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES."
"
or
or more
The object of our Invention is to increase the usefulness of traction engines, and
to widen their application, first, for the purposes of hoisting heavy articles, and
thus being used as a crane, and, secondly, for the purpose of driving what is known
as "hobby horses" or "steam roundabouts" and "steam roundabout velocipedes."
Our engines have a boiler of the locomotive or multitubular type with one or more
cylinders driving direct on the shaft, which turns the "hobby horses
"roundabouts" or "velocipedes" through the intervention of one
intermediate shafts with spur or chain gearing; and in our engines wo mount
the "stump
or chimney stack, round which the centre piece of the velocipedes
turns on a strong framework carried from the top of the boiler in any convonient
position, preferably directly over the crank shaft, and we transmit the power of the
engine by means of a vertical or other shaft from the crank shaft to the toothed
wheel which is fixed to the centre piece, and carries the arms for conveying the
motion to the "hobby horses" or whicels, as the case may be. In order to start
gently, which is of great importance with a single cylinder engine, we employ a
friction clutch, which enables the "wheels" or "hobby horses" to be started gently
without damage, and as the strong framework aforesaid is some distance behind the
chimney proper of the engine we remove the latter when the engine is set in

page_text: position, and connect a loose bent S pipo from the chimney bottom to the "stump,"
round which the whole of the hobby horses or wheels revolve, so that the smoke
and steam from the working of the engine passes along the said S pipe and out to
the atmosphere through the "stump," which is hollow.
We further extend the use of our traction engines by applying a crane to the 5
front end, of the following novel construction:-The jib is formed of I section of
wrought iron, and consists of two sides with steps, which are fixed to each side of
the smoke box or barrel of the boiler, and are stayed or braced together and fitted
with a chain pulley at the top end. Near the bottom end a chain barrel is fixed,
and this barrel is worked by means of a worm wheel keyed on the end of the axle 1
thereof; this worm wheel is actuated by a worm driven from the crank shaft by
means of a horizontal shaft running parallel and in the samo horizontal plane as the
centre line of the engine.
We make our road wheels with flexible spokes so as to relieve the engine from
the jar of rough ronds by acting in the manner of springs. For the same purpose 1
we make the wheels with rigid spokes, but having springs at one or both ends, and
thus answering the same purpose.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said John McLaren and Henry McLaren in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 20th August 1880.
JOHN MCLAREN, of the Midland Engine Works, Jack Lane, Hunslet, in the
Township of Leeds, in the County of York, and HENRY MCLAREN, of the Midland
Engine Works, Jack Lane, Hunslet, in the Township of Leeds, in the County of
York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRACTION ENGINES AND SELF MOVING OR AGRICULTURAL
LOCOMOTIVE ENGINES."
The object of our Invention is to increase the usefulness of traction engines, and
to widen their application, first, for the purposes of hoisting heavy articles, and
thus being used as a crane, and, secoudly, for the purpose of driving what is
known as
hobby horses" or steam "roundabouts and "steam roundabout
velocipedes."
"
"
"
66
"
or
Our engines have a boiler of the locomotive or multitubular type with one or
more cylinders driving direct on the shaft which turns the "hobby horses
roundabouts
or velocipedes" through the intervention of one ог more
intermediate shafts with spur or chain gearing; and in our engines we mount the
"stump or chimney stack, round which the centro piece of the velocipedes turns
on a strong framework carried from the top of the boiler in any convenient position,
preferably directly over the crank shaft, and we transmit the power of the engine
by means of a vertical or other shaft from the crank shaft to the toothed wheel
which is fixed to the centre piece, and carries the arms for conveying the notion to
the "hobby horses or wheels, as the case may be. In order to start gently, which
is of great importance with a single cylinder engine, we employ a friction clutch,
which enables the "wheels" or "hobby horses" to be started gently without
damage, and as the strong framework aforesaid is somo distance behind the chimney
proper of the engine we remove the latter when the engine is set in position, and
connect a loose beut S pipe from the chimney bottom to the "stump," round which
the whole of the hobby horses or wheels revolve, so that the smoke and steam
from the working of the engine passes along the said S pipe and out to the
atmosphere through the "stump," which is hollow.
"
We also construct traction engines with a crane applied to the front end, of the
following novel construction:-
The jib is formed of I section or other approved section of wrought iron, and
consists of two sides with steps, which are fixed to each side of the smoke box or
barrel of the boiler, and are stayed or braced together, and fitted with a chain
pulley at the top end. Near the bottom end a chain barrel is fixed, and this barrel
is worked by means of a worm wheel keyed on the end of the axle thereof; this
worm wheel is actuated by a worm driven from the crank shaft by means of a
horizontal shaft running parallel to and in the same horizontal plane as the centre
line of the engine.
We prefer to make our road wheels with flexible spokes so as to relieve the
engine from the jar of rough roads by acting in the manner of springs. For the
same purpose we may make the wheels with rigid spokes, but having springs at
one or both ends, thus answering the same purpose.
In order that our Invention may be fully understood we have in the Drawings
hereunto annexed shewn various views of engines constructed according to our
Invention.
Figures 1, 2, and 3 shew a traction or locomotive engine adapted, as herein before
described, for driving a "roundabout;" Figure 1 is a side elevation, Figure 2 a
plan, and Figure 3 a vertical cross section of the engine.
A is the fire box and boiler; B, a steam engine on the top of this boiler; C, the
crank shaft of this engine, mounted in bearings in a strong frame D, which is

page_text: carried up above the fire box end of the boiler; E is the chimney carried up, as
shewn, through the centre of the top of this frame; F is a short cylinder or stump
standing up from the top of the frame and forming part of the chimney; G is an
arm bolted to the top of the frame D; it embraces the lower part of the cylinder F
and extends out from one side of the frame; H is a boss capable of turning around
the upper part of the cylinder F. This boss has secured to it the radial arms I of
the centre piece, which serve to drive the "hobby horses" or vehicles of the
roundabout. These radial arms have fixed to them a toothed wheel J.
The crank shaft of the engine gives motion by a pair of bevil wheels to a
vertical shaft K; on this shaft is a toothed wheel L, which can be made fast with
the shaft by a friction clutch M. When made fast with the shaft it transmits
motion to a toothed wheel N on a shaft O, on which is a toothed wheel P that
gears with the large toothed wheel J fixed to the radial arms of the "roundabout."
As above stated the friction clutch allows of the "roundabout" being started
slowly and without putting excessive strain on any part of the driving mechanism.
Figures 4, 5, and 6 shew a traction engine with a crane of the construction above
described, applied to their forward end; Figure 4 is a side elevation of the engine
and crane; Figure 5 is a plan view of the same partly in section, and Figuro 6 is
a plan of the crane jib." A is the smoke box at the end of the boiler of the
engine; B is the jib, jointed at the end of its two sides to the two opposite sides of
the smoke box, as shown best at Figure 6; C is a stay passing from the top of the
jib to the fire box end of the boiler; D is a pulley at the top of the jib. The
lifting chain of the crane is passed over this pulley and secured to a chain barrel E,
which is mounted on the crano jib near its lower end. This barrel has on it a
worm wheel F, into which gears a worm G. The axis H of this worm can be
driven from the crank shaft of the engine, as shewn, and the lifting chain can so be
wound up on to or unwound from the barrel.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and the manner of
performing the same, we would have it understood that we claim,-
First. The construction of traction or locomotive engines, substantially as herein
before described with reference to Figures 1, 2, and 3, to allow of their being used
for driving "hobby horses or "roundabouts."
Second. The combination with the front end of a traction or locomotive engine
of a crane, constructed substantially in the manner herein before described.
In witness whereof, I, the said John MoLaren, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Seventeenth day of August, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
JOHN M'LAREN. (L.S.)