Improvements in Traction Engines.
Year: 1893

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Traction Engines.
I, GERSHON BOWMAR, of Charlton, Gore, Otago, in the Colony of New
Zealand, Mill Owner, 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 :-
The objects of my invention are, first, to simplify the gearing of a traction engine
so that the driver can put the hauling apparatus out of or into gear without leaving
his place; and, secondly, to dispense with the friction and wear and tear incidental
to the rotation of the main axle when the engine is not travelling.
Hitherto it has been found necessary when ploughing, draining, or doing other
work for which the engine has at intervals to be moved forward, to employ an extra
man for the purpose of removing the several pins which place the travelling wheels
and the winding drum in and out of gear.
By my present invention, the whole of the mechanism is placed under the
control of the driver so that the winding drum can be thrown out of and into gear,
and the engine travelling gear stopped and started without the driver moving from
his place. Furthermore, while the rope is being wound, the carrying axle and the
usual level gearing remain stationary.
In order that my improved apparatus may be readily understood, I will first
describe the ordinary construction of traction engine gearing as adopted by the
best makers, and shown in the accompanying sheet of drawings, wherein
Fig. 1 is a side view of the rear end of a traction engine with the gearing
indicated by dotted lines,
Fig. 2 is a plan of part of the engine, and
Fig. 3 is an elevation of the fire-box end.
a is the fire-box. al are the two side-plates which support the bearings of the
several shafts. a² is the boiler. and are the travelling wheels working loosely
on the axle 62, which is mounted in bearings ³. c is the engine-crank-shaft rotating
in bearings and driven in the usual manner by a connecting rod e from a piston
in a cylinder c. This shaft is furnished with a fast pinion c and a fly-wheel c³.
d is a shaft working in bearings d', and having a wheel d² firmly keyed on and
engaging with the pinion c. It also has a fast pinion on its opposite end. e is a
shaft working in bearings e and having a fast wheel e gearing with the pinion d.
This shaft also carries a loose pinion rotating between collars and furnished with
a coupling e, which is prevented from turning on the shaft by a feather and
feather-way. The coupling enables the pinion to be thrown by means of the
lever in or out of gear with the shaft. is a spur-wheel running loosely on
the shaft between suitable collars. This spur-wheel is provided with two
bevel-pinions turning on pins carried by the wheel. is a loose bevel-wheel
on the axle. By the insertion of the pin g', the travelling wheel 6 can be
locked to the bevel-wheel g and driven by the same. Bolts may, however, be
substituted for the pin g'. h is a bevel-wheel keyed on the axle and serving to
drive the same.
Both the bevel-wheels and are driven by the spur-wheel f
through the loose bevel-pinions, so that, when the travelling wheel b is locked to
the bevel-wheel g by the pin g' and the other travelling wheel b' to the wheel / by
the pink, as hereinafter described, both travelling wheels can be driven either
forward or backward, but if necessary one driving wheel can overrun the other so
that the engine can be readily guided or turned. is the hauling drum or pulley,
which revolves on a sleeve fixed on the axle. By this pulley, the rope is
hauled for the different operations desired. The pin ", which locks the pulley to

page_text: the sleeve, is inserted for hauling, and removed for the unwinding of the rope.
For driving the travelling wheel ', the pin k is inserted so as to fix that wheel to
the sleeve and thus enable it to be driven through the axle by the bevel-wheel h.
It will be seen from the above description that the hauling drum is driven
through the shafts e, d, and e, the spur-wheel, the pinions 1, the wheel /, the
axle 2, the sleeve and the pin, thus producing a heavy strain on the engine.
According to my invention, instead of driving the pulley through the bevel
gearing, it is driven directly from the shaft e by means of a pinion and
spur-wheel. The pinion e¹ is loose upon the shaft, but can be connected there-
with by a coupling e' actuated by a lever e. The axle and the gearing near the
travelling wheel are thrown out of gear by the lever eº.
It is obvious that the couplings e and e' may be dispensed with if the pinions e
and be brought nearer together and made fast on the shaft e; the shaft sliding
so as to bring the pinion e into gear with the wheel for driving or the pinion e
into gear with the wheel for hauling. A suitable stop would then be provided
for holding the sliding shaft in either position while at work.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, ! claim :-
1. In a traction engine, the employment of a pinion e, a coupling e, a spur-
wheel and a coupling e as and for the purposes herein set forth.
2. In a traction engine, the employment of a sliding shaft having fast pinions
adapted to engage respectively with the spur-wheels and I as and for the purposes
herein set forth.
3. In a traction engine, the improved gearing arranged and operating substantially
as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated the 25th day of September 1893.
G. G. M. HARDINGHAM.
191, Fleet Street, London, E.C., Chartered Patent Agent.