IMPROVEMENTS IN THE RUNNING GEAR OF TRACTION ENGINES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Emmanuel Joseph Alho de Bernalés, of Brixton, in the
County of Surrey, for the Invention of IMPROVEMENTS IN THE RUNNING
GEAR OF TRACTION ENGINES."
Sealed the 15th September 1877, and dated the 27th March 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Emmanuel Joseph Albo
de Bernalés at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 27th March
1.877.
EMMANUEL JOSEPH ALBO DE BERNALÉS, of Brixton, in the County of Surrey.
"IMPROVEMENTS IN THE RESSING GEAR OF TRACTION ENGINES."
The object of my Invention is to improve the bearings of traction or road engines
upon the ground, and to maintain a constant support for the running and driving
or traction wheels however uneven the surface of the ground may be.
The wheels which may be both inside and outside the frame, or inside only, as
preferred, consist of cylinders or rollers, each with a spiral projection on its periphery
constituting the tread ar bearing face of the roller. They may either be running or
driving wheels or rollers, and in the latter case are driven by an engine or by hand
power through suitable gearing.
The forward portion of the frame in which the pilot wheel is mounted is jointed
to the main frame so that it may rise and fall freely, thus ensuring the constant
contact of all the wheels or rollers with the ground, however uneven the latter may
be and regardless of the length of the machine.
In moving over the ground the spiral tread of each roller has several bearing
points continually bearing, their number depending (on a plain surface) on the
number of complete convolutions of the spiral tread. It will therefore be apparent
that a bearing for each roller at two or more points must be ensured, however
uneven or irregular the surface may be, while the spaces beyond the spiral tread
receive the loose stones, &c., which, if the periphery of the cylinder were the tread,
would be serious obstacles to the progress of the machine.
Another advantage is that the spiral tread makes its rut at an angle with the
direction in which the machine is advancing, thereby affording a fresh grip of the
ground as continual as the advance,

page_text: A further advantage of the spiral tread results where two or more rollers or
wheels are employed, having the one a right-handed and the other a left-handed
spiral tread, so that the ruts made by the first will be at an angle to the tread of the
succeeding roller,ensuring a fresh surface for the latter and preventing the formation
of deep ruts. This is of much importance when the engine is used on soit ground,
as in drawing gangs of ploughs over fields, or in towing canal boats where the tow
path is soft.
Any number of rollers may be used, each with single or multiple spiral treads,
which may have their bearing faces plain or notched, and may consist of a roll-
tinuous rib or a series of ergs arranged spirally on the roller, or of a beavy spiral
rod formed into journals at the ends.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Emmanuel Joseph Albo de Bernales in the Great Seal Patent Office
on the 25th September 1877.
EMMANUEL JOSEPH ALBO DE BERNALES, of Brixton, in the County of Surrey.
IMPROVEMENTS IN THE RUNNING GEAR OF TRACTION ENGINES,"
The object of my Invention is to improve the bearings of traction or road engines
upon the ground, and to maintain a constant support for the running and driving
or traction wheels, however uneven the surface of the ground may be.
The wheels, which may be both inside and outside the frame, or inside only, as
preferred, consist of cylinders or rillers, each furnished with one or more spiral pro-
jections or ribs on its periphery, constituting the tread or bearing fare.
The portion of the frame supported by the pilot wheel is jointed to the main
frame so that it may rise and fall freely, thus ensuring the constant contact of all
the wheels or rollers with the ground, however uneven the latter may be.
In moving over the ground each spiral tread has several bearing points continually
varying, their number depending (on a plain surface) on the number of complete
convolutions of the spiral trend. It will therefore he apparent that a bearing for
each roller at two or more points must be ensured, however uneven or irregular the
surface may be, while the spaces between the spirals receive the loose stones, &c.,
which, if the periphery of the cylinder were the tread, would be serious obstacles to
the progress of the machine.
Another advantage is, that each spiral tread makes its rut at an angle with the
line of progress of the machine, thereby affording a fresh grip of the ground as
continued as the advance.
Where two or more such rollers or wheels are employed, the one has a right-
handed and the next a left-handed spiral tread, so that the ruts made by the first
will be at an angle to the tread of the succeeding roller, ensuring a fresh surface for
the latter and preventing the formation of deep ruts. This is of much importance
when the engine is used on soft ground, as in drawing gangs of ploughs or artillery
over fields, or in towing canal boats where the low path is soft.
Any number of these rollers may be used, and the spiral treads may have their
bearing faces plain or notched, and instead of each being a continuous rib, it may
consist of a series of eugs arranged spirally on the roller, or the roller may be
dispensed with, and a heavy spiral rod formed into journals at the ends may be
employed.
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS.
Figure represents in sectional perspective, and Figure 2 in side elevation,
sufficient of a traction or road engine to illustrate my Invention.
The frame A of the engine may be of any suitable construction, and the journals
of the supporting or driving wheels or rollers B. B', turn in suitable bearings on the

page_text: frame. Each roller is represented as consisting of a cylinder with a projecting
spiral rib extending around its periphery from end to end and constituting the
read of the roller. The rollers may be solid or hollow, and of any required diameter
and length, and the spiral rih 6 may be of any required depth or width, and of a
fast or slow pitch, and may either be single or multiple for each roller. The bearing
face of the spiral tread may either be notched, as shown on roller B, or plain, as
on roller B', or the treads and rollers may be otherwise varied, as herein-before
mentioned.
The rollers, one or both, are driven through gearing (shown by dotted lines e,
Figure 2) applied to their journals, or by belts, or in other suitable manner from an
engine carried by the frame, or may be operated by hand. When the propelling
power is otherwise applied, the rollers simply serve as runners instead of drivers.
The frame may either be the frame of the engine or of a truck arranged beneath
or forming part of the main frame. The forward portion A' of the frame is a
platform constructed in any suitable manner, and is jointed at d to the main frame A.
so that its outer end, which is supported by the pilot wheel D, may rise and fall
freely, and thus adapt itself to the irregularities of the ground.
Having described the nature of my Tuvention and the manner of performing the
same, I declare that what I claim as my Invention to be protected by the herein-
before in part recited Letters Patent is,-
1st. The use in a fraction or road engine of wheels or rollers provided with spiral
treads or projections, each consisting either of a continuous rib or of series of cogs
extending one or more times completely around the periphery of the wheel or roller,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
2nd. The modified form of wheel or roller, consisting of a heavy spiral rod with
journals at the end, but without any cylinder within it, as specified.
Br. The combination in a traction engine of two or more wheels or rollers having
spiral treads winding in opposite directions, substantially as aud for the purpose set
forth.
4th. In a fraction engine, hinging the frame in which the pilot wheel is
mounted to the main frame, so that it is capable of vertical movement inde-
pendently, as specified.
In witness whereof. I, the said Emmanuel Joseph Albo de Bernales have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Twenty-third day of September, in the year
of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-seven.
EMMANUEL J. ALBO DE BERNALES. (L.S.)