Improvements in Propulsion Apparatus for Vehicles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 28th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 20th Oct., 1894-4ccepted, 24th Nov., 1891
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Propulsion Apparatus for Vehicles.
1, HOWARD MATRAVERS ASHLEY, of Ferrybridge Foundry, Normanton,
Yorkshire, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
My invention relates to propulsion apparatus for vehicles, of the kind in which
the draught animal, instead of moving along the road, treads on an endless apron
carried by the vehicle, causing the apron to move backwards, and this by suitable
gearing causes a driving wheel or pair of wheels to revolve propelling the vehicle
forwards.
I construct the endless apron by linking together bars, preferably of trough
section, with wood, caoutchouc or other somewhat yielding material held in the
troughs, the animal treading on the comparatively soft material.
The apron is supported ou a pair of rails, and may have antifriction rollers
interposed between them and the rails. The apron passes over polygonal or chain
wheels at each end of the rails, and one set of those wheels is connected by suitable
gear to an axle mounted in bearings carried by an extension of the rails which
constitute the underframe of the vehicle. This axle may have two road wheels on it
worked by differential gear from a chain wheel driven by the apron gear, or it may
have one middle road wheel. In front of the apron is provided a locking frame
carrying a pair of steering wheels. I prefer to mount these on an axle cranked
down in the middle, so that the draught animal can be backed over the locking
frame on to the apron behind it. The body of the vehicle is carried; preferably
on springs on the hind and front axles, or on any convement parts of the
underframing.
From a convenient seat behind the draught animal the driver can communicate
motion through suitable gear to the locking frame in front, so as to steer the
vehicle; he can also apply a brake or brakes to the apron and driving wheel or
wheels, and govern the animal by reins which may be acted on by pedals. The
driving wheel is connected to the axle through pawl and ratchet, allowing the
wheel to turn in the forward direction while the apron is stationary.
When a single middle driving wheel is employed, I prefer to provide on each
side a roller mounted on a spring as a caster to meet the road in case of the vehicle
leaning over to one side. By employing a wide apron several draught animals
might be arranged on it abreast.
The vehicle inay carry passengers or goods, and might be attached in front of
other vehicles.
Dated this 28th day of December 1893.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: Improvements in Propulsion Apparatus for Vehicles.
I, HOWARD MATRAVERS ASHLEY, of Ferrybridge Foundry, Normanton,.
Yorkshire, 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 propulsion apparatus for vehicles of a kind in which the
draught animal, instead of moving along the road, treads on an endless apron
carried by the vehicle, causing the apron to move backwards, and thus, by suitable
gearing, causes a driving wheel or pair of wheels, to revolve, propelling the vehicle
forwards.
Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings is a side view. Fig. 2 is a plan, Figs. 3 and 4
are respectively front and rear views.
A is the endless apron which may be made as shewn by linking together bars
preferably of trough section with wood, caoutchouc or other somewhat yielding
material let into the troughs so that the animal treads on comparatively
soft material. When wood is used to fill the troughs, a sheet of elastic and yielding
material like caoutchouc may be applied as a cover to the apron. The apron travels
along two side rails a, but it may run over antifriction rollers. At each end the
apron passes half round a pair of sprocket or polygonal wheels causing them to
revolve. The axis of the rear pair B has toothed wheels of different sizes at its
ends gearing respectively with wheels on a countershaft C, which by means of a
grooved boss engaged by a lever D under command of the driver, can be slid
longitudinally so as to bring into gear the one or the other of the wheels on the
shaft C according as greater or less speed is desired. A sprocket pinion on C,
works by a chain a sprocket wheel E which is free on the axle of the driving
wheel F, but has a spring pawl e engaging a ratchet wheel on the wheel F. Thus
the wheel F is driven by the movement of A in the direction of the arrow, but is
free to revolve faster in the same direction, as in the case of descending a slope.
Instead of one driving wheel F, there might be two driven from the ratchet wheel
by differential gear to allow for the vehicle turning. In front there are two
steering wheels mounted on a cranked axle G forming a locking frame which is
attached by a perch pin to the front part of the vehicle.
A pair of spring ensters H, either of which reaches the road should the vehicle
rock, serve to steady it. I is the driver's seat, K is a winch within reach of his
hand working a sprocket wheel from which chains and rods k lead over guide
pulleys to the axle G, for the purpose of steering. By means of another winch L
the driver can turn a vertical spindle and screw so as to apply a brake to the
countershaft C. The animal being backed on to the apron, has his collar attached
by traces and swing tree to the hook M and the rein N which branches to both
ends of the bit, passes over a guide pulley to a loop holding a foot of the driver,
by depressing which he can tighten the reins. By means of a treadle T he cau
apply a brake to the main wheel F.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manuer the same is to be performed, I hereby declare that
I make no general claim to apparatus for propelling a vehicle by a draught animal
treading on a travelling apron carried by the vehicle and geared to a wheel
or wheels driving the vehicle, but what I claim in respect of apparatus of
this kind is:-
1. The combination of sprocket wheels driven by the apron, a countershaft which
can be slid longitudinally so as to be connected by either of two sets of speed gear
to the sprocket wheel shaft; a sprocket piniou on the countershaft connected by

page_text: chains to a sprocket wheel, and a driving wheel with ratchet connected by spring
pawl to the said sprocket wheel, substantially as described.
2. A pair of steering wheels mounted on a crank axle turning on a perch pin,
in combination with a winch near the driver, a chain wheel and chains and rods
connected to the steering axle, substantially as described.
3. In combination with the framing a pair of spring casters, substantially as and
for the purpose set forth.
4. A winch and screw brake for the countershaft, and treadle and brake for the
driving wheel, substantially as described.
5. A branched rein, guide pulley and loop for the driver's foot, substantially as
described.
Dated this 20th day of October 1894.
ABEL & IMRAY,
Agents for Applicant.