Improvements in Portable Engines.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 5th June, 1896-Accepted, 11th July, 1896
[Communicated from abroad by WILHELM MAYBACH, of Cannstatt, in the
Kingdom of Würtemberg, in the Empire of Germany, Engineer.]
Improvements in Portable Engines.
We, BRITISH MOTOR SYNDICATE LIMITED, of 15 Holborn Viaduct, in the
County of London, 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:-
This invention has for its object to provide a readily transportable source of
motive power for agricultural and other purposes and relates to a portable engine
which has only one axle and one pair of travelling wheels, that is to say, the
mechanism is mounted on a two-wheeled carriage or vehicle.
Owing to its lightness and free mobility the said portable engine is applicable
for use upon any kind of soil. Moreover owing to the manner in which the weight
is distributed, the transport of the engine is facilitated (since during such transport
the centre of gravity of the engine and its frame or carriage is above the axle,
and consequently the weight on the back of the draught animal is small), and when
the engine is at work it can be securely fixed in place or rendered stationary by
having one end of the carriage or frame lowered to rest on the ground.
The said invention also relates to means for affording flexible or elastic support
to the engine or motor so that injury thereto from concussions during transport is
avoided, and during the working of the engine the transmission of the vibration to
the frame is minimised.
In order that the raising and lowering of the extremity of the frame may be
effected with reliability and safety the said frame is provided with a screw spindle
furnished with a hand wheel or crank for turning it and with a foot for resting on
the ground. The nut through which the screw spindle works is secured to the
frame by a universal joint so that it is capable of turning in all directions.
The said invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which :
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation, and
Figure 2 is a plan of the engine in its working position.
°
Figure 3 is a sectional side elevation of the same ready for transport.
A is the frame, B is the axle, C, C are the travelling wheels.
The motor M, which may be a benzin or petroleum motor or other suitable
engine is suspended from elastic arms or supports m and is further stayed by a
flexible yielding support S. R is the reservoir for the motive fluid, and R' is the
reservoir for the cooling water, both of said reservoirs being attached to the
frame.
The device for raising and lowering or tilting the frame consists of a screw
spindle D provided with a hand wheel or crank E and with a foot F; the screw
nut G, movable in all directions, is located in the bearing H fixed to the frame.
N is a spike fixed to the frame and adapted to enter the ground when the said
frame is lowered to the working position as in Figure 1 in which position the
weight of the engine being forward of the axle operates to hold the frame
firmly in place. When the forward end of the frame is raised the centre of gravity
of the engine and frame is above the axle and consequently the load on the back
of the draught animal is very small.

page_text: Figure 1 shows the lifting and lowering device in a position adjusted for lifting
the carriage, whilst Figure 3 shows the position which the said device occupies
during transport.
To one extremity of the frame a pole J is connected by means of a linch pin or
the like. The pole is detached when the engine is to work.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to us by our
foreign correspondent, we declare that what we claim is :-
1. A portable engine supported upon one axle upon which its frame can be
tilted so that during the working of the engine one extremity of the said frame
will rest on the ground, and so that for transport or travelling the end of the frame
is raised, substantially as, and for the purposes, specified.
2. The employment of the flexible supports for the motor substantially as, and
for the purposes, specified.
3. The device for raising and lowering one extremity of the frame, substantially
as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
4. A portable engine constructed substantially as described with reference to
the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 5th day of June 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.