IMPROVEMENTS IN ROAD-ENGINES PROVIDED WITH ENDLESS TRACKS
Year: 1884

page_text: t
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
1
I, GEORGE FRANKLIN PAGE, of the City of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland,
one of the United States of America, Manufacturer, do hereby declare the nature
of my Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROAD-ENGINES PROVIDED WITH ENDLESS
TRACKS and in what manner the same 'is 'to be performed, to be particularly
described' and ascertained in and by the following statement:-
"
This invention relates to certain improvements in that class of road-engines in
which the driving and pilot or guiding wheels are connected by a chain or series
of links, which together form an endless track which the wheels traverse in the
movement of the engine.
In the drawings forming a part hereof
Figure 1 is an exterior side view of the wheels and axles and the endless track.
of the road-engine.
Figure 2 is a plan of Fig. 1, with one of the pilot wheels shown in section.
Figure 3 illustrates the movement of the wheels and their axle.
Figure 4 is a front view of Fig. 1.
Figures 5 and 6 are enlarged views of parts of the track.
A A are the driving, and B B the pilot or guiding wheels of the engine, running
loosely on their respective axles C and D. The driving wheels are moved in the
usual way from the engine, which, as it embodies no part of the present invention
is not shown or described herein. The axle D of the pilot-wheels is in two parts,
(denoted by a and b,) and they are each pivoted independently to a frame E, sup-
ported by the brace-rods c and d from the driving axle C. The inner ends of the
sections a and b of the axle D are toothed and connected by means of a spur
gear, F, on a shaft e, which may be partially revolved to turn the pilot wheels, as
shown in Fig. 3, from the hand-wheel G, through the medium of the shaft ƒ and
pinion g. The hand wheel G can be applied to an extension of the shaft e, but the
arrangement shown in the drawings is preferred, as less power is required to effect
the result, and the movement of the hand-wheel is in the same direction as that of
the pilot-wheels.
By reference to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that the pivotal point, around
which each pilot-wheel turns, is on a line drawn through the centre of the rim, the
plate of the wheel being dished to admit of the connection of the axle to the frame
at that point. By this construction, in turning the pilot wheels, the chain tracks

page_text: are never tightened, and only slackened to a slight extent, and there is less tendency
of the chains to override the edge of the pilot wheels.
The chain track, which is denoted by H, is composed of hollow links h, united by
bolts i, and each link has a curved extension, k, which enters the link adjoining it,
to prevent stones being caught between the movable parts. The outer surface of
the chain track is roughened, as is usual.
By reference to the drawings, it will be seen that the track has a V-cross-section,
and that the wheels are similarly grooved. This construction prevents the wheels
slipping on the track.
I am aware that in an engine a pair of wheels with a V-edge have been con-
nected by means of an endless-chain track which is grooved to fit the wheels; but
in this arrangement, the portion of the track resting on the ground is liable to bo
filled with earth and stones, and contact of the chain with the wheels prevented.
This difficulty is fully obviated in the employment of grooved wheels and a track,
as herein before described.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is
-
1. In a road-engine, the driving and pilot-wheels provided with peripheral
grooves and connected by an endless chain having a V cross-section, substantially
as and for the purpose specified.
2. In a road-engine, the driving and pilot wheels connected by an endless track
composed of hollow links having extensions which extend into the adjoining links,
substantially as and for the purpose specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
For the Applicant.