IM- PROVEMENTS IN TRACTION ENGINES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Barnard Fowler and Max Eyth, both of the Steam
Ploughs Works, Leeds, in the County of York, for the Invention of "IM-
PROVEMENTS IN TRACTION ENGINES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Barnard Fowler and Max
Eyth at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 6th April 1877.
BARNARD FOWLER and MAX EYTH, both of the Steam Ploughs Works, Leeds, in
the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRACTION ENGINES."
The object of this Invention is to facilitate the application of very large
driving wheels to traction engines without unduly increasing their weight, and also
to place the same on springs. For this purpose the driving wheels arc centered ou
an axle which (either in bearings or direct) is free to move vertically up or down
within slots, so that the weight of the engine is not carried by the axle, and the
wheel therefore can be made of any desirable size without materially increasing
its strength. The engine rests on an auxiliary axle, provided with two wheels
similar to railway wheels. These wheels run on a ring or rail, which is bolted or
forms part of the large driving wheel. Thus the weight of the engine does not
affect the spokes of the wheel nor the main hind axle, but is carried direct by the
rim of the large wheel. The driving spur wheel is bolted to this rim; in preference
it forms the rail itself, on which the "carrier wheels" of the engine travel. The
large diameter of this wheel makes it possible to place the shaft of the driving
pinion into one horizontal line with the hind axle, both being at the same time
above the top of the boiler. Thus we are enabled to place the hind axles on
springs without further complication, as the up-and-down movement caused by the
action of the springs will, in such relative position of the axles, not interfere with
the proper working of the driving gear.
To provide against the launching motion which might result from the unequal
action of the springs on the right and left hand wheel, we employ a system of

page_text: levers, which gives to the carrying axle a parallel motion. The two bearings of
this axle, also moving in slots, are linked to the ends of two cross levers which are
jointed in the middle, their other ends being fixed also by links to the boiler. Thus
engine and boiler will retain a perfectly parallel position in relation to the axles,
whilst the free play of the spring is not interfered with.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Barnard Fowler and Max Eyth in the Great Seal Patent Office on
the 6th October 1877.
BARNARD FOWLER and MAX EYTH, both of the Steam Plough Works, Leeds, in
the County of York. "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRACTION ENGINES."
"
The object of this Invention is to facilitate the application of very large driving
wheels to traction engines without unduly increasing their weight, and also to place
the same on springs. For this purpose the driving wheels are centred on an axle,
which (either in bearings or direct) is free to move vertically, up or down, within
slots, so that the weight of the engine is not carried by the axle, and the wheel
therefore can be made of any desirable size without materially increasing its
strength. The engine rests on an auxiliary axle, provided with two wheels similar
to railway wheels. These wheels run on a ring or rail, which is bolted or forms
part of the large driving wheel. Thus the weight of the engine does not affect the
spokes of the wheel nor the main hind axle, but is carried direct by the rim of the
large wheel. The driving spur wheel is bolted to this rim, in preference it forms
the rail itself, on which the carrier wheels of the engine travel. The large diameter
of this wheel makes it possible to place the shaft of the driving pinion into one
horizontal line with the hind axle, both being at the same time above the top of
the boiler. Thus we are enabled to place the bind axles on springs without further
complication, as the up-and-down movement, caused by the action of the springs,
will in such relative position of the axles not interfere with the proper working of
the driving gear.
To provide against the lurching motion which might result from the unequal
action of the springs on the right and left hand wheel, we employ a system of
levers, which gives to the carrying axle a parallel motion. The two bearings of
this axle, also moving in slots, are linked to the ends of two cross levers which are
jointed in the middle, their other ends being fixed also by links to the boiler. Thus
engine and boiler will retain a perfectly parallel position in relation to the axles,
whilst the free play of the spring is not interfered with.
The Drawings hereunto annexed shew a traction engine with our improvements
applied to it.
Figure 1 is a side view; Figure 2, a transverse section; and Figure 3, a plan
view of the engine.
A is the driving road wheel turning on an axle, which can move up and down in
slots B; C is the driving spur wheel, the back of which forms the rail for the
carrier wheels D; M, M, are two levers which are jointed together by the pin N, a
plan view of these levers is shewn at Figure 4. One end of each of these levers is by
means of a link attached to the bearing of the carrier axle, whilst the other end is
attached to the boiler by a short link. Thus a parallel motion to the carrier
axle is secured. E, E, are the driving pinions gearing with the spur wheels C; the
axle carrying these pinions is above the top of the boiler, and in a line with
the axlo of the wheels A; it is driven, as shewn, from the crank shaft of the
engine.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention and the manner of performing
the same, we would have it understood that we do not confine ourselves to the

page_text: details of the above construction of traction engine, but we claim as our improve-
ments in traction engines,―
First. Carrying the weight of the engine, not by the axle of the driving wheel,
but by carrier wheels running on a ring forming part of such wheel.
Second. Placing the axle of the driving wheel above the boiler.
Third. The application of a parallel motion to the axle supported by the springs,
essentially as described.
Fourth. The combined arrangement of traction engine, essentially as described.
In witness whereof, I, the said Barnard Fowler, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Second day of October, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-seven.
BARNARD FOWLER. (L.S.)