Improvements in Machines for Breaking Up Roads previous to Repairs.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Oct., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 20th July, 1894-Accepted, 25th Aug., 1894
· PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Machines for Breaking Up Roads previous
to Repairs.
We, ROBERT HENRY FOWLER, THOMAS BENSTEAD, and JAMES GOZNEY, all
of the Steam Plough Works, Leeds, in the County of York, Engineers, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention has for its object machinery for breaking up roads previous to
repair.
We construct a machine which resembles in many respects implements heretofore
made for cultivating land; it is adapted to be drawn to and fro along the road by
ropes led to it from a winding engine. The machine consists of a frame supported
by a steering wheel in front and a pair of larger wheels on a cranked axle in rear.
A rope lever is provided which operates on a stud fixed to the frame intermediate
between the steering wheel and the cranked axle. Near the fore end of the frame
a rope lever is provided, the hauling and trailing ropes are attached to this lever.
When the direction of traction is reversed the rope lever swings over and in so
doing turns the cranked axle partly round and thereby lifts the rear part of the
frame or the frame may be lifted by means of a foot which can be let down by the
steersman. The axle is retained by a catch which is released when the frame is
wanted to descend to its working position.
The tools which penetrate the surface of the road are triangular pieces of
hardened steel; they are set in sockets prepared for them in the under side of a
massive casting or sole plate which is fixed to the frame and extends across it from
side to side beneath the axle. Each tool has two cutting angles and one is held
in the socket whilst the other is at work. A locking screw retains the tool in the
socket.
The number of tools employed may be varied but four is a convenient number
these may be fixed together in one row or may form two sides of a triangle.
This implement may also be used with a traction engine.
Another machine for breaking up roads we also construct as follows:-A metal
body which is loaded to suit the condition of the road surfaces, carries underneath
it a barrel or barrels which is so connected with the draft bar as to receive from it
a partial rotation when the direction of the travel is reversed. The revolving
barrels or barrel have sockets carrying pointed tools of such form as to penetrate
and break up road surfaces, and the pull of the tackle brings the points into action
for working in either direction. There is also a central stop to hold the tools clear
of work when the machine is travelling from place to place. The machine may be
hauled by a traction engine or road roller or by ropes and drums.
The implement is carried on four wheels, one pair at each end and both are
steering wheels, but the hinder pair of wheels is always locked by the automatic
operation of the draft bar.
Or sometimes we carry the implement upon a pair of main wheels on the same
axle with the tool barrel and an auxiliary wheel at either end. The strain on the
draught rope keeps the leading wheel down to the road surface whilst the hinder
wheel is lifted a few inches and becomes inoperative. The draft bar is made
adjustable in position to regulate the pressure upon the leading wheel.
Dated this 20th day of October 1893.

page_text: Improvements in Machines for Breaking Up Roads previous
to Repairs.
We, ROBERT HENRY FOWLER, THOMAS BENSTEAD, and JAMES GOZNEY, all
of the Steam Plough Works, Leeds in the County of York, Engineers, 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 machinery for breaking up roads previous to
repair.
We construct a machine which resembles in many respects implements heretofore
made for cultivating land; it is adapted to be drawn to and fro along the road by
ropes led to it from a winding engine. The machine is represented by the
Figures 1 and 2 of the annexed drawings. Figure 1 is an elevation partly in
section and Figure 2 is a plan. The machine consists of a frame a supported by a
steering wheel b in front and a pair of larger wheels c c on a cranked axle d in
rear. A rope lever e is provided which operates on a stud f fixed to the frame
intermediate between the steering wheel and the cranked axle; the hauling and
trailing ropes are attached at el and e' to this lever. When the direction of
traction is reversed the rope lever swings over and in so doing by means of a
chain g attached at one end to the lever e and at the other end to a quadrant h
made fast upon the crank axle d it turns the crauked axle partly round and
thereby lifts the rear part of the frame; or the frame may be lifted by means of a
foot which can be let down by the steersman. The axle d is retained by a catch i
which engages with ratchet teeth formed upon the quadrant. The catch i is
connected with a hand lever, which is drawn back and the catch is released when
the frame is wanted to descend to its working position.
The tools kk which penetrate the surface of the road are triangular pieces of
hardened steel, or square steel bar points, they are set in sockets prepared for
them in the under side of a massive casting or sole plate which is fixed to the
frame and extends across it from side to side beneath the axle. Each tool has two
cutting angles or points and one is held in the socket whilst the other is at work.
A locking screw m retains the tool in the socket, or suitably shaped straps may be
used secured by bolts.
The number of tools employed may be varied, but four is a convenient number
these may be fixed together in one row or may form two sides of a triangle.
This implement may be drawn to and fro along the road by means of a winding
engine or engines such as are used in steam ploughing or also may be used with a
traction engine or road roller, in which case a short rope or chain connects the
engine direct or by means of an ordinary winding forward drum and rope with the
lever e and this rope or chain is when required shifted from e¹ to e³ and vice versa.
n is a steering wheel, its axle at its lower end carries a pinion over which a pitch
chain passes. The chain is led along the two sides of the frame a to the drum o,
it is made fast to the periphery of this drum. The drum forms part of an inverted
turntable carrying the bearings for the axle of the steering wheel c.
Another machine for breaking up roads is shown by the Figures 3, 4 and 5,
Figure 3 is a side elevation, Figure 4 is a plan and Figure 5 is an end elevation.
In this case we carry the body of the implement upon a pair of main wheels u u
on the same axle with the tool barrel and we provide also an auxiliary wheel w
at either end.
ช
The body can be loaded or weighted when necessary.
A draught bar a as will be seen passes through guides at the ends of the body
and is secured by a nin. Holes in different unitions
d bo unanize this

page_text: barrel v carries two sets of pointed tools and there is an arm on the tool barrel v
which connects it with the draught bar. When the traction is transferred from one
end to the other end of the draught bar (the same having been set free by the
removal of the locking pin) the barrel turns or partially revolves and a change in
the position of the tools takes place. This movement is arranged so as to take out.
of work the set of tools which were previously engaged, and bring down the other
set of tools to penetrate the surface of the roads, or the draught bar may be stopped
in a mid position thus holding all the tools clear of the road surface and thus the
machine can be travelled from place to place.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A machine substantially as described in respect to the Figures 1 and 2 of the
annexed drawings; such machine consisting of a frame mounted on wheels and
provided with steering gear and raising and lowering appliances; such frame
having fixed to it a massive sole plate in which teeth or tools are set to penetrate
the surface of the road.
2. A machine substantially as described in respect to Figures 3, 4 and 5 of the
annexed drawings; such machine consisting of a body which can be loaded as
required; a barrel beneath the body armed with two sets of tools to penetrate the
road surface; a pair of wheels on the same axle with the tool barrel and a draft
bar so connected with the barrel that by the traction in one direction or the other
the tools on the barrel can be brought into and taken out of action.
3. Machines substantially as represented by the annexed drawings.
R. H. FOWLER.
T. BENSTEAD.
JAMES GOZNEY.