IMPROVEMENTS IN TRACTION ENGINES FOR PLOUGHING, THRESHING, AND OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1864

page_text: I, JOSEPH WILLIAM LEE, of Princess Street, Leicester, in the Borough of
Leicester, do hereby declare the nature of the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS
IN TRACTION ENGINES FOR PLOUGHING, THRESHING, AND OTHER PURPOSES," to be as
follows:-
This Invention relates to certain improvements on former Patents respectively
dated the 27th May 1861, Number 1331, granted to Joseph Lee and Benjamin
Dutton Taplin, of Lincoln, for "Improvements in the Manufacture of Traction
Steam Engines and Apparatus for Cutting Joints, Heads of Connecting Rods,
and other Articles," and the 4th October 1862, Number 2678, granted to Joseph
Lee and William Lee for Improvements in Traction Engines and Boilers for
Traction, Locomotive, and other Purposes," and the present Invention consists,
-First, of a new and improved mode of combining and arranging the sliding
axle described in the Specification of Patent, Number 1331, with the following
parts in the construction of traction engines, that is to say, the axletree upon
which the chain wheel is made fast is to be fitted to the front end of the fire-.
box part of the boiler, and is to be supported by two brackets, which are
securely fastened to the boiler. Upon the bearings of the axletree are to be
fitted two carriages bolted on to the brackets that are secured to the boiler

page_text: In the brackets and upon the carriages provision is to be made by means of
slots to allow the carriages to move backwards and forwards five or six inches
for the purpose of tightening the chain at pleasure by means of adjusting
screws, excentrics, or otherwise.
Secondly, as regards the Patent of the 4th October 1862, Number 2678,
the present improvement relates to that part immediately connected with the
countershaft placed under the body part of the boiler as described in the
Final Specification of said Patent, and consists in placing same in a parallel line
with the main axle, and gearing said countershaft with two spur pinions and
pitch chain pinion for the purpose of giving motion to the driving axle, and
also to allow the free action of steel or india-rubber springs.
Thirdly, a further improvement consists in the use of a grooved or flanged
wheel or drum, which is fitted upon the main axle for the purpose of carrying
a steel wire, rope, or chain for hauling the engine along headlands or out of
soft places, or machinery up hills and other places. This drum or pulley is so
arranged as to be made fast or loose at pleasure; when required to be put in
motion the rope is slacked out, the axle uncoupled from the driving wheels,
and the engine set in motion, the end of the rope having been previously
fastened by anchors or otherwise.
Fourthly, a further improvement consists in an arrangements for connecting
the driving wheels to the axle by means of friction plates; these plates consist
of an external and an internal ring placed upon each side of the nave of the
wheel; these rings or plates are made to slide upon the axle upon fast keys,
and are pressed to the nave of the wheel on each side by means of the outer
rings; these outer rings are drawn together by two or more strong bolts passing
through the nave of the wheel, and by slackening or tightening these bolts
the wheels are made fast or loose as required.
Fifthly, a further improvement consists in an arrangement for the use of a
spiral or volute spring in the centre of the front axle or under works of the
engine; this spring is fitted into a recess which is made in the front bed plate,
and is so arranged as to allow the pin or bolt to pass through its centre,
leaving sufficient room for the free action of the spring; or in the place of the
spiral or volute spring india-rubber may be used in the shape of a large ring,
fitted into a recess suitable to receive it; upon this ring of india-rubber an
iron ring is fitted and made to receive the weight of the boiler and allow the
advantage of the action of the spring.
Sixthly, a further improvement consists in adapting a cover to the fly wheel
of the engine when the engine is moving from place to place in order that
horses may pass it without danger.

page_text: Seventhly, a further improvement consists in the use of an auxiliary
cylinder fixed to a carriage, placed next to the traction engine; the hind wheels
of said carriage are geared similar to those of the traction engine, and the
cylinder is supplied with steam by the boiler of the traction engine. This
5 cylinder is to be put in motion when ascending steep gradients.