IMPROVEMENTS IN ROAD TRACTION OR SELF-PROPELLING ENGINES
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL, SPECIFICATION left by the said Michael Shillito at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 4th January 1883.
.
MICHAEL SHILLITO, of Leeds in the County of York "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROAD
TRACTION OR SELF-PROPELLING ENGINES,"
In my improvements in road traction or self propelling engines I employ every
propelling wheel in contact with the road for steering and convenient ways. in
which I employ every propelling wheel in contact with the road for steering as
well as for propelling according to my Invention may be as follows, without
limiting myself to the precise arrangements
As is now common I employ differential or compensating gear, i,e., two bevel
wheels and two bevel pinions all in mutual contact.
This gear allows the road driving wheel on one side of the engine to revolve at
a different speed to the wheel on the other side when going round a curve, the
steering meantime being effected by altering the radial position of the leading axle.
I effect the steering,-
1. By applying two brakes, one of them on or in rigid connection with each of
the aforesaid bevel wheels, thus forcibly retarding either side of the engine at the
pleasure of the steersman.
2. By applying frictional gearing actuated by the same motor to the two aforesaid
bevel wheels thus forcibly accelerating either side of the engine at the pleasure of
the steersman.
3. By driving the wheel or wheels on each side of the engine by a separate
motor.
When preferred I steer by means of any wheel in contact with the road that
may not be used for propulsion.
The boiler employed inay be either of the horizontal or vertical type. When I
employ the horizontal or locomotive type of boiler, the two main brackets carrying
the journals of the main axle may be made in one piece, or so extended towards
[Price 6d.]

page_text: each other and secured together as to form a frame which being mounted on the
main axle carries (freely supported on springs when required) the remainder of the
machine except such parts as aro supported by the other of the two axles. The
motion permitted by the herein before mentioned springs does not interfere with
the efficient working or the parallel position of the gearing used for transmitting 5
motion from the engine to the wheels in contact with the road.
When I use the vertical type of boiler I also employ springs securing similar
advantages to those above mentioned in the horizontal boilers.
Further I also when required construct the engine so that it is propelled by the
tractive force or adhesion to the road of all the wheels in contact therewith, such 1
wheels being actuated by the motor, these wheels as hereinbefore mentioned being
used also for steering purposes. I also provide that any carrying axle other than
the one driven direct from the engine has free movement, that is to say, is so
arranged that all the wheels bear freely on uneven surfaces this result being
attained without the addition of any other shaft or axle than would be necessary 1
were the axles rigidly fixed and also without altering the relative position of the
shafts used for transmitting power.
Further I place the intermediate shaft, that is to say, the shaft next to the main
axle transversely in the space contained between the cylinder or cylinders and
crank shaft and laterally between the connecting rod and boiler or frame on which
the journals of the intermediate shaft are carried.
The advantages resulting from my improvements are:
First. Greater hold of or adhesion to the road, for when I drive all the carrying
wheels, the weight of the entire machine is utilized for this purpose, and when all
the wheels are not driven I utilize as great a proportion of the weight of the
machine as is consistent with safety.
Second. With my improved method of steering the number of driven wheels
may be increased and their grip on the road more distributed also the damage
frequently resulting from their grinding action is greatly reduced.
Third. The surface of the wheels in contact with the ground may be much
increased as compared with those commonly used.
Fourth. Greater steerage power is obtained.
Fifth. The common tendency to rear in front when going forward is entirely
obviated.
CH-L

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Michael Shillito in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd July
1883.
MICHAEL SHILLITO of Leeds in the County of York "IMPROVEMENTS IN ROAD_
TRACTION, OR SELF PROPELLING ENGINES'
"
In my Improvements in Road-Traction or self propelling engines I employ
every propelling wheel in contact with the ground for steering and convenient
ways in which I employ every propelling wheel in contact with the ground for
steering as well as for propelling according to my Invention may be as follows
without limiting myself to the precise arrangements :-
As is now common I employ differential or compensating gear, i.e. two bevel
wheels and two bevel pinions all in mutual contact.
This gear allows the road driving wheel on one side of the engine to revolve at
a different speed to the wheel on the other side when going round a curve, the
steering heretofore or formerly being effected by altering the radial position of the
leading axle
I effect the steering
By applying two brakes one of them on or in rigid connection with each of
the aforesaid bevel wheels, thus forcibly retarding either side of the engine at the
pleasure of the steersman or
By driving the wheel or wheels on each side of the engine by a separate motor
the power being transmitted by any suitable means.
When preferred I steer by means of any wheel in contact with the road that
may not be used for propulsion.
The boiler employed may be either of the horizontal or vertical type. The
machine may be carried entirely or partially on springs. The motion permitted
by these springs does not interfere with the efficient working or the parallel
position of the gearing used for transmitting motion from the engine to the
wheels in contact with the road
When I use the vertical type of boiler I also employ springs securing similar
advantages to those above mentioned
Further I also when required construct the engine so that it is propelled by the
tractive force or adhesion to the road of all the wheels in contact therewith such
wheels being actuated by the motor, these wheels as herein-before mentioned being
used also for steering purposes. I also provide that any carrying axle other than
the one driven direct from the engine has free movement that is to say is so
arranged that all the wheels bear freely on uneven surfaces this result being
attained without the addition of any other shaft or axle than would be necessary
were the axles rigidly fixed and also without altering the relative positions of the
shafts used for transmitting power.
The advantages resulting from my Improvements are:-
First. Greater hold of or adhesion to the road, for when I drive all the carrying
wheels the weight of the entire machine is utilized for this purpose.
Second With my improved method of steering the number of driven wheels
may be increased and their grip on the road more distributed also the damage
frequently resulting from their grinding action is greatly reduced.
Third The surface of the wheels in contact with the ground may be much
increased as compared with those commonly used
Fourth Greater steerage power is obtained
Fifth. The common tendency to rear in front when going forward with its
consequent loss of steerage power is entirely obviated.

page_text: And in order that my Invention may be the more readily understood reference
is given to the accompanying drawings and to the Letters and Marks thereon
DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Fig 1 is a longitudinal elevation. Fig 2 is a part transverse section and part
transverse elevation. Fig 3 is a transverse section of differential gearing on
larger scale than Figure 2 all shewing my Improvements applied to road or traction
engines with horizontal boilers or sufficient of same to illustrate how my invention
may be conveniently carried into effect.
Fig 4 is a part side olevation and Fig 5 is a plan shewing my Improvements as
applied to road or traction engines with vertical boilers
As is now common I employ differential or compensating gearing i,e the bevel
wheels a and b and the two bevil pinions c and d all in mutual contact. These aro
brought into operation by the ordinary motor through spur wheel and other
gearing e carried in suitable bearings f.
The differential gearing is so arranged that the road or propolling wheel on one
side of the engine may be made to revolve at a different speed to the road or driving
wheel on the other side when going round a curve. This I effect by means of the
friction brake straps g these are passed round the peripheries of the bevel wheels a
and b and operated through the levers h and i screws k and Z and hand wheels m
and n Figures 14 and 5 The brakes may be actuated through hand levers as
well as through screws and hand wheels.
The alteration in the speed of the road driving wheels is produced by reducing
or increasing the friction on one or other of the bevel wheels a and b. By such
means these bevel wheels with their respective road or propelling wheels are caused
to rotate slower or quicker independently of each other.
The boiler employed may be either of the horizontal type as shewn at Figs 1
and 2 or.of the vertical type as shewn at Figs 4 and 5. The machine may be
carried partially or entirely on springs as shewn at 8 Figs 1 and 2 though not
necessarily so. The motion permitted by these springs does not interfere with the
efficient working or parallel positions of the gearing used in transmitting motion
from the engine to the wheels in contact with the road.
In order to prevent the engine being diverted from its course by any irregularities
of the ground an ordinary friction arrangement may be applied on the vertical
shaft a¹ of the trailing wheel z Figures 1 and 2.
When I use the vertical boiler shewn in figs 4 and 5 I also may employ springs
securing similar advantages to those above mentioned for the horizontal type
When required I construct the engine so that it is propelled by the tractive
force or adhesion to the road of all the wheels in contact therewith such wheels
being actuated by the motor, these wheels as herein before mentioned being used
also for steering purposes and without altering the relative radial position of any
axle as heretofore customary or necessary. This arrangement is shewn in Figs 4
and 5 in which t and u, v and w are the wheels in contact with the road of which
t and u are driven direct from the engine through ordinary gearing, and v and w
are actuated from t and u respectively by pitch chains ropes or their equivalents *
mounted on and acting through wheels y
For steering purposes I employ differential gearing similar in construction to
that described in the hereinbefore mentioned engine with horizontal boiler. Such
differential gearing is operated and controlled in a similar manner by the steersman
and may be placed in the position shewn at A Fig 5. This arrangement of differ-
ential gearing on an intermediate shaft as in Fig 5 for vertical boilers may be
applied also to engines with horizontal boilers
Although the range of steering when all the wheels are driven as shewn at
Figs 4 and 5 is comparatively limited yet as the engine is efficient when moving in
either direction such limited range is not so objectionable as to interfere with its
efficient working.

page_text: Having now described the nature of my said Invention and shewn by the aid of
drawings how the same may be carried into practice I would have it understood
that I do not limit myself to the precise details or configuration of the parts I have
described and shewn as the same may be varied or modified without in any way
departing from the nature of the said Invention; what I do claim is
The employment of the propelling wheels of road-traction or self propelling
engines for steering purposes, together with the means employed for operating the
same, and mere modifications thereof, substantially as herein set forth.
In Witness whereof I the said Michael Shillito have hereunto set my hand
and seal this Thirtieth day of June in the year of Our Lord one thousand
eight hundred and eighty three.
M SHILLITO. (L.S.)