IMPROVEMENTS IN TRACTION ENGINES TO TRAVEL ON ORDINARY ROADS
Year: 1871

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to David Greig and Max Eyth, both of the Steam
Plough Works, Leeds, in the County of York, for the Invention
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRACTION ENGINES TO TRAVEL ON ORDINARY ROADS."
of "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRACTION ENGINES TO TRAVEL ON ORDINARY ROads."
Sealed the 19th September 1871, and dated the 13th April 1871.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said David Greig and Max
Eyth at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with their
Petition, on the 13th April 1871.
We, DAVID GREIG and MAX ЕYTH, both of the Steam Plough
Works, Leeds, in the County of York, do hereby declare the nature of
the said Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRACTION ENGINES TO TRAVEL ON
ORDINARY ROADS," to be as follows :-
This Invention has for its object improvements in traction engines
to travel on ordinary roads. In such engines the speed of the crank
shaft has to be reduced in its transmission to the driving wheels. For
the purpose of saving space and material we arrange this gear in such
a manner that the crank shaft itself lays in the centre line of the axle
of the driving wheels. This is done in the following manner :-The

page_text: crank shaft of a double or single cylinder engine (fixed either vertically
or horizontally to a suitable boiler) is at both ends carried by a long
neck forming a bearing, the two necks being connected by a tube-shaped
casting enveloping the crank and partially open towards the cylinder.
The frame, consisting of the tubular casting and the necks at its ends,
forms the axle of the hind road wheels which are mounted upon the
necks. On each side inside the bearings the crank shaft carries on
an eccentric two, three, or more pinions cast together side by side.
Each set of teeth of this double or triple pinion is in gear with a
corresponding ring of internal teeth. In case the pinion is provided
with three sets of teeth the two inside rings are capable of revolving in
the tube-shaped casting mentioned above. The outside ring is provided
with a neck surrounding the crank axle and protruding through the
outside neck of the frame which forms the axle of the hind wheels. The
protruding neck of this ring is connected by a pin or other suitable
means with the driving wheel. On one side of the engine this neck
is elongated and carries a small winding drum. On the other the
crank shaft is elongated and carries a fly wheel. There are bolts or
catches governed by a lever by which means either the one or the
other of the two loose rings can be stopped.
To better explain the operation of the apparatus we call the treble
pinion, assuming it to be treble, the "eccentral pinion," the two loose
rings "central wheels," and the third ring with the necks connected
with the road wheel the "driving wheel."
We further assume for the sake of explanation that the number of
teeth in each set of the eccentral pinion is the same but varying in
pitch, and that the two central rings have respectively, seventeen and
twenty, the driving wheel eighteen teeth. Suppose now the central
wheel with seventeen teeth to be stopped and the engine set going, the
teeth of the eccentral pinion will act on as many teeth of the centra
wheel as of the driving wheel in one revolution. It will therefore leave
the driving wheel behind the central wheel by one tooth and the driving
wheel will make one-cighteenth of a revolution for every revolution of
the crank but in an opposite direction to it. In a similar way whilst
the central wheel of twenty teeth is stopped the driving wheel will
change its position towards it by two teeth for every revolution of the
crank, that is, it will make two-cighteenths or one-ninth of a revolution.
in the direction of the crank motion for every revolution of the engine.

page_text: Thus by stopping either of the central rings on both sides of the engine
two speeds can be given to the hind wheels. When only one of the
central rings on one side of the engine is stopped one hind wheel alone
will turn, and when on one side the central ring with seventeen on
the other that with twenty teeth is stopped, one hind wheel will run
ahead the other backwards, causing a most rapid turning of the engine.
It is by no means essential that the three sets of teeth of the eccentral
pinion should have the same number of teeth and the central rings the
numbers assumed. It is also evident that by adding a third central
ring a third speed may be given to the hind wheel very cheaply. The
winding drum above described will, in this manner, have two or three
different speeds just like the hind wheels themselves.
The driving and steering road wheels of the engine we propose to
construct in the following manner:-The bush of the road wheel is
separate and has broad radial wings cast on it. The outer portion of
the wheel which receives this boss has a large pole at the centre with
similar wings but projecting inwardly; this wheel is placed over the
boss and the spaces between the wings are filled up with elastic
material such as india-rubber. The sides are closed with strong plates.
Thus not only is the weight of the engine supported by the clastic
material, but also the propelling of the wheel is accomplished through
it, and any shocks and blows caused by the roughness of the road are
thus deadened. We also apply india-rubber at the periphery of the
wheel. The india-rubber may be in separate segments and held on by
staples supported by links jointed to them and to the body of the wheel
and which allow them to move in a radial or nearly radial direction
following the compression and expansion of the india-rubber as it
alternately receives the load and is relieved of it. In a similar way
an armour chain surrounding an elastic tyre may be supported to relieve
the india-rubber from tortional strain. For the purpose of heating
the feed water and condensing some of the exhaust steam, and so
partially deadening the noise of the blast, we clongate the sides of the
smoke box upwards forming a body similar in appearance to a fire-box
placed in a reversed position on the hind end of the boiler. Traversing
the enlarged smoke box thus obtained we place a number of horizontal
tubes which at their two ends are covered by plates leaving sufficient
space for the circulation of water in the lateral boxes or water spaces
thus formed. These plates are again perforated and small tubes are

page_text: put through the holes and through the water tubes above mentioned.
The open ends of these internal tubes are inclosed in a casing of light
plates. The exhaust steam is let into the casing on one side, say on
the right hand, traverses the inner tubes, and cuters the corresponding
left-hand casing. The condensed water is drawn off from the bottom
of these casings. The cold water is let into the left-hand box or water
space, traverses the large tubes surrounding the smaller ones and enters
the right-hand box or water space, from which it is either led or forced
into the boiler.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said David Greig and Max Eyth in the Great Scal
Patent Office on the 13th October 1871.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, wc, DAVID
GRIEG and Max EYTU, both of the Steam Plough Works, Leeds, in
the County of York, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Thirteenth day of April in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one, in the thirty-
fourth year of Her reign, did, for Herself, Her heirs and successors,
give and grant unto us, the said David Greig and Max Eyth, Her special
license that we, the said David Greig and Max Eyth, our exccutors,
administrators, and assigns, or such others as we, the said David Greig
and Max Eyth, our executors, administrators, and assigns, should at
any time agree with and no others, from time to time and at all
times thereafter during the term therein expressed, should and lawfully
might make, usc, exercise, and vend, within the United Kingdom of
Great Britain and Ireland, the Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an
Invention for "IMPROVEMENTS IN TRACTION ENGINES TO TRAVEL ON ORDINARY
ROADS," upon the condition (amongst others) that we, the said David
Greig and Max Eyth, our exccutors or administrators, by an instrument
in writing under our or their hands and seals, or under the hand and
scal of one of us or them, should particularly describe and ascertain
the nature of the said Invention, and in what manner the same was to
be performed, and cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent
Office within six calendar months next and immediately after the date
of the said Letters Patent.

page_text: NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said David Greig, on behalf of myself
and the said Max Eyth, do hereby declare the nature of the said In-
vention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be par-
ticularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement
thereof, that is to say :-
-
This Invention has for its object improvements in traction engines to
travel on ordinary roads. In such engines the speed of the crank shaft
has to be reduced in its transmission to the driving wheels. For the
purpose of saving space and material we arrange this gear in such a
manner that the crank shaft itself lays in the contre line of the axle
of the driving wheels. This is done in the following manner:-The
crank shaft of a double or single cylinder engine (fixed either vertically
or horizontally to a suitable boiler) is at both ends carried by a long neck
forming a bearing, the two necks being connected by a tube-shaped
casting enveloping the crank, and partially open towards the cylinder.
The frame consisting of the tubular casting, and the necks at its ends
forms the axle of the hind road wheels which are mounted upon the
necks. On each side inside the bearings the crank shaft carries on an
cccentric two, three, or more pinions cast together side by side. Each
set of teeth of this double or triple pinion is in gear with a corresponding
ring of internal teeth. In case the pinion is provided with three sets
of teeth the two inside rings are capable of revolving in the tube-
shaped casting mentioned above. The outside ring is provided with a
neck surrounding the crank axle and protruding through the outside
neck of the frame which forms the axle of the hind wheels; the pro-
truding neck of this ring is connected by a pin or other suitable means
with the driving wheel. On one side of the engine this neck is
elongated and carries a small winding drum, on the other the crank
shaft is elongated and carries a fly wheel. There are bolts or catches
governed by a lever, by which means either the one or the other of the
two loose rings can be stopped.
To better explain the operation of the apparatus we call the treble
pinion, assuming it to be treble, the "eccentral pinion," the two loose
rings "central wheels," and the third ring with the necks connected
with the road wheel the "driving wheel."
We further assume for the sake of explanation that the number of
teeth in each set of the eccentral pinion is the same, but varying in
pitch, and that the two central rings have respectively seventeen and

page_text: twenty, the driving wheel eighteen teeth. Suppose now the central
wheel with seventeen teeth to be stopped and the engine set going, the
teeth of the eccentral pinion will act on as many teeth of the central
wheel as of the driving wheel in one revolution. It will therefore leave
the driving wheel behind the central wheel by one tooth and the driving
wheel will make one-eighteenth of a revolution for every revolution of
the crank, but in an opposite direction to it. In a similar way whilst
the central wheel of twenty teeth is stopped the driving wheel will
change its position towards it by two teeth for every revolution of the
crank, that is, it will make two-eighteenths or one-ninth of a revolution
in the direction of the crank motion for every revolution of the engine.
Thus by stopping either of the central rings on both sides of the engine
two speeds can be given to the hind wheels. When only one of the
central rings on one side of the engine is stopped one hind wheel alone
will turn, and when on one side the central ring with seventeen on
the other that with twenty teeth is stopped, one hind wheel will run
ahead, the other backwards. It is by no means essential that the three
sets of teeth of the eccentral pinion should have the samo number of
teeth, and the central rings the numbers assumed. It is also evident
that by adding a third central ring a third speed may be given to the
hind wheel very cheaply. The winding drum above described will in
this manner have two or three different speeds, just like the hind wheels
themselves.
Loving thus docaribed the nature of our Tuvontion wo „:ll
PROTO SHOW ion engine
constructed according to our Invention.
Figure 1 shews a side view, Figure 2 a vertical section through the 3
crank shaft, and Figure 3 a plan of the engine.
In these Figures A is a tubular boiler of the ordinary locomotive
shape, supported very nearly in its centre of gravity by the two hind
wheels of the engine; B is the water tank firmly bolted to the fire-box
of the boiler and carried by the front wheel (or wheels). The whole 3
engine is placed underneath the boiler barrel, the cylinder C being

page_text: .
bolted to it below the smoke box. The cast-iron "crank shaft tube" D
and the two end pieces or hind wheel studs E and E' are firmly bolted
to two side plates which are fixed to the sides of the fire-box, projecting
towards the smoke-box end of the boiler; these plates may also be
dispensed with by elongating the side plates of the fire-box themselves,
so that these projections form suitable brackets or supports for the
crank shaft tube. The tube is, as above described, partially open
towards the cylinder so as to permit the free movement of the con-
necting and eccentric rods. Towards both its ends it is a regular
closed tube or cylinder, being turned inside, and carrying in each end,
right and left, two wheels or rings (herein-before called central wheels)
a, a, and b, b, which are provided with teeth on the inside, whilst a
series of square holes are cast on the outside periphery of the ring.
There are two sliding pieces m and n on each tube end, whose position
is governed by the lever o in such a manner that either the onc or other
of these pieces or stops can be put into the holes of the rings a and b,
thus effectually stopping the rotary movement of such ring, whilst in
the middle position of lever o none of the stops interferes with the
movement of the rings. Protruding through the central holes in the
hind wheel studs E and E' there are two long necks d and d', which also
are perforated. Firmly keyed to them are on the inside the two driving
wheels (with inside gear) c and c'. On the outside the neck d carries
a block e, which by any suitable clutch arrangement takes hold of the
boss of the left hand road wheel. The neck d¹ carries on the other
side a small winding drum M, which by means of a pin can be firmly
connected with the right hand driving wheel. The necks d and d'arc
the actual bearings of the crank shaft F. This crank shaft has two
thick portions and f', which are turned eccentric to its centre line.
They carry the treble pinions G and G¹, each of the three sets of teeth
gearing respectively into the centre wheels a and b and the driving
wheel c.
On the left side the crank shaft projects over the neck and
carries on the outside of the road wheel the fly wheel H.
The rest of the engine will be sufficiently understood from the
Drawings without further description.
The steersman sitting on the foot plate formed by the tank has all
the handles near his hand. Besides the usual starting and reversing
handle there are two handles p and q, by which the stops m and n of
the centre wheels a and b are readily thrown in and out of gear.

page_text: The effect of the whole mechanism is now as follows:-When all
centre wheels are released the engine crank shaft turns without moving
the hind wheels at all. In this case the fly wheel of the engine may
readily be used for driving a belt. When ceither of the two wheels a
and a' or band b' are stopped the engine will move either with its slow
or with its quick speed. When only one wheel on one side is stopped
the corresponding hind wheel will turn while the other will stand still.
In this way sharp curves can be taken. This can also be effected by
stopping the quick speed central wheel on one side and the slow speed
central wheel on the other; thus one wheel will run twice as quick
as the other, and nevertheless both will be able to pull fairly. For
working the winding drum either of the central wheels a' or ' may be
stopped, whilst a and bare left loosc, and the pin connecting the
winding drum with the road wheel has also to be withdrawn, then the
engine will stand still, and merely the winding drum will revolve,
either with quick or slow speed.
Having thus described the nature of our Invention, and the manner
in which we prefer to carry the same into effect, we wish it to be clearly
understood that we do not confine ourselves to the precise details above
given, but what we claim as our Invention is,―
1. Placing the centre line of the crank shaft of a traction engine into
the centre line of the driving wheels of the engine, whilst at the same
time giving to the driving wheels a slower speed than to the crank
shaft.
2. The application of differential gearing, substantially as above
described, for reducing the speed of the crank shaft and transmitting
it to the driving wheels.
In witness whereof, I, the said David Greig, have hereunto sct
my hand and scal, this Ninth day of October, in the year of
our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-one.