IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO ROAD LOCOMOTIVES OR STEAM OR POWER CARRIAGES FOR COMMON ROADS AND OTHER WAYS, TO POWER PROPELLED FIRE ENGINES, PLOUGHING ENGINES, AND THE LIKE
Year: 1878

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Jones Saunders, of Liverpool, in the County of
Lancaster, Engineer, for the Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE
TO ROAD LOCOMOTIVES OR STEAM OR POWER CARRIAGES FOR COMMON
ROADS AND OTHER WAYS, TO POWER PROPELLED FIRE ENGINES, PLOUGHING
ENGINES, AND THE LIKE”
Sealed the 13th June 1879, and dated the 16th December 1878.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Jones Saunders at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 16th December 1878.
" IM-
JONES SAUNDERS, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer.
PROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO ROAD LOCOMOTIVES OR STEAM OR POWER
CARRIAGES FOR COMMON ROADS AND OTHER WAYS, TO POWER PROPELLED FIRE
ENGINES, PLOUGHING ENGINES, AND THE LIKE."
I construct a machine principally composed of these herein described parts.
There is a power generator or boiler which may be of any of the ordinary known
types as as present applied to similar purposes modified to suit.
The style I prefer to use is either of a cylindrical drum shaped form exteriorly
with a cylindrical drum shaped furnace placed excentrically in it, with ordinary
tubes leading from the furnace to the circumference, and this generator is placed
with its circumferential axis parallel to the line of direct motion of the machine.
Or otherwise I use a rectangular shaped generator somewhat the shape of a book
with the back uppermost, and the two covers representing the sides of the generator
placed vertical and across the line of direct motion furnace in the centre, and tubes
from furnace across the line of motion to either end.
The generator is mounted on wheels, preferably three in number (and of about
the same diameter) two abreast of one another, and the other one placed some dis-
tance apart from them, with the generator between it and them, so that the three
make as it were a tripodal support, these wheels from centre to centre horizontally
Price 671

page_text: forming a triangle, their positions similar to those in an ordinary perambulator, that
is, with their central axes some distance apart, and the vertical plane of the third in
a line midway between the central axis of the one and the axis common to the other
two.
The single or solitary wheel is fitted with a crank shaft or driving shaft, and the
shaft is carried by brackets or a suitable carriage having the generator attached.
The engines fixed to the generator, or on the carriage or brackets are connected to
the crank shaft of this wheel for the purposes of locomotion (to drive it). Engines
of almost any of the existing styles can be arranged to effect this, but I prefer that
known as Brotherhood's three cylinder, in which the cylinders are single acting and
the connecting rod and piston rod are one and the same piece or part. These engines
as is commonly known have their centre lines radial to each other, something
resembling the Isle of Man insignia, and the pistons work direct on to the crank by
the intervention or agency of one rod each only, and these engines, of which I
have either one or two sets, preferably two, are placed each engine or set of
three cylinders in a vertical plane, with the three cylinders of each set diagonal
to each other, centre lines at an angle of about 120° to. each other and one set
of three cylinders on each side of this wheel, and I can use either both sets for
going ahead and going astern, or one for going ahead and the other for going
backwards. The single or solitary main wheel has fitted to its periphery or tread a
set of plates or discs, say, if the circumference is 18 feet about 18 plates, and
if the tread or periphery equals one foot of about 10 inches diameter, placed
tangentially to the circumference, each with a rod perpendicular to the plate entered
through a hole corresponding in the periphery of the wheel, each rod tapered from
the end attached to the plate to its other end. The holes in the wheel through
which these rods pass are tapered the reverse way so that the outer edge of the hole
fits the rod with very little play, but internally on account of the reverse tapers on
the rods and holes respectively there will be so much clearance between rod and
hole that as the wheel revolves and passes over these plates in succession the plates
will be pressed on the ground by the weight of the wheel and attachments, and
thereby be held flat or parallel to the road for each time as the circumference of the
wheel is passing over each plate respectively. All this is for giving foothold or grip.
Between these plates and the circumference I place elastic material, such as plates or
discs of india rubber of suitable thickness and diameter for the purpose of diminishing
vibrations and shocks. These rods, perpendicular to the plates, and these plates
having a normal position tangential to the circumference will have a position radial
to the centre of this wheel. Between the inside circumference and the inner end
of the rods I put a spring or springs of helical or other configuration for the purpose
of holding the plates to the circumference. This circumference, or tread, or periphery
is on its exterior surface of the form of part of a sphere or globe.
The other two wheels abreast of one another are fitted on suitable axis carried by
brackets on generator, or suitable carriage or framing with swivel arrangement and
springs.
When these two wheels are moved by gearing so that the machine may take a
curved path, turning either to the right or left, the main or single wheel periphery
will turn or revolve round the rod edge ways, and on the plate it happens to be
passing over at the time of turning.
As in some cases it is desirable that the hind wheels should run on a rigid axle
and the front wheel swivel I sometimes construct the front wheel so as to run on a
universal or ball and socket joint.
I sometimes lift the solitary or driving wheel from the ground by trailing rods
(which can also be used as a brake) or other mechanical appliance, and by pumps
thrown into connection with the engine use the Invention as a fire engine. It can
also be used as a ploughing or engine for general purposes.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Jones Saunders in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 16th June
1879.
JONES SAUNDERS, of Liverpool, in the County of Lancaster, Engineer. "Iм-
PROVEMENTS IN AND APPLICABLE TO ROAD LOCOMOTIVES OR STEAM OR POWER
CARRIAGES FOR COMMON ROADS AND OTHER WAYS, TO POWER PROPELLED FIRE-
ENGINES, PLOUGHING-ENGINES, AND THE LIKE."
This Invention is best described by aid of the accompanying Drawings, in which
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a carrying wheel; Fig. 2, a plan; Fig. 3, general outline
elevation; Fig. 4, plan of same; Fig. 5, end elevation; Fig. 6, section of wheel
showing bearing; and Fig. 7, legs for raising wheel from ground.
"
C is a power generator or boiler, which may be of any of the ordinary known
types as at present applied to similar purposes modified to suit. This is mounted
on wheels A, B, B, preferably three in number (and of about the same diameter)
two abreast of one another, and the other one placed some distance apart from them,
with the generator C between it and them, so that the three make as it were a
tripodal support, these wheels from centre to centre horizontally forming a triangle,
their positions similar to those in an ordinary perambulator, that is, with their
central axes some distance apart, and the vertical plane of the third in a line midway
between the central axis of the one, and the axis common to the other two. The
single or solitary wheel is fitted with a crank shaft or driving shaft, and the shaft
is carried by brackets or a suitable carriage having the generator attached. The
engines, not shown in Drawing, but preferably of the three cylinder "Brotherhood"
type, on centre lines E, E, E, Fig. 3, preferably fixed on brackets on carriage F,
drive this wheel directly. I have either one or two sets of engines, preferably
two placed, each engine or set of three cylinders in a vertical plane, with the
three cylinders of each set at angles intermediate with each other's centre lines
at an angle of about one hundred and twenty degrees to each other, and one
set of three cylinders on each side of this wheel. I can either use both sets
for going ahead and going astern, or one for going ahead and the other for
going backwards. The single or solitary main wheel A has fitted to its periphery
or tread a set of iron, steel, or preferably phosphor bronze plates or discs G, G,
say, if the circumference is eighteen feet about eighteen plates, and if the tread or
breadth of wheel equals one foot of about ten inches in diameter, placed tangentially
to the circumference, cach with a rod H perpendicular to the plate entered through
a hole corresponding in the periphery of the wheel. Each rod may be tapered from
the end attached to the plate to its other end. The holes H, H', in the wheel
through which the rods pass are in any case tapered the reverse way, so that the
outer edge of the hole fits the rod with very little play, but internally on account of
the reverse tapers on the rods and holes respectively there will be so much clearance
between rod and hole that as the wheel revolves and passes over these plates in
succession the plates will be pressed on the ground by the weight of the wheel and
attachments and thereby be held flat or parallel to the road for such time as the cir-
cumference of the wheel is passing over each plate respectively. All this is for
giving foot hold or grip. Between these plates and the circumference I place elastic
material, such as plates or discs of india rubber I, I, of suitable thickness and
diameter for the purpose of diminishing vibrations and shocks. Between the inside
circumference and the inner end of the rods I put a spring or springs J, J, of helical
or other configuration for the purpose of holding the plates to the circumferential
surface of the wheel. This circumference, or tread, or periphery is on its exterior
surface of the form of part of a sphere or globe, or is curved transversely to an arc of
a circle. The two other wheels B, B, abreast of one another are fitted on suitable
axis carried by carriage or framing with swivel arrangement and springs. This is
shown best in Figs. 4, 5, and 6. B, B, are the two wheels; K, K, axes; L, bearing;

page_text: M, spindle on which bearings are supported; N, N, springs bearing against bearing
and frame work at O, O', and forked lever P; Q, transverse bracket, with pins q, q,
working in fork of lever P and supported by supports R on boiler (or carriage).
Transverse bracket Q is armed with rack teeth in which work a pinion turned by
hand wheel S on same shaft. By turning this to the right or left, as shown in
Fig. 4, the wheels are brought at any repuired angle with the carriage and the
engine turned. When these two wheels are thus moved by gearing so that the
machine takes a curved path the main or single wheel A will turn or revolve on
the rod H and plate G it happens to be passing over at the time of turning as on an
axis. To aid this it may be sometimes desirable to have an intermediate plate
between G and I. As in some cases it is desirable that the hind wheels should run
on a rigid axle and the front wheel swivel, I sometimes construct the front wheel so
as to run on a universal or ball and socket joint. This is not shown in the Drawing,
and I do not consider it a necessary part of my Invention. I sometimes lift the
solitary or driving wheel from the ground by trailing rods, shown as applied to the
main wheel Fig. 7 (which can also be used as a brake) or other mechanical appliance,
and by pumps thrown into connection with the engine use the Invention as a fire-
engine. It can also be used as a ploughing or engine for general purposes.
Having now described my Invention, and the best mode known to me of carrying
it into effect, I wish it to be understood that I do not claim broadly the principle of
a wheel with a series of soles or segmental rail laid by itself, but that what I believe
to be new and desire to protect under the herein before in part recited Letters
Patent is,―
First. The wheel mechanism, substantially as described, consisting of a series of
hard tough metallic sole plates backed by an elastic medium outside the main body or
rim, and capable of giving a little in every direction so as to suit the varying con-
tour of the ground.
Second. The combination of the sole (G), the elastic support (I), the pin (H),
spring (J), and rim of wheel (A) or their mechanical equivalent, substantially as and
for the purposes described.
Third. The mode of guiding a road locomotive or the like by causing to rotate
horizontally one or more vertical or nearly vertical axes, to each of which axes the
Bole bearing of one of the guiding wheels is attached, substantially as described.
Fourth. The apparatus for guiding a road locomotive or like engine, substantially
as described, and shown in Figs. 4, 5, and 6.
Fifth. The legs shown in Fig. 7, substantially as and for the purposes described.
Sixth. The general arrangement of road locomotives with main wheel (A) driven
by one or more sets of three cylinder engines, boiler, or generator (C) in the centre,
and a pair of wheels acting as guiding wheels, substantially as described and
shown.
In witness whereof, I, the said Jones Saunders, have hereunto set my hand
and seal, this Fourteenth day of June, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy nine
JONES SAUNDERS. (L.s.)