Improvements in Steam Rollers.
Year: 1891

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Rollers.
I, HERBERT John Haddan, of the firm of Herbert & Co., Patent Agents, of
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., London, Civil Engineer, do hereby declare
the nature of this invention, a communication to me from abroad by The O. S.
Kelly Company, of Springfield, Ohio, United States of America, and in what
manner the same is to be performed to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to improvements in steam rollers; the invention being
especially adapted to road rollers, as employed in the construction of pavements
for streets and similar purposes.
The object of the invention is to simplify the constructions heretofore employed
in steam rollers of this character..
The invention consists in the various constructions and combinations of parts
hereinafter described and set forth in the claims.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1, is a side elevation partly in section of a machine embodying the
invention.
Fig. 2, is a partial front view of the same showing the steering-wheels.
Fig 3, is a plan view of Fig. 2.
Figs. 4, 5 and 6, are details of the fork for supporting the steering-wheels,
showing the method of attaching the main frame and boiler thereto.
Fig. 7, is a transverse sectional view showing the location of the supplemental
tank and the sprinkling device, hereinafter more fully referred to.
Like parts are represented by similar letters of reference in the several views.
In the said drawings A, represents the boiler, A', the engine, A³, the driving
wheels, A, the smoke-stack, A', the boiler-tender and feed-water tanks, the con-
B B¹, are
structions of which are substantially the same as those already in use.
front supporting or steering-wheels, journaled in suitable bearings in a fork B.
To provide for the necessary movement of the front wheels, B B', to change
direction and properly guide or steer the roller and at the same time permit said
wheels to rise and fall at each end independent of the boiler and driving wheels,
I construct the top of the fork B³, with a pocket C, provided at the bottom with
an opening a, having at each side thereof and in line at right angles to the
axis of the wheels B & B', a convex bearing-seat a'. Located in this pocket C,
is a movable block C¹, having a central opening b, therein, and provided at the
bottom with a concave bearing-seat 6', adapted to rest on the bearing-seat a¹, so
This block C, is formed
as to bring the opening b, in line with the opening a.
at the front and rear with straight walls, adapted to fit snugly in the pocket C,
which is formed at the front and rear with corresponding straight walls; each of
said parts being formed at the respective sides with angular walls a', a³, h³, bª ;
block C, being considerably smaller in this direction, than the pocket C, so as
to permit a lateral rocking motion on the bearing-seat a¹.
the
The saddle B³, is provided with a king-post B5, preferably formed of wrought-
iron or steel and cast permanently into the saddle B. This king-post B', is adapted
to enter the opening in the block C, and pass through the same and through the
opening a, in the fork B, and thus connect the parts together; a small pin or other
fastening, preferably extending through the king-post B, below the fork B³,
prevents the parts from being separated. The opening a, at the bottom of the
pocket C, is made sufficiently large to permit the oscillation of the fork B³, with
reference to the saddle B³, the post B, and the block C¹.
It will be seen that by this construction a loose connection is formed between the

page_text: saddle and fork, which permits the wheels to turn on a vertical axis in changing
direction and to rise and fall at either end to accommodate themselves to uneven
surfaces, while at the same time a firm and rigid bearing is secured between the
respective parts in the direction of the travel of the machine by which all lost
motion in this direction is prevented.
The saddle B³, is preferably formed of cast-iron and provided with a circular
flange d, secured by bolts or otherwise to an annular ring or flange d¹, formed
integral with or permanently connected to the boiler A, at the front end of said
boiler and in front of the smoke-stack A', so that the saddle B³, is entirely forward
of the boiler A, thus preventing the same from becoming heated by the products
of combustion passing to the stack A, and from cracking from condensation of
steam from the smoke-stack, as frequently occurs when these parts are extended
back under the smoke-stack and about the boiler A.
In the operation of rollers of this kind it is desirable for some portions of the
work that an increased weight be employed on the wheels, while in other cases it
is desirable that the weight be dispensed with. To provide for securing a varying
weight on the carrying-wheels which may be readily adjusted to the work to be
performed, I employ between the front and rear wheels and preferably connected
to the boiler A, a supplemental tank D, adapted to be filled with water and having
a capacity of one or more tons of water. This tank is preferably to be independent
of the ordinary boiler supply tank A³, and is adapted to be filled to the required
height to secure the additional weight necessary when a heavier load is desired,
as, for instance, in finishing on street work.
In connection with rollers of this kind it is customary to employ, during certain
periods of the work, sprinkling carts, which are caused to travel in front of the
To dispense
boiler to better prepare the materials for the operation of the roller.
with these sprinkling, carts and to provide for sprinkling directly from the roller,
I preferably connect to the tank D, a transverse pipe D, perforated throughout its
length and preferably located at the bottom of said tank to which it is connected,
through suitable supply-pipes e e¹, having suitable cut-off valves controlled by an
operating lever e, adapted to be operated through suitable connections e³ ³, which
are extended to within a convenient reach of the operator.
Means are thus provided by which the materials operated upon may be sprinkled
down between the rolling-wheels and at such points and to the extent desired by
the operator of the rolling device who has direct control of said sprinkler. The
use of the separate sprinkling-cart is thus not only obviated, but the sprinkling
may be controlled by the operator so as to wet down the stock or materials to be
operated upon to the exact degree desirable.
°
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. The combination in a steam road roller with the steering-wheels, of a fork
supporting said steering-wheels, of a pocket in said fork open at the top, having a
convex bearing-seat at the bottom, an oscillating block having straight sides at
the front and rear adapted to fit into said pocket, with a convex bearing to rest
on the bottom of said pocket, said block being adapted to move laterally in said
pocket, a saddle connected to the main frame of boiler and a swiyel connection
between said saddle and block, substantially as specified.
2. The combination with a steering-fork and a front supporting saddle, said
steering-fork being provided with a pocket having a curved bearing-seat at right
angles to the axis of the steering-wheels, a movable block fitting at the front and
rear in said pocket and adapted to oscillate laterally therein on the curved bearing-
seat at the bottom of said pocket and a swivel connection between the saddle and
block, substantially as specified.
3 The combination with a saddle having a downwardly projecting king-post
rigidly connected thereto, a movable block provided with a central opening to

page_text: receive said king-post so as to swivel therein, a steering-fork having a pocket with
straight walls at the front and rear to receive said block, which is formed with
corresponding front and rear walls to fit in said pocket, a curved bearing-seat at
the bottom of said pocket on which the block is adapted to oscillate laterally,
said block being elongated in line with the axis of said fork to permit a lateral
motion of said block in the bearing-seat, substantially as specified.
Dated this 29th day of December 1891.
HERBERT & Co.,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London, Agents for the Applicant.