Improvements in and relating to Traction Engines.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Mar., 1897- Accepted, 31st July, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and relating to Traction Engines.
We, ANDREW JACKSON MARTIN, (Foreman of the Buffalo Pitts Company) CARLETON
SPRAGUE, (President of same) FRANCIS ROOT KEATING, (General Manager) and CHARLES
MICHAEL GREINER, (Secretary) citizens of the United States of America, residing,
respectively, at 258 Niagara Street, 115 West Chippewa Street, 240 Delaware Avenue,
and 35 Hodge Avenue, in the City of Buffalo, County of Erie and State of New York,
United States of America, do hereby declare the nature of this invention, and in
what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement :-
This invention has reference to traction engines and consists of various
improvements relating particularly to the mechanism for driving the traction wheels;
to the mechanism for varying the speed of the advance of the engine; to mechanism
for bringing the engine to a rest; to mechanism for reversing its travel; to
mechanisin for controlling the direction of its movement and to various other
mechanisms which will be more fully described hereinafter.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is a side elevation of our improved engine, a part of the near wheel being
removed to expose other parts of the mechanism to view,
Figure 2 is a top plan view of the same,
Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section on the line a-a of Figure 1.
Figure 4 is a section on the line b- of Figure 6.
Figure 5 is a section on the line cc of Figure 6.
Figure 6 is a side elevation of the mechanism for driving the traction wheels.
Figure 7 is a similar view with the parts in a different position.
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the cam for adjusting the driving dogs.
Referring to the drawings,
1 represents a horizontal boiler having at its front end a furnace 2, which parts are
sustained at the front by two traction wheels 3 and 4, mounted on a horizontal
transverse shaft or axle 5, connected to the furnace front and at their rear by a
swiveling truck 6.
At its front the boiler casing has fixed to it at one side by means
of bracket 7, an engine cylinder 8 containing the usual piston and a rearwardly
extending piston rod 9, which is connected by a pitman 10, to a crank 11 on an
engine or crank shaft 12. This shaft extends transversely along the top of the boiler
and is mounted at its ends in suitable bearings 13, rising from a saddle plate
embracing the upper part of the boiler and fixed securely thereto. At one end the
crank shaft is provided with a band or balance wheel 14, which may be belted to the
thrasher or other mechanism to be driven and at the same end the shaft is provided
with a crank 15 disposed at an angle to the said crank 11 and these cranks are
connected by pitmen 16 to the mechanism for driving the traction wheels. These
mechanisms are the same on both sides of the machine, hence the description of one
will suffice for both.
Fixed to the side of the boiler is a T-shaped frame comprising a diagonally
extending slotted base piece 17, to which is connected a slight distance above it, a
slotted plate 18, extending from the centre of the base piece and at right angles to.

page_text: the same, as plainly shown in Figures 4 and 5. Extending between these two slotted
plates is a rocking lever 19, having its upper end jointed to the pitman 16, before
alluded to. The lever is provided about midway of its length with an inwardly
extending bolt 20 carrying a plate 21, mounted to reciprocate in the slot in the base
plate, the plate and slot being dove tailed, as shown, to prevent their separation. In
its outer side the lever 19 is formed with a longitudinally extending dovetail groove 22,
in which extends a correspondingly formed fulcrum block 23, mounted loosely on a
laterally extending journal 24 projecting through the slot in the plate 18, and
connected to a plate 25 seated against the outer face of the plate 18. The journal 24
constitutes the fulcrum on which the lever turns when rocked by the rotation of the
crank shaft and this fulcrum is made movable along the slot in the plate 18 in order
to vary the stroke or throw of the lever at the point where the bolt 26 is connected to
it, and where the mechanism for driving the traction wheels is jointed, as will be
more fully described hereinafter. The movement of the fulcrum blocks on the
opposite sides of the machine is effected simultaneously by arms 28 and 28%, fixed to
the ends of a transverse rock-shaft 29, mounted in bearings in the upper portion of the
boiler casing. Each of the arms is formed at its lower end with an opening which
receives a stud 30 projecting from the side of the plate 25, carrying the fulcrum
block. The arm 28 is provided with an angular extension 31 having a forked end in
which a nut 32 is mounted on a horizontal axis and in this nut is screwed the rear
end of a rotary shaft 33 extending horizontally forward to the front of the engine,
where it is provided with a hand-wheel 34 for turning the same, the shaft being
mounted at this point in a bearing 35 fixed to the frame and of such construction
as to permit the rotation of the shaft and prevent its endwise movement. By turning
the hand wheel the nut will be caused to move along the threaded end of the shaft,
which action will rock the transverse shaft 29 and cause the lower ends of
arms 28 and 28* to move upward or downward, thereby moving the fulcrum blocks
in their guiding slots to or from the point of connection of the wheeled driving
mechanisins with the rocking levers 19.
Under the construction described the movement of the fulcrum blocks may be
effected while the operative parts of the mechanism are in motion, the speed of the
machine being increased as the fulcrum blocks are moved downward, and decreased as
the blocks are moved upward, towards the connection of the driving mechanism with
the rocking levers. When the fulcrum blocks are moved to a point coincident with
the connection of the driving mechanism with the rocking lever, the latter will rock
on this point as an axis and will not consequently impart motion to the driving
connections, and the machine will be brought to rest.
The driving mechanism for the wheels comprises two pairs of toggle levers, one on
each side of the machine. Each pair comprises two links 36 mounted loosely at
one end on the bolt 26 carried by the rocking lever 19, while their opposite ends
are pivoted to two links 37 which latter are in turn mounted loosely at their
opposite ends on a collar 38 encircling the axle or shaft 5 before described. These
collars are fixed to cam plates 39 and are each formed with lugs and recesses
adapted to interlock with corresponding lugs and recesses on two sleeves 40 and 41,
which loosely encircle the axle and abut at their inner ends, where they are
connected to operating levers 42 and 43, as will be more fully described hereinafter.
From the construction described it will be observed that assuming the fulcrum
block is adjusted to the position shown in Figure 6, when the engine shaft is rotated
the rocking lever 19, through its connecting pitman will be oscillated and turning on
the fulcrum block as a centre, will carry the ends of the toggle links 36 back and
forth, thereby causing the links 37 to move alternately inward toward each other and
then separate. This movement of the links 37 is utilized to drive the traction wheels
through the medium of clutches, carried by the links, now to be described. The
traction wheels are mounted on the projecting ends of the axle and each is provided
at its inner side, inward of its rim, with a laterally extending flange 44 which is
engaged by the clutches on the links and by which the wheels are rotated. These
clutches are in the form of gripping dogs 45 one fixed to each of the links. The dogs

page_text: consist each of a plate having each in its upper end an elongated slot mounted on 8
pin 46 projecting outward from the link. In its outer face the plate is formed with
an open recess having oppositely beveled walls 47 and 48 forming diametrically
opposite points between which walls the flange on the traction wheel extends and is
gripped when oscillated by the movement of the rocking lever. The lower or inner
ends of the plates are forked and in the forked end a spring finger 49 extends, which
fingers are fixed to elbow levers 50 pivoted to the links near their ends. The
function of these fingers is to adjust the dogs on their pivot from an inoperative
position, in line with the link, as shown in full lines in Figure 6, to an operative
position extending at an angle to the links as shown in dotted lines in Figure 6, and
full lines in Figure 7. The movement of the elbow lever to effect this change in the
position of the dogs, is effected by means of the cam plate 39, before alluded to, which
is provided with cam slots 51 in which pins 52, fixed to the respective elbow levers,
extend. These slots are of such form that by movement of the cam plate the dogs
may be adjusted either to the position shown in Figure 7, in which position, when the
links are oscillated, the wheel will be driven in one direction, to the position shown in
full lines in Figure 6, by which the wheel will remain at rest, or to the position shown
by dotted lines in Figure 6, by which the wheel will be driven in the opposite
direction. The parts may be held in the different positions adjusted, by means of
locking dogs 52 on the levers 42 and 43, adapted to engage three notches in segment
plates 53, fixed adjacent to the levers, the notches representing the three different
positions to which the dogs are adjusted, as just described.
When the dogs are adjusted to the angular position represented in full lines in
Figure 1 they will grip the flange and move the wheel to advance the machine when
the toggle links move in a forward direction, as indicated by the arrow, the rearward
movement of the links permitting the dogs to slip along the flange by reason of a
slight yielding movement of the dogs toward an inoperative position, on account of
the spring finger. By reason of the fact therefore that the links move in opposite
directions to and from each other, the flange will be gripped alternately by the dogs on
the respective links, and a practically continuous movement of the wheel will be
obtained. When the dogs are adjusted to the position shown in full lines in Figure 6 both
will slip along the flange as the links are oscillated and will have no effect on the wheel,
consequently the machine will remain at rest. When on the other hand the dogs are
adjusted to the angular position shown in full lines in Figure 7 the links will cause
the dogs to grip the wheel when they are moved rearward thereby causing the machine
to reverse its direction and retreat.
It is seen therefore that by the operation of the two levers 42 and 43 the machine
may be caused to advance, remain at rest or reverse its direction of motion, and this
without interfering with the movement of the engine shaft and its connected
mechanism.
To meet certain conditions encountered in practice, we propose to provide a brake
for one or both of the traction wheels. This brake may be conveniently constructed
of the form shown in Figure 1, consisting of a plate 65 pivoted at one end on a
horizontal axis adjacent to the flange of the wheel and provided with gripping fingers
on its outer side between which the flange extends. At its opposite end the plate has
pivoted to it on a horizontal axis, a nut 66 in which is screwed the lower end of a
vertical shaft 67 mounted near its upper end in a bearing 68 and provided with a hand
wheel 69, for turning it. By operating this shaft the end of the plate may be raised
or lowered, thereby causing the gripping fingers to engage the sides of the flange with
more or less friction, the fingers in this way serving as a brake for the wheel.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is.
1. The combination with the wheel, of the clutch adapted to engage the saine, a
continuously operating rocking lever, suitable connections between the clutch and the
lever, a movable fulcrum on which the rocking lever rocks and means for moving and

page_text: adjusting said fulcrum at will; whereby the stroke of the clutch may be varied to
change the speed of the wheel.
2. The combination with the traction wheel, of the driving clutch adapted to
engage the same, the continuously operating rocking lever, the toggle lever having
one link connected to the clutch and the other link connected to the rocking lever and
the fulcrum for the rocking lever adjustable to and from the point of connection of
the toggle link with said lever.
3. In a traction engine the combination with the engine shaft, of the rocking
lever, the link connecting the same with the shaft, the traction wheel, the
clutch adapted to engage the same, the toggle lever having one link connected
to the clutch and the other link connected to the rocking lever and the
movable fulcrum block on which the rocking lever is mounted, said fulcrum block
being adjustable to and from the point of connection of the toggle link with the
lever.
4. The combination with the traction wheel, of the two clutches adapted to engage
and drive the same, the continuously operating rocking lever, the two toggle levers in
the form of a quadrangle, and each having one of its links connected to the clutches
and its other links connected to the rocking lever, the movable fulcrum for the
rocking lever,and means for adjusting said fulcrum to and from the point of connection
of the links with the lever.
5. The combination with the traction wheel, of the clutch for driving the same, the
vibrating lever carrying the clutch, the continuously operating rocking lever, the link
connecting the vibrating lever with the rocking lever, the movable fulcrum for the
rocking lever and means for adjusting the movable fulcrum in and out of line with
the point of connection of the link with the rocking lever.
6. The combination with the rocking lever and driving clutch operated thereby, of
the movable fulcrum block on which the lever is mounted, the elbow lever joined at
one end to said block, the nut pivoted to the other end of the lever and the rotary
shaft mounted in bearings and screwed into said nut.
7. The combination with the traction wheel provided with the lateral flange, of the
clutch engaging said flange, the toggle lever formed of two links pivoted together at
their adjacent ends and one link pivoted at one end on the axis of the wheel and
connected to the clutch and the the other link movable to and from the axis of the
wheel and means for moving said link as described.
8. The combination with the traction wheel provided with the lateral flange, of the
two toggle levers mounted at one end on the axis of the wheel and having their
opposite ends mounted on a common pivot, a reciprocating slide carrying said pivot, a
fixed guide way in which the slide reciprocates to and from the axis of the wheel and
clutches connected to said toggle levers and engaging the flange on the wheel.
9. The combination with the wheel provided with the flange, of the arm or lever
vibrating adjacent to the flange, the relatively movable clutch carried by said arm and
formed with gripping jaws between which the flange extends, a spring also carried by
said vibrating arm or lever and acting on the clutch and holding it yieldingly in
operative position, and means for adjusting and holding the clutch in different angular
positions with relation to the lever.
10. The combination with the wheel provided with the flange, of the arm or lever
vibrating adjacent to the flange, the clutch provided with gripping jaws between which
the flange extends, said clutch being pivoted to the lever, the spring also carried by
said vibrating arm or lever and acting on the clutch and serving to hold it yield-
ingly in an operative position at an angle to the arm, and means for moving and
holding said clutch at will, in line with or yieldingly at an angle to the arm.
11. The combination with the wheel provided with the flange of the vibrating lever
adjacent to the same, the clutch formed with gripping jaws embracing the flange
and pivoted at one end to the lever, a pivoted spring finger also carried by said
vibrating lever and engaging the opposite end of the clutch and means for adjusting
said finger to throw the clutch on its pivot to different positions with relation to the
lever.

page_text: 12. The combinatlon with the wheel provided with the flange of the vibrating lever
or arm adjacent to the same, the clutch formed with gripping jaws embracing the
flange, and pivoted at one end to the lever, the elbow lever also pivoted to the arm
and provided with a spring finger engaging the clutch, a pin on the elbow lever, a
movable cam plate provided with a slot to receive the pin and means for moving said
plate at will.
13. The combination with the wheel provided with the flange, of the two vibrating
arms or levers adjacent thereto, the clutches pivoted at one end to said levers and
provided with gripping jaws embracing the flange, the elbow levers pivoted to said
arms, the springs fixed to said levers and engaging the free end of the clutches, the
pins on the elbow levers, the cam plate provided with the slots in which the pins
engage and means for adjusting said plate.
14. The combination with the traction wheel, of the toggle levers pivoted on its
axis, and mounted at their opposite ends to move to and from the axis of the wheel,
the clutches pivoted at one end on one of the links of the levers and provided with
gripping jaws between which the flanges extend, elbow levers pivoted to the links,
spring fingers connected to the elbow levers and engaging the clutches, the pins on
said elbow levers, the cam plate provided with slots in which the pins extend, the
sleeve encircling the axis of the wheel and connected to said cam plate and the
adjusting lever connected to said sleeve.
15. The combination with the traction wheel provided with the flange, of the
driving clutch engaging the same the movable brake lever provided with gripping
jaws between which the flange extends, and means for moving said lever to cause
the jaws to engage the opposite sides of the flange.
16. The combination with the traction wheel provided with the flange, of the
driving clutch engaging the same the brake lever pivoted at one end and provided
with gripping jaws between which the flange extends, the nut pivoted to the
opposite end of the lever and the rotary shaft mounted in fixed bearings and
screwed into said nut.
17. The combination with the traction wheel and the clutch for driving the
same, of a T-shape frame comprising a diagonally extending slotted base piece, a
slotted plate extending at right angles from the middle of the slotted base, a
rocking lever operated from the engine shaft and extending between the slotted
base and plate, a reciprocating slide in the base slot, a pin connecting said lever
and slide, links connecting the slide with the wheel operating clutch; the said
rocking lever having in its opposite side a longitudinal dovetail groove, a fulcrum
block mounted in the said lever groove and turning loosely on a laterally extending
journal which forms the fulcrum of the rocking lever, and projects through the
slotted frame plate, an adjusting arm connected to said journal or fulcrum to move
said fulcrum block up or down, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 16th day of March 1907
JENSEN & SON,
77 Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agents.