Year: 1887

page_text: Date of Application, 17th May, 1887.
Specification Accepted, 17th June, 1887.
We, HENRY WOOSTER HYDE of Summit, Marion County, and GEORGE MYERS
of Mandarme Duval County Florida, United States of America, inventors 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:—
Our invention relates to new and useful improvements in traction-wheels; and we
declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such
as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the
same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters and figures
of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.
Our invention relates to the traction-wheels of common road locomotives or steam-
engines, mowing, reaping, and thrashing machines, as well as all such similar
machines as are intended to be propelled or driven upon trackless roads by their
ground or supporting wheels; and our said invention consists of certain details of
construction and arrangement of the parts composing said traction-wheel and their
anchor-adjusting devices, whereby an increased effectiveness in the operation of the
same is the result. The anchoring-blades are made reacting, so that injury thereto or
their bearings, in case impenetrable substances are encountered by them, is prevented,
and the degree of penetration or anchorage of the blades may be regulated to suit
the nature of the road-bed over which the said wheels have to pass, thereby ensuring
a positive anchorage under any condition of said road, whether hard or soft.
The object designed to be accomplished by this invention is twofold: first, to so
construct the anchoring devices that in case an impenetrable object is encountered by
the blades thereof when the wheel is in operation the stems or plungers of said blades
will react upon themselves, or telescope, and thereby relieve undue pressure upon
their bearings and prevent breakage or injury to the blades themselves, and, second,
to provide for the adjustment of said anchoring devices, whereby any degree of pro-
jection of the blades thereof is permitted, so as to ensure secure anchorage of the
wheel in all conditions of the road-bed, be it loose or compact; and, further, by
reason of the adjusting feature for regulating the degree of projection of the blades,
the anchoring devices may be thrown entirely out of action and the blades altogether

page_text: withdrawn from projection from the periphery of the wheel, whereby said wheel may
be used as an ordinary ground-wheel and without reference to the said anchoring
devices attached thereto, if such at any time be desired, or should paved roads be
encountered.
For a better understanding of the details of construction of our invention reference
must now be had to the accompanying drawings, in which
Fig. 1 represents a face view or side elevation of an adjustable traction-wheel with
its anchor-adjusting devices constructed according to our invention as applied to the
side rail of a traction engine or other similar machine, the anchors being in their
extended position. Fig. 2 represents a rear face view of the wheel as removed from
its axle, showing the bearing-rollers of the anchor-plungers as in an eccentric position,
and the blades as correspondingly projected from the periphery of the wheel, the
same as in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 represents a face view of the adjustable way or track and
mechanism for adjusting the degree of anchorage of the blades, the wheel being
removed from its axle, and said way being shown in its position upon the side rail of
the machine and as on the same centre or concentric with the axle thereof, the
position of the parts being represented as when the anchoring devices of the wheel
are not in operation; and Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the way as in its lowest
position or eccentric with the axle, the position of the parts being represented in this
figure as when the anchoring devices are at their full stroke, or in opposition to the
position shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a sectional rear elevation of the adjustable way,
taken transversely of the axle, and with the wheel as removed therefrom and the way
as at its central position, as in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional elevation taken
at right angles to Fig. 5 and longitudinally of the axle, and with the wheel removed
and the way as at its eccentric position, as in Fig. 4. Figs. 7 and 8 are detached
views of one of the anchoring-blades and its appurtenances. Fig. 9 is a plan view of
Fig. 1.
A represents the side rail of a mower, reaper, traction-engine, common road-
waggon, or similar machine usually supported upon and driven by ground-wheels,
and B the axle thereof, carrying at its ends the supporting-wheels B¹, the construction
of which wheels we will now proceed to particularly describe-that is to say, these
wheels are formed, as usual, of a central hub, a, spoke b, and broad rim or tire c.
Upon each side of the hub a, and encircling the same and secured to the spokes b, are
discs D D, having a series of slots, d, formed therein, which radiate from a common
centre and form the guideways for the inner ends of the shanks or plungers of the
anchoring-blades.
E E are the blades of the anchoring devices, which radiate in position from a
common centre, and whose bearing at their inner ends is in the discs D D, and at
their outer ends in slots e, formed through the rim or tire of the wheel. The shanks
of these blades are, as shown in Figs. 7 and 8, made double-that is, of a part or
half, f, carrying the blade E at its end, a collar, g, and a stop, h, and a part or half-
section, f¹, with collar i and cross-head j, bearing a roller, k, upon one side thereof.
Between the collar g of the part fand the collar i of the part fis arranged a spiral
spring, F, which tends to keep the sections of the plunger extended. The cross-
head fits within the slot d of the discs D, and thereby forms the supporting-guide
for the inner end of the plunger, as before stated. Near each end of the said cross-
head ; are formed shoulders j', which press upon the inner face of the discs D and
serve to prevent lateral displacement of said cross-head, and upon each side of the
blades E is formed a rib or spline, e', which, at the same time that it forms a
strengthening-brace for the blade, also serves as a guide for the blade when entering
a slot, e, in the rim of the wheel at the centre of and at right angles to and upon
each side of the slot e for the blade proper, as seen in Fig. 9. These slots formed
in the rim or tire of the wheel for the entrance of the anchoring-blades, are, as seen
in Fig. 9, placed alternately at right and left angles to the plane of the wheel, so as to
obtain a better anchorage than were the blades placed at right angles to the plane of
the wheel, as is usually the case in traction-wheels.
e,

page_text: X is a locking-spring, secured to the inner face of the disc D, whose bent ends 1,
engage a notch, 2, in the shoulder j¹ of the cross-head j, and hold the blades in their
closed position. This now completes the anchoring mechanism, which, as shown, is
formed upon and as an integral part with the supporting-wheels of the machine.
We will now proceed to describe the mechanism for adjusting or regulating the
degree or depth of anchorage of the blades. This consists of a circular way or.
track, G, formed by an inner wall, H, which is secured to a central supporting-disc, I,
and an outer wall, H³, separated a sufficient distance from the wall H, to which it is
secured by straps H, to admit the rollers k of the anchoring-plungers. The ends of
the inner wall or flange, H, of the way flare inward, and the ends of the outer wall or
flange, H¹, flare outward, to form a mouth, G¹, to the way to facilitate the entrance
therein of the roller-bearings of the anchoring devices, and this way is supported upon
a standard, I2, slotted at its centre, as at ¹, to admit the passage therethrough of the
axle B and permit the adjustment of said standard, and which terminates at its top
in a head or right-angled part, I', through which passes a screw, J. At the top and
bottom of this standard I, and upon each side thereof, are formed ears m, which
engage over a plate, L, secured to the side rail, A, of the machine, as at n, Figs. 4
and 6, and form the means whereby the way G is secured in position upon the
machine.
M is a circularly-arranged flange or fender, secured by brackets M¹ to the rail A
of the machine, and forming the upper limit of the path of the roller-bearings of the
anchoring devices, as will presently appear. This fender, as also the ones Hand H',
composing the way G, are formed on circles of which the axle B is the centre, so that
when the way G is in its concentric position, as represented in Fig. 3, with the
rollers k of the anchoring devices therein, the cross-head j, carrying said rollers, will
be at the bottom of the slots d in the discs D and upon a concentric circle with the
axle, and upon the rotation of the wheel, the rollers moving in concentric circles with
the axle, there will be no movement of the plungers, but they will remain inactive.
Referring now to the guideway for the plunger-roller bearings, the construction
of which having now been explained, we will proceed to describe the particular
mechanism employed by us for effecting the vertical adjustment of the said way so
as to cause the same to assume an eccentric position relatively to the axle of the
machine, and thereby effect a corresponding movement of the plungers and, through
them, the degree of projection from the lower circumference of the wheel of the
anchor-blades, to wit.
As before stated, the parts_composing the way G are secured to an upright, I',
which slides upon a support, L, and is formed at its top into a screw-threaded head
or nut, I, which forms the seat for a vertically arranged screw, J. This screw J is
held at the lower end in a shoe, N, and at its top in a bracket, O, secured to the top
of the side rail, A, of the machine, whereby vertical displacement of said screw is
prevented. Near the top end of this screw J is keyed a beveled gear-wheel, P, into
which meshes a similar gear-wheel, Q, carried upon the outer end of a shaft, R, whose
bearings are in supports p and q, secured to the rail A, and which shaft is supplied
with a hand wheel as at S, placed adjacent the engineer's or driver's seat upon the
machine, by which means the adjustment of the way G is effected by said engineer or
driver. As before shown, the screw J being held stationary in its bearings, upon
turning the same, because of the nut I' through which it passes forming a part of the
standard 1', which carries the way G, said standard is caused to move up or down, as
the case may be, and a corresponding movement in the position of the said way is
effected, so as to bring it in a more or less eccentric position relatively to the axle.
T is a mud-scraper for the wheel, arranged upon a shaft t, secured in bearings t¹
upon the side rail, A, of the machine, and supplied with a spring, V, by which it is
held in position against the periphery of the wheel, and by reason of which provision,
injury thereto is prevented should it encounter a projecting anchor-blade.
If desired, the wheel may be keyed to the axle or turn loose upon the same, as the
movement of the axle has no bearing upon or relation to the operation of the anchoring
devices.

page_text: The operation is as follows: Supposing the way G to be in the central or concentric
position relatively to the axle, as shown in Fig. 3, with the rollers of the plungers
therein against the inner ends of the slots in the discs D. If, therefore, the wheel be
revolved there will be no movement of the anchoring-blades, for their roller-bearings,
by which they are operated, will move in a circular path around the axle of the
machine. This is the position of the parts when the road-bed is sufficiently hard for
the wheel to secure a hold by friction alone and without the use of flanges across
the rim or tire of the same. If, now, the road be soft or yielding, a simple turn of
the hand-wheel S by the operator causes a movement of the gear wheels P and Q and
a corresponding revolution of the scrow J, and through it a depression of the
standard I, which, being integral with the way G, carries the same with it, and by
removing said way from adjacent the axle causes it to assume an eccentric position
relatively to the same. By this movement of the way G such of the bearing-rollers of
the plungers of the anchoring-blades as are within said way are carried downward
and out of a circular path relatively to the axle. Upon the revolution of the wheel
which carries the said rollers around with it, they (the said rollers) are therefore
caused to move in an eccentric circle around the axle, the degree of which eccentricity
depending upon the degree of depression or distance of the way G from the axle, and
through said rollers the plungers and their attached blades are caused to project a
corresponding distance from the periphery of the wheel, and, entering the ground a
more or less degree, a corresponding anchorage for the wheel is the result.
road-bed be very soft and yielding, the blades are correspondingly projected. If hard,
they are withdrawn by operating the screw J through the hand-wheel S, as aforesaid,
so as to draw the way G toward the shaft and cause its track to assume less of an
eccentric circle.
If the
When, in the operation of the machine with the anchoring-blades projecting there-
from, said blades encounter rocks or other impenetrable substances in the earth beneath
the wheels, injury to said blades will be prevented by reason of the sections of the
plungers telescoping upon themselves, the spring F, whose tension is only sufficient to
hold blades extended when ordinary soil or resistance is encountered by them,
permitting such movement, and immediately that such obstruction is passed the
resilience of the causes the blades to assume their normal position. By reason of this
spring F breakage or injury to either the blade itself or its securing devices is pre-
vented, and a corresponding saving thereby effected in the cost of the machine.
As by reference to Figs. 3 and 4 it will be seen that the track or way for the rollers
of the plungers is formed of a half-circle, so that the said rollers only occupy said way
during half their movement around their axle, when, therefore, the rollers escape from
or pass beyond the said way they will by their own weight drop back to their normal
position. This however, is not altogether depended upon, for the blades may, by
reason of the presence of mud or other obstruction, not move freely in their bearings.
A guard or fender, as at M, is therefore arranged above the way G and permanently
secured upon the rail A of the machine in a curved position whose centre is the axle,
so that the rollers as they pass from the way G will encounter this guard and be
thereby forced inward toward the centre of the wheel. A positive motion, both back
and forth, therefore given to the anchoring-blades, and their proper reciprocation
assured.
Both the way G and the guard M act in the same way-that is, to propel or force
the anchoring-blades downward; but in so doing they cause contrary movements of
said blade one away from the centre of the wheel, which projects the blades from the
periphery thereof, and the other toward the centre, which withdraws said blades from
an extended or projected position.
As before stated, by reason of the blades being arranged at alternate right and left
angles relatively to the plane of the wheel, in addition to a more secure bearing
resulting therefrom, less mud will accumulate between said blades and be easier of
removal that were the blades arranged at right angles, as is usual. Any lodgment,
however, that should occur will be removed by the spring-scraper T, the shaft of which
being supplied with a spring, injury to said scraper cannot occur should it engage the

page_text: °
projecting edge of any blade; but it will be permitted to move upward and ride over
the obstruction, and then again assume its proper position.
Referring again to the way G, it will be seen that while the lower portion of the
outer wall, H¹, is upon the arc of a circle, the portion of the ends thereof which extends
above a line drawn through the centre of said way, when it is concentric with the
axle, is straight, or on a tangent to the circle, as seen at G³, and this tangent portion
should be of such length or be extended to an equal degree with the greatest
eccentricity of the way or penetration of the blades, whereby, when the way is at its
greatest eccentricity, the end of the outer wall thereof will not be below the axle, so
that the escape of the bearing-rollers of the blades is prevented and the withdrawal of
the said blades assured at any position of the way.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention, and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what
we claim is :-
1. In a traction-wheel, the combination, with said wheel and the frame of the
machine, of a series of anchoring-blades radiating in position in bearings within said
wheel, and carrying a roller-bearing at its end, which projects from the inner face of
the wheel, an adjustable way in which said roller-bearing travels, secured upon the
said frame of the machine independent of the wheel, and means, substantially such as
described, secured to the frame of the machine for effecting the adjustment of said way,
for the purposes specified.
2. A traction-wheel having disks D D secured thereto, upon each side thereof,
around the hub, formed with a series of slots, d, radiating from the centre thereof, and
a slotted rim or tire, c, combined with a series of anchoring-blades, E, whose bearings
are in said discs and slotted rim, and means for causing a reciprocation of said.blades,
substantially as shown and described, for the purposes specified.
1
3. In a traction-wheel, in combination with said wheel having the slotted central
dises, D, and slotted rim c, the anchoring-blades E, having a shouldered cross-head,j, j¹
which enters the slots in said discs, having a notch, 2, and locking-spring X¹, as shown
and described, for the purposes specified.
4. In a traction-wheel, in combination with said wheel having a slotted rim, c, and
central discs, D, the anchoring-blades E, whose bearings are in said rim and discs,
formed with a double shank, ff, which slide upon or telescope with each other, and
supplied with a reacting spring, F, substantially as and for the purposes described.
5. In a traction-wheel, an anchoring-blade having bearings in said wheel, the shank
of which is formed of two members sliding upon each other and held in an extended
position by a spring, the bearing by which the shank is operated being upon one.
member, while the blade is upon the other, so that each member of the shank may
move independent of the other and thereby prevent injury to either the shank, its
bearing, or blade.
6. In a traction-wheel, in combination with said wheel formed with a slotted rim
and slotted central discs, DD, the anchoring blades E, having double shanks ff',
cross-head j, carrying a roller, k, and spring F, encircling the shanks, substantially as
shown and described, for the purposes specified.
7. In a traction-wheel, in combination with said wheel and a series of radiating
anchoring-blades supplied with roller-bearings at their inner ends, and having their
bearings in said wheel, the track or way G, formed of the curved plates H and H',
standard 1, sliding upon a support, L, screw J, bevel-gears PQ, and shaft R and
hand-wheel S, all constructed and arranged substantially as shown and described, for
the purposes specified.
8. In a traction-wheel, in combination with the adjustable way G, the stationary
guard M, arranged upon a circle above said way and concentric with the axle of the
machine, substantially as and for the purposes described and shown.
9. A traction-wheel formed with a series of anchoring-blades having bearings in
said wheel, whose shanks carry the blades at one extremity and the bearings to receive
the pressure necessary to operate the same at the other, and are made collapsible or

page_text: telescropic, and a vertically-adjustable way or track whereby the degree of projection
of said blades from the wheel may be regulated, and the parts of the shank will move
upon each other should the blades meet an obstruction.
10. A traction-wheel for land-engines, &c., formed with a series of anchoring-blades
which project from the rim of said wheel at alternate right and left angles to the plane
of said wheel, as and for the purposes described and shown.
11. The combination, in a traction-wheel formed with a series of anchoring-blades
which project from the rim of said wheel alternately at right and left angles, and
suitable mechanism for operating said blades, of the spring-actuated mud-scraper
arranged upon the frame of the machine so as to engage the periphery of the wheel,
and adapted to react upon engagement with said projecting blades and prevent injury
to either said blade or scraper.
12. In a traction-wheel, the anchoring-blades formed with a central strengthening
rib or spline, combined with the rim of said wheel, formed with slots therethrough to
receive the body of the blade and cross-slots to receive the rib or spline of said blade,
as shown and described, for the purposes specified.