Year: 1888

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Mar., 1888
Complete Specification Left, 21st Jan., 1889
Complete Specification Accepted, 23rd Feb., 1889
I, EDWARD PRATT, of Uxbridge, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
My invention relates to rollers actuated by horse or manual power, and used for
rolling roads, fields, cricket grounds, lawns, or other places where it is desireable that
the surface rolled should not be marked or injured by the feet of the animals or
persons using the roller. It has for its object a novel method of construction by
which the roller is made locomotive, the horses or other animals or the persons
propelling it being carried upon a platform carried by the frame of the roller.
For this purpose, I preferably make the roller in separate parts, namely a central
one in front and two lateral ones at the back, and supported by their axles I arrange
a frame carrying transverse shafts or spindles revolving in bearings and provided with
chain wheels or pullies round which pass a sufficient number of endless chains running
upon friction rollers and across which are fastened a sufficient number of strips of
wood or other material which form a travelling platform, preferably inclined down
towards the back, upon which one or more horses or other animals, or one or more
men, can stand and propel the endless moving platform backward with their feet, in
the well known manner used in what are known as horse-powers.
One of the transverse axles round which the endless chains pass, and which is made
to revolve when the platform is set in operation in the manner described has fixed
upon it a toothed pinion driving intermediate toothed wheels and pinions which
actuate a toothed wheel upon one of the roller axles, so that the latter is propelled
forward at the desired speed.
Instead of toothed wheels and pinions, chainwheels and chains of suitable size or
their equivalents may be used.
In order to steer the apparatus in any required direction over the ground, I make
the frame carrying the bearings in which one or other of the roller axles, preferably
the front one, revolves, moveable round a vertical pivot or centre, and I connect the
frame to a wheel or lever by turning which the apparatus can be steered in any

page_text: direction. The steering wheel may itself be held sufficiently firmly in the hands of
the person using it to form an abutment for the thrust of his feet backward against
the travelling platform, or a separate rail or support may be used for the purpose.
Where animal power is used the steering is effected by a person carried upon a
platform for the purpose.
By my invention grass or other surface is readily and easily rolled without its
surface being injured, and the whole weight of the animals or persons propelling it
operate in aid of the weight of the roller itself.
The apparatus may be varied more or less to suit the circumstances in which it is
to be used. Different powers and speeds may be attained as required by varying the
proportions of the toothed wheels or chain wheels used, and clutches may be used for
throwing the driving gear in or out of action.
The lower back end of the travelling platform is preferably arranged so near to the
ground that a horse or other animal can readily step on or off it.
Where horse-power is not to be used the toothed wheels or endless chains which
drive the roller axle as described may if preferred be driven by manual power acting
upon handles, instead of by the feet propelling an endless travelling platform.
Dated this 21st day of March 1888.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Applicant.

page_text: I, EDWARD PRATT, of Uxbridge, in the County of Middlesex, Engineer do hereby
declare the nature of my invention, and in what manner the same is to be per-
formed to be particularly described and ascertained in and by the following
statement and accompanying drawings (that is to say):-
:-
My invention relates to rollers actuated by horse or manual power, and used for
rolling roads, fields, cricket grounds, lawns, or other places where it is desirable that
the surface rolled should not be marked or injured by the feet of the animals or
persons using the roller. It has for its object a novel method of construction by
which the roller is made locomotive, the horses or other animals or the persons
propelling it being carried upon a platform supported by the frame of the roller.
For this purpose, I preferably make the roller in separate parts, namely a central
one in front and two lateral ones at the back and supported by their axles I arrange
a frame carrying transverse shafts or spindles revolving in bearings and provided
with chain wheels or pullies round which pass a sufficient number of endless chains
running upon friction rollers and across which are fastened by suitable attachments
upon the chains a sufficient number of strips of wood or other material which form a
travelling platform, preferably inclined down towards the back, upon which one or
more horses or other animals, or one or more men, can stand and propel the endless
moving platform backward with their feet, in the well known manner used in
machinery actuated by horse power.
One of the transverse axles round which the endless chains pass, and which is made
to revolve when the platform is set in operation in the manner described, has fixed
upon it a toothed pinion driving intermediate toothed wheels and pinions revolving
in bearings upon the frame which actuate a toothed wheel upon one of the roller axles
or rollers, so that the latter is propelled forward at the desired speed. Instead of
toothed wheels and pinions, chain wheels and chains of suitable size or their
eqnivalents may be used.
In order to steer the apparatus in any required direction over the ground, I make
the frame carrying the bearings in which one or other of the roller axles, revolves,
moveable round a vertical pivot or centre, or a ball and socket joint, and I connect
the frame to a wheel or lever by turning which the apparatus can be steered in any
direction. In light machines the steering wheel may itself be held sufficiently firmly
in the hands of the person using it to form an abutment for the thrust of his feet
backward against the travelling platform or a separate rail or support may be used
for the purpose. Where animal power is used the steering is effected by a person
carried upon a platform for the purpose.
By my invention grass or other surface is readily and easily rolled without its
surface being injured, and the whole weight of the animals or persons propelling it
operate in aid of the weight of the roller itself.
The apparatus may be varied more or less to suit the circumstances in which it is

page_text: to be used. Different powers and speed may be attained as required by varying the
proportions of the toothed wheels or chain wheels used, and clutches may be used for
throwing the driving gear in or out of action, and for reversing the direction of
movement.
The lower back end of the travelling platform is preferably arranged so near to
the ground that a horse or other animal can readily step on or off it.
Where horse power is not to be used the toothed wheels or endless chains which
drive the roller axle as described may if preferred be driven by manual power or the
feet acting upon handles or treadles, instead of by the feet propelling an endless
travelling platform.
The accompanying drawings are in illustration of my invention. Figure 1 is a
side view of a machine to be driven by horse power, and figure 2 is a plan partly in
section shewing the driving gear. Figure 3 is a transverse section. Figure 4
represents a modified form of machine actuated by manual power or by treadles.
In figures 1, 2, and 3, a represents the heavy central roller, and 6 the side wheels
or rollers. c is a strong frame of wood or metal carrying the axles of the rollers.
Upon the frame c are also fixed the bearings d and e for transverse shafts upon which
are fixed chain wheels f, g round which pass endless chains h, formed of links jointed
together and formed to receive transverse footboards i which are fixed to them. The
chains are also provided with friction rollers & which run upon rails and carry the
weight of the travelling platform and horses. The bearings e (figure 1) are shewn
adjustable so that the chains may be kept properly stretched.
The shaft of the chain wheels f has fixed upon it a toothed driving wheel m which
gears with a corresponding toothed wheel n upon the intermediate transverse shaft o
which also carries a toothed pinion p driving a corresponding toothed wheel r upon a
shaft which also has fixed upon it a toothed pinion s gearing with and driving a
corresponding toothed wheel & formed or fixed upon the heavy roller a.
The shaft o is also shewn carrying a fly wheel u, to which a break may be fitted.
and ware toothed pinions upon the chain wheel shaft and upon the intermediate
shaft o, and they gear with an intermediate pinion a.
Clutches are shewn operated
when desired by the handle y, so that either of the toothed wheels m or v can be
connected with the shaft for the purpose of reversing the movement of the roller a,
or of stopping it altogether by throwing them both out of gear.
The axle of the wheels or rollers & turns upon a central vertical axis at z (figure 1)
and is connected by chains 1, 2, to drums upon a transverse axle or shaft 3, which
can be turned round in either direction by a person carried upon the machine and
turning the handle 4 which drives by an endless screw the wheel 5 upon the shaft 3.
In this way the entire machine can be readily steered in any desired direction.
In order to put the machine in operation, one or more horses or other animals, or
men, stand upon the platform formed by the boards i preferably with a railing or
guards A. By the action of their feet the endless platform is driven backward and
by means of the toothed gear described the entire roller is driven forward or backward,
and is steered in any direction by the handle 4.
In descending hills, or when the machine is not in operation, a brake of the usual
kind (not shewn in the drawings) can be applied to the wheel u.
Additional toothed wheels of suitable size may be provided, by which the speed of
the machine may be varied as desired.
Instead of toothed wheels, chain wheels and chains or equivalent devices may
be used.
Where more than one horse or other animal is to be used, they may be placed
abreast or in front of each other.
If the power of men is to be used instead of that of animals, the modified form of
machine shewn in figure 4 may be used.
In this case the driving shaft B is shewn actuated either by manual labour turning
the flywheel C by means of a crank, or by pedals driven by the feet and connected to
cranks D upon the shaft B which drives the roller a by the intervention of toothed
wheels and pinions E, E, E.

page_text: A mowing machine may be arranged in front of the roller, so as to be propelled
forward with the latter.
I do not confine myself to the precise form of apparatus described and shewn in
the drawings, which may be modified more or less to suit the circumstances and
conditions under which the roller is to be used but having now particularly described
and ascertained the nature of my said invention and in what manner the same is to
be performed, I declare that what I claim is :-
1. The roller, actuated by the power of horses or other animals, or of men, carried
by the machine itself, substantially as and for the purposes described.
2. The combination of the heavy roller a, endless travelling platform i, and
gear m, n, p, r, s and t, substantially as described and shewn in the drawings.
3. In combination with the travelling platform, heavy roller, and gear, the devices
for reversing the direction of movement of the heavy roller, substantially as described
and shewn in the drawings.
4. Instead of the endless travelling platform claimed in claims 1, 2 and 3, the
apparatus for driving the heavy roller, by the action of the hands or feet, substantially
as described and shewn in figure 4.
EDWARDS & Co.,
35, Southampton Buildings, London,
Agents for the Patentee.