AN IMPROVED TRACTION ENGINE OR MECHANICAL HORSE, WHICH MAY ALSO BE USED FOR WORKING FIXED OR PORTABLE MACHINES.
Year: 1874

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to William Edward Gedge, of No. 11, Wellington
Street, Strand, in the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, for the
Invention of "AN IMPROVED TRACTION ENGINE OR MECHANICAL HORSE,
WHICH MAY ALSO BE USED FOR WORKING FIXED OR PORTABLE MACHINES.”.
A communication from abroad by Charles Bret, Captain, Com-
manding the Recruitment at Albi, Tarn, France.
Sealed the 3rd November 1874, and dated the 5th May 1874.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said William Edward*
Gedge at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents, with his
.Petition, on the 5th May 1874.
I, WILLIAM EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in
the County of Middlesex, Patent Agent, do hereby declare the nature
of the said Invention for "AN IMPROVED TRACTION ENGINE OR MECHANICAL
HORSE, WHICH MAY ALSO BE USED FOR WORKING FIXED OR PORTABLE MACHINES,"
a communication to me from abroad by Charles Bret, Captain,
Commanding the Recruitment at Albi, Tarn, France, to be as
follows:-
}
The Inventor in constructing the machine, the subject of this In-

page_text: vention, proposes not only to aid manufacture and commerce but also
the State, as it may be used for field telegraphy, flying ambulances,
canteens, field cooking apparatuses, and generally for such movements
of military stores and munitions as demand no greater traction power
than that of the average horse. Two of these machines coupled would
double the power and render important services.
vention, proposes not only to aid manufacture and commerce but also
the State, as it may be used for field telegraphy, flying ambulances,
canteens, field cooking apparatuses, and generally for such movements
of military stores and munitions as demand no greater traction power
than that of the average horse. Two of these machines coupled would
double the power and render important services.
This machine offers the advantages of safety from overturning, its
wheels having shifting axles, and of economy, as it may be kept in
repair at little cost.
This mechanical horse constructed as herein-after set forth, may be :
adapted to carts or carriages of every-description, public or private, and
to every kind of traction.
The use of trotting feet, copied exactly from those of the horse, with
joints giving the same action is one of the main features of this machine,
these feet acting upon the ground like those of the animal itself, and the
combined working of wheelwork set in motion by a double-armed.lever
or working beam, being equivalent to the bodily action of the horse, this
machine gives the same traction.
Sheet I. of the accompanying Two Sheets of Drawing shows in
sectional elevation a machine embodying this Invention, the machine
being at rest; and Sheet II., a plan of same working. When the
machine is moving forward the circular motion of the trotting feet F, G,
is from front to back, and the feet being set diametrically opposed to each
other in the form of a Maltese cross, when two feet strike the earth the
others are raised, the action of a walking or of a trotting horse being
thus produced according to the impulsion given.
To travel backward an inverse circular movement takes place, the
small wheels D, E, drive the two diametrically opposite feet from back
to front, and these effect the backing of the machine.
The interior arrangement and the play of each part will be easily
understood by reference to the plan, Sheet II.
To set this machine in motion it is only necessary to cause the lever
or beam K to oscillate alternately from top to bottom and to bring it
back to the point of departure. The first motion causes the sector J to
describe part of of a circle of 90 degrees, and the rack wheel i one of 180

page_text: those for wheels D, E. B, connecting rod wheel; C, C', intermediate
wheels; D, E, feet wheels; F, G, trotting feet with hoofs jointed thereto
so as to give the movements of a horse's hoof; H, connecting rod with
rack; I, rack wheel; J, toothed sector or wheel of the beam or balance
lever K; K, balance lever or working beam with four balls; L, L, fixed
pulleys; M, N, framing of the power; O, P, P¹, Q, capstan ;
O, being the endless chain; P, P¹, toothed wheels; Q, lever handle.
R, R', springs of the large outside wheels; S, axletree having a fixed
part No. 1, and moveable parts Nos. 2, 21; T, large outside wheels of
ordinary construction; U, small guide wheel; V, V₁, springs of the
guide wheel; X, supports of the uprights N of the power; Y, bearings
of the axle Z of guide wheel U.
The axle S might be of one piece and fixed, instead of in three parts
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent,
filed by the said William Edward Gedge in the Great Seal Patent
Office on the 4th November 1874.
TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, I, WILLIAM
EDWARD GEDGE, of No. 11, Wellington Street, Strand, in the County
of Middlesex, Patent Agent, send greeting.
WHEREAS Her most Excellent Majesty Queen Victoria, by Her
Letters Patent, bearing date the Fifth day of May, in the year of our
Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-four, in the thirty-seventh
year of Her reign, did, for. Herself, Her heirs and successors, give
and grant unto me, the said William Edward Gedge, Her special licence
that I, the said William Edward Gedge, my executors, administrators,
and assigns, or such others as I, the said William Edward Gedge, my
executors, administrators, and assigns, should at any time agree with,
and no others, from time to time and at all times thereafter during the
term therein expressed, should and lawfully might make, use, exercise,
and vend, within the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, the
Channel Islands, and Isle of Man, an Invention for "AN IMPROVED
TRACTION ENGINE OR MECHANICAL HORSE, WHICH MAY ALSO BE USED FOR
WORKING FIXED OR PORTABLE MACHINES," a communication to me from

page_text: abroad by Charles Bret, Captain, Commanding the Recruitment at Albi,
Tarn, France, upon the condition (amongst others) that I, the said
William Edward Gedge, my executors or administrators, by an instru-
ment in writing under my, or their, or one of their hands and seals,
should particularly describe and ascertain the nature of the said
Invention, and in what manner the same was to be performed, and
cause the same to be filed in the Great Seal Patent Office within six
calendar months next and immediately after the date of the said Letters
Patent.
:
NOW KNOW YE, that I, the said William Edward Gedge, do hereby
declare the nature of my said Invention, and in what manner the
same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement, reference being had to the accom-
panying Sheet of Drawing, and to the figures and letters of reference
marked thereon :-
The Inventor in constructing the machine, the subject of this Inven-
tion, proposes not only to aid manufacture and commerce but also the
State, as it may be used for field telegraphy, flying ambulances,
canteens, field cooking apparatuses, and generally for such movements
of military stores and munitions as demand no greater traction power
than that of the average horse. Two of these machines coupled would
double the power and render important services.
This machine offers the advantages of safety from overturning, its.
wheels having shifting axles, and of economy as it may be kept in repair
at little cost.
:
This mechanical horse, constructed as herein-after set forth, may be
adapted to carts or carriages of every description, public or private, and
to every kind of traction.
The use of trotting feet, copied exactly from those of the horse, with
joints giving the same action is one of the main features of this.
machine; these feet acting upon the ground like those of the animal
itself, and the combined working of wheelwork set in motion by a.
double-armed lever or working beam being equivalent to the bodily
action of the horse, this machine gives the same traction.
On the accompanying Sheets of Drawing, Figure 1 shows in sectional
elevation a machine embodying this Invention, the machine being at

page_text: rest; and Figure 2, a plan of same working. When the machine is
moving forward the circular motion of the trotting feet F, G, is from
front to back, and the feet being set diametically opposed to each other
in the form of a Maltese cross; when two feet strike the earth the others
are raised, the action of a walking or of a trotting horse being thus
produced, according to the impulsion given.
To travel backward an inverse circular movement takes place, the
small wheels D, E, drive the two diametrically opposite feet from back
to front, and thus effect the backing of the machine.
The interior arrangement and the play of each part will be easily
understood by reference to the plan, Figure 2.
To set this machine in motion it is only necessary to cause the lever
or beam K to oscillate alternately from top to bottom and to bring it
back to its point of departure. The first motion causes the sector J to
describe part of a circle of 90 degrees, and the rack wheel I one of 180
degrees, this latter driving the connecting rod H setting in motion the
fly wheel B, thus producing the first traction movement; the second
oscillation of the beam K bringing it back to its place completes the
circular motion of the wheel B, and the change of feet thus takes place
successively.
The trot of a horse should be obtained by 180 beats of the feet per
minute; 30 revolutions of the foot wheels D, E; 15 revolutions of the
wheel B; or 30 oscillations of the beam K.
In travelling backward the oscillations of the beam K must be
reversed, that is to say, from its position at rest or equilibrium upward,
and so on.
Changes of direction are effected, as will appear in the description of
the parts, by means of the curved lever arm Q of the capstan, which is
moved to the right or to the left, thereby transmitting the rotary motion
of the toothed gearing P¹ from whence it is communicated to the
toothed wheel P which causes the guide wheel U to pivot to the
required direction.
The sucess of this mechanical horse depends essentially upon the
state of equilibrium to be maintained between the resistance and the
power; an exceptional power in a small volume is therefore necessary,
and it is proposed to obtain this by charging the hollow cast-iron balls

page_text: F, G, trotting feet. These feet are placed on each side of the small
wheels D, E, (two being set vertically and two horizontally); they are
made of iron with wooden fittings screwed on to the frame; they are in
shape like the legs and feet of a horse, Fare the front and G the hind legs.
In the centre of these legs set end to end is a square hole, into which
enter the axle ends of the wheels D, E, upon which the said legs are
set crosswise, that is to say, two on the first plane and two on the second
plane. On each of the lower extremities of the legs is a moveable hoof
wholly of iron, shaped exactly like that of an animate horse, and
set in the curnet; it is an articulation constructed with mortice or with
hinge through which passes a screw pin, and which whether at a walk
or a trot and going backward or forward produces the play of a horse's
foot, thus permitting the feet to strike and rise at once from the ground
without causing damage to the road. It is the instantaneous and
nervous contact of these feet upon the road which gives impulsion
to the machine. This trotting foot arrangement will be found very
advantageous, more especially in climbing steep hills and triumphing
over obstacles upon rugged ground, but the power of the working or
balance beam might be used to obtain the same result with ordinary
wheels fixed on each axle of the wheels D, E, transformed into
axletrees.
H, connecting rod with rack made of iron, like an ordinary con-
necting rod, having a fitting at each end, the one fixed excentrically to
the tenon of the boss of the large wheel B, the other to the toothed iron
part of said bar termed the rack, which in its reciprocating motion
drives the said wheel.
I, rack wheel, of cast iron, gearing with the lower part of the
toothed sector J and into the rack H.
J, toothed sector or wheel of the working or balance beam K, like-
wise of cast iron. The toothed segment gears with the rack wheel I; in
the centre is a square or round axle, the ends of which are tapped for
screw nuts intended to fix the two arms of the balance beam K. This
axle rests on the two uprights N forming the framing of the driving
gear.
K, balance lever or beam with four balls or spherical ends. It is
formed of two slightly curved iron arms of equal length with square
hole in the centre to receive the axle of the sector J; these arms are

page_text: kept in their positions by two square nuts, and they carry at each end
fixed by a screw into a mortice, or even brazed, a large hollow ball of
cast iron charged with mercury or lead in a quantity sufficient to
establish equilibrium with the resistance. These balls may be made in
two parts, or metallic shells enamelled inside, then brought close, and
tin soldered exteriorly with a half open worked band on the circum-
ference; but this only when mercury is used. This working or balance
beam is intended to oscillate to give motion to the machine, and it has
always a tendency to return to its position in equilibrium which it.
leaves only under the action of the pressure communicated to it by the
diver's hand.
L, L, fixed pulleys. These pulleys are of hard wood covered with
polished iron, and have in their centre a groove carrying the rack H to
which they serve as sliding bearing in its reciprocating and rectilineal
motion. They are kept in position by fixed axles fastened externally to
each side of the uprights N, M, of the power framing by small nuts.
Each side of the pulleys is provided with a polished iron tube, in order
to lessen the friction and avoid a too rapid wear.
'
M, N, power frame or framing of the driving gear. It is formed of two
uprights of bar and plate iron, the centre at N having the form of a
reversed Y attached to a rectangularly arranged iron plate framing.
indented or cut at its base for the passage if necessary of a part of the
circumference of the tenon wheel P' of the back of the capstan. This
open cage or frame contains all the machinery for obtaining the power,
it is covered or enclosed at the sides with wood or sheet iron M, and the
pivot holes of the wheelwork are strengthened.
O, P, P, Q, capstan. These pieces form the whole of the capstan
intended to operate changes of direction; O is an iron endless chain
composed of jointed rectangles, known as the "
"
vaucanson or band
chain, or other suitable chain winding on the two tenon wheels P, P',
placed front and rear of the machine; P, P¹, wooden cogged wheels; the
first one P is set horizontally on the axle of the bearing No. 1 of the.
guide wheel U in front of the machine, and the second P¹ is placed at
the back part upon the triangular horizontal iron frame serving as
support to the two uprights N forming the framing of the whole driving
power gearing. This tenon wheel P is provided at its base and in its
axis with a cast-iron cogged wheel juxtaposed and gearing into another

page_text: smaller wheel set in the same direction as the first one, and having fixed
to it the handle Q which the driver of the machine must work by hand
whenever he desires to alter the course of the machine.
R, R', springs of the large outside wheels. They are formed of steel
plates superposed, and of a calculated flexibility; they are let into a
recess in the thickness of the frame A. The shorter ones R are fixed in
the centre of those R', and these latter are fitted on each axle; these
springs are held in the upper part of the recess in dovetail grooves.
S, moveable axle composed of three parts. The main branch No. 1
is fixed in the thickness of the iron frame A. The moveable parts 2, 2',
are forked, and cross the iron under the frame in the supporting groove
of the springs R, R¹, so that these bent parts of the axles project the
whole thickness of the boss of the large outside wheels T, which are
fitted to it in the ordinary way. The moveable parts 2, 2¹, are fastened
to the main branch or arm by a hinge into which pass the fixed
- pivots 2, 21.
The object of employing small moveable axles has for its object to
allow, according to the nature or uneveness of the soil, the lowering and
raising of the large wheels, and to preserve the equilibrium of the
machine. It may be also the means of avoiding overturns that happen
somewhat frequently when fixed axles are used.
T, large outside wheels. They are of ordinary construction.
U, small directing or guide wheel. It is made very strong and is set
in a strong iron bearing Y held at its nave by a small axle fixed
immoveably at the two sides or lateral surfaces of the bearing by two
nuts. The upper part of this bearing is terminated by a square axle on
which is set the tenon wheel P resting on a soldered washer by way of
base. A large nut keeps the above-mentioned wheel in position.
V, V¹, springs of the guide wheel, formed of superposed steel plates
sufficiently flexible and of a curve appropriate to their position; they
are arranged quadrilaterally around the square axle of the bearing and
are fixed by their ends under the flange of the inner circumference of
the front part of the frame by small nuts. These springs as well as
those of the large wheels T form an integral part of the frame A, rest on
the top of the bearing, and by reason of their flexibility allow the guide
wheel U following the depressions of the ground to rise or descend,
according to the nature of the obstacle.

page_text: X, supports of the uprights N of the power. This is an arrangement
of iron plates fixed transversely and triangularly in a horizontal plane
and symetrically superposed. These plates are kept in position by rivets
or by nuts. The transverse ones are fixed on each inner side of the
frame A, and at its back part by nuts. In the centre of the transversal
bars are the two holes in which turn the pivots of the sides of the
cogged wheels of the capstan P¹.
Y, cap or bearing of the guide wheel U. It is of iron in the shape of
pincers having two holes for the axle Z, one on each face, and a
square axle upon which is set horizontally the tenon wheel P of the
capstan.
I would here observe that the shell balls above mentioned should be
used for the working or balance beam K only after having made a trial
of those filled with lead, by reason of the higher price of mercury.
I would further observe that the movable axle S only is given as an
improvement, and that machines might be constructed with fixed
axles if found desirable.
In witness whereof, I, the said William Edward Gedge, have here-
unto set my hand and seal, this Fourth day of November, in the
year of our Lord One thousand eight hundred and seventy-
four.