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Title: |
1906 Article-Charles Burrell & Sons, Ltd., Light Steam Traction Engine |
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Source: |
The Engineer Magazine, 10 Aug 1906 pg. 154 |
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Insert Date: |
3/15/2013 9:47:25 PM |
LIGHT STEAM TRACTOR.
In our description of the implement section at the recent show of the Royal Agricultural Society at Derby we alluded briefly to a light steam tractor shown by Charles Burrell and Sons, Limited, Thetford. We are now enabled to place before our readers an illustration and further particulars of this useful engine, which has been designed to work under the Motor Car Act. The engine is of the compound reversing type placed on top of the boiler. The latter is of the usual traction engine pattern, but the fire tubes are curved. They are 25 in number, and 1¾ in. diameter. The boiler is designed for a working pressure of 175 lbs. per square inch, and the feed water is supplied by an independent steam pump. An injector is also provided, the water for which is fed by gravity. With regard to the transmission system, the change-speed; pinions are on the right-hand. side of the crank shaft and are controlled by a single lever. They drive a double spur wheel on the second motion shaft, on which is the differential gear, and the road wheels are driven independently from each end of this differential shaft by means of pinions and spur wheels. This method of transmission puts less stress on the hind axle than when the compensating gear is on the axle itself. For locking the differential gear on the second motion shaft sliding keys are operated by a hand lever from the driver‘s foot-plate.
The steering gear is different from the usual practice in steam tractors. A worm on the steering red operates a worm wheel on a vertical shaft on the side of the smoke-box, and on a level with the centre line of the
boiler. This vertical shaft carries at its lower end a pinion which gears with a spur wheel attached to the front axle. The wheels are of the usual traction engine type, the front wheels being 3 ft. in diameter, with 5 in. tread, and the back; wheel 5 ft. in diameter, with 9 in. tread. The brakes are ample. There are, first at block acting on the outside of the fly-wheel rim, and, secondly, rim brakes acting on the inside of the rims of both road wheels. The engine reversing gear can be employed as a third brake, if required. The tractor weighs 4 tons 17½ cwt. complete.
Image courtesy Grace's Guide
http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/File:Im1906EnV102-p154.jpg |
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1906 Charles Burrell & Sons, Ltd., Light Steam Traction Engine
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