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Title: |
1867 Article-Aveling & Porter, Steam Road Roller |
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Source: |
The Engineer Magazine, 04 Oct 1867, pg. 300 |
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Insert Date: |
1/3/2013 12:23:10 PM |
Messrs. Aveling and Porter's road roller is essentially a traction engine of the well-known pattern built by the firm, modified to suit the purpose to which it is applied. All the wheels are, in one sense, rollers of such width and so disposed that their paths lap over each other, and thus the whole breadth of track occupied by the engine is acted on at the one operation. The driving wheels are of cast iron, 7ft. high and 2ft. 6in. wide, an each weighing six tons. They measure 9ft. 9in. from outside of rim to outside of rim across the road, leaving an intervening space of 4ft. 9in., which is unrolled by them. This path is leveled, however, by the two leading wheels of the engine, which are placed under the large circular tank fitted at the foot-plate end of the machine. These wheels are 5ft. in diameter, and each 2ft. 6in. wide; they are placed together, and act as a single roller. The shaft on which they rotate is carried by a kind of turntable under the circular tank, between which and the turntable is placed a number of antifriction spheres of cast iron to facilitate movement.
The position of the steering wheel is clearly shown in our engraving. An indicator is provided by which the divergence right or left of the leading rollers from the centre line can be gathered in a moment. The feed-water tank holds 500 gallons, and may be loaded on top with coal or stone, to increase the weight on the forward end. The total weight of the machine, full, is thirty tons, of which nineteen tons rest on the driving wheels, and eleven tons on the steering wheels. The engine has a. single cylinder 11in. in diameter and 14in. stroke, the crank shaft being geared some 14 or 15 to 1 on the road wheels.
The work done by this machine leaves nothing to be desired. Forcing the stones into the substratum but not grinding them, it does just that which is required and no more. In connection with this subject we may state
that a steam road roller has been tried as a substitute for the paver’s rammer, and was found to answer very well indeed where too much water had not been used in preparing the substance of the road. Messrs. Aveling and Porter have produced the most powerful road roller ever made, and the people of Liverpool may congratulate themselves on being its possessors. The Metropolitan Board of Works will give general satisfaction in London if they procure just such another as soon as possible.
Image Courtesy of Grace's Guide
http://www.gracesguide.co.uk/File:Im1867EnV24-p300.jpg |
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1867 Aveling & Porter, Steam Road Roller
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