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Title: |
1869 Article-Ransomes & Sims, Steam Traction Engine |
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Source: |
Recent Improvements in the Steam Engine, 1869, pg. 282 |
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Insert Date: |
2/7/2015 1:36:31 PM |
In Messrs. Ransomes and Sims' traction engine, represented in fig. 111, there is one cylinder placed on the top of the boiler as in the usual form of portable engine, and the space beneath the barrel of the boiler is occupied by a water tank. The driving wheels are driven by gearing without the aid of pitched chains, and the steering is performed by leading rods from the fore carriage to a hand wheel situated on the foot plate. The cylinder is 9 in. diameter, and 12 in. stroke. The boiler contains 27 tubes of 2½ in. diameter, and the working pressure is 90 lbs. The road wheels are formed with cast iron tires and wrought-iron spokes, and between the geared wheels driven by the engine and the driving wheels, a friction clutch intervenes to enable the engine to be started and worked for a few strokes without any load, and also to give the power of proceeding easier round bends.
There are two different speeds upon the gearing, either of which may be used to suit the load to be overcome. It cannot be said that any of the forms of traction engine yet introduced are unexceptionable. But upon the whole it appears to be the best plan to construct the boiler with upright tubes, to form the driving wheels of wrought-iron drums, which would be unable to lift the mud or dust, and to apply self-acting clutches to the driving wheels, so that in bends of the road, one clutch would alone act, the other being for the moment rendered inert by overrunning the axle.
The toothed wheels should in all cases be made of wrought iron or of malleable cast iron, and it appears advisable to have two coupled driving wheels on each side, to gain the necessary adhesion without cutting into the road; Springs and equilibrium levers should be employed, and to enable the springs to act, the toothed wheel which drives the road wheel should be of bevel gear with a bevel pinion working into it, and fixed on an upright shaft in which there is a sliding triangular socket. Two cylinders may be used, working independently but capable of being worked in concert, by the aid of a friction clutch on the crankshaft and these cylinders will adjust their own speed to answer the requirements demanded by the bends of the road. The steam should be worked very expansively to save water and also to save fuel, and should be condensed by some simple surface apparatus that would also heat the air proceeding to the fires. |
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1869 Ransomes & Sims, Steam Traction Engine
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