US394851A - Traction-engine - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.) 3 SheetsSheet 1.

- G. T. GLOVER.

TRACTION ENGINE.

Patented e0. 18, 1888.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

G. T. GLOVER. TRAGTION ENGINE.

Patented 1360.18,

- y Cftaa. 9 W e y N FUERSuPholwI-ilmgnphcr. Washington. mc

UNITED STATES PATENT O FICE.

iEORGE 'l. GLOVER, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

TRACTION-ENGIN E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 394,851, dated December 18, 1888.

Application filed May 28, 1888. gerial No. 275,400. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE T. GLOVER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in 'lraction-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

lVhile I have successfully operated in the lumber regions a construction of traction-engine secured to me by Letters Patent of the United States No. 312,596, and further improved, as in Letters Patent No. 360,584, subsequently granted me, I have deemed further improvements thereon desirable, owing to the novel and peculiar nature of the work, which consists in driving a traction-engine through the snow, melting down the snow to form an ice road, and 'haulin a train of sledges loaded with logs. Means for automatically weight in g or holding down the traction-wheels to an extent proportional to the resistance to be overcome constitutes a most important factor in a traction-engine for such work, it being found necessary to vary the force with which the traetion-wheels are held down proportionally to said resistance, since to weight or hold down the traction-wheels the same for a light load as for a heavy load would involve a waste of power. Moreover, the engine can be propelled and the load drawn more easily over some roads than others or with rates of ease dependent upon the condition of the road, so that the automatic holding down of the traction-wheels is also rendered neces sary. In the second one of my said patents I have provided a stez'un-aetnated lifting device adapted for so raising a portion of the engine-truck as to throw the weight thereof upon the traction-wheels. In my present invention I dispense with such steam-actuated device and cause the driving-power, acting through the instrumentality of the tractionwheels, to automatically bring to bear upon such tractioi1-wheels the weight of the enginetruck to an extent proportional to the traction required. To the attainment of such end, I hinge to the rear cnd of the enginetruck a. traction propelling attachment comprising one or more, but preferably a pair, of traction-wheels, which are mounted somewhat lower than the point of connection between the arms or body-frame of the traction propelling attachment and the engine-truck, so that when the traction -wheels are driven from the engine through the medium of some suitable flexible or yielding power-transm itting connection the advancement of the traction-wheels shall tend to lift the rear end portion of. the enginetruck and the weight thereof to an extent proportional to the degree of force required to hold the traction-wheels down and prevent slip.

As a further feature of improvementI provide upon the traction propelling attachment a water-supply tank, which not only provides a supply of water for the boiler, but also permits the traction-wheels to be weighted down by the weight of the water carried during service.

A further feature consists in providing, in connection with a water-supply tank, a feedwa-ter heater, whereby the water during the severest season encountered in the lumber regions may be fed to the boiler in a proper condition. The provision of the feed-water heater involves various matters of improvement hereinafter more particularly set forth, among which, however, I may here note the warming of the water in the supply-tank, the discharge of steam onto the tractionwheels, so as to keep them sufficiently heated to melt down the snow, and the economical use of exhaust-steam in a hood or chamber, which I shall in practice provide to inclose the traction-wheels for the same purpose that I employ the open-bottom chamber embodied in the second of my said Letters Patent.

Further features of improvement consist in matters which will be more readily understood by the following description, in connection with the drawings.

In said drawings I have represented a tion through the feed-water heater on, the line 2 2, Fig. 1. the engine-truck. Fig/t represents a transverse vertical section on line it, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a detail representing one of the jacks that are herein employed to vary the force of springs at the forward ends of the draw-bars, said view showing in horizontal section a portion of one of the draw-bar and a portion of one of the side bars of the engine-truck, to which end said section is taken on line 5 5, Fig. 1, but made on a somewhat longer scale. Fig. 0 is a cross-section taken, for example, through one of the banded ends of one of the draw-bars, as indicated by line b, Fig. 1. Fig. '7 is a bottom plan view of the rear portion ot' the machine.

In said drawings, A indicates the enginetruck, and B the propelling attachment. The boiler U and engine D are conveniently arranged upon the engine-truck, and maybe of any ordinary or desired construction. The propelling attachment comprises one or more, but preferably a couple, of traction-wheels, b, and a suitably-construeted body, I). The body of the propelling attachment is flexibly connected with the rear portion of the enginetruck by a hinge-connection, which, for the general purpose of my invention, may involve any desired construction of hinge-join t. The traction-wheels which support the body of the traction propelling attachment are mounted somewhat below the level of the connection between said body port-ion ot' the propelling attachment and the engine-truck. 1

Assuming the traction-wheels to be driven from any suitable source of power, their rotation in a direction to advance the propelling attachment as a whole will cause the same to push ahead the engine-truck. The resistance of the engine-truck to the advancement of the propelling attachment tends to weight down the traction-wheels proportionally to such resistance, since the disposition of the traction-wheels to advance, regardless of the resistance on the part of the engine-truck to such advancement on the part of the wheels, causes the propelling attachment to lift or tend to lift the rear portion of the enginetruck, to which it is flexibly connected. In this connection it may be observed that the traction-wheels, which are arranged behind the engine-truck, are in effect connected with the latter by a lever, but are mounted below the level of the connection between such lever and the engine-truck, in which way the advancement ot' the wheels will, through the medium of their said connection with the engine-truck, (whereof the entire length back of its forward wheels or runners may be regarded as the weight) tend to lift said truck, which latter, owing to its weight, will keep down the wheels, so as to prevent slip and at the same time permit them to propel the truck and draw the required load.

lVhile the traction-wheels may be driven from the engine by any suitable arrangemei'it Fig. 3 is a front end elevation of the springs of expansion-gearing, I prefer to employ an endless drive-chain, E, as a flexible powertransmitting connection between a chainwheel, D, which is suitably mounted upon the enginetruck, and which may be driven from the engine in any proper mechanical way-such, for example, as through the medium of gearing substantially as herein shown and a chain-wheel, on the axle of the propelling-wheels The foregoing described mode of connecting the propelling attachment with the engine-truck renders the weighting or holding down of the tractimi-wheels automatic, and in this connection it will be observed that the attachment of the forward one of a train of log-sleds to the rear portion of the body of the traction propelling attachment assistsi n keepin g down the traction-wheels, since while the downpull upon the rear portion of said body tends to tilt the same, the tendency of the forward end of the body to rise is opposed by the weight of the rear loaded portion of the en gine-tru ck,in which way the traction-wh eels obviously get the benefitof such downpull upon the rear portion of the body of the traction propelling attachment, which is in eiii'ect a lever pivoted or t'ulcrumed upon the traction-wheels.

For the purposes of the toregoin g described portion of myinvention I do not limit myself to any pzn'ticular structure of body for the traction propelling attachment, nor to any par ticular construction of engine-truck.

As a feature of improvement in the connection between the engine-truck and the traction propelling attachment, the enginetruck is equipped with a pair of draw-bars or slide-bars, F, to which the body or arms of the traction propellin attachment are hinged. These draw-bars are each capable of a certain extent of longitudinal play, and may be him ited in such movement by any suitable arrangement of stops, .the bars, for example, being provided with slots f For bolts f which can be secured in the sides c of the enginetruck. Fig. 1 serves to show one of said draw-bars held against one of the sides a. of the engine-truck by means of nuts and washers arranged upon the ends of the bolts that project out from the slots of the draw-bar.

The draw-bars F are subject to spring cushions or spring-resistances which tend to normally maintain the draw-bars at the limit of their longitudinal movement toward the rear of the machine. Springs f are therefore arranged to act against the forward ends of the draw-lmrs and normally keep the same in their back position. This arrangement tends to maintain the drive-chain E taut, and while providing an elastic con nection between the traction propelling attachment and the engine-truck further serves to provide elastic bumpers for taking up jars. The force of and the degree oi their opposition to the forward end-play of the drawba'rs is controlled by jacks G, as best illustrated in Fig. 5, wherein the jack comprises a stout threaded bolt, g, arranged to work through suitable bearil'igs on the en gine-truck and provided with a head, g, having holes for the reception of a removable handle. At one end said bolt is provided with or engages a shoulder-piece or flanged collar, g which engages one end of the spring f In connection with the foregoing arrangement the drawbar can at its forward end be provided with a seatsuch as a socket, f adapted to receive and hold a portion of the spring. The spring may be therefore held in place by the socket f and flanged collar 9 so that by ad-- j usting the bolt g the resistance of the spring to the forward longitudinal movement of the draw-bar can be varied. The arms or side bars of the traction propelling attaclnnent are hinged to the rear ends of the draw-bars at points higher than the level of the axle of the traction-wheels, and at such points the construction of hinge at each rear terminal of the two drmv-bars herein consists of two leaves or plates, II and H, one of which is secured upon the upper side of the draw-bar and the other secured to the under side of the arm or side bar of the traction propelling attachment. These plates are provided with eyes or pintle-sockets for the hinge-pintles, which said arrangement of hinges serves to place the arms or side bars of the traction propelling attachn'ient in an incline position, substantially as in Fig. 1. \Vhere the draw-bars and the arms or side bars of the traction propelling attachment are of wood, said bars may be bound at their hinged ends with metal straps or clips I, to prevent splitting. The clips, moreover, afford means whereby the hinge-leaves can at such points be firmly clamped upon the bars, to which end the ends of the legs of the clips are adapted to provide threaded bolts for the reception of nuts 11, as in Fig. (3, wherein a hinge-leaf is embraced between the terminal portions of one of the clips'and a clamp-plate, i fitted upon such terminal portions of the clip and held down upon the hinge-leaf by nuts titted upon the threaded portions of the clip. It is also understood that each hinge leaf or plate can be held in a like way, and that in addition to such holding device the hinge-leaf can be bolted to its allotted bar.

lVhile the engine-truck could be constructed ,in avariety of ways, an exceedingly simple arrangement consists in constructing it of a rectangular frame having heavy side bars, a, connected together by suitable cross-pieces. This construction permits the draw-bars to be applied against and attached to the side bars of the said engine-truck frame by sliding connections, such as hereinbefore set forth, and further permits the engine-truck platform '(t' to be extended beyond the side bars, a, and over the draw-bars, as in Fig. 2. This arrangement provides a platform of sufficient width to allow the engineer to walk alongside the boiler and engine, and at the same time wheels or runners, I find it desirable to arrange springs under the portion of the truck which more directly upholds the engine and boiler. The springs K herein shown are at their ends slotted and attached to the under side of the side bars of the truck-frame by bolts it, which pass through slots 7t" in the springs and are secured in the side bars of the truck-frame. These springs are at their middle secured to an axle-bar, L, which may be supported either upon wheels or upon runners. As a result of such arrangement, the axle can be drawn by the springs without breakage of the latter. Thus, in moving ahead, the slotted connections between the springs and the truck permit the springs to shift, so that the bolts for the forward ends of the sprin will be engaged by the forward ends of the slots at said forward ends of the springs, whereby the draft will come entirely upon the forward portions of the springs. In backing, however, the springs shift to their opposite extreme position, so that the bolts allotted to the rear ends of the springs will be engaged by the rear ends of the slots at said rear ends of the springs, and hence the draft will be entirely upon said rear portions of the springs.

The engine-truck is at its forward end, herein shown, provided with a steering apparatus, substantially as in my said Patent No. 360,5Sl. A feature of improvement in this respect, however, consists in a pole, M, attached either to the forward axle when wheels are employed, or to the forward pair of run ners when runners such, for example, as in my said patent are employed. This pole extends somewhat beyond the forward end of the engine-truck and serves as a guide for properly steering the engine-truck, since by observing such pole and directing it. along the middle of the road the vehicle can be readily and accurately steered. This feature is of particular importance in running along snow or ice roads, where it is difficult to keep the road without some efficient guide. The pole can be deflected to either side or properly pointed by turning the hand-wheel m, which serves to operate the upper chain-wheel for the steering-chain m. The chain-wheel can in turn be connected with the pole by any suitable sliding connection, a simple way being to provide it with an eye or ring, m through which the pole extends, the said eye being of sufficient size to allow it to slip along the pole in deflecting the latter.

N represents a feed-water tank supported upon the traction propelling attachment and adapted to carry a suitable supply of water for feeding the boiler. The tank N is constructed with a false bottom, so as to provide below the same a steam-chamber, n. This steam-chamber contains a suitable length of pipe, 21', either coiled or arranged with return-bends or otherwise disposed of, so that the feed-water on its way from the tank to the boiler can pass through such pipe, and hence be properly heated. While the steam chamber 22 can be supplied with exhaust steam from the engine through any convenient arrai'igement of pipesuch as the flexible pipe a the heated feed-water can be conducted from the length of pipe 11 to the boiler in any convenient way, the arrangement shown in Fig. 1 being a flexible pipe, a, leading from pipe 11 to a pump, P. 'lhesteant chamber n is provided with one or more outlet-pipes, 11", arranged to discharge over each tractional wheel. In this way, while the steam can be utilized for heating the feed-water passing through a suitably-arranged pipe within the steam-chamber, it can also be directed against the traction-wheels, so as to heat the same, and thus melt the snow, so that an ice road may be made, it being here observed that in a machine adapted for wo1 k in the lumber regions during the winter season it is of as much importance to heat the wheels for the purpose of melting down the snow, so as to insure traction; and hence in some cases I may employ a furnace or like heater over the wheels as a means for heating the same, and also for heating the feed-water, although I prefer heating the wheels by steam.

I propose in this connection inclosing the traction propelling attachment by a hood such as in my Patent No. 360,58t, the object of such hood being to provide a large steamchamber having an open bottom adjacent to the level of the road, for purposes fully set forth in my said patent. In my present machine, however, the bottom of the tank can be utilized as a top for said steam-chamber. The tank N also serves to increase the traction of the wheels, not only on account of the weight of the tank, but of the weight of the water therein.

It is herein distinctly understood that so far as the feature of causing the tractionwheels to take the weight of the engine-truck proportionally to the required traction no limitation is placed upon the construction of either the engine-truck or the body of the traetion-propelling attachment. in some cases I propose connecting the axle ot the tractionwheels with the engine truck by metal arms, which can be hinged or pivoted to the enginetruck in any suitable way, it being understood that the clips I, hereinbel'orereferred to, are only desirable where it is preferred to form the arms of wood.

\Vhat I claim as my invention is l. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with the engine-truck, of a traction propelling attachment hinged to the rear end portion of the engine-truck and comprising one or more traction-wheels mounted lower than the point of connection between the traction propelling attachment and the engine-truck, whereby the weight of the engine-truck may be automatically taken by y the traction-wheels to an extent proportional a traction propelling attachment arranged in rear thereof, of a drmv-bar having a sliding connection with the engine-truck and a hinged connection with the traction-propelling attachment.

4.. The combination, substantially as here inbefore set forth, with the engine-truck and a traction, propelling attaclnnent, of a drawbar connected with the traction propelling a1- tachment and having a sliding connection with the engine-truck, and a spring presenting a yielding resistance to the forward end movement of the drawbar.

5. The combination, substantially as here inbefore set forth, with the engine-truck and a traction propelling attachment arranged in rear of the engine-truck and driven from the engine by a flexible power-transmitting connection, such as set forth, of a pair of drawbars having sliding connections with the engine-truck and hinged connections with the traction propelling attachment.

(3. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with the engine-truck and a traction propelling attachmentin rear thereof, of a draw-bar connected to the traction propelling attachment and having a sliding connection with the engine-truck, a spring opposing the forward end movement of the dra\\=bar, and a jack for adjusting the force of the spring.

7. The combination, with the engine-truck carrying a suitable engine and boiler, of a traction propellin attachmentattached to the engine-truck and operated from the engine thereon, and a watersupply tank mounted upon the traction propelling attachment and serving to weight down the traction-wheels.

S. The combinatioi'i, with a suitable boiler and engine carried by the engine-truck in a traction-enginc for forming ice roads and running over the same, of the water-suppl y tank, a stezun-clnunber arranged below the tank, and means for introducing steam into said chamber from the-boiler, substantially as described.

9. The combination, with a "suitable boiler and engine carried by the engine-truek, of the water-supply tank, a steam -cham ber arranged below said tank, means for introducing steam into said chamber, and a pipe leading from the tank through said chamber and connected with the boiler by suitable pipe-connection.

10. The combination, With the boiler and engine carried by the engine-truck, and a traction propellingattachment attached to the engine-truck and comprising traction-Wheels driven from the engine, of afeedavater heater carried by the traction propelling attachment.

11. The combination, with the engine-truck and engine, of the traction propelling attachment B, the feed-water tank N, supported upon the traction propelling attachment, the steam-chamber a under the said tank, and a pipe-connection between the tank and the engine, passing through said steam-chamber, substantially as described.

12. The combination, with the draw-bars F, attached to the engine-truck and side bars of the traction propelling attachment, of clips I, applied to the opposing ends of said bars, and hinges, such as set forth, connecting the bars or the traction propelling attachment with the draw-bars. i

13. The combination, with the engine-truck, of the springs having sliding connections therewith, and a bar, for the purpose set forth, secured to the springs, substantially as de scribed.

(JrEORGE 'l. GLOVER.

\Vitnesses:

CHAs. G. PAGE, N. DICKINSON.

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