US461441A - Walking traction-engine - Google Patents

Description

2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(No Model.) 4 E. M. KNOLLIN.

WALKING TRACTION ENGINE.

No. 461,441. Patented Oct; 20, 1891.

witnesses (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet; 2.

E. M. KNOLLIN.

WALKING TRACTION ENGINE. No. 461,441. Patented 0ct.20, 1891.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDl/VARD M. KNOLLIN, OF LACONA, NEW YORK.

WALKING TRACTION-ENGINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Iletters Patent No. 461,441, dated October 20, 1891.

Application filed December 3, 1890- Serial No- 373,50'L (No model.) i

To (ZZZ whom it nuty concern:

Be it known that I, ED ARD M. KNoLLIN, of Lacona, in the county of Oswego, in the State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in lValking Traction- Engines, of which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to traction-engines designed for hauling purposes, and which are self-propelling, and are also adapted to drive thrashing-machines, &c., and it especially relates to the propelling mechanism.

My object is to produce a traction-engine, self-propelling, in which the propelling mechanism comprises multiple feet, mounted on the quarter with relation to each. other in sets on shafts, so that they reciprocate in their movements with the rotation of the shafts and the eccentrics thereon, which directly actuate the feet to lower them to the ground, raise them therefrom, carry them forward, and then again lower them, so that in a set of three feet one foot will be forward ready to be lowered, the next will be on the ground, and the third raised to be swung forward.

My invention consists in the several novel features of construction and operation hereinafter described, and which are specifically set forth in the claims hereto annexed. It is constructed as follows, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an isometrical side elevation of the engine complete. Fig. 2 is a top plan of the propelling mechanism, in which the power is transmitted by crank-power from the driveshaft to the shafts carrying the pedal eccentrics. Fig. 3 is a like view of the same, showing gears connecting the drive-shaft to the eccentric-shaft. Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the propelling mechanism. Fig. 5 is a top plan of a pedal-foot. Fig. 6 is a bottom plan of same. Fig. 7 is a vertical section of same. Fig. 8 is a side elevation of an elongated and toothed pedal-foot. Fig. 9 is a top plan of same. Fig. 10 is a bottom plan thereof.

A is the boiler, mounted upon front wheels and provided with worm-gear and chain steering mechanism, provided with steam-gage, whistle, exhaust smoke-pipe, and coal and water tanks, and also provided with a steamchest and cylinder on each, substantially as .to each other.

shown, and a steam-pipe leading from the dome to the steam-chest, and throttle-valve therein, and piston-rod guides. All these parts being of ordinary construction,I do not here describe the same. Strong iron beams 1 are secured to the boiler and extend rearward, preferably arching upward, as shown, and upon these beams I mount the drive-shaft 2, upon the ends of which are disks carrying crank-pins, and 3 3 are connecting-rods between these crank-pins and the piston-rods 4. In or upon these beams I also journal the shafts o, connected to the drive-shaft by a crank or gear-and-pinion connection 6. WVhen the gear connection is used, I mount the .pinion on the drive-shaft and make the gear larger, in order to reduce speed or, vice versa, to increase the speed. These eccentric-shafts 5 are also connected together by the crank connection 7, and all these crank connections between the drive-shaft and the first eccentric-shaft and between the eccentric-shafts are all on the quarter with relation Upon these shafts 5 I secure the eccentrics 8 in sets of three, (or more;) but I do not limit myself to this number, all of which in each set are arranged on the quarter with reference to each other. Each eccentric fits and rotates in a seat 9, and has a circumferential packing or babbitt groove.

Each seat is secured to the top of apedalshaft 11, and 12 is a pedal connected thereto by a ball-and-socket joint 13 or by a hingejoint 14, according to which pedal is used. With the ball-and-socket joint the pedal is constructed in sections secured together by bolts, each section containing substantially a half of the socket, and the lower section is concaved to create the edge ridge shown. When I use the long pedal, the lower face is corrugated transversely, and is also provided with lags 15, and this roughened face and the lags together operate to prevent slipping, while the hinge-joint permits the shank to move out of a vertical, and the springs 16, connected to the shank and to the outer ends of the pedal, operate to return the pedal to its normal position when the pressure is removed, as hereinafter described. tion of these pedalsis as follows: When power is applied to rotate the drive-shaft and the eccentric-shafts and the eccentrics, the pedals The operaare made to walk. In the drawings the pedal a is in position ready to be lowered to the ground. The pedal 1) is on the ground and is exerting a forward push to the machine, and the pedal 0 is lifted from the ground ready to be swung forward for another step. In the rear set the pedal 6 has just been placed on the ground, 01 is swinging forward, and f has just about reached the limit of its stroke, when it will step forward again in front of the other two. The several eccentrics are so arranged that the several pedals in each set will swing or step forward without interfering with either of the others, and the joint operation of the sets of pedals on both sides is both to support the rear end of the engine and to walk it forward. They take the place of the ordinary traction-wheels and the connections for their rotation both to support and propel the machine. Above the eccentric-seats, or it may be placed on below, a guide 18 is secured to each, extending upward through the guide-plate 17 and fitting loosely therein, so as to permit the pedals to swing as described.

When I use the long pedals upon rough ground, then the walking will contract one spring and elongate the other, and as soon as it is lifted to be swung forward for another step the joint action of the springs will throw the foot to a horizontal, and the heel will.

first strike the ground.

It will be seen that when the pedals are operated each will alternately carry and support the rear of the engine, and when each is on the centert-hatis, when the shank is verticalit will receive the weight of the engine, thus giving the pedal a grip upon the ground.

By using a cushion 19, into which the ball 13 sets, as shown in Fig. 7, when a pedal steps upon a stone or hump in the road the engine is relieved of the jar, so that the pedals can somewhat accommodate themselves to the inequalities of an uneven surface, and to still more relieve the working parts of the jar I insert a rubber or elastic packing 20 below the cushion 19.

The ball-and-socket and hinge connections to the pedals give the ankle play to the pedals and shanks, and with the former connections I depend upon gravity to return the pedal to a horizontal during each forward step.

It will be seen that by reversing the movement of the pedalsI can back up in the same manner of walking as in going ahead.

W Vhat I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A pedal-foot comprising a'base recessed on top, a cushion inserted into the recess, a bearing-block resting upon the cushion and concaved to receive the ball, a ball fitting therein and connectedto the shank, and a closure fitting over the shank and secured to the base and inclosing the upper part of the ball.

2. A pedal-foot comprising a base recessed on top, a cushion inserted into the recess, a

bearing-block resting upon the cushion and concaved to receive the ball, a ball fitting therein and connected to the shank, a closure fitting over the shank and secured to the base and inclosing the upper part of the ball, and a flexible bootsecured to the shank and to the closure and inclosing the joint.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand on this 5th day of November, 1890.

EDWARD M. KN OLLIN.

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