Trials of Agricultural Motors.
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The R.A.S.E.'s Gold Medal is awarded to Messrs. J. 81W. McLaren, of Leeds.
The H.A.6.E. trials of agricultural motors be-gan at the Manor arm, :haldock, on Tuesday, the 9th inst. We opened our report in last week's issue. Tne weather conditions at the start were most unfavourable, but, fortunately for some of the competitors, and certainly for all the visitors, three fine days followed. Thursday last was particularly bright and full of interest to the apsetators ; on that day, they had the one and only opportunity presented during the trials to judge of the capacities of the different machines on one class of work, and that, to.), in one field. A representative of THE COMMERCIAL Morolt was present throughout the trials, from Tuesday cf last week to Monday of this week. Iu some respects, the trials at Baldeck will long be borne in mind both by competitors and visitors. Seven sunchines had to be submitted to four tests, and for the purpose of those tests the following implements were provided:— Fear Howard gang ploughs for ploughing.; four Harrison-and-MacGregor harvesting machines for reaping ; two Aveling-and-Porter traction wagons for the road-haulage test ; and one 20 h.p. brakehorse-power testing rig for testing en the brake engines which were variously rated at from 18 h.p. up to 50 h.p. Needless to add that the progress of the trials was not nearly so rapid as it might have been had more plant been provided. Seven machines (two Ivels, two Satindersons and one each by Mann, McLaren and Wallis) were finally presented for trial out of 11 entries, and of these seven, the single-speed Ivel and the two steamers entered by Mann and McLaren were the first batch to be aet to the task of ploughing five acres of land in a 100acre field—a task which each machine performed in a creditable manner though at varying speeds. The Ivel certainly did its work more cleanly than the other machines, due to its slower speed; three 9-in, furrows, cutting from 4 to 5 in. deep, just auited the Ivel motor its performance served to demonstrate the absurdity of limiting the number of furrows cut by the larger machines. Both the Mann and the McLaren steamers, in order to show greater capacity for work than the Tvel. were compelled to travel at faster speeds—the 'McLaren fairly raced over the ground. with the 'Iseult that the earth was more brokers np than was the case with the small motor, but we would hesitate to say that the land would prove less fertile on that account. None of the large and powerful machines. with such a small plough. could show its hest efficiency, because so much power was wasted in moving the tractor across the ground. Each of the steamers could easily have cut six furrows at.at, a slower speed, and, by se doing. the work expended in moving the tractor would be reduced by 50 per cent, for a given area ploughed.
The McLaren machine was the first to finish its five acres, and its rate of fuel consumption for the work was considerably lower than that of any other competitor. Official figures were not given out by the judges. and, although each competitor had a. shrewd idea as to the amount consumed by his engine, it would
not be advisable to publish figures here ; that data may, on account of adjustments and allowances by the judges, be considerably altered before publication by the Society. The McLaren'a low rate of consumption is attributed to the efficient superheater which is fitted, as by that fitting the steam is given a superheat of about 150 degrees Fahrenheit.
The fuel need by the steamers was Nixon's steam-navigation coal, and it was weighed out into bags containing 50 lb. or 100 lb. The bags were not marked in
any way, but were piled indiscriminately. If a competitor could secure a 100 lb. bag instead of one containing 50 lb.--having it logged as one of the latter weight without being detected—he could be counted a " lucky " man ; he would, of course, ha-re to he equally " Nosy " in obtaining his fuel for the subsequent brake and haulage tests, or the difference in his rate of fuel consumption would be detected. We do not state that any competitor was " lucky " in respect to his fuel supplies, but there was much good-natured banter between the rival adherents. The fuel used for the internal-combustion motors was " Russoline." We suggest that the results would have been more appreciated had the Society specified a brand that may be obtained at any village store.
On the second day of the trials (Wednesday). the remaining four machines— the two-speed spring-mounted Ivel, the
two Saundersons, and the Wallis—were put to work with the plough. Of the three machines which had been at work on the land during the previous day, the. Ivel was submitted to a two-hour brake test on Wednesday morning, and the McLaren was matte ready to commence. its four-hour brake test at nine o'clock, the following morning ; the Mann wagon had an " off " day. The four machines which were ploughing on this day corns pitted their allotted tasks, but not without. experiencing troubles of a more-orless-serious nature: the injectors on the Wallis tractor refused to work at intervals; both the Saundersons struggled on in spite of hot bearings; the driver of the Ivel did not seem quite happy with his machine's behaviour. The ploughing tests would have been much-more convincing, would have afforded a better opportunity for comparisons, and would have proved more interesting to the visitors, had all the tractors been put to the. plough at the same time, and with thesame weather conditions. Comparisons. of the strength of the land were made by the judges, and this was. effected by weighing a square yard. of the upturned land in each ploughed section. Further comparative records. were taken by means of a recording draw-bar dynamometer, which instrument was inserted between the plough and the McLaren motor which. hauled it. In making the dynamometertests, the same plough was employed on all the sections.
Thursday was the " field day " of thetrials, and on that day a very large number of interested visitors watched the machines harvesting in a large field of wheat. Mann's tractor and one of the Ivel motors were the two first machines to get to work, each hauling two 6 ft.wide harvesting machines, but. after one round of its section, the Ivel was obliged to continue with one reaper only. None. of the machines was put to cut a measured area, but, during the day, each showed its ability to perform the work and behaved splendidly ; such delays as occurred, and there were many, were caused by the fouling of the canvas and the breaking of the binder cords in the harvesting machines. all of which were new and untried. After luncheon, Mann's tractor went on the brake and relieved the McLaren, which latter machine then took a turn in the field.
On Friday morning, Mann's tractor. ita brake test having been completed, v replaced by the Wallis-and-Steevens motor, and the former then started on the 24-mile haulage test, following in the wake of McLaren. Both motors took a gruss load of eight tons—the McLaren hauling its load, whilst the Mann tractor took some of its load on the top of its large saddle tank. The " galloping McLaren completed the 24 miles without incident, but the driver of the Mann wagon, in an endeavour to complete the course at a high rate of speed, had trou
ble with hot eccentrics; after a brief halt, however, the offending parts were cooled down, and the journey resumed. The route taken was from the Manor Farm, Bygrave, to Ashwell, whence the machines were driven along a chalky track to a road which runs into the Cambridge Road near Deadman's Hill, down the Cambridge Road to Baldock, and, turning there, back along the Cambridge Road for a couple of miles to a track which leads across the farm and past Bygrave Church to the starting point. This course is about 12 miles long, and the totit comprised two circuits. During the afternoon, the Wallis steamer and the 45-50 h.p. Saunderson tractor completed the road tests without difficulty. While the two last-named machines were 011 the road, the two-speed Ivel commenced its brake test.
Saturday opened dull and wet. The 45-50 h.p. Saunderson took its turn on the brake, while its smaller mate was getting " stuck up " on the road. It is a matter for regret that the building of these two machines was not completed in time to permit of their being thoroughly tested and tuned up before the trials; there is much in their design that appeals to users. The small Saunderson hauled a gross load of five tons. One of the Ivels made good speed round the circuit, with a gross load of three tons behind the drawbar, and, as it travelled up the hill leading to Bygrave Church, the expression on the driver's face showed both his surprise and satisfaction at the performance of his machine, the weight of which is but little more than half of the load it hauled. While the road tests were in progress, McLaren's tractor was busy with drawbar dynamometer tests, over the land which had been ploughed on the previous Tuesday and Wednesday, and the Wallis and Maim tractor were further tested with the ploughs—this timo on a stronger land, and cutting to a greater depth. They both proved quite equal to the task, but one of the ploughs —that, drawn by the Wallis tractor—was somewhat damaged as the result of a dive into the bowels of the earth. After completing its work with the dynamometer, McLaren' s machine " had a cut " at the strong land; meanwhile, Mann's driver, having shed his plough, amused himself by domg more harvesting. Later in the day, Mr, Henry McLaren, by permission of the judges, gave a demonstratiou with a three-furrow plough of his own design. On Monday last, little remained to be done in the way ot testing the machines, and at an early hour in the afternoon the McLaren steamer was adjudged the winner of the society's gold medal. Of the competing machines, the construct-inn of the two Ivels entered by Tvel Agricultural Motors. Ltd., of 45-6, Poland Street, W., is too well known to need further reference now, except for us to point out how the two machines differ from each other. There are only three points of difference, and these tire in respect of spring mounting, changespeed gears, and ignition. One machine is without hearing springs, has but a single speed in each direction, and is provided with coil-and-accumulator ignition; the other one is spring-mounted over both axles, has two speeds in the forward direction and one reverse speed, and its ignition is maintained by a hightension magneto. The engine of each motor has two opposed horizontal cylinders 64 in. in diameter and with a pistonstroke of 5 in.; each is rated at 18-20 h.p., and the normal speed is 850 r.p.rn.
The 25-30 h.p. machine which competed for Sa,underson and Gifkins, Ltd., of the Elstow Works, Bedford, has a vertical engine with four separate cylinders each 5 in. in diameter; its pistonstroke is 6i in. The larger model, of 45-50 h.p., also has four separate cylinders., and their diameter is 6 in., Ai1st the piston-stroke is 8 in. In each case, high-tension magnetos are mounted over the tops of the cylinders, well out of the way of grit and oil. The crankcases are so designed that the camshafts may be removed without involving the disturbance of any other part of the engine. The carburetter is arranged to consume any suitable kind of liquid fuel. The radiators are of the corrugated-tube type, and are made by The Reliance Manufacturing Co., of Lower Broughton, Manchester ; they are so efficient that the smaller tractor did not need to renew its water supply at any time during the long ploughing test. The transmission system of both the Saunderson machines is identical in its general lines: a leather. faced cone clutch transmits the power through a gearbox which provides for three speeds forward or backwards, Avhilst the final drive to each of the back wheels is through enclosed spur gearing. The back wheels of the small machine are 4 ft. in diameter by 10 in. wide; those on the large tractor are 5 ft. in diameter by 12 in. wide. The stropes are spaced like those an traction-engine wheels, hut. during the road tests, the spaces were partly filled in by loose pieces which were bolted on to the rim. The back wheels are loosely mounted on the axle. and between the latter and the frame helical springs are interposed. A spring drawbar is anchored to the back axle of each motor, and this may be so adjusted on the axle, and between the guide plates at the rear end of the frame, that
a diagonal pull on the drawbar will not tend to disturb the steering. The leading axle is built on novel lines : the axle body is pivoted to the frame at its centre, and in its forked ends Ackermain type of swivelling arms are housed; each arm is separately sprung on its swivelling pin. A stout triangular attest stays the axle body, and anchors it to a bridge piece midway in the frame. The leading wheels on both machines are 3 ft. in diameter by 6 in. wide. The tractor entered by Mann's Patent Steam Cart and Wagon Co., Ltd., of Pepper Road, Hunslet, Leeds, is a verypractical machine, and one that is entirely without "frills:" Its compound engine has smaller cylinders than either of the other competing steamers : the diameters are 4 in. for the high-pressure and 6-2in. for the low-pressure, whilst
the piston-stroke is 7 in. Neither a superheater nor a feed-water heater is fitted. The normal speed of the engine is 350 r.p.m., and the drive is taken through one or other of two pairs of speed gears and a. roller chain to the live back axle. The back wheels are 4 ft. in diameter by 20 in. wide, and they IWO mounted inside the frame ; this disposition of the wheels permits of their being made very wide without their exceeding the average overall width. The leading axle is carried by a turntable, from the sides of which arms project sideways, and these arms carry dumb irons for the twe longitudinal plate springs which support the forward end of the boiler over the ;isle. Two hundred gallons of water may be carried in a large tank over the back wheels, and above this tank part of the useful load may be carried. Steering is effected by means of a geared worm and sector, as on all Merin steam e aeons. The leading wheels are 37 in. in diameter. by 7 in. wide. MeLaren's tractor, entered by Messrs. .T. and H. McLaren, of the 'Midland Eneine Worke. Leeds, is full of interesting features. Its makers have participated in every ploughing trial promoted by the R.A.S.E. during the past 36 years, and they entered for the present trials fully determined to win. It is, probably, the only machine in the trial that was t horoughly tested before its dispatch to Bygrave. Its compound cylinders are 4-'s in. in diameter for the high-pressure end 7..). in. in diameter for the low-pres sere ; the piston stroke is 14. in. 350 1'. 1)10. is the normal engine speed, and he engine can develop 32 b.h.p. Flat valves are fitted, and that for the high
pressure cylinder is provided with a spring-loaded saddle. The valves are actuated by Stephenson link-motion. The steam cheats face outwards, and the cylinder casting comprises a steam dome and a regulator chamber. Saturated steam may be admitted either direct to the cylinders, or by way of a veryefficient superheater, which is housed in a vertical 'extension of the smoke-box. The superheater consists of four coils of solid-drawn steel tube in. in diameter.
and these coils are coupled up in two series-parallel groups. Between the outlet of this superheater and the cylinders a Hopkinson valve is fitted; 150 degrees (Fahrenheit) of superheat can easily be maintained. A feed-water heater, consisting of a single coiled copper pipe 1 in. in diameter, is also fitted, and this delivers water to the boiler at a temperature of 209 degrees Fahrenheit.
The loco. type of boiler is built to pass the B.O.T, rules for a. working pressure of 200 lb. per sq. in. ; it has 66 sq. ft. of heating surface and 3 sq. ft. of grate area. An engine-driven plunger pump normally maintains the boiler feed, but an injector is also fitted. The drive is on the four-shaft principle, and provides for three changes of speed. The differential gear is mounted on the third shaft. and enclosed spur gears transmit the final drive to each 5 ft.-diameter back wheel. These wheels are 12 in. wide, and the broad spaces between the stropes are filled in with hard wood. During the ploughing tests, these wheels were fitted with narrow spudiets, each 5 in. wide by 4 in. deep, " staggered " on the tread. The spudlets gave ample grip, and did not clog or cut up the ground as did the full-width spuds. MeLaren's patent spring-suspensioni system is applied to the back axle, whilst, the leading axle has over it an invertedi plate spring that is shackled to the underside of the smoke-box. The leading: wheels are 3 ft. 6 in. in diameter by 6 in.
wide. Teste which were made with this machine before the B.A.S.E. trials *hewed that when indicating 33.75 h.p. the engine consumed 16.78 lb. of steam and 2.15 lb. of coal per i.h.p., or 7.7 lb. water per pound of coal homed.
Wallis and Steeveus. Ltd.. of Basingstoke. the maker of the third competing steamer, has not departed from its established tractor practice. The diameters of the compound cylinders of its competing tractor are: high-pressure 4g in. ; low-pressure 84 in. ; a pistonstreke of 9 hi. The engine normally runs at 250 r.p.m., and all its working parts are enclosed in an oil bath. The boiler is constructed for a working pressure of 170 lb. per sq. in. ; it has 73 sq. ft. of heating surface and 2.36 sq. ft. of grate area. The feed is maintained by two injectors. instead of the more-usual pump and one injector. The driving wheels are 5 ft. in diameter by 16 in. wide, and the leaders are 3 ft. 3 in. in diameter by 6 in. wide.