The Smithfield Show.
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The Smithfield Club Cattle Show at the Agricultural Hall, was remarkably, as is usual, for numerous examples of road locomotives, and tractors, the latter type of machine being designed to conform with the 5-ton tare. With the exception of the Ivel agricultural motor, which found a place in the gallery, all the self-propelled vehicles were ranged around the main hall, thus making inspection a comparatively easy matter. Steam tractors were represented to the number of nine, and the tractor exhibited upon the stand of John Fowler and Company, Limited, of Leeds, was specially interesting, inasmuch as a compound engine with three cylinders is fitted. In nearly every case, the design and workmanship were of the highest class, and, with regard to the latter, there was a commendable absence of show finish.
AVELING AND PORTER, LIMITED (Stand No. 2).—Several types of engines were exhibited, all of which testify to the excellence of material always associated with the name of this old-established company. The novelty for this year's Smithfield Show consisted of a 5-ton steam tractor, fitted with Neyille's patent valve gearing, in lieu of the more ordinary link motion. The new valve motion is compact, and is, therefore, particularly adapted for use upon an engine of the tractor class. The engine is compound, and outside valve-chests are employed. Two speed ratios are furnished, and all the gear wheels are enclosed. The boiler and tire-box are constructed of mild-steel plates, and the tractor is mounted upon laminated steel springs. One particular point Lobe noted is the utilisation of double tees for the back wheels, instead of the usual single central one. This construction is superior to the other, as it gives the wheel great lateral rigidity. The footplate is comparatively roomy, and all levers and controlling handles are conveniently placed. BROWN AND MAY, LIMITED (Stand No. i5).—The principal feature of this stand was a steam tractor, designed to comply with the 5-ton tare. The engine is of the simple type, and has one cylinder, the bore and stroke of which are, respectively, 61inches and 8 inches. The normal number of revolutions per minute is, approximately, 400. Two speeds are fitted; these are rated to give ratios of three and five miles per hour, under normal working conditions. The caststeel gears upon the squared end of the crankshaft are moved longitudinally by two levers, and these have-a .patented locking arrangement whereby it is impossible to put the two pinions in mesh simultaneously. A boiler of the locomotive type is used ; it has 38 tubes, each with a diameter of ti inch. Ramsbottom safety valves are set to blow
off at a pressure of J5o1b. on the square inch, whilst a primary hydraulic test of 25o1b. on the square inch is applied. The total heating surface on the tubes, and fire-box, is about 7o square feet, and the grate area is 3 square feet. The company has only recently started a de partment for the manufacture of tractors, having, previously, confined itself to the construction of portable, and stationary, 'engines.
CHARLES BURRELL AND SONS, LIMITED (Stand No. 30.—The principal exhibit, here, was a compound tractor for general purposes. The same type of machine is made with a one-cylinder, simple engine. The tractor at the exhibition was fitted with link-motion valve gear, and had two speeds, although the higher ratio is the one generally used on average roads, The boiler of this type of tractor is lilted with a double safety valve of the Ramsbottom type, which is set to blow off at a pressure of 200lb. on the square inch. The boiler is supplied by an injector, whilst a steam pump is, also, fitted as a stand-by. In addition to a block brake, acting upon the inner faces of the rim of the back wheels, a flywheel brake is furnished, for stopping the engine quickly. A useful feature is that the differential gearing can be locked from the footplate, without the driver having to dismount. Two water tanks are fitted; the first is slung underneath the boiler shell; the second is contained within the framing under the footplate. The combined capacity of both water tanks is about iso gallons. The exhaust steam, before passing into the funnel, is taken through a silencer.
CLAYTON AND SHUTTLEWORTH, LUstI7 TED (Stand No. 29).---Among the other exhibits on this stand was a 5-ton tracH tor, having a single cylinder, with a bore of 6t inches, and a piston stroke of 8 inches. This type has two gear ratios, and the two pinions slide longitudinally upon the squared end of the crankshaft which has a diameter of 2 inches. Thc boiler is of the locomotive type and contains 41 tubes. The working pressure is tsolb. on the square inch, and, with the engine running at about 300r.p.m., the speeds are, respectively, three and
six miles per hour. The differential gear has three pinions, and a winding drum, supplied with 50 yards of steel rope, is attached to the near-side back wheel. The brake is of the block type, acting upon the back wheels ; it is applied by a horizontal wheel at the right of the footplate. The tanks hold about 140 gallons, and the water-lifter is supplied with 25 feet of hose-piping.
JOHN FOWLER. AND COMPANY, LIMITED (Stand No. 28).—The three-cylinder steam tractor, which this company staged, was, as previously mentioned-, one of the most interesting exhibits at the hall. The tractor, although, at first glance, somewhat heavy looking, comes well under the 5-ton tare. The high and low pressure cylinders are placed side by side, as in usual practice, and the additional cylinder, also a low-pressure one, is placed forward of the highpressure cylinder. The pistons on the tandem cylinders are fitted to the same connecting rod, so that only IWO cranks are required for the three cylinders. For emergencies, a small starting valve can be operated, which admits live steam into both the low-pressure cylinders. The pistons are wrought steel, and are fitted with Rowan's patent piston rings, whilst the crankshaft is of special construction, having the eccentrics and balance weights cut from the solid. The whole of the working parts of the engine are enclosed in an oil-bath so that a high speed is possible. The valve motion is on the Walschaert principle. Two speeds are fitted, and these are changed by means of a horizontal handwheel in front of the driver ; the ratios give three and five miles per hour. The boiler has a fire-box of the Belpaire type, and the water is fed by an injector, or by an independent steam pump, which is bolted to a bracket on the right-hand side of the boiler. A patented arrangement makes it possible to lock the differential gearing from the footplate. A winding drum, with so Yards of steel rope, is on the side of the tractor, between the near-side driving wheel and the outer shell of the firebox. The drum is made to revolve by bevel gearing, and a vertical shaft, driven front the crankshaft. The tractor is mounted on Fowler's patent spring gear, which gives the greatest satisfaction in practice.
RICHARD GARRETT AND SONS, Liman) (Stand No. 22).—One of the company's No. " 4 " steam tractors with a compound engine, having a to-inch piston stroke, was shown. The speeds give ratios of 3 and 5 miles per hour, with the engine running at 23o revolutions per minute. Valve motion of the usual link form is employed. The boiler is of the locomotive type, fitted with the company's patented corrugated fire-box, which gives a large heating surface. A strong brake acts upon the back wheels, and the tractor is compact and well suited for the work which it has been designed to perform.
THE IVO. AGRICULTURAL MOTORS, LIMITED (Stand No. 183).—One of the latest Ivel tractors was staged, which, although similar to those shown at pre. vious exhibitions, has been improved in many of its details. For instance, the pump, governor, and two-to-one wheels are, now, enclosed in a casing. Another useful feature is that the contact breaker is placed upon the outer end of the crankshaft, making it very accessible for inspection. The engine has two horizontal, opposed cylinders, each having a bore of 61 inches, and a piston stroke of 6 inches, whilst the engine gives, fully, t8h.p. The paraffin vaporiser has been brought to such a state of perfection that the engine can he started up by a blow lamp in about five minutes. The standard type of tractor is fitted with one speed, but two can be supplied if desired. The ignition is by accumulators, but a magneto can be fitted as an extra, or in lieu of the first system. The exhaust pipe is carried diagonally upward from the engine, and the point of discharge is well above the driver's head. The main oil tank is placed below the operator's seat, whilst a small petrol tank, for emergencies, is bolted within the fore part of the steel covering, which encloses the whole of the machinery, and gives the tractor a very neat, and compact appearance, as well as keeping out dust and wet when ploughing, or driving agricultural machinery.
-„ r..011EY AND COMPANY, LIMITED (Stand
No. 9).—A 5-ton tractor was exhibited ; this had a single cylinder, with a piston stroke of 9 inches, and a bore of 6 inches. Two speeds are fitted, and these give, respectively, with the engine running at the normal speed of 330 revolutions per minute, 6.02 and 3.07 miles per hour. One lever is used to operate both speeds, and an interlocking device makes it impossible to put both pinions into gear at the same moment. The locomotive boiler is designed to work at a pressure of 1601b. to the Square inch ; it has so tubes, each of which has a diameter of ti inch, and the grate aria is 3.78 square feet. The bunkers hold about 2cwt. of fuel, whilst the two water tanks have a capacity of 120 gallons; a third tank can, also, be fitted, which will hold a further 63 gallons of water.
RUSTON, PROcToR, AND COMPANY, LIMITED (Stand No. 12). This company staged an extremely neat and serviceable 3-ton tractor which has been specially designed to meet the requirements of those who have to transport loads
or up to 4 tons. The same vehicle is, also, made in a 4-ton, and a 5-ton type. The example shown at Islington was fitted with a single cylinder, having a bore of 51 inches, and a piston stroke of 9 inches. Two speeds are fitted, and, when the engine is running normally at 32or.p.m., these give 3 and 5 miles per hour, respectively. The boiler, of the usual locomotive type, has a baffle plate in the smoke-box to prevent the emission of sparks from the funnel. Two water gauges are employed, and the Ramsbottom safety valve is set to blow off at isolb. on the square inch. A powerful block brake, operated by a hand wheel on the righthand side of the footplate, acts upon the back wheels.
H. P. SAUNDERSON AND COMPANY, LIMITED (Stand No. 4).The exhibit of this company is a three-wheel tractor, suitable for general agricultural work upon a farm, or for hauling a trailer. The three road wheels are all driven by a vertical petrol engine of 5oh.p., which is placed near the forward end of the chassis. The gear box is placed in front of the engine, and the front. wheels are driven by a cross shaft and two universal joints : the ends of the universal joints carry pinions, which mesh with gear rings on the inner side of the wheels. The rear road wheel is driven from the cage of the differential gear by a combination of chain and bevel gearing, which is compactly arranged. The gear box has three speeds forward, and the same number on the reverse, and these ratios are, when the engine runs at 7043 revolutions per minute, 3, 4, and 8 miles per hour. The radiator, fitted to the tractor which was on view, was a large cylindrical gill-tube one, within the centre of which a fan, driven from a pulley on the crankshaft, revolved. The carburetter is a patented one and gives excellent results, both with paraffin and alcohol. With the exception of the engine, roller bearings are employed throughout the machine. Our illustration gives a general view. SAVAGE BROTHERS, LIMITED (Stand No. 25).On the single example of steam wagon construction staged upon this stand, a portable Aerie light plant was fitted; this is driven_ by a 20h.p. vertical engine using steam from the boiler which is used to supply steam for propelling the vehicle. The lighting set is compact, and reduces the carrying area of the wagon top by only a few square feet. The engine for driving th,2 wagon is contained in an oil-tight casing beneath the platform, and rotates the road wheels by two roller chains having a pitch of 2 inches. The road wheels of the wagon on exhibition were fitted with wooden treads, which are composed of blocks held in place by annular rings. Wooden treads are of undoubted service in slippery weather, and the construction of the treads in question is neat and practicable.
NVALLIS AND STEEVENS, LIMITED (Staed No. 21).—A 5-ton steam tractor was shown, fitted with a compound engine, with cylinders 51 inches and 81 inches bore by 9 inches piston. stroke. The special feature of this tractor is that all the moving parts of the engine revolve in an enclosed oil-bath. Two speeds are fitted, and these give 3 and 6 miles per hour, with the engine running at 35o revolutions per minute. The bo.h.r, of the locomotive type, works at a pressure of r5olb. per square inch, and is fitted with the company's patent draught regulator, which allows a certain number of the tubes to be closed, and thus enables the head of steam to be easily regulated. Enough fuel can be carried for a journey of 40 miles, and the capacity of the water tanks is about 186 gallons. The operating levers are conveniently placed, and are worked from the footplate. An illustration of this tractor is given on page 352.