John Fowler and Company (Leeds), Limited.
Page 18
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Exhibit :—Two Tractors.
Some years ago we read in an American technical journal that an under-type, semi-portable, Fowler engine had been in use in a lumber yard for 14 years, and that during that time nothing had been done to it in the way of repairs, except an occasional "taking up " of the main brasses. The Fowler Company has not been -making steam tractors of the types shown omits stand at Olympia for such a long period as 14 years, and, therefore, there has been no opportunity to test the life of this class of machine, but the sante care is bestowed upon their manufacture as was given to the construction of the engine of which we have read ; the accumulated experience of many years has been brought to bear on the design of the motors which are exhibited.
Both the machines aee built on the .same lines, hut the chief difference lies in the fact that one is fitted with a three-cylinder, compound engine, whilst the other one has but two. cylinders. .The three-cylinder arrangement consists of one high-pressure cylinder, and two. low-pressure cylinders, for which arrangement the maker claims special advantages. The high-pressure cylinder and the large low:pressure cylinder are placed side by side, and the small low-pressure cylinder is mounted tan
demwise with the high-pressure cylinder, and works on the same crank as the piston of the latter, the object being to increase the ratio of expansion, and to equalise the power of each crank. Wrought-iron pistons, with Rowan's patent piston rings, are fitted in each of the cylinders. The eccentrics are turned solid with the hammered-steel crankshaft, as also are the necessary balance weights, The gear:ng and the link mceion are enclosed in an oil-tight casing ; the brackets which carry the crankshaft and the second-motion shalt are formed in one casting, the bottom part of which forms part of the oil-tight casing in which the gearing and the link motion are lubricated by the splash method.
The boiler is of the usual locomotive type, but it is fitted with a fire box of the " Relpaire " type, in which design a number of water tubes pass across the fire box. The boiler feed is maintained by means of an injector, and an independent donkey pump.
The two-cylinder model is, as stated, built on the same lines as the threecylinder machine, but the gearing on the former is cast instead of being cut ; the winding drum is mounted on the back axle .instead of on a.separate stud ; and the boiler is supplied with two injectors, instead of with one injector and a donkey pump. Two of this company's tractors are exhibited, and one of these has been purchased by R. White and Sons, Limited, of Cunard Street, Albany 'Road, Camberwell, London, SE., which company will use it for hauling trailers loaded with mineral waters,
At normal engine speeds, these tractors can do five miles an hour when in top gear, but hi9,11er speeds may easily be attained.