Ransomes.
Page 59
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. Steam Tractor.
ton Steam Wagon.
STAND No. 90.
Steam-goods.
* 5 taus 1; ft, tin. SIG° fOr 670 — BO for 850T
* 8 Tract.or Steel . .Example exhibited at Olynnia.
Renames, Sims and Jelleries. Ltd., Orwell Works, Ipswich. APART from the Orwell electric vehicles, which ire also made by this firm and shown on the same etancl, the .company exhibit two steam vehicles, one a compound steam tractor designed to Work -under the Light Locomotives Act, and the other the new Ransoms steam wagon, which is designed to curry a net load of five tone on the body at a speed' of 8 m.p.h., and to comply with the requirements of the Heavy Motor Car Act in every respect.
The compound tractor is one of the standard .productions of the company, but incorporates all the mast recent imprevements. The high-pressure cylinder bass a bore of 4 ins. and the low-pressure '4 ins., the stroke being 8 ins, in each case. Each piston has two cost-iron rings with an internal steel spring, and the engine is of the overtyne, supported on the loco type boiler. Two speedis are provided, the first motion wheels havieg neachinecut teeth. The gearing is protected by suitable guards and arranged for road .speeds of 3 and 5 m.p.h..• a fhird speed can be fitted if required. +he main axle carries a winding drum provided -with 50 yards of wire rope, and the engine is mounted on helical springs
to the main axle, and a laminated Filming to the front.
The steam wagon is-of the over type, with a patent boiler designed on the loco principle and Imiltenp of four plates
without stays. The engine is a compound, and is carried by pressed-steel brackets riveted to the boiler shell; it is perfectly balanced and readily accessible. Provision is made for running it as a double-cylinder high-pressure engine when recluired for exceptionally steep hill-climbing and to facilitate starting under heavy loads. The cylinders are cast en bloc and steam passes upwards from the boiler, through hales in the seating, between and around the barrels of the cylinders to the steam chest, at the top of,the casting, thereby ensuring a dry Steam supply auct'peeventing priming. A double safety valve of the Ramehottorn type is fitted to the top of the cylinders.
Slide valves are employed for the admission of both high and low pressure steam, and these are operated by eccentrics on the crankshaft through Stephenson link motion. For cylinder lithriee. lion a mechanically-operated eight-feed Inlarinator is fitted in a prominent position and worked 'by the motion of the feed pump rod.
The crankshaft is a high-grade steel foeging, balanced by two discs secured to the webe;. these discs Lake the place of the single flywheel Usually eanployed. ' Power is transmitted to the road Wheels through cast-steel, machine-cut gearing, eliding pinions on the left side of the crankshaft engaging as required with fast or low gear wheeiis securely attached to a 'c7.7.7 'sprocket and revolving on a stationary countershate, the final drive being through a Ina.ssive roller chain.
The frame is constructed ef steel press
ings and is of channel section. The springing is pattieularly good,.
The front axle is stationary, and' the wheels run on stub axles, the iteering being on the Ackerman principle. Incidentally, the axes of the stub axle pins Es through the points of contact of the ee with the road. Both brakes are of. internal-expanding type.