The Design .of the Omnitractor.
Page 16
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
The Editor,•TrigCOMMERCIAL MOTOR.
11619] Sir—I note " Engineer's ' letter on page 119. of your issue 'of 6th April about gear rings.ata tached.to rims 0f Toad wheels of oil engines by Fowler, Clayton, and Daimler—sanae is also done by Fowler'a in cheap ateam engines for Colonial use— but I was correct in saying that the system. is nonexistent in the modern steam road engine for use on our hard roads. Gear rings were attached. to' road Wheels by Fowler's 40 years ago, and also by Garrata. I have only seen oil engines hauling on
B58
three occasions. On the second occasion, these were powerful engines by an English firm, having very wide wheels. of large diameter with cast-in spokes and riveted rims, as on modern steam engines. My remark as to springs being unnecessary was intended to apply to engines for double-engine system, which are stationary when winding and where the cushionjug effect when moving on the headlands is quite sufficient. I have received from an English engineering firm particulars of oil engines to work on doublesystem, having spur gearing and road wheels, as on steam ploughing engines. I have seen steam engines having spokes cast in hubs and bolted to rims,_ but the nuts for these bolts rust up and when loose have to be cut out same as loose rivets, as rims of farm engines are often full of water and mud. 1 am perfectly acquainted with the wear of bearings that " Engineer" mentions, but the worst thing in some engines is the movement of blocks mid brackets carrying the bearings—owing to not being attached to the side plates in a sufficiently secure manner to withstand the strains of the gearing. I have just seen a new steam tractor with spur gearing giving three speeds—final chain drive—and plate springs (perhaps this may prove the best method of driving and springing a tractor) and is much quieter when travelling. Road wheels get much out of truth, and, in my opinion, are not suitable to carry gear rings. Great . numbers of engines, motors and bicycles are successfully driven through the spokes, and great numbers. of mowers, haymakers, swath turners, delivery rakes, drills, potato diggers, etc, successfully drive gearing through the spokes. I once saw (not travelling) a traction engine with side rods(like a locomotive) to hind axle, and road wheels driven by friction bands to allow slip at corners. I must apologise for length
of this.—Yours. faithfully, FRED PAGE. 28, The Hundred, Ramsey. .