52 BULLETIiSr 119, U. S. NATIONAL MUSEUM. 



D. A. Woodberry Automatic Steam Cut-off. U. S. Patent No. 107746, Sep- 

 tember 27, 1870. Transferred from the United States Patent Office. 



The apparatus consists of a main eccentric swung from an axis 

 upon a hub fixed to the crankshaft or upon an arm of the flywheel 

 and adjusted laterally by means of an auxiliary eccentric. Two 

 governor weights are firmly secured to springs which are in turn 

 secured to an arm of the flywheel. The governor weights are hinged 

 to links which at their opposite ends are attached to two arms of the 

 auxiliary eccentric. When the crank shaft is put in motion, the cen- 

 trifugal force of the weights will swing them outward partly revolv- 

 ing the auxiliary eccentric whereby the throw of the main eccentric 

 is reduced and the valve caused to cut off sooner. If the motion of 

 the crank shaft ceases or slows up, the weights produce an opposite 

 effect upon the eccentric and valve, thus correcting any variation of 

 speed in the engine. The arrangement of the weights is such that they 

 precede their points of suspension in the direction of motion, and 

 while at rest they lie near the crank shaft. By this means the liability 

 of the weights to be thrown outward by their inertia when the engine 

 is started suddenly, is avoided. Cat. No. 251,290 U.S.N .M. 



Internal-Combustion Engine Magneto Equipped with an "Impulse Starter." 

 Gift of Eisemann Magneto Corporation. 



The magneto is coupled with a device which spins its armature, 

 giving a hot spark with ordinary hand craking. The mechanism 

 consists of an aluminum housing attached to the magneto shaft con- 

 taining a spiral spring, which is compressed when the motor is turned 

 over and automatically released. 



By this operation the armature is given a sharp twist, causing a 

 spark to be produced at the proper moment. The device does not 

 have to be set by hand, and above 180 revolutions a minute is auto- 

 matically drawn out of action. It produces the necessary rotating 

 speed of the magneto armature to generate a spark and thereby elimi- 

 nates the necessity of an auxiliary battery system, especially on en- 

 gines cranked by hand, such as heavy trucks, tractors, marine engines, 

 etc. Cat. No. 306,998 U.S.N.M. 



PART II. 



APPLICATION OF POWER TO TRANSPORTATION. 



SELF-PROPELLED ROAD \'EHICLES. 



One of the greatest advantages of steam power which was recog- 

 nized from the earliest time of its application is that its use is not 

 fixed as to location, as is water power or wind power, but is free to 



