1839.] 



THE CIVIL ENGINEER AND ARCHITECT'S JOURNAL. 



241 



Fig. 3.— Side view of the Second Modification. 



Fig. 4. — Plan of the above. 



1 _. ._'lltHWWil 



I 



CURTIS'S PATENT RAILWAY IMPROVEMENTS. 

 ( Continued from page 123.^ 



ANIMAL LOCOMOTIVE; OR, MACHINE FOR MULTIPLYING THE VELOCITY 

 OF BEASTS OF BURDEN. 



The macliineiy or apparatas is described by the inventor under 

 tliree moditications, as sliown in the annexed engravings. Figure 1 is 

 a front view, and Figure 2 is a side view of a machine, in which an 

 animal produces a motion in the machine by his weight, and the mus- 

 cular force of his fore legs alone ; this is effected thus : upon the shaft 

 of the driving wheels B, cranks D, are formed in the same mamier as 

 for a locomotive, excepting that tire cranks are opposite, and not at 

 right angles to each other, as in a locomotive ; to the cranks are at- 

 tached the connecting links, GG, and to these are likewise connected 

 the treadles EE ; the horse, or other animal, H, then alternately de- 

 presses the treadles EE by his fore legs, and thus the wheels BB are 

 turned round in the same way as in a steam-engine, or in a grinder's 

 barrow ; the ert'ective force of the animal is increased by using the 

 strap or band I, which passes over his back, thus enabling him to exert 

 the muscular force of his fore legs, as in the act of lifting, or getting 

 up ; the powerful and broad belly-band, K, is secured to the framing, 

 and is placed to catch the animal, in the case of his faUing on the 

 treadles, and breaking them ; the partition-board L is placed between 

 the legs, to prevent the animal by any chance placing his foot upon 

 the wrong treadle ; A is the framing of the machine, G the passive 

 ■K'lieels, F the joints upon which the treadles move, and are fixed to 

 tlie cross-framing of the machine as shown; the same letters apply to 

 both figures, and the description, so far as the parts are shown in each, 

 applies likewise. 



Another modification of this machine is shown in figures 3 and 4, in 

 tfliich the animal exerts the force due to his muscular power alone, 



as in the act of drawing a load. Figiue 3 is a side view, and figure 

 4 a plan of the machine ; cranks DD, are formed upon the shaft of 

 the driving-wheels BB, as in the last described machine, and con- 

 necting rods G'G', are comiected with the cranks as before ; but the 

 rods are now placed in a horizontal position, and are connected with 

 the vertical links G'G'; to the lower ends of the vertical links G'G', 

 are attached the front ends of the treadle bars EE, and the after ends 

 of the bars EE are attached to the vertical links MM ; thus the treadles; 

 are suspended by the vertical links G' and M : upon the bars EE 

 boards are fixed, upon which the animal stands, and exerts his force, 

 as in the act of walking and drawing. Another method to support the 

 ends of the treadles will be to use friction-wheels instead of the 

 hanging links MM, but I prefer the method dravra ; a board may be 

 placed to separate the legs of the animal, as shown in L, in figure 2, 

 the animal is yoked in a collar, and the drag-chains I, are fastened to 

 the framing, so that the horse, as drawn, is in the same position as if 

 placed in a cart ; a platform P is placed forward for the animal to rest 

 his fore legs upon, and a shutter or partition upon hinges L, so that 

 the animal in the act of working shall always step upon the treadles ; 

 this partition shuts down when the animal is placed in the machine, 

 or withdrawn from it ; the treadle bars EE pass imder the platform P, 

 as shown by the dotted lines, and pass to the hanging links G'G', as 

 shown; the dark footmarks HHHH, in figure 4, denote the position of 

 the feet of the animal upon the treadles, and platform A is the framing> 

 CC the passive wheels, and the rails throughout the plate are denoted 

 bv tlie dotted shading. 



The next improved apparatus is shown in figure 5 ; in this instance 

 the horse is represented as in the act of drawing upon the common 

 road, and is yoked, as in a cart, between the shafts or springs B ; the 

 shafts or springs B are raised or depressed by means of the screw F, 

 and handle E; a cross piece G connects the two shafts or springs to- 



