1194 REPORT—1885. 
effected by merely altering the position of one frame containing a set of wheels or 
rollers in contact with the sphere. The result of this change is that the relative 
velocity of two given rollers in a second or fixed frame are correspondingly altered. 
One of these latter wheels or rollers being employed as a driver, motion can be 
imparted to the sphere by frictional contact with it, and thus the second wheel or 
roller in the same frame can be employed as a follower and driven at any required 
velocity relatively to the first. After unsatisfactory experiments with a heavy 
ball, whereby force closure was substituted for pair closure, it was determined 
to return to the pair-closed arrangement, in which the necessary frictional 
contact was obtained by the pressure of suitably placed rollers, and the author’s 
brother, Mr. Edward Shaw, designed and executed a machine which it was 
calculated would, at not excessive velocities, transmit nearly 2 H.-P. This 
was given the form of a sack hoist, which has been for some time in operation 
at the Exhibition. The author then described the details of this machine by means. 
of diagrams. The action is in most respects highly satisfactory, there being almost 
perfectly silent action and an absence of all noise and vibration. By means of one 
small handle, which simply causes the movable frame to roll round on the sphere, 
and therefore is turned with scarcely any appreciable effort, not only is the hoisting 
of a small sack performed at any required speed, but the same handle when moved 
so as to cause the axis of rotation to pass between the driver and follower, instead 
of on one side of them, causes a reversal of motion and consequent lowering of the 
sack at any required speed. In the intermediate position, ie. when the axis of 
rotation of the sphere passes through the point of contact of the follower, no 
motion ensues. ‘Thus all necessity either for a starting and stopping gear or for a 
brake is avoided, and the whole operation is instantly performed by means of one: 
handle, 
Several difficulties had to be overcome, these being : 
1. The question of finding suitable material. 
2. Heating of bearings with the high speeds and pressures employed. 
3. Variable resistance which occurs in different positions of the axis of rotation. 
from want of true point contact. 
4, Twisting of the sphere on point of contact with the following roller when 
the action of rotation passes through that point, and consequent injury of the: 
surfaces in contact when the follower stops. 
Difficulties 1 and 2 were completely overcome, the first by using hard elastic 
surfaces and phosphor bronze, being successfully tried in contact, and also good 
cast-iron on cast-iron; the second by using Stauffer’s lubricators, The third 
difficulty has been partially and the fourth entirely overcome. 
5. On the Employment of the Road Engine in Construction and Maintenance- 
of Roads.' By Colonel Inyus, 
The author first dealt with the historical aspect of road-making, then with the- 
fo) 
methods which the Kincardine o’ Neil District of Aberdeenshire Road Trustees had 
in previous times adopted in maintaining the roads in that part of the country. 
They had been faced with so many difficulties that they were now applying steam 
power in the shape of an ordinary road engine. It had been in operation now for 
more than a year,and promised to be satisfactory. The method was—The employ- 
ment of an engine in working a stone breaker, which provides large quantities of 
metal ; the employment of the engine to draw waggons used in applying the metal ; 
and the adaptation of the engine and waggons to act as rollers at the same time 
as they are employed in applying the metal, thus applying the metal, rolling it 
into solidity, and leaving a thoroughly finished surface. They had to deal with 
insufficiently constructed roads, and roads having the appearance of being well 
soil was soft they gave way. The engine and waggons in applying the metal found 
out all the weak places, and the yielding surface was coated with metal until it has 
Printed in extenso in the Contract Journal, September 28, 1885. 
constructed, but when subjected to heavy locomotive engine traffic where the sub-- : 
