Fedrail  Steam  Tractor. 
203 
The  rail  wliich  is  of  ])0Ciiliar  shape,  something  between  a 
horse-shoe  and  a lieart,  is  very  short,  only  about  3 ft.  long, 
enough  to  cover  three  rollers  at  any  time  ; and  as  it  is  evident 
that  owing  to  the  inequalities  of  the  ground  the  three  rollers 
will  hardly  ever  he  at  the  same  level,  the  rail  is  made  to  swing 
about  a pivot  or  axis,  and  to  adapt  itself  to  the  ever  varying 
inclines  from  one  roller  to  the  other. 
The  advantages  claimed  are: — 
1.  Great  saving  in  power,  the  resistance  to  motion  being  more  comparable 
with  that  encountered  by  a railway  locomotive,  than  by  a road  traction  engine. 
2.  No  damage  to  roa<l  surfaces,  the  floating  area  of  the  feet  being  largely 
in  excess  of  the  area  of  the  portion  of  a wheel  in  contact  with  the  road. 
.S.  Greater  tractive  power,  due  to  better  adhesion,  and  at  the  same  time  no 
slipping  or  skidding. 
4.  Ploughing  and  cultivating  machinery  hauled  direct  without  wire  rope 
plant,  as  is  usually  the  case. 
5.  The  first  example  of  “Animal  Mechanism,"’  the  gi'eat  flcxibilitj’^,  and 
consequent  durability  more  than  compensating  for  increased  complexity. 
C.  Great  saving  in  capital  outlay.  Tt.e  conditions  of  a tr.tm-road  being 
self-contained  in  the  rolling  stock,  the  whole  capital  outlay  on  permanent-way 
is  thus  saved.  The  Pedrail  System  is  applicable  to  the  waggons,  as  well  as 
the  engine. 
The.se  claim.s  are  hardly  likely  to  be  accejded  by  the 
agriculturist,  with  whose  needs  we  are  chiefly  concerned,  at 
all  events  in  this  country.  The  ])oint  that  a permanent-way 
once  laid  is  good  for  many  engines  and  many  loads,  with  but 
small  wear  and  tear,  should  not  be  overlooked  ; also  the  fact 
that  the  cost  of  the  roads  falls  on  the  general  rates  and  not 
on  the  individual  users  of  them. 
Claims  2,  3,  and  4 ar(‘  undoubtedly  true,  and  many  cases 
can  be  conceived  where  circumstances  woidd  render  the  use 
of  the  pedrail  distinctly  jireferable  to  the  traction  engine. 
The  inventor  must  be  congratulated  on  the  successful 
working  out  of  a very  interesting  and  difficult  problem. 
Daikying  Appliances. 
Article  117.5. — The  Dairy  Supply  Co.,  Ltd.,  28  Museum 
Street,  London,  W.C.  “ ‘Alfa  Viola’  Cream  Separator.” 
Price  81. — The  Alpha  Laval  Separator  has  been  such  a great 
favourite  that  it  is  a pleasure  to  note  an  improvement  which 
will  add  to  its  good  qualities.  The  new  feature  is  that  the 
bowl  is  independent  of  the  spindle  and  worm  .screw,  which 
remain  in  position  ; thus  the  risk  of  injury  to  the  spindle  is 
avoided  and  the  bowl  is  made  more  convenient  to  handle. 
Articles  2774  and  2775. — J/es.frs.  Wilhelm  ^Jeinhardt 
Co.,  5 Lloyd’s  Avenue,  London,  E.C.  Article  2774. — 
