1880 Human-powered tractor with dreadnaught wheels - photo

[Jon]

1880 human-powered tractor with dreadnaught wheels, transporting stones.



More: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dreadnaught_wheel

Previously:

1954 Fordson Major trencher with Rotopad tracks
Track N Go wheel-driven vehicle tracks - GIF, video, patent

[toma]

Human imagination is endless....!!
Something new for me. Thank you very much for digging for us such things ..

[PJs]

Fascinating Jon, Thanks. I really enjoy the ingenuity of design from these early era machines. The free wheeling slip jointed treads, suspended load - beam construction and the Ships wheel steering and of course the 4 man squirrel cage drive are mods of the time to make a "new" type machine. Also note the arc structured iron for what I assume is the front "suspension" and structural support. An Innovative second step in Dreadnaught wheel design. Very cool!

[Frank S]

Actually those are not true dreadnaught wheels nor are they pedrail wheels which is another type of pad laying wheel, Dreadnaught wheels invented by James Boydell had long pads which were inter connected to each other secured to the wheel by cables

. Ped wheels had the pads connected tractor the wheels vie a pivot.

The wheels on this tractor are called endless track wheels. which was an improvement to the Boydell design, and sometimes called dreadnaught wheels
https://www.reading.ac.uk/merl/colle...rl-TR_BUR.aspx
"Burrell joined forces with engineer, James Boydell, to produce the first practical traction engine, a self-moving road engine for pulling loads. Boydell patented a system called the 'Endless Railway', which foreshadowed the track-laying vehicles of many years later. Demonstrations of the Burrell-Boydell traction engine at Croxton near Thetford and at Brackenborough near Louth were held in 1857 and made a very favourable impression. Several Burrell-made ploughs were drawn at a time behind the engine, which also showed its prowess in hauling loads over soft uneven ground. Burrell's reputation was now established."



here you can see that the track pads are neither connected together as in dreadnaught nor are they mounted to the wheel as in pedrail wheels

Pedrail wheels invented by Bramah Joseph Diplock

[PJs]

Considering the photograph post dates the patents of 1840 & 54 by ~40 years and steam and horse drawn locomotion machines were available prior, it is interesting that these appear to be "Dreadnaught" type wheels made in a Local Home Made type shop (HMT) manor as a Human Powered machine in the style of Burrell's original patents from 1846.

Burrells traction engine Pat. 1858

Boydells Pat. 1846


http://cyberneticzoo.com/walking-mac...ydell-british/

Note the articulating wishbone for the pads in both drawings and in the posting.

Also interesting how humans derive names like Dreadnaught (Fear Nothing ~1800) and apply them to wheels and machines to become defacto standards even though they may be incorrect as time passes yet do invoke an imaginative substance to a machine like this.

"And as imagination bodies forth
The forms of things unknown, the poet’s pen
Turns them to shapes and gives to airy nothing
A local habitation and a name.
Such tricks hath strong imagination,.."

[Frank S]

Interesting how these "tool talk" threads have a tendency to spur forgotten memories or lead to several of us to research areas of the history of mechanical evolution we may not of otherwise delved into. I cannot see how anyone who joins HMT with any interest in learning or sharing would not find these threads intriguing

[cmarlow]

Considering the photograph post dates the patents of 1840 & 54 by ~40 years and steam and horse drawn locomotion machines were available prior,...."

It makes me wonder if they didn't figure out a way to re-use a tractor with a blown boiler. If so then it is indeed an interesting device.

[greyhoundollie]

Well said Frank S.