A traction engine is a portable steam engine that can travel on highways and other firm surfaces. It was used for agricultural and industrial applications in the 19th century, but declined in popularity with the rise of gasoline-powered equipment.
A traction engine is a type of portable steam engine that is similar to a locomotive, but capable of traveling along highways and other firm surfaces. This self-propelled machine was used primarily during the 19th century to pull loads, plow the soil, and provide mechanical power in remote locations. Early versions of this device employed a chain drive mechanism, but a gear-driven version soon became the industry standard. The first traction engine was invented in the 1860s as an alternative to the portable steam engine and was widely used until the 1920s. Use of the steam traction engine declined in the 1930s as machinery gasoline became more practical.
A traction engine is similar to a locomotive engine in that both machines are powered by steam. While a locomotive engine is strictly limited to railways, traction engines can travel freely along any firm surface. This freedom of movement makes them useful for a variety of agricultural and industrial applications. This steam engine is designed in different ways depending on its main use. Each design typically includes a flywheel-driven pulley to power a separate piece of machinery, and a drawbar to pull loads.
During the 19th century, traction motors were found in a number of different industrial applications. They are commonly known as road locomotives due to their ability to carry heavy loads along highways. In many cases, two or more engines were coupled together to provide additional pulling power for extremely heavy loads. These machines were sometimes equipped with a cargo bed similar to a modern cargo truck. This truck-style version was often referred to as a steam wagon and was commonly used in Britain until the early 1940s.
Other industrial applications for this engine include construction of highways and railway equipment. This engine was often designed to be used as a steam roller by replacing the standard front wheels with a single, heavy roller. The steam roller version was typically used to compact various types of road paving materials. Some of these engines were fitted with flanged wheels for railway use. These railway versions were typically used for light duty duties apart from the main line.
These machines were also used in the agricultural industry to plow and cultivate fields. In firm ground conditions, the plow implement was attached to the drawbar and pushed behind the engine. Softer soil required two motors that moved the plow across the field using a belt and pulley or cable system. These motors also provided a portable power source to thresh wheat at harvest time. Farmers who did not own a traction motor usually rented the device from a contractor.
Early versions of this device employed a simple chain drive mechanism that ran from the engine to the rear wheels. This was soon superseded by a more efficient gear driven version. These machines usually featured two large drive wheels at the rear with a pair of smaller wheels at the front for steering purposes. Certain off-road models came equipped with a four-wheel drive mechanism, while others featured a track type.
The traction engine was invented in the 1860s by installing an existing portable steam engine with wheels and a self-propelled drive mechanism. Although portable steam engines had previously been transported to a job site on horseback, the self-propelled mechanism allowed the engines to be adapted for many new uses. The popularity of these steam engines waned with the rise of gasoline-powered equipment. By the late 1920s, steam engines had been largely superseded by more practical and modern equipment.
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