Cycloped
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| Power type | Horse |
|---|---|
| Builder | Mr. Brandreth of Liverpool |
Cycloped was a primitive horse-powered locomotive, built by Mr. Brandreth of Liverpool, which competed unsuccessfully in the Rainhill Trials of October 1829.
The following description is taken from the "Mechanics Magazine" No. 325, of SATURDAY, OCTOBER 31ST, 1829.
- "The motive power in this engine is gained in the same way as in the tread-mills of prison celebrity, and the dog-mills which we have sometimes heard of — only that horses, instead of men or dogs, are the agents employed. A still nearer resemblance to it may be traced in the common squirrel-cage, if the reader will, but for the sake of the comparison, suppose that the squirrel drives its circular cage round by treading on the outside instead of the inside. A common waggon-frame mounted on wheels is divided longitudinally into two compartments or stalls, and the bottom of each of these stalls is occupied by an endless chain of crossbars, which work into and revolve round the axles of the carriage. The horses are placed in the stalls, and by treading on the endless chains produce the rotary motion requisite to propel themselves and the carriage forward.
- The experiments made on the railway with this engine did not, we believe, establish any gain, either in point of power or speed, by this new mode of applying horse power; but the apparatus was of rude construction, and can scarcely be said to have given the principle of the innovation fair play. The stalls, in particular, were too narrow, and greatly cramped the action of the horses. We have no doubt that in a well-constructed carriage of this description, horses might be made to work on a railway with considerably more effect than by drawing, or, at least, with equal effect and more ease. One of the principal elements of the velocity attainable on railways is the momentum which a body in motion acquires on a level or down an inclined plane; and this must often reach a point, at which any power of draught that can be applied will be not only of no use, but an actual obstruction to the velocity of the body. Suppose this momentum should amount to a force equal to a velocity of 13 miles, that is a rate of velocity at which the utmost a horse can do is to move its own weight; so that were he even able to continue galloping in advance of it, he would gallop to no purpose. But suppose farther that the momentum or velocity of gravitation should exceed the speed of the horse — which as there are few horses that can travel 13 miles an hour, is a very probable case — either the horse must be run down, or the carriage compelled to stop. Now, by transferring the horse to the inside of the carriage, he will be not only removed out of the way of this momentum, but enabled to participate in the benefit of it, he will be spared all the toil of running a head of the carriage to no purpose, and required to exert no more power than is just necessary to overcome tile friction of the road, that is, to set the carriage a-going.
- Any power, however, which such a carriage as "The Cycloped" might possess must always be much inferior to that obtained through the agency of steam, both in cheapness and efficiency."
