The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-07-31

Increased weight. so that nearly as
much effort would have to be made by
the rider as II on an ordinary wheel
unassisted by the power Of a motor.
For each one per cent. of gradient the
force required to prupel the motor bi-
cycle would increase at the rate Of
about one and eight -tenths pounds.
ana for the ordinary wheel at the rate
OF one and vehundredths
pounds. To run up six per cent.
grade with the motor bicycle would re-
quire Il force of about thirteen pounds,
OF which the rider would exert eleven
and the motor two. To mount the
same inclination with an ordinary hi
cycle, would require force of about
eleven and one-half pounds; therefore
the help of the motor would only
amount to one-half of a pound. or about
four per cent.
motor that would only furnish enough
power 10 run on level road would be
of very little value because in running
up grades nearly all the power would be
used tn carry its own weight. The fact
that with it would be possible to run
on a level without exertion would be
VI DctduSt SuNl
conditions the effort required is SO
light that ii is not fatiguing.
In oider that u self -proprlling wheel
may be- of any practical value il must
have enough power TO run up any
grades that are liable to be encountered
In most cities and town and country
roads. In many places. as for example
PttSburg. there are streets with gradi
-nts as high as IL per cent. but wheel
that could slrmount. say. 10 per cent.
would meet the requirements in the
majority of cases The power required
for each ] per cent Of grade is about
equal to that used to run on a level;
therefore to mount 10 per cent. would
require eleven times as much power as
to run on level road, or. roughly
speaking, about three-quarters of a
horse power. 1t has been claimed by
many inventors that they can make
motors of this capacity that will not
weigh more than twelve or fifteen
pounds: but while such lightness may
BE- attained in Il machine NJ an expert
mental character. il is evident that il
would not be strong enough to be con-
sidered practical. Unless the working
parts are made of a size and strength
proportional to the work they are eX-
pected to do they will not withstand
the strain for any length of time: and 1t
is very doubtful whether any reputable
designer of machinery could be found
who would be willing To say that "a
three quarter horse power gas or oil
engine could be made which would
Withstand the strain of constant work
day after day without unreasonable
wear and tear and would weigh much
less than nifty pounds. But If the
weight OF motor Is increased to this
e> tent. additional power would be re-
quired To carry the extra load. there
fore the actual capacity of the motor
would be nearer one horse power than
three-quarterS-sa seven -eighths of a
horse power. The weight including
tGnk and the enlargement Of the vari-
Gus parts of the wheel to provide the
n'cessary reinforcement. would hard
ly be less than sixty pounds. which
would make the total weight of the bi-
cycle at least eightyfive pounds. This
would be more than the average rider
would care to handle. and therefore
would render such a device impractic-
able.