Improvements in Motor Cycles, and in Petroleum Motors adapted for Use therewith
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 11th June, 1898
Complete Specification Left, 13th Mar., 1899-Accepted, 6th May, 1899
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
Improvements in Motor Cycles, and in Petroleum Motors adapted for
Use therewith
I, PROSPER ALEXANDRE RENAUX, of 33, Rue du Repos, Paris, in the Republic
of France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has reference to a motor cycle operated by a petroleum motor
The motor, contrary to the usual arrangement in motor cycles, is horizontal, and
placed longitudinally, and is mono-cylindrical, composed of cast iron, enclosed by
a cover of bronze furnished with wings or blades, arranged preferably in the form
of a helix The head of the cylinder carries the boxes of the admission valve and
of the exhaust valve, and both are furnished with wings or blades
At this end, the oylinder is fixed to the frame of the vehicle in any convenient
manner, and the other end of the cylinder terminates in a case where are to be
found two discs serving as fly-wheels, as well as a differential gear
The head of the motor connecting rod forms a collar in which can turn a disc
carried by pins connecting the two fly wheels, which are loose on two parts of the
motor axle, and on which are keyed two mitre wheels.
The diso enclosed in the collar has a recess in which is mounted a small axle on
which can turn loosely a mitre pinion, which gears with the spur wheels, and
thus constitutes, with these latter, a differential gear
On each of the two parts of the motor shaft is keyed a pinion, which
gears with
the internal toothed wheel fixed on the corresponding part of the motor axle to
which are fixed the wheels.
On the axle of one of the fly wheels is keyed a chain wheel, which is connected
by a chain to a clutch pedal mechanism, which is used for the purpose of putting
the machine in motion.
The
The exhaust valve, as usual, is operated, and does not work automatically
admission valve, on the contraiv, works automatically, under the influence of
aspiration, but it includes a modification entirely novel
The rod of the exhaust valve teiminates in a stirrup of link, to which is attached
the spring which returns the valve to its seat
On one of the sides of the case 18 placed the firing device, as well as the means
for operating the exhaust valve
A spur wheel operated in suitable relation by a pinion keyed on the axle of a fly
wheel, is secured to a cam so formed as to give, at each rotation, a forward move-
ment to a lever carrying a roller or bowl, which 18 pressed against the cam by
a spring.
Besides the boss or extension intended to give the movement to the lever,
the cam has also a recess, the object of which will be described hereafter
The lever is pivotted to an arm mounted on a short shaft carried in suitable
bearings, and this shaft has a finger which engages with the link of the exhaust
valve. A rocking piece mounted on the axle, and arranged parallel to the shaft,
projects, at one end, under the 1od of the exhaust valve, engaging between the

page_text: finger and the end of this rod, and, at the other end, under the rod of the admission
valve.
The working of this mechanism is as follows At every rotation of the cam,
the lever advances, and causes a partion rotation of the shaft, the finger acts on
the end of the rod of the exhaust valve, and opens the valve Almost at the
same moment, a little after the cam has opened the exhaust valve, the cam, by
means of the recess, allows for a second and slight movement, in the reverse
direction, of the lever, the finger now acts on the piece, and rocks it, causing it
to strike, and very rapidly open the admission valve. This opening, the duration
of which is extremely short, forms no part of the working of the motor, it has
simply the object of releasing, or unsticking, so to speak, the admission valve, so
that its eventual opening, under aspiration, will be rendered certain.
A cock by which the cylinder communicates with the atmosphere, is arranged
on the cylinder head, preferably at its lowest point, and it can be operated by the
rider by means of the arm and rod It serves, then, at the starting of the machine,
to put the cylinder in communication with the air, in order to avoid, when starting
pedalling, considerable resistance, due to compression. This cock being placed on
the head of the cylinder, at the point where the residues from the lubricating oil,
the tar, and the products of combustion of the hydrocarbon, collect, there takes
place, when the cock is opened, an expulsion of these products The cylinder is
therefore kept clean, and undue resistances are prevented
A carburator of any convenient system 18 provided
The firing of the explosive mixture is effected by electricity. The current 18
furnished by means of a primary current given by a battery, or by accumulators,
and an induction-coil.
One pole of the battery is connected with the metal of the apparatus, and the
second with one end of the inductor, the other end of this may be connected with
the metal of the apparatus by means of a commutator forming one of the handles
of the steering bar In the circuit is placed a rotary switch, replacing the
armature of the coil, & which will presently be described As to the circuit, it
19 taken on one side to the isolated pole of the lighter, and on the other side
to the metal of the apparatus, the other pole of the lighter iemaining constantly
in connection with the metal.
The mechanism intended to effect the closing of the circuit consists of a curved
piece turning on the axis of the cam This piece may be considered as fixed,
except that it can be set at different angles with relation to the fixed part of the
apparatus, for the purpose to be explained
It is composed of two insulated blades, one is in permanent contact with a
spring blade, also insulated, and connected with the commutator handle, by which
the circuit can be closed with the aid of the metal of the apparatus
The other blade comes in contact with a blade which connects with the metal of
the apparatus. This contact of the two blades takes place each time that a boss
formed on the cam strikes and moves the blade The projection or boss is set at a
suitable angle to effect this contact at the desired moment of the phase of the
explosion.
Dated this 11th day of June 1898
Improvements in Motor Cycles, and in Petroleum Motors adapted for b
Use therewith.
I, PROSPER ALF XANDRE RENAUX, of 33, Rue du Repos, Paris, in the Republic
of France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what

page_text: This invention has reference to a motor cycle operated by a petroleum motor.
In the accompanying drawings..
-
Figure 1 18 a side elevation of a motor cycle constructed according to this
invention
Figure 2 is a side elevation of the motor.
Figure 3 18 a plan view of the same
Figure 4 is an end view of the motor, shewing the valves.
Figure 5 18 a vertical section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 6
Figure 6 18 a transverse section on the axis of certain fly wheels
Figure 7 is a transverse section on the axis of the motor shaft or axle.
Figure 8 18 a detail of a distributing cam and a rotary switch of an electrio
coil; and
Figure 9 is a section of the petroleum reservoir, an oil-receiver, and an induction
coil.
The motor, contrary to the usual arrangement in motor cycles, 18 horizontal, and
placed longitudinally of the vehicle, which avoids the shocks from below, upwards,
common to vertical motors, and which are felt so readily, and are disagreeable,
above all when commencing to work
The motor is mono-cylindrical, its cylinder I is in cast iron enclosed by a cover
of bronze, furnished with wings or blades. This mode of construction involves a
very ethcacious system of cooling As it is not, in effect, possible to cool these little
motors by the circulation of water, they are provided with the wings or blades
which radiate the heat.
Besides which, wings cast with the cylinders are necessarily very thick, but the
wings in bronze forming part of the cover on the cylinder, as is the case in the
present motor, can be very thin, and, further, possess a co-efhcient of conductibility
superior to that of cast mon
These wings on blades are arranged preferably in the form of a helix, so that
they are at an inclination to the transverse axis of the cylinder, which renders
them more suitable for producing effective cuculation of air 1ound the cylinder
The moto 18 arranged in such a manner that the head I is towards the front of
the vehicle.
It carries the boxes of the admission valve IA, and of the exhaust valve I E, and
both are furnished with wings or blades which are entirely exposed to tho
current of air caused by the forward movement of the vehicle, thus, a continuous
and energetic cooling of that part which is the hottest of the motor is produced,-
a matter of eminent importance.
At this end, the cylinder 18 fixed to the frame J of the vehicle in any convenient
manner. The other end of the cylinder terminates in a case H, where are to be
found two discs, sei ving as fly-wheels, A A, as well as a differential gear
This part of the machine is constructed according to the system described in the
Specification relating to my Application for Patent No 12,757 of 1898
I will describe, in a few words, this system -The head of the motor connect-
ing-rod G forms a collar, in which can turn a disc E, carried by pins e e, connecting
the two fly wheels A A, which are loose on two parts B B of the motor axle, and on
which are keyed two mitre wheels CC
The disc E, enclosed in the collar, has a recess in which is mounted a small
axle d, on which can turn loosely a mitie pinion D, which gears with the spur
wheels C, and thus constitutes, with these latter, a differential gear.
On each of the two parts B, B, of the motor shaft, is keyed a pinion b, which
gears with the internal toothed wheel b', fixed on the corresponding part of the
motor axle, to which are fixed the wheels K, K Each of the fly wheels AA has a
band brake L, which 18 operated by the der by means of rods and a lever
uitably arranged, 11
On the axle of one of the fly wheels A 18 keyed a chain wheel a, which is con-

page_text: nected by a chain a¹ to a clutch pedal mechanism L', which is used for the purpose
of putting the machine in motion
This arrangement is known and applied in all motor cycles duven by human
and mechanical power
The motor works according to the four-time cycle, and has two valves I E
and I A, of which the operating mechanism is peculiar The exhaust valve, as
usual, is operated, and does not work automatically
The admission valve, on the contrary, works automatically, under the influence
of aspiration, but it includes a modification entuely novel
The rode of the exhaust valve terminates in a stirrup or link, to which
is attached the spring, which returns the valve to its seat
On one of the sides of the case H is placed the firing device, as well as the means
for operating the exhaust valve
A spur wheel M, operated in suitable relation by a pinion in keyed on the axle of
a fly wheel A, is secured to a cam m³, 80 formed as to give, at each rotation, a
forward movement to a lever N, carving a roller o bowl n¹, which is pressed
against the cam by a spring n³, (see Fig 8)
Besides the boss or extension m² intended to give the movement to the lever N,
the cam has also a recess m³, the object of which will be described hereafter.
The lever N 18 pivotted, at N3, to an arm 0, mounted on a short shaft a, carried
in suitable bearings, and this shaft has a finger o', which engages with the link
of the exhaust valve. A rocking piece P, mounted on the axle p, and arranged
parallel to the shaft o, projects at one end under the rod 2e of the exhaust valve,
engaging between the finger o¹ and the end of this rod, and at the other end under
the rod za of the admission valve
The working of this mechanism is as follows:-
At every rotation of the cam m³, the lever N advances, and causes a partial
rotation of the shaft o; the finger of acts on the end of the 1od 1, 6, of the exhaust
valve, and opens the valve Almost at the same moment, a little after the cam has
opened the exhaust valve, the cam, by means of the recess m³, allows for a second
and slight movement, in the reverse direction, of the lever N, the finger o¹ now
acts on the piece P, and rocks it, causing it to strike, and very rapidly open the
admission valve. This opening, the duration of which is extremely short, forms
no part of the working of the motor, it has simply the object of releasing, or
unsticking, so to speak, the admission valve, so that its eventual opening, under
aspiration, will be rendered certain
This arrangement completely prevents the sticking of the admission valve, which
causes misfirings.
A cock Q, by which the cylinder communicates with the atmosphere, is arranged
on the cylinder head, preferably at its lowest point, and it can be operated by 4
the rider by means of the arm and rod qg! It serves, then, at the starting of
the machine, to put the cylinder in communication with the air, in order to avoid,
when starting pedalling, considerable resistance, due to compression. This cook
being placed on the head of the cylinder, at the point where the residues from the
lubricating oil, the tar, and the products of combustion of the hydro carbon 4
collect, there takes place, when the cock is opened, an expulsion of these products.
The cylinder is therefore kept clean, and undue resistances are prevented
A carburator R, of any convenient system, is provided, that shewn in the
drawings is a carburator of the Compagnie Nationale 'd' Electricite, but I may use
any other
In that shewn r, is the supply tube for the petroleum, and its cock r¹ 18 the
admission tube for the gaseous mixture to the cylinder, is the exhaust pipe,
which enters the exhaust port. The handles, & 5, placed conveniently for
the hand of the rider, serve to regulate the carburation
The thing of the explosive mixture is effected by electricity The current is 5
furnished by means of a primary current given by a battery, or by accumulators
contained in S, and an induction coil S¹.

page_text: One pole of the battery is connected with the metal of the apparatus, and the
second with one end of the inductor; the other end of this may be connected with
the metal of the apparatus by means of a commutator forming one of the handles
of the steering bai In the circuit is placed a rotary switch, replacing the aimature
of the coil, and which will presently be described As to the circuit, it is taken on
one side to the isolated pole of the lighter," and, on the other side, to the metal of
the apparatus, the other pole of the "lighter" remaining constantly in connection
with the metal
The mechanism intended to effect the closing of the circuit, causing the passing
of the curents which are manifested by the spark jumping between the poles of
the lighter, is arranged on one sude of the case H, ordinarily that where the cam m³
1s placed It consists of a curved piece T, turning on the axis of the cam m
This piece may be considered as fixed, except that it can be set at different angles
with relation to the fixed part of the apparatus, for the purpose to be explained
It is composed of two insulated blades tt, one, (, 18 in permanent contact with
the spung blade, also insulated, and connected with the commutator handle, by
which the circuit can be closed with the aid of the metal of the apparatus
The other blade t¹ comes in contact with a blade t', which connects with the
metal of the apparatus This contact of the two blades takes place each time that a
boss tormed on the cam m³, strikes, and moves the blade t³. The projection or
boss is set at a suitable angle to effect this contact at the desired moment of the
phase of the explosion
By changing the position of these pieces T t¹, the moment of contact of the
blades and can be varied, a handle t (Fig. 1), by means of the sliding piece tô,
effecting this change of position
The reservoir of petroleum U, the small oil receiver V, and the induction coil S¹,
are enclosed in the same casing, arranged at the back of the vehicle, above the
casing II
This arrangement avoids the spreading of the parts all over the machine,
an important point, not so much in relation to working, as to cleaning
The oil receiver is connected to the cylinder by a small pipe v, provided with
a cock, and a pipe provides for filling this receiver
Such is my motor cycle; it is characterised by different arrangements, assuring
an eproachable working of the valves, suppressing all misfirings, and simplifying
considerably the construction, by the particular combination of the fly wheels A A
with the differential gear
The special arrangement of the motor renders the cooling extremely energetic,
which is very important, because bad cooling may be the cause of the stopping of
the motor by causing the parts to stick, besides which, the special combination of
the fing devices is very simple
I would here iemark that I do not intend to limit myself to the exact details
herein shown and desorbed, as these may be considerably modified, so long as the
pinciples of construction above enumerated are retained
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim is.
1 In a motor cycle, the employment of a mechanism, consisting in the com-
bination of means for operating a shaft by a connecting rod with a differential gear
composed of two discs serving as fly wheels loose on two parts of the motor shaft,
and connected together by pins fixed in a disc carrying a small axle, on which
18 mounted loosely a mitie pinion, this pinion forming the satellite pinion to
two mitre wheels keyed on the two parts of the motor shaft, the disc carrying the
satellite pinion being surrounded by a ring in which it turns freely, and which
forms the head of the connecting rod, as above described with regard to the annexed
drawings
2 In an explosive engine, the arrangement for operating the valves, consisting
in effecting the opening of the exhaust valve entirely by the action of a cam on

page_text: the level, and the pieces connected with this valve, and the working of the admission
valve, effected with a view to slightly loosen o unstick the latter, the proper
opening of which is produced by the aspiration of the motor, as usual, this slight
movement being due to the form of the cam working the exhaust valve, as hetem
shewn and described
3 The general arrangement of motor cycle, in which the motor is placed
horizontally, and consists of a cast non cylinder enclosed in a bronze envelope
provided with wings or blades arranged helically round the cylinder, the said
cylinder fixed on one side to pedal mechanism, the valve boxes, also provided with
wings or blades, being turned sideways, and the other extremity of the cylinder
opening to a casing enclosing the diving mechanism, as here shewn and
described
4. The particular mechanism for producing induced currents of electricity
intended for the firing of the gaseous mixture, as herein shewn and described
5 The combinations and arrangements of the whole, as well as the different
constructive details which have been described with reference to, and as shewn
on the annexed drawings