Improvements in or connected with Velocipedes.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 5th May, 1899-Accepted, 24th June, 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or connected with Velocipedes.
I, JAMES STACK LAUDER, of Trevor House, The Avenue, Upper Norwood, S.E.,
Gentleman, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement;-
-
This invention relates to improvements in or connected with velocipedes the
object being to provide bicycles and the like with means for storing power due
to the velocity of the machine when descending hills, and to utilize the power
thus stored when - ascending hills, for the purpose of assisting the rider.
The action of storing the air as hereinafter set forth, has also the effect of
checking the rapid descent of the machine, thus avoiding the necessity of the
ordinary brake, and the apparatus may not only be used as a compressor and
motor, but may be employed on a bicycle or the like where the stored power
to be used is liquified air, or other compressed vapours, and further, the apparatus
may be used to compress or generate these vapours while in operation. It is also
proposed to utilize the store of air or vapours, to inflate the tyres, and to operate a
whistle or siren, thereby entirely dispensing with the ordinary pump and bell.
In carrying this invention into practical effect, I suitably arrange upon the
frame of the machine, preferably in connection with the front wheel, two oscillating
cylinders. These cylinders may be used at will for compressing or storing air in
the tubular members of the frame of the cycle or the like or in any other suitable
reservoir or reservoirs arranged on the machine; or, they may be used as the
operating parts of a motor designed to utilize the air or other compressed vapours
and to act as an auxiliary power in ascending inclines.
...The change in the apparatus from compressor to motor is preferably effected by
means of a tap or cock which intercepts the compressed air between the apparatus
and the reservoir. I further provide means for throwing the apparatus in or
out of gear at will so that when running on a level road, the velocipede may be
used entirely free of this apparatus in the ordinary way.
In order that my invention may be fully understood I will now proceed to
describe same with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of a safety bicycle fitted with my improved
apparatus in which a a are the cylinders, 6 the tap or cock for changing the opera-
tion of the apparatus from a compressor to motor and vice versa, while it is also a
"blow off," and e is the rod for throwing the apparatus in or out of gear.
Fig. 2 (Sheet 3) is a front elevation of a portion of a safety bicycle showing
my improved apparatus applied thereto and further illustrating the parts shown
in Fig. 1.
Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of the upper end of one of the cylinders showing the
bosses- hereinafter more fully described, and the manner of pivoting the cylinder
to the frame of the machine.
Figs. 4 and 5. show respectively a front and side elevation of the clutch for
throwing the apparatus in and out of gear.

page_text: Figs. 6 and 7 show the contact faces or surfaces of the bosses before referred
to.
Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are three sectional views of the tap or cock with connecting
tubes and surface of boss k, illustrating the respective arrangement of the parts
and apertures of the boss when in the position for use as a blow off," secondly
when the apparatus is being used as a compressor, and thirdly when employed
as a motor.
Fig. 11 is a front elevation of a part of a safety bicycle illustrating a modified
form of apparatus as applied thereto, and
Figs. 12 and 13 show the contact faces or surfaces of the bosses used in con-
nection therewith.
Fig. 14 is a sectional view of a suitable valve for use when inflating the tyres
of the machine with the compressed air contained within the reservoir."
According to this invention the cylinders a a are pivoted to the frame of the
machine by means of pivots v vl, the pivot v taking against a raised part on the side
of the cylinder, while the pivot et supports the extremity of a rod z projecting
from the fixed boss and passing through the boss k. The boss is rigidly
fastened to the cylinder a while the boss is moveable on the rod z and kept in
close contact with the said boss by means of a spring ¹ bearing against same
and a plate or projecting part 2 formed on the extremity of the rod z, the said
boss being prevented from turning by means of a projecting pin u on each
side passing through a small slot u formed in cross pieces u running across the
frame of the machine (Figs. 2 and 3). a are the cranks to which the piston rods a¹
of the cylinders a are attached and i j are the tubes leading from the bosses to the
reservoir.
The boss k.is arranged in the manner described in order to allow of a certain
amount of movement in this boss, in order that its contact with the cylinder
boss may be ensured by means of the spring 2, this provision being made
against the jolting or shocks incidental to riding over rough roads.
is
The mechanism for throwing the apparatus in and out of gear consists of a
grooved wheel or disc r, working upon a squared portions of the axle of the front
wheel. Within the groove or recess of the wheel or disc r, a loose ring q
arranged, furnished at each side with a projecting pin t which are engaged by the
forked end p¹ of the lever p. Upon each side of the disc or wheel r small
projecting parts are formed, while the hub a upon that side and the fork n
are furnished with corresponding recesses. The lever pis operated by the rod c
carrying at its upper extremity a tubular sleeve g the upper end of which is
furnished with a knob d. A pine projecting from the rod c and passing through a
slot in the tubular sleeve g, allows only a limited turning movement of the said
sleeve and prevents it sliding up and down. The tubular sleeve g passes through
an extension of the clamp g₁ containing the tap or cock band a pin f projecting
from the said tubular sleeve g and taking under a notched part of the said
clamp g keeps the tubular sleeve in the position shown, that is, in engagement
with the fork n thereby locking the axle s upon which the hub a³ of the front
wheel is free to turn, while upon disengaging the pin f, the operating rod c is
raised by the action of the spring f', thereby bringing the clutch over into engage-
ment with the hub as of the front wheel, thereby locking the axle s and the said
hub so that they revolve together.
Referring now more particularly to Figures 8, 9, and 10 and in order to
describe the action of the tap or cock b, it is necessary to identify the port i and
its tubular connections with the down stroke of the piston and the port j and its
tubular connections with the up stroke of the piston.
In the position of the tap or cock & shown in Fig. 8 it will be seen that all connec-
tion with the reservoir, which is through the tube h, is cut off, while the tubular
connections from the ports i and j both lead to a common opening e communicating
with the open air by the passage e', and in this manner the cock acts as a "blow
off" and any air contained within the cylinders may pass away.

page_text: In the position of the tap or cock 6, shown in Fig. 9, when the apparatus is
acting as a compressor, air can be taken into the cylinders upon the down stroke
through the passage e leading to the tubular connections of the port i, while upon
the up stroke of the piston, the air is returned or forced through the tubular
connections of the port j, through the passage e in the tap or cock band through
the tube leading to the reservoir.
In the position of the tap or cock b, when the apparatus is used as a motor,
and as shown in Fig. 10, upon the down stroke of the piston air passes from the
reservoir through the tube leading therefrom through the passage in the tap
or cock to the port i through its tubular connections, while upon the up stroke
of the piston the air is returned through the port j and its tubular connections to
and through the passage in the tap or cock b, whence it passes to the open air
through a passage a, which is an extension of the passage in the tap or cock b.
The tap or cock b is brought to the required position by means of any suitable
handle or the like such as y.
This method of compressing air and of utilizing same for assisting the propulsion
of the machine may be employed in connection with a single oscillating cylinder
only, while where two such cylinders are employed as herein described and
shown, the tubular connections leading from the tap or cock b to the ports contained
in the bosses of the said cylinders have connections running to each boss as
shown, (Fig. 2 and Figs. 8, 9 and 10).
The ports and j contained within the bosses k and may be of any required
shape so as to allow of the greatest amount of air entering the cylinder at that point
which shall ensure the most effective working of the apparatus, while within
any convenient part of the passage or tube leading to the reservoir a suitable
valve is inserted to prevent the return of the air to the cylinder or cylinders while
compressing.
In the modification of this invention which will now be described with reference
to Figs. 11, 12, and 13 of the accompanying drawings, the tap or cock b is dispensed
with and the conversion of the apparatus is effected by the special construction
or form of the ports in the bosses, which, to effect the change, have to be slightly
turned or rotated as hereinafter more fully described.
According to this form of the invention the bosses 1 and 2 control the exhaust
and supply to the cylinders. The bosses 2 are kept in position in the manner
already described, while they are capable of being turned or rotated sufficiently
for the purpose in view. The mechanism for this purpose may consist of a cross
rod 3 connecting the two bosses and with which engages one extremity of a hinged
operating rod 4 the upper extremity of which is secured by a set screw 5 within
the tubular sleeve 6 so as to allow of the necessary adjustment being made.
screw rod 7 operated by a suitable handle such as 8 engages with the upper
extremity of the tubular sleeve 6 so that by revolving the screw in the required
direction, the operating rod 4 and cross bar 3 are raised thereby rotating the
moveable bosses 22 upon their axes.
A
Fig. 12 shows the face of the boss 2 which is furnished with recessed ports
and 10 communicating with each other by a passage 11 from which runs the
tubular connection leading to the reservoir, these ports being to supply air to the
cylinder when the apparatus is operating as a motor and to receive the air
from the cylinder through which it passes to the reservoir when the apparatus
is acting as a compressor. 12 is a perforation right through the boss which acts
as an exhaust when the apparatus is acting as a motor and as an aperture for
taking in air for compression when the apparatus is working as a compressor.
In Fig. 13 the face of the fixed boss is shown, which carries centrally the pro-
jecting rod or spindle 13 upon which the moveable boss 2 turns or rotates and
which contains the port 14 leading to the cylinder.
The length and position of the cuttings or recesses formed in the moveable
boss 2 is so arranged that the amount of oscillation produced by an entire
revolution of the crank, only compels the cylinder port 14 to traverse one of the

page_text: ports 9 and 10 and the exhaust port 12, the second of the two ports 9 and -10
never being traversed in the path of the stroke.
The change in the functions of the apparatus from motor to pump. or vice versa,
is effected by rotating each boss 2 so that the port 9 or 10 which has not previously
-been traversed in the path of the stroke, is brought into operation.
Presuming the apparatus is so arranged that the port 10 and exhaust 11 are
employed while apparatus is working as a motor, it will be found that by rotating
the boss 2 so as to bring the port 9 and exhaust 12 into operation, the apparatus
will be altered to a compressor, the reason being, that the exhaust and supply
apertures are changed in their relation to the position of the stroke. Assume, for
instance, that the charge is taken in from the top of cylinder and that as motor
the charge is taken in on the down stroke of the piston from the reservoir through
port 10, and the exhaust taken off when the oscillation brings the port 14 opposite
the exhaust port 12 on. the up stroke, it is evident, if the relative position of the
bosses is altered so as to place the exhaust 12 (which leads to the open air) opposite
the port 14 for the down stroke, a charge of air must be taken into the cylinder,
the further oscillation bringing port 14 across the port 9; leading to the reservoir
and the result must be compression and storage. The air so compressed is pre-
vented from returning to the cylinders during the periods of the stroke when
the ports are open, by a valve opening only inwards, and placed in a suitable
position.
The path of the entire up and down strokes only causes the port 14 to traverse
the parts of the boss 2 indicated. by the arrows e, w, and w, v, according to
whether the apparatus is being used as a motor or compressor. The difference
between the lengths of the ports 10 and 9 is to allow for the expansion of air in
the cylinder while the stroke is traversing the blank space, whereas port 9, being
used to take off the compressed charge to reservoir, is open during the whole
duration of the up stroke.
Fig. 14 illustrates a valve and connection suitable for use where the tyre are
to be inflated from the reservoir. This valve comprises a cylindrical body 15
which is suitably secured in the side of the reservoir, the bottom of the said
body being furnished with a central hole or perforation through which passes
a stem 16 furnished at its outer extremity with a circular disc 17 and a washer
of suitable soft material 18, and at its inner extremity with a circular disc 19
against which and the bottom of the tubular body 15 a spiral spring 20 bears
to keep the spindle 16 in the forward position for closing the valve. The con-
necting piece 21 comprises a tubular sleeve furnished with a flange or collar by
means which it may be turned, one half 22 being furnished with a right handed
screw thread and the other half with a left handed screw thread, so that upon
placing it within the extremity of the tubular body 15 and the end of the flexible
connection 24 leading to the tyres & rotating same, it enters into each of them,
making a close joint, at the same time depressing the spindle 16 for opening
the valve.
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 apparatus for compressing and storing air and for utilizing same for
driving purposes, as applied to velocipedes, the combination of oscillating cylinders
such as a furnished with fixed bosses such as 7, moveable bosses k, and a tap or
cock such as furnished with certain passages and intercepting the air from the
reservoir for altering its direction and passage, the whole combined, arranged
and operating, substantially as herein described and shown with reference to
Figs. 1 to 10 of the accompanying drawings, and for the purposes specified.
2. The combination with a velocipede of apparatus whereby air may be stored
within the tubular members of the frame or within a separate reservoir or reser-
voirs and which apparatus is capable of utilizing the air thus compressed and

page_text: acting as a motor for assisting the propulsion of a velocipede, substantially as
herein described and shown and for the purposes specified.
3/ The modified form of the invention substantially as herein described and
shown with reference to Figs. 11, 12, and 13 of the accompanying drawings, and
for the purposes specified.
4/. In combination with a velocipede fitted with air compressing apparatus such
as above claimed, of a valve whereby the compressed air may be employed for
inflating the tyres of the machine, substantially as herein described and shown
with reference to Fig. 14 of the accompanying drawings.
Dated th 0711
1000
F. G. CASSELL
(Of Cassell & Co.),
22, Glasshouse Street, Regent Street, London, W.
Agent for the Applicant.