IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES OR WHEELED VEHICLES ACTUATED BY ELECTRICITY PART OF SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES
Year: 1883

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by Sir David Salomons at the Office of
the Commissioners of Patents on the 24th October 1883.
Sir David SALOMONS of Broomhill Tunbridge Wells in the County of Kent
Baronet, “IMPROVEMENTS IN TRICYCLES AND OTHER VELOCIPEDES OR WHEELED
VEHICLES ACTUATED BY ELECTRICITY PART OF SUCH IMPROVEMENTS BEING
APPLICABLE TO OTHER PURPOSES."
This invention relates first to improvements in the application of electricity for
actuating tricycles and other wheeled vehicles and for the transmission of motive
power and for other purposes.
For this purpose the power transmitted from a dynamo or other machinery
carried by the vehicle or otherwise is communicated by a pair of reversed conical
drums placed horizontally to each other and having a frictional connecting wheel
or roller mounted between them (as represented in the diagram Figure 1 of the
drawings annexed) one conical drum being attached to the motor or power and the
other to the part to be driven with the friction wheel between them and the friction
wheel is so arranged as to be capable of being moved from end to end of the pair
of conical drums in order to accelerate or diminish the speed of the travelling
wheels of the tricycle or other wheeled vehicle or machinery.
The frictional wheel or roller is under the control of the rider or operator who
can move it to and fro, i,e, end to end of the cones by means of a hand lover or
other suitable mechanism. To obtain the necessary friction to transmit the power
springs or counterpoises may be used or any other suitable means.
In the case of driving a vehicle the dynamo must be adjustable to obtain the
requisite pressure upon the intermediate friction wheel or the dynamo itself may
cause the pressure by its own weight or by being so suspended or hung as to
become a counterpoise for the pressure required.
Any suitable intermediate friction wheel may be employed or it may be a spring
wheel requiring no further pressure
Instead of a frictional wheel a belt may be made to convey the motion from
cone to cone in the same way as belting is employed as represented by diagram
Figure 1 and shafting and countershafting with a striking gear to shift the belt
to and fro.
By altering and varying the position of the brushes on the commutator of any
dynamo machine it may be used advantageously as a generator or motor or for

page_text: reversing consequently if employed on a vehicle actuated by electricity the same
dynamo which
worked by accumulators may on running down inclines or when
being pushed or otherwise set in motion (by forces otherwise than by accumulators
which it carries) be made to charge the accumulator which worked it at other
times.
This alteration of the position of the brushes may be effected by means of a lever
or other contrivance.
According to my improvements this may be accomplished automatically as
follows;
The brushes and their supports are carried on a rotating frame the position of
which in relation to the vehicle to which it is attached will be regulated by a
pendulum or by other means hereinafter described or by any contrivance such as a
balance or otherwise as will change its position in relation to the vehicle when the
ground level varies.
Mechanically thus; The brushes are attached to a rotating frame which has a
pendulum fixed to it which thus regulates the position of the brushes on the
accumulator according to the inclination of the ground i,e, when ascending or
descending inclines or on levels thereby allowing the current between the
accumulator and dynamo to charge or discharge the accumulator according as the
vehicle is being propelled or descending an incline by gravity only.
Electrically thus namely a lighter pendulum which shall actuate an electro
magnet.
The pendulum in every case may be kept steady electro mechanically by
suspending it in a magnetic field—say between or by the side of the poles or a pole
of a permanent or electro magnet or by. counteracting springs or by dipping into a
liquid or mercury. The extent of movement may be governed by set screws or
other means.
A modification of the pendulum may be made thus; A balanced beam on pivots
in the centre carrying plungers at each end dipping into cups of mercury or any
other liquid or air only and not fitting too tight such plungers being pivoted or
hinged where united to the beam or not pivoted if the plunger cylinders are made
movable on binges or pivots. The centre of the beam to carry a pendulum and the
pendulum rod continue upwards above the beam if desired to make and break
contact or to perform mechanical work as may be desired such a contrivance giving
a great amount of dead beat especially if moving in a magnetic field as well as
represented by the diagram Figure 2 of the drawings annexed
Or the pendulum may be kept steady by revolving rapidly about its axis. And
contact might be made by the continuation of the pendulum rod above its
suspension point carrying a cup containing a liquid which is kept steady by
centrifugal force and free from splashing as represented by the diagram Figure 3 of
the drawings annexed.
Or the pendulum might be a fly wheel revolving and acting somewhat like a
gyroscope as represented by the diagram Figure 4 of the drawings annexed in
every case dead beat would be obtained as it also would if the pendulum were
always vibrating in a plane at right angles to the direction of the required plane
of movement.
The electric pendulum arrangement may adjust the position of the brushes by
making contact and permitting a current to act on an electro magnet so as to shift
the brushes by any mechanical means.
By employing my ball governor contact maker described in the Provisional
Specification of Letters Patent now being applied for by me and dated 23rd June
1883 N° 3126 the charging of the accumulators can be better accomplished and it
is essential in some cases and should better in every case be employed.
The method of adapting the governor is as follows; So long as the accumulator
is working the dynamo the governor is to be out of action by allowing mechanical
contact to be made independently of the governor but on the vehicle running
down hill the pendulum arrangement shall throw the mechanical contact off and

page_text: allow the governor to come into play and by proper adjustment it can be so
arranged that the charging shall only commence when a proper speed has been
obtained and so not invert the current and drain the accumulators instead of
charging.
The pendulum must be adjusted so as to come into play only when such an
incline is found as the vehicle will run by gravity and the adjusting limit screws
will do this or any other way may be employed. As this incline may vary with
the nature of the roads traversed a hand lever or other convenient handle may be
placed within reach of the operator or rider so that he may adjust as he pleases.
A screw arrangement would answer well.
It is not essential that a stationary pendulum be used for a vibrating one or
balance would do so long as the vibrations are materially disturbed under the
same conditions are considered in reference to the pendulum before mentioned
The remarks made in reference to the pendulum acting together with the
governor applies equally to when a lever is used for shifting the brushes. A
galvanometer will show whether current is being taken from or put into the
accumulators