Year: 1885

page_text: I, CHARLES EDWARD BUELL of No. 20 Sherman Street, Springfield, in the
County of Hampden and State of Massachusetts, United States of America,
Electrician, do hereby declare the nature of my invention and in what manner
the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained in and
by the following statement :-
My invention relates to propelling velocipedes or tricycles, but is applicable to
other vehicles, and consists primarily of an engine or motor mounted upon a tricycle
to propel said vehicle by steam, or air, or a motor fluid as gas from explosives, from
chemicals, from coal, or from the distillates of petroleum; or, a motor liquid as
sulphide of carbon or ammoniacal liquid, in combination with a treadle or treadles
detachably connected to the driving axle of said vehicle to admit of propelling said
vehicle by foot power when desired, substantially as hereinafter described.
My invention further consists in novel combinations and subcombinations to be
hereinafter described.
In the annexed sheets of explanatory drawings by which my invention is fully
illustrated, and which form parts of this description,
:
Figure 1, sheet I, is a perspective view of a tricycle embodying my invention;
Figure 2 is a front view of another embodiment of the invention; Figure 3 is
a side elevation of the figure 2, and Figure 4 is a detached view of the hollow
frame ff.
Figure 5, Sheet II, is a perspective view of another embodiment of my inven-
tion; Figure 6 is a detached view of the motor used in the embodiment shown in
figure 5, and Figures 7 and 8 are detached views of the chain and wheel whereby
the treadle axle is detachably connected to driving axle.
Referring to figures 1, 2 and 3, A is a tricycle of any preferred construction
baving an air holder B charged with compressed air and attached thereto in such
a manner as to be readily removed therefrom for purposes which will be herein-
after mentioned.
A rotary engine or motor C is shown secured to the frame-work of the tricycle
and connected to revolve the axle a when in motion.
The motor C is provided with a throttle valve with a lever h for controlling the
supply of air to the motor C when the valve V has been turned to allow the air in
the charged holder B to pass through the tube D to the motor C. The tube D is
adapted to be connected to and disconnected from the valve V. By having the air
holder B of steel or otherwise made light and strong and having it removably
attached to the vehicle, several charged air holders can be successively placed upon
the vehicle and be successively connected to the motor C by the tube D which is
common to the several air holders.

page_text: The valve V being made a part of the air holder B serves to retain the charge of
air in its respective holder until it is required to be used.
A lantern L is shown suspended below the exhaust b of the motor C in a manner
to light the path of the vehicle and to keep the exhaust and cylinder warm, with
obvious advantages.
Fig. 4 shows the frame ff of a tricycle made hollow and adapted to hold a
supply of air for propelling the motor C C, which is a double engine provided with
a throttle valve and handle h.
The valve V serves for connecting the frame f. with an air compressing apparatus
for the purpose of charging the frame to serve as an auxiliary supply when the
charge in the holder B is exhausted.
The treadles T T are shown arranged to be used when desired to propel the
tricycle by foot power, in which case the piston rod p may be detached from
crank d and pushed down out of the way of the crank d.
When the holder B is of steel it may be charged with a supply of air sufficient
to propel a tricycle several miles, and as a number of charged holders may be
successively used with a tricycle, owners of tricycles may be supplied with several
charged holders which may be replenished from time to time as they become
exhausted.
Any preferred form of motor may be used in place of those shown.
I contemplate employing a safety valve upon the tricycles common to the several
holders.
When it is desired to use the contents of the holder B to operate the motor and
to hold the air stored in frame f in reserve, the valve Y being closed, the air
holder B should be attached to the frame at X and the air holder be connected to
the engine by tube D so that the supply of air from the holder will be under
control of the throttle valve and handle h after valve V is opened.
When it is desired to use the auxiliary supply of air in the frame fa tube like
that shown in Fig. 1, should connect between the valve Y and the engine.
Although I have confined my description of my invention to the use of air, as
I preferred its use, I may use gas from explosives or chemicals.
I may use gas compressed in receptacles, and gasoline gas in the known forms of
conveying such liquid or its gases, and as a motor employ a gas engine of the type
known as the Shipman, Brayton or Otto engine without departing from my
invention.
Fig. 5 represents a tricycle with the engine B¹ of well known construction
mounted thereon.
The engine and steam boiler are encased so that the cylinders and valves are
covered to exclude dust and to retain heat.
The piston rods P P protrude through the covering and are removably attached
to the axle A¹ so that they can be readily disconnected therefrom and pushed
down out of the way of the axle when it is desired to run the vehicle by foot
power.
The plunger rod of pump J is in like manner detachable from its eccentric.
The engine and pump are well known elements requiring no description.
The boiler is designed to be heated by a lamp at L which lamp may serve to
give light to the path of the vehicle, a portion of the space enclosing the lamp
being transparent; by a lamp I mean to include what are termed oil stoves.-
Other modes of heating this boiler may be used.
A pressure guage and other accessories are attached to the boiler.
A lever with a handle h for operating the valve to start and stop the engine or
motor is shown at the side of the seat Š. The seat is provided with a socket U to
carry an umbrella or light awning.
The hollow frame ff of the tricycle is provided with the induction tube T
which has a tight fitting cover and is arranged to be uncovered to allow water to
be poured into the hollow frame from which to supply the boiler by the pump J.

page_text: The escape pipe for the steam is shown in dotted lines as leading to the small
wheel W to exhaust the steam near the ground. Inside the exhaust tube is
enclosed a pipe that penetrates within the hollow frame ƒ ƒ at its lowest point and
through the pump with the boiler.
The water to supply the pump is thus pumped through a pipe inside the exhaust
tube into the boiler, raising the temperature of the water before it enters the
boiler and condensing the exhaust steam.
▲ foot rest may be made hollow and kept warm by the exhaust steam or the
steam may escape against the underside of a foot rest that is not hollow.
It is desirable to either condense the steam that is exhausted or convey it near
the ground so as to be less liable to frighten horses as it might do if it puffed out
of a pipe high up on a vehicle, whereas if it escaped lower down it would not be
much different than a cloud of dust in appearance.
A valve or pet cock v³ is for dripping the frame ff.
The boiler and engine B are secured to the frame ƒ ƒ by the supports flfå
shown in Fig. 6, or in any manner to be removably attached to the frame.
The treadle axle is detachably connected to the driving axle by a chain and
wheels T and C'. The wheel O' is secured to the driving axle by screws 8² 8² 80
that by the removal of the screws 818 the axle can move in the wheel C¹ and the
treadle axle be at rest.
The axle A is in two parts and is provided with a sleeve Y¹ in which the
separated parts are secured at any desired width of separation by the screws a¹ a¹
to form an extension axle adapted to fit varying widths of track.
The axle A is arranged to admit of the loose turning of the pivotal wheel when
the vehicle passes on a curve.
The vehicle is shown with its well known steering apparatus and accessions.
In place of the steam boiler I may use a receptacle for heating and expanding a
motor fluid as sulphide of carbon or ammoniacal liquid, for running a motor,
allowing the liquid thus heated, to circulate through the hollow frame of the
vehicle to be cooled, without departing from my invention.
Another convenient means which I employ to propel tricycles is by gas, as
carbonic acid gas, which is generated on the tricycle or in a detached apparatus.
A holder B, as shown, is provided with an opening that can be securely closed;
through this opening I partly fill the holder with dilute sulphuric acid and
introduce a neutralizing substance or compound and quickly close the opening.
When dilute sulphuric acid is used a package of marble dust may be thrown in
and will produce a pressure of several hundred pounds by the generation of gas
due to the action of sulphuric acid, on marble dust; other well known chemicals
may be substituted for the sulphuric acid and marble dust. The marble dust can
be so protected as not to be instantly acted upon by the acid and the pressure may
be renewed by replenishing the holder with a new supply of neutralizing sub-
stances, in an obvious manner; or may be in a separate compartment and the acid
let into it in an obvious manner.
I may use the explosions produced by water upon heated surfaces, by the firing
of fulminates, and other gas producing compounds and substances to generate
pressure to act upon a motor to propel a vehicle.
Such explosions can be produced in a strong apparatus by heat, or by concussion,
and be let into a holder or receptacle to be used as a compressed gas.
In the same manner gases can be generated by chemical action.
The apparatus may be portable upon a vehicle.
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:

page_text: adapted to propel said tricycle, and means for connecting said holder B to supply
said engine, substantially as described.
2nd. The combination with a tricycle of the holder B. removably attached
thereto; an engine mounted on said tricycle, and means for connecting said
holder B, to supply said engine, that are provided at two points with devices for
controlling the flow of air from said holder B to said engine.
3rd. The combination with a tricycle of the removably attached holder B, an
engine for propelling said tricycle, and a throttle valve provided with a lever for
controlling the air supply to said engine.
4th. The combination with a vehicle having a hollow frame charged with air or
gas under pressure, of the holder B removably attached to said vehicle and portable
therewith, an engine mounted on said vehicle, and suitable means for connecting
said holder B and said frame successively to said engine to supply it with air or
gas for propelling said vehicle..
5th. The combination with a vehicle of the holder B provided with a valve V,
removably attached to said vehicle, an engine mounted upon said vehicle and
adapted to propel said vehicle; means for connecting said holder B to supply said
engine, and independent devices for propelling said vehicle by foot power.
6th. The combination with a vehicle having a hollow frame charged with com-
pressed air or gas, of holder removably attached to said vehicle and portable
therewith; an engine mounted on said vehicle, and suitable means for connecting
said holder and said frame successively to said engine to supply it with air or gas
for propelling said vehicle, and added means for controlling the flow of the air or
gas to said engine.
7th. The combination with a vehicle of an engine or motor mounted thereon for
propelling said vehicle, and a treadle mechanisin detachably connected with the
driving axle of said vehicle.
8th. The combination with a vehicle of an engine or motor removably mounted
thereon for propelling said vehicle, and a treadle, mechanism detachably connected
with the driving axle.
9th. The combination with a tricycle of an extension driving axle, a motor or
engine mounted upon said tricycle to turn said axle, and a treadle mechanism
detachably connected with said driving axle, substantially as described.
10th. The combination with a vehicle of an engine or motor removably attached
to said vehicle substantially as described.
11th. The combination with a tricycle of an engine or motor placed beneath the
line of the driving axle of said tricycle and valve mechanism extending above said
axle for starting and stopping said engine or motor.
12th. The combination with a tricycle of an engine or motor removably attached
to the frame and axle of said tricycle.
13th. The combination with a tricycle or vehicle of a receptacle for motor fluid
having a lamp for heating said receptacle that is enclosed in a casing that is in
part transparent.
14th. The combination with the hollow frame and parts of a vehicle of a feed-
water mechanism connected therewith substantially as described.
15th. The combination with the hollow frame of a vehicle of the induction
opening I and valve v.
16th. The combination with the frame ff of the drip cock or valve v².
17th. The combination with a tricycle of an axle that is capable of being
extended and shortened to allow the wheels to run in varying widths of track, and
a motor mechanism and treadle mechanisin connected to said axle substantially as.
described.
18th. The combination with a tricycle of an extensible axle provided with
wheels attached to said axle by mechanism that will admit of the pivotal wheel
being free to slacken its movement when the vehicle is moving on a curve, and a
motor mechanism and a treadle mechanism connected to said axle, substantially as
described.

page_text: 19th. The combination with the engine or motor of a feed water pipe inside of
an exhaust pipe as and for the purpose set forth.
20th. The combination with the frame of the tricycle of a feed water pipe
penetrating to within said frame at its lowest point substantially as described.
21st. The combination with a tricycle of a steam exhaust pipe having its
discharge opening below the line of the driving axle of said vehicle substantially as
described.
22nd. The combination with a tricycle and means for steering said tricycle of an
engine or motor mounted thereon to propel said tricycle, a treadle mechanism that
can be disconnected and connected to the driving axle of said tricycle, and an
extension driving axle that can be extended and shortened without displacing the
connections of said motor and treadle mechanism.
23rd. The combination with a motor tricycle of an exhaust pipe provided with
condensing adjunct substantially as described.