Improvements in or relating to Motor Wheels.
Year: 1899

page_text: Improvements in or relating to Motor Wheels.
I, EDWIN PERKS, of 5, Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry, Warwickshire,
Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows;-
-
My invention relates to motor wheels and has for its principal object to pro-
vide a compact and self contained motor wheel in which the centre of gravity
coincides approximately with the central plane of the wheel; and my invention
consists in mounting the motor within the wheel on trunnions one or both of
which is hollow for the passage of the controlling gear, supply pipe and the like.
I will describe my invention by way of example as applied to a motor wheel
adapted to serve as the rear driving wheel of a motor bicycle for which purpose
my invention is particularly suitable, though I wish it to be understood that
wheels constructed according to my invention may be used for various other
purposes, such, for example, as in ordinary mill gearing.
For the purpose of my invention I prefer to employ a motor of the type
known as the De Dion but this is not essential. To each side of the crank casing
I secure a bracket of curved or other suitable form and having an outwardly
projecting stud, one or both of which studs is made hollow and which constitute
the trunnions above referred to. On each of these trunnions is mounted a
vertical flange preferably on ball bearings. The parts of the trunnions pro-
jecting beyond these flanges are adapted to be secured, preferably detachably,
One of these
by means of halved clips, to the rear forks of the bicycle frame.
flanges is provided with an internal spur wheel on its inner side and this is
adapted to mesh with the teeth of the pinion on the crank shaft. The outer
face of either flange is preferably provided with a chain pinion con-
nected by a chain with a sprocket wheel on the pedal crank axle so that the
rider can start the bicycle and motor by his feet in the usual way. Similarly a
clutch is introduced into the pinion or elsewhere to allow of the motor wheel
overrunning the pedal crank axle after starting. The trunnion on either side
of the wheel is made hollow for the passage therethrough of the feed pipe con-
necting the carburettor, which is carried on any suitable part of the bicycle,
with the combustion chamber. The device for relieving the compression when
starting the motor is also operated by suitable connections passing through the
said hollow trunnion. If electric ignition be employed, as preferred, the device
for regulating the ignition is also operated by connections passing through the
hollow trunnion, but tube ignition may be employed if desired. The flanges
are preferably made of a diameter at least equalling the length over all of the
motor and one, at least, is preferably made readily detachable so that the motor
may be withdrawn from the wheel with a minimum of trouble when required.

page_text: The tyre, rim and spokes of the wheel may be of any suitable kinds but I prefer
to employ a pneumatic tyre and this may be mounted in a rim made from sheet
metal in one with strap spokes the inner ends of which are bolted or otherwise
suitably connected to the before mentioned flanges. The spokes may run direct
to their respective flanges or some or all of them may be arranged so as to cross
from right to left and left to right between the rim and the flanges. The peri-
pheries of the respective flanges are preferably connected by struts, and if the
diameter of the flanges is somewhat greater than the length of the motor as
before mentioned these struts may take the form of straight bolts the ends of
which serve to connect the spokes with the flanges. Instead of mounting the
tyre direct on the sheet metal rim before mentioned this rim may form the
seating for another of convenient form which is bolted or otherwise secured to
the seating. The flanges are preferably perforated or made of skeleton form for
lightness and give access to the motor without removing it from the wheel.
As a modification the crank shaft of the motor may pass through one of the
hollow trunnions and be provided with a chain pinion geared to the pedal crank
axle by an endless chain, a second endless chain connecting the said pedal crank
axle with the motor wheel, and a clutch being introduced at some suitable point
of the chain gearing system so that the motor will overrun the pedal crank axle
after starting. Or the crank shaft spur pinion may gear with an external
toothed wheel on the notor wheel instead of the internal toothed wheel before
mentioned.
Means may be provided to allow for the rider propelling the wheel by his own
power only and for this purpose the internal (or external) spur wheel may be
adapted to be released, or the connection between the motor and the wheel may be
adapted to be broken by other means.
I do not confine myself strictly to the above description which is intended to
indicate the nature of my invention without excluding modifications.
By mounting the motor within the wheel as described the centre of gravity
of the wheel lies in or approximately in the central plane of the wheel and the
whole is rendered very compact.
DOUGLAS LEECHMAN, M.Cy.E.I.,
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
18. Hertford Street, Coventry,
9, Exchange Chambers, New Street, Birmingham, and
Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agent for the Applicant
I, EDWIN PERKS, of 5, Stoney Stanton Road, Coventry, Warwickshire.
Engineer, 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:
My invention relates to motor wheels and has for its principal object to pro-
vide a compact and self-contained motor wheel in which the centre of gravity
coincides approximately with the central plant of the wheel; and my invention

page_text: consists in mounting the motor within the wheel on trunnions one or both of
which is hollow for the passage of the controlling gear, supply pipe or the like.
I will describe my invention, by way of example, as applied to a motor wheel
adapted to serve as the rear driving wheel of a motor bicycle for which purpose
my invention is particularly suitable, though I wish it to be understood that
wheels constructed according to my invention may be used for various other
purposes such, for example, as in ordinary mill gearing.
In the accompanying drawings,
Figure I is a side elevation of the motor wheel, Figure II is a rear elevation
partly in section, and Figure III is an enlarged view of the centre part of Fig. I.
The same numerals indicate the same parts in both views.
For the purpose of my invention I prefer to employ a motor on the lines of the
"De Dion," but this is not essential. To each side of the crank casing 2 I secure
a bracket 3, 4 of curved or other suitable form and having an outwardly pro-
jecting stud 5, 6 both of which studs are preferably hollow and which constitute
the trunnions before referred to. On each of these trunnions is mounted a
vertical flange 7, 8 preferably on ball bearings 9, 10. The parts of the trunnions
projecting beyond these flanges are adapted to be secured, preferably detachably
by means of halved clips 11, 12, to the bicycle frame 13. An internal spur
wheel 14 is connected to the flange 7 preferably in such a way that it may be fixed
or released rotatively as required. This may be accomplished by providing the
wheel 14 with a flange 15, and the flange 7 with a recess 16 and a keeper ring 17:
a friction band 18 is passed round the exterior of the wheel 14 and the ends of
the band are fitted with a divided, conical stud 19. A nut 20 adapted to engage
the stud 19 is carried by a lug 21 on the flange 7 and is provided with a star
head 22. On the casing is pivotted a fork having an arm 2 connected through
the rod 24 and elbow 25 to a spindle 26 mounted in blocks 27 fixed in the
trunnion 5. To the outer end of the spindle 26 is secured an arm 28 adapted to
be operated by the rod 29. The said fork has the prong 30 set out, while the
prong 31 is straight. When the rod 29 is moved backward the prong 31 comes
in contact with the star head 22 and the nut is screwed on to the stud 19 drawing
its parts together and contracting the band 18 around the wheel 14 and locking
the said wheel to the flange 7. By moving the rod 29 forward the prong 30 is
engaged with the nut so as to loosen the same on the stud 19 and release the
band 18 from the wheel 14 and the said wheel from the flange 7. The fork is
moved into a neutral position when the band has been tightened or loosened
sufficiently. Or the wheel 14 may be permanently fixed to the flange 7. The
teeth of the wheel 14 are adapted to mesh with the teeth of the pinion 32 on the
motor crank shaft 3:3. The outer face of either flange, preferably 8, is provided
with a chain pinion 34 connected by a chain 35 with a sprocket wheel 36 on the
pedal crank axle 37 or with other suitable gearing so that the rider can start the
bicycle and the motor by his feet in the usual way. Similarly a clutch is intro-
duced into the pedal driving gear to allow of the motor wheel overrunning the
pedal crank axle after starting The carburettor 38 is preferably mounted
within the motor wheel, the admission valve 39 to the feed pipe 40 being con-
trolled by connections 41, 42, 43, 44 and 45 from the rod 46 arranged similarly
to those of the fork 30, 31. Or the carburettor may be carried on any suitable
part of the bicycle, the feed pipe then being led through one of the trunnions.
In order to reduce the width of the wheel I prefer to arrange the two-to-one
gear at the back of the motor, instead of in the usual position at the side. I
mount a transverse shaft 47 in suitable bearings and provide one end thereof
with a toothed wheel 48 of twice the size of the pinion 32 and gearing with the
wheel 14. The shaft 47 therefore rotates at half the speed of the crank shaft 33,
and I provide it with any suitable form of mechanism for operating the ignition
gear and for lifting the exhaust valve. To relieve the compression when starting
the motor, I provide a lever 49, one end of which lies under the tappet 50 of the

page_text: exhaust valve lifting gear. This lever is operated through suitable connections 51,
52, 53 passing through the trunnion 5, from the rod 54; by pulling up the said
rod 54 the lever 49 acts on the spindle 55 of the exhaust valve through the
tappet 50 and the compression is relieved; on releasing the rod the exhaust valve
spring 56 restores the parts to their normal position. Or the connections may
be applied to the ordinary pet cock 73.
If electrical ignition be employed, as preferred, the battery 57 and coil 58
may be arranged behind the motor within the wheel, the connections to the
ignition plug 59 and contact breaker 60 being arranged in the ordinary way
and one pair of wires 61 connecting the battery and coil are led through one of
the trunnions to the handlebar or elsewhere where they are provided with a suit-
able switch; but the battery or coil or both may be arranged on other suitable
parts of the machine and the electrical connections passed through one of the
trunnions to the ignition plug and contact breaker. The mechanism of the
contact breaker is mounted on an insulated plate 62 mounted loosely on the half-
speed shaft 47 and adapted to be moved about the shaft as centre so as to advance
or retard the ignition by means of the connections 63, 64 and 65 passing through
the trunnion 6, and operated by the rod 66. Tube ignition may be employed if
desired.
The flanges, 8 are provided with spokes 67, connected with a two piece
rim 68. Bolts and nuts 69 connect the two parts of the rim at the end of each
spoke, but they may be more or less numerous than the spokes if preferred. The
exterior of the rim 68 is grooved to receive a second rim 70 which receives the
tyre 71. The convex back of the rim 70 fits into the groove of the rim 68, there
being a slight space 72 left between the two parts of the rim 68; by tightening
the bolts and nuts 69 the groove is contracted and the rim 70 very firmly secured
in position. By undoing the halved clips 11, 12 and disconnecting the chain 35,
the motor wheel may be readily detached from the frame 13; and by removing
the bolts 69, either or both sides of the wheel may be detached and the mechanism
fully exposed.
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. A motor wheel constructed, arranged and adapted to operate substantially
as herein set forth.
2. A motor wheel in which the motor is supported within the wheel upon
trunnions, one or both of which is made hollow for the passage of the controlling
gear, supply pipe or the like.
3. In a motor wheel, a motor provided with trunnions whereby the said motor
is adapted to be secured to the frame of the machine of which the motor wheel
forms a part, and whereby the motor is mounted within the wheel.
4. In a motor wheel, the combination of the wheel proper, the motor arranged
within the wheel, gearing for transmitting motion from the motor to the wheel
and means for releasing the transmission gear from outside the wheel, substan-
tially as set forth.
5. In a motor wheel, the combination of the wheel proper, the motor arranged
within the wheel, and means for relieving the compression from outside the
wheel, substantially as set forth.
6. In a motor wheel, the combination of the wheel proper, the motor arranged
within the wheel, suitable electrical ignition gear, and means for regulating the
ignition from outside the wheel, substantially as set forth.
7. The combination with a motor wheel of the kind herein referred to, of pedal
driving gear substantially as and for the purpose set forth.
8. A motor wheel having one or both sides detachable for the purpose of
removing or exposing the motor situated within the said wheel, substantially as
set forth.

page_text: 9. A motor wheel having a first rim adapted to form a seating for a second
rim and means for securing the second rim to the first, substantially as set forth.
Dated this 5th day of February 1900.
DOUGLAS LEECHMAN, M.Cy.E.I.,
Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Patent Agents,
9, Exchange Chambers, New Street, Birmingham,
18, Hertford Street, Coventry, and
75, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Patent Agent for the Applicant.