Improvements in Electric Lighting Apparatus for Use on Bicycles and similar Vehicles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Application, 16th Nov., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 16th Aug., 1894-Accepted, 16th Nov., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
[Communicated from abroad by GEORGE MAYR, of the City of Brooklyn, in the
County of Kings, State of New York, United States of America, Merchant.]
Improvements in Electric Lighting Apparatus for Use on Bicycles
and similar Vehicles.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent Agents,
45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:
This invention relates generally to that class of appliances known as bicycle
lamps, and particularly to that character of bicycle lamp in which the production
of light is effected through the medium of current-electricity, the latter being
generated by means of a dynamo-electric machine.
< >
Its object is to provide an electric lamp for bicycles and similar vehicles, in
which the current-electricity shall be generated by means of a dynamo-electric
machine, the disposition of which, with reference to the bicycle, shall be such as to
render practicable the communication thereto of motion from one wheel of the
bicycle, in the event of the latter being turned or rotated upon its axis; which
shall admit of ready application to, and removal from, the bicycle and which shall
be simple and cheap in construction, and efficient in operation.
The invention consists of the novel arrangement and disposition of the various
parts, of certain combinations thereof, and of certain details of construction, all of
which will be hereinafter referred to..
According to my invention the flanges being located one at either end of the
hub, and the respective series of spokes diverging accordingly from the felloe of
the wheel to the hub thereof, ample space is left for the insertion between the two
series of spokes, and the suspension from the hub of the bicycle-wheel, of a suitably-
constructed dynamo-electric machine; and to this end I have devised a dynamo-
electric machine, of somewhat peculiar construction, and make use of certain
relative parts, all of which will now be fully described.
Arms, preferably of cast-iron, extend downward from the hub, one from a point
adjacent to the inner side of either of the chambers, and are connected centrally by
the soft-iron piece, and at the lower ends thereof by a similar soft-iron piece, the
joining of said soft-iron pieces to the arms, being effected by means of screws,
Each of the arms is provided with a semi-circular head, preferably formed integral
therewith, and having a flange, which head conforms to, and is adapted to take
around the lower half of the hub.
I place upon the hub semi-collars, each having a flange, and each conforming to
and being adapted to take around the upper half of said hub. These semi-collars,
are respectively connected, upon either side of the hub, to the heads of the arms, as
by means of the bolts, the heads of the arms and the said semi-collars, being
provided with the projections, at the respective ends thereof, through which the
bolts pass; and said semi-collars when so connected to the heads of the armis, form
therewith complete collars around the hub.
The flange of the semi-collars, upon the latter being connected to the heads of
the arins, as described, form with the flange a complete, radial collar-flange, as will
be readily understood.

page_text: I secure to the head of each of the arms by means of the screws passing through
the flange, a semi-disk of wood, or other suitable non-conducting material, the
same being suitably cut away centrally of its, straight edge to fit around the
exterior surface of the head, and extending downward therefrom when the parts
are in place. The flange is let into the face of the wooden semi-disk, about its
cut-away portion, to the end that upon the semi-disk being bolted to the flange,
the inner face of said flange shall be flush with the inner face of the said
semi-disk.
I correspondingly secure to the collar, a similar semi-disk, which extends upward
from said semi-collar, upon the parts being assembled, and which is adapted to form
with the aforesaid semi-disk, a complete disk. In the outer face of this complete
disk, near its periphery, there is formed an annular recess, into which recess is
placed an annular flat ring of brass, the said ring consisting of two sections, and
being retained within said recess by suitable screws.
The armature-shaft is journalled at either end in the arms, at a point midway
between the soft-iron pieces; and upon this shaft there is mounted a spool or drum
of wood, or other suitable non-conducting material. The drum, carries upon its
peripheral face the soft-iron rings, the latter being transversely wound at intervals
with suitable insulated wire. The coils thus formed correspond in number with the
parallel commutator-strips, which are arranged in a series about the shaft; and
each of said strips is provided with a radial arm, at its centre, and with another
radial arm at its inner end. I insulate each of said strips from the adjoining ones,
by placing between them a thin film of asbestos, or other suitable non-conducting
agent; and I insulate said strips from the shaft by giving that portion of said
shaft along which said strips lie, a coating of asbestos or other suitable non-
conducting material; and I thus insulate said shaft before placing said strips in
position.
The respective soft-iron pieces, are suitably insulated from the arms, at the
junctions thereof with said arms.
The upper half of the respective drums, of the armature, is enclosed by a casing,
which extends downward upon all sides thereof, from the soft-iron piece; and the
lower half of each of said drums is enclosed by a like casing which extends upward,
upon all sides thereof from the soft-iron piece; the said casings nearly, but not
quite meeting.
The wire is coiled around the rings of the drum, so that the end of each coil is
connected to the outer end of the radial arm of one of the parallel strips, and the
commencement of the succeeding coil is likewise connected to this same arın,-the
end of the succeeding coil being connected to the radial arm of the next parallel
strip, and so on till the different coils have been connected with the different
parallel strips; and the coils of the opposite armature rings are correspondingly
connected to the radial arms.
The strips are formed from brass, and they, in a measure, are held in
position along the shaft by the spool or drum, which is passed endwise over said
strips.
The above mentioned drums are formed from wood, or other suitable non-
conducting material.
The drums of the armature are cach provided with a peripheral flange, which
obviates inward displacement of the rings; and displacement of said rings in the
opposite direction is obviated through the connections of the coils with the
respective radial arms of the strips.
Intermediate of the respective radial arms of the parallel strips, I place the semi-
sieeve, of suitable, non-conducting material. This semi-sleeve takes around the
parallel strips which are distributed along the upper half of the shaft; and I place
a like semi-sleeve between the radial arms of the parallel strips which are
distributed along the lower half of the shaft, said last named semi-sleeve being
adapted to take around the parallel strips last named, and form with the first semi-
sleeve a complete sleeve, the two semi-sleeves, and consequently the strips, being

page_text: held in place by the pinion, the latter being formed in two sections and bolted
around the semi-sleeves at a point central thereof.
The soft-iron piece, is provided with two cores, formed integral therewith and
suitably wound with insulated wire, which serve as one set of field magnets to the
dynamo; and the soft-iron piece is provided with like cores correspondingly
formed and wound, which serve as a second set of field magnets to the dynamo.
The commutator strips, project outward from the drum, thereby permitting the
brushes to at all times stand in contact therewith, the said brushes being
respectively carried by the bolts, at the inner ends thereof, the said bolts passing
through the arm, which is adjacent to the projecting ends of said commutator
strips.
A spur-wheel, formed in two sections, is mounted upon the hub, central thereof,
the two sections of said spur-wheel being secured together by means of suitable
bolts passing through the openings. The spur-wheel is adapted to mesh at all
times with the pinion, a suitable opening being formed in the soft-iron piece to
admit of its so doing.
At a low point in the complete disk formed by the sections, to the left of the
hub, I insert a binding-screw the point of which comes in contact with the inner
face of the annular ring, and one end of the coil of the adjacent magnet, is connected
to the said binding-screw.
The respective field magnets of the dynamo are continuously wound, in the same
direction, with the insulated wire; and the brush is connected with the field-
magnets by a wire. The said wire leads from the brush to the binding-screw,
which passes through the wooden disk, at the right end of the hub, and comes in
contact with the inner face of an annular ring.
I secure, by means of screws to the outer face of the respective hub-flanges, a
disk of suitable, non-conducting material, as wood. This disk is provided with a
central opening, and when in place surrounds the outer end of the hub, intermediate
of the flange and the adjacent arm of the fork. There is formed in the outer face
of said disk an annular recess, into which is let an annular, flat ring, which is held
in place by means of suitable fasteners, as screws, and which is provided at one
point therein with a substantially U-shaped arm, the latter being formed integral
with said ring, extending to and around the periphery of the hub-flange, and
terminating in a flexible brush upon the opposite side of said hub-flange, the said
brush being adapted to press against the annular ring.
To each of the arms of the fork, I secure by means of the screws, a plate of
non-conducting material, and against said plate I place the brush, holding the same
thereto by means of the binding-screw. The brush is adapted to press against the
annular ring.
A lamp of any approved construction is affixed, in any convenient manner, to
the upper portion of the bicycle-fork, and is brought in circuit by means of the
respective wires, one extending therefrom to the binding-screw upon one arm of the
fork, and the other extending therefrom to a like binding-screw upon the opposite
arm of the fork.
Improvements in Electric Lighting Apparatus for Use on Bicycles
and similar Vehicles.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake & Co., Patent
Agents, 45 Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, do hereby
declare the nature of this invention, and in what manner the same is to be

page_text: performed, to be particularly described and ascertained, in and by the following
statement:-
This invention relates generally to that class of appliances known as bicycle
lamps, and particularly to that character of bicycle lamp in which the production
of light is effected through the medium of current electricity, the latter being
generated by means of a dynamo-electric machine.
Its object is to provide an electric lamp for bicycles, and similar vehicles, in
which the current electricity shall be generated by means of a dynamo-electric
machine, the disposition of which, with reference to the bicycle, shall be such as
to render practicable the communication thereto of motion from one wheel of the
bicycle, in the event of the latter being turned or rotated upon its axis; which
shall admit of ready application to, and removal from, the bicycle-frame, and
which shall be simple and cheap in construction, and efficient in operation.
The invention consists of the novel arrangement and disposition of the various
parts, of certain combinations thereof, and of certain details of construction, all of
which will be specifically referred to hereinafter.
Referring to the drawings, wherein like reference-letters denote corresponding
parts-
Fig. 1 is a front view of the axial or central portion of a bicycle wheel, having
a spur-wheel mounted upon, and a dynamo-electric generator suspended from, the
hub thereof, the view being chiefly in section.
Fig. 2 is a side elevation of same.
Fig. 3 is a detailed side view of the dynamo employed, showing the form of the
field magnets thereof, in section, and the commutator parts and connections. The
letter A denotes the respective arms of that portion of a bicycle known as
the "fork," the same being connected at the lower ends thereof by the horizontal
rod B, (Fig. 2), upon which the bicycle wheel rotates. The letter C denotes the
hub of the wheel, which is provided with the flanges D, into which take the wire
spokes E, the said hub being also provided with the chambers F, for the reception
of bearing-balls.
The parts thus far referred to are of ordinary construction.
The flanges D being located one at either end of the hub C, and the respective
series of spokes E diverging accordingly from the felloe of the wheel to the hub
thereof, ample space is left for the insertion intermediate of the two series of
spokes, and the suspension from the hub of the bicycle wheel, of a suitably-
constructed dynamo-electric machine; and to this end I have devised a dynamo-
electric machine, somewhat peculiar in construction, and make use of certain relative
parts, all of which will now be specifically described.
The arms G, preferably of cast-iron, extend downward from the hub C, one
from a point adjacent to the inner side of either of the chambers F, and are
connected centrally by the soft-iron piece H, and at the lower ends thereof by a
similar soft-iron piece H', the joining of the said soft-iron pieces to the arms G,
being effected by means of the screws h, . Each of the arms G is provided with
a semi-circular head, preferably formed integral therewith, and having the flange a,
which head conforms to, and is adapted to take around the lower half of the hub C.
This head is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2.
I place upon the hub C the semi-collars f, each having a flange e, and each
conforming to and being adapted to take around the upper half of said hub.
These semi-collars f, are respectively connected, upon either side of the hub C, to
the heads of the arms G, as by means of the bolts, the heads of the arms G and
the said semi-collars f, being provided with the projections el, at the respective
ends thereof, through which the bolts d pass; and said semi-collars f, when so
connected to the heads of the arms G, form therewith complete collars around the
hub C.
The flange of the semi-collars f, upon the latter being connected to the heads
of the arms G, as described, form with the flange g a complete, radial collar-flange,
around the hub C, as will be readily understood.

page_text: I secure to the head of each of the arms G, by means of the screws b, passing
through the flange D, a semi-disk a, of wood, or other suitable non-conducting
material, the same being suitably cut away central of its straight edge to fit
around the exterior surface of the head named, and extending downward therefrom
when the parts are in place. The flange g is let into the face of the wooden
semi-disk a, about its cut-away portion, to the end that upon the semi-disk a being
bolted to the flange g, as shown in Fig. 1, the inner face of said flange shall be
flush with the inner face of the semi-disk a.
I correspondingly secure to the collar f, a like semi-disk a', which extends
upward from said semi-collar, upon the parts being assembled, and which is
adapted to form with the semi-disk a, a complete disk. In the outer face of this
complete disk, near its periphery, there is formed an annular recess, into which
recess there is placed an annular flat ring 1, of brass, the said ring consisting of
two sections, and being retained within said recess by means of screws, or other
suitable fasteners.
The armature shaft I is journalled at either end in the arms G, at a point midway
between the soft-iron pieces H, H¹; and upon this shaft there is mounted a spool
or drum i of wood, or other suitable non-conducting material. The drum i carries
upon its peripheral face the soft-iron rings i¹, the latter being transversely wound
at intervals with suitable insulated wirej. The coils thus formed correspond in
number with the parallel commutator strips k, which are arranged in a series about
the shaft I; and each of said strips is provided with a radial arm k¹, at its centre,
and with a radial arm k" at its inner end. I insulate each of said strips from the
adjoining ones, by placing between them a thin film of asbestos, or other suitable
non-conducting agent; and I insulate said strips k from the shaft I by giving that
portion of said shaft along which said strips lie, a coating of asbestos or other
suitable non-conducting material.
The respective soft-iron pieces H, H', are suitably insulated from the arms G at
the junctions thereof with said arms.
The upper half of the respective drums i, K, of the armature, is enclosed by
the casing L, (Fig. 3), which extends downwards upon all sides thereof, from the
soft-iron piece H; and the lower half of each of said drums is enclosed by a like
casing which extends upward, upon all sides thereof, from the soft-iron piece H',-
the said casings nearly but not quite meeting.
The wire is coiled around the rings i, of the drum i, so that the end of each
coil is connected to the outer end of the radial arm of one of the parallel
strips k; and the commencement of the succeeding coil is likewise connected to
this same arm k",-the end of the succeeding coil being connected to the radial
arm of the next parallel strip k, and so on till the different coils have been
connected with the different parallel strips; and the coils of the opposite armature
rings are correspondingly connected to the radial arms &.
The strips k are formed from brass, preferably, and they, in a measure, are held
in position along the shaft I by the spool or drum K, which is passed end wise over
said strips.
The drum K, like the drum i, is also formed from wood, or other suitable
non-conducting material.
The drums i, K, are each provided with a. peripheral flange l, which obviates
inward displacement of the rings ; and displacement of said rings in the opposite
direction is obviated through the connections of the coils j with the respective radial
arms &, k, of the strips k.
Intermediate of the respective radial arms k¹, k¹, of the parallel strips k, I place
the semi-sleeve n, of suitable non-conducting material. This sleeve takes around
the parallel strips k which are distributed along the upper half of the shaft I; and
I place a like semi-sleeve n' intermediate of the radial arms k', ", of the parallel
strips which are distributed along the lower half of the shaft I, said last-named
semi-sleeve being adapted to take around the parallel strips last named, and form

page_text: with the semi-sleeve na complete sleeve, the two semi-sleeves, and consequently
the strips, being held in place by the pinion m, the latter being formed in two
sections and bolted around the semi-sleeves at a point central thereof.
The soft-iron piece H is provided with two magnet-cores M, formed integral
therewith and suitably wound with insulated wire m³, and these serve as one set of
field magnets to the dynamo; and the soft-iron piece HI' is provided with like
magnet-cores M', correspondingly formed and wound, which serve as a second set
of field magnets to the dynamo.
The commutator strips k project outward from the drum K, thereby permitting
the brushes q, q', to at all times, stand in contact therewith, the said brushes q, q',
being respectively supported by the bolts r, r, at the inner ends thereof, the said
bolts passing through the arm G which is adjacent to the projecting ends of said
commutator strips. The disposition of the brushes q, q', is fully shown in Fig. 3.
The spur-wheel P, formed in two sections, is mounted upon the hub C, central
thereof, the two sections of said spur-wheel being secured together by means of
suitable bolts passing through the openings q". The spur-wheel P is adapted to
mesh at all times with the pinion m, a suitable opening being formed in the soft-
iron piece H to admit of its so doing.
At a low point in the complete disk formed by the sections a, a', to the left of
the hub C, I insert a binding-screw p, the point of which comes in contact with
the inner face of the annular ring b₁, and one end of the coil m' of the adjacent
magnet, is connected to the said binding-screw.
to the
The respective field magnets of the dynamo are continuously wound, in the
same direction, with the insulated wire m¹; and the brush q' is connected with
the field magnets by the wire o. The wire o' leads from the brush
binding-screw p', which passes through the wooden disk, at the right end of the
hub C, and comes in contact with the inner face of an annular ring corresponding
to ', in the opposite wooden disk.
I secure, by means of suitable fasteners, to the outer face of the respective
hub-flanges, a disk ", of suitable, non-conducting material, as wood. This disk
is provided with a central opening, and when in place surrounds the outer end of
the hub C, intermediate of the flange D and the adjacent arm of the fork.
There is formed in the outer face of said disk p" an annular recess, into which is
let an annular, flat ring, which is held in place by means of suitable fasteners,
as screws, and which is provided at one point therein with a substantially U-shaped
arms, the latter being formed integral with said ring, extending to and
around the periphery of the hub-flange D, and terminating in a flexible brush s',
upon the opposite side of said hub-flange, the said brush s being adapted to press
against the annular ring .
To each of the arms A, of the fork, I secure by means of the screws, a
plate t, of non-conducting material, and against said plate I place the brush t',
holding the same thereto by means of the binding-screw ". The brush this
adapted to press against the annular ring ".
It will of course be understood that the various parts shown in section at the
left end of the hub C, are duplicated at the right end of said hub.
A lamp of any approved construction is suitably disposed upon the bicycle-
frame, and is brought in circuit by means of the wire u, and the wire U, the
former extending therefrom to the binding-screw t¹, upon one arm of the fork,
and the latter extending therefrom to a like binding-screw upon the opposite arm
of the fork.
The current is taken from the commutator-sections by brush 4, and reaches the
lamp (not shown) by way of wire o³, binding-post p', metallic ring corresponding
to ¹, brush-extension corresponding to s and communicating with metallic ring
corresponding to r, brush t'in contact with this last metallic ring, and wire U;
and returns to the other commutator-brush by way of wire u, brush t', metallic
ring, brush-extensions, metallic ring b¹, binding-post p, field coils m', (the latter

page_text: being continuously wound), and wire o. From thence (the last-named commutator-
brush) it proceeds along those commutator-sections in contact with which this
brush stands, to the corresponding armature coils; then passes through the various
armature coils; then along those commutator-sections in contact with which
brush g' stands, to said brush, thus completing the entire circuit.
The various armature coils form, with the commutator-sections, a continuous
circuit, from one brush to the other; that is, when these armature coils are
joined to the respective radial arms of the commutator-sections as explained in
the Specification.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by
my foreign correspondent, 1 declare that what I claim is--
1. In combination with a bicycle-wheel, having a spur-wheel mounted upon the
hub thereof, the arms G, each having a head adapted to partially encircle the
said wheel-hub, the magnet-pieces H, H', connecting the arins G centrally and at
the lower ends thereof, respectively, the shaft I, journalled at either end in the
arms G, intermediate of the magnet-pieces H, H', and carrying armature and
commutator parts substantially as herein described, the pinion m, carried by the
shaft I and adapted to mesh with said spur-wheel, the semi-collars f, each adapted
to partially eucircle said hub, and form with the head of one of the arms G, a
complete collar around said hub, the non-conductive, semi-disks u, a', disposed us
herein stated and forming a complete disk around the wheel-hub, the annular
metallic ring b¹, let into the outer face of the disk just referred to, and the binding-
screw p, the latter being disposed so as to come in contact with the metallic ring,
and having suitable connection with one of the magnets M, all substantially as
described and for the purposes specified.
2. The combination with a bicycle-wheel having a spur-wheel mounted upon
the hub thereof, of the arms G each having a head adapted to fit around the
lower half of the hub of a bicycle-wheel, the semi-collars f, each adapted to fit
around the upper half of the hub of a bicycle-wheel and form with the head of
one of the arms G, a complete collar around said hub, the horizontal magnet-
pieces H, H', connecting said arnis centrally and at the lower ends thereor,
respectively, a horizontal shaft, carrying armature and commutator parts, and a
pinion, substantially as herein described, said shaft being journalled at either end
in the arms G, intermediate of the respective magnet-pieces H, H', and said pinion
being formed in two sections, taking around and holding the commutator parts in
place, and being adapted to mesh with the spur-wheel named, substantially as
herein described and for the purposes set forth.
3. The combination with a bicycle-wheel having a spur-wheel mounted upon the
hub thereof, of a dynamo-electric machine, substantially as described, suspended
from the hub of said wheel, as by means of the arms G, said dynamo-electric
machine having a shaft carrying suitable armature and commutator parts, and a
pinion, the latter being adapted to mesh with said spur wheel, all substantially as
described and for the purposes set forth.
4. In combination with a dynamo-electric generator, provided with arms, as G,
having semi-circular heads, semi-collars, as f, adapted to be secured to said semi-
circular arm-heads, substantially as and for the purposes herein specified.
5. In combination with the hub of a bicycle-wheel, or like rotatable object,
having a spur-wheel mounted thereon, a dynamo-electric machine, having a shaft
carrying suitable armature and commutator parts and a pinion, the latter being
adapted to mesh with said spur-wheel, and also having arms, as G, provided with
semi-circular heads, and semi-collars, as f, adapted to be secured to the semi-
circular heads specified, all substantially as herein described.
6. In combination with the hub of a bicycle-wheel, having a flange, as D, a disc
of non-conductive material, secured to the face of said flange, and a flat ring of
conductive material, let into the face of said disk, the said ring being provided

page_text: with a substantially U-shaped arm extending to and around the periphery of said
hub-flange to carry a suitable brush, all substantially as described and for the
purposes herein described.
Dated this 16th day of August 1894.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.