Improvements in and relating to Lamps for Bicycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Feb., 1898-Accepted, 11th June, 1898
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION,
Improvements in and relating to Lamps for Bicycles and other
Vehicles.
I, PETER AMBROSE DOWD, of No. 53, State Street, Boston, Massachussetts,
United States of America, Electrician, 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 an eccentrically illuminated lamp to be employed on
bicycles and like vehicles. My present invention has for its object to provide a
simple, inexpensive and efficient electric light for the purpose specified. In
accordance with this invention, an incandescent electric lamp is supplied with
current from a substantially small electric machine of the magneto form, having
its armature provided at substantially its longitudinal center with a friction wheel
which makes contact with one of the wheels of the vehicle.
These and other features of this invention will be pointed out in the claim at the
end of this specification.
Fig. 1, is a side elevation of a sufficient portion of a bicycle provided with an
electrically illuminated lamp embodying my invention, to enable it to be
understood.
Fig. 2, a detail on an enlarged scale of the magneto-electric machine shown in
Fig. 1 looking down from the line 2-2:
Fig. 3, an underside view of the magneto-electric machine shown in Fig. 2,
and
Figs. 4 and 5, details in section on the line 44, and on the line 5—5, Fig. 2,
respectively to be referred to.
In the present instance, I have chosen to illustrate my invention in connection
with a bicycle which may be of any suitable or usual construction, and of which I
have shown in Fig. 1, the front wheel a provided with the pneumatic or other
tire a', and the front portion of the frame consisting of the head piece a³, the
forks a³, the handle bar a and the tubes or bars a³ a
In accordance with this invention, the bicycle is equipped with an electric
light consisting as shown of an incandescent lamp a and a reflector a8, which is
attached by a bracket a to the head piece a², but which lamp in practice may be
attached to any other desired part of the bicycle.
The lamp is supplied with current from a substantially small electric
machine B, which may be of any suitable or desired construction and which, in
the present instance, is represented as of the magneto-electric type, comprising
permanent magnets 6b for its field magnets, and an armature provided with a
winding or coil 63, having its ends connected to suitable terminals as will be
described. The armature b² is journaled in supports 68 69, which may be plates of
brass fastened as by screws 610 to the opposite sides of the field magnets.
In accordance with this invention, the armature has suitably secured to it a
friction ring, disk or wheel c, which is frictionally rotated, and, in the present
instance, makes contact with the tire a¹ of the wheel a. The friction wheel as
1

page_text: hereinshown is fastened to the armature substantially near its center and between
the field magnet 661 which are connected together as hereinshown, by a tie bar 2, to
which is adjustably fastened one end of a supporting bar suitably fastened at
its other end to the head piece a² of the bicycle frame.
The supporting bar is shown as provided with a slot
screw e extends into the tie bar c².
through which a
In Fig. 5, I have represented one construction and method of electrically connect-
ing the armature coil with the circuit wires of the lamp, and by reference to
Fig. 5, it will be seen that the armature is provided at one end with a disk e of
metal having a stud e¹ extended into a hub on the supporting piece 68 to which
the wire 10 is connected.
The armature 62 has fastened to its opposite end a disk el2 of rubber or other
insulating material carrying a metal pin or stud el, to which the other end of
the armature coil is connected and which forms the opposite journal for the
armature and runs in a metal sleeve et upon which is fitted a sleeve e¹ of
insulating material, which has fitted upon it the hub e16 of the supporting frame
or side piece 6º. The circuit wire e is connected to the sleeve e¹ and as shown is
inserted into a hole in the head or solid end of the said sleeve and fastened by a
set screw 20
By reference to Fig. 1, it will be seen that the bicycle wheel a when revolving,
frictionally drives the wheel c, and by reason of the small size of the wheel c, the
latter makes many revolutions to one revolution of the wheel a and consequently
the alternations of the current passing through the lamp a7 are so rapid as to have
the effect of a continuous current and thereby produce a steady light.
The clectric lamp is shown as attached to the head piece a³ but it is evident that
it may be attached to any other stationary part of the wheel.
I have shown my invention as applied to a bicycle, but it may be applied
equally well to automobile and other vehicles, and in other places where it is
convenient and economical for frictionally driving the armature of an electric
machine.
So also the magneto-electric machine may be attached to the bicycle so as to be
driven by the rear wheel as well as by the front.
The current generated by the magneto may also be utilized for ringing a vibrat-
ing bell d, and the circuit of the bell may and preferably will be controlled by
a switch d', which may be operated as shown by the brake lever de to which the
switch lever d¹ may be joined by a link or rod 3. As shown in Fig. 1, the
switch d¹ has connected to it one circuit wire elo, the other wire e after passing
through the lamp being connected to a terminal . The magnet of the bell å
has one end d³ of its coil connected to the wire e17 and the other end do connected
to a terminal d.
I have herein shown and described a magneto electric machine for generating
the current, but it is evident that a substantially small dynamo electric machine
may also be used for the same purpose.
By reference to Fig. 2, it will be seen, that the friction wheel c is attached to the
armature near its longitudinal center, and as a result the friction created at the
bearings for the armature is equalized, and the armature is thereby enabled to be
more easily rotated than if the friction wheel were mounted at one end of the
armature. Furthermore, this location of the friction wheel, renders the generator
herein shown sightly, as the generator may be located behind and substantially in
line with the tie of the bicycle wheel, and does not project materially beyond the
sides of the wheel. So also, this location of the friction wheel, renders the
generator neat, compact and efficient.
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 bicycle or similar vehicle provided with an electric translating device, and

page_text: a current generator for said translating device having its armature journaled in
non-magnetic pieces attached to the sides of the field magnets, a frictional wheel
attached to said armature substantially at its longitudinal centre, and a support
for said field magnets attached to the vehicle-frame and to which said field magnets
are adjustably secured to enable the said friction wheel to engage the periphery
of a wheel of the said vehicle, substantially as described.
2. A wheeled vehicle provided with an electric lamp, and a current generator
for said lamp comprising permanent magnets bb attached to the frame of the
vehicle, and an armature having bearings in side pieces attached to the said
magnets and provided with a friction disk or wheel at or near its longitudinal
centre and between said field magnets to make contact with the periphery of a
wheel of said vehicle, substantially as described.
3. A bicycle or similar vehicle provided with an electric lamp, and a current genera-
tor for said lamp comprising permanent field magnets bb attached to the vehicle-
frame, side pieces of non-magnetic material attached to said field magnets, an
armature journaled in said side pieces, and a friction disk or wheel secured to the
said armature intermediate of said field magnets to engage the periphery of the
vehicle-wheel and equalize the friction on the armature journals, substantially
as described.
T E
1
11....... 1000
D. YOUNG & Co.,
11 and 12, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.