Spring Motor Apparatus for Propelling the same.
Year: 1887

page_text: Spring Motor Apparatus for Propelling the same.
I, HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the firm of Haseltine, Lake and Co. Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, in the County of Middlesex, 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 carriages or other vehicles propelled by spring motors.
By my invention I am enabled not only to construct a vehicle capable of being
propelled by spring motor power; but, by several novel mechanical features, I am
enabled to so arrange the spring motors and other parts of the vehicle that I can regain
the power of the springs and also by hand power assist propulsion of the vehicle over
steep grades or propel it entirely by means of hand power.
The vehicle or carriage to be propelled may be of the ordinary form, with the excep-
tion that the front wheel or wheels must be so arranged as to admit of being easily
turned from the carriage seat, to enable the vehicle or carriage to be guided in any
direction desired.
In the accompanying drawings.
Figure 1 is an outside elevation of my carriage or vehicle.
Figure 2 is a plan view with seat removed and levers in section.
Figure 3, is a section showing operation of band brake and steel motor spring and
clutch device.
Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the method of disconnecting the driving shaft.
Figure 6 is an elevation showing winding driving wheel and band brake.
Figure 7 is a central section of same showing rubber band for lugs to fall upon.
Figures 8, 9 and 10 show my indicator device.

page_text: Figure 11 is a side elevation of wooden band wheel brake with foot lever connection.
Figures 12, 13 and 14, show the indicating device and illustrate the method of
operating the same.
Figures 15, 16 and 17, show the divided driving shaft and illustrate the method of
separating and connecting the two portions of the said divided shaft.
The vehicle as shown in the drawings is carried by three wheels, in which the rear
wheels A are the driving wheels and the front wheel B the guiding wheel. These
wheels are preferably made of steel, and each is provided with a flanged hub through
which the spokes, preferably made of steel, pass and are secured by means of nuts a a,
one inside and the other outside of the flange; the outer end of each spoke fits into a
socket in the rim of the wheel and is secured in place by means of nuts a', as is shown
in Figure 1.
On the inside of the hub is a projection to which is secured a spur gearing c¹,
figure 2, which transmits the power given by the spring motors to be hereinafter
described and by which motion is given to the vehicle.
The power to propel is produced by a number of coiled bands of steel arranged upon
the axle C. These bands of steel are each coiled in wheels D and E forming a case
for the band or spring as shown in figures 6 and 7. One of these wheels 1 has a rim
or flange d near the outer edge; the flange being the same width as the steel band.
The other wheel E has a hub e also the saine width as the steel band. The steel band
is coiled in a novel manner; one end being secured to the outer rim or flange d of the
wheel D the other end being secured to the hub e of the wheel E.
It will be thus seen by this novel method of winding the steel band, that the wheel E
which acts as the winding wheel and the wheel D which acts as the driving wheel
will both rotate in the same direction; that is, in winding or tightening the spring,
the winding wheel E is revolved in the same direction as the driving wheel D is, when
said spring is loosened so as to revolve said driving wheel D.
On the outside of the rim or flange d, is an adjustable band brake F being more
clearly shown in figure 3. This band brake is made adjustable by means of threaded
end and nut working upon a lug. These adjustable band brakes are operated
by means of levers G equal in number to the springs used in the carriage or vehicle;
these levers are placed in the front of the carriage, as seen in figures 1 and 3 and are
connected with the adjustable band brakes F by the link connection g'.
Both wheels D and E have spur gearing on their outer edges; the wheels D being
the driving, and wheels E being the winding wheels. The winding wheels E have
ratchet flanges e on the side of the spur gearing into which pawls e² drop and prevent
the wheel revolving in an opposite direction as is shown figure 1. These pawls have
a lng projection which drops upon a rubber projection on the wheel E at the same
time the said pawls drop into the ratchet so as to prevent the noise of the striking
pawls from becoming disagreeable, as shown in figure 7. The spring is wound upon
the winding wheel E by means of a pinion geared into it on the winding shaft H.
This shaft H is suspended from the bottom of the carriage by any suitable means.
This shaft extends to both sides of the carriage; said shaft having at each end a shank
upon which a crank can be placed in order to wind the said spring. The spring
being once wound to any desired tightness, remains at rest until the band brake Fon
the driving wheels D is released. When this brake is released, the driving wheels D
will commence to revolve from the tension of the springs. The driving wheels D
revolve upon the axle C being geared into a series of small pinions i secured to driving
shaft I. Upon the ends of said driving shaft I, is rigidly secured a large spur wheel
which is geared into the spur wheels and this revolves the main axle of the carriage.
This driving shaft I is also suspended from the bottom of the carriage by any suitable
means.
12
Upon the driving shaft I are also pinions normally running idle connecting with
the winding wheels by a spring clutch as shown in figure 2. These pinions ordinarily
run idle, but when there is excess of motion, as for example, when the carriage or
vehicle is moving down a grade, then by means of the levers J, equal in number to
the spring motors used as shown in figure 1, and in the front of the carriage or other

page_text: vehicle and the bell crank lever j, link, I am enabled to throw these pinions or any
of them into connection with the winding wheels E and thus the excess of motion is
used to wind up the springs and renew
the power.
In the arm of the seat of the carriage, I also place a wheel K, Figure 1, which is so
arranged that I can attach to it a crank; this wheel K is connected to another wheel K';
by means of chain gearing, this wheel K¹ carries upon its shaft a pinion & which
is normally geared into the spur gearing on the driving shaft so that I am enabled
while sitting in the carriage to assist in the propulsion of the vehicle, and, if for any
reason the spring motor power should entirely cease I am enabled to propel the vehicle
by hand power.
Upon the same shaft and behind the pinion, is a larger pinion which can be
shifted by means of a clutch lever M in gear with the pinion N on the winding shaft;
to tighten the springs and store up power while sitting in the seat.
I construct my driving shaft in two sections connected together at the centre by
means of a spring clutch as shown in Figures 4 and 5. This spring clutch is constructed
in the following manner.
One clutch is rigidly secured on one portion of the driving shaft while the other O
slides upon a key o, upon the other portion of the shaft. This spring clutch is
operated by means of the levers connecting with a spring foot treadle of extending up
in front of the seat. By placing the foot upon the spring treadle, the spring clutch is
released and the driving shaft is separated into two sections. This enables me to pass
around very sharp curves and also pass around curves at greater speed.
Directly back of the spur gear wheel el, is a wooden brake wheel rigidly secured to
the axle C. On these wooden wheels are placed adjustable band brakes shown in
Figure 11. These band brakes are constructed similarly to the adjustable band brake
heretofore explained. These band brakes are connected to a shaft running across the
carriage and connects the brakes on the two rear wheels. Running across the carriage
directly in front of the wooden band brake wheels, is a shaft; pivotted upon said shaft at
either end, are two short levers P to which the ends of the band brake are connected
by means of pins. These levers P are operated by means of links p connected with the
arms of the rock shaft p¹ to the centre of which is secured a depending arm p², to
which a link is connected with the spring foot treadle, as shown in Figure 11. By
placing the foot upon this treadle, the speed may be regulated at the will of the
driver and the brake is released by removing the foot from the treadle.
To enable the driver at any time to judge the amount of power in any one of the
springs, 1 place on the front of each quadrant holding the levers in front of the rider's
seat in the carriage or vehicle, a series of graded indicators R as shown in Figure 10;
equal in number to the winding shafts. This indicator is moved up and down by
means of the power which is transmitted by the bevel gearing which is connected
to the driving wheel D and winding wheel E.
As the driving and winding wheels both move in the same direction, it is necessary
to provide intermediate gearing which will reverse the direction of the motion derived
from either the driving or winding wheels. I do this in the following manner.
The indicator mechanism before described, is directly connected with the driving
wheel D and therefore is moved in the same direction; but it is moved by the wind-
ing wheel E by means of two gear wheels; one of which receives motion directly from
the winding wheel and then this wheel moves the second wheel in an opposite direction
and moves the indicator shaft in the same direction as the second wheel, but in an
opposite direction to that of the driving shaft as is shown in Figures 8 and 9.
The front wheel B of the carriage is operated in the following manner.
On the front of the carriage or vehicle is a hollow post S in which is a shaft by
which the bracket which carries the front wheel is operated. At the top of the shaft S
is placed a segmental projections upon which a lever arm s capable of being
extended to any desired length, is secured. This levers is secured to the top of the
vertical shaft S. The driver, while seated, by moving this lever, may guide the
carriage in any desired course and the lever being capable of extension it will acco-
modate itself to the position desired by the rider.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said invention,
and in what manner the same is to be performed, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondent, I declare that what I claim is :-
First. In a carriage or other vehicle propelled by spring motors, a series of spring
motors secured upon the main axle, said spring motors consisting of steel bands coiled
within two wheels, one wheel having a flange, the other wheel a hub, said hub and
flange being each equal in width to the width of the steel bands; one end of said band
being secured to the hub of one wheel, and the other end of said band being secured
to the flange of the other wheel; said wheels being so constructed as to
move freely upon their axles when in operation both wheels revolving in the same
direction and the spring in operation, becoming uncoiled from its outer surface, sub-
stantially as, and for the purpose, specified.
Second. In a carriage or other vehicle propelled by spring motors, a series of
spring motors constructed as described in combination with a band brake one end of
said band brake being attached to a stationary rod in the lever and the other end
passing through the other end of the lever, through a swinging rod with means for
adjusting said last mentioned end of the band brake said band brake being operated
by means of levers placed in front of the carriage substantially as and for the purpose
specified.
Third. In a carriage or other vehicle propelled by spring motors, a series of
spring motors secured upon the main axle, said spring motors consisting of steel
bands coiled within two wheels; one wheel having a flange, the other wheel a hub;
said hub and flange being each equal in width to the width of the steel bands; one
end of said band being secured to tho hub of one wheel, and the other end of said
band being secured to the flange of the other wheel; said wheels being so constructed
when in operation to move freely upon their axles; said wheels both revolving in the
same direction and the spring in operation, becomes uncoiled from its outer surface
the hubbed wheel which acts as the winding wheel having upon the side of the spur
gearing, ratchet flanges into which pawls drop for the purpose of preventing rotation
in more than one direction, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Fourth. In a carriage or other vehicle propelled by spring motors, a series of
spring motors secured upon the main axle said spring motors consisting of steel
bands coiled within two wheels-one wheel having a flange, the other wheel a hub ;
said hub and flange being each equal in width to the width of the steel bands; one
end of said band being secured to the hub of one wheel and the other end of said
band being secured to the flange of the other wheel, the hubbed wheel, which acts as
the winding wheel having upon the side of the spur gearing, ratchet flanges into
which pawls drop for the purpose of preventing rotation in more than one direction;
said pawls having big projections which drop upon rubber projections on the winding
wheel at the same time the said pawls drop into the ratchet, substantially as and for
the purpose specified.
Fifth. In a carriage or other vehicle propelled by spring motors, a series of spring
motors secured upon the main axle; said spring motors consisting of steel bands
coiled within two wheels one wheel having a flange, the other wheel a hub; said hub
and flange being each equal in width to the width of the steel bands; one end of said
band being secured to the hub of one wheel and the other end of said band being
secured to the flange of the other wheel, on which the hubbed wheel acts as the
winding wheel in combination with pinions fixed upon a shaft suspended from the
bottom of the vehicle. Said pinions working into the spur gearing on the winding
wheels said shaft which carries the pinions running across the vehicle and having
;
upon its ends shank projections, upon which cranks can be placed for the purpose of
winding the springs, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Sixth. In a carriage or other vehicle propelled by spring motors, a series
of spring motors secured upon the main axle said spring motors consisting of
steel bands coiled within two wheels, one wheel having a flange, the other
wheel a hub said hub and flange being each equal in width to the width of the

page_text: steel bands; one end of said band being secured to the hub of one wheel and the
other end of said band being secured to the flange of the other wheel; said wheels
which have a flange projection acting as driving wheels, said driving wheels being
geared into a series of small pinions secured to the driving shaft; said driving shaft
being suspended from the bottom of the vehicle in combination with large spur wheel
secured on ends of said driving shaft and spur wheels secured upon the main axle into
which the spur wheel on the ends of the driving shaft are geared, all constructed and
acting substantially as, and for, the purpose specified.
Seventh. In a carriage or other vehicle propelled by spring motors, the combina-
tion of pinions normally running idle and secured upon the driving shaft I and a
spring clutch operated by levers J in front of the vehicle; bell crank levers j and
links for the purpose of connecting any one of all of said pinions with gearing
upon the winding wheels, substantially as, and for, the purpose specified.
Eighth. In a carriage or other vehicle propelled by spring motors, wheels K
placed in the arms of the seat of the vehicle, so arranged that a crank can be attached
to it; said wheels being connected by chain gearing with wheels K'; said wheels K¹
carrying upon them shaft pinions ; said pinions being normally geared into the
spur gearing on the driving shaft, substantially as, and for, the purpose specified.
Ninth. In a carriage or other vehicle propelled by spring motors, the pinion K²
secured upon the same shaft as pinions K', said pinions K2 being capable of being
shifted in gear by means of clutch lever M, with pinion N, secured upon the winding
shaft, substantially as and for the purpose specified.
Tenth. In a carriage or other vehicle propelled by spring motors, a clutch for the
purpose of connecting or separating the driving shaft constructed in two sections
consisting of clutch rigidly secured to one portion of said driving shaft, while
clutch O slides upon key o upon the other portion of the shaft, substantially as, and
for, the purpose specified.
Eleventh. In a carriage or other vehicle propelled by spring motors, a clutch for
the purpose of connecting or separating the driving shaft constructed in two sections
consisting of clutch O rigidly secured to one portion of said driving shaft, while
clutch Oslides upon key o upon the other portion of the driving shaft ;
said spring
clutch being operated by means of levers connecting with a spring foot treadle o
extending up in front of the driver's seat, substantially as, and for, the purpose
specified.
Twelfth. In a carriage or other vehicle propelled by spring motors, the wooden
brake wheels having placed upon them adjustable band brakes said band brakes being
connected with a shaft running across the vehicle; said shaft connecting the brakes
on the two rear wheels and a shaft running across said vehicle in front of said shaft,
which connects said band brakes; pivotted on said last mentioned shaft are levers P
operated by links p connected with the arms of rock-shaft 2 having dependent arins p²
secured to it at its centre; said arm p² being connected with a spring foot treadle
by means of link p³, all constructed and acting substantially as, and for, the purpose
specified.
2
Thirteenth. In a carriage or other vehicle propelled by spring motors an indicator
device which consists of the combination of indicator R, bevel gearings, said bevel
gearing being connected with the winding and driving wheels, substantially as, and in
the manner, and for the purpose, specified.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.