Improvements in or relating to Mechanically Driven Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Feb., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 17th Nov.. 1896-Accepted, 13th Feb., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Mechanically Driven Vehicles.
We, EDWARD JOEL PENNINGTON, of the City and County of Racine and State of
Wisconsin, United States of America, Gentleman, and MARTIN DIEDERICH RUCKER,
of 28 Ely Place, in the County of London, Managing Director of Humber & Co. Lt.
Manufacturers do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to self-propelling or mechanically driven road vehicles and
its chief objects are:-
Firstly. To furnish a light and simple road vehicle driven by power obtained from
an oil or like engine.
Secondly. To provide a simple vehicle so constructed that the frame can be
utilized for several useful purposes in connection with the engine attached to it.
Thirdly. To provide a vehicle with the driving power connected up in a direct
manner to the driving wheel, thus obtaining the maximum power in a simple manner,
and dispensing with excessive weight and complicated parts.
Fourthly. To utilize the engine cylinder as an automatic air-brake, and as a means
of inflating the pneumatic tyres of the vehicle wheels, and also for supplying
compressed air to be subsequently used for starting the vehicle.
Fifthly. To provide improved flexible steering gear and various other improvements
in details as hereinafter described.
The frame of the vehicle is formed by two side tubes connected at their front ends
to a transverse chamber which forms a strong brace and serves as a reservoir for
the water for cooling the engine cylinder as hereinafter described. Other transverse
braces are provided to connect the said two side tubes and thereby form a rigid but
light frame. The rear ends of the tubes are bent somewhat to the shape of an
inverted U within which the engine is arranged.
By preference the vehicle is one constructed with three wheels viz. two at the front
and one at the rear, although we do not wish to limit ourselves to this construction
as it might have one wheel at the front and two wheels in the rear, or with more
than three wheels, or with only two wheels in the form of a bicycle. By preference
we use large pneumatic tyres having a breadth of about four inches on the front
wheels, and four or six inches on the rear wheel, but other classes of tyres could be
used as is customary with self-propelling vehicles. The front wheels may he
conveniently arranged in steering heads similar to but stronger than those used in
bicycles. The fiame of the vehicle is narrower at the rear end than at the front end,
the width being sufficient to receive the engine and the rear driving wheel.
By preference we employ a double engine attached directly in any suitable manner
to the side tubes but so as to form a strong brace between the two sides of the U shaped
part of the said tubes. In this way the engine is utilized to form part of the frame
of the machine and to take up some of the stresses therein, thereby reducing the
weight by dispensing with separate braces that would be otherwise necessary.
Wherever possible the parts of the engine are made tubular to ensure great strength
combined with lightness.
The motion is communicated from the fly wheel shaft to the driving wheel of the
vehicle through one or other of two sprocket chains driving two friction clutches
the latter being preferably controlled by one lever, so that when one is thrown in

page_text: gear the other is thrown out of gear, and vice versa. The sprocket wheels have
different sizes one being arranged to give a slower speed than the other to the vehicle.
Instead of sprocket wheels and chains, pulleys may be used, the connection being
made by means of belts. In some instances the driving may be effected by friction
devices applied to the periphery of the vehicle wheel. The engine is of that class
in which a charge of an explosive mixture of air and oil, or the like, is admitted
behind the piston, and is, after compression, exploded so as to develop the necessary
power. It is usual for this class of engine to have a water jacket for cooling purposes,
necessitating water pipes leading to and from the water reservoir and jacket.
We employ for this purpose the frame of the vehicle, consisting of the side tubes
as before stated. The said tubes communicate with the interior of the water
reservoir and they also communicate through small pipes with the water jackets of
the engine cylinders. The jackets of the two engine cylinders are also connected
by a transverse pipe. The water flows from the water reservoir through one of the
side tubes of the frame then through the water jackets and is discharged back into
the water reservoir through the other side tuhe. We pass the ends of the side
tubes completely through the water reservoir and leave the ends open so that any
steam formed in the jackets can escape from the ends of the tube into the atmosphere
A few small holes are formed in that part of each tube which is in the water
reservoir so that the water can circulate freely between the said tubes and reservoir.
The reservoir for the oil to be consumed in the engine cylinder is placed within the
water reservoir, and the oil-pipe from said reservoir to the engine cylinder passes
through the side tube of the frame and is thus concealed from view and protected
from injury. The water and oil reservoirs are sufficiently large to allow of a run of
several hours duration.
We also utilise the side tubes for the storage of oil for lubricating purposes.
For this purpose we provide partitions in each tube to form two compartments one
of which is utilized for the oil for lubricating the cylinder and the other for the
oil for lubricating the other working parts of the engine.
By preference, for igniting the charge of oil in the cylinder, we use a spark
obtained by means of an electric current derived from a battery or other source
of electricity. A tube igniter or flame could however be used in lieu of a spark.
An important feature of our improved vehicle is the steering device which
comprises a sprocket chain gearing with sprocket wheels on the heads of the front
wheel forks. The ends of this chain are connected together by a spring which yields
when any excessive side pressure is exerted on either wheel and allows the fork of
either wheel to turn slightly independently of the other fork. By these means undue
stresses in and injury to the vehicle are avoided. The chain may be controlled in any
suitable manner from the steering wheel.
We pass the products of combustion from the cylinders through an exhaust box
arranged underneath the floor of the vehicle, and then through the water reservoir
before allowing thein to escape into the atmosphere, so that any disagreeable odour
they may have may be removed. The exhaust box has a number of partitions so
arranged that the gases are compelled to take a circuitous route in passing through
the box, and thus have time to heat up the walls of the box which can be conveniently
utilised as a foot warmer in cold weather. The floor of the vehicle is furnished with
hinged flaps or doors which when the foot warmer is required to be in use can be
raised against the fronts of the seats and be retained in those positions so as to expose
the metal top of the foot warmer.
We provide a pet cock on each cylinder and connect a length of hose pipe thereto
so that when desired the compression produced in the cylinder can be utilized for
inflating the pneumatic tyres of the wheels. We also connect the cylinder to an
air-reservoir by means of a pipe in which is a tap under the control of the driver.
By switching off the igniting current or other igniting device and opening the tap
in the said pipe the engine piston can be utilised to force air under pressure into the
air reservoir during the time the vehicle is coming to rest. This air under compression
can be subsequently used for assisting the starting of the vehicle by the aid of a small

page_text: rotary air motor which is carried by a pivoted arin and which can be depressed
by the driver until it makes contact with the fly wheel. The compression in the
engine cylinders can also obviously be used as an efficient brake for stopping the
engine.
The seats for the accommodation of the occupants of the vehicle may be arranged
in any desired manner.
Improvements in or relating to Mechanically Driven Vehicles.
We, EDWARD JOEL PENNINGTON, of the City and County of Racine and State of
Wisconsin, United States of America, Gentleman, and MARTIN DIEDERICH RUCKER,
of 28 Ely Place, in the County of London, Managing Director of Humber & Co. Ld.
Manufacturers, 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 self-propelled or mechanically-driven road vehicles and
its chief objects are as follows riz. To furnish a light and simple road vehicle
driven by power obtained from an oil or other engine, and to so construct the
frame of such vehicle that it can be utilised for several useful purposes in
connection with the motor engine. Also to connect the engine directly to the
driving wheel, thus obtaining the required power in a simple manner, without excessive
weight or complication of parts.
Also to provide for the utilization of the engine cylinder as an automatic air-brake,
and for inflating the pneumatic tyres of the vehicle wheels, and also for compressing
air to be subsequently used for starting the vehicle.
Also to provide the vehicle with improved flexible steering gear and to combine
therewith various other improvements as hereinafter described.
Referring to the accompanying drawings,
Figure is a sectional side elevation of a mechanically-driven road vehicle
constructed according to this invention.
Figure 2 is a plan of the same with a portion of the body of the vehicle removed
so as to better illustrate the construction of the frame.
Like letters of reference denote corresponding parts in both figures.
A, A are two side tubes bent to the shape shown and connected at their front
ends to a transverse cylindrical vessel B which forins a strong brace and serves as
a reservoir for the water for cooling the cylinder as hereinafter described. Other
transverse braces A', L are provided to connect the two tubes A A and thereby
form a rigid but light frame. The rear ends of the tubes A as seen in side
elevation are bent somewhat to the shape of an inverted U within which the engine
is arranged.
The vehicle shewn in the drawing is constructed with three wheels, viz. two
wheels E, E at the front and one wheel E¹ at the rear, although we do not wish
to limit ourselves to this construction as it might have one wheel at the front
and two wheels in the rear, or it might be constructed with more than three
wheels, or with only two wheels. By preference we use large pneumatic tyres
having a diameter or breadth of about four inches on the front wheels, and of four
to six inches on the rear wheel, but other classes of tyres may be used.

page_text: shown the front wheels arranged in steering heads similar to but stronger than
those used in bicycles. The frame of the vehicle is narrower at the rear end than
at the front end, the width being sufficient to receive the engine and the rear
driving wheel.
We prefer to employ a double engine attached directly in any suitable manner
to the tubes A but so as to form a strong brace between the two sides of the
Ushaped part of the said tubes as shown. In this way the engine is utilized to
form part of the frame of the machine and to take up some of the stresses therein,
thereby reducing the weight by dispensing with separate braces that would otherwise
be necessary.
Wherever possible the parts of the engine are made tubular to ensure
great strength without unnecessary weight.
C, C are the two engine cylinders; C, C are the connecting rods; D is the crank
shaft; and D' D' are fly wheels on said shaft. The motion is communicated from
the fly wheel shaft to the driving wheel E of the vehicle through one or other of
two sprocket chains and wheels D2, D2 and two friction clutches the latter being
preferably controlled by one lever, so that when one is thrown in gear the other
is thrown out of gear. The sprocket wheels have different sizes one being arranged
to drive the vehicle at a slower speed than the other. Instead of sprocket wheels
and chains, pulleys and belts may be used. In some instances the driving may
be effected by friction devices applied to the periphery of the wheel E'.
The engine is of that class in which a charge of an explosive mixture of air
and oil, or the like, is admitted behind the piston, and is, after compression, exploded
to develop the necessary power. It is usual for the cylinders of engines of this
class to have a water jacket supplied with water for cooling purposes through pipes
leading to and from the water supply tank and jackets. We employ for this
purpose the frame of the vehicle, consisting of the tubes A as before stated. The said
tubes communicate with the interior of the reservoir B which contains water, and
they also communicate through small pipes F with the jackets of the engine
cylinders. The said jackets are also connected by a transverse pipe F. The water
flows from the reservoir B through the tube A on one side of the vehicle then
through the cylinder jackets and hack into the vessel B through the tube A on the
other side of the vehicle. We pass the ends of the tubes A completely through
the reservoir B as indicated in Figure 1 and leave the ends open so that any steam
formed in the jackets can escape from the ends of the tube into the atmosphere. A
few small holes are formed in that part of each tube A which is within the reservoir B
so that the water can circulate freely between the said tubes and cylinder. The
reservoir G for the oil to be consumed in the cylinder is placed within the vessel B,
and the oil-pipe G leading from said reservoir G to the engine passes through the
tube A and is thus concealed from view and protected from injury.
reservoirs B and G are sufficiently large to allow of a run of several hours
duration.
The
We also utilize the tubes A for the storage of oil for lubricating purposes. For
this purpose we provide partitions a, a, a in each tube to form two compartments
one of which is utilised for the oil for lubricating the cylinders and the other for the
oil for lubricating the other working parts of the engine.
For igniting the charge of oil in the cylinder, we prefer to use a spark obtained
by means of an electric current derived from a battery or other source of electricity
A tube igniter or flame may however be used in lieu of a spark.
An important feature of our improved vehicle is the steering device which
comprises a sprocket chain H gearing with sprocket wheels H on the heads of
the front wheel forks. The ends of this chain are connected together by a spring H
which yields when any excessive side pressure is exerted on either wheel and
allows a slight turning of the fork of either wheel independently of the other fork
By these means undue stresses in and injury to the vehicle are avoided. The chain E
may be arranged in any suitable manner to be controlled by the steering wheel H³
In the drawing, we have shown it passing underneath the floor of the vehicle and

page_text: gearing with a sprocket wheel H' secured to the lower end of the shaft of the steering.
wheel H³.
The products of combustion pass from the cylinders through an exhaust.
box J arranged underneath the floor of the vehicle, and then through the water in-
the reservoir B before allowing them to escape into the atmosphere. By passing
the gases through the water as described any disagreeable odour they may have is
removed. The exhaust box J has a number of partitions J₁ so arranged that the
gases are compelled to take a circuitous route in passing through the box;.
considerable heating surface is thereby provided and the box can be conveniently
utilized as a foot warmer in cold weather. The floor of the vehicle is furnished
with hinged flaps or doors which, when the box is to be used as a foot warmer can
be raised against the front of the seats and retained in this position so as to expose
the metal top of the foot warmer.
We provide a pet cock K on each cylinder and connect a hose pipe K' thereto
so that when desired the compression produced in the cylinder can be utilized for
inflating the pneumatic tyres of the wheels. We also connect the cylinders to an
air-reservoir L by means of a pipe L' in which is a tap under the control of the
driver. By switching off the igniting current or otherwise extinguishing the
igniting device and opening the tap in the pipe L' the piston can be utilized to
force air under pressure into the reservoir L during the time the vehicle is coming
to rest. This air under compression can be subsequently used for driving a small
rotary motor M which is carried by a pivoted arm M and which can be depressed
by the driver until it makes contact with the fly wheel and thereby assists the starting
of the vehicle. The compression of the gases in the cylinders can also obviously be
used as an efficient brake for stopping the engine.
The seats for the accommodation of the occupants of the vehicle may be arranged.
in any desired manner.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, we declare that what we.
claim is :-
1. The construction of a mechanically-propelled road vehicle in such a manner
that the engine forms an integral part of the frame of the vehicle, substantially as.
described.
2. The frame constructed to convey the cooling water to the cylinder jacket, with,
or without the compartments serving as reservoirs for the lubricating oil, and with or
without the oil-pipe inside the water tube, substantially as described.
3. The vessel B arranged as a transverse brace for the frame and serving as a
reservoir for cooling water, substantially as described.
4. The tubes A constructed to pass completely through the vessel B but having
holes in their sides to admit the cooling water and being open at their ends to
allow of the escape of steam or vapour formed in the jackets, substantially as
described.
5. The combination of a road vehicle and an explosive engine so constructed and
arranged that the engine can be used as an automatic air-brake, and for compressing.
air while the vehicle is being brought to rest, substantially as described.
6. The flexible steering gear comprising a chain which gears with sprocket wheels.
on the fork heads, and a spring for connecting the ends of said chains, substantially
as, and for the purpose, specified.
7. The rotary motor driven by compressed air from a reservoir that is supplied with
air by the main engine when the vehicle is being brought to rest, substantially as,.
and for the purpose, specified.
8. In a road vehicle driven by an explosion engine an exhaust box such as J and a
water vessel through which the products of combustion from the cylinder are
successively passed before being allowed to escape into the atmosphere, substantially
as, and for the purposes, specified.

page_text: 9. In a mechanically propelled road vehicle the exhaust box J having a metal top
serving as a foot warmer, substantially as described.
10. The mechanically propelled road vehicle, constructed substantially as described
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Dated this 17th day of November 1896.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicants.