Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 20th May, 1895-Accepted, 28th Dec., 1895

page_text: serves as air pump. The said! cylinders: alternately follow each other & are
further provided with air passagessor canals.b and fand with orifices h which latter
serve as outlets for the products of combustion..
A is the fork or front portion of the frame of the machine and E, E' are the
wheel bearings. Bearing E has the form of a rotary disc and is provided at its
periphery with an annular canal a communicating with the atmosphere and also
with canals cand d, e, communicating with the canals 6 and f of the cylinders P
and M respectively.
Z is an igniting tube and i a burner and C a tube through which the inflammable
oil or other liquid is conducted from a cistern B to a cock D and through this, into
the compartment c.
The method of operation of our invention is as follows:-
The cistern Bis first filled with petroleum, benzoline,alcohol, or other inflammable
oil or liquid used, and this latter is allowed to pass down the tube C to the cock D.
Meanwhile, immediately the driving wheel begins to turn, a vertical motion is
imparted to the double piston F, F', and, on the downward course of each air
cylinder, air is drawn or sucked into same through the annular canal a and the
cylinder canal b. In the up-course of the air cylinder the canal a is closed by the
bearing E and the air present in the cylinder is compressed by the piston F, and,
just before said piston has reached the highest point of its up-stroke, is forced again
into the canal whence it passes into the canal c. The oil or other liquid is then
turned on and becomes mixed at g with the air as the latter passes the compartment c.
The mixture is then forced forward into canals d and e and thence into canal ƒ of
the driving or power cylinder from whence it passes into the driving cylinder proper
and is there compressed.
In the position of the driving cylinder which corresponds to the highest dead
point, the canal communicates with the igniting tube Z which causes an immediate
explosion of the compressed mixture in the driving cylinder.
Immediately before the driving cylinder arrives at its lowest vertical position, the
piston uncovers the orifices h in order to permit of the immediate escape of the
products of combustion and which are forced out by the pressure within and
by the fresh supply of air through the canals b, c, d, e, f, from the air cylinder as
this latter approaches its highest vertical position. Hence when the piston has
closed the orifices h, the driving cylinder is filled afresh with an explosive
mixture.
The operation described proceeds continuously in each pair of cylinders.
The inflammable oil or other liquid can be regulated so that the current at is
as fine as required; on coming in contact with the air, the said oil or liquid is
carried along towards the burner i to feed the flame of the igniting tube, the
necessary air entering meanwhile by the orifices k while the products of combustion
pass round the tube C and escape through the orifices l. In this way the oil or
liquid running towards the regulating cock is pre-heated and partially gasified, whilst
the necessary air for combustion is also pre-heated in its burner i the bearings being
thus prevented from getting overheated.
In order that the vapours which are formed and rise in the tube C may not
escape direct, a bell F2 is arranged in the cistern over the mouth of the tube C, in
such way, that the edges of said bell are lower than the mouth of the tube, thus
sealing the latter hydraulically. Underneath the bell and round the tube C is a
filter F which prevents the entry of impurities in the tube.
The regulating cock can be turned by means of a key I which fits on to the plug
of the cock. This key can be provided with a hand-wheel to facilitate the turning
of the cock while the rider is seated on the machine.
In the plug of the cock is a canal m which serves to feed the burner i and to heat
the igniting tube before the motor is started.
When the orifice n of the plug is exactly opposite the mouth of the tube C, the
current of the oil or liquid is directed towards the mixing compartment or canal c
and hence towards the igniting tube. If the cock is now turned. a. little more to

page_text: the right, there is free access to the flame in consequence of the greater size of the
opening o in a transverse sense, whilst the narrowing of the orifice n lessens the
quantity of oil passing in the cylinder. It is necessary to regulate the supply of
inflammable oil or liquid in this way when travelling slowly or when an oil or
liquid is used which does not contain much gas, such as petroleum.
When the cock is turned to the left, the current of oil towards the igniting tube
is stopped and that towards the compartment c diminished. This method is adopted
when a highly inflammable material is used, such as alcohol or benzoline, which
renders indispensable the continuation of the combustion of the igniting flame after
the motor has obtained the necessary heat, or which, on the other hand, necessitates
same being extinguished in order to prevent premature explosions.
When oils or liquids are used which burn badly, such as petroleum, it is necessary
to pour a little alcohol in the recess H in order to heat the motor. Said recess H
is in the interior of one of the branches of the fork and is made accessible for
lighting purposes by means of an orifice or window J. Immediately the igniting
tube becomes red hot, and which can be seen through the orifice or window J, the.
wheel is turned and the cock D opened. The motor is now started.
In the case of bicycles where it is desired to retain the pedals, this can be done
with very little alteration when the wheel motor constitutes the front wheel of the
bicycle. After having lighted up the motor either by means of the alcohol at H
or by the combustible liquid at i, the machine can be started immediately by means.
of the pedals, it being merely necessary to regulate the cock for the first few
minutes after which the motor will do the work itself.
In case the hind wheel constitutes the motor, the pedals can still be retained,.
it being merely necessary to adopt a suitable connection between the wheels.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is :-
1. A wheel motor for cycles and the like consisting in one or more of the wheels
being transformed into a motor or motors by substituting cylinders for the spokes of
the wheel, in such way, that said cylinders (M and P) act simultaneously as driving
or power cylinder and air-pump respectively, in combination with a double
piston (F F) a crank (R) and the wheel bearing (E) substantially as shown and
described.
2. In a motor as characterised under Claim 1, the formation of one of the bearings
into a rotary disc and the combination of same with an annular canal a, canals d
and e and canals b and f of the cylinders as and for the purpose described.
3. In a wheel motor as characterised under Claim 1, an igniting tube (Z) and
burner (i) substantially as and for the purpose described.
4. In a wheel motor characterised under Claim 1, the method of mixing the
inflammable substance with compressed air in the wheel-bearing forming the rotary
disc, substantially as shown and described.
5. In a wheel motor as characterised under Claim 1, the combination with a
tube (C) cock (D) and orifices n, o and g, and compartment or canal c of the bearing,.
of a cistern B and key I, substantially as and for the purpose described.
6. In a wheel motor as characterised under Claim 1, the combination of a bell-
shaped cover for the mouth of the tube (C) in the cistern (B) with said tube and
with a filter (F³) substantially as and for the purpose described.
Dated this 20th day of May 1895.
J. E. EVANS-JACKSON & Co.,
Agents for the Applicants.