Improvements in Self-propelling Vehicles.
Year: 1895

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Aug., 1895
Complete Specification Left, 1st June, 1896-Accepted, 22nd Aug., 1896
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Self-propelling Vehicles.
T, EMILE ROGER, of 52, Rue des Dames, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Mechanical-Constructing-Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to improvements in self propelling ог motor vehicles
which by their combination with mechanisms known in the construction of this
kind of vehicles constitute a vehicle entirely novel and having exceptional
qualities of resistance and of lightness and one that affords especial facilities
in the matter of steering, while moreover the method of steering secures to it a
perfect stability even when it is very rapidly turned.
My different improvements which are more particularly applicable to vehicles
fitted with petroleum motors having electric ignition devices, relate to the steer-
ing mechanism, to the transmission of the rotary movement of the motor to the
wheels of the vehicle, to the method of cooling the working cylinder wherein the
explosions take place, and to the different mechanisms which enable the con-
ducior to control all the functions of the vehicle and of the motor without being
required to leave his seat.
STEERING.
My mode of steering consists essentially in transmitting to the front or guide
wheels of the vehicle a simultaneous turning or pivoting movement of unequal
amplitude around two fixed points of the vehicle so that each wheel as seen in
plan remains always tangential to the path it describes in the road. For this
purpose the conductor acts by means of a small fly wheel upon a vertical shaft,
which carries at its lower part a pinion; this pinion gears with two horizontal
racks arranged on bars which are pivotally connected to the extremities of a
horizontal lever. This horizontal lever which is keyed upon a vertical axis
transmits the movement of the aforesaid rack bars to horizontal rods which pivot
with one extremity upon one of the horizontal branches of the vertical axis and
with the other extremity upon the free arms of the axle shafts. These two
extremities of the shaft which are each firmly connected to one of the guide wheels
are pivotally connected to an independent shaft body, which is connected to the
rear motor shaft by two bars and upon which rests the front of the vehicle by
the intermission of springs. It results therefrom that for any rotary movement
communicated by the conductor to the small fly wheel aforesaid the front wheels
pivot around the extremities of the axle body, but to an unequal extent with
regard to each other and so that the wheels as seen in plan always remain tan-
gential to their paths on the road, since such plans are at each moment normal to
the instantaneous radius of the path. Owing to this fact all lateral effort upon
the wheels is avoided and the turning over of the vehicle is rendered impossible.

page_text: TRANSMISSION OF THE ROTARY MOVEMENT OF THE MOTOR TO THE WHEELS OF
THE VEHICLE.
Between the two axles of the vehicle an intermediate shaft in two parts is
arranged, one turning in the other. This intermediate shaft first receives a
cone loosely mounted thereon and interually provided with two bevel pinions
loosely rotating around their axis which is a diameter of the гone, then two
bevel wheels each keyed upon one extremity of the intermediate shafts and
both gearing with the bevel pinions, then two loose pulleys arranged on the free
extremities of the two parts of the said intermediate shaft. Upon the shaft of
the motor a cone with two diameters is keyed, and the rotation of the said motor
shaft is transmitted by driving belts to the cone beforementioned which actuates
by its pinions the bevel wheels before referred to and chain wheels on the inter-
mediate shaft. Finally the chain wheels actuate by means of endless chains the
cog wheels fixed to the rear of the vehicle.
The efforts exerted by the two parts of the intermediate compound shaft are
always the same owing to the differential gear consisting of the pinions and
wheels herein before described.
As soon as the effort becomes greater in one
part of the compound shaft than in the other the pinions turn around their axis
in the proper direction until equality is restored.
COOLING OF THE WORKING CYLINDER.
The device which I employ consists of two cold water reservoirs placed above
the level of the cylinder and at each side of the vehicle; they are arranged to act
as thermo-syphons and operate automatically; the water which is conveyed by
gravity to the cylinder jacket through appropriate conduits becomes heated and
evaporates and the vapour escapes into a dome or steam chest and returns through
appropriate pipes to the reservoirs where it is condensed. In order to improve
the circulation, the said steam dome or chest is connected directly to a cold water
conduit by a suitable pipe; in this manner the condensation takes place rapidly
and the pressure of the steam cannot rise. The reservoirs are emptied when
required through a blow off or discharge cock.
THE DIFFERENT MECHANISMS PLACED DIRECTLY UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE
CONDUCTOR.
All of the important functions of the vehicle and of the motor are under the
direct control of the conductor.
Besides controlling the steering mechanism hereinbefore described, the Con-
ductor regulates the feeding of the carburetter with petroleum, the air to be
admitted for the formation of the explosive mixture, and the quantity of this
mixture to be admitted to the cylinder; he also controls the throwing into
circuit of the induction coil which produces the ignition of the explosive mixture
in the motor, and finally he can by a simple disengaging coupling change the
speed of the vehicle from low to high and can stop the vehicle at any desired
moment; he can limit the speed by means of two brakes, one of which acts upon
the fly wheel of the motor and the other upon the fellies of the motor wheels.
The petroleum feed device of the carburetter comprises a pipe passing from a
receptacle to the bottom of the carburetter, this pipe being provided with a valve
or cock actuated through an angular lever, a rod and a knob or handle placed
in reach of the conductor and which needs only to be pulled in order to deliver
petroleum to the carburetter.
The mechanism that enables the conductor to regulate the quantity of air
to be mixed with the petroleum vapours comprises a valve or cock arranged on
a conduit which passes from the carburetter to the working cylinder, the rod of
this cock being screw threaded and pivoted at its free extremity to a rod to which
means of
the conductor communicates a partial rotary movement by
crank
keyed upon the rod and operating to displace the rod upon a graduated dial.
The arrangement for regulating the admission of the explosive mixture to the
motor cylinder comprises a clack valve placed in a conduit between the cylinder

page_text: and the air inlet cock and upon which the conductor acts by means of a knob or
handle a rack bar and a crank fixed to the clack valve.
In order to pass the current, coming from the accumulators, into the coil-
the whole being placed into the box of the vehicle-the conductor turns in the
required sense a small screw and thereby causes the contact to be established
by a suitable spring when the screw is turned in the inverse sense, it removes
the spring and interrupts the current.
In order to change the speed of the vehicle from high to. low or to stop the
vehicle I employ a device consisting of two belt shippers actuated by the con-
ductor by means of appropriate handles, vertical rods and articulated levers so as
to place the one, or the other of the driving belts upon the driving cone, the
other remaining upon its loose pulley, or to bring both belts upon their loose
pulleys in case the vehicle is to be stopped.
Finally in order to check the movement, the conductor has, apart from the
ordinary brake which acts upon the motor wheels, a second brake at disposal
comprising a shoe which bears upon the felly of the fly wheel of the motor
when the conductor exerts a pressure upon an appropriate pedal, owing to the
interposition of suitable levers.
By the combination of the different devices herein before described with
mechanisms known in self propelling or motor vehicles, such as the petroleum
motor, the electric igniting device, the escape-box, the petroleum reservoir, the
carburetter, the frame and the wheels of the vehicle etc., a very simple self-pro-
pelling vehicle is produced which may be placed in the hands of persons
unskilled in mechanics.
Dated this 31st day of August 1895
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Self-propelling Vehicles.
I, EMILE ROGER, of 52, Rue des Dames, Paris, in the Republic of France,
Mechanical-Constricting-Engineer, 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 improvements are applicable generally speaking, to self-propelling vehicles
of every description, and more particularly to petroleum motor-carriages, wherein
the motor fluid is adapted to be kindled by electricity or incandescence.
The said improvements relate to mechanism for driving such carriages, com-
bined with other devices; to the transmission of the rotary motion of the motor
to the wheels of the carriage or car; to the method of cooling the cylinder wherein
the explosion takes place; and to the several arrangements whereby the driver is
enabled to control all the manipulations connected with the operation of the
vehicle and motor, such as throwing the machinery in and out of gear, applying
the brake or varying the speed, without leaving his seat.
These improvenients, in conjunction with the mechanism already known in
connection with vehicles of this class, constitute a novel motor-car which com-
bines, with perfect stability, the advantages of being very readily controllable,
even where it has to veer round at a small radius, and of displaying a considerable
power of resistance, whilst being of an uncommonly light construction.

page_text: in the accompanying drawings,
Figure 1 is an elevation of the improved motor car;
Figure 1 is a section taken transversely to the plane of the motor cylinder
showing the apparatus for the circulation of water and steam; and
Figure 2 is a plan of the car or carriage.
The main mechanism comprises; the motor cylinder I secured to the frame 2,
provided with a valve-chest 3 and surmounted by a bottle-shaped
chamber or
receiver 4 for the returning water; a cock 5, for bringing about the mixture of
pure air with the carburetted air which is supplied from the carburizer 6, through
the pipe 9, such carburizer being fed with petroleum from a reservoir 33 by the
aid of a tuber, at the entrance to which is a distributing valve P the supply
through which is controlled by the operation of a lever-devices, and, the lever f
adapted to be displaced to a greater or less extent, as may be required, either
by pulling a handle, or by turning a screw-knob or nut such as u.
The escape valve 7 is controlled by means of levers and cams, as at S, while
the pipe 10, into which is fitted a perforated plate or rose 11, serves to connect
the mixing cock 5 with the valve chest 3. 12 is the escape or exhaust chamber;
13, the fly-wheel of the motor engine; and 14, an off-set cone or pulley keyed
on to the main or driving shaft.
quick
"
A corresponding off-set cone or pulley 15 is attached to the intermediate com-
pound shaft
f by means of a clutch or coupling, thus forming a movement
known as differential" gearing, that is to say, enabling each of the parts, e
and f, of the compound spindle to revolve at the required speed, in relation to
the speed of the other part: such relation of speeds varying according as the
fore-carriage of the combined motor and vehicle turns to the right or to the left.
Of the handles 16 and 16*, one serves to guide the strap to the
slow speed
position, by causing it to pass from the pulley g, loose upon the shaft f, on to the
raised portion or large pulley of the off-set cone 15; while the other is adapted
to move the strap into the
full speed
or
position, by transferring
it from the pulley h, which is loose upon the shaft e, on to the reduced portion
Small pulley,
of the said off-set cone 15. The operation of thus shifting
the straps in and out of engagement is preformed by means of rods 16' and
levers 16 acting upon a corresponding fork or strap-guide. An index 17,
provided with a handle, points to the required direction upon al dial, it being
mounted upon a rod 171 and acting through the medium of a spur pinion upon
two slide-racks j, k, which diverge and are jointed to the ends of the steering
beam or balancing lever 21 pivotted at II and acting, through a double-armed
lever 20 and links 18 and 181, upon the levers 19, 19 of the spindles, whereby
each of the wheels 29 and 291 is caused to turn upon one of the pivot or ball-and-
socket joints I and I respectively.
or
The front wheel-axle 22 is stationary and serves as a point of support or
fulcrum for the steering spring 23 whereon the balancing lever device 20, 21 is
located.
24 is the brake adapted to be operated by means of a pedal and acting upon the
fly-wheel of the motor, while a second brake 25 25 with a shoe, is arranged to
act upon the wheels 28 28¹.
Motion is transmitted to the chain wheels 26 261 by means of pinions 27 27¹.
gearing with a pitch chain. In the rear, the carriage is sustained by, or sus-
pended from, springs 30, while in front it rests upon the springs 31.
32 and 32 are water reservoirs or tanks the upper part of which is enveloped
in, or traversed by, air employed to promote the condensation of the steam. 34 is
the longitudinal bar or beam of the carriage body: 35 is an electrical switch or
contact breaker whereby the ignition of the explosive mixture is effected. 36 is
the spring of the switch; and 37, the device for igniting the mixture.
The method adopted for steering my improved motor-carriage is that which has
already been used for the purpose in other machines of this class, it being here,
however, employed in combination with the special mechanical contrivances

page_text: which the novel motor carriage includes. To the front or steering wheels 29 201
I transmit simultaneous turning movement, the extent of the movement conveyed
from one wheel to the other being, however, unequal. This movement is effected
about the fixed points I and I of the vehicle in such a manner that each wheel,
if viewed in plan, will at all times appear as being taugential to the curved line
it describes on the ground by its rim turning in contact therewith. In order to
impart this rotary motion to the front wheels of the carriage, the driver need
only operate the steering bar 171 by means of a hand wheel 17.
This rod carries a pinion at its lower part, which pinion serves to operate
the two horizontal racks j, k, sliding within sleeves or collars. These racks
are connected to the ends of the steering beam 21 which is keyed upon a vertical
axis II and transmits the motion of the rack-rods j, k, to the horizontal rods 18, 18
through the medium of the steering fork 20. Each of the rods or links 18 18' has
one of its ends secured to one of the terminal points of one of the two arms of
the fork 20, and is adapted to turn on a pivot while its opposite end is attached
to a lever 19, 191, which is rigidly secured to the spindle or *axle of the
hub of the corresponding steering wheel.
The transmission of the rotary motion of the motor engine to the carriage
wheels is obtained by means of a compound shaft consisting of two parts e. f.
one of which turns within the other and constitutes what is termed differential
gearing. Upon the intermediate shaft thus constructed there is mounted a
pulley or cone consisting of two pulleys, 15, mounted within this pulley are
two bevel wheels turning freely on a spindle which forms part of the pulley,
and is diametrically situated within it. To one end of each of the portions e, f
of the intermediate shaft there are keyed bevel wheels, both of which are in gear
with the bevel pinions of the cone or offset pulley 15 just referred to. Next to
them, and upon the same extremities of the shaft portions e, f, loose pulleys, g
and respectively, are placed. Upon the motor-shaft a double-diameter-cone or
offset pulley 14 is keyed in the proper relation to the cone 15; and the rotary
motion is transmitted by means of straps to the cone 15 which, by means of its
internal bevel pinions acts upon the bevel wheels fast upon the parts e, f, just
mentioned and also, consequently, upon the pinions 27, 271, keyed onto the ends
of the compound intermediate shaft. The toothed wheels 27, 27, through the
medium of endless chains, actuate the wooden cog-wheels, 26, 26¹ secured to the
rear wheels 28, 28' of the carriage. The strains exercised by the two parts e and f
of the compound intermediate shaft are in all cases equalized by the differential
gearing which is located within the cone 15 and consists of the bevel pinions and
bevel wheels above described. As soon as the strain becomes too powerful in
one part of the compound shaft, the pinions in the other part instantly turn on
their shafts in the required direction until the strains are balanced; whereby,
as is well known, the respective speeds will be also compensated.
The cylinder 1 which is surrounded by a water-jacket or casing is cooled by
cold water circulating within such jacket and obtained from two tanks or reser-
voirs 32 321, situated on a higher level than the said cylinder and on either side
of the vehicle. These tanks communicate with each other and operate auto-
matically as thermo-syphons. The water is admitted through the lower part of
the jacket surrounding the cylinder, entering it by the mere effect of its own
weight through the channels or pipes 1, l'³, m. This water becomes heated in
the jacket, giving off some steam as it does so, after which the whole rises up
into a dome or bottle-shaped receiver 4, provided for collecting the return water
and having a partition dividing it. Thence the water re-descends through
the lower part of the bottle or receiver, passing, through the pipe 7, into the
set of pipes which feeds the jacket from below; whilst the steam, either by
itself or mixed with water, returns through conduit pipes , surrounded by
the ambiant air, into the reservoirs or tanks 32, 321. In order to promote con-
densation, thin-walled metal tubes may be arranged within the path followed
by the current of steam in the upper part of the reservoirs 32, 321 (where it is

page_text: condensed) so that air may pass through these tubes as an effect of the motion of the
vehicle and assist in cooling the steam circulating around the said tubes. To ensure
such circulation, the dome 4, at the same time as it is placed in communication with
the set of pipes that feeds the lower part of the jacket, is also directly connected,
at the top, through one or more pipes surrounded with or traversed by the ambiant
air or the cold water. By such means rapid condensation of steam is ensured
and the steam is precluded from attaining high pressures. The contents of the
reservoirs 32, 32' are discharged when required by means of a discharge cock or
valve. All the important machinery whereby the motor and carriage are driven
is placed within the easy reach and immediate control of the driver, by means of
hand-wheels, knobs, handles or levers. The driver governs the whole of the
mechanism which operates and steers the vehicle and at the same time controls
the supplies from the petroleum reservoir 33, and the tube leading from the
petroleum carburizer 6, which is fitted with a valve for the purpose. The supply
of the air, admitted through the cock 5 in order to form the explosive mixture
and carry the same to the required degree of saturation, and the quantity of
likewise under the
such mixture, that is to be admitted into the cylinder, are
driver's direct control. Again he governs the means for switching the induction
coil into the circuit, whereby the ignition of the explosive mixture of the motor
is produced; and, lastly, he has it in his power, by a simple operation of the
clutch or gearing, to regulate the speed of the carriage or to arrest it whenever
it may be necessary. The speed may at any time be regulated by means of the
two brakes shown, one of which, 24, acts upon the fly-wheel 13 of the motor,
The
while the other, 25, acts upon the loose driving-wheels of the vehicle.
apparatus for feeding the carburizer 6 with petroleum from the reservoir 33
consists of a pipe connecting such reservoir 33 with the lower part of the car-
burizer 6. This pipe contains a valve or cock operated by means of a lever fitted
with an operating handle, or a bell-crank lever, and by a rod and knob, or by
means of a handle of any convenient shape placed within the reach of the driver,
who, by simply pulling such lever or handle supplies the carburizer with a greater
or less amount of petroleum. The mechanism which enables the driver to regulate
the additional supply of air required to mix with the carburized air arriving
from the carburizer consists of a cock or valve 5 fitted in a conduit pipe 9 leading
from the carburizer 6 to the cylinder 1. The operating rod of the cock is screw-
threaded, and linked to a rod to which the driver imparts a partial rotary move-
ment by the aid of a handle VI, keyed on to the rod and operating so as
displace such rod which carries an index-hand moving in front of a dial.
arrangement whereby the admission of the explosive mixture to the cylinder is
controlled consists of a flap valve r, located within a conduit pipe 10 which con-
nects the cylinder 1 and the air-admitting cock 5. This valve is also operated
or controlled by the driver himself, by means of a handle attached to the end
In order
of a rod y acting upon a handle secured to the rod of the valve v.
to send the current generated by the storage batteries into the induction coil
(the whole of the electrical arrangement being located within the body of the
vehicle), the driver turns a little screw in the required direction, thereby estab-
lishing an electrical contact through the medium of a spring. If the said screw
be turned in the opposite direction, it will no longer act upon the spring and,
therefore, the circuit will be interrupted.
to
The
The mechanism for varying the speed of the motor carriage consists of two forks
through each of which there passes a strap controlled by the driver through the
medium of suitable handles, 16, 16* vertical rods 161 and pivoted levers 16", so
arranged as to place either of the two driving straps or belts upon the driving
cone or offset pulley, the other strap remaining upon the loose pulley.
In order
to slow down, the driver has a second brake at his disposal, consisting of a shoe 24,
which presses upon the rim of the fly-wheel 13 of the motor; such brake being
operated by means of a pedal which sets a lever arrangement in motion.

page_text: said
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what
I claim in a self-propelled road vehicle driven by a petroleum-gas motor engine
aud provided with steering mechanism combined with differential motion-trans-
mitting mechanism, whereon a cone or double offset pulley is mounted
(corresponding to another similar cone or double offset pulley fast upon the main
driving shaft), on each side of which there is arrauged a loose pulley which
enables either of the two driving belts or straps to be thrown into or out of
engagement at will through the medium of handles, rods or links, levers and
forks or strap-guides, all substantially as described and shown, is :-
=
1. An apparatus for effecting a double circulation, viz., that of water and that
of steam, as clearly illustrated in Figure 1, such apparatus consisting of two
chests or chambers 32 321, a lower set of connecting pipes and a branch pipe m,
a casing or jacket surrounding the motor cylinder i, a reservoir or receiver 4
divided by a partition w, a pipe 7 for the return-water, an upper set of pipes n n
around or through which the ambient air is made to circulate and which establish
the connection between the top of the receiver 4 and the upper parts of the
reservoirs 32 32 which, in their turn, are exposed to the air, which is thus
enabled to assist the cooling of the steam, with the result that such steam con-
denses in the upper portion of the said receiver as well as in the piping and the
reservoirs, after which it returns into the jacket of the cylinder 1.
2. The apparatus above referred to in combination: with the petroleum reser-
voir 33, the carburizer 6, the cock adapted to supply the carburizer with
petroleum through the tuber and controllable by means of mechanism consist-
ing of a handle s, rod t and knob or button and with the cock 5, through
which fresh air is supplied, and the clack-valve e, through which carburized air
is admitted, both being operated by means of rods and y, respectively, and by
corresponding handles, whereby the following supplies may be controlled at will:
that of petroleum admitted to the carburizer; that of carburized air conducted
to the cylinder, and that of pure air which is to mix with the said carburized air
in order to form the explosive mixture required for setting the carriage in motion.
3. In a self-propelled road car or carriage, driven by means of a petroleum
gas motor, the combination of the two arrangements specified above in the
1st and 2nd Claims with the electrical circuit-breaker or switch adapted to bring
about ignition; and with the mechanism acting upon the brake 24 and upon
the brake-shoes 25 25¹, by means of a pedal device 24 and a hand lever 25 in
such a manner that by combining the action of such mechanism with that of
the device by which the straps are shifted into and out of engagement, the
vehicle may be arrested within a very brief space of time.
Dated this 1st day of June 1896.