Improvements in or relating to Motor Vehicles.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 6th Oct., 1898
Complete Specification Left, 3rd July, 1899-Accepted, 2nd Sept., 1899
Improvements in or relating to Motor Vehicles.
I, HERMANN GEORGES CHRISTIAN THOFEHRN, of 93, Rue Miromesnil, Paris, in
the Republic of France, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
:-
This invention relates to a motor car, the improvements in which allow of the
practical use of liquified or compressed gases as sources of motive power, with a
view to a light construction of vehicle which is independent of any central station
for the production of energy.
The improved car is further characterised by the method of arrangement of its
driving parts which are enclosed in a metallic casing which is supported by
means of bearings by the rear axle of the vehicle at one end. At the other
end this casing is carried by the frame of the vehicle by means of a suitable
elastic device.
The fiquified gases, or gases under high pressure are contained in one or
more receivers suitably arranged in the car, on each of the outlet pipes of the
respective receivers an expansion chamber is arranged from which the gas issues
at a constant pressure. The expanded gases then enter a long pipe provided
exteriorly with circular conduction plates arranged somewhat closely together.
The flow of the gases through this pipe, can be retarded, and kept for a longer
period in the neighbourhood of the conducting plates, by placing a spiral in the
said pipe so as to give a longer course to the passage of the gas within the
pipe, on arriving at the end of this warming pipe, the gases will have a tempera-
ture equal or nearly equal to the surrounding air. At the end of the warming
pipe a horizontal receiver is arranged the end of the pipe passing for a certain
distance therein and along the bottom of the same. Before entering this receiver
the gases pass through other expansion chambers. The pipe extremity within
the receiver is pierced with small holes. The gas passing out of the pipe comes
into an alcaline solution continued in the receiver. This solution is fed into the
receiver by means of a pump arranged on a pipe coming from a reservoir contain-
ing the solution. This passage of the solution into the receiver could also be
operated by means of an injector worked by the gas coming from the warming
pipe.
The humidified gas passes through a pipe to a spiral tube the coils of which
are embedded in a metallic housing such as aluminium forming a cylinder with
a free space in its centre. The extremity of the spiral tube is connected by a pipe
in which is a cock for regulating the motor and on which also safety valves and
further expansion chambers can be arranged, to the cylinder of a suitable motor.
Arranged on the top of the cylinder containing the coil is a pipe or housing,
which is curved round to the horizontal and surrounds the receiver and part of
the pipe leading thereto. Under the free space of the coil cylinder, a burner is
provided, fed by a suitably arranged reservoir, the heat from this burner is
transmitted to the spiral tube, and at a given time is sufficient to raise the gas in
the spiral to such temperature as to render it effective as a motive power. The

page_text: heat from the burner passes up through the free space in the cylinder into the
housing above mentioned, and warms the receiver containing the solution which
further acts as a heat radiator. In the arrangement of the above apparatus in
a car of the dog-cart type, the body of the vehicle is divided into an upper
and lower compartment. In the upper compartment the liquified gas receiver
or receivers are arranged with the necessary pipes and expansion chambers and a
communication pipe passes from these, through the lower compartment to the
warming pipe with heat conduction plates, which pipe is arranged under the body
of the vehicle and receives several bends in the same plane to present a large
surface in a small space. The lower compartment is divided into two, by a
vertical partition the one of which compartments is of double walls on all its sides
and forms the housing in which the solution receiver is contained and warmed.
Two of these receivers can be provided in such a manner as to act alternately in
which case the reservoir before mentioned is dispensed with, below this com-
partment the spiral with its cylinder is arranged, the burner being fed by a
réservoir containing petroleum or the like arranged in the other of these
lower compartments. The cylinders of the motor, of which there can be one or
several, have their pistons connected to a crank shaft, carrying a toothed wheel,
which engages with a toothed wheel keyed on the axle of the hind wheels of the
car. The driving mechanism is contained in a casing, carried by the hind wheel
axle by means of bearings and fixed immovably to the cylinders, the free end
of this casing is provided with an eye, through which the end of a vertical rod
attached to the bottom of the car, passes freely. This rod is screw threaded and
a nut is screwed thereon which serves to support this end of the casing. Above
the eye of the casing a coil spring is arranged on this rod abutting below against
the eye or lug and a suitable abuttment at its upper end. By this means vibration
and shock to the motor are avoided. The vehicle is provided with a steering lever
and an operating lever, this latter operates the valve which allows the passage
of the gas to the cylinder of the motor.
Dated this fith dor of October 1808
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, W.C., London.
Improvements in or relating to Motor Vehicles.
I, HERMANN GEORGES CHRISTIAN THOFEHRN, of 93, Rue Miromesnil, Paris, in
the Republic of France, 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:―
This invention relates to a motor car the improvements in which allow of the
practical use of liquified or compressed gases as sources of motive power, with a
view to a light construction of vehicle which is independent of any central station
for the production of energy.
The improved car is further characterised by the method of arrangement of its
driving parts which are enclosed in a metallic casing which is supported by
means of bearings by the rear axle of the vehicle at one end; at the other
end this casing is carried by the frame of the vehicle by means of a suitable
elastic device.
In the annexed drawings Fig. 1 shews a motor vehicle in longitudinal section
provided with my improvements. Fig. 2 is a cross section of Fig. 1.

page_text: Fig. 3 shows the motor in plan view.
Fig. 4 is a diagram explanatory of the different parts employed for the
practical usage of liquified gases as sources of motive power.
With reference to Fig. 4 the arrangement for the production of the motive
power aforesaid is as follows.
The liquified gases or gases under high pressure, are contained in one or more.
receivers A suitably arranged in the car. An expansion chamber D is also
arranged from which gas issues at a constant pressure. The expanded gases
first issue into a long reheating pipe or serpentine T of large surface which
can be smooth or provided exteriorly with circular conducting plates. This
pipe may be arranged entirely in the open air, or partly in the interior of the
casing of vehicle or entirely in the same. The temperature of the gas which
comes into the reheating serpentine or pipe T being very low by reason of the
expansion of the gas, an exchange of calorics takes place between the air outside
the pipe and the gas passing within the same in such a manner that by a suitable
length of the pipe T the gas arrives at the extremity of the same at a temperature
approximately equal to the surrounding atmosphere. In order to hinder the
flow of the gas and retain it for a longer time in contact with the conductive
sides of the pipe a spiral retarder for example, can be arranged in the pipe in
such a manner as to cause the gas to traverse a long course in contact with the
said sides of the pipe T. Towards the extremity of the pipe T the gas can expand
again in expansion chambers D¹. The pipe T extends, with a part pierced with
small holes into a body of water or alkaline solution placed in a receptacle B
acting as a cleaner. The gas in passing through this liquid becomes cleaned and
moistened retaining particles of liquid which assists in the lubrication of the
motor cylinder.
The water or solution in the receptacle B is introduced under pressure for
example by means of a pump p arranged on a tube 6 communicating at one end
with the receptacle B and at the other with a reservoir C, containing the liquid.
This introduction under pressure could also be done by means of an arrangement
provided on the pipe T. At the extremity of the receptacle B opposite the pipe T
is another pipe passing into the upper part of the receptacle B and provided at
this part with small holes by which the gas, cleaned and moistened issues, passing
by a pipe P to a spiral tube S of special construction, acting as a further heater.
The coils of this spiral are embedded in a metallic housing E of aluminium or
the like forming a cylinder with a free space in its centre. The extremity of
the spiral tube is connected by a pipe, on which is a cock r for regulating the
motor and on which also safety valves and further expansion chambers can be
arranged, to the cylinder of a suitable motor M. Arranged on the top of the
cylinder containing the coil is a pipe G open to the atmosphere at g, or housing G
which is curved round to the horizontal and surrounds the receiver B and part of
the pipe T leading thereto. Under the free space of the coil cylinder, a burner H
is provided, fed by a suitably arranged reservoir I the heat from this burner
is transmitted to the spiral tube and absorbed by E, and at a given time is
sufficient to raise the gas in the spiral to such temperature as to render it
effective as a motive power. The heat from the burner passes up through the.
free space in the cylinder into the housing G above mentioned, and warms the
receiver containing the solution which further acts as a heat radiator and also
the part of the pipe T.
This arrangement of the housing G surrounding the receptacle B is not
absolutely necessary and the heat from the burner could escape directly into the
atmosphere. The products escaping from the gas utilised in the motor are
carried by a pipe K into the housing G in the case where this housing is used
and add their calories to those of the gas from the burner H.
It can be seen that my system of heating constitutes a circulation of the gas
contained in the receivers A which is expanded in the chambers D, the circulation
being such that the compressed gas by reason of its expansion at the outlet of

page_text: the receivers is considerably cooled and is then reheated firstly progressively at the
commencement of its course by a tube or reheater of large surface in contact with
the surrounding air, in such a manner as to be given a temperature approximately
that of the surrounding air and is then further heated by a special heating arrange-
ment or superheater in such a manner as to acquire a temperature suitable to
its use in the motor.
In passing through the alkaline solution in the receptacle B the gas is cleaned
and moistened as already mentioned which will assist the lubrication of the
motor cylinder, further the evaporation in the serpentine heater of the liquid
particles carried by the gas will slightly increase its motive power.
In the arrangement of the above apparatus, in a car of the dog cart type, Figs. 1
and 2, the body of the vehicle is divided into an upper and lower compartment.
In the upper compartment the liquified gas receiver or receivers A are arranged
with the necessary outlet pipes & and expansion chambers D, and a collecting
pipe R. From here the gas passes to the warming pipe T here shown with heat
conduction plates, which pipe is arranged under the body of the vehicle and
receives several bends, in the same plane, to present a larger surface in a small
space. The lower compartment is divided into two by a vertical partition y the
one of which compartments is of double walls or lined z on all its sides and
forms and takes the place of housing shown in Fig. 4 in which the alkaline
solution receiver B and part of T are contained and warmed. Two of these
receivers can be provided as shewn in such a manner as to act alternately in
which case the reservoir C before mentioned is dispensed with. Below this com-
partment the spiral with its cylinder is arranged, a burner H being fed by a
reservoir I, containing petroleum or the like arranged in the other of these
lower compartments L. The cylinders M of the motor of which there can be
one or several, have their pistons connected to a crank shaft 1 carrying a toothed
wheel 2 which engages with a toothed wheel 3 keyed on the axle 4 of the hind
wheels of the car. The driving mechanism is contained in a metallic casing 5
carried by the hind wheel axle by means of bearings and fixed immovably to
the cylinders M; the free end of this casing is provided with an eye through
which the end of a vertical rod 7 attached to the bottom of the car passes freely.
This rod is screw threaded and a nut is screwed thereon which serves to support
this end of the casing. Above the eye of the casing a coil spring is arranged on
this rod abutting below against the eye or lug and a suitable abutment at the
upper end.
The spring is kept compressed between the bottom of the vehicle and the eye 6
of the metallic casing and this spring absorbs all vibrations from the motor
and prevents them being transferred to the body of the vehicle. This particular
arrangement the motor parts centrally and towards the back part of the vehicle
leaves the fore axle of the same free with regard to the hind axle and the
improved motor vehicle can be turned in its own length.
The vehicle is completed by the directing lever 10 and the actuating lever 11.
The latter acting on the valve r which governs the entry of the gas to the motor.
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
receivers
1. An improved motor vehicle in which in combination with
containing compressed or liquified gas are arranged;-expansion chambers for
reducing the gas to a pressure convenient to its employment as motor fluid; -
a reheater or serpentine of large surface arranged entirely in the open air, or
partly in the casing of the vehicle and in which the expanded gas travels and is
thus brought to a temperature approximately that of the open air; a receptacle
partially filled with water or other approximate liquid through which the gas at
its exit from the reheating pipe passes in such a manner as to become cleaned
and moistened; a superheating serpentine through which the gas eventually

page_text: travels, this serpentine having its spirals embedded in a metallic body which forms
accumulator and recipient for the heat furnished by a burner placed under said
serpentine and the gas thus brought to the temperature convenient for its
utilisation as a motor fluid, then arrives in one or several cylinders which actuate
the driving axle of the vehicle and which are housed in a metallic casing pivoted
around said axle at one end and suspended at the other end to the body or frame
of the vehicle by an elastic device absorbing the vibrations.
2. In an improved motor vehicle as in Claim 1, a reheater for the expanded gas
formed essentially of a pipe T of large surface in which the gas passes; this
pipe which may be provided with conduction plates being placed entirely in the
open air or partly in the body of the vehicle and borrowing its heat from the
surrounding atmosphere in order to progressively raise the temperature of the
gas in circulation in the pipe to approximately that of the surrounding air, sub-
stantially as described and illustrated in the annexed drawings.
3. In an improved motor vehicle as in Claim a cleaning device formed by a
receptacle B partially filled with water or other appropriate liquid through the
body of which the gas passes in such a manner as to become cleaned, and moistened
with particles of liquid destined to assist the lubrication of the motor cylinder
substantially as described and represented in the annexed drawings.
4. In an improved motor vehicle as in Claim 1 a superheating arrangement
formed by a serpentine S, the spirals of which are embedded in a metallic body
of aluminium for example, the gas circulating in the serpentine before passing
to the motor, and a burner heating the serpentine and the metallic cylinder which
surrounds it, and which forms a heat accumulator and transferer" substantially
as described and illustrated in the annexed drawing.
5. In an improved motor vehicle as in Claim 1 a motor mechanism formed of
one or several cylinders actuating the driving axle of the vehicle, and housed
in a metallic casing which is pivoted around said axle and suspended at the other
end to the body or frame of the vehicle by an elastic device which absorbs the
vibrations, substantially as described and illustrated in the annexed drawings,
Dated this 3rd day of July 1899
HERBERT HADDAN & Co.,
Agents to Applicant,
18, Buckingham Street, Strand, London.