Improvements in Steam Bicycles.
Year: 1893

page_text: Date of Apolication, 5th Dec., 1893
Complete Specification Left, 5th Sept., 1891-Accepted, 1st Dec., 1894
.
TRUVIDIONAL STOLNICATION.
. Improvements in Steam Bicycles.
I, HOSEA WAITE LIBBEY, of No. 55 Rutland Square, in the City of Boston,
County of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, United States of America,
Physician, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows :—
The object of my invention is to produce a bicycle that can be propelled by steam
power, the invention consists of a front wheel and a rear steering wheel, preferably
having a double tread connected together by suitable frame work to which frame
is secured a casing divided so as to form a water reservoir and a boiler, to the sides
of which are secured steam cylinders, the piston rods of which are connected by
pitmen to the cranks on the axle of the front wheel and in certain details of
construction as hereinafter described.
The front wheel is mounted in a vertical fork secured to or formed in one with
the back bone which is preferably of the loop pattern, and at its rear end is made
double or forked, the prongs of which extend over the centre of the rear wheel and
embrace the upper end of the steering post of the fork in which the rear or
steering wheel is mounted.
To the back bone or frame is secured a casing of sheet metal, which is
divided by two horizontal partitions so as to form a water reservoir, a boiler and a
lamp chamber, on each side of this casing is secured a steam cylinder the piston rod
of which is by a pitman connected to a crank on the axle of the front or driving
wheel.
A short piece of pipe is secured on the top of the water reservoir through which
the latter is filled, this pipe is closed by a plug when not required for use, the lower
end of the reservoir is in communication with the lower portion of the boiler by a
pipe provided with a suitable cock or valve to regulate the supply of water to the
boiler. A water gauge is secured to the side of the boiler and a gauge is secured
to the reservoir, so that the amount of water in them can be readily seen. To the
top of the boiler are secured three pipes that pass up through and out of the
reservoir, to the top of one pipe is secured a pop safety valve to the top of another
pipe a steam gauge and to the top of the other pipe a steam whistle that can be
operated by the rider by a cord when required.
The safety valve, steam gauge and whistle are enclosed in a hood open at its rear
facing the rider, and to each side of this hood is secured a looking glass that
can be adjusted to any desired inclination so that the rider may see what is at the
rear or on the sides of him.
A lamp or lamps is or are arranged in the lamp chamber, the sides or doors of
this chamber are preferably bulged outwards and fitted with mica so that the light
from the lamp may be diffused on each side of the vehicle whereby the rider can
see the condition of the road over which he is travelling.
Steam is admitted from the top of the boiler to the cylinder on each side by a
pipe fitted with a suitable valve that can be operated by the rider through a hand
lever and connecting rods.
The necessary exhaust pipes, a blow off cock and draw off cocks are provided.
A head light is attached to the top of the reservoir and a gong is secured to the
side of the same which can be operated by the foot of the driver by moving a foot
rest which is pivoted to the side of the reservoir.
The seat is preferably supported at the rear of the vehicle, and a two armed lever
is secured to the top of the steering post by means of which the rider operates the:
|steering wheel which is preferably formed with two tires so that the vehicle

page_text: will have three resting points, thus it will maintain a vertical position when not
in use.
Reversing gear may be applied if desired.
Dated this 5th day of December 1893.
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.
Improvements in Steam Bicycles.
I, HOSEA WAITE LIBBEY of No. 55 Rutland Square in the City of Boston,
County of Suffolk and State of. Massachusetts, United States of America,
Physician, 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 :-
The object of my invention is to produce a bicycle that can be propelled by
steam power.
The invention consists of a front wheel and a rear steering wheel, preferably
having a double tread, connected together by suitable frame work to which frame
is secured a casing divided so as to form a water reservoir and a boiler, to the sides
of which are secured steam cylinders the piston rods of which are connected by
pitmen to cranks on the axle of the front wheel and in certain details of construction
as hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims.
Referring to the accompanying drawings :-
:-
Fig. 1 represents a side view of a bicycle embodying my invention.
Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section through the water reservoir and boiler.
Fig. 3. is a vertical longitudinal section taken on line x, x, of Fig. 1.
A, represents the front or driving wheel, B, the rear or steering wheel. The
front wheel is mounted in a vertical fork C, secured to or formed in one with the
back bone D, which is preferably of the loop pattern, and at its rear end is
made double or forked, the prongs d, d', of which extend over the centre of the
rear wheel B, and embrace the upper end of the steering post E, of the fork E¹,
in which the rear or steering wheel B, is mounted.
To the back bone or frame D, is secured a casing of sheet metal, which is
divided by two horizontal partitions, f, g, so as to form a water reservoir F, a
boiler G, and a lamp chamber H. On each side of this casing is secured a steam
cylinder 1, the piston rod i, of which is, by a pitman j, connected to the crank J,
on the axle of the front or driving wheel.
f", is a short piece of pipe on the top of the water reservoir through which the
latter is filled. This pipe is closed by a plug when not required for use.
The
lower end of the reservoir F, is in communication with the lower portion of
the boiler G, by a pipe K, provided with a suitable cock or valve k, to regulate
the supply of water to the boiler. A water gauge L, is secured to the side of the
boiler and a gauge L, is secured to the reservoir, so that the amount of water in
them can be readily seen. To the top of the boiler are secured three pipes M, N, P,
that pass up through and out of the reservoir F. To the top of the pipe M, is
secured a pop safety valve m, to the top of the pipe N, a steam gauge n, and
to the top of the pipe P, a steam whistle p, that can be operated by the rider by
a cord p, when required.
The safety valve, steam gauge and whistle are inclosed in a hood a, open at its
rear facing the rider, and to each side of this hood is secured a looking glass w,
that can be adjusted to any desired inclination so that the rider may see what is
at the rear or on the sides of him.
Q, is a lamp or lamps arranged in the chamber H.. The sides or doors of

page_text: this chamber are preferably bulged outward as shewn in Figure 3, and fitted
with mica so that the light from the lamp may be diffused on each side of the
vehicle whereby the rider can see the condition of the road over which he is
travelling.
Steam is admitted from the top of the boiler G, to the cylinder I, on each side
by a pipe R, fitted with a suitable valve that can be operated by the rider through
a hand lever q, and connecting rods r, s. The two hand levers 7, may be con-
nected together by a bridging piece that works backward and forward under the
seat as either lever is operated, so that both the steam valves are operated
simultaneously to admit or cut off steam from the cylinders. Thus the rider
has one hand free to operate the steam whistle or for any other purpose.
slide valves are operated from the piston rods in any convenient manner and may
be of any well known construction.
k, is the exhaust pipe, l, a blow off cock, and 1, are draw off cocks.
The
S, is a head light attached to the top of the reservoir. T, is a gong that can be
operated by the foot of the driver by moving the foot rest U, which is pivoted
to the side of the reservoir.
V, is the seat preferably supported as shown, and W, is a two armed lever
secured to the top of the steering post E, by means of which the rider operates
the steering wheel B, which is preferably formed with two tires so that the
vehicle will have three resting points. Thus it will maintain a vertical position
when not in use.
Although I have not shown any reversing gear, it is obvious that if desired
the same can be applied so that should the rider desire to go backward, or
should he desire to stop quickly he can accomplish the same by operating the
reversed mechanism.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
1. A bicycle cousisting of a front driving and a rear steering wheel connected
together by a suitable frame, a flat water reservoir and boiler secured to said frame
in the plane of the wheels and carrying a steam cylinder on each side and connecting
rods to transmit motion to cranks on the axle of the driving wheel substantially
as set forth.
2. A bicycle consisting of a front driving and a rear steering wheel, connected
together by a loop frame, a flat water reservoir and boiler secured to the frame
between the wheels, the front and rear ends of said reservoir and boiler substantially
conforming to the curvature of the wheels, a steam cylinder upon each side of the
boiler, and connecting rods to transmit motion to cranks on the axle of the driving
wheel, substantially as set forth.
3. In a bicycle, the combination with a frame, of a flat sheet iron casing secured
thereto, two horizontal partitions in said casing forming a water reservoir, a boiler,
and a lamp chamber, one above the other, a steam cylinder upon each side of the
casing, and connecting rods to transmit the motion to cranks on the axle of the
driving wheel, substantially as set forth.
4. In a bicycle, the combination, with a frame, of a flat sheet iron casing
secured thereto, two horizontal partitions in said casing forming a water reservoir,
a boiler and a lamp chamber, three pipes secured to the top of the casing and to
the upper partition, the upper ends of said pipes being provided with a safety valve,
steam gauge and whistle, respectively, and means for driving the bicycle by means
of the steam generated in the boiler, substantially as set forth.
5. In a bicycle, the combination with a frame, of a casing secured thereto, the
lower portion of which is formed into a lamp chamber, the sides of said chamber
being bulged outward and fitted with mica, so that the light from the lamp may be
diffused on each side of the vehicle, and means for driving the bicycle by the steam
generated in the boiler, substantially as set forth.

page_text: 6. In a bicycle, the combination with a frame, of a flat casing secured thereto,
forming a boiler a steam cylinder upon each side of the casing, each cylinder being
provided with a piston and a rod for connection with one of the wheels, a pipe
leading from the boiler to each cylinder, and provided with a valve, a handle at the
side of the bicycle, and connecting rods between the handle and the valve in the
pipe, substantially as set forth.
Dated this Fifth day of September 1894
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.