Improvements in and connected with Magneto-electric Machines for Electrically Lighting Cycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 29th Jan., 1836
Complete Specification Left, 27th Nov., 1896-Accepted. 2nd Jan., 1897
PROVIDIUNAL DIEVITTUATION
Improvements in and connected with Magneto-electric Machines
for Electrically Lighting Cycles and other Vehicles.
We, ROBERT BRYAN-HAYMES, of Kibworth, in the County of Leicester,
Gentleman, HENRY EDWARD CHARLES WALCOTT, of "Berkeley," Rushton
Crescent, Bournemouth, in the County of Hants, Lieutenant 3rd Battalion Queen's
Royal West Surrey Regiment, JOHN BRUCE COLLIER and EDWIN GEORGE
BRYANT, both of Delphi Chambers, Bournemouth, in the County of Hants,
Electrical Engineers, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to magneto-electric machines and the method of driving,
operating, and controlling the same, and it consists in improvements in the magneto-
electric machine and in the construction and arrangement of the driving and
governing mechanism by the use of which electric current is economically produced
and automatically controlled.
We use a magneto-electric machine or generator constructed with permanent
field magnets, and when used to electrically light a cycle, it is attached and
operated as follows:-We fix the magneto-electric machine preferably to, or
immediately above the fork in which runs the front wheel and cause a friction
pinion to come in contact with the periphery of the same by which it is driven.
This pinion may be either fixed upon, and cause to rotate the armature spindle,
or another spindle which by means of suitable gearing, transmits its motion to the
armature spindle.
A rotating governor may be attached either directly to the armature spindle or
to another spindle in such manner that the current passing to the lamp can be
automatically controlled; and we preferably arrange this governor in such manner
that the balls or equivalent parts rotate in a vertical plane transverse to the path
in which the cycle progresses.
In some cases we use a governor which does not rotate for controlling the
current, but consists of a weight suspended loosely from a hinge and which is
thus enabled to swing freely to a distance which is governed by the velocity of
the machine, the are through which it swings being in direct ratio to the
proportion borne by the current produced to that passed to the lamp.
The armature is wound with a number of small wires or sections of wire each
being independently connected preferably through the armature spindle (which is
made hollow for the purpose)-to a separate contact disc. These contact discs
are insulated from each other as well as from the shaft and are operated by a
governor in such manner that the current generating property of the armature is
varied in proportion to the speed of the cycle so as to maintain a uniform supply of
electric current for the lamp or lamps.
The currents thus produced are of course alternating, but when our apparatus is
used for electrically lighting large vehicles a continuous current may be employed,
and if necessary accumulators arranged to give off the current at the required
voltage.
When applying our apparatus for lighting cycles in particular, we prefer to
enclose the magnetc-electric machine or generator in a case or cover designed to

page_text: accommodate the lamp and its connections and provide a suitable reflector for
throwing the light well on the path in which the cycle progresses.
By the application of our improvements, the size and weight of apparatus may
be reduced considerably which on bicycles and tricycles is of prime importance.
Dated this 28th day of January 1896.
W. H. MURCH,
Upper Terrace Road, Bournemouth, Agent for the Applicants.
Improvements in and connected with Magneto-electric Machines
for Electrically Lighting Cycles and other Vehicles.
We, ROBERT BRYAN-HAYMES, of Kibworth, Leicester, in the County of
Leicester, Gentleman, HENRY EDWARD CHARLES WALCOTT, of "Berkley
Rushton Crescent, Bournemouth, in the County of Hants, Lieutenant 3rd Battalion
Queen's Royal West Surrey Regiment, JOHN BRUCE COLLIER and EDWIN
GEORGE BRYANT, both of Delphi Chambers, Bournemouth, in the County of
Hants, Electrical Engineers 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 magneto-electric machines, and the methods of driving,
operating, and controlling the same. It consists in improvements in the electro-
magnetic machine and in the construction and arrangement of the driving and
governing mechanism by the use of which the current is economically produced
and automatically controlled.
The magneto-electric machine used is constructed with permanent field magnets,
and is attached to the cycle and operated as follows:-It is preferably fixed
immediately above the fork in which runs the front wheel, and a friction pinion is
arranged in contact with the rim of such wheel. This pinion may be either fixed
upon, (and cause to rotate) the armature, or to another spindle which by means of
suitable gearing transmits its motion to the armature spindle. A rotating governor
may be attached either directly to the armature spindle, or to another spindle in
such manner that the current passing to the lamp is automatically controlled.
A simple form of apparatus according to our invention is illustrated in the
accompanying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bicycle with our apparatus attached.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the mechanism on an enlarged scale.
Fig. 3 is a side elevation of part of same.
Fig. 4 is an elevation of the governor.
A designates the front, and B the back wheel of an ordinary safety bicycle of
which C is the frame. The front wheel runs in forks c attached to a steering
tube c' which is moved by a handle bar c in the usual manner; is the rim,
the tyre, and the spokes of the front wheel. A rod D is attached by clips d
or in any other convenient manner to the forks c and steering tube c' and in the
lower end of this tube D is formed a bearing d' (preferably a ball bearing) in
which runs a spindle 2. Upon the inner end of this spindle a friction pinion d
is fixed, the periphery of which engages with the rim of the wheel in such
manner that the rim of the latter in its movement causes a rapid rotation of the
pinion d and spindle d. Upon the outer end of the spindle is fixed a grooved
pulley d round which passes a cord or band d. To the upper end of the bar D
the magneto-electric machine E is fixed, the spindle e of which is arranged
parallel to the spindle d running in the bearings d', and upon one end of this

page_text: spindle e is fixed a grooved pulley over which the cord passes. The lamp G
is fixed to the front of the magneto-electric machiue and the terminal wires of the
armature of the latter may pass direct to the filament of the incandescent bulb
arranged therein. Or the wires may be led to any convenient part of the frame
of the machine and a pendulum or weight capable of swinging freely in the
plare of the frame of the machine be so arranged that when it swings
backward as the machine progresses more rapidly, the contact is varied so as to
maintain the same current when the machine is moving rapidly as when it moves
slowly.
But a governor is preferably employed, the disc H of which is mounted upon
one end of and rotates with the spindle a of the magneto-electric machine; this is
illustrated in Fig. 4. It consists of the disc H from the face of which two pins h
and project so as to form pivots for two levers 2 and h³, upon the free ends of
which weights and are fixed. One or more helical or, other shaped
springs serve to hold these together when the machine is standing. But when
the machine is running and the spindle e and disc H rotating, the weights h and 45
are by centrifugal force caused to swing outwards moving the levers and ³ on
their pivots against the action of the spring or springs h. A number of insulated
contact points' each having a different resistance are arranged upon the face of
the disc in the arc of a circle described from the pivot ', and a contact point h
fixed to the lever h³ moves over so as to come into contact with any one of these
according to the degree to which the lever h³ swings. The contact pieces are
connected to one of the terminals of the armature, and the contact piece 8 is
connected to the other terminal. The movement of the lever h³, dependent upon
the rate of speed of the machine, thus governs the current in such manner as to
secure a uniform light. The governing device may be inserted in any convenient
part of the circuit; and the whole or any part of the apparatus may be enclosed
in a suitable casing.
The bearing d¹ may be so constructed as to slide in a slot d in the lower end of
the rod D, so that the turning of a screw dor nut d' moves the bearing, spindle
and pulley d thus tightening the cord d to the extent required. This is shewn
in Figs. 2 and 3.
In some cases I attach the bar D to the steering tube c¹ and forks c by pivots d<
in such manner that it may be swivelled either in a horizontal or vertical direction.
Thus the friction pinion d may be removed from or placed in contact with the
rim c by the simple movement of a catch. This gives the rider complete control,
enabling him to light or extinguish the lamp at will.
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 cycle having a magneto-electric machine and an electric lamp mounted
upon it, operated by means of gearing, substantially in the manner shewn aud
described.
2. In combination with a cycle, a magneto-electric machine having an electric
lamp affixed to it, the spindle of the armature being rotated by means of a friction
pinion pressing against the rim of one of the wheels of the machine, substantially
as shewn and described.
3. In combination with a cycle, the magneto-electric machine E, the lamp G,
the pulleys e and d with the cord running in their grooves, the spindle d², and
the friction pinion d³, rotating in contact with the rim of one of the wheels of the
machine, substantially as shewn and described.
4. For use in governing the current for lighting an electric lamp on a cycle, the
governor, consisting essentially of a disc H rotating with the armature or other
spindle, the weighted levers h and pivoted to the same, the springs h, and
the contacts A and ³, all arranged and operating substantially as shewn and
described.

page_text: 5. In combination with a cycle, the magneto-electric machine E, the lamp G,
the pulleys e and d with the cord d' running in their grooves, the spindle, the
friction pinion d rotating in contact with the rim of one of the wheels of the
machine, and the governor mounted upon the disc H, and operating to ensure a
uniform current, substantially in the manner and for the purpose described and
shewn.
6. For use with an apparatus as above described and claimed, the sliding and
swivelling devices as shewn in Figs. 2 and 3.
Dated this 26th day of November 1896
W. H. MURCH,
Upper Terrace Road, Bournemouth, Agent for the Applicants.