Improvements in and connected with Electric Generators for Cycles and other Vehicles
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 27th Jan., 1898
Complete Specification Left. 26th Apr.. 1898-Accepted. 26th Nov.. 1898
Improvements in and connected with Electric Generators for Cycles
and other Vehicles,
JAMES MOORES and HENRY OLIVER FARRELL, both Electrical Engineers, of 15,
Hanging Ditch, Manchester, Lancashire, do hereby declare the nature of this inven-
tion to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to improvements in and connected with electric generators
for cycles and other vehicles, of the type in which the power is transmitted from
the tyre or rim of the wheel to a pulley mounted on the shaft of the electric
generator.
In carrying out our invention, instead of attaching the electric generator
rigidly to its supporting bracket, we mount it on bearings so that it
is free to rotate within given limits. This movement we control by means of a
spring or similar device, in such a manner that the said spring tends to rotate the
electric generator on its bearings, in such direction as to press the before men-
tioned pulley against the rim or tyre of the vehicle.
When the wheel of the vehicle is revolving, any irregularities in it, simply
cause the electric generator, to turn slightly on its before mentioned bearings, and
thus approximately the same degree of pressure is maintained between the rim
or tyre and the pulley, in spite of these irregularities. Also in cases where the
electric generator is attached to a part of the vehicle, that moves relatively to the
wheels, our invention allows of this movement, without materially altering the
amount of pressure between the before mentioned pulley & wheel.
When the electric generator, is not required to generate current, we turn it on
its bearings so that the pulley is moved out of contact with the rim or tyre, and
hold it in this position by any suitable device.
Dated this 9th day of Jo
1808
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in and connected with Electric Generators for Cycles
and other Vehicles.
We, JAMES MOORES and HENRY OLIVER FARRELL, both of 15, Hanging Ditch,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, 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:-
.
Our invention relates to improvements in and connected with electric generators
for cycles and other vehicles of the type in which the power is transmitted from

page_text: the tyre or rim of the wheel to a pulley mounted on the shaft of the electric
generator. In carrying out our invention, instead of attaching the electric
generator rigidly to its supporting bracket we mount it on bearings so that it
is free to rotate or rock within given limits. This movement we control by means
of a spring or similar device in such a manner that the said spring tends to rotate
or rock the electric generator on its bearings in such direction as to press the
before mentioned pulley against the rim or tyre of the vehicle.
When the wheel of the vehicle is revolving any irregularities in it simply
cause the electric generator to turn slightly on its before mentioned bearings, and
thus approximately the same degree of pressure is maintained between the rim
or tyre and the pulley, in spite of these irregularities. Also in cases where the
electric generator is attached to a part of the vehicle that moves relatively to the
wheels, as is the case (for example) where the body of the vehicle is mounted ou
springs fitted on the axle, our invention allows of this movement without
materially altering the amount of pressure between the before mentioned pulley
and wheel.
When the electric generator is not required to generate current, we turn it on
its bearings so that the pulley is moved out of contact with the rim or tyre, and
hold it in this position by means of any suitable device.
The drawings annexed hereunto illustrate how our invention may be carried
into practical effect.
Fig. 1 is a side elevation, and Fig. 2 a front view, of an electric generator for
cycles with our improvements applied thereto.
Fig. 2 shows the generator in action, and Fig. 3 is a similar view of the same
out of action.
a is part of the rim of the wheel of the cycle, a¹ the tyre, a part of the fork.
6 is the case of the generator, 6 the spindle of the armature and 63 the pulley
which actuates the said spindle 61 by running in contact with the rim a.
The casing b is provided with trunnions fitting in bearings at c¹ on a stirrup
or stand c whch is capable of adjustment on the bracket a fixed to part a³ of the
fork.
The pulley is held in contact with the rim a by the spring d; see Fig. 2,
and a short looped wire f (shewn detached at Fig. 4) pivotted at 64 to the case b
is hooked over the pin c on the stirrup or stand c when it is desired to hold the
pulley 62 out of action as seen at Fig. 3. On releasing f from the spring d
will raise the pulley 62 into contact with the rim a again.
Our invention is especially applicable to the generation of electricity for lighting
an incandescent lamp carried on the cycle or vehicle.
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: :-
An electric generator (to be applied to a cycle or other vehicle and driven by
one of the wheels thereof) mounted on suitable bearings or supports on which the
said generator can rock, substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore
described.
ated the 22nd day of April 1890.
GEO. DAVIES & SON,
Agents for the Applicants, 4, St. Ann's Square, Manchester.