Improvements in Steam Motive Power Vehicles for Common Roads.
Year: 1898

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct.,
1898
Complete Specification Left, 25th July, 1899-Accepted, 26th Aug., 1899
POTIONAL DEVICATION.
Improvements in Steam Motive Power Vehicles for Common Roads.
I, JOHN GEORGE AULSEBROOK KITCHEN, of 44, Albert Road, Alexandra Park,
Manchester, in the County of Lancaster, Mechanician, do hereby declare the
nature of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to steam motive power vehicles for common roads and
especially those in which instantaneous or similar steam generators are used,
and consists in improvements which have for their chief object to make the pro-
duction of steam and its quantity or pressure dependent chiefly upon the operation
of mechanism by the foot of the driver in order to obtain simplicity in the con-
struction or arrangement and in the working or operating of the vehicle.
In a vehicle made in accordance with this invention, a rapid steam generator
of any approved type and a motor of suitable design and size are conveniently
mounted upon the framework. A steam pipe leads from the generator to the
motor and in some cases there is interposed a device for reducing the temperature
of the steam.
The motor shaft which preferably runs at a high velocity is geared to the
driving wheel axle by means of any suitable reducing gearing, which preferably is
so arranged that the motor shaft can be disconnected for purposes of trial or
adjustment of valves without driving the wheel.
The generator is heated preferably by a petroleum burner in which the liquid
fuel is turned into gas before it issues from the burner nozzle.
A vessel of convenient size to contain a supply of liquid fuel for the burner
provided preferably with a pump for obtaining pressure at the burner nozzle,
and a tank for containing water for the generator are fixed in convenient positions
upon the framework.
In the course of supply from the water tank to the generator I arrange a
pump of any suitable construction or more than one and in connection with the
pump or pumps I provide suitable mechanism by which the pumps can be
operated by the foot or feet of the driver at will. Two single-acting pumps are
preferably used and the operating mechanism thereof is so arranged that cach
can be operated by one foot alternately, the down or forcing stroke of one foot
in one pump causing the other pump to make its suction stroke, the feed to the
pumps being preferably by gravity.
The vehicle is provided with a brake operated directly by the driver, the
mechanism of which brake is connected with a drain cock fitted to the generator
so that the application of the brake to the travelling wheels of the vehicle also
opens the drain cock and causes any water or steam in the generator to escape.
A tap is interposed in the pipe leading from the liquid fuel vessel to the
burner and a handle therefrom is brought within easy reach of the drivers hand.
Dated the 24th day of October 1898.
R. J. URQUHART,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester,
Harrington Chambers, 24, North John Street, Liverpool,
Consulting Engineer and Patent Agent.

page_text: COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Steam Motive Power Vehicles for Common Roads.
I, JOHN GEORGE AULSEBROOK KITCHEN, of Heathwaite, Windermere, in the
County of Lancaster, late of 44, Albert Road, Alexandra Park, Manchester, also
in the County of Lancaster, Mechanician, 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 steam motive power vehicles for common roads and
especially those in which instantaneous or similar steam generators are used,
and consists in improvements in the construction of the apparatus and in the
arrangement thereof, which have for their chief object to make the production of
steam and its quantity or pressure dependent upon mechanism operated by the foot
of the driver in order to obtain simplicity in the construction or arrangement
of the parts of the vehicle and in the working or operating of the same.
The following statement and the accompanying drawings describe and illustrate
a steam motive power vehicle embodying my improvements. In the said drawings
Figure 1, represents an elevation of the vehicle; Figure 2 represents a plan of
the same shewing some parts removed; Figures 3 and represent two views
of the foot mechanism and pumps for regulating the production of steam.
My improvements are shewn as applied to a three wheeled vehicle having one
seat, but they are equally applicable in the case of a four wheeled vehicle having
several seats. They may also be applied to a bicycle. In any case the mechanism
controlling the generation of steam and the steering is arranged with regard to
the position of the drivers seat.
The vehicle illustrated has a tubular framework A consisting of the transverse
member a and the longitudinal members a¹² which are braced together by the
cross stays a³ a². The ends of the member a terminate in bearing sockets aas
which are vertically disposed, and in which sockets, are mounted the spigots
or spindles bb of the steering wheels B. These spigots or spindles are carried
by the axles 62 of the steering wheels. The spindles b, b₁ have downward ex-
tensions which terminate in the levers or arms . These arms are connected
together by the rod 65 which has a vertically disposed stud 66 fixed thereto.
With this stud a slotted arm 67, fixed to a shaft 68 carried in a vertical hollow post 69,
engages. A steering lever 60 fulcrummed at the upper end of the post 69 is geared
by means of the reducing gear 6 to the shaft 68. By this means the steering is
rendered easier, and the steering lever moves in the same direction as the steering
wheels do, that is with respect to their movement in a horizontal plane.
The members of the frame A, terminate at their back ends with the
lugs a, which support the axle e of the driving wheel C. These lugs are capable
of being slided along the tubes a¹² so as to enable the driving chain et being
adjusted in tension. The lugs are slotted at 8 in order to enable the driving
wheel axle to be readily removed. The driving wheel C is fitted with a long
sleeve hub having flanges for fixing the spokes to. It is geared to the
motor preferably by means of chain gear. To this end a chain gear wheel c
is fixed to the sleeve hub, and connected with a similar but smaller wheel d¹ on
the crank shaft of the motor D, by means of the endless chain c¹. In place of
the chain gear a flat belt and suitable pulleys therefor may be used,..
..or a train
of spur wheels.
In order to enable the driving wheel to be disconnected from the motor, as

page_text: arrange a clutch capable of sliding
for instance when running down hill,
upon the motor shaft and engaging with the smaller wheel d¹ which runs loosely
upon said shaft and a shipping lever by which the clutch can be engaged and
disengaged.
The motor illustrated which is designed to run at a comparatively high
velocity has three single acting cylinders ddd made in one casting, and a
rotating cylindrical valve having its axis parallel with the motor shaft, and
being driven preferably by the chain gear wheels and do, through the chain
band, at half the speed of the motor or crank shaft. The latter has three
equi-distant cranks formed preferably in one piece, and along with the connecting
rods which are directly hinged to trunk pistons in the well known way, is
enclosed by the casing ". The casting forming the cylinders is provided with
ears through which ears and the bosses a formed upon the sleeves, bolts d
pass and secure the motor to the frame A.
I
The position of the generator is indicated by E, Figures 1 and 2. The
generator may be of any approved type that will rapidly generate steam.
prefer at present to use two small generators consisting chiefly of coiled steel
tubing having a very small bore comparatively to the thickness of the tubing.
Several of these may be grouped together. The generators are enclosed in a
non conducting casing and have a flue terminating at e' for the escape of the
waste gases. The steam is led from the generators to the motor by the pipe &².
The generators are heated by means of a petroleum burner which may be of
ordinary construction. It is fed from a reservoir F by means of the pipe / and
the flow as regulated by means of a cock f¹. In order to maintain the flow at
a regular rate, I provide a small air force pump f² which is partly buried in the
reservoir F, having a handle f to the plunger. I fix a water tank or reservoir G
preferably in the position indicated in Figures 1 and 2, and I supply the generator
with the water therefrom under pressure by means of the force pumps H shewn
on an enlarged scale in Figures 3 and 4. The arrangement and method of
operating the force pump or pumps hereinafter described and illustrated form the
principal feature of my invention. In accordance with my invention preferably
two pumps and are used, the plungers thereof being connected together
by swing beams hh, and links h so that they will work together synchronously,
one sucking while the other is forcing. They are connected to the water reser-
voir G by means of the suction pipes g, gl, and they communicate with the generator
by means of the supply pipes. The pumps H have their plungers fitted with
foot plates 8 h, and are arranged in a position suitable for operation by the
feet of the driver or operator of the vehicle. The position indicated in the
drawing is I find at present most suitable for the class of vehicle illustrated.
In place however of the feet acting directly upon the plungers I may inter-
pose a rotary crank or a lever arrangement by which the feet communicate an
up and down motion to the plungers.
The exhaust from the motor is led by means of the pipe to a condenser I
Figure 1 which may be of any suitable known construction, but I find that
illustrated which consists of a number of hollow frustrums of cones com-
municating one with the other by means of side pipes, in conjunction with a
tank, to be effective. The water condensed from the exhaust steam is led from
the tank into the water reservoir G by the pipe g
The sleeve hub c² of the driving wheel C carries a brake drum c fitted with a
friction band one end of which band is preferably fixed to the framework
at and the other end to a rod c¹ which is connected to a hand operating
lever c, and the band is kept normally free of the drum by means of the spring cl
The application of the brake by means of the lever c¹i opens a drain cock "
in the pipes leading from the pumps to the generator and short circuits the
water from the pump passing it into the condensed steam tank . The water
in the generator unconverted into steam at the time the brake is applied is also
allowed to pass into the reservoir G through the drain cock h".

page_text: 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:-
First. In steam motive power vehicles for common roads the use and arrange-
ment of force pumps operated by the foot of the driver for supplying the generator
with water as required and for regulating the motion of the vehicle substantially
as herein set forth.
Second. The improvements in common road vehicles propelled by steam
power, which consist in the arrangement of a motor whose shaft is coupled to
the driving wheel or wheels and which is supplied with steam by a generator
having a furnace and water and fuel tanks in connection therewith, with a force
pump or force pumps in communication with the generator and water tank,
having means by which the pump or pumps can be operated by the feet of the
driver, and with a brake the operating handle of which is connected to a drain
cock in the pipe communicating between the force pump or pumps and the
generator by which arrangement the production of power and the motion of
the vehicle are easily regulated and controlled substantially as hereinbefore
described and illustrated in and by the accompanying drawings.
Third. In common road vehicles propelled by steam power the special con-
struction and arrangement of pump operating gear substantially as and for the
purpose hereinbefore described and illustrated with reference to Figures 13
and 4 of the accompanying drawings.
R. J. URQUHART, C.E.,
57, Barton Arcade, Manchester, Chartered Patent Agent