Improvements in the Propulsion and Construction of Velocipedes and other Vehicles.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application (in United Kingdom), 8th Aug., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 15th Oct., 1894-Accepted, 8th Aug.. 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Propulsion and Construction of Velocipedes
and other Vehicles.
I, CAMILLE ALPHONSE FAURE, of 37 Avenue de la Republique, Paris, France,
Electrical Engineer, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:
This invention relates to the propulsion and construction of velocipedes and other
vehicles.
In the accompanying drawings,
Fig. 1 is a vertical cross section partly in elevation,
Fig. 2 a sectional side elevation,
Fig. 3 a horizontal cross-section, and
Fig. 4 a diagram illustrating by way of example a bicycle constructed according
to this invention.
The front wheel M of the bicycle is employed as the driving-wheel and is
arranged to be rotated by means of connecting-rods J from a motor, the cylinder G
of which forms part of the frame of the bicycle. The fork of the front wheel is
rigidly secured to the cylinder G, which is so mounted in the frame as to be
capable of being rotated about its own axis the cylinder G with its appurtenances
taking the place of the ordinary steering bar.
The motive fluid consists of a mixture of hydrocarbon vapour and air which is
exploded in the cylinder G and there acts upon a piston H to which is secured a
cross-head T connected by means of two rods J with two cranks K fixed on the
axle L of the front wheel M.
The admission of the motive fluid to the cylinder G is controlled by means of a
rotary valve N. For the purpose of preventing heat from escaping from the cylinder G,
the upper end thereof and the piston H are provided with sheets O and O' of
suitable non-conducting material; and the piston H is suitably packed at P to
protect the internal surface of the cylinder G from dust. Q are compressing
rollers which are mounted on an axle pressed downwards by a spring and are
arranged to exeit, by means of eccentric parts, a pressure on the valve N, such as
to counter-balance gradually the pressure exerted on the valve N, through the
admission ports, by the gases exploding inside the cylinder G. The rotary valve N
is operated from a chain-wheel fixed on the axle L, by means of a chain R passing
round a chain-wheel S.
The motive fluid is produced by the passage of atmospheric air through a
tube T containing sponges T impregnated with petroleum spirit. Besides

page_text: serving to saturate the air with hydrocarbon vapour, these (sponges also act
as a filter to keep back dust which may be present in suspension in the air
and which would act injuriously upon the rubbing surfaces of the motor. The
air reaches the sponges T from the atmosphere through a tube To provided with
a mouth T. Another inlet for air is provided at Td; this inlet is furnished with a
valve U which is arranged to be operated by means of a rack on the steering-bar
and serves to vary the rates of air to hydrocarbon vapour in the motive fluid
supplied to the cylinder G. The valve U also serves to close the outlet of a
passage T through which the exhaust from the cylinder G is arranged to pass into
the air by this means a back pressure may be produced in the cylinder G for
the purpose of reducing the speed of the bicycle. The passage of the motive fluid
to this cylinder G is indicated by arrows in Fig. 2.
The above described arrangement may be variously modified: thus, instead of
using the front wheel as the driving-wheel, the back wheel may be so used and
may be operated by the piston of the motor either directly or by means of suitable
intermediate mechanism; also, the bicycle may be propelled by means of two
motors coupled together, acting upon cranks arranged diametrically opposite to
each other, and provided with a common valve operated by a pitch-chain.
V is a platinum tube heated by a special spirit burner W and situate in a
reverberatory combustion chamber. It serves to ignite the gaseous mixture in
the cylinder G, which enters suddenly into the tube V through a suitable passage
or passages communicating with the interior of the cylinder at the proper time
in consequence of the rotation of the valve N. The ignition of the gaseous
mixture may, however, be effected electrically or in any other suitable manner.
The propulsion of a velocipede by means of such a motor renders desirable
certain modifications in the construction of the velocipede itself, which I will now
proceed to describe.
In order to produce a better appearance and to increase the convenience and
lightness of the velocipede, the frame thereof may be advantageously constructed
of tubes so arranged and connected as to be adapted to hold the petroleum
required for feeding the motor and which may be contained in materials of a
spongy or porous nature placed inside these tubes the igniting mixture being
produced by drawing air through these spongy materials.
When electricity is employed for igniting the gascous mixture I may use in
conjunction with a suitable battery an induction-coil which may be constructed
of wire wound round one of the tubes of the velocipede.
In order that the pedals may not be rotated by the motor, they may be mounted
on an axle carrying a ratchet-wheel forming, with its pawl, the connection between
the pedal and the motive mechanism, the arrangement being such that the motor
is free to rotate the driving-wheel without necessarily taking the pedals along with
it, whilst the pedals are available for being operated to propel the velocipede when
the motor slackens its speed or stops.
Petroleum and other motors are liable to do their work by sudden impulses that
tend to cause the wheels of the relocipede to slip, to the great detriment of the
outer surface of these wheels, especially when they are of rubber. In order to
prevent the tyres from slipping in this manner I cement or otherwise suitably
secure on the tyre a leather band studded with iron projections, which may consist
of nails or he otherwise constituted. This leather band is applicable to velocipedes
other than those propelled by motors.
Although I bave described the nature of my invention in its application to the
propulsion of a bicycle it will be understood that it is also applicable to the
propulsion of tricycles and of other vehicles, suitable constructional modifications
1.eing made in accordance with the circumstances of the case.
Datal thin 4th daer of Juoust 1001
F. WISE HOWORTH,
[46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Ageut for the Applicant.

page_text: other vehicles, as i will now proceed to explain by reference to the drawings nied
with my Provisional Specification, and in which,
Fig. 1 is a vertical cross section partly in elevation,
Fig. 2 a sectional side elevation,
Fig. 3 a horizontal section, and
Fig. 4a diagram, illustrating, by way of example, so much of a bicycle cou-
structed according to this invention as is necessary to understand the nature of my
invention.
The front wheel M of the bicycle in this example is employed as the driving-
wheel and is arranged to be rotated by means of connecting-rods J from a motor,
the cylinder G of which forms part of the frame of the bicycle. The fork of
the front wheel is as shown, rigidly secured to the motor cylinder G, which is so
mounted in the frame as to be capable of being rotated about its own axis, the
said cylinder with its appurtenances taking the place of the ordinary steering-bar.
The motive fluid consists of a mixture of hydrocarbon vapour and air, which is
exploded in the cylinder G and there acts upon a piston or plunger H to which is
secured a cross-head T connected by means of the two rods J with two cranks K
fixed on the axle L of the frout wheel M.
The admission of the motive fluid to the motor cylinder is controlled by means of
a rotary distributing valve N. For the purpose of retarding the escape of heat
from the cylinder G, the upper end of the latter and of the piston H are provided
with sheets and O' respectively of suitable non-conducting material. The
piston H is also provided with suitable packing at P to protect the internal
surface of the motor cylinder G from external dust. Qare compressing rollers
mounted on an axle pressed downwards by a spring and arranged to exert, by
means of eccentric parts on the valve spindle, a pressure on the valve N such as to
counterbalance at all times, the varying pressure on the valve N, of the exploded
and expanding gases inside the motor cylinder G. The said rotary distributing
valve N is operated from a chain-wheel fixed on the axle L, through a chain K
that passes round a chain-wheel S fixed on the valve spindle.
The motive fluid is produced by the passage of atmospheric air through a tube T
containing sponge T impregnated with petroleum spirit. Besides serving to
saturate the air with hydrocarbon vapour, the sponge also acts as a filter to keep
back dust which may be present in suspension in the air and which would act
injuriously upon the rubbing surfaces of the motor if not removed. The air reaches
the sponge T from the atmosphere through a tube T provided with a mouth T.
Another inlet for air is provided at T; this inlet is controlled by a valve U
which is in the form of a fint circular plate provided with ports and peripheral
teeth and arranged to be moved about a vertical axis by means of a rack on the
steering handle bar X gearing with the said peripheral teeth, and operated by the
hands of the rider. The said valve serves to vary the proportion of air to hydro-
carbon vapour in the motive fluid supplied to the notor cylinder, and also to close.

page_text: at the required times, the outlet end of a passage Te through which the exhaust
from the cylinder G is arranged to pass into the external atmosphere, so as to
produce by this means a back pressure in the cylinder G for the purpose of
reducing the speed of the bicycle or bringing it to rest. The passage of the
motive fluid to the cylinder G is indicated by arrows in Fig. 2.
The above described arrangement may be variously modified. Thus, instead of
using the front wheel as the driving-wheel, the back wheel may be so used and
may he operated by the piston of the motor either directly through a cross head
and rods such as T and J, or by means of suitable intermediate mechanism; also,
the bicycle may be propelled by means of two motors coupled together, acting
upon cranks arranged diametrically opposite to each other, and provided with a
common distributing valve operated by a pitch-chain.
V is a platinum tube heated by a special spirit burner W and situate in a
reverberatory combustion chamber as shown. It serves to ignite the gaseous
mixture in the cylinder G a portion of which enters suddenly into the tube V
through a suitable passage or passages that communicate with the interior of the
cylinder G at the proper times in consequence of the rotation of the distributing
valve N. The ignition of the gaseous mixture may, however, be effected
electrically or in any other suitable manner.
The propulsion of a velocipede by means of such a motor renders desirable
certain modifications in the construction of the velocipede itself, which I will now
proceed to describe.
In order to produce a better appearance and to increase the convenience and
lightness of the velocipede, the frame thereof may advantageously be constructed
of tubes adapted to hold the petroleum required for feeding the motor and which
may be contained in material of a spongy or porous nature placed inside the said
tubes, the explosive mixture of air and bydrocarbon being produced by drawing
air through the said spongy or porous material.
Fig. 5 of the drawings filed herewith, shows partly in vertical section and partly
in side elevation, a portion of the frame of a velocipede thus constructed. V is
the hollow portion of the frame charged with porous material V₁ which is saturated
with petroleum admitted through an opening at V2, and through which air, admitted
by openings at V3, is drawn, the explosive mixture of air and hydrocarbon thus
produced entering the chamber containing the valve N (Fig. 2) at V. V is a
sleeve valve for controlling the passage of air through the openings V³.
When electricity is employed for igniting the gaseous mixture, I may use in
conjunction with a suitable battery, an induction-coil which may be constructed of
wire wound round one of the iron tubes forming part of the velocipede in order
not to increase the weight of the machine by using a separate core for the coil.
In order that the pedals may, when desired, not be rotated by the motor they
may be mounted on an axle carrying a ratchet-wheel forming with its pawl, the
connection between the pedal shaft and the motor mechanism the arrangement
being such that the motor is free to rotate the driving-wheel without necessarily
rotating the pedals along with it, whilst the pedals are available for being operated
to propel the velocipede when the motor slackens its speed or stops.
Petroleum and other like motors are liable to do their work by sudden impulses
that tend to cause the wheels of the velocipede to slip, to the great detriment of
the outer surface of these wheels, especially when they are of rubber. In order to
prevent the tyres from slipping in this manner I cement or otherwise suitably
secure on the tyre a leather band studded with iron projections, which may consist
of nails or be otherwise constituted. This leather band is applicable to velocipedes
other than those propelled by motors.
Although I have described the nature of my invention in its application to the
propulsion of a bicycle it will be understood that it is also applicable to the
propulsion of tricycles and of other similar road vehicles, suitable constructional
modifications being made in accordance with the circumstances of the case.

page_text: Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is :-
1. The combination with a velocipede or other like vehicle, of a petroleum
motor with air carburetter constructed and operating substantially as described
and shown.
2. The combination with a velocipede or other like vehicle, of a single or double
cylinder petroleum motor carried by the fork of the steering wheel so as to
constitute the steering bar of the machine and having its piston or pistons connected
with the driving wheel of the vehicle, substantially as herein described.
3. A velocipede or other like vehicle having a petroleum motor such as referred
to in the preceding claims and a frame constructed with hollow parts provided with
spongy or porous material to contain liquid hydrocarbon and through which air
can be drawn on its way to the motor cylinder or cylinders substantially as
described for the purpose specified.
4. A velocipede of the kind referred to in Claim 1 in which the motor piston is
connected with the driving wheel of the velocipede through ratchet mechanism in
such a manner as not to necessarily rotate the pedals and so as to leave the latter
free to be worked by foot-power when desired substantially as herein described.
5. For the propulsion of velocipedes and other like vehicles, the hereinabove
described improved construction of petroleum motor with rotary valve adapted to
be operated by a pitch chain, and air carburetter, the whole constructed and
arranged substantially as described and shown.
6. The improved combined cycle, petroleum motor and air carburetter, constructed
arranged and operating substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to
and shown in the drawings.
. נימ
1
F. WISE HOWORTH,
46 Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, W.C., Agent for the Applicant.