IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING VEHICLES AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES
Year: 1879

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Henry Harris Lake, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, and
Co., Patent Agents, Southampton Buildings, London, for the Invention of
"IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING VEHICLES AND FOR SIMILAR
PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Louis Hugue and Alphonse
Delaunay, both of Paris, France.
Sealed the 20th April 1880, and dated the 14th November 1879.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Henry Harris Lake at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 14th November 1879.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, and Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. “IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING
VEHICLES AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES." [A communication from abroad by Louis
Hugue and Alphonse Delaunay, both of Paris, France.]
This Invention relates to apparatus or mechanism for propelling vehicles of all
kinds, which mechanism is also applicable for operating or driving machinery.
When applying the said mechanism for propelling a vehicle the latter is provided
with a large front driving wheel, which is placed within a frame in the axis of the
said vehicle. In this frame are mounted two gear-wheels, which are provided with
a long iron rod. These two wheels are placed on the axle of the aforesaid large
wheel, and run loose thereon. Two other gear-wheels are placed above the first
named gear-wheels, and are also loose. There is also a third pair of gear-wheels
provided with a large pinion, these last named wheels being placed above the second
pair of gear-wheels. They are keyed upon the spindle or shaft of a handle, this
shaft traversing the frame. At the upper part of the large pinion and gearing with
it a small pinion is mounted, which carries a spindle provided with a forked dis-
engaging clutch coupling. This spindle is placed in a piece mounted within the
frame; it is held at its upper part by a forked piece, and enters its rod, which is
hollow. The upper surface of the frame is keyed to the end of the spindle, which
extends beyond a large gear wheel. This wheel gears with a wheel carrying heavy
arms, which form a flyer or fly wheel designed to impart a sudden stroke or impetus
to the large or driving wheel of the vehicle.

page_text: The operation of the apparatus or mechanism is as follows, that is to say :-The
said handle mounted on the frame is turned and the three sets of gear-wheels make
one revolution whilst the flyer or fly-wheel makes five revolutions. At the moment
when bars mounted on the lowest gear-wheels come in contact with blocks which
are provided on the said large or driving wheel the flyer or fly wheel is thrown
forward, and transmitting to the driving wheel a sudden impetus the vehicle is
caused to move forward. The speed of the vehicle will be from five miles and a
half to eleven miles an hour, varying according to the number of the flyers or fly
wheels employed. The latter may be placed in any suitable position, that is to say,
above, below, on one side, or behind the vehicle.
The said apparatus or mechanism may be employed not only for all kinds of
carriages or vehicles, but also as a motor in manufactories where a considerable
power is required for operating machinery.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed
by the said Henry Harris Lake in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 13th
May 1880.
HENRY HARRIS LAKE, of the Firm of Haseltine, Lake, & Co., Patent Agents,
Southampton Buildings, London. "IMPROVEMENTS IN APPARATUS FOR PROPELLING
VEHICLES AND FOR SIMILAR PURPOSES." A communication from abroad by Louis
Hugue and Alphonse Delaunay, both of Paris, France.
This Invention relates to apparatus which I term an impulse-giver (coup de
collier), and which is designed for the propulsion of vehicles of all kinds, and is
also applicable for the operation or driving of machinery.
In order that the said improvements may be clearly understood I have shewn in
the accompanying Drawings one form of mechanism constructed according to my
Invention.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of the said mechanism.
Figure 2 is a plan of the flyer-pinion or fly-wheel designed to produce the required
impetus.
Figure 3 shews a plan and side view of a pinion hereinafter referred to and its
disengaging coupling.
Figures 4 and 5 are detached views of the supports of the vertical shaft; and
Figure 6 shews the said shaft detached.
Figure 7 is a perspective view of a vehicle provided with the said improved
mechanism,
A is the large front driving wheel of the vehicle; this wheel is placed within a
frame L in the axis of the said vehicle. In this frame L are mounted two gear-
wheels B, which are provided with a long iron rod or bar R; these two wheels are
placed on the axle of the large wheel A, and run loosely thereon. Two gear-wheels
C placed above the wheels B are also loose. There are also two other gear-wheels D
provided with a large bevel pinion P, the said wheels being placed above the
wheels C. The wheels D are keyed upon the spindle or shaft of the crank or
handle S passing through the frame. At the upper part of the large pinion P and
gearing with it is mounted a small bevel pinion E (Figure 3), which carries a shaft
or spindle G provided with a forked disengaging coupling F. This spindle G is
placed in a socket H (Figure 4) mounted within the frame; the said spindle is held
at its upper part by the piece I (Figure 5), and enters its rod, which is hollow.
To the end of the said shaft G, which extends beyond the upper surface of the
frame, is keyed a large gear-wheel N. This wheel gears with the wheel T carrying
heavy arms which constitute the flyer or fly wheel J, which is designed to impart a
sudden jerk or impetus to the wheel A.
The operation of the said apparatus or mechanism is as follows, that is to say :-
The crank-handle mounted on the frame is turned and the wheels B, C, D, make
one revolution whilst the flyer or fly-wheel J makes five revolutions. At the
moment when the bars R mounted on the wheels B come in contact with the blocks
or stops M upon the driving wheel A the flyer or fly-wheel is started or receives a
sudden impulse, and transmits to the wheel A a sudden impetus, thereby causing
the vehicle to move. The speed of the vehicle will be from five to ten miles an
hour, varying according to the dimensions and the number of the flyers or fly-
wheels employed. The latter may be placed in any suitable position, that is to say,
above, below, on one side, or behind the vehicle.
The said apparatus or mechanism may be employed not only for all kinds of
carriages or vehicles, but also as a motor in manufactories, where considerable
power is required for imparting motion to machinery.

page_text: Having thus fully described the said Invention, as communicated to me by my
foreign correspondents, and the manner of performing the same, I wish it understood
that I claim,—
First. The apparatus formed by the combination of the driving wheel carrying
the blocks or stops, with the two loose pinions B and the bar R thereof, and with
the two pairs of wheels C and D, the wheels C being loose and the wheels D keyed
upon the shaft of the crank or handle, which shaft also carries a bevel wheel that
through the bevel pinion E, the disconnecting device F, and the wheels N and T
transmits motion to the flyer or fly-wheel J, as above described with reference to
the Drawings and for the purpose specified.
Second. The application to a vehicle of one or more driving wheels A actuated
by the mechanism above described, the whole being arranged at any suitable part
of the vehicle, and operating as above set forth and for the purpose specified.
In witness whereof, I, the said Henry Harris Lake, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this Thirteenth day of May, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and eighty.
HENRY H. LAKE. (LB)