Improvements in Magneto Electric Machines for the Electric Lamps of Cycles.
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 12th Aug., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 22nd Apr., 1897-Accepted, 26th June, 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Magneto Electric Machines for the Electric
Lamps of Cycles.
We, ERNEST TILMANN, Lamp Manufacturer, and CHARLES KING LEXOW,
Lawyer, both of No. 130 West 32nd Street, in the City of New York, County and
State of New York, U.S.A. do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention relates to certain improvements in magneto electric machines for
supplying the current to bicycle lamps, in which the armature of a magneto-electric
machine is rotated by a friction gear from the pneumatic tire on the front wheel of
the bicycle, the current being generated by the armature under the influence of the
field-magnets and transmitted to a miniature incandescent lamp located within a
parabolical reflector of approved construction. The magneto-electric machine and
its enclosing case is supported on an arm attached to one leg of the front fork of
the bicycle and adjusted by a clamping device at the upper arc-shaped and serrated
end of the arm so as to be set to any angle of inclination towards the ground. The
armature-shaft is insulated from the casing and provided with a friction-reller
applied to a helical spring attached to the outer end of the shaft, said friction-roller
rotating in contact with the pneumatic tire and producing by the action of the
spring a continuous and reliable contact with the tire, so as to produce by the
uniform rotation of the armature within the permanent field magnets a continuous
current to the electric incandescent lamp.
In carrying the invention into effect, we provide a permanent field magnet, which
is made of a number of lamine of soft iron. The latter U-shaped at one end and
provided with segmental extensions at the opposite ends, as is customary in this
class of machines. Within the space formed by the segmental extensions of the
permanent magnets there is located an armature of approved construction, preferably
one of which the core is eye-shaped in cross section. On it the induction coils are
wound in any approved manner and connected with a commutator on the armature
shaft. From this commutator, current is led to a miniature incandescent electric lamp
which is located in a parabolical reflector and attached to the front of the case of
the magneto-electric machine. To the rear part of the said case, is supplied a
segmental clamping device, one edge of which is serrated so as to interlock with the
correspondingly serrated segmental upper end of an arm that is attached to one leg
of the front fork of the bicycle, so as to support the magneto-electric machine at
one side of the tire of the front wheel. The armature shaft and the commutator
in which the end of the armature shaft is supported, are rotated in ball bearings
arranged in the casing of the magneto-electric machine. The armature-shaft is
insulated from the casing and provided at its outer end, with a helical spring that
is attached to one end of the armature shaft and the other yielding end, with a friction
roller which forms contact with the outer circumference of the pneumatic tire of
the front wheel of the bicycle, so that by the frictional contact with the same, a
rapidly rotating motion is imparted to the armature, whereby a continuous current
is generated by which the incandescent electric lamp is lighted as soon as the
required speed of rotation is obtained. As the roller is applied to the outer
yielding end of the helical spring, it remains always in contact with the pneumatic
tire, whatever be the degree of expansion of the same, so as to secure thereby a

page_text: uniform rotation of the armature in the field magnets and a reliable and uniform
supply of current to the electric lamp.
The magneto-electric machine can be readily adjusted to any desired angle of
inclination towards the ground on the supporting arm or removed entirely when
not required, it being easily replaced in position by simply clamping it to the upper
end of the supporting arm. As all the parts required for electric illumination are
assembled in one structure, the machine is just as convenient for use as an oil lamp,
while a much more effective light is obtained by contact action of the front wheel
on the transmitting mechanism of the armature of the machine so that a simple
and comparatively inexpensive means of supplying electric light for cycles is
obtained.
Dated this 12th day of August 1896
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
Agents for the Applicants.
Improvements in Magneto Electric Machines for the Electric
Lamps of Cycles.
We, ERNEST TILMANN, Lamp Manufacturer, and CHARLES KING LEXOW,
Lawyer, both of No. 130 West 32 Street, in the City of New York,. County and
State of New York, United States of America, 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 :-
The object of this invention is to supply for bicycles and other velocipedes an
improved electric lighting attachment by which a strong and effective light is
obtained, whenever desired, by the motion of the bicycle actuating a magneto
electric machine, the light being produced by an incandescent electric lamp to
which the current is supplied by a small magneto-electric machine that is operated
from the tire of the front-wheel and supported, with the lamp, on the front-fork of
the bicycle.
The invention consists of an electric lighting attachment for bicycles which
comprises a small magneto-electrie machine, means for supporting the same ou the
front-fork of the bicycle, an incandescent electric lamp supported in front of the
machine, a flexible extension of the armature shaft provided with a friction-roller
forming contact with the tire of the front-wheel, and means for adjusting the
magneto-electric machine and the electric lamp at any suitable angle of inclination
on its support, as will be fully described hereinafter and finally pointed out in the
claims.
In the accompanying drawings;
Figure 1 represents a side-elevation of a bicycle with our improved electric
lighting attachment in position thereon.
Figure 2 is a side-elevation of the electric lighting attachment, shown as detached
from the bicycle, and drawn on a larger scale.
Figure 3 is a front-view of Figure 2.
Figure 4 is a vertical longitudinal section of the armature-shaft, with its flexible
extension carrying a friction-roller, drawn on a still larger scale, and
Figures 5 and 6 are details, showing the electric connection of the armature-coils
with the electric lamp, and the adjustable support for the magneto-electric machine
and lamps.
Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.
Referring to the drawings, A represents a small magneto-electric machine, which
is formed of a number of permanent field-magnets a, between the lower arc-shaped

page_text: ends of which the armature B is arranged. The core of the armature B is formed
of thin lamine of soft iron, around which two coils are wound in the usual manner..
The armature-shaft B' is supported in brackets B' that are strapped by tie-bolts b.
to the field-magnets at opposite ends of the same, as shown in Figures 2 and 3, and
provided with lubricated bearings for the shaft. The armature-shaft is formed of "
two sections, ench driven into a brass-sleeve B3 at the centre of the armature-core,.
One section being extended beyond its bearing and provided with a flexible
portion D formed of two telescoping steel springs d, d', which carry at their outer
ends a rubber friction-wheel E that is preferably vulcanized on to the ends of the
springs d, d and slightly concaved at its circumference so as to form frictional
contact with the tire of the front-wheel, as shown in Figures 1 and 2. By the-
flexible end D the rubber-wheel E is held in continuous frictional contact with the-
tire, so that a uniform rotary motion is imparted to the armature and thereby
The section
current is continuously generated by the magneto-electric machine
of the shaft B which carries the Hexible end-portion D is insulated by a layer
of non-conducting material from the sleeve in which the shaft-sections are inserted
for the purpose of producing direct connection without the use of a collector with
the electrodes of the electric incandescent lamp L, which is supported in front of a
parabolical reflector R that is supported in front of the magneto-electric machine,
as shown in Figure 2. The casing of the reflector R and the magneto-electrio
machine are supported on a rectangular shank F that passes through an opening
in the field-magnets of the magneto-electric machine to the rear of the same, and
that is provided at its rear end with a concave plate that is attached by means
of a serew-post and a thumb-screw f having a convex flange, to the convex upper-
end of a bracket-support S that is attached by a U-shaped clip f to the front-
fork of the bicycle. The convex upper end of the bracket-support S is
provided with a slot, so that the magneto-electric machine can be adjusted with
the lamp in a vertical plane to any suitable angle of inclination above or below-
the horizontal plane as required by the wheelman. The electric connection of the
incandescent electric lamp with the armature of the magneto-electric machine is
produced by connecting the coils of the armature with the two sections of the
armature-shalt; the insulated section being electrically connected with its bracket-
plate B which latter is connected by a binding post g and a wire gl passing through
an insulated sleeve and a bore in one of the tie-bolts 6 to the socket of the lamp,.
while the other electrode of the lamp is connected with the opposite section of the
shaft preferably through the supporting frame of the lanp via the other tie-bolt b
and bracket B. As soon as the bicycle is in motion, the rotation of the armature
is produced by the contact of the friction-roller with the tire so that an electric
current is generated which is supplied to the lamp, the light being thrown in
forward direction by the reflector. As soon as the bicycle stops, the generation of the
current is interrupted. The front of the reflector is closed by a suitable glass-
plate so that the lamp is protected against direct injury by the dropping of the
bicycle or other accidents. The magneto-electric machine is preferably enclosed
in a sheet-metal casing by which it is protected against dust.
The entire attachinent is supported on the frunt-fork of the bicycle above the
front-wheel, and adds but little to the weight of the bicycle owing to the smallness
of all the parts, while performing at the same time a very effective lighting
attachment for bicycles by which the annoyances and insufficiencies of oil lamps
and other lighting devices are dispensed with.
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. The combination of a bracket-support attached to the front-fork of a bicycle,.
a magneto-electric machine applied to said support, an incandescent electric lamp
supported in Iront of the magneto-electric machine and a reflector enclosing said
lamp, the armature-shaft of the magneto-electric machine being extended at one-

page_text: side and provided with a flexible portion carrying a friction-wheel that is rotated
by contact with the tire of the front wheel, substantially as set forth.
2. The combination, with a bracket-support attached to the front-fork of a
bicycle, a magneto-electric machine supported thereon, an incandescent electric
lamp supported on said magneto-electric machine, the shaft of said machine being
formed of two sections, one section being insulated from the other, and electric
connections between the insulated and non-insulated sections of the armature-s aft
and the electric lamp, so that a current is supplied continuously from the armature
to the same, substantially as set forth.
3. The combination, with a bracket-support attached to the front-fork of a
bicycle, provided with a slotted convex end, of a magneto-electric machine, the
frame of which is provided with a concave plate, a bolt passing through the slotted
convex end of the support, and a thumb nut for clamping the convex and concave
plates together after adjustment, substantially as set forth.
4. In an electric lighting attachment for bicycles, the armature-shaft being
provided with a flexible end-portion formed of helical springs aud a friction-roller
on said flexible end-portion, substantially as set forth.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.
PHILLIPS & LEIGH,
No. 22 Southampton Buildings, Chancery Lane, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.