Improvements in Wheels and Revolving Piston Motors.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 1st Aug., 1899-Accepted, 25th Nov., 1899
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Wheels and Revolving Piston Motors.
I, HENRY MARTYN WILLIAMS, of No. 24, East Wayne Street, in the City of
Fort Wayne, in the County of Allen and State of Indiana, United States of
America, Manufacturer, 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 certain new and useful improvements in combined
traction wheels and revolving piston motors having for its object to provide
a wheel and a simple and efficient motor connected to drive the same, which
wheel and motor may be secured to the axle of any ordinary vehicle or used
in connection with various forms of conveyances such as street-cars, omnibuses,
delivery wagons, etc., to propel the same. With this object in view the inven-
tion consists in the novel construction and arrangement of the parts hereinafter
more particularly described.
In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification and in
which like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts:
Figure 1 is a side elevation of the improved wheel and driving motor;
Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view
thereof, and Figs. 4 and 5 are detail sectional views.
Referring more particularly to the drawings, A designates a wheel of any
desired construction and made of any suitable material or combination of
materials. In the present embodiment of the invention the wheel is similarly
constructed to the ordinary wagon wheel, being provided with the usual felly,
tire, spokes and hub, the hub, 1, being preferably formed of metal and mounted
to rotate upon a stationary axle, 2.
Fixedly mounted upon the wheel, A, at one side thereof is an internally
channeled revolving ring, B, the channel of said ring having its sides at right
angles to each other, two of the sides being parallel, and formed in the channel
at equidistant points are two or more transverse solid walls, 3, three being
shown in the present instance. These walls constitute the pistons of the engine
and they are provided upon opposite sides with suitable packings, 4, and with
oppositely inclined surfaces, 5, the purpose of which will presently appear.
As shown, the revolving ring is of less diameter than the felly of the wheel
and it is secured thereto by means of bolts which pass through ear pieces, 6,
of the ring and equidistantly spaced inwardly extending flanges, 7, of the
felly.
Extending into the channel of the revolving ring and resting in close contact
with the sides thereof and with the faces of the abutments, 3, is a stationary
ring, C.
When thus arranged three segmental expansion chambers, 4*, are
formed between the two rings, B, C, into which the motive fluid, such as steam,
compressed air etc., preferably the latter, is introduced to drive the engine.
Suitable packings, 5", are interposed between the stationary ring, C, and the
side flanges of the revolving ring to avoid the escape of the motive fluid from
the expansion chambers, 4ª. The stationary ring, C, is supported upon radial

page_text: arms, 12, extending from a central sleeve, 13, mounted upon an extension of
the hub but maintained against turning therewith by means of a lug, 14,
extending from the sleeve and bolted to a flange, 15, of the axle, 2.
.
Adapted to reciprocate in guides, 6, arranged at diametrically opposite points
on the stationary ring, are abutments, 7, provided at their outer ends with
suitable packings, 8, the said ends being adapted to enter the expansion
chambers, 4, at predetermined intervals and form a solid non-yielding bridge
across the same. At their inner ends, the abutments are provided with exten-
sions, 9, which project into cylinders, 10, likewise carried upon the stationary
ring, to constitute pistons. Leading into one of the cylinders, 10, from
pipes, 16, 17, respectively, and into the other from pipes, 18, 19, are the branch
pines, 18% 19, which constitute the supply and exhaust passages of said
cylinders. It will be obvious from this that if motor fluid is introduced into
the cylinders, 10, under the pistons, 9, the abutments, 7, will be forced outward
into the channel of the revoluble ring, B, and divide the expansion chambers, 4ª,
into two chambers; therefore, when steam or air is admitted into the channel
it will expand between the abutments, 7, and the next adjacent wall or piston, 3,
causing the ring, B, and consequently its attached wheel, A, to be rotated in
one direction or the other, depending upon which side of the abutment the
motive fluid is introduced.
It will be obvious that if the abutments, 7, are permitted to remain within
the channel of the ring, B, that upon the continued rotation of the said ring
an advancing piston, 4, thereof would be brought into forcible contact with the
abutment, resulting in the break-down of the motor.
In order to prevent this, each abutment is provided at one side with a friction
roller, 20, which is adapted to be engaged by cams, 21, of a ring, 22, carried
at one side of the revoluble ring, B. These cams, 21, are arranged opposite
each piston, 3, and are adapted to engage the friction rollers, 20, of the abut-
ments, 7, upon the close approach of the pistons thereto to withdraw the abut-
ments from the channel of the ring, B, and maintain them in such positions
until after a piston has passed the abutments, after which they are again
projected into the channel in the manner above described.
Upon the opposite sides of each abutment are valve chambers 23, 24, which
open into the channel of the revoluble ring, B, and are connected respectively
with the pipes, 16, 17. Within each of the valve chambers is a valve, 25,
adapted to be held against its seat by means of a spring 26, and having its
stem projecting through the valve casing and provided with a bearing, 27.
This bearing is adapted to be engaged by a short arm of a bell-crank lever, 28,
pivoted at its angle upon the stationary frame and having its opposite -end
provided with a friction roller which is held in contact with a cam ring, 29, by
means of a spring, 30. This cam ring is held between one side of the revolving
ring, B, and a retaining ring, 31, screwed to the ring, B, and is adapted to be
shifted between said rings a predetermined distance, this movement being
limited by means of a stop, 32, projecting through a segmental slot, 32ª, .in
the cam ring. The purpose of this will presently appear.
Intersecting the passages of the pipes, 16, 17, 18, 19, is a starting and
reversing valve, 33, formed with a central inlet passage, 34, which communi
cates with a supply pipe, 35, and with two other passages, 35ª which com-
municate with a common exhaust port, 36.
Assuming the parts to be in the positions shown in Figs. 1 and 2, it will
be noted that a piston, 3, has just passed the upper abutment, 7, which has
been projected into the channel of the revoluble ring, B. At this time the
cam ring has swung the upper right-hand bell-crank lever, 28, to the right
causing its short arm to engage with the bearing, 27, and open the valve, 25
of the chamber 24, thus permitting the motor fluid to pass into the channel o
the ring, B, and expand between the solid abutment and the piston, 3, to
rotate the said piston and ring, B. While this is taking place the expanded

page_text: motive fluid contained between the upper abutment and the approaching piston
is compressed and forces open the valve of the chamber, 23, permitting the
fluid to escape through the exhaust pipe, 16, and port 36. The lower abut-
ment; 7, as shown, has been retracted from the channel of the ring, B, by
means of the engagement with its roller of one of the cams, 21, of the ring, 22,
thereby permitting the free passage of a piston, 3. When this piston has
passed, however, the abutment is quickly projected into the ring-channel by
means of the motor fluid entering the cylinder 10, through pipes, 18, 18,
and acting upon the piston, 9. The valve of the chamber, 24, is then opened
and motive fluid is introduced intermediate the said lower abutment and the
piston which has just passed said abutment. It will thus be seen that motive
fluid is always being admitted between a piston and one of the abutments and
the engine is never required to run by momentum. Moreover it will be noted
that all of the parts of the wheel and motor are equally balanced upon the axle
and, therefore, there is little liability of uneven operation of the engine or of
the parts becoming loosened or worn.
In event of any one of the cams, 21, failing to retract one of the abutments, 7,
it will be obvious that as a piston approaches the abutment, it will be engaged
and caused to ride upon the inclined surface, 5, of the piston and forced out
of the channel of the ring, B.
-
When it is desired to reverse the motor the reversing valve, 33, is turned
by means of a lever, 37, to place the pipes 16, 19 into communication with
the supply pipe, 35, and the pipes 17, 18 into communication with the exhaust
port; the valves of the chambers, 23, thereupon become the inlet valves while
those of the chambers, 24, become the exhaust valves. When, however, the
engine is reversed it becomes necessary to shift the cam ring, 29, in order that
the valves will be operated at the proper times. This is effected in the follow-
ing manner: Assuming that the motor is operating to rotate the wheel, A,
towards the right and it is desired to reverse it the reversing valve is turned
to place the pipes, 16, 19, into communication with the supply pipe; the
revoluble ring, B, then begins to rotate towards the left. This movement brings
shoulders, x, of the cam ring, 29, into contact with the arms of the bell-crank
levers, 28, which being inclined in the opposite direction to that in which said
ring is being moved hold the ring against movement with the ring, B, until
the stop, 32, has traveled from one end of the slot, 32", to the other, when the
cam ring will be positively rotated with the ring, B, and the arms of the
levers, 28, being no longer able to resist the rotation of the cam ring will
ride upon the shoulders and over the surface thereof, and the engine will con-
tinue its operation, the cam ring then being in a position to properly actuate
the inlet valves.
I do not limit myself to the exact construction and arrangement of the parts
shown and described, since it will be obvious that various changes in such con-
struction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit or
scope of my invention.
!
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:
-
1st. The combination with a wheel, of a motor comprising a revolving
channeled ring provided in its channel with one or more pistons and connected
directly to the wheel, a stationary ring adapted to close the mouth of the channel
of the revolving ring, one or more reciprocating abutments adapted to enter
the channel, means for reciprocating said abutments, inlet and exhaust ports
communicating with the channel, valves for said ports, and a cam-ring carried
by the revolving ring for operating the inlet valves, substantially as described.
2nd. The combination with a wheel, of a motor comprising a revolving
channeled ring provided in its channel with one or more pistons and connected

page_text: directly to the wheel, a stationary ring adapted to close the mouth of the
channel of the revolving ring, one or more reciprocating abutments adapted to
enter the channel, means for reciprocating said abutments, inlet and exhaust
ports communicating with the channel, valves for said ports, and means carried
by the revolving ring for operating the inlet valves, substantially as described.
3rd. The combination with a wheel, of a motor comprising a revolving
channeled ring provided in its channel with one or more pistons and connected
directly to the wheel, a stationary ring adapted to close the mouth of the channel
of the revolving ring to form expansion chambers between the pistons thereof,
one or more reciprocating abutments adapted to be projected into the channel
of the revolving ring, means carried upon said ring for operating the abut-
ments, inlet and outlet ports communicating with the channel, valves for said
ports, and means for operating the valves, substantially as described.
4th. The combination with a wheel, of a motor comprising a revolving
channeled ring provided in its channel with one or more pistons and connected
directly to the wheel, a stationary ring adapted to close the mouth of the
channel of the revolving ring, one or more reciprocating abutments adapted to
enter the channel, means for reciprocating said abutments, inlet and exhaust
ports communicating with the channel, valves for said ports, bell-crank levers
connected to operate said valves, and a cam-ring carried upon the revolving
ring and adapted to engage arms of the bell-crank levers to operate the same,
substantially as described.
5th. The combination with a wheel, of a motor comprising a revolving
channeled ring provided in its channel with one or more pistons and connected
directly to the wheel, a stationary ring adapted to close the mouth of the
channel of the revolving ring, one or more reciprocating abutments adapted to
enter the channel, means for reciprocating said abutments, inlet and exhaust
ports communicating with the channel, valves for said ports, and a self-shifting
cam-ring carried upon the revolving ring for operating the inlet valves, sub-
stantially as described.
Dated this lot dove of A1800