Improvements in or relating to Vehicle Propelling and Controlling Apparatus.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 21st Apr., 1897-Accepted, 10th July, 1897
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in or relating to Vehicle Propelling and Controlling
Apparatus.
We, SIDNEY IRVIN PRESCOTT, of 65 Nassau Street, New York City, United
States of America, Civil Engineer, and ALFRED PAGELOW, of 206 Broadway, New
York City, United States of America, Attorney at Law, 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 provide simple, durable and efficient apparatus
for propelling a bicycle, tricycle, or other vehicle, and to control or regulate its
normal speed of travel and to apply a brake to slacken the speed or stop the
vehicle.
In my invention I do not propel the vehicle by means of chains or belts
running over wheels and which are so liable to be clogged by dust and dirt and
easily get out of order: neither do I use shafts and toothed gearing which are so
liable to bend and break and also unduly consume the motive power by increasing
friction.
My improved brake operates without bringing a resisting force directly upon
the vehicle wheel, thereby preserving pneumatic or other tires from injury.
Le invention consists primarily in the employment of a power exerting device,
a power delivering device turning the vehicle wheel, and power transmitting and
returning columns of fluid communicating with the power exerting and delivering
devices. These power exerting and delivering devices are preferably valved
retary pistons working eccentrically in chambers communicating with the tubes
conveying the fluid.
-
A further feature of the invention is an arrangement of the fluid tubes or
conduits which provided for a balancing application of the propelling power at
opposite sides of the vehicle driving wheel.
A further feature of the invention is the employment of an adjustable cut-off
for the fluid forced through the tubes or conduits by the power exerting device,
whereby the fluid pressure on the power delivering device may be varied at will
to change the speed of the vehicle.
As a further improvement this cut-off device may be locked to prevent thieves
riding off with the bicycle or vehicle.
The invention also includes the combination with the propelling fluid conduits
of a reservoir in which air is automatically compressed by the fluid to operate as
a brake on the driving wheel for checking or stopping the vehicle. As a further
improvement the reservoir is in communication with an air controlling device
providing for the escape of air for taking off or releasing the brake and also
providing for pneumatic application of the brake at pleasure.
The invention also includes certain details of construction of the apparatus
which provide for quick and convenient removal of the driving wheel, and prevents
leakage of the propelling fluid.

page_text: -
Reference is made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this
specification and in which
Figure 1 is a sectional side elevation of a bicycle illustrating one development
of my invention as applied to a bicycle.
Figure 2 is an enlarged sectional view of the air escape and compression device
controlling the brake.
Figure 3 is a cross section taken on the lines, r, in Figures 1 and 5.
Figure 4 is a cross section taken on the lines y, y, in Figures 1 and 5, and shows
the adjustable cut-off and bicycle locking devices.
Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional side view of the propelling mechanism.
Figure 6 is a sectional plan view thereof and of a part of the vehicle driving
wheel, and
Figure 7 is an enlarged detail sectional plan view of the power exerting device
at one side of the driving wheel.
In applying my invention in the preferred manner to the modern safety
bicycle, I provide a fluid chamber 1, within the frame hanger 2 in which is
journaled the shaft 3 carrying the pedal cranks 4. To this shaft 3 is fixed a
retary piston 5 which is arranged eccentrically in the chamber 1. The piston
has a diametrical slot in which is fitted two radially movable valves 6, 7. These
valves are preferably tongued and grooved together at their inner edges and are
normally forced outward by springs 8 against the wall of the fluid chamber 1.
This fluid chamber and the valved piston 5, 6, 7, 8, constitute a preferred form of
power exerting device actuated from the pedal cranks 4, to force fluid to a power
delivering device at the vehicle driving wheel, as presently explained. In the
preferred arrangement the driving wheel 9 is removable held between two rear
fluid chambers 10, 11, each of which is preferably smaller than the front fluid
chamber 1. In each of the rear chambers is eccentrically journalled a rotary
piston 12, having radial valves 13, 14, pressed outward by springs 15 to the wall
of the chamber substantially as are the valves 6, 7, of the power exerting device
above described.
The driving wheel hub 16, is held to the shafts of the two opposite pistons 12, 12.
so as to compel rotation of the wheel by and with the pistons. The special
connections of the pistons with the wheel to permit its easy removal will be
hereinafter explained.
Two separate lower passages 17, 18, in the casing of the power exerting device
open from the piston chamber of and are connected with two lower tubes 19, 20,
which extend to the two rear fluid chambers 10. 11, of the power delivering
devices below the pistons 12. Two upper tubes 21, 22, connect the upper parts of
the chambers 10, 11 with the upper part of the main front fluid chamber 1 above
the valved piston 5. The tubes or fluid conduits 19, 20, 21. 22, preferably form
portions of the bicycle frame, but they have no communication with the interior
of the rear inclined tubes or parts 23, of the frame.
The front main fluid chamber 1 has free communication through an
opening 24 with a fluid and air reservoir which I provide in the preferred manner
by specially utilizing the saddle post tube 25 of the bicycle frame for this
purpose.
I charge the chambers of the power exerting and delivering devices and their
Jower communicating tubes with a suitable fluid preferably a dense fluid such as
oil or glycerine in which I prefer to place a quantity of graphite serving as an
effective lubricant. This fluid 26, is represented by dotted lines in the frame.
When the motive power shaft 3, is rotated forward by the pedal cranks 4 or
otherwise, the valves 6, 7, of the piston 5, will successively force a given volume
of the fluid 26, rearward through both lower tubes 19, 20, and this moving fluid
acts on the valves 13, 14, of the pistons 12, thereby turning these pistons forward
and rotating the connected driving wheel 9 of the vehicle. After the power trans-
mitting columns of fluid in the lower tubes 19 and 20 acts on the valve pistons 12,
13, 14, the fluid returns to the main chamber 1 whence it is again forced rearward

page_text: by the pistons 5, 6, 7, to continue the forward propulsion of the vehicle as long
as may be desired.
It is obvious that I may use but one pair of fluid side tubes 19, 21, with one
fluid chamber 10 and the valved piston 12, 13, 14, at bút one side only of the
driving wheel, but I prefer as a further improvement, to use two valved
pistons 12, 13, 14, and two power transmitting fluid columns in the tubes 21, 22,
as I am thereby able to apply the propelling power in perfect balance at opposite
sides of the vehicle. This balanced application of power is an important considera-
tion in the propulsion of bicycles. I provide for obtaining varying normal speeds
of the bicycle or vehicle by fitting a cut-off into the conduits for the power
transmitting column or columns of fluid. I now prefer to make this cut-off in
the form of a duplex valve having two independently revoluble straight-way
plugs 27, 28, which are suitably fitted in the two passages 17, 18. When both these
valves 27, 28, are fully open, as indicated by the horizontal position of the valve
operating arms 29, in Figure 6 of the drawing, a maximum quantity of the fluid 26
will be forced rearward by the valved piston 5, 6, 7, to the rear pistons 12, 13, 14,
for rotating the driving wheel 9 at moderate speed for travel over ordinary roads.
Should either one or both of the valves 27, 28, be partially closed, the volume of
power transmitting fluid passing to the power delivering devices at the driving
wheel will be reduced more or less but the pressure of the fluid will be greater;
the power exerting device being actuated at the same speed as formerly and the
driving wheel 9 will be turned faster to give higher speed of travel to the vehicle.
When the cut-off 27, 28, is closed as indicated by the vertical position of the
valve arms 29, no fluid can pass through the circulation tubes 19, 20, 21, 22, and
the driving wheel 9 cannot rotate. I take advantage of this fact to provide a
very simple lock preventing a thief riding off on a bicycle or vehicle and compel-
ling him at great risk to carry the vehicle bodily. I make this safety lock by
passing a headed pin 30 into holes at the outer ends of the arms 29 of the closed
valves, and I then apply any suitable lock 31 at the point of the pin which will
lock it to the valve arm. This locked pin 30 overlies the returning fluid tubes 21,22,
and prevents opening of the cut-off 27, 28, until after the lock is opened by the
key of the owner of the vehicle.
I will now describe the brake apparatus. The fluid and air reservoir 25 has
near its upper end an open nipple 32, with which is connected a suitable tube 33,
which at its outer end carries an air compressing bulb 34, fitted like the ordinary
syringe bulb, with an air inlet valve 35, and a check valve 36. I also provide the
neck of the bulb with a push button 37, which when pressed inward allows air to
escape from the reservoir 25. show the bulb 34 held to the bicycle handle bar 38,
but it may be fastened to the saddle 39, or other part of the vehicle in convenient
reach of the rider or occupant. When the bulb is not compressed by the hand all
the valves 35, 36, 37, are closed.
To apply the brake automatically to stop the running vehicle the rider will simply
hold the pedal cranks at rest for a time. This holds the main valved piston at
rest and prevents passage of fluid past it to the lower tubes 19, 20.
"
The vehicle is moved forward by its momentum and the valved pistons 12, 13, 14,
are turned forward by and with the driving wheel 9, and said pistons draw the
fluid 26 from the lower tubes 19, 20 and force it forward along the upper
tubes 21, 22, and the fluid is deflected by the closed piston valve 5, 6, 7, into the
reservoir 25 and compresses the air in the reservoir and in the tube 33. This air
compression exerts a back pressure on the rising fluid and the fluid exerts a back
pressure on the valves 13, 14, of the pistons 12, and stops rotation of the driving
wheel and therefore stops the vehicle.
The back pressure of the air and fluid on the rear valved pistons 12, 13, 14, is
assisted by the vaccum produced in the lower tubes 19, 20, by these pistons
drawing the fluid from the tube.
The pressure and vaccum thus worked together in effectively applying the brake.
The brake may also be applied without specially holding or manipulating the

page_text: pedal crank valved piston 5, 6, 7. This may be done by compressing the bulb 34
a few times by the hand to pump air under compression into the reservoir and thus
exert necessary back pressure on the driving wheel valved pistons 12, 13, 14, to
stop the wheel and vehicle.
66
"
I have specially arranged the driving wheel 9 to allow it to be removed from
the vehicle frame without opening or disturbing the fluid conduits or valve
chambers. To do this I provide the wheel hub 16 at each end with a fixed flange 40,
and to the inner end of each piston 12, is fixed a disk 41. The two disks 41 have
tongue-and-groove or sliding connection at 42 with the opposite ends of the wheel
hub flange 40. A screw collar 43, having a flange 44, is screwed upon each of the
hub flanges 40 until collar flange 44 binds upon the outside of the piston disk 41,
after the joint is made at 42 between the wheel hub and the disk. The driving
wheel is now securely held by the collars 43 at each end of its hub, the connection
being much like the ordinary "union joint employed in pipes. To
remove the driving wheel it is only necessary to unscrew the collars 43 from the
hub flange 40, and the wheel may now he slipped out from between the piston
disks 41 at the tongue-and-groove-joints of the wheel hub and disks. The wheel
is as easily replaced by reversing this operation. The end caps 45 of the valved
piston chambers 1, 10 and 11 are screwed upon said chambers and are then brazed
to make secure and permanently fluid tight joints, and the adjustable screw caps
or plugs 46 which confine the ball bearing 47 of the pistons are also fluid tight,
so that the wear at the ball bearings may be taken up as required without danger
of leakage of the power transmitting and the returning columns of fluid used in
the apparatus.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of this inven-
tip and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is:-
1. Vehicle propelling and controlling apparatus comprising a power exerting
device, a power delivering device turning the vehicle wheel, and power transmit-
ting and returning columns of fluid communicating with power exerting and
delivering devices.
2. Vehicle propelling and controlling apparatus comprisisg a
valved power
exerting device, a valved power delivering device acting on the vehicle wheel and
power transmitting and returning columns of fluid communicating with the valved
power exerting and delivering devices.
3. Vehicle propelling and controlling apparatus comprising a power exerting
shaft, a power delivering shaft turning the vehicle wheel, a chamber eccentrically
surrounding each shaft, a rotary piston on each shaft within its respective chamber,
each piston provided with radially-reciprocating valve mechanism; and power-
transmitting and returning columns of fluid communicating with the chambers
at the power exerting and delivering valved-piston mechanisms.
4. Vehicle propelling and controlling apparatus comprising a power exerting
device, two independent power delivering devices acting one at each side of the
vehicle wheel to turn the same, and two power transmitting and two returning
columns of fluid, all four fluid columns communicating with the power exerting
device and one power transmitting and one returning column of fluid communicat-
ing with each of the power delivering devices and applying the propelling power
in balance at both sides of the vehicle wheel.
5. Vehicle propelling and controlling apparatus comprising a power exerting
device, a power delivering device turning the vehicle wheel, power transmitting
anu returning columns of fluid communicating with the power exerting and deliver-
ing devices, and an adjustable cut-off controlling the fluid and varying its pressure
on the power delivering device thereby regulating the speed of the vehicle.
6. Vehicle propelling and controlling apparatus comprising a power exerting
device, a power delivering device turning the vehicle wheel, power transmitting
and returning columns of fluid communicating with the power exerting and

page_text: delivering devices, and a reservoir receiving some of the fluid when the power
exerting device is at rest while the power delivering device is in motion, said fluid
compressing air in the reservoir thereby exerting back pressure on the power
delivering device and applying the brake.
7. Vehicle propelling and controlling apparatus comprising a power exerting
device, a power delivering device turning the vehicle wheel, power transmitting
and returning columns of fluid communicating with the power exerting and
delivering devices, a reservoir receiving some of the fluid when the power exerting
device is at rest while the power delivering device is in motion, said fluid
compressing air in the reservoir thereby exerting a back pressure on the power
delivering device and applying the brake, and a valved outlet from the reservoir
controlling escape of air to relieve the back pressure and take off the brake.
8. Vehicle propelling and controlling apparatus, comprising a power exerting
device, a power delivering device turning the vehicle wheel, power transmitting
and returning columns of fluid communicating with the power exerting and
delivering devices, a reservoir receiving some of the returning fluid, and an elastic
bulb having an inlet and check valves and adapted to force air under pressure into
the fluid reservoir and apply the brake by back pressure of the air on the
fluid.
9. Vehicle propelling and controlling apparatus comprising a power exerting
device, a power delivering device turning the vehicle wheel, power transmitting
and returning columns of fluid communicating with the power exerting and
delivering devices, a reservoir receiving some of the returning fluid, and an elastic
bulb having air inlet and check valve and adapted to force air under pressure
into the fluid reservoir and directly apply the brake, and a valve located between
the reservoir and bulb and adapted to relieve the pressure in the reservoir and
release the brake after application of the brake by fluid pressure due to stopping
of the power exerting device and continued operation of the power delivering
device by momentum of the driving wheel.
10. Vehicle propelling and controlling apparatus comprising a power exerting
device, a power delivering device turning the vehicle wheel, power transmitting
and returning columns of fluid communicating with the power exerting and
delivering devices, adjustable cut-off mechanism in the conduits for the power
transmitting column or columns of fluid and a locking device preventing
unauthorized opening of the closed cut-off and thereby preventing rotation of the
driving wheel of the vehicle.
"
"
.
11. In vehicle propelling and controlling apparatus the vehicle driving wheel
combined with means directly rotating the wheel and having a laterally sliding
connection therewith, and union couplings holding the wheel to its rotating
means and permitting removal of the wheel at its laterally sliding connection.
12. Vehicle propelling and controlling apparatus comprising a power exerting
device, power delivering devices turning the vehicle wheel, and power transmitting
and returning columns of fluid communicating with the power exerting and
delivering devices, said power delivering devices having a laterally sliding con-
nection with the vehicle wheel, and union couplings holding the wheel to the
power delivering devices which rotate it and permitting removal of the wheel at
its sliding connection without opening the fluid chambers or conduits.
**
1 100%
99
HASELTINE, LAKE & Co.,
45 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.