Improvements in the Hydraulic Transmission of Motive Power.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 18th Mar., 1897
Complete Specification Left, 20th Dec., 1897-Accepted, 26th Feb., 1898
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Hydraulic Transmission of Motive Power.
We, AMÉDEÉ AUGUSTE PHILIPPE Mechanical Engineer, of 190, Boulevard
Richard Lenoir, Paris, France, and HONORÉ CHARLES EUGÈNE HUGOT Merchant,
of 23, Rue Berlioz, Paris, France, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
to be as follows:-
The requirements incidental to the transmission of motive power to the wheels
of auto-motor vehicles, for instance, involve a very complex kinematic problem,
it being necessary to be able to vary the travelling speed and the power according
to circumstances, the velocity and power of the motor being constant; to reverse
the direction of running without reversing the motor; to increase or reduce or
cut off the action of the motor on the wheels; to stop or start gradually or to
apply full brake power in case of need. Hitherto variable speed gear has been
employed under the control of handing gear and the wheels have been driven by
chains, balance gear being required to facilitate steering. These mechanical parts
necessitate intermediate shafts, etc. mounted with the motor upon a special
frame which adds to the weight of the motor, the vehicle and its load, causes
friction, and is otherwise objectionable. Moreover the changes of speed are
sudden and injurious to the motor and gear.
This invention has for object to obviate all these objections and relates to a
system of hydraulic transmission of motive power for purposes of locomotion and
generally whereby all variations of speed may be obtained, the full brake power
may be applied, and the reversal of the transmission effected under the control of
a valve. Liquids being incompressible and their co-efficient of friction in short
pipes of small diameter being exceedingly low, are well adapted for the trans-
mission of power. The motion of the liquid under pressure may be produced by
means of a reciprocating or rotary pump, the arrangement herein described and
illustrated in the accompanying drawings being an example of the manner in
which the invention may be carried into effect. Figure 1 represents diagrammati-
cally an elevation of the apparatus. Figure 2 is a vertical section on line 1-2
Figure 3, and Figure 3 a plan on the line 3-4 of the valve. Figure 4 is an end
elevation of the valve and its operating gear. The same letters of reference
indicate the same parts in all the figures.
Upon the shaft of the motor A is keyed a drum B provided with a number
of rollers C which in rotating compress between them and a concentric
semi-cylindrical abutment D one or more tubes E of rubber cloth,
leather, or other material or combination of materials of a resistant and
flexible nature, the ends of said tubes being respectively connected to metal
pipes F F intersecting each other at the casing H of a controlling and reversing
valve whereby the suction and delivery of the power-transmitting liquid may be
controlled so as to produce either a gradual or a sudden stoppage by intercepting
the passage of the liquid as well as for reversing the direction of motion by so
directing the liquid as to make the functions of the admission and delivery

page_text: pipes interchangeable. Between this valve and the motor is a relief valve I
for preventing bursting of the pipes when the circulation of the liquid is stopped
while the motor is running, the valve I controlling a bye-pass connecting the
delivery to the admission pipe. The regulating and reversing valve consists of
a pair of rotary plugs J each having two ways K and mounted on centres, L for
greater smoothness of working, the two plugs being so adjusted that the ways of
the one are at right angles to the corresponding ways of the other, the two being
operated together as one, being geared by toothed wheels M with a pinion N
common to both operated by the torsion of a wire rope O. A charging tube P is
provided on the admission side of the valve, as shewn in Figure 2.
The combination of parts B C D E constitute a rotary suction and force pump
whereby when the regulating valve is full open the maximum velocity is trans-
mitted to the wheels and when the section of the liquid column is reduced at the
admission and delivery the velocity is reduced and the power correspondingly
increased, as in the case of the force-pump of an hydraulic press. The pipes F
are in connection with two similar arrangements of pipes acting on rollers
mounted on the driving wheels of the vehicle, the admission pipe F and delivery
pipe F¹ being each bifurcated so as to form duplex channels whereby the use of
balance gear is rendered unnecessary, the velocity of the liquid being greater
through the channel corresponding to the wheel which makes the largest circle,
when the vehicle is turning. The combination of parts B C D E is distinguished
as the power transmitter and the combinations B C D E acting on the wheels
as power receivers. They may be of the same or different effective diameters,
for example in the ratio of 1 to 3 in order to gear down from the initial speed of
the motor, or they may be made of the same diameter and the gearing down be
effected by increasing the capacity of the receiving tubes E¹.
The motor of any kind drives directly or through gearing the drum B, the
rollers C of which compress the tube or pocket, or tubes or pockets, E so as to
force before them a quantity of liquid which is replaced by an equal quantity
behind them. The incompressible liquid acts in turn upon the rollers of the
power receiving apparatus causing them to move under the pressure which is
only limited by the strength of the materials, the turning moment directly pro-
ducing rotary motion of the wheels of the vehicle. Any liquid whose freezing
point is sufficiently low may be used or it may be heated if necessary, by the waste
heat of the motor by circulating it through the water jacket of the motor.
Dated this 18th day of March 1897
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patent Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in the Hydraulic Transmission of Motive Power.
We, AMÉDEÉ AUGUSTE PHILIPPE, Mechanical Engineer, of 190, Boulevard
Richard Lenoir, Paris, France, and HONORÉ CHARLES EUGÈNE HUGOT, Merchant,
of 23, Rue Berlioz, Paris, France, 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 requirements incidental to the transmission of motive power to the wheels
of auto-motor vehicles for instance, involve a very complex kinematic problem
it being necessary to be able to vary the travelling speed and the power according
to circumstances, the velocity and power of the motor being constant; to reverse
the direction of running without reversing the motor; to increase or reduce or

page_text: cut off the action of the motor on the wheels; to stop or start gradually or to
apply full brake power in case of need. Hitherto variable speed gear has been
employed under the control of handing gear and the wheels have been driven by
chains, balance gear being required to facilitate steering. These mechanical parts
necessitate intermediate shafts, etc. mounted with the motor upon a special
frame which adds to the weight of the motor, the vehicle and its load, causes
friction and is otherwise objectionable. Moreover the changes of speed are
sudden and injurious to the motor and gear.
This invention has for object to obviate all these objections and relates to a
system of hydraulic transmission of motive power for purposes of locomotion and
generally whereby all variations of speed may be obtained, the full brake power
may be applied, and the reversal of the transmission effected under the control of
a valve. Liquids being incompressible and their co-efficient of friction in short
pipes of small diameter being exceedingly low, are well adapted for the trans-
mission of power. The motion of the liquid under pressure may be produced by
means of a reciprocating or rotary pump, the arrangements herein described and
illustrated in the drawings filed with our Provisional Specification and also in the
accompanying drawings being examples of the manner in which the invention
may be carried into effect. Figure 1 represents diagrammatically an elevation of
the apparatus. Figure 2 is a vertical section on line 1-2 Figure 3, and Figure 3
a horizontal section on the line 3-4 Figure 2, of the valve. Figure 4 is an elevation
of the valve and its operating gear. Figure 5 shews in elevation the whole of
our improved system of transmission applied to any kind of vehicle. Figure 6 is
a plan of the same. Figure 7 shews our system of transmission arranged against
the hub of a wheel. Figure 8 is a sectional elevation of the same. Figure 9
is a section made through the tube and roller. Figure 10 is a sectional view of
the tube and the ring. Figure 11 shews in section the roller and the flattened
tube.
With reference to Figures 1 to 4, upon the shaft of the motor A is keyed a
drum B provided with a number of rollers C which in rotating compress between
them and a concentric semi-cylindrical abutment I) one or more tubes E of rubber
cloth, leather, or other material or combination of materials of a resistant and
flexible nature, the ends of said tubes being respectively connected to metal
pipes FF intersecting each other at any point. A controlling and reversing
valve H controls the suction and delivery of the power-transmitting liquid so
as to produce either a gradual or a sudden stoppage by intercepting the
passage of the liquid as well as for reversing the direction of motion by so directing
the liquid as to make the functions of the admission and delivery
pipes interchangeable. Between this valve and the motor is a relief valve I
for preventing bursting of the pipes when the circulation of the liquid is stopped
while the motor is running, the valve I controlling a bye-pass connecting the
delivery to the admission pipe. The regulating and reversing valve consists of
a pair of rotary plugs J each having two ways K and mounted on centres L for
greater smoothness of working, the two plugs being so adjusted that the ways of
the one are at right angles to the corresponding ways of the other the two being
operated together as one, being geared by toothed wheels M with a pinion N
(or it may be a worm) common to both operated by the torsion of a wire rope
at O. A charging tube P is provided on the admission side of the valve, as shewn
in Figure 2.
The combination of parts B C D E constitutes a rotary suction and force pump
whereby when the regulating valve is full open the maximum velocity is trans-
mitted to the wheels and when the section of the liquid column is reduced at the
admission and delivery the velocity is reduced and the power correspondingly
increased, as in the case of the force-pump of an hydraulic press. The pipes F F¹
are in connection with two similar arrangements of pipes acting on rollers
mounted on the driving wheels of the vehicle, the admission pipe F and delivery
pipe F¹ being each bifurcated so as to form duplex channels whereby the use of

page_text: balance gear is rendered unnecessary, the velocity of the liquid being greater
through the channel corresponding to the wheel which makes the largest circle
when the vehicle is turning. The combination of parts B C D E is distinguished
as the power transmitter and the combinations B, C, D, E, acting on the wheels
as power receivers. They may be of the same or different effective diameters,.
for example in the ratio of 1 to 3 in order to gear down from the initial speed of
the motor, or they may be made of the same diameter and the gearing down be
effected by increasing the capacity of the receiving tubes E.
The motor of any kind drives directly or through gearing the drum B, the
rollers C of which compress the tube or pocket, or tubes or pockets, E so as to
force before them a quantity of liquid which is replaced by an equal quantity
behind them. The incompressible liquid acts in turn upon the rollers of the
power receiving apparatus causing them to move under the pressure which is
only limited by the strength of the materials, the turning movement directly pro-
ducing rotary motion of the wheels of the vehicle.
In Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings we have shewn the arrangement of our
system of transmission. The motor A of any desired system, as well as the
rotary pump B, are mounted upon the fore-carriage axle; the water is forced into
the flexible metal pipes F and returns to the pump through those F1; the water
always passes through the controlling valve H located in the driver's box or in
any other place according to the kind of vehicle; by means of such valve-which
is an essential part of our system--the driver controls the running speed and can
reverse the direction of motion; the water on leaving this valve is led to the
power receivers B¹ B¹ keyed on the rear axle.
The rollers Care mounted upon a ring connecting the spokes of the wheels.
As the pipes F F are flexible we fix them to the body of the vehicle to the
shape of which they conform, thus enabling us to apply our system to all kinds
of vehicles.
In the modification, Figures 7 to 11, shewing the application of our system
to the hub of a wheel:-1 is a flexible tube capable of supporting fifteen atmo-
spheres, 2 is a compressing roller mounted on balls, 3 is a felt sheet, 4 is a rubber
sheet, 5 is a rigid plate, 6 is a ring provided with rollers.
Any liquid whose freezing point is sufficiently low may be used or it may be
heated if necessary, by the waste heat of the motor by circulating it through
the water jacket of the motor.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of the said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed we declare that what we
claim is:-
:
1st. An improved transmission of motive power by means of a liquid under
pressure, in which a pump is operated by the motor shaft such pump forcing the
liquid through a pipe to a receiver operating the other shaft and exhausting the
liquid through another pipe, a valve with two-way plugs being arranged on both
pipes, and connecting together the two pipes of the pump and with the inlet and
discharge pipes of the receiver so that power transmitting liquid might be sent
in any suitable quantity and in both directions to the receiver while the non-
used liquid comes back directly to the pump through the valve for the purpose of
regulating at will the speed of the operated shaft independently of the motor
shaft to stop, brake, and reverse the motion.
2nd. Apparatus for the hydraulic transmission of motive power as specified in
Claim 1 in which the pump and the receiver consist each of a rotary drum
provided with peripheral rollers C which in their rotary motion press a flexible
pipe containing the liquid against a concentric semi-circular abutment in order
to produce a variation of pressure in the liquid before and behind the corresponding
roller for transmitting power.
3rd. Apparatus for the hydraulic transmission of power as specified in Claim 1,
in which an automatic spring operated valve is interposed between the delivery

page_text: and suction pipe of the pump for the purpose of preventing the bursting of the
pipes when the circulation of the liquid is entirely stopped.
4th. The modification shewn in Figures 7 to 11 in which the flexible pipes are
arranged against the hub substantially as herein described and represented in the
drawings for the purpose specified.
TAL: 10th day of Doomlion 1807
A. M. & WM. CLARK,
Chartered Patient Agents, 53, Chancery Lane, London.