IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES AND IN THE MEANS OF PROPELLING THE SAME, PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER VEHICLES."
Year: 1880

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Sir Thomas George Augustus Parkyns, of Northfield,
Ryde, Isle of Wight, Baronet, for an Invention of "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE
CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES AND IN THE MEANS OF PROPELLING THE
SAME, PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER VEHICLES."
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Sir Thomas George Augustus
Parkyns, Baronet, at the Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the
21st May 1880.
Sir THOMAS GEORGE AUGUSTUS PARKYNS, of Northfield, Ryde, Isle of Wight,
Baronet. "IMPROVEMENTS IN THE CONSTRUCTION OF VELOCIPEDES AND IN THE
MEANS OF PROPELLING THE SAME, PARTS OF WHICH ARE APPLICABLE TO OTHER
VEHICLES."
These improvements are applicable to all velocipedes, and especially to that
known as the tricycle, and consist of novel apparatus for propelling the same by
steam power, whereby both the weight of the boiler and the space occupied
by the fuel and the boiler are reduced further than has been found possible
hitherto.
For the purpose of applying steam power to the propulsion of the tricycle I alter
and enlarge the frame work of the ordinary tricycle by placing the third or hind
wheel a little further to the rear; and in order to transfer the strain of this hind
wheel to the middle of the same I place a forked rod, the fork of which I attach to
the axle of the said hind wheel, and the other end I attach to the frame of the
tricycle, and in the space so made available between the seat of the rider and the
hind wheel I place a tubular boiler for the purpose of generating steam for driving
the steam engine. This boiler is adapted for burning liquid fuel, such as paraffin,
rock oil, or other volatile oils in the following manner:-I place on or near to the
boiler a tank containing the liquid fuel, from the bottom of which tank a pipe is
carried underneath the boiler. This pipe passes along the bottom of the boiler,
and is then bent back in a shape and closed at the end. The top side of the
Duins 31

page_text: lower half of the > tube is perforated with small holes to allow of the escape of
the gases which are generated in the upper half of the > tube by the heat of the
burning liquid fuel and gases escaping through the perforations in the lower half.
A tap on the pipe near to the liquid fuel tank regulates the glow of the liquid.
In some cases I prefer to volatilize the liquid fuel by placing a small burner under
the tank instead of using the > tube, and I then conduct the inflammable gases
which are generated in the tank under the boiler, and allow them to escape through
small holes in the pipe, where, they burn, and thus generate steam in the boiler.
The steam from the boiler is expanded in one or more steam cylinders, the piston
rods of which are connected either direct to the axle of the large central wheel, or
if preferred by means of gearing or straps in the manner well understood by
engineers. In certain cases I fit a surface condenser to the engine, composed of
small thin tubes. The boiler and engine are covered in by a light wooden or
metallic case, and over the top may be placed a light box or locker, in which
may be carried any tools, or stores, or wearing apparel. It is obvious that the
above apparatus for propulsion is readily applicable to all other descriptions of
vehicles.
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