AN IMPROVED ATMOSPHERIC CARRIAGE
Year: 1876

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to James Mathers, of Annan, in the County of Dumfries,
North Britain, for the Invention of "AN IMPROVED ATMOSPHERIC CARRIAGE,"
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said James Mathers at the Office
of the Commissioners of Patents on the 22nd March 1876.
JAMES MATHERS, of Annan, in the County of Dumfries, North Britain. "AN
IMPROVED ATMOSPHERIC CARRIAGE."
This Invention consists chiefly of a carriage to hold one, two, or more persons,
and to run upon three or more wheels, and propelled entirely by means of
compressed air confined in an air reservoir or chests placed below the carriage. The
compressed air acts upon two pistons working in two cylinders, and connected by
cranks and connecting rods to the main axle of the running wheels. The crank
shaft or main axle is also connected to the piston rod of an air pump (or pumps) for
keeping up the pressure of the air in the reservoir or air chest, and levers and
valves are supplied for shutting on or turning off the air from or to the cylinders.
The air pump or pumps can also be worked by hand by means of levers.
The air reservoir is provided with a safety valve, a pressure indicator, and an.
air whistle, and the carriage itself is fitted with a proper break and a steering
wheel.
To start the carriage the air pump is set to work either by the levers or by
turning the wheel until the pressure indicator shows that the air in the reservoir is
sufliciently compressed to give the necessary power, when the occupants take their
places, and the air valve being opened the pistons and cranks cause the main axle
and driving wheels to revolve, and the carriage commences to travel. The pressure
of the air must be kept up from time to time by working the levers, and whenever
the carriage runs down a hill or incline, or has otherwise obtained a sufficient
impetus not to require the full amount of power to keep it in motion, then the
pumps are to be put into connection with the main axle, and a fresh store of air is
compressed without any exertion on the part of the occupant or occupants of the
carriage.

page_text: SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said James Mathers in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 21st September
1876.
JAMES MATHERS, of Annan, in the County of Dumfries, North Britain.
IMPROVED ATMOSPHERIC CARRIAGE."
«ΑΝ
This Invention consists chiefly of a carriage to hold one, two, or more persons
and to run upon threo or more wheels, and propelled entirely by means of
compressed air confined in air reservoirs or chests placed below or above the
carriage. The compressed air acts upon two or more pistons working in two or
more atmospheric cylinders, and connected by cranks and connecting rods to tho
main axle of the running wheels. The crank shaft or main axle is also connected
to the piston rods of an air pump (or pumps) for keeping up the pressure of the air
in the reservoirs or air chests, and levers and valves are supplied by shutting on or
turning off the air from or to the cylinders. The air pump or pumps can also be
worked by hand by means of levers.
The air reservoirs or cisterns are provided with a safety valve, a pressure indicator,
and an air whistle, and the carriaage itself is fitted with a proper break and a
steering wheel.
Such being the nature and object of my said Invention I will now proceed to
describe in detail the manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or
carried into practical effect, and in order that the same may be clearly understood
I have annexed hereunto a Sheet of Drawings illustrative thereof, and have
marked the same with figures and letters of reference corresponding with those
in the following explanation thereof:-
Fig. 1 in the annexed Drawing is a side elevation, Fig. 2 a plan view, Fig. 3 a
front view, and Fig. 4 a back view of an atmospheric carriage constructed according
to my Invention.
A, A, are the air reservoirs or chests; B, the air valve boxes; C, C, the atmospheric
engine cylinders; D, D, the air pumps in connection therewith. These air pumps
must be so arranged that they can bo_connected to the atmospheric engine, or
disconnected therefrom at pleasure. E, E, the hand air pump; F, F, the driving
wheels; G, G, the steering wheel; H, H, the carriage frame; I, I, the steering
handle; J, J, the pipe for connecting the two air reservoirs A, A; K, air whistle;
L, pressure gauge; M, break; N, grease or oil cups; O, O, feed pipes from
pumps D, D, to the air reservoirs A, A; P, P, feed pipes from air reservoirs A, A,
to atmospheric engine cylinders C, C; Q, Q, bed plate for atmospheric engine;
R, R, connecting rods; S, S, the air piston rods; T, T, double cranked driving
axle.
To start the carriage the air pump E, E, is set to work either by the levers; or
the air pump D may be worked by turning the wheels until the pressure indicator L
shows that the air in the reservoirs A is sufficiently compressed to give the
necessary power when the occupants take their places, and the air valve being
opened the pistons and cranks cause the main axle T, T, and driving wheels F, F,
to revolve, and the carriage commences to travel. The pressure of the air in the
reservoirs A, A, must be kept up from time to time by working the levers of the
hand pump E, E, and whenever the carriage runs down a hill or incline, or has
otherwise obtained a sufficient impetus not to required the full amount of power to
keep it in motion, then the pumps D, D, are to be put into connection with the
main axle T, T, and a fresh store of air is compressed into the reservoir A, A, with-
out any exertion on the part of the occupant or occupants of the carriage.
Having now described the nature and object of my said Invention, together with the
manner in which the same is to be or may be performed or carried into into practical
effect, I wish it to be understood that I claim as my Invention, the improved
construction of atmospheric carriage, as herein-before described and illustrated by

page_text: the Drawing annexed, or any mere imitation or modification thereof, constructed
and operating in substantially the same or a similar manner.
In witness whereof, I, the said James Mathers, have hereunto set my hand and
seal, this Eighteenth day of September, in the year of our Lord One thousand
eight hundred and seventy-six.
JAMES MATHERS. (L.S.)