Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
Year: 1897

page_text: Date of Application, 17th Aug., 1897
Complete Specification Left. 17th May. 1898-Accepted, 13th Aug.. 1898
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
We, CROMPTON CHAMBERS, of 7, Grosvenor Gardens, St. Leonards-on-Sea, in the
County of Sussex, Solicitor, and WILLIAM MORRISON SIMPSON, of 41, Elphinstone
Road, Hastings, in the County aforesaid, Engineer, do hereby declare the nature
of this invention to be as follows:-
This invention relates to an improved apparatus for giving auxiliary driving
power to bicycles, tricycles and other forms of velocipedes by storing the power
lost in descending hills, and utilising the same on up gradients or at other times
when extra power is required.
The medium we propose to use is compressed air and our invention relates
specifically to an engine which can be used either as an air compressor or as a
motor.
According to our invention we use an ordinary oscillating single slide valve
engine the frame of which we pivot to the frame of the velocipede either directly
or indirectly at such a point that by rocking the frame of the engine on its pivot
a spur wheel on the axle can be thrown in or out of gear with a spur pinion on
the axle or wheel of the velocipede to be driven. The frame of the engine is
rocked on its pivot by any suitable mechanism the construction being such that in
whatever position the said frame is placed it is braced rigidly to the frame of the
velocipede through the medium of the said mechanism.
The inlet ports of the cylinder are closed at their inner ends by means of taps or
valves capable of being operated from the exterior of the cylinder to open or close
the said ports. At or near each end of the cylinder are two automatic valves one
acting outwards and the other acting inwards the orifices of those acting outwards
being connected by suitable pipes with a storage reservoir. We sometimes place
a single inlet valve midway on the cylinder to act for both strokes of the piston
instead of an inlet valve at each end of the cylinder as herein before mentioned. The
ordinary valve chest of the engine is in connection with the air reservoir by means
of a suitable pipe provided with a stop valve.
When it is desired to use the motor as an air compressor both the taps or valves
in the inlet ports and the stop tap or valve in the pipe connecting the valve chest
with the air reservoir are closed, the piston will then suck in air through the auto-
matic inlet valve or valves as the case may be, and deliver it through the automatic
outlet valves into the storage reservoir.
To use the motor for driving the velocipede both the taps or valves in the inlet
ports and the stop tap or valve in the pipe connecting the valve chest with the
reservoir are opened, the consequence of which is that the automatic valves will cease
to act and the motor will be worked by the ordinary slide valve actuated by an
eccentric or cam or other suitable device.
It will be understood that when the 'motor is used as an air compressor the
ordinary slide valve works idle.
The resistance to the forward motion of the velocipede created by compressing

page_text: the air in the reservoir may be used to retard the velocity down hills, and such
resistance may be increased at will by means of a suitable check valve placed in
the pipe or pipes connecting the automatic outlet valves with the reservoir.
The reservoir we prefer to use on account of its lightness and low cost of produc-
tion is one made in a cylindrical form of tin or other light material wound round
spirally with wire which is kept in place at convenient intervals by being soldered
to the cylindrical chamber.
Improvements in and relating to Velocipedes.
We, CROMPTON CHAMBERS, of 7, Grosvenor Gardens, St. Leonards-on-Sea, in the
County of Sussex, Solicitor, and WILLIAM MORRISON SIMPSON, of 41, Elphinstone
Road, Hastings, in the County aforesaid, Engineer, 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 an improved annaratus for giving auxiliary driving
power to bicycles, tricycles and other forms of velocipedes by storing the power
lost in descending hills, and utilising the same on up gradients or at other times
when extra power is required. The medium we use is compressed air and our
invention relates specifically to an engine which can be used either as an air com-
pressor or as a motor.
assume:―
In the accompanying drawing which illustrates one form our invention may
Figure 1 Sheet No. 1 is a view in side elevation showing the motor in gear with
the wheel of the velocipedes and set to act as a motor.
Figure 2 Sheet No. 1 is a similar view showing the motor out of gear and with
the taps or valves arranged for it to act as an air compressor.
Figure 3 Sheet No. 1 is a view in front elevation on an enlarged scale and
partly in section of the cylinder.
Figure 4 Sheet No. 1 is a similar view in side elevation thereof.
Figures 5 and 6 Sheet No. 2 are views in broken side elevation and transverse
section respectively showing the construction of the air reservoir.
Throughout the views similar parts are marked with like letters of reference.
The engine we prefer to use is of the oscillating type as shown in the drawing
but although herein our invention is described with reference to this type of engine
we wish it to be clearly understood that it is applicable to engines having fixed
cylinders as will be apparent to anyone skilled in engine construction.
The cylinder A of the engine is pivotted in any suitable manner such for instance
as by centres a* to a suitably shaped frame B. The cylinder A is fitted with a
piston A¹ and piston rod A2 of the usual construction, the end of the piston rod
being coupled to the crank pin c of the crank shaft C which is mounted in suitable
bearings carried by the frame B. The crank shaft C carries a spur wheel D
adapted to gear with a similar wheel E fixed to the axle or hub X of the wheel of
the velocipede to which it is desired to impart motion.
The frame B is pivoted to the fork Y carrying the wheel of the velocipede to
which the power is to be imparted by means of a stud such as F carried by,

page_text: formed on, or attached to, the member of the fork Y by a bracket such as y or in
any other suitable manner.
To throw the motor in and out of gear with the wheel of the velocipede the
frame B of the engine is rocked on its pivot F and locked in its in and out of gear
position by any suitable mechanism, a convenient one being that shown in the
drawings which consists of an inclined slot 61 in the upper end of the frame B
with which engages a pin g carried by a lever G pivoted to the fork Y either
directly or indirectly by a clamp bracket such as g¹.
By depressing the lever G the frame B is rocked on its pivot until the spur
wheel D on the crank shaft C is out of gear with the spur wheel E on the hub X
of the velocipede wheel. To put the said wheels into gear again the lever G
is lifted.
The cylinder A is fitted with a valve chest A³ having the usual inlet ports a a
and exhaust port a¹. The slide valve H controlling the said ports is operated from
a rocking shaft J by means of an engaging arm as shown. The rocking shaft J
carries on the outside of the valve chest A³ a lever K which is operated through the
medium of a link L by a rod M receiving its motion from the crank shaft C either
by means of a cam such as N or by means of an eccentric in the well-known
manner.
The inlet ports a a are each provided with a stop tap or valve O capable of being
operated from the exterior of the cylinder A so that the said ports can be opened
or closed at will. The spindles of these taps or valves are fitted with levers o
which are connected together by a coupling rod P. This valve chest A3 is in con-
nection with a chamber adapted to contain the compressed air by means of a pipe
such as Q in which is a stop tap or valve R the spindle of which carries an arm r
which is connected to an arm carried by the rod P coupling the levers oo of
the stop taps or valves 0. The stop taps or valves 0, 0 and R are closed or opened
simultaneously by the movement of a sliding rod W which is guided to slide on
the frame B in any convenient manner and to which is fixed a slotted segment w
engaging a pin o¹ carried by an extension o2 of one of the levers f).
To limit or determine the travel of the rod W, a pin w¹ carried by a spring finger w²
may engage with holes or depressions formed on the rod W.
Figures 1, 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings show the taps or valves open,
whilst Figure 2 shows them closed. In the pipe Q is also placed a reducing valve
of any suitable type, that illustrated being a convenient one. This valve consists
of a suitably shaped box V having two chambers v and vl in communication by a
hole Through this hole slides a spindle 3 having a reduced part so that
the orifice is more or less opened or closed according to the position of the
reduced part of the spindle 3 with respect to it. Across the chamber v is
stretched a rubber diaphragm with the under side of which an enlargement 26
on the spindle 13 engages. The pipe from the reservoir is connected with the
chamber 2: and the pipe to the valve chest is connected with the
chamber. The reduced part of the spindle 3 is, at a pre-determined air
pressure kept in the hole so as to allow a free way for the air but 'when the
pressure exceeds this normal pressure, the air acting on the rubber diaphragm 5
forces the spindle back thus closing or reducing the hole 22. To keep the
spindle in its normal position and also up to the diaphragmn a spring such as 7
is provided the strength of which is adjustable by means of a cap 18 screwing into
the box as shown.
At or near each end of the cylinder A in any convenient positions are two
automatic lift valves S and T the former being outlet valves and the latter inlet
valves. The boxes of the outlet valves S, S, are connected by suitably arranged
pipes with the air chamber and the boxes of the inlet valves T, T, are open to
the atmosphere.
As a modification a single inlet valve placed midway or approximately midway
on the cylinder may be employed instead of two separate inlet valves.
When it is desired to use the engine as 'an air-compressor the stop taps or

page_text: valves R in the pipe Q and 0, 0, in the inlet ports a, a, are closed thus cutting off
all communication between the air chamber and the valve chest and between the
valve chest and the cylinder. The travel of the piston causes a vacuum behind t
which lifts the valve or valves T and allows air to pass into the cylinder. On the
return stroke of the piston the air is compressed and delivered through the valves S
into the air chamber.
To use the engine as a power motor the stop taps or valves 0, 0, and R are opened
thereby allowing the compressed air to be admitted to the cylinder by the action of
the slide valve, the automatic valves S and T being then non-operative, the former
owing to the pressure in the pipe or pipes U and the latter because there is no
vacuum in the cylinder.
It will be understood that when the engine is used as an air-compressor the slide
valve works idle.
The resistance to the forward motion of the velocipede created by compressing
the air in the air chamber may be used to retard the velocity down hills, and such
resistance may be increased at will by means of a suitable check valve in the pipe
or pipes U connecting the automatic outlet valves S, S, with the air chamber.
By cutting off all communication between the air chamber and the valve chest
when the motor is being used as an air-compressor there is neither loss by com-
pressing air into the ports or passages which only expands back into the cylinder
at the end of each stroke of the piston or loss from leakage past the slide valve.
The reservoir we prefer to use on account of its lightness and low cost of pro-
duction is one made in a cylindrical form as shown by Figures 5 and 6.
cylinder C is made of tin or other light material and is wound or wrapped spirally
with wire c which is kept in place at suitable intervals by solder or the like.
The
We are aware that engines have already been constructed to be driven by com-
pressed air and also that engines have been constructed for compressing air, and
we do not claim such broadly, but having now particularly described and ascer-
tained the nature of our said invention and in what manner the same is to be
performed, we declare that what we claim is :-
(1) In an auxiliary motor for velocipedes and like vehicles adapted to be driven
by compressed air, the combination with the cylinder and slide valve, of stop
taps or valves in the inlet ports enabling the said ports to be opened or closed, of
one or more automatic inlet valves which place the cylinder in communication
with the atmosphere and of automatic outlet valves one at each end of the cylinder
and each connected with the air chamber, as and for the purpose specified.
(2) In an auxiliary motor for velocipedes and like vehicles adapted to be driven
by compressed air, the combination with the cylinder and slide valve, of stop
taps or valves in the inlet ports enabling the said ports to be opened or closed, of
one or more automatic inlet valves which place the cylinder in communication
with the atmosphere of automatic outlet valves one at each end of the cylinder and
each connected with the air chamber and of a stop tap or valve in the pipe con-
necting the valve chest with the air chamber, as and for the purpose specified.
(3) In an auxiliary motor for cycles and like vehicles adapted to be driven by
compressed air, the combination with the cylinder and slide valve, of stop taps or
valves in the inlet ports enabling the said ports to be opened or closed, of one or more
automatic inlet valves which place the cylinder in communication with the atmo-
sphere of automatic outlet valves one at each end of the cylinder and each con-
nected with the air chamber, and of both a stop tap or valve and a reducing valve
in the pipe connecting the valve chest with the air chamber, as and for the purpose
specified.
(4) In an auxiliary motor for cycles and like vehicles adapted to be driven by
compressed air, the combination with the cylinder and slide valve, of stop taps
or valves in the inlet ports enabling the said ports to be opened or closed, of one or
more automatic inlet valves adapted to place the cylinder in communication with
the atmosphere, of automatic outlet valves at each end of the cylinder and each

page_text: connected with the air chamber, of a stop tap or valve and a reducing valve in the
pipe connecting the valve chest with the air chamber and of means for simul-
taneously opening and closing the stop taps or valves in the inlet ports and the
supply pipe to the valve chest, as and for the purpose specified.
(5) An auxiliary motor for velocipedes and like vehicles consisting of an engine
of the oscillating type carried in a frame pivoted to the frame of the velocipede or
like vehicle so that it can be rocked on the said pivot to enable a spur wheel
mounted on the crank-shaft of the engine to be put in or out of gear with a spur
wheel mounted on the axle or hub of the wheel to be driven, the cylinder of the
engine being fitted with automatic outlet and inlet valves S, S, and T, T, and stop
taps or valves 00 and R whereby it can be used both as an air-compressor and as
a power motor, as set forth.
"
(6) An auxiliary motor for velocipedes and like vehicles consisting of a cylinder A
having inlet ports aa and exhaust port a¹, of a piston 'A', piston rod A2, of a
valve chest A³ of a crank shaft C mounted in bearings bb carried by the frame B,
of a slide valve H, of mechanism for operating the said slide valve by a cam N
on the crank shaft, of a spur wheel D mounted on the crank shaft C and adapted
to gear with a spur wheel E on the hub or axle of the wheel to be driven, of a
frame B to which the cylinder A is pivoted and which itself is pivoted to the fork
or frame carrying the wheel to which motion is to be imparted, of means for rocking
the frame B on its pivot and locking it in its "in and out of gear positions, of
stop taps or valves 0, 0, in the inlet ports a a, of a stop tap or valve R in the
pipe Q connecting the valve chest A3 with the air chamber, of links connecting
the said stop taps or valves so that they can be simultaneously opened and closed
and of means for operating the said links, of a reducing valve in the pipe connect-
ing the valve chest with the air chamber, of automatic outlet valves S, S, con-
necting the ends of the cylinder with the air chamber and of one or more automatic
inlet valves T, T putting the ends of the cylinder in communication with the
atmosphere, as set forth.
Dated this 17th day of May 1898.
ROBERT E. PHILLIPS, Assoc. M. Inst. C.E., M.I. Mech. E.
Consulting Engineer & Patent Agent, 70, Chancery Lane, London, W.C.,
Agent for the Applicants.