Improvements relating to Engines or Motors, and to the Applica- tion of the same for the Propulsion of Vehicles
Year: 1896

page_text: Date of Application, 24th Dec., 1896
Complete Specification Left, 24th Sept., 1897-Accepted, 24th Dec., 1897
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
"Improvements relating to Engines or Motors, and to the Applica-
tion of the same for the Propulsion of Vehicles!"
We, EDWARD SMITH HIGGINS, Engineer, of 402, Brixton Road, Brixton,
HERBERT ALFRED BESSEMER, Engineer, of 42, Therapia Road, Honor Oak, and
WILLIAM BOURCHIER NICHOLSON, Electrical Engineer, of Acacia Cottage, Acre
Lane, Brixton, all in the County of Surrey, do hereby declare the nature of this
invention to be as follows:-
Our invention relates to engines or motors, and its main object is to improve
the construction of and mode of applying engines or motors for horseless or self-
propelled vehicles of various kinds. Our improved engines or motors are, how-
ever, also applicable for driving machinery directly or through the medium of
belting or gearing.
It is very advantageous in self-propelled vehicles, that the engine or motor
should be supported upon the ground like the wheels and axle or axles, and not
rest upon the springs which are usually arranged between the body or frame of
the vehicle and the axle or axles thereof, and also that the wheels should be
capable of revolving independently of each other so as to facilitate the steering
or turning of the vehicle. It is, moreover, desirable that the engine or motor
should be of such construction that it can be applied to existing vehicles without
the necessity for any structural alteration thereof.
We therefore arrange an engine or motor within a wheel or within each of
two or more wheels mounted upon an axle or axles so that the same can be
readily secured to a vehicle in place of the ordinary axle or axles and wheels.
An important feature of our said invention consists in an improved method
of providing for the propulsion of vehicles by means of an engine or motor
enclosed or contained within a wheel and connected by suitable gearing with the
rim or felloe of the wheel or with a toothed ring or the like between the hub
and the periphery of the wheel. For this purpose we preferably employ an
engine or motor comprising one or more fixed cylinders with reciprocating pistons
which are connected by suitable gearing with the said wheel so as to impart rotary
motion thereto.
In carrying our said invention into practice, we find it advantageous to arrange
within the wheel an explosion engine or motor, for example, comprising three
or any other suitable number of cylinders and constructed to be operated by
We mount the wheel
means of carburetted air or other suitable motive power.
with suitable bearings upon a fixed axle, through which are formed' passages for
tne admission of the carburetted air or other motive power and for the exhaust.
The cylinders are rigidly secured to the said axle and the pistons are connected
by means of links to toothed wheels or crank-discs which are supported in brackets
attached to the cylinders, and which engage with the wheel through internal
teeth or
rpins in the rim or felloe thereof. Or the said pistons are connected by
other suitable means to the rim or felloe of the wheel or to a toothed wheel or
the like attached to the wheel.

page_text: When we employ an explosion engine or motor, we prefer to use one in which
the piston has an impulse imparted to it in every outward stroke. And for the
purpose of our invention we find it advantageous to arrange the compressor or
pump in line with the cylinder and on the other side of the axle, and to connect
the pump-plunger or piston with the engine-piston by a piston-rod extending
through the axle, suitable stuffing-boxes being provided for making tight joints
around the said rod. We obviate the necessity for employing valves by making
the said piston-rod hollow and forming therein, at suitable distances apart, lateral
openings which communicate with each other through the hollow part of the rod,
and by providing an exhaust-port.in 'the cylinder in such a position tliat the piston
will move past the same in its outward stroke. By these means, after a charge
of, say, carburetted air has been exploded in the cylinder and an outward impulse
thus imparted to the piston, as soon as the piston moves past the exhaust-port,
the egress of the products of combustion will commence; in the meantime the
carburetted air previously drawn into the pump is compressed, and, as soon as
the lateral opening in the piston-rod nearest to the engine-piston enters the
cylinder, the compressed carburetted air from the pump will be forced into the
cylinder, and by its ingress will 'drive all the products of combustion out through
the said exhaust-port. The piston in its return stroke will close the said exhaust-
port and then compress the fresh charge of carburetted air, which at the proper
time will be ignited, for example by means of an' electric spark. In the return
stroke, a vacuum will be produced in the pump until the last-named lateral
opening in the piston-rod.cnters the chamber or passage in the axle, when a fresh
oharge of carburetted air will be drawn into the said pump. The several cylinders
are arranged in different planes so as to permit of the piston-rods crossing, each
other in the said axle. The explosions in the different cylinders are preferably
so timed that they will take place successively at suitable intervals so as to make
the motion of the wheel' as uniform as practicable and thus reduce the vibration
to a minimum:
1.
Our improved engine or motor is capable of being driven in either, direction,
and is therefore very advantageous for horseless or self-propelled vehicles.
We do not confine ourselves to the use of the explosion engine or motor above-
mentioned; as we can, if desired; employ other. suitable engines.or. motors arranged
within the wheel or wheels as above, mentioned for the purpose of our invention.
And we can, if desired, arrange two or more motors within each wheel.
In applying our improvements to existing vehicles, we preferably remove the
rear axle and wheels and substitute therefor our hollow axle with two wheels
mounted thereon each having an engine or motor, fixed in the same as above
amentioned: **
In some instances we entirely enclose the engine or motor by making the wheel
with side-plates or discs instead of with spokes.
Dated this 24th day of December 1896

page_text: WILLIAM BOURCHIER NICHOLSON, Electrical Engineer, of Acacia Cottage,, Acre
Lane, Brixton, all in the County of Surrey, 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:-
Our invention relates to engines or motors, and its main object is to improve
the construction of and mode of applying engines or motors for horseless or self-
propelled vehicles of various kinds. Our improved engines or motors are, how-
ever, also applicable for driving machinery either directly or through the medium
of belting or gearing.
1
It is very advantageous, in self-propelled vehicles, that the engine or motor
should be supported upon the ground like. the wheels and, axle or axles,, and not
rest upon the springs which are usually arranged between the body or frame of
the vehicle and the axle or axles thereof, and also that the wheels should be
capable of revolving independently of each other so as to facilitate the steering
or turning of the vehicle. It is, moreover, desirable that the engine or motor
should be of such construction that it can be applied to existing vehicles without
the necessity for any structural alteration thereof..
We therefore arrange an engine or motor within a wheel or within each of
two or more wheels mounted upon an axle or axles so that the same can be
readily secured to a vehicle in place of the ordinary axle or axles and wheels.
An important feature of our said invention consists in an improved method
of providing for the propulsion of vehicles by means of an engine or motor
enclosed or contained within a wheel and connected by suitable gearing with the
rim or felloe of the wheel or with a toothed ring or the like between the hub
and the periphery of the wheel. For this purpose we preferably employ an
engine or motor comprising one or more fixed cylinders with reciprocating pistons
which are connected by suitable gearing with the said wheel so as to impart rotary
motion thereto.
In carrying our said invention into practice, we'find' it advantageous. to arrange
within the wheel an explosion engine or motor, for example, comprising three
or any other suitable number of cylinders and constructed to be operated by
means of carburetted air or other suitable motive power. We mount the wheel
with suitable bearings upon a fixed axle, through which are formed passages for
the admission of the carburetted air or other motive power and for the exhaust.
The cylinders are rigidly secured to the said axle and the pistons are connected
by means of links or connecting-rods to toothed. wheels or crank-discs which are
supported in brackets attached to the cylinders and which engage with the wheel
through internal teeth or pins in the rim or felloe thereof. Or the said pistona
are connected by other suitable means to the rim or felloe of the wheel or to a
toothed ring or the 'like attached to the wheel.
Our said invention, moreover, comprises other improvements hereinafter set
forth.
In the accompanying drawings we have shown how our said invention may be
conveniently and advantageously carried into practice.
Figure 1 is an end elevation partly in vertical section, and
Figure 2 a side elevation of one form of a vehicle wheel and motor constructed
according to our said invention.
Figure 3 is a section on the liner, ., Figure 1, illustrating a detail of construc-
tion.
.
1.
Figure 4 is an end elevation partly in vertical section, and
Figure 6 is a side elevation, partly in vertical central section, illustrating
another form or modification of our invention.
Like letters indicate corresponding parts throughout the drawings.
A is the stationary or non-rotating axle of the vehicle, which axle is made
hollow and has its internal passage A¹ in communication with a carburettor or
other apparatus for the supply of an explosive mixture of gas and air. .B, B.are
separate flanged sleeves forming the hub of the wheel; C is the inwardly-flanged

page_text: rim or felloe which is connected to the sleeves B; B by means of side plates or
discs D, and is provided on its outer surface witli an India-rubber or other suitable
tyre E retained in position by means of external flanges E', which, in the arrange-
ments shown, are formed integrally with the side-plates D. To each end of the
axle A is firmly attached a block or piece A³, on which are mounted any suitable
number of motor-cylinders F.
Each of the motor-cylinders F is provided at its outer end with a forked
extension F, in the limbs of which are bearings for the axles 6 of toothed wheels
or crank-discs c. These crank-discs are connected by a crank-pin c which is
coupled to the trunk-piston F of the corresponding cylinder F by means of a
connecting rod F3. The toothed peripheries of the crank-discs e engage with a
series of pins C fixed in the internal flanges of the rim or felloe C, as more clearly
shown in Figure 5, and thus serve to rotate the wheel. In the case of wheels of
comparatively large size, a pin-wheel or internal gear-wheel or ring of suitable
diameter may be mounted within the wheel between the hub and the felloe
thereof.
In the arrangement shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3, the sleeves B, B turn on ball-
bearings B arranged between the same and the block or piece A2 on the axle A.
The motor-cylinders F are supplied with carburetted air or the like under pressure
through holes in the axle A and through valves d which are preferably mounted
in a conical plug A fitting over the said axle and into a conical scat in the
block or piece As, and secured in position by means of a nut e on the screw-threaded
end of the said axle. This arrangement permits the ready removal of all of the
said valves for the purpose of examining, repairing or renewing the same. The
said valves are adapted to slide in guides and are held against their seats by
means of spiral springs 2, so as to be capable of yielding under the pressure
of the carburetted air to permit the ingress of the same into the cylinder as
hereinafter described.
A suitable carburettor is in communication with the passage A¹ in the axle A,
and air is drawn through the said carburettor and forced into the cylinders F by
means of a suitable pump or blower, consisting, for instance, of an eccentrically
mounted cylindrical shell K secured to one of the side-plates D of the wheel so as
to turn therewith. The said shell K moves around a drum K' rigidly fixed to the axle A
and provided with inlet and outlet-ports or apertures f, 9 communicating respec-
tively with the passage A' and with a pressure-chamber A5 in the said axle, from
which the cylinders F are supplied with gas through the valves d, this chamber Ab
being separated from the gas-inlet passage A by means of a diaphragm A.
Between the ports f, y in the drum K, is mounted a sliding piston Ka, the outer
edge of which is maintained in contact with the internal surface of the shell K
by means of a spring h. As the shell K revolves in the direction of the arrow,
Figure 3, carburetted air is drawn from the passage A¹ and forced into the
chamber A. Any other suitable blower or other apparatus may, however, be used
for supplying the carburetted air under pressure to the cylinders F.
The exhaust-port J of cach cylinder F communicates through a passage J,
with a common chamber J, which is attached to the outer end of the axle A,
and from which the exhaust-gases are discharged into the atmosphere through an
aperture J³, the exhaust-space being isolated from the carburetted air-
chamber A5 by means of the partition A³.
The operation of the improved motor shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 is as
follows, viz:Assuming one of the pistons F¹ to be in the position shown in
Figure 1, with a charge of carburetted air compressed beneath the same, the said
charge is ignited by means of an electric spark, or in any other well-known
manner, and the explosion drives the piston forward, thereby imparting rotary
motion to the corresponding crank-discs c and turning the wheel about its axis.
When the piston F has moved past the exhaust-port J, the products of combus-
tion can escape into, the atmosphere through the passage J1 and chamber Ja
When the pressure in the cylinder F becomes less than the pressure in the

page_text: chamber A5, the valve d opens and a fresh charge enters the cylinder, sweeping
out the products of combustion of the previous charge; this action continues
until the exhaust-port J is again covered by the piston F', when the fresh charge
is compressed by the piston in its inward or return stroke, the value d closing
under the action of its spring d when the pressure rises in the cylinder. The
above described operations are then repeated. It will therefore be seen that .n
impulse is imparted to each piston in every outward stroke thereof. The explosions
are preferably arranged so as to take place in the several cylinders successively,
they may, however, be arranged to take place simultaneously in some or all of
the cylinders if desired.
•
For stopping and reversing the motion of the vehicle, we prefer to employ, in
combination with our improved motor, reversing-gear comprising auxiliary wheels
or rollers L provided with tyres of India-rubber, wood, metal or other suitable
material and adapted to turn upon a shaft or axle j fixed in the lower ends of
the roda k of eccentrics 7 keyed on the axle A. The upper part of each eccentric
strap is toothed and is geared with a worm m mounted on a shaft which is
supported in suitable bearings and is suitably connected with a hand-wheel or
the like for turning the said worms about their axes. On the outside of the
shell K of the blower is formed a cylindrical surface concentric with the axle A
and flanged as at n so as to divide it into two parts or pulleys M, M'. One of the
said pulleys M, is adapted to receive a belt N which passes over a pulley P
formed on or secured to the side of the corresponding auxiliary wheel L, whilst
the other pulley M' is adapted to engage with the periphery of the said wheel L
as hereinafter described.
When the vehicle is to be propelled in a forward direction, the eccentric rods k
are adjusted to and held in the position indicated by the dotted line y, Figure 2,
on which position the peripheries of the wheels L are out of contact both with
the corresponding pulleys M' and with the ground and the main wheels rest upon
the ground; and the belts N are sufficiently loose to allow them to travel freely
around the pulleys P. The working of the motor, causing the main wheels to
turn in the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 2, will then propel the
vehicle forward.
When it is desired to reverse the direction of motion of the vehicle, the
worms mare rotated so as to bring the rods k into the position illustrated by
full lines in Figure 2, wherein the belts N are loose or slack so that they can
travel freely around the pulley P, whilst the auxiliary wheels L are in contact
both with the ground and with the pulleys M', the main or driving-wheels being
raised from the ground. The said driving-wheels will then continue to run in
the same direction, but motion in the reverse direction will be transmitted to the
auxiliary wheels L through the pulleys M', thus causing the vehicle to travel
back ward.
By the. arrangement above descrihed, we are also enabled to brake or retard
the motion of the vehicle. For this purpose, the rods are brought into the
position indicated by the dotted line y', Figure 2, so that the auxiliary wheels L
are in contact with the ground while the main driving wheels are raised from the
ground, and the belts N are tightly stretched over the pulleys M, P so that
motion in the same direction will be imparted from the main wheels to the
auxiliary wheels. The motion of the vehicle will then be retarded by reason
of the wheels L being of smaller diameter than the main driving-wheels.
By bringing the rods k into a vertical position the vehicle can be brought to
a state of rest, the wheels L then resting upon the ground without being driven
by the motors. This position of the rods k also enables the motors to be started,
this being effected by first turning the wheels by hand, the tyres E being out
of contact with the ground.
It will therefore be seen that, assuming the said rods k to be in the vertical
position and the motors working, the movement of the said rods in a forward
direction will first cause the vehicle to be driven slowly ahead through the

page_text: medium of the auxiliary wheels L, and will then raise these wheels from
the ground and simultaneously allow the main wheels to come in contact with the
ground, when the speed of the vehicle will be increased. Then, by moving the
rods backward, the speed of the vehicle can be diminished and the vehicle
brought to rest and then caused to move backward if desired.
In Figures 4 and 5, we have shown a modification of our invention in which
the block A3 is adapted to receive, say, three motor cylinders F and three pump-
cylinders G, each motor cylinder and the corresponding pump-cylinder being
arranged in line with each other on opposite sides of the axle so as to permit of
the common piston-rod H extending across the axis. The piston-rods H are each
connected to the corresponding pistons F, G, suitable stuffing-boxes H¹ being
'provided for making tight joints around the said rod. The piston-rods Hare
made hollow and lateral openings H2, H3 are formed therein at suitable distances
apart, which openings communicate with each other through the liollow part H
of the rods. An exhaust-port J is provided in each cylinder F in such a position
that the piston will move past the same in its outward stroke, substantially
as described with reference to Figure 1. By these means, after a charge of, say,
carburetted air has been exploded in the cylinder F and an outward impulse thus
imparted to the piston F, as soon as the said piston moves past the exhaust-
port J, the egress, of the products of combustion will commence; in the mean-
time the carburetted air, previously drawn into the pump-cylinder G through the
aperture H internal passage H, and aperture H³, is compressed, and, as soon
as the lateral opening I in the piston-rod enters the cylinder F, the compressed
carliuretted air from the pump-cylinder G will be forced into the cylinder F
through the aperture H³, internal passage H, and aperture H³, and
by its ingress will drive all the products of combustion out through
the exhaust-port J. The piston F in its return stroke will close
the said exhaust port and then compress the fresh charge of carburetted
air in the cylinder F, which charge will, at the proper time, be ignited, for
example by means of an electric spark. In the return stroke, a vacuum will be
produced in the pump-cylinder G until the lateral opening in the piston-rod
enters the chamber or passage A¹ in the axle, when a fresh charge of carburetted
air will be drawn into the pump-cylinder. The several cylinders are arranged in
different planes so as to permit of the piston-rods H crossing each other in the
axle 'A as shown in Figure 4. The explosions in the different cylinders are
preferably so timed that they will take place successively at suitable intervals so
as to make the motion of the wheel as uniform as practicable and thus reduce
the vibration to a minimum.
Our improved engine or motor is capable of being driven in either direction,
and is therefore very advantageous for horseless or self-propelled vehicles. It
can be very conveniently started, when in use on a tricycle or other velocipede,
by moving the said vehicle along in the required direction by means of the usual
pedals and driving-gear..
We do not confine ourselves to the use of the explosion engine or motor above-
mentioned, as we can, if desired, employ other suitable engines.or motors arranged
within the wheel or wheels as above mentioned for the purpose of our invention.
And we ean if desired, arrange two or more series or groups of motor-cylinders
within each wheel.
In applying our improvements to existing vehicles, we preferably remove the
rear axle and wheels and substitute therefor our hollow axle with two wheels.
mounted thereon each having an engine or motor fixed in the same as above-
mentioned.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of our said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed; we declare that what we
claim is:
i
:'
First. A driving-wheel having a relatively fixed motor contained therein and

page_text: connected therewith through suitable gearing, substantially as hereinbefore
described:
Second. A driving-wheel mounted on a fixed hollow axle having secured thereto
one or more motors which are supplied with gaseous working fluid through the
said axle, substantially as-described.
Third. A driving-wheel mounted upon a fixed axle to which are secured one
or more motors acting through the medium of toothed discs or cranks upon an
internal gear-wheel within the said driving-wheel, substantially as, and for the
purposes, hereinbefore described.
Fourth. An explosion engine or motor wherein the motor-cylinders are secured
to a fixed shaft or axle and are supplied with gas through the medium of pump-
cylinders secured to the said shaft or axle in line with the corresponding motor-
cylinders but on the opposite side of the axle, the motor and pump-pistons being
connected by means of a hollow piston-rod having suitably arranged ports or
apertures therein, substantially as, and for the purposes, herein before described.
Fifth. The combination, with a vehicle having its driving-wheels provided
with motors as herein before described, of auxiliary wheels or rollers and suitable
means for changing or adjusting the position of the same so as to vary the
speed of the vehicle or to stop or reverse the motion of the same, substantially
as herein before described.
Sixth. The combination, with a vehicle having its driving-wheels provided
with motors as herein before described, of auxiliary wheels or rollers supported by
rods pivoted eccentrically relatively to the said driving-wheels, means for impart-
ing motion from the said driving-wheels to the said auxiliary wheels, and means
for moving the said rods about their pivots, substantially as, and for the purposes,
hereinbefore described.
Seventh. A driving-wheel' constructed with internal motor-mechanism substan-
tially as described with reference to Figures 1, 2 and 3, or to Figures 4 and 5
of the drawings and operating as, and for the purposes,, above specified.
Dated the 24th. day of Sontember 1807
D. YOUNG & Co.
.11 & 12 Southampton Buildings, London, W.C.,
Agents for the Applicants.