A COMPRESSED AIR MOTOR, OF SPIRAL CON- STRUCTION, APPLICABLE TO TRAMWAY CARRIAGES, VESSELS, LOCOMOTIVES, AND OTHER CARRIAGES
Year: 1877

page_text: LETTERS PATENT to Victor Joseph Fallart, of Brussels, Kingdom of Belgium'
Mechanist, for the Invention of "A COMPRESSED AIR MOTOR, OF SPIRAL CON-
STRUCTION, APPLICABLE TO TRAMWAY CARRIAGES, VESSELS, LOCOMOTIVES,
AND OTHER CARRIAGES."
Sealed the 31st May 1878, and dated the 3rd December 1877.
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION left by the said Victor Joseph Fallart at the
Office of the Commissioners of Patents on the 3rd December 1877.
VICTOR JOSEPH FALLART, of Brussels, Kingdom of Belgium, Mechanist.
" А. Сом-
PRESSED AIR MOTOR, OF SPIRAL CONSTRUCTION, APPLICABLE TO TRAMWAY
CARRIAGES, VESSELS, LOCOMOTIVES, AND OTHER CARRIAGES."
The nature of my Invention relates to a novel arrangement of compressed ai
motor applicable to tramway cars, locomotives, vessels, and the like consists,
chiefly in a peculiarly constructed apparatus of spiral construction, in conjunction
with other mechanical parts, all as hereafter described.
When applying my system to a tramway car, I mount this latter on a framework
so constructed and articulated at its four corners as to be able to turn freely in any
direction, and although said car can be of any other shape, I prefer making it with
two compartments disposed one above the other, with a spiral flight of steps con-
ducting to the top one.
On the above-mentioned frame I fix severally a reservoir for gas, an air com-
pressor in the form of a coiled pipe, and the so-called spiral apparatus. To set the
carriage in motion, I open the gas valve which admits the gas into a cavity formed
under a piston placed in an air chamber. This gas is ignited at this spot by means
of a lamp, or other wise, and the piston working in said chamber, compresses the air
which is conducted into the reservoir or coiled pipe. From there, the driver by
means of appropriate gearing, valves, rods, or other mechanical equivalents, conduct
it into what I call the spiral apparatus, consisting of a pair of cylinders enclosed i

page_text: a circular envelope, working directly on, and thereby imparting motion to, the
driving shaft which is put into communication with the carriage wheels by means
of an endless chain passing over pulleys mounted on the shafts of said wheels.
In order turn easily on curves I have another wheel mounted so as to turn freely
on each shaft, and an indicating needle placed on the platform serves to indicate
rhe direction of the line of rails beneath, so that the driver, by means of an appro-
priate lover is enabled to direct the car in any direction.
SPECIFICATION in pursuance of the conditions of the Letters Patent filed by
the said Victor Joseph Fallart in the Great Seal Patent Office on the 3rd June
1878.
VICTOR JOSEPH FALLART, of Brussels, Kingdom of Belgium, Mechanist. "A
COMPRESSED AIR MOTOR, OF SPIRAL CONSTRUCTION, APPLICABLE TO TRAMWAY
CARRIAGES, VESSELS, LOCOMOTIVES, AND OTHER CARRIAGES."
This Invention consists in a novel arrangement of compressed air motor applicable
to tramway cars, locomotives, vessels, and other carriages or machines to be propelled
or rotated.
When this apparatus is applied to a tramway car, 1 by preference mount this
latter on a framework, so constructed and articulated at its four corners as to be
able to turn freely in any direction; the car may be made with one compartment for
passengers, or with two superposed compartments, a spiral flight of stairs leading to
the top compartment.
On the frame in any convenient part, is arranged a reservoir for ordinary lighting
gas, an air compressing apparatus in the form of an air chamber, and a bent or coiled
pipe with a cavity below or in connection therewith, the ignition of a charge of gas
admitted to the cavity effecting by means of a piston in the air chamber the com-
pression of a charge of air, which is thence conveyed to a hollow annular apparatus
placed round a shaft, and imparting rotary motion thereto, which motion by means
of endless chain or other suitable gear is communicated to one or both of the carriage
wheel axles.
Figure 1 of the accompanying Drawings is an end elevation, partly in section,
and Figure 2 a plan section of a motor constructed according to this Invention.
Figure 3 is a vertical section through one set of valves.
Figure 4 is a side view, and Figures 5 and 6, details of the gas admission cock.
The gas from the gas reservoir or gas main is admitted to the chamber or cavity K,
Figure 1, through regulating cock or valve N connected to the aperture M, and
shewn separately at Figures 4, 5, and 6; the mixture of gas and air is ignited by
means of a small gas jet or lamp placed under a plate L formed with one or more
holes. The chamber K. is situated below a cylindrical air chamber J fitted with a
piston J, which may be doubled, as here shewn. When the gas mixture is exploded
the piston J' is thrown up in the cylinder J.

page_text: Before proceeding to describe the other parts of the apparatus and its mode of
action I will refer to the gas admission regulating cock N shewn at Figures 4, 5,
and 6. It has a central spindle 1 with right and left hand threads, which can
draw together or force apart at will the two pieces or slides 3 to enlarge or diminish
the cavity receiving the gas necessary for the explosion The gas comes from a
pipe terminating in the casing of the cock, and cannot enter into the cock unless a
corresponding cavity is opposite to it which takes place by the rotation of the cock.
The gas having entered in the cavity 5, it is led to the exit 2, and thence to the
aperture M, and gas explosion chamber K, Figure 1. The gas cannot escape from
the compartments 2 and 5 before it meets the exit M because the cock fits air tight
in its casing. Under the cock there is a spiral spring for taking the weight of the
plug of the cock. The handle 6 serves to regulate the cock, and it is moved auto-
matically by the driving shaft B of the engine. The cock N having received a
quantity of gas in one of its compartments is turned and carries this quantity to
the exit passage M.
Air is admitted to the pipe or chamber above the piston Ji by the ball or other
valve I when the piston J recedes into its down position. The compressed air
passes through the valve U into the bent pipe S, R, and the products of the explosive
combustion escape by the pipe s into a chimney or fluo. The compressed air from
the pipe S, R, next by the branch pipes r and ' enter the chambers or slide boxes D
where by means of slide valves d which are actuated from the beam H, it is alter-
nately admitted to the chambers or slide boxes F, which are fitted with slides f
worked from eccentrics P on the driving shaft B, thence to the interior of the rotary
engine cylinder A propelling the diaphragm piston A' which is connected to the
driving shaft B, thus imparting rotary motion thereto.
In order to cause the piston A' and crank shaft B to turn, one of the slide valves d
is opened by means of the beam H which is connected to the slide rods Z, Z. The
compressed air is then free to enter the cylinder A, A, when one of the slide
valves E, E, is opened; these slide valves, when alternately lowered, form a partition
across the piston path in the annular cylinder.
Figure 2 shews the slide valve E down, and the other one up.
Vis a cam on the driving shaft B for actuating the rods 3 of the slide valves E,
which are so arranged as just to open in the moment that the piston A passes, and
close at the same time that the other slide opens, after having received the charge
of compressed air by means of the slides d and f.
As shewn on the Drawing, one slide d is raised and leaves the lower passage 4
open at the same time that it shuts the upper passage 5; when one slide rod is
raised the other is lowered while the upper orifice is open, and the lower one
closed; the compressed air thus enters by one of the orifices below or above
one of the slides; the air goes out above or below, as they are under the in-
direct influence of the cam V working the slides E, which alternately cut the
annular passage in the interior of the engine.
The piston A' is fixed to the shaft B by means of plates & which are inserted in
the boss C on the shaft B.
As shewn on Figures 2 and 3, the slide ƒ on the left is in the out position and the
lower opening 4 open, while the upper opening 5 is closed; the other slide is in the
opposite position; that is. the upper hole 5 open, and the lower hole 4 closed; from
this arrangement it follows that if the air enters by the upper or lower openings of
one of the slides, the air will escape by the upper or lower openings of the other
slide, as they by the eccentrics P are adjusted to work in unison with the
slides E operated by cam V.
And having thus described and ascertained the nature of this Invention, I declare
hat I claim the combination of a vertical piston thrown up by exploding gas
olow it for compressing air in a chambar or bent pipe, the said compressed air
being admittod and distributed by alternate slide appliances to an annular rotary

page_text: engine with a diaphragm or piston fixed to a central shaft, all substantially as
set forth.
In witness whereof, I, the said Victor Joseph Fallart, have hereunto set my
hand and seal, this First day of June, in the year of our Lord One
thousand eight hundred and seventy-eight.
VICTOR FALLART.
(L.B.)