Improved Apparatus for Assisting in Propelling, Controlling, and Starting Cycles and other Vehicles.
Year: 1895

page_text: PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Apparatus for Assisting in Propelling, Controlling, and
Starting Cycles and other Vehicles.
I. SIDNEY ROBERTS STEVENSEN 12 Burns Street Nottingham, Architect
do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as follows:-
I propose to construct a resevoir chamber into which air, gas, vapour or other
suitable compressible agent may be forced, either independantly, or by the action
of the vehicle in motion, or both, by means of force pumps or other suitable means
at the control of the driver, the action of filling the chamber being hereinafter
termed "charging."
Or a vacuum chamber may be constructed, and exhausted either independantly
or by the action of the vehicle in motion by valve pump or other suitable appliance
at the control of the driver, the action of exhausting the chamber being also herein-
after termed "charging."
Or both chambers may be applied to the same vehicle, acting separately or in
conjunction with the motor hereinafter mentioned.
Either or both, (resevoir and chamber) may be assisted in their resulting action
by one or more moveable sub-divisions, and having spring or other action with the
object of equalizing pressure, and also provided with means of attaching and
replacing additional previously charged attachments.
The pumps or charging apparatus above referred to in connection with the
chambers are intended to be brought into action by the movement of the wheels of
the vehicle by cranks or eccentrics and levers at the control of the driver, the force
required acting as a break when applied.
A motor, double by preference, consisting of a cylinder or cylinders and pistons
with outlet and inlet valves, driving the axle or driving wheel to which it is
applied by means of cranks eccentrics and levers and fed by means of the compressed
air in the resevoir, or the action of the vacuum chamber, or by means of either or
each or both of them viz.,-the resevoir and the vacuum chamber.
In the application of the invention to cycles, it is intended in addition to the
usual mode of propulsion, to drive or assist in driving by means of the motor or
motors, the resevoir and vacuum chambers, or either or both of them being charged
by the action of the feet of the driver, acting on pedals or foot plates, either
independantly of each other or connected to act in concert.
I
The same end may also be attained by the action of levers or handles worked by
he hand or hands.
In addition to the chambers being acted upon by foot motion as described,
propose by connecting the wheel axle or tyre to an arrangement of cranks,
eccentrics and levers, to bring into action the force or exhaust pumps, either or
both, or other force or exhaust pumps or both, provided for the purpose, and the
force required for the working of the pumps would act as a break, at the same time
charging the resevoir and vacuum chambers for use on ascending or level roads,
nd starting.
Dated this Twenty-seventh day of August 1895.
H. W. GOUGH, C.E.,
Agent.

page_text: Improved Apparatus for Assisting in Propelling, Controlling, and
Starting Cycles and other Vehicles.
SIDNEY ROBERTS STEVENSEN 12 Burns Street Nottingham Architect 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 improved means applicable to cycles and light vehicles
for the purpose of propelling controlling and starting the same, and has particular
reference to the application of the said means to cycles of all kinds.
The object of this invention is the provision of means for enabling vehicles of the
kind referred to, to be driven and controlled with equal ease and less vibration
than with the usual means, and also the provision of means for enabling the said
vehicles to be started independently of the rider.
According to this invention the vehicle is provided one or more pumps for
compressing air into a reservoir and also with one or more cylinders which are fitted
with suitable pistons for giving motion to the driving wheel. In addition to the
above there may be a second chamber or reservoir connected to one side of the
pumps so that a partially vacuumu is maintained in the chamber, and this latter
is so connected to the cylinders that a partially vacuumn is obtained therein.
The pumps and cylinders are provided with valves and means for working the
same, also with means for enabling the cylinders to act as pumps and with means
for keeping the working parts free from dust and the like.
In the accompanying drawings
Fig. 1 is an elevation of a bicycle fitted with the means for carrying out this
invention and
Fig. 2 is a sectional plan of the same.
The front wheel a is carried by forks b in the usual way, and these forks are
fitted in the steering head c and provided with a handle. The back wheel d has a
hube which runs in ball bearings f carried by the frame bars which are joined
together at g' where they meet the upright hand are continued to the front bar i,
to which they are attached. To the part g¹ there is attached two cylinders k
provided with pistons and piston rods 1. These latter are attached to crossheads m
and connected to cranks n on the hub of the wheel d by links o, the crossheads
being guided by a portion of the bars g. These cylinders are provided with a
convenient arrangement of inlet and outlet valves which are actuated as required
from the hub e or by tappet mechanism, and in addition means may be provided
for enabling the cylinders to act as pumps and compress air into the reservoir.
The machine is also provided with two pumps p which are fitted with valves,
pistons, and foot plates 9 so that the pumps may be worked by the rider. The foot
plates are arranged to act as guides and work in slides r attached to the machine
frame. The air is forced by the pumps p into a reservoirs under the cylinders k,
and connected to the cylinder valve chambers by a stop valve arrangement which
is connected to a lever placed within easy reach of the driver. This enables the
reservoirs to be charged before the machine is started and this may be done by
the pumps p or by independent means.
With the arrangement herein described the reservoir is charged until the pressure
therein is sufficient to start the cycle, and when started the pumps and cylinders
are so proportioned that on a level road the rider can easily maintain the
pressure
in the reservoir. For ascending hills, or driving against the wind the rider may
continue to exert the same force as on the level with a descrease in the speed of
the machine.

page_text: The valves admitting air into the cylinders may be arranged to allow of the
engine working expansively and the amount of such expansion may be controlled
by the rider. When descending hills the cylinders may be arranged to force into
the reservoir or act as brakes, and the air so compressed may be used as a
reserve force for mounting hills and other purposes.
The means herein described may also be used in conjunction with a second
chamber or reservoir in which a partial vacuumn is maintained. This chamber may
be placed in any convenient position and is connected to the upper end of the
pumps p which would then compress air on the under side and act as exhausters on
the other side of the piston. The pump is connected to the vacuumn chamber by
suitable valves and the vacuumn chamber is so connected to the cylinders k that
after the stroke of the piston is completed and the pressure of air in the cylinder
has been reduced to that of the atmosphere by opening a communication between
the two, this end of the cylinder is opened to the vacuumn chamber so that the
piston is driven by compressed air on one side against a partial vacuumn on the
other side.
Instead of the arrangement shown the machine may be fitted with more than two
cylinders placed in various positions round the wheel and carried by a modified
frame. The cylinders may be single or double acting, and the sizes of the pumps,
cylinders and driven wheels may be varied. Preferably the whole of the working
parts are cased in to keep them free from dust, and the air inlet valves provided
with means for freeing the air of dust.
When the invention is applied to other vehicles the various parts are modified
and arranged to suit the altered conditions, but in all cases there are pumps for
compressing the air worked by the riders, cylinders for for useing the stored up power
in substantially the manner herein set work, with or without the partial vacuumn.
Having now particularly described and ascertain the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is
1. The application to, and the combination with cycles and light vehicles of one
or more pumps capable of being work by the rider to compress air into a reservoir,
and one or more cylinders with pistons driven by air from the reservoir and
connected to the driving wheel substantially as herein set forth.
2. The application to and the combination with cycles and other light vehicles
of one or more pumps capable of being worked by the rider and arranged to
compress air into one chamber and create a partial vacuumn in another chamber,
and in conjunction with the said chambers one or more cylinders fitted with pistons
driven by compressed air on one side against a partial vacuumn on the other side of
the piston substantially as herein set forth. .
Dated this 27th day of June 1806
W. H. POTTER,
Nottingham, Patent Agent.