Improvements in Motor Vehicles.
Year: 1899

page_text: Date of Application, 2nd May, 1899-Accepted, 15th July, 1899
Improvements in Motor Vehicles.
I, JULIUS WILLIAM WALTERS, of 101, West 72nd Street, in the City, County
and State of New York, one of the United States of America, Consulting 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:-
The object of the invention is to provide a new and improved motor wheel for
vehicles, for propelling the latter in a very convenient and simple manner, and
without undue loss of power from the motive agent employed.
The invention consists of novel features and parts, and combinations of the
same, as will be fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.
A practical embodiment of my invention is represented in the accompanying
drawings forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of
reference indicate corresponding parts in all the views."
Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improvement with part of one web broken
away, and arranged as the front driving wheel of a vehicle.
Fig. 2.is a sectional side elevation of the same.
Fig. 3 is a transverse section of the same.
Fig. 4 is a plan view of part of the improvement.
Fig. 5 is a horizontal section through the steering head.
Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of the cut-off for the engine.
Fig. 7 is a plan view of the improvement, as applied to two connected wheels.
Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the same.
Fig. 9 is an enlarged side elevation of the steering mechanism.
Fig. 10 is a front elevation of the improvement, as applied to a different vehicle.
Fig. 11 is a side elevation of a modified form of stopping and steering
mechanism.
Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the improvement, as applied to a bicycle.
The motor wheel illustrated in Figures 1 to 6, inclusive, is applied to a vehicle A
having two hind wheels and one front wheel, of which the latter is the driving
wheel and is provided with the improvement for rotating said wheel to propel
the vehicle A forward or backward, and for steering the vehicle, as hereinafter
more fully described.
The body of the vehicle A is provided at its front end with a bearing plate B,
engaging ball bearings 131 on a plate B² having downwardly extending fork
arms B3, B, supporting aligned sleeves C, C respectively, on which are mounted
to turn by ball bearings the aligned hubs D', 12 of a wheel D, the rim D3 of
which is connected by outwardly curved webs D, D with the said aligned
hubs D respectively.
Within the two webs D4, D5 is arranged a motor E, preferably in the form of a
gas or gasoline engine, having an air supply pipe El and a gas supply pipe F2,
connected to a reservoir E3 attached to the fork arm B, and containing the motive
agent to be used in the motor E. A stop-cock E is arranged in the pipe 1², for

page_text: cutting off the supply of motive agent when the vehicle is not in use; and a
valve E (see Fig. 6) is employed, and is under the control of the operator, for
controlling the supply of motive agent to the motor.
The frame of the motor E is supported. by suitable brackets C² from the
sleeves C, C, and the main shaft E of said motor carries a gear wheel F, in mesh
with a pinion F¹, secured on a short shaft F2, journaled in an arm F3 mounted to
turn loosely on the main shaft E. On the shaft 1 is also secured a bevel gear
wheel F, adapted to be thrown in mesh with either of the bevel gear wheels G
or G carried by a suitable web De forming part of the vehicle wheel D (see
Fig. 3). The arm F3 is provided with a segmental gear wheel F5 in mesh with
a segniental gear wheel 1, secured on a shaft H, mounted to turn loosely in the
sleeve C, the outer end of the shaft carrying an upwardly extending arm H,
connected with two ropes or cables H2, H3, extending in opposite directions, and.
passing over friction rollers H, journaled on the fork arms 133. The ropes or
cables H or H3 then extend upwardly passing over friction rollers H³, to then
connect with an arm Ho, secured on the lower end of a shaft H7, mounted to turn
in the hub B5 of the head plate B2, as is plainly illustrated in the drawings.
On the upper end of the shaft H7 is arranged a handle H8 under the control of
the operator, and provided with a locking lever H, adapted to engage one of a
series of notclies B6, formed on the upper end of the hub 15, to lock said handle HS
in any of the three positions.
When the locking lever HP engages the middle notch 136, as indicated in Fig. 4,
then the bevel gear wheel F is out of mesh with either of the two gear wheels G
or G but when the lever H is thrown out of engagement with said middle
notch 136 and the handle 18 is then turned either to the right or to the left, then a
pull is exerted by the arm H on either of the ropes or cables H³ or H3, to impart a
swinging motion to the arm H¹ and a turning motion to the shaft H, so that
the segmental gear wheel F6 imparts a swinging mction to segmental gear wheel F
of the arm F3, to swing the bevel gear wheel F into mesh with the gear wheel G
or G¹, according to the direction in which the handle HS was turned.
As shown in Fig. 2, the bevel gear wheel F is in mesh with the inner or small
gear wheel G, and when the handle HS is swung into an opposite working position,
then the bevel gear wheel F is thrown in mesh with the gear wheel.G¹ and a
reverse motion is given to the wheel I). It is understood that the rotary motion
given to the motor E, shaft E6 and gear wheel F, is at all times transmitted by
the pinion F1 to the shaft F2, so that the gear wheel F rotates the wheel D in
either a forward or a backward direction, according to the position of the arm F3.
On the upper end of the hub 135 is secured a steering handle B7, extending in
an opposite direction to the handle H, and is, likewise. under the control of the
operator. The hub 15 is further provided with two shoulders, as indicated in
Fig. 5, for abutting against a lug 1ª depending from the hub 138 of the plate B,
so as to limit the turning motion given to the said hub B5, by the operator mani-
pulating the handle B. It is understood that when the operator swings the
handle B forward or backward, a turning motion is imparted to the hub B, and
consequently to the plate B2, mounted to turn on the ball bearings B' and carrying
the wheel 1 by the fork arms B3, B4 and the sleeves C, C¹. By the arrangement
described, the vehicle wheel is steered in the desired direction.
The valve E, previously mentioned for controlling the supply of motive agent
to the engine, is under the control of the operator's foot; and for this purpose
the stem of the valve is connected with a bell crank lever I, controlled by a
link I connected with a bell crank lever I fulcrummed on the fork arm B+, and
connected by a link I with another bell crank lever I fulcrummed on the under
side of the bearing plate B. The bell crank lever I carries an upwardly
extending rod 15 provided with a cross arm I adapted to be engaged by the
operator's foot, to enable the operator to press the arm 16 downward. to impart a
swinging motion to the bell crank lever I, and by the links I, I and bell
crank levers I, I, a sliding motion to the valve E³, to open or close

page_text: F
the passage leading from the pipe E2 to the combustion chamber of the engine.
When the operator releases the pressure on the cross arm I", a spring I draws said
cross arm and connected parts, back to their former position, to move the valve E³
open, for further admission of the motive agent.
In the modified form shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9, two motor wheels J, J¹
are employed, similar to the motor wheel D, their fork arms K K'
being mounted to turn in the outer ends of a bolster L, forming part of
the vehicle. The fork arms K K' are pivotally connected with each other
forward of their king bolt by a link K2, connected with a bell crank lever K³
connected by a link K+ with an arm K on the lower end of a shaft or staff K,
mounted to turn in suitable bearings in the bolster L, the upper end of the staff
carrying a handle K, under the control of the operator, for steering the vehicle
in the desired direction. When the arm K7 is moved forward or backward,
movement is given to the staff K, and by the arms K and link K+ to the bell
crank lever K, which pushes the link K2 to the right or to the left, to turn the fork
arms K or K' correspondingly and simultaneously and give the desired direction
to the motor wheels.
In order to insure an easy turning of the fork arms K, K¹, I provide the same
with inwardly extending segments K8, engaged by rollers L2 on the ends of a
frame L carried by the bolster L, as is plainly indicated in the drawings.
In order to control the connecting mechanism between the motors and the
wheels, I provide arms N, N', which correspond to the arm H¹, in Fig. 3, with
cords N2, N3 having pulleys N, mounted to turn in a slide N³, fitted to move
longitudinally in a guide way L' carried by the bolster L.
The slide N is connected by a link N with an upwardly extending lever N',
fulcrummed, on the bolster L and under the control of the operator.
When the lever N7 stands in a vertical position, then the bevel gear wheels F
of both motor wheels are out of mesh with the driving gear wheels G, G', and
consequently no rotary motions are transmitted from the engines to the wheels;
but when the lever N is moved forward or backward, then the cords are simul-
taneously actuated, to impart swinging motions to the arms N, N¹ and swing
the gear wheels Fin mesh with either of the bevel gear wheels G G¹, to turn the
wheels forward or backward to propel the vehicle in a corresponding direction.
The motor wheel shown in Figures 10 and 11. is more especially designed for
pulling a plough or the like, and in this case the rim of the wheel is provided
with spikes 02, and said wheel is journaled in forked arms P, mounted to turn
in suitable bearings at the forward end of the plough beam Q (see Fig. 11). The
forked arms l' support side frames P1, P2, in which are journaled wheels 13, P4,
for steadying the motor wheel during its travel over the ground. The motor wheel
is provided with a steering mechanism and with a connecting mechanism between
the engine and the wheel proper, as previously explained, said device being under
the control of the operator by means of links R, R¹, extending rearwardly over
the plough beam, to come under the control of the operator. A locking lever R²
is also employed for holding the links RR in a locked position.
The motor wheel S, shown in Fig. 12, is arranged as a driving and steering
wheel for a bicycle, but as the latter does not require backward movement, the
inner gear wheel G of the motor wheel is omitted and the bevel gear wheel F
is arranged to be thrown in and out of mesh with the other gear wheel G¹ only,
and for this purpose an arm T which corresponds to the arm H¹ in Fig. 3, is con-
nected by a link T with a lever T2, journalled on the fork of a bicycle, and a
link T connected with a hand lever T, under the control of the operator. On
the lever T2 is arranged a brake shoe T, adapted to engage the rim of the wheel S,
after the bevel gear wheel F has been thrown out of mesh with the bevel gear
wheel G; to permit of braking the wheel after the driving mechanism between
the engine and the wheel is thrown out of gear.
From the foregoing, it is understood that the motor wheel for vehicles carries
the motor in the wheel proper, and the power developed by the motor is directly

page_text: ++
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transmitted to the wheel, and consequently undue loss of power is completely
avoided, and at the same time the driving and steering wheel for the vehicle is
completely under the control of the operator. For starting the motor E, I prefer
to apply a crank or the like on the main shaft, to give a few turns to the fatter,
the crank after starting being removed.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said
invention and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what
I claim is:- 1
j
1. A device of the character described, comprising a wheel, supports therefor,
a motor within the wheel, a starting mechanism for said wheel having a portion
interior and exterior to the wheel, and a connecting device between said interior.
and exterior parts, said connecting device being concentric with the wheel, sub-
stantially as described.
2. A device of the character described, comprising a wheel, supports therefor.
a motor within the wheel, and a starting mechanism for said wheel having an
outward extending portion concentric with the wheel, and by means of which the
starting mechanism is operated, substantially as described.
3. A device of the character described, comprising a wheel, a frame on which
said wheel is journaled, one of the supporting journals of the frame being hollow,
a motor within the wheel, a starting mechanism for the wheel, such mechanism
having a portion within and a portion exterior to said wheel, and a connecting
device between said interior and exterior parts, said device being extended through
the hollow journal, substantially as described.
4. A device of the character described, comprising a wheel having aligned
hubs, a supporting frame having journals upon which the hubs of the wheel are
mounted, one of the journals being hollow, a motor in the wheel, a starting
mechanism for the wheel, having one of its shafts mounted in the hollow journal,
and means for operating said shaft, substantially as described.
T
5. A device of the character described, comprising a wheel having aligned
hubs, a supporting frame having hollow journals upon which the wheel is mounted,
a motor supported by the frame in the wheel, feed supply leading to the motor
through one of the hollow journals, a starting mechanism for the wheel having
one of its shafts mounted in the other journal of the frame, and means for
operating said shaft, substantially as described.
6. In a device of the character described, the combination with a wheel, and
a motor therein for operating it, of a supporting frame having a vertical hub
and journals upon which the wheel is mounted, one of the journals being hollow,
a starting mechanism having one of its shafts in the hollow journal, a vertical
shaft mounted in the hub of the frame, and a connection between the said shaft
and the shaft of the starting mechanism working in the hollow journal, sub-
stantially as described.
7. In a device of the character described, the combination with a wheel, and a
motor therein for operating it, of a supporting frame provided with a vertical
hub and with journals upon which the wheel is mounted, one of the journals
being hollow, a starting mechanism in the wheel and having one of its shafts
mounted in the hollow journal, said shaft being provided with an arm at its
outer end, a vertical shaft mounted in the hub of the frame and provided with
an arm at its lower end, means for operating said vertical shaft, and a connection
between the arms of said shafts, substantially as described.
8. A motor wheel, comprising two spaced axially aligned hollow hub parts
mounted to rotate, a frame having members extending through said hollow
hub parts, one of said members being hollow, a motor supported by the frame
* and located between said spaced hul parts, a shifting pinion in driving con-
nection with said motor, an inner and an outer set of gear teeth between which
is located said pinion, said gear teeth being on the wheel proper, a shaft extending
through the hollow frame member and connected with said pinion to shift it into

page_text: engagement with either set of gear teeth, and means for turning said shaft,
substantially as described.
9. A motor wheel, comprising two spaced axially aligning hollow hub parts
mounted to rotate, a frame having members extending through said hollow hub
parts, one of said members being hollow, a motor supported by the frame and
located between said spaced hub parts, a fuel supply pipe extending to the motor
through the hollow frame member, a rim connected with said hub parts, and a
driving connection between the motor and the rim, substantially as described.
10. A motor wheel, comprising a vehicle wheel, a motor suspended within the
wheel, a connecting mechanism between the motor and the wheel for rotating
the latter, and a reversing and disconnecting device for said connecting
mechanism, to reverse the motion of the wheel as to throw the mechanism out
of gear with the wheel, substantially as described.
11. A motor wheel, comprising two spaced axially aligned hollow hub parts
mounted to rotate, a frame having members extending through said hollow hub
parts, one of said members being hollow, a motor supported by the frame and
located between said spaced hub parts, a fuel supply pipe extending to the motor
through the hollow frame member, a valve controlling the conection of said pipe
with the motor, a valve operating device extending through said hollow frame
member, a rim connected with said hub parts, and a driving connection between
the motor and the rim, substantially as described.
12. A motor vehicle, provided with driving wheels, a motor in each wheel for
rotating said wheel, a frame mounted on the wheels, and a connection between
the wheels, to steer the same in unison, substantially as described.
13. A motor vehicle provided with a bolster, driving wheels having their fork
arms mounted to turn in said bolster, a motor in each wheel for rotating it, and
a connection between said fork arms, and under the control of the operator, for
steering the wheels simultaneously, substantially as described.
14. A motor wheel for vehicles, comprising a wheel carrying two bevel driving
wheels, a frame work sleeve on which said wheel is journaled, an engine sup-
ported from said sleeve, and a gearing between the main shaft of the engine and
said bevel driving gear wheels, for rotating the motor wheel in the usual direc-
tion, substantially as described.
15. A motor wheel for vehicles, comprising a wheel carrying two bevel driving
wheels, a frame-work sleeve on which said wheel is journaled, an engine
supported from said sleeve, a gearing between the main shaft of the engine and
said bevel driving gear wheels for rotating the motor wheel in the usual direction,
and means for throwing said gearing out of mesh with either of the bevel driving
gear wheels, substantially as described.
16. A motor wheel for vehicles, comprising a wheel carrying two bevel driving
wheels, a frame work sleeve on which said wheel is journaled, an engine sup-
ported from said sleeve, a gearing between the main shaft of the engine and
said bevel driving gear wheels, for rotating the motor wheel in the usual
lirection, means for throwing said gearing out of mesh with either of the bevel
Iriving gear wheels, and means, substantially as described, and under the control
of the operator, for actuating the device for throwing the gearing in and out
f mesh, as set forth.
DJ 11
HARRIS & MILLS,
23, Southampton Buildings, London, W.C., Agents.